Patent Description:
Conventionally, a technique for automatically updating an application and firmware in a multifunction peripheral (MFP), which is an example of an electronic device, is known.

As such a technique for automatically updating firmware and the like, a technique for automatically updating necessary firmware when installing an application on the MFP from an application market site which is a website that distributes the application is disclosed.

Further, when there is an application that can be updated on the application market site, a technique for automatically updating the application installed on the MFP is disclosed. (Refer to <CIT>).

A user such as an administrator makes necessary settings to the application in order to execute the application installed in the MFP. For example, implementing a setting function for setting necessary settings for executing the application for each application to be installed may be conceived. However, when the installed application implements the setting function, the user needs to start the installed application and make the settings necessary for executing the application, which is inconvenient. In addition, when the administrator forgets the settings necessary for executing the application after installing the application, a general user may not be able to use the application even when the application is started. (Refer to <CIT>).

<CIT> discloses an information processing apparatus which includes a confirmation unit configured to confirm correctness of definition information included in application data, and a display unit configured to display a screen used by an installation operator for setting the value of the parameter based on the definition information if correctness of the definition information is confirmed by the confirmation unit.

According to a first aspect there is provided a setting method as defined by claim <NUM>. According to another aspect there is provided a carrier medium as defined by claim <NUM>-<NUM>. According to another aspect there is provided an electronic device as defined by claim <NUM>. According to another aspect there is provided an information processing system as defined by claim <NUM>. Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a setting method executed by an electronic device, the method including, installing an application, displaying on a display, a screen for receiving input of a setting value for a setting item from a user based on the setting information that includes one or more setting items for executing the installed application; and setting the setting value for the setting item received on the screen.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a carrier medium carrying computer readable code for controlling the electronic device to carry out the above-described method.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe an electronic device including an installation control unit for installing an application; a display control unit for displaying on a display, a screen for receiving input of a setting value for a setting item based on setting information that includes one or more setting items for executing the installed application; and a setting control unit for controlling to set the setting value for the setting item received on the screen.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe an information processing system including the above-described electronic device, and an information processing apparatus for providing an application to the electronic device.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, making settings for the installed application can be facilitated.

Hereinafter, a description is given of several embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system according to the present embodiment. The information processing system <NUM> of <FIG> includes an MFP <NUM> and an application site server <NUM>, which communicate with each other through a network N. The application site server <NUM> is provided on the cloud C as, for example, a server that provides a cloud service.

The MFP <NUM> is an image forming apparatus as an example of an electronic device capable of executing various functions such as a copy function, a scan function, a facsimile function, and a print function. Note that, in <FIG>, as an example of the electronic device, the MFP <NUM> which is an example of the image forming apparatus is described, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, the electronic device is not limited to the MFP <NUM> as long as the communication function is implemented and an application can be installed.

The electronic device includes, for example, an output device such as a projector (PJ), an interactive white board (a white board having an electronic whiteboard function capable of mutual communication (IWB)), a digital signage, a head up display (HUD) device, and an industrial machine, an imaging device, a sound collecting device, a medical device, a network home appliance, an automobile (connected car), a notebook personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a game console, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a digital camera, a wearable PC or a desktop PC.

The application site server <NUM> is an information processing apparatus (server) that provides a cloud service via an application site that causes the MFP <NUM> to download and install a plurality of applications (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as an application) or firmware that can be installed on the MFP <NUM>. The application site is, for example, a website that distributes the application.

The network N is a communication network capable of communication such as a telephone network, the internet, and a local area network (LAN). The configuration of the information processing system <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is an example. For example, the service provided by the application site may be implemented by a single application site server <NUM> or may be distributed and implemented by a plurality of servers such as a plurality of application site servers <NUM>.

As described above, at least a part of the functions of the application site server <NUM> may be implemented by another device. Further, at least a part of the functions of the MFP <NUM> may be implemented by a device other than the MFP <NUM>.

The MFP <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is implemented to have, for example, a hardware configuration illustrated in <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the MFP according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

The MFP <NUM> includes a control panel <NUM> that receives user operations, and a main body <NUM> that implements various image forming functions such as the scan function and the print function. The operation received from the user includes not only the operation of pressing a hard key or the like but also the user's operation on an operation panel <NUM> described later.

The control panel <NUM> and the main body <NUM> communicate with each other through a dedicated communication path <NUM>. For example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard can be used for the communication path <NUM>, but the communication path <NUM> is not limited to the USB and may be wired or wireless communication of any standard.

The main body <NUM> executes a process according to the operation received from the user by the control panel <NUM>. Further, the main body <NUM> can also communicate with an external device and can execute a process according to an instruction received from the external device.

The control panel <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM>, a read only memory (ROM) <NUM>, a random access memory (RAM) <NUM>, a flash memory <NUM>, an operation panel <NUM>, and a connection interface (I/F) <NUM>, a communication I/F <NUM>, and a bus <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> is an arithmetic unit that comprehensively controls the operation of the control panel <NUM>. The CPU <NUM> controls the operation of the entire control panel <NUM> by executing a program stored in the ROM <NUM>, the flash memory <NUM>, or the like using the RAM <NUM> as a work area. For example, the CPU <NUM> implements various functions such as displaying information (image) corresponding to the input received from the user on the operation panel <NUM>.

The ROM <NUM> is, for example, a non-volatile memory that stores a basic input/output system (BIOS) executed when the control panel <NUM> is started, various settings, and the like. The RAM <NUM> is a volatile memory used as the work area or the like of the CPU <NUM>. The flash memory <NUM> is a non-volatile storage device that stores, for example, an operating system (OS), an application program, various data, and the like.

The operation panel <NUM> includes an input function and a display function and receives various inputs according to the user's operation and displays various information (for example, information according to the received operation, information indicating the operation status of the MFP <NUM>, setting information, etc.). The operation panel <NUM> is implemented by, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) including a touch panel function.

The operation panel <NUM> is not limited to the LCD device, and may be implemented by, for example, an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display device equipped with a touch panel function. In alternative to or in addition to the touch panel function, the operation panel <NUM> may include an operation unit such as hardware keys or a display unit such as an indicator lamp.

The connection I/F <NUM> is an interface for communicating with the main body <NUM> through the communication path <NUM>. The communication I/F <NUM> is an interface for connecting the control panel <NUM> to the network N and communicating with an external device connected to the network N. The communication I/F <NUM> is the interface that supports, for example, ETHERNET (registered trademark) and is capable of communication compliant with Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and the like. The bus <NUM> is a transmission line that connects the above-mentioned components to each other and transmits an address signal, a data signal, various control signals, and the like.

The hardware configuration of the control panel <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is an example and may include components other than the components illustrated in <FIG>.

The main body <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a CPU <NUM>, a ROM <NUM>, a RAM <NUM>, a storage <NUM>, a scanner <NUM>, a printer <NUM>, a connection I/F <NUM>, a communication I/F <NUM>, and a bus <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> is an arithmetic unit that comprehensively controls the operation of the main body <NUM>. The CPU <NUM> controls the operation of the entire main body <NUM> by executing a program stored in the ROM <NUM>, the storage <NUM>, or the like with the RAM <NUM> as the work area. For example, the CPU <NUM> implements various functions such as the copy function, the scan function, the facsimile function, and the print function.

The ROM <NUM> is, for example, a non-volatile memory that stores the BIOS executed when the main body <NUM> is started, various settings, and the like. The RAM <NUM> is a volatile memory used as the work area or the like of the CPU <NUM>. The storage <NUM> is a non-volatile storage device that stores, for example, the OS, the firmware program, the application program, various data, and the like. The storage <NUM> is implemented by for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD).

The scanner <NUM> is hardware that performs processing for implementing the scan function which is one of the image forming functions that scans and reads a document as an image. The printer <NUM> is hardware that performs processing for implementing the print function which is one of the image forming functions that prints on a print medium such as paper.

The connection I/F <NUM> is an interface for communicating with the control panel <NUM> through the communication path <NUM>. The communication I/F <NUM> is an interface for connecting the main body <NUM> to the network N and communicating with the external device connected to the network N. The communication I/F <NUM> is the interface that supports, for example, ETHERNET and is capable of communication conforming to TCP/IP and the like. The bus <NUM> is a transmission line that connects the above-mentioned components to each other and transmits the address signal, the data signal, various control signals, and the like.

The hardware configuration of the main body <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is an example and may include a component other than the components illustrated in <FIG>. For example, the main body <NUM> may include a finisher for sorting printed print media or a component such as an automatic document feeder (ADF) for automatically feeding documents.

The application site server <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is implemented by, for example, a computer having a hardware configuration illustrated in <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the application site server according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

The application site server <NUM> of <FIG> includes a CPU <NUM>, a ROM <NUM>, a RAM <NUM>, an auxiliary storage device <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a network I/F <NUM>, a keyboard <NUM>, a mouse <NUM>, a storage medium drive <NUM>, and a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) drive <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> is an arithmetic unit that controls the operation of the entire application site server <NUM>. The ROM <NUM> is a non-volatile storage device that stores a program for the application site server <NUM>. The RAM <NUM> is a volatile storage device used as a work area of the CPU <NUM>.

The auxiliary storage device <NUM> is a storage device such as the HDD or SSD that stores a plurality of applications or firmware that can be installed in the MFP <NUM>. The storage medium drive <NUM> is a device that controls reading and writing of data to a storage medium <NUM> such as a flash memory according to the control of the CPU <NUM>.

The display <NUM> is a display device implemented by the LCD, the organic EL, or the like that displays various information such as a cursor, a menu, a window, characters, or an image. The network I/F <NUM> is an interface for communicating data with the external device such as the MFP <NUM> by using the network N. The network I/F <NUM> is, for example, a network interface card (NIC) or the like that supports ETHERNET and is capable of communication conforming to TCP/IP or the like.

The keyboard <NUM> is an input device for selecting characters, numbers, various instructions, moving a cursor, and the like. The mouse <NUM> is an input device for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, and the like.

The DVD drive <NUM> is a device that controls reading and writing of data to a DVD <NUM> such as a digital versatile disc read only memory (DVD-ROM) or a digital versatile disc recordable (DVD-R) as an example of a removable storage medium.

The CPU <NUM>, ROM <NUM>, RAM <NUM>, auxiliary storage device <NUM>, display <NUM>, network I/F <NUM>, keyboard <NUM>, mouse <NUM>, storage medium drive <NUM>, and DVD drive <NUM> communicate through a bus line <NUM> such as an address bus and a data bus.

The hardware configuration of the application site server <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is an example, and all the components illustrated in <FIG> may not be included, or the components other than the components illustrated in <FIG> may be included.

The information processing system <NUM> according to the present embodiment is implemented, for example, by a functional configuration illustrated in <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment. The functional configuration of <FIG> omits components unnecessary for the description of the present embodiment as appropriate.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the control panel <NUM> includes an application site application unit <NUM>, a browser application unit <NUM>, an OS unit <NUM>, an initial setting application unit <NUM>, a related application unit <NUM>, a control panel system <NUM>, and a notification application unit <NUM>. The control panel <NUM> implements, for example, the functional configuration illustrated in <FIG> by executing a program such as the OS or the application.

The application site application unit <NUM> is implemented by the CPU <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> using the RAM <NUM> as the work area to execute processing according to the application site application. The application site application unit <NUM> communicates with the application site provided by the application site server <NUM> through the browser application unit <NUM> and provides a function of downloading an application or firmware according to a user's operation.

The browser application unit <NUM> is implemented by the CPU <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> using the RAM <NUM> as the work area to execute processing according to the browser application. The browser application unit <NUM> implements a function such as a web application by acquiring web contents from the application site server <NUM>. Web contents are, for example, various electronic files described in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), JAVASCRIPT (registered trademark), and the like.

The OS unit <NUM> is implemented by the CPU <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> using the RAM <NUM> as the work area to execute processing according to the OS such as ANDROID (registered trademark). The OS unit <NUM> implements OS functions including a function of executing application installation, a function of instructing the initial setting application unit <NUM>, the related application unit <NUM>, and the like to set setting information described below.

The initial setting application unit <NUM> is implemented by the CPU <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> using the RAM <NUM> as the work area to execute processing according to the initial setting application. The initial setting application unit <NUM> implements a function of setting the setting information according to the instruction from the OS unit <NUM>.

The related application unit <NUM> is implemented by the CPU <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> using the RAM <NUM> as the work area to execute processing according to a related application. The related application unit <NUM> implements a function of setting the setting information according to the instruction from the OS unit <NUM>. The control panel system <NUM> is implemented by the CPU <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> using the RAM <NUM> as the work area and executing processing according to a program that controls the operation of the control panel <NUM> other than the functions implemented by the browser application unit <NUM>. The control panel system <NUM> is implemented by a command from the CPU <NUM> of the control panel <NUM>, the operation panel <NUM>, and the like.

The notification application unit <NUM> is implemented by the CPU <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> using the RAM <NUM> as the work area to execute processing according to a notification application. The notification application unit <NUM> communicates with the application site provided by the application site server <NUM> through the browser application unit <NUM> and provides a "notification function" which is a function of notifying the user of information on the application and firmware.

Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, the main body <NUM> includes a main body system <NUM> and an image forming application unit <NUM>. The main body <NUM> implements, for example, the functional configuration of <FIG> by executing software that controls hardware such as the firmware.

The main body system <NUM> is implemented by the CPU <NUM> of the main body <NUM> using the RAM <NUM> as the work area to execute a process according to a program that controls the operation of the main body <NUM> such as the firmware.

The image forming application unit <NUM> is implemented by the CPU <NUM> of the main body <NUM> using the RAM <NUM> as the work area to execute processing according to the image forming application. The image forming application unit <NUM> is implemented by a command from the CPU <NUM> of the main body <NUM>, the scanner <NUM>, the printer <NUM>, and the like. The image forming application unit <NUM> implements a function of controlling an operation of an image forming engine. The image forming application includes a copy application, a scan application, a facsimile application, a print application and the like.

The details of the functional configuration illustrated in <FIG> are as illustrated in <FIG>, for example. <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detailed functional configuration of the information processing system according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The functional configuration of <FIG> omits components unnecessary for the description of the present embodiment as appropriate.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the application site application unit <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> includes a display control unit <NUM>, an installation control unit <NUM>, and a setting control unit <NUM>. The display control unit <NUM> causes the operation panel <NUM> to display a web page or the like corresponding to contents such as an application list and an installation screen acquired from the application site server <NUM>. Further, the display control unit <NUM> causes the operation panel <NUM> to display the generated contents such as the setting screen.

For example, the display control unit <NUM> requests list information of applications and firmware that can be installed in the MFP <NUM> in response to the user's operation input to the operation panel <NUM> and displays the application list on the operation panel <NUM> based on the list information received as a response. Further, the display control unit <NUM> requests an installation screen of the application and the firmware that can be installed on the MFP <NUM> in response to the user's operation input to the operation panel <NUM> and displays the installation screen on the operation panel <NUM> based on the installation screen received as a response.

The installation control unit <NUM> requests the application site server <NUM> to acquire the application or firmware in response to the user's operation input to the operation panel <NUM> instructing the application or firmware to be installed, and installs the application or firmware received as a response.

The setting control unit <NUM> acquires the setting information described below and displays the setting screen described below generated based on the setting information on the operation panel <NUM>. Further, in response to the user's input operation to the operation panel <NUM>, the setting control unit <NUM> instruct to set the setting values of various setting items entered on the setting screen and sets various setting items in the initial setting application unit <NUM>, the related application unit <NUM>, the main body system <NUM>, and the like.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the browser application unit <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> includes a request response processing unit <NUM>. The request response processing unit <NUM> makes a request to the application site server <NUM> in response to an instruction from, for example, the application site application unit <NUM>. Further, the request response processing unit <NUM> transfers, for example, the response from the application site server <NUM> to the application site application unit <NUM>.

Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, the OS unit <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> includes an installation execution unit <NUM>, a setting information transfer unit <NUM>, and a setting instruction unit <NUM>. The installation execution unit <NUM> executes an installation process of the application acquired from the application site server <NUM>. The setting information transfer unit <NUM> transfers the acquired setting information to the application site application unit <NUM> as described below.

The setting instruction unit <NUM> receives an instruction for setting the setting values of various setting items from the application site application unit <NUM> and instructs the initial setting application unit <NUM>, the related application unit <NUM>, the main body system <NUM>, and the like to set the setting values of various setting items.

Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, the initial setting application unit <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> includes a setting unit <NUM>. The related application unit <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> includes a setting unit <NUM>. The setting units <NUM> and <NUM> set the settings according to the setting instruction of the setting information from the setting instruction unit <NUM> of the OS unit <NUM>. Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, the main body system <NUM> of the main body <NUM> includes a setting unit <NUM>. The setting unit <NUM> sets the settings according to the instruction for setting the setting information from the setting control unit <NUM> of the application site application unit <NUM>.

The configuration of each functional unit of the control panel <NUM> and the main body <NUM> of the MFP <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> is an example and is not limited to the configuration of <FIG> and <FIG>. For example, a plurality of functional units illustrated as independent functional units of the MFP <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG> may be configured as one functional unit. Further, the functional unit illustrated as one functional unit of the MFP <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG> may be divided into a plurality of functional units.

Further, in the control panel <NUM>, the functional unit implemented by the browser application unit <NUM> and the functional unit implemented by the control panel system <NUM> may not be distinguished and the functional unit implemented by the browser application unit <NUM> may be implemented by the control panel system <NUM>, or vice versa.

The functions of the application site server <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a function of generating and sending to the MFP <NUM>, the list information of applications and firmware that can be installed in the MFP <NUM> in response to a request for the list information. The functions of the application site server <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a function of sending the information of various screens to the MFP <NUM> in response to a screen request from, for example, the MFP <NUM>.

The functions of the application site server <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a function of storing the application, various firmware programs, a package combining these applications and programs, and the like in a storage unit such as the auxiliary storage device <NUM> of <FIG>. The functions of the application site server <NUM> according to the present embodiment may include a function of storing the application, various firmware programs, the package combining these applications and programs, and the like in a storage unit capable of communicating through the network N.

<FIG> are diagrams illustrating an example of screen transition. With reference to <FIG>, the screen transition to a setting screen <NUM> described below is described. As illustrated in <FIG>, a home screen <NUM> displayed on the operation panel <NUM> of the MFP <NUM> includes an application site button <NUM> and a widget <NUM>. The application site button <NUM> is a button for displaying a list screen <NUM> described below, which displays a list of applications and firmware that can be installed on the MFP <NUM>. The widget <NUM> is a button for displaying a notification dialog box <NUM> on the operation panel <NUM>.

The widget <NUM> is an example of a button including a display area for displaying the latest information of the MFP <NUM>. The widget <NUM> in <FIG> displays "NEW SOFTWARE UPDATE IS AVAILABLE" and notifies the user that some software can be updated. As illustrated in <FIG>, the home screen <NUM> includes in addition to the application site button <NUM> and the widget <NUM>, for example, a copy button for executing a copy process, a scan button for executing a scan process, and a facsimile button for executing a facsimile process.

For example, the control panel <NUM> displays the notification dialog box <NUM> on the operation panel <NUM> in response to pressing of the widget <NUM> by the user. The notification dialog box <NUM> is a screen that displays specifically what application or firmware can be installed.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the notification dialog box <NUM> includes a screenshot display area <NUM>, a description display area <NUM>, and a check details button <NUM>. For example, the notification dialog box <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> displays an application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX".

The screenshot display area <NUM> displays a screenshot or the like of the application displayed by the notification dialog box <NUM> operating. The description display area <NUM> displays the description of the operation of the application displayed by the notification dialog box <NUM>. The check details button <NUM> is a button for displaying an installation screen <NUM> for performing installation of the application displayed by the notification dialog box <NUM>.

For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, in response to a pressing of the check details button <NUM> by the user to install the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX", the control panel <NUM> displays the installation screen <NUM> for installing the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX" on the operation panel <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the installation screen <NUM> includes a screenshot display area <NUM>, a description display area <NUM>, and an installation button <NUM> for performing the installation process. The screenshot display area <NUM> displays a screenshot or the like of a screen indicating the application displayed by the notification dialog box <NUM> operating. The description display area <NUM> displays a description of a specific function of the application displayed by the notification dialog box <NUM>.

As described above, the user can confirm the functions of the application or firmware described on each screen by confirming the notification dialog box <NUM> and the installation screen <NUM>. Then, the user can determine whether to install the application or firmware described on each screen after confirming the function of the application or firmware described on each screen.

Then, the user presses the installation button <NUM> in order to install the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX". In response to a pressing of the installation button <NUM>, the control panel <NUM> generates and displays the setting screen <NUM> described below on the operation panel <NUM> after installing the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX".

That is, after installing the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX", the user can set the setting values of various setting items from the setting screen <NUM> displayed on the operation panel <NUM>. In the case the user does not install the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX", the user can return to the display of the notification dialog box <NUM> by pressing a back button or the like on the installation screen <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, after installing the application or firmware according to the installation instruction from the user, the MFP <NUM> displays the setting screen <NUM> described below on the operation panel <NUM>, for setting the setting values of various setting items for using the installed application or firmware.

Accordingly, the user can avoid forgetting to set the setting values of various setting items for using the installed application or firmware and in addition, the setting values of various setting items can be easily set from the setting screen <NUM>. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user who sets the setting values of various setting items for using the installed application or firmware.

In the screen transition of <FIG>, an example in which the installation button <NUM> is provided on the installation screen <NUM> is illustrated, but as illustrated in <FIG>, the installation button <NUM> may be provided in the notification dialog box <NUM>.

For example, the control panel <NUM> displays the notification dialog box <NUM> on the operation panel <NUM>, in response to the pressing of the widget <NUM> of the home screen <NUM> by the user. As illustrated in <FIG>, the notification dialog box <NUM> includes a screenshot display area <NUM>, a description display area <NUM>, and an installation button <NUM>.

The user can instruct the control panel <NUM> to install the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX" by pressing the installation button <NUM>. The control panel <NUM> installs the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX" and generates and displays the setting screen <NUM> described below, on the operation panel <NUM>.

That is, after installing the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX", the user can set the setting values of various setting items from the setting screen <NUM> displayed on the operation panel <NUM>.

Further, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrate a screen transition for installing the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX" by pressing the widget <NUM> of the home screen <NUM> displayed on the operation panel <NUM> of the MFP <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an example of installing the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX" from the home screen <NUM> by a sequence different from the screen transition illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, in response to a pressing of the application site button <NUM> of the home screen <NUM> displayed on the operation panel <NUM> of the MFP <NUM> by the user, the control panel <NUM> displays a list screen <NUM> displaying a list of a plurality of applications and firmware that can be installed on the MFP <NUM> on the operation panel <NUM>.

The list screen <NUM> is a screen for displaying the list of the plurality of applications and firmware that can be installed on the MFP <NUM>. The list screen <NUM> includes a button for transitioning to the installation screen <NUM> for installing each application, and a button for transitioning to the installation screen <NUM> for installing each firmware. For example, the list screen <NUM> of <FIG> includes a button 1201c for transitioning to the installation screen <NUM> for installing the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX".

Then, the user presses the button corresponding to the application or firmware for which the installation screen <NUM> is to be displayed from the list screen <NUM> displayed on the control panel <NUM>.

For example, in response to the user pressing the button 1201c corresponding to the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX", the control panel <NUM> displays the installation screen <NUM> for installing the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX" on the operation panel <NUM>. The installation screen <NUM> of <FIG> is the same as the installation screen <NUM> of <FIG>.

The user can set the setting values of various setting items on the setting screen <NUM> displayed on the operation panel <NUM> after installing the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX".

Further, the sequence of screen transition may be other than the screen transition illustrated in <FIG>, and the screen transition may be made from the home screen <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> or <FIG>, for example. <FIG> is an example in which the home screen <NUM> includes a message <NUM> with a link. The user can notice that the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX" can be used by reading the message <NUM> with the link displayed on the home screen <NUM> of <FIG>. Further, the user can press the message <NUM> with the link to display the installation screen <NUM> on the operation panel <NUM>.

<FIG> is an example in which the home screen <NUM> includes a button <NUM> with a message "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX IS AVAILABLE". By looking at the button <NUM> with a message displayed on the home screen <NUM> of <FIG>, the user can notice that the application "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX" is available. Further, the user can press the button <NUM> with the message to display the installation screen <NUM> on the operation panel <NUM>.

For example, setting information as illustrated in <FIG> is used to generate the setting screen <NUM>. <FIG> is a table illustrating an example of setting information. <FIG> illustrates the setting information when "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX" is set as an installation target as an example of the setting information.

The setting information of <FIG> includes a setting type, a setting target (a subject to be set), a setting item, an initial value, an input type, and an input restriction as data items. The setting information in <FIG> illustrates various setting items for using the application or firmware to be installed. As illustrated in <FIG>, various setting items for using the application or firmware to be installed include the application or firmware not to be installed in addition to the application or firmware to be installed.

The setting targets of the setting information in <FIG> are the application or firmware to be installed that requires setting of the setting value in order to use the application or firmware to be installed and the application or firmware other than the installation target. The setting type is information indicating whether the application or firmware illustrated in the setting target is for the control panel <NUM> or the main body system <NUM> of the main body <NUM>. The setting item indicates the name of the setting item. The initial value indicates the initial value of the setting item. The input type is information indicating an input method for receiving input of a set value from the user such as the administrator and indicates an input method such as a radio button, a text box, and a pull-down list.

The input restriction indicates the information required for the input method indicated by the input type. For example, when the input type is the radio button, the input restriction indicates a setting value that can be selected with the radio button, for example, "YES/NO". When the input type is the text box, the input restriction indicates setting values that can be input to the text box, for example, alphanumeric characters or numbers.

When the input type is the pull-down list, the input restriction indicates options that can be selected from the pull-down list. For example, in the example of <FIG>, the name list of the address book, which is the item value of the "nameList" item of the address book application to be set, is acquired and displayed on the setting screen <NUM> as a pull-down list option.

The application site application unit <NUM> refers to the setting information illustrated in <FIG> to generate a setting screen <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. The setting information illustrated in <FIG> may be acquired from the application or firmware to be installed or may be acquired from the application site server <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of the setting screen. The setting screen <NUM> of <FIG> includes setting item names, initial values, input types, and input restrictions of the setting information illustrated in <FIG> and generated based on, for example, a screen template stored in the application site application unit <NUM>. The screen template may be stored by a functional unit other than the application site application unit <NUM>.

The user such as the administrator inputs setting values for various setting items for using "CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE FOR XXXX", which is an example of the application or firmware to be installed, to the setting screen <NUM> in <FIG>. Then, the user such as the administrator can set setting values for various setting items by pressing the setting button <NUM> provided on the setting screen <NUM>.

After the setting values for various setting items are set, the application site application unit <NUM> displays the installation completion screen <NUM> of <FIG> on the operation panel <NUM> and notifies the user such as the administrator of the completion of the installation and the setting. The display of the installation completion screen <NUM> ends, for example, by pressing an OK button <NUM>.

Immediately after the installation of the application or firmware is completed, the function provided by the application or firmware may not be enabled. As a setting item for using such an application or firmware, the setting item for enabling a function provided by the application or firmware is displayed on the setting screen <NUM> of <FIG>. Then, the user such as the administrator can input to the setting screen of <FIG> for validating the setting value of the setting item.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, after the application or firmware is installed, the setting screen <NUM> for making the settings for using the application or firmware is displayed and enables to prevent the user such as the administrator from forgetting the settings required to use the application or firmware.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the setting values for various setting items for using the installed application or firmware can be input from the setting screen <NUM>, the convenience of the user such as the administrator is improved.

A process of the information processing system <NUM> according to the present embodiment is described. <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> are a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the process of the information processing system according to the present embodiment.

In step S1, for example, the user such as the administrator activates the application site application unit <NUM> by pressing the application site button <NUM> of the home screen <NUM> of <FIG>.

In step S2, the activated application site application unit <NUM> designates authentication information and device ID and instructs the browser application unit <NUM> to acquire list information. The list information is information indicating a list of a plurality of applications and firmware that can be installed on the MFP <NUM>. In step S3, the browser application unit <NUM> designates the authentication information and the device ID and requests the application site server <NUM> for the list information.

In step S4, the application site server <NUM> uses the designated authentication information and device ID to generate the list information indicating the list of the plurality of applications and firmware that can be installed on the MFP <NUM>. In step S5, the application site server <NUM> transmits the list information to the browser application unit <NUM>.

In step S6, the browser application unit <NUM> transfers the list information transmitted from the application site server <NUM> to the application site application unit <NUM>. In step S7, the application site application unit <NUM> displays the list of the plurality of installable applications and firmware on the list screen <NUM> of <FIG>, for example, based on the transferred list information.

In step S8, the user such as the administrator presses a button corresponding to the application or firmware to display the installation screen <NUM> from the list screen <NUM> displayed on the control panel <NUM> (operation for selecting an application or firmware).

In step S9, the application site application unit <NUM> designates the application or firmware selected by the user such as the administrator by the application ID or the like and instructs the browser application unit <NUM> to acquire the installation screen <NUM>. In step S10, the browser application unit <NUM> designates the application ID and the like and requests the application site server <NUM> for the installation screen. In step S11, the application site server <NUM> transmits the installation screen data to the browser application unit <NUM>.

In step S12, the browser application unit <NUM> transfers the installation screen data transmitted from the application site server <NUM> to the application site application unit <NUM>. In step S13, the application site application unit <NUM> displays, for example, the installation screen <NUM> of <FIG> on the operation panel <NUM>, based on the transferred installation screen data.

In step S14, the user such as the administrator presses the installation button <NUM> of the installation screen <NUM> displayed on the control panel <NUM> to instruct the installation to the application site application unit <NUM>.

In step S15, the application site application unit <NUM> designates the application ID or the like of the application or firmware to be installed and instructs the browser application unit <NUM> to acquire the application or firmware. In step S16, the browser application unit <NUM> designates the application ID and the like and requests the application site server <NUM> to acquire the application or firmware. In step S17, the application site server <NUM> transmits the application or firmware designated by the application ID or the like to the browser application unit <NUM>.

In step S18, the browser application unit <NUM> stores the application or firmware transmitted from the application site server <NUM>. In step S19, the browser application unit <NUM> notifies the application site application unit <NUM> of the completion of the acquisition of the application or the firmware.

In step S20, the application site application unit <NUM> instructs the OS unit <NUM> to install the application or firmware that has been acquired. In step S21, the OS unit <NUM> executes the installation process of the application or firmware stored in step S18. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrates an example in which a new application is installed. In step S22, the OS unit <NUM> notifies the application site application unit <NUM> of the completion of the installation of the application or firmware that has been acquired.

In step S23, the installed new application transmits the setting information as illustrated in <FIG> indicating various setting items for use to the OS unit <NUM>. In step S24, the OS unit <NUM> transfers the setting information transmitted from the new application to the application site application unit <NUM>.

In the processing of steps S23 to S24, the setting information is transferred between the new application and the application site application by using an intent function of the OS unit <NUM>. The intent function is one of the functions of ANDROID, which is an example of the OS, and is a mechanism to take over the processing between applications.

The process of acquiring the setting information by the application site application unit <NUM> executed in steps S23 to S24 is an example, and various other methods can be used. For example, the application site application unit <NUM> may acquire setting information from a new application. Further, the application site application unit <NUM> may acquire the setting information from the installer of the new application. Further, the application site application unit <NUM> may acquire the setting information managed by the application site server <NUM> in association with the application ID and the like by the processes of steps S9 to S12 and the processes of steps S15 to S19.

In step S25, the application site application unit <NUM> determines whether to perform the setting for using the installed application or firmware by referring to the setting information as illustrated in <FIG>. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrates a case where it is determined that the setting is to be performed to use the installed application or firmware.

In step S26, the application site application unit <NUM> generates the setting screen <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> based on the setting information as illustrated in <FIG>. In step S27, the application site application unit <NUM> displays the setting screen <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> on the operation panel <NUM>.

In step S28, the user such as the administrator inputs setting values for various setting items for using the installed application or firmware on the setting screen <NUM> of <FIG> and instructs the setting of the setting value for various setting items by pressing the setting button <NUM>.

In step S29, the application site application unit <NUM> designates setting items and setting values and instructs the OS unit <NUM> to configure the setting items with the setting values. The process of step S29 is repeated for each setting target of the "control panel application" whose setting type is in the setting information of <FIG>.

In step S30, the OS unit <NUM> designates setting items and setting values to the initial setting application unit <NUM>, which is one of the setting targets, and instructs the setting. The initial setting application unit <NUM> sets the set value in the setting item according to the instruction from the OS unit <NUM>.

In step S31, the OS unit <NUM> designates setting items and setting values for a new application that is one of the setting targets and instructs the application to configure the setting items with the setting values. The installed new application sets the set value in the setting item according to the instruction from the OS unit <NUM>.

Further, in step S32, the OS unit <NUM> designates setting items and setting values to the related application unit <NUM>, which is one of the setting targets, and instructs the setting. The related application unit <NUM> sets the set value in the setting item according to the instruction from the OS unit <NUM>.

The processing of steps S29 to S32 uses the intent function of the OS unit <NUM> to take over the processing of setting the setting value in the setting item for the application to be set from the application site application unit <NUM>. In the setting information of <FIG>, in the case there is no setting target of the setting type "control panel application", the processes of steps S29 to S32 are not performed.

In step S33, the application site application unit <NUM> designates setting items and setting values and instructs the setting to the main body system <NUM>. The main body system <NUM> sets the set value in the setting item according to the instruction from the application site application unit <NUM>.

In the process of step S33, the application site application unit <NUM> instructs the main body system <NUM> to set by calling an application programming interface (API) of the main body system <NUM>. By calling the API of the main body system <NUM>, the application site application unit <NUM> can instruct the main body system <NUM> to set the setting item that cannot be instructed through the new application installed in the control panel <NUM>. The application site application unit <NUM> may call the API of the main body system <NUM> and instruct the main body system <NUM> to set a setting item that can be set through a new application installed in the control panel <NUM>. The process of step S33 is not performed when there is no setting target of the setting type "main body system" in the setting information of <FIG>.

After setting the setting values for various setting items, in step S34, the application site application unit <NUM> displays the installation completion screen <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> on the operation panel <NUM> and notifies the user such as the administrator that the installation and setting are completed.

The notification dialog box <NUM> displayed in response to the pressing of the widget <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> or the like is an example, and the screen as illustrated in <FIG>, for example, may be displayed.

<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> are diagrams illustrating an example of the screen transition in response to the pressing of the widget on the home screen. For example, in response to a pressing by the user of the widget <NUM> of the home screen <NUM>, the control panel <NUM> displays any of the screens <NUM> to <NUM> including notification dialog box on the operation panel <NUM>. In <FIG>, the application or firmware is displayed as a function.

In the case there is notification information other than the setting of the new function, the application site application unit <NUM> displays a screen <NUM> that includes tabs to switch between the notification information of the setting of the new function and the notification information other than the setting of the new function on the operation panel <NUM>. By pressing a check details button <NUM> on the screen <NUM>, the user can display the screen <NUM> including the information on the installation screen <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> on the operation panel <NUM>.

In the case there is no notification information other than the setting of the new function, the application site application unit <NUM> displays the screen <NUM> displaying the notification information on setting of the new function on the operation panel <NUM>. By pressing a check details button <NUM> on the screen <NUM>, the user can display the screen <NUM> including the information on the installation screen <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> on the operation panel <NUM>. In the case there is no notification information, the application site application unit <NUM> displays a screen <NUM> without notification information for setting a new function on the operation panel <NUM>.

In the screen transition of <FIG>, the application site application unit <NUM> determines which of the screens <NUM> to <NUM> is to be displayed on the operation panel <NUM> by the process as illustrated in <FIG>, for example.

In step S <NUM>, the application site application unit <NUM> acquires a list of applications or firmware installed in the MFP <NUM>. The application site application unit <NUM> performs the process of steps S102 to S106 for each application or firmware included in the list.

In step S <NUM>, the application site application unit <NUM> determines whether the application or firmware to be processed is included in the list acquired in step S <NUM>. In the case the list acquired in step S100 includes the application or firmware to be processed, the application site application unit <NUM> proceeds to step S106 and determines to display the application or firmware to be processed on a new tab.

In the case the list acquired in step S100 does not include the application or firmware to be processed, the application site application unit <NUM> proceeds to step S104 and determines to display the application or firmware to be processed on a general tab. Information <NUM> stored for each application or firmware is referred to for the determination in step S <NUM>. The information <NUM> includes information on version and whether the application or firmware is a new function.

When the processing of steps S102 to S106 for the application or firmware included in the list information is completed, the application site application unit <NUM> performs the processing of step S <NUM> and after.

In step S <NUM>, the application site application unit <NUM> determines whether the application or firmware included in the list acquired in step S100 is included in the list information and whether there is notification information other than the setting of the new function.

In the case the application or firmware included in the list acquired in step S100 is included in the list information and notification information other than the setting of the new function exists, the application site application unit <NUM> determines to display the tab in step S112 and display the screen <NUM> on the operation panel <NUM>. In the case the application or firmware included in the list acquired in step S <NUM> is not included in the list information and the notification information other than the setting of the new function does not exist, the application site application unit <NUM> determines not to display the tab in step S <NUM> and displays the screen <NUM> or <NUM> on the operation panel <NUM>.

The apparatuses described in the examples are merely an illustration of one of several computing environments for implementing the embodiments disclosed herein. The present disclosure, however, is not limited to the present embodiments, and the constituent elements of the present embodiments include elements that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art, those being substantially the same ones, and those being within equivalent ranges. Further, various omissions, substitutions, changes and combinations of components can be made without departing from the gist of the present embodiment.

The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present invention. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present invention.

Claim 1:
A setting method executed by an electronic device (<NUM>) comprising a control panel (<NUM>) for receiving user operations and a main body (<NUM>) for implementing image forming functions, the method comprising:
installing (S21) an application on the electronic device (<NUM>);
acquiring (S23, S24) setting information that includes one or more setting items for executing the installed application;
generating (S26), based on the setting information, a screen (<NUM>) for receiving input of a setting value for a setting item from a user;
after and in response to installing the application, displaying (S27) on the control panel (<NUM>), the screen (<NUM>); and
setting (S29, S30, S31, S32, S33) the setting value for the setting item received on the screen (<NUM>),
wherein the one or more setting items are associated with a setting type that indicates that the installed application is for the control panel or for a main body system (<NUM>) that controls the operation of the main body (<NUM>), and
wherein the method further comprises:
instructing, in response to the setting type indicating that the installed application is for the control panel (<NUM>), the setting of the setting value for the setting item employing an intent function of an operating system; and
instructing, in response to the setting type indicating that the installed application is for the main body system (<NUM>), the setting of the setting value for the setting item employing an application program interface, API, of the main body system (<NUM>).