MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND MANAGEMENT METHOD

• US 20090251713A1
• Filed: 04/02/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Funane, Nao
• Granted Patent: US 8,223,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.900
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5075 Remote control machines, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1254 Automatic configuration, e.g. by driver
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

If different settings are performed for a user to control usage of functions provided by an image forming apparatus, a management apparatus detects whether resources relating to these settings accord with each other to confirm any conflict between these settings. A plugin management unit detects whether a resource relating to a setting by a plugin B, which is to be installed from a plugin management table, accords with a resource relating to a setting by a plugin A.

Claims

1. A management apparatus configured to control usage of functions provided by an image forming apparatus, comprising:

a storage unit configured to store values usable for resources to be used for the functions provided by the image forming apparatus for each user;

a first setting unit configured to perform a first setting for the user to control the usage of the functions provided by the image forming apparatus;

a second setting unit configured to perform a second setting for the user, which is different from the first setting, to control the usage of the functions provided by the image forming apparatus; and

a detection unit configured to detect whether a resource relating to the first setting accords with a resource relating to the second setting to confirm any conflict between the first setting and the second setting,

wherein if the detection unit detects that the resource relating to the first setting disaccords with the resource relating to the second setting, the storage unit stores the value usable for the resource relating to the first setting based on the first setting and stores the value usable for the resource relating to the second setting based on the second setting.

2. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the detection unit detects that the resource relating to the first setting accords with the resource relating to the second setting, the storage unit stores the value usable for the relevant resource based on the first setting or the second setting.

3. The management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein if the detection unit detects that the resource relating to the first setting accords with the resource relating to the second setting, the storage unit stores the value usable for the relevant resource based on the setting having a higher priority between the first setting and the second setting.

4. The management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first setting unit and the second setting unit perform a setting based on a user instruction, wherein the management apparatus further comprises a notification unit configured to notify the user who has entered the instruction, that the storage unit stored the value usable for the relevant resource based on the first setting or the second setting, if the detection unit detects that the resource relating to the first setting accords with the resource relating to the second setting.

5. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the detection unit detects that the resource relating to the first setting accords with the resource relating to the second setting, setting by the first setting unit or the second setting unit is restricted.

6. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resource is the number of printing sheets.

7. The management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first setting and the second setting are two different settings selected from a setting for determining whether to approve the usage of a print function of the image forming apparatus, a setting for limiting the number of printing sheets usable for the print function of the image forming apparatus, and a setting for limiting the amount of money to be charged based on the usage of the print function of the image forming apparatus.

8. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an application capable of controlling the functions provided by the image forming apparatus operates on the management apparatus, and one of or both of the first setting unit and the second setting unit is provided as a function based on an additional plugin to be incorporated to the application.

9. A method for a management apparatus configured to control usage of functions provided by an image forming apparatus, comprising:

storing values usable for resources to be used for the functions provided by the image forming apparatus in a storage unit for each user;

performing a first setting for the user to control the usage of the functions provided by the image forming apparatus;

performing a second setting for the user, which is different from the first setting, to control the usage of the functions provided by the image forming apparatus;

detecting whether a resource relating to the first setting accords with a resource relating to the second setting to confirm any conflict between the first setting and the second setting,

if it is detected that the resource relating to the first setting disaccords with the resource relating to the second setting, storing the value usable for the resource relating to the first setting in the storage unit based on the first setting and storing the value usable for the resource relating to the second setting in the storage unit based on the second setting.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising, if it is detected that the resource relating to the first setting accords with the resource relating to the second setting, storing the value usable for the relevant resource in the storage unit based on the first setting or the second setting.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising, if it is detected that the resource relating to the first setting accords with the resource relating to the second setting, storing the value usable for the relevant resource in the storage unit based on the setting having a higher priority between the first setting and the second setting.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first setting and the second setting are performed based on a user'"'"'s instruction, wherein the method further comprises notifying the user who has entered the instruction, that the value usable for the relevant resource is stored in the storage unit based on the first setting or the second setting, if it is detected that the resource relating to the first setting accords with the resource relating to the second setting.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising, if it is detected that the resource relating to the first setting accords with the resource relating to the second setting, restricting the setting by the first setting or the second setting.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the resource is the number of printing sheets.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first setting and the second setting are two different settings selected from a setting for determining whether to approve the usage of a print function of the image forming apparatus, a setting for limiting the number of printing sheets usable for the print function of the image forming apparatus, and a setting for limiting the amount of money to be charged based on the usage of the print function of the image forming apparatus.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein an application capable of controlling the functions provided by the image forming apparatus operates on the management apparatus, and one of or both of performing the first setting and performing the second setting is provided as a function based on an additional plugin to be incorporated to the application.

17. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer-executable process, the computer-executable process causing a computer to implement a method comprising:

storing values usable for resources to be used for functions provided by an image forming apparatus in a storage unit for each user;

performing a first setting for the user to control the usage of the functions provided by the image forming apparatus;

performing a second setting for the user, which is different from the first setting, to control the usage of the functions provided by the image forming apparatus;

detecting whether a resource relating to the first setting accords with a resource relating to the second setting to confirm any conflict between the first setting and the second setting,

if it is detected that the resource relating to the first setting disaccords with the resource relating to the second setting, storing the value usable for the resource relating to the first setting in the storage unit based on the first setting and storing the value usable for the resource relating to the second setting in the storage unit based on the second setting.