Program download system, program download method, image forming apparatus, program delivery server, and download program

• US 20110066960A1
• Filed: 09/10/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Suzuki, Tomohiro
• Application Number:
  US12/923,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20110066960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00941 Interaction of different applications H04N1/00949 takes precedence; multiprogramming arrangements of computers G06F9/46
• 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 2201/0072 Detecting the status of a connected apparatus

Abstract

When a user requests a download of a program, an MFP creates device information that includes at least information on an operation screen that corresponds to an application function that is being performed at that time and sends the device information to a program delivery server. The program delivery server creates a download list by extracting, from among all the deliverable programs in accordance with the device information received from the MFP, only programs that correspond to an operation status of the image forming apparatus and then sends the download list to the MFP. The MFP displays the download list created by the program delivery server.

Claims

1. A program download system comprising:

a program delivery server that delivers a program via an information communication network; and

an image forming apparatus that is connected to the information communication network and downloads the program that is delivered from the program delivery server,

wherein the image forming apparatus includes;

an operation window displaying unit that displays an operation screen that corresponds to an application function that is currently being performed by the image forming apparatus;

an input unit that receives an operation input performed by a user;

a download request determining unit that determines whether an operation input in which a user requests a program download has been performed;

a device information creating unit that creates device information that includes at least information on the operation screen that is displayed on the operation window displaying unit when the user requests the program download;

a device information sending unit that sends, to the program delivery server, the device information together with the download list send request;

a download list receiving unit that receives, as a response to the download list send request, a download list that is sent from the program delivery server;

a download list displaying unit that displays the download list;

a download start request sending unit that sends, to the program delivery server, a download start request that specifies a program that is selected by the user from the download list; and

a program receiving unit that receives, as a response to the download start request, the program that is sent from the program delivery server, and wherein the program delivery server includes;

a device information receiving unit that receives the device information that is sent, together with the download list send request, from the image forming apparatus;

a download list creating unit that extracts, from among all deliverable programs in accordance with the device information, only programs that correspond to an operation status of the image forming apparatus to create the download list;

a download list sending unit that sends the download list to the image forming apparatus;

a download start request receiving unit that receives the download start request that is sent from the image forming apparatus; and

a program sending unit that sends, to the image forming apparatus, the program that is specified by the download start request.

2. The program download system according to claim 1, wherein

the image forming apparatus further includes an operation history storing unit that stores therein history of an operation input performed by a user, and

the device information creating unit creates device information that includes at least information on an operation screen that is displayed on the operation window displaying unit when the user requests the program download and information on operation history related to the operation screen.

3. The program download system according to claim 2, wherein the information on the operation history included in the device information is information indicating a condition of a job that has been completed just before the user requests the program download.

4. The program download system according to claim 2, wherein the information on the operation history included in the device information is information related to a setting value that is changed from an initial value before the user requests the program download.

5. The program download system according to claim 2, wherein the information on the operation history included in the device information is information indicating the number of operations for each setting item that is performed until the user requests the program download.

6. The program download system according to claim 2, wherein

the device information creating unit creates device information that includes at least information on an operation screen that is displayed on the operation window displaying unit when the user requests the program download, information on operation history related to the operation screen, and information related to the configuration of the image forming apparatus, and

the download list creating unit creates the download list by extracting, from among all deliverable programs in accordance with the device information, only programs that correspond to the operation status of the image forming apparatus and that conform to the configuration of the image forming apparatus.

7. The program download system according to claim 6, wherein

the device information creating unit creates device information that creates at least information on an operation screen that is displayed on the operation window displaying unit when the user requests the program download, information on operation history related to the operation screen, information related to the configuration of the image forming apparatus, and information related to an operator'"'"'s authority, and

the download list creating unit creates the download list by extracting, from among all deliverable programs in accordance with the device information, only programs that correspond to the operation status of the image forming apparatus, that conforms to the configuration of the image forming apparatus, and that conform to the operator'"'"'s authority.

8. The program download system according to claim 1, wherein

the input unit has a download instruction button that is operated by the user when the user requests the program, and

the download instruction button is arranged on the operation screen and is displayed on the operation window displaying unit in an operable manner.

9. An image forming apparatus that is connected to an information communication network and has a function of downloading a program that is delivered from a program delivery server via the information communication network, the image forming apparatus comprising:

an operation window displaying unit that displays an operation screen that corresponds to an application function that is currently being performed by the image forming apparatus;

an input unit that receives an operation input performed by a user;

a download request determining unit that determines whether an operation input in which a user requests a program download has been performed;

a device information creating unit that creates device information that includes at least information on the operation screen that is displayed on the operation window displaying unit when the user requests the program download;

a device information sending unit that sends, to the program delivery server, the device information together with the download list send request;

a download list receiving unit that receives, as a response to the download list send request, a download list that is sent from the program delivery server;

a download list displaying unit that displays the download list;

a download start request sending unit that sends, to the program delivery server, a download start request that specifies a program that is selected by the user from the download list; and

a program receiving unit that receives, as a response to the download start request, the program that is sent from the program delivery server.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the image forming apparatus further includes an operation history storing unit that stores therein history of an operation input performed by a user, and

the device information creating unit creates device information that includes at least information on an operation screen that is displayed on the operation window displaying unit when the user requests the program download and information on operation history related to the operation screen.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the information on the operation history included in the device information is information indicating a condition of a job that has been completed just before the user requests the program download.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the information on the operation history included in the device information is information related to a setting value that is changed from an initial value before the user requests the program download.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the information on the operation history included in the device information is information indicating the number of operations for each setting item that is performed until the user requests the program download.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the device information creating unit creates device information that includes at least information on an operation screen that is displayed on the operation window displaying unit when the user requests the program download, information on operation history related to the operation screen, and information related to the configuration of the image forming apparatus.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the device information creating unit creates device information that creates at least information on an operation screen that is displayed on the operation window displaying unit when the user requests the program download, information on operation history related to the operation screen, information related to the configuration of the image forming apparatus, and information related to an operator'"'"'s authority.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the input unit has a download instruction button that is operated by the user when the user requests the program, and

the download instruction button is arranged on the operation screen and is displayed on the operation window displaying unit in an operable manner.

17. A program delivery server that delivers, to an image forming apparatus that is connected to an information communication network, a program via the information communication network, the program delivery server comprising:

a device information receiving unit that receives, from the image forming apparatus, device information that includes at least information on an operation screen that is displayed on an operation window displaying unit in the image forming apparatus when a user requests a program download in the image forming apparatus;

a download list creating unit that extracts, from among all deliverable programs in accordance with the device information, only programs that correspond to an operation status of the image forming apparatus to create a download list;

a download list sending unit that sends the download list to the image forming apparatus;

a download start request receiving unit that receives a download start request that specifies a program that is selected from the download list by a user in the image forming apparatus; and

a program sending unit that sends, to the image forming apparatus, the program specified by the download start request.

18. The program delivery server according to claim 17, wherein the download list creating unit creates the download list by extracting, from among all deliverable programs in accordance with the device information, only programs that correspond to the operation status of the image forming apparatus and that conform to the configuration of the image forming apparatus.

19. The program delivery server according to claim 18, wherein the download list creating unit creates the download list by extracting, from among all deliverable programs in accordance with the device information, only programs that correspond to the operation status of the image forming apparatus, that conforms to the configuration of the image forming apparatus, and that conform to the operator'"'"'s authority.