CONFIGURATION VALUE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND MANAGEMENT METHOD

• US 20120324210A1
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shibao, Koki
• Granted Patent: US 8,838,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• 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 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1287 via internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup

Abstract

Virtual configuration values are generated in accordance with the model of a specified image forming apparatus using a model-based configuration value schema that defines a configuration value schema for each model of multiple image forming apparatuses and tenant configuration values in which a user has set configuration values for the multiple image forming apparatuses. In the case where a new settings item is present in the generated virtual configuration values, the new settings item is applied to settings items in the tenant configuration values.

Claims

1. A configuration value management apparatus that collectively manages configuration values of multiple image forming apparatuses, the configuration value management apparatus comprising:

a generating unit that generates virtual configuration values in accordance with the model of a specified image forming apparatus using a model-based configuration value schema that defines a configuration value schema for each model of the multiple image forming apparatuses and tenant configuration values in which a user has set configuration values for the multiple image forming apparatuses;

an applying unit that, in the case where a new settings item is present in the virtual configuration values generated by the generating unit, applies the new settings item to settings items in the tenant configuration values; and

a managing unit that holds and manages the virtual configuration values generated by the generating unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generating unit generates the virtual configuration values using device configuration data indicating the device configurations of the multiple image forming apparatuses.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the applying unit uses default values or values inputted by an administrator as the values of the settings items when applying the new settings item to the settings items of the tenant configuration values.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the configuration values are input when the tenant configuration values are linked to a virtual device or when a new model has been added.

5. A management method for a configuration value management apparatus that collectively manages configuration values of multiple image forming apparatuses, the method comprising:

generating virtual configuration values in accordance with the model of a specified image forming apparatus using a model-based configuration value schema that defines a configuration value schema for each model of the multiple image forming apparatuses and tenant configuration values in which a user has set configuration values for the multiple image forming apparatuses;

applying, in the case where a new settings item is present in the generated virtual configuration values, the new settings item to settings items in the tenant configuration values; and

holding and managing the generated virtual configuration values.

6. A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for causing a computer to execute the management method according to claim 5.