Systems and computer readable recording medium for obtaining software via a network for a multifunction image forming apparatus

• US 7,386,486 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Abe, Yoshihiko, Fujishige, Takezo
• Primary Examiner(s): Garg; Yogesh C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen; William J.
• Application Number:
  US10/900,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20050027615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/26.35
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/572 Secure firmware programming, e.g. of basic input output system [BIOS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00 Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34

Abstract

A multifunction image forming apparatus accepts voice input of a software name by an order applicant, carries out voice recognizing processing concerning the voice data of the software name that is voice input, and stores the software name recognized by the voice recognizing processing. Then, the multifunction image forming apparatus checks whether the order applicant is a person who has the authority to order the software. In a case where it is determined that the order applicant is a person who has the authority to order, order data including the recognized software name is sent to a software management server via a network. The multifunction image forming apparatus receives data of the software from the software management server, temporarily stores it, and thereafter, reads the data of the stored software, and carries out installing of the software.

Claims

1. A software obtaining system for obtaining software via a network, that comprises a multifunction image forming apparatus that includes at least one function of a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile,

wherein the multifunction image forming apparatus comprises:

an input operation unit wherein a software is designated, the input operation unit including a display to display a list of software, and an input for accepting a user'"'"'s selection of software from the list of software;

a physical information storing unit which stores physical information of a person who has the authority to order the designated software;

a physical information reading unit which reads the physical information of an order applicant;

an authentication control unit which matches the physical information of the order applicant read by the physical information reading unit, against the physical information of the person who has the authority to order the designated software, stored in the physical information storing unit, and checks whether the order applicant is a person who has the authority to order the designated software;

a sending unit which sends order data including the name of said software via said network based on the user'"'"'s selection from the list of software, in a case where it is determined by the authentication control unit that said order applicant is a person who has the authority to order the designated software; and

a storing unit which receives and stores data of the software that said order data indicates, via said network,

wherein said multifunction image forming apparatus further comprises an order information storing unit which stores the information concerning the ordered software,

wherein said order information storing unit stores software discount calculating information used for requesting discount of software, and

wherein said multifunction image forming apparatus comprises an order information management unit which creates discount information for requesting discount of software, based on information concerning the installed software and said discount calculating information.

2. The software obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein said multifunction image forming apparatus comprises:

a voice input unit which accepts voice input of a software name by an order applicant, and

a voice recognizing unit which carries out voice recognizing processing concerning the voice data of the software name that is voice input, and specifies the name of the software.

3. The software obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein the physical information reading unit of the multifunction image forming apparatus reads at least one of, finger print information, iris information, and vein pattern information.

4. The software obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein the physical information stored in said physical information storing unit is at least one of, finger print information, iris information, vein pattern information, and voice pattern information.

5. The software obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein said order information management unit calculates an accumulated amount of utility fee of software based on said order information, and calculates at least either the discount rate or the discount amount of software, based on said calculated accumulated amount.

6. The software obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein said multifunction image forming apparatus further comprises a software obtaining control unit which reads data of said software from said storing unit, and carries out installing of said software.

7. The software obtaining system according to claim 6, wherein said software obtaining control unit stores the name of the software that is installed, to said order information storing unit, and determines whether the software name input by said input operation unit is stored as a software name that is installed.

8. The software obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein said image forming apparatus comprises a physical information matching unit which is connected by a wireless LAN, and said physical information matching unit comprises:

a physical information registering unit which stores the physical information of the person who has the authority to order software, in advance;

a physical information reading unit which reads physical information; and

a physical information determining unit which determines whether the physical information read in said physical information reading unit is stored in said physical information registering unit.

9. The software obtaining system according to claim 8, wherein said physical information is at least one of, finger print, voice, iris, and vein pattern.

10. The software obtaining system according to claim 1, wherein said multifunction image forming apparatus comprises an input unit which is connected by a wireless LAN, and further comprises at least either a physical information reading unit which reads physical information of the order applicant or a voice input unit, each of the physical information reading unit and the voice input unit being connected to the multifunction image forming apparatus by wireless LAN.

11. A software obtaining system for obtaining software via a network, that comprises

a multifunction image forming apparatus that includes at least one function of a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, and

a software management server which is connected to said multifunction image forming apparatus via a network, receives a request from said multifunction image forming apparatus, and sends software to the multifunction image forming apparatus,

wherein said multifunction image forming apparatus comprises:

an input operation unit wherein a software is designated, the input operation unit, including a display to display a list of software, and an input for accepting a user'"'"'s selection of software from the list of software;

a physical information storing unit which stores physical information of a person who has the authority to order the designated software;

a physical information reading unit which reads the physical information of an order applicant;

an authentication control unit which matches the physical information of the order applicant read by the physical information reading unit, against the physical information of the person who has the authority to order the designated software, stored in the physical information storing unit, and checks whether the order applicant is a person who has the authority to order the designated software;

a sending unit which sends order data including the name of said software, to said management server via said network, based on the user'"'"'s selection from the list of software, in a case where it is determined by the authentication control unit that said order applicant is a person who has the authority to order the designated software; and

a storing unit which receives data of the software that said order data indicates from said software management server, via said network, and stores the received data,

wherein said multifunction image forming apparatus further comprises an order information storing unit which stores the information concerning the ordered software,

wherein said order information storing unit stores software discount calculating information used for requesting discount of software, and

wherein said multifunction image forming apparatus comprises an order information management unit which creates discount information for requesting discount of software, based on information concerning the installed software and said discount calculating information.

12. A computer readable recording medium which stores a program for controlling a computer to execute:

a step of designating a software to be obtained, including displaying a list of software, and accepting a user'"'"'s selection of software from the list of software;

a step of storing physical information of a person who has the authority to order the designated software, in advance;

a step of reading the physical information of an order applicant;

a step of matching the read physical information of the order applicant against the physical information of the person who has the authority to order the designated software, which is stored in advance, and checking whether the order applicant is a person who has the authority to order the designated software;

a step of sending order data including the name of said software, via said network, based on the user'"'"'s selection from the list of software, in a case where it is determined that said order applicant is a person who has the authority to order the designated software, by said step of checking whether the order applicant is a person who has the authority to order the designated software, and

a step of receiving data of the software that said order data indicates, via said network, and storing the data,

a step of storing, in an order information storing unit, the information concerning the ordered software,

a step of storing, in said order information storing unit, software discount calculating information used for requesting discount of software, and

a step of creating discount information for requesting discount of software, based on information concerning the installed software and said discount calculating information.

13. A software obtaining system for obtaining software via a network, that comprises a multifunction image forming apparatus that includes at least one function of a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile,

wherein the multifunction image forming apparatus comprises:

an input operation unit wherein a software is designated;

a physical information storing unit which stores physical information of a person who has the authority to order the designated software;

a physical information reading unit which reads the physical information of an order applicant;

an authentication control unit which matches the physical information of the order applicant read by the physical information reading unit, against the physical information of the person who has the authority to order the designated software, stored in the physical information storing unit, and checks whether the order applicant is a person who has the authority to order the designated software;

a sending unit which sends order data including the name of said software via said network, in a case where it is determined by the authentication control unit that said order applicant is a person who has the authority to order the designated software; and

a storing unit which receives and stores data of the software that said order data indicates, via said network; and

an order information storing unit which stores the information concerning the ordered software,

wherein said order information storing unit stores software discount calculating information used for requesting discount of software, and

wherein said multifunction image forming apparatus comprises an order information management unit which creates discount information for requesting discount of software, based on information concerning the installed software and said discount calculating information.

14. The software obtaining system according to claim 13, wherein said multifunction image forming apparatus comprises:

a voice input unit which accepts voice input of a software name by an order applicant, and

a voice recognizing unit which carries out voice recognizing processing concerning the voice data of the software name that is voice input, and specifies the name of the software.

15. The software obtaining system according to claim 13, wherein the physical information reading unit of the multifunction image forming apparatus reads at least one of, finger print information, iris information, and vein pattern information.

16. The software obtaining system according to claim 13, wherein the physical information stored in said physical information storing unit is at least one of, finger print information, iris information, vein pattern information, and voice pattern information.

17. The software obtaining system according to claim 13, wherein said order information management unit calculates an accumulated amount of utility fee of software based on said order information, and calculates at least either the discount rate or the discount amount of software, based on said calculated accumulated amount.

18. The software obtaining system according to claim 13, wherein said multifunction image forming apparatus further comprises a software obtaining control unit which reads data of said software from said storing unit, and carries out installing of said software.

19. The software obtaining system according to claim 18, wherein said software obtaining control unit stores the name of the software that is installed, to said order information storing unit, and determines whether, the software name input by said input operation unit is stored as a software name that is installed.