Configuration value management apparatus and management method

• US 8,838,790 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shibao, Koki
• Primary Examiner(s): Joo, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US13/473,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20120324210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-224, 358/1.13, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 709/224
• 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 CPU coupled to a memory, wherein the CPU is programmed to provide;

a generating unit that generates virtual configuration values for a specific 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 using device configuration data indicating a configuration of a device in the specific image forming apparatus; and

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

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

3. The configuration value management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when the tenant configuration values are linked to a virtual device, or when a new model of an image forming apparatus has been added, the value of the new settings item is input in the virtual configuration values.

4. The configuration value management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tenant configuration values are configuration values set in the multiple image forming apparatuses.

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

generating virtual configuration values for a specific 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 using device configuration data indicating a configuration of a device in the specific image forming apparatus; and

applying, in a case where a new settings item is present in the virtual configuration values generated in the generating step, the new settings item to settings items in tenant configuration values.

6. The management method according to claim 5, wherein, in the applying step, a default value or a value inputted by an administrator is used as a value of the new settings item when applying the new settings item to the settings items in the tenant configuration values.

7. The management method according to claim 6, wherein, when the tenant configuration values are linked to a virtual device, or when a new model of an image forming apparatus has been added, the value of the new settings item is input in the virtual configuration values.

8. The management method according to claim 5, wherein the tenant configuration values are configuration values set in the multiple image forming apparatuses.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program that when executed causes a computer to perform a management method for a configuration value management apparatus, the management method comprising steps of:

generating virtual configuration values for a specific 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 using device configuration data indicating a configuration of a device in the specific image forming apparatus; and

applying, in a case where a new settings item is present in the virtual configuration values generated in the generating step, the new settings item to settings items in tenant configuration values.