Data processing apparatus, computer-readable recording medium, and data processing system

• US 9,374,272 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Akiyama, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Gillis, Brian J
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRIJALVA LOBOS, BORIS D
• Application Number:
  US13/771,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20130232239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/220, 709/222, 709/226, 709/227, 709/228, 709/245
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0889 Techniques to speed-up the configuration process

Abstract

A data processing apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive an input of user information, a determining unit configured to determine a destination corresponding to the user information, a preparing unit configured to prepare a computer program for enabling an information terminal device to which the computer program is installed to use a data processing function provided by the data processing apparatus and configuration information related to the data processing function, and a transmitting unit configured to transmit instruction information giving an instruction as to how the computer program and the configuration information are acquired to the destination thus determined over a network.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus configured to distribute a computer program included in a package, the data processing apparatus comprising:

a display configured to display a screen requesting receipt of input of user information; and

a processor configured to,

determine whether or not the user information corresponds to a registered user,

determine whether there exists setting information that sets whether temporary use of the data processing apparatus by a user associated with the user information is permitted, if the user information does not correspond to the registered user,

issue user identification information, if the setting information exists, the user identification information including information indicating use restrictions with respect to functions of the data processing apparatus,

display, via the display, information indicating that distribution of the package for the user is not permitted, if the use restrictions do not satisfy a condition, and

distribute the package containing the computer program according to a selected route selected by the user and the use restrictions such that the processor controls access to the selected route based on the use restrictions, if the use restrictions do satisfy the condition.

2. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

the processor is configured to manage the use restrictions by managing a period of validity or use quantity restriction for using the data processing apparatus.

3. The data processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to display, on the display, information indicating that the distribution of the package for the user is not permitted, if the period of validity has expired or an upper limit of the use quantity restriction has been reached.

4. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to,

display, on the display, a screen requesting selection of the selected route for the distribution of the package from one of at least a web server, a file sharing service, and an e-mail attachment,

receive an input from the user of the selected route, and

distribute the package according to the selected route and the use restrictions such that the processor controls access to the selected route based on the use restrictions.

5. The data processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to control storing of the package and the configuration information by securing access thereto based on one or more of access control and password protection.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that contains computer readable instructions that, when executed, causes a processor to distribute a computer program included in a package by,

displaying, via a display, a screen requesting receipt of input of user information,

determining whether or not the user information corresponds to a registered user,

determining whether there exists setting information that sets whether temporary use of the data processing apparatus by a user associated with the user information is permitted, if the user information does not correspond to the registered user,

issuing user identification information, if the setting information exists, the user identification information including information indicating use restrictions with respect to functions of the data processing apparatus,

displaying, via the display, information indicating that distribution of the package for the user is not permitted, if the use restrictions do not satisfy a condition, and

distributing the package containing the computer program according to a selected route selected by user and the use restrictions such that the processor controls access to the selected route based on the use restrictions, if the use restrictions do satisfy the condition.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, causes the processor to,

display, on the display, a screen requesting selection of the selected route for the distribution of the package from one of at least a web server, a file sharing service, and an e-mail attachment,

receive an input from the user of the selected route, and

distribute the package according to the selected route and the use restrictions such that the processor controls access to the selected route based on the use restrictions.

7. A data processing system comprising:

a data processing apparatus including a first processor configured to display, via a display, a screen requesting receipt of input of user information; and

one or more servers connected to the data processing apparatus over a network, at least one of the one or more servers including a second processor configured to,

determine whether or not the user information corresponds to a registered user,

determine whether there exists setting information that sets whether temporary use of the data processing apparatus by a user associated with the user information is permitted, if the user information does not correspond to the registered user,

issue user identification information, if the setting information exists, the user identification information including information indicating use restrictions with respect to functions of the data processing apparatus,

display, via the display, information indicating that distribution of the package for the user is not permitted, if the use restrictions do not satisfy a condition, and

distribute the package containing the computer program according to a selected route selected by the user and the use restrictions such that the processor controls access to the selected route based on the use restrictions, if the use restrictions do satisfy the condition.

9. The data processing system according to claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to,

display, on the display, a screen requesting selection of the selected route for the distribution of the package from one of at least a web server, a file sharing service, and an e-mail attachment,

receive an input from the user of the selected route, and

distribute the package according to the selected route and the use restrictions such that the processor controls access to the selected route based on the use restrictions.