JP5401425B2 - Electronic device and application management program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device and an application management program.

  In recent years, electronic devices that incorporate embedded systems and execute installed application programs have been widely used.

  Image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and multifunction machines are also included in such electronic devices. In an image forming apparatus, in addition to an application installed in advance, an application can be additionally installed from an external storage device to an internal storage device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, in an information processing apparatus, an application can be loaded from an external storage device and executed without installing the application from the external storage device (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-8-339302 JP 2007-41989

  In an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, an application can be loaded from an external storage device relatively freely like the one described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2. However, in an electronic device having an embedded system, a malfunction or failure may occur. Because of this, loading an application from an external storage device is normally prohibited. For this reason, in an electronic device having an embedded system, the application can be executed after being installed in the internal storage device.

  In such an electronic device, the number of installable applications is limited based on the capacity of the internal storage device. For this reason, when the remaining capacity of the internal storage device is small, or when the number of installed applications has reached a predetermined maximum number, it is not possible to newly install additional applications. In that case, even a temporarily used application that is permitted to be used only for a predetermined period by so-called “trial” cannot be additionally installed, and the user cannot try the application.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and obtains an electronic device and an application management program capable of temporarily executing a temporary use application regardless of the installation state of the application on the electronic device. Objective.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes (a) a first internal storage device that stores one or more installed application attribute data for each installed application, and (b) an application having a larger capacity than the first internal storage device A second internal storage device for storing a program; and (c) when installing a temporary use application, one of a plurality of installed application attribute data is erased from the first internal storage device and second is retracted inside the storage device, temporary use application application attribute data is stored in the first internal storage device, when uninstalling temporary use application after using temporary completion, the first internal storage application attribute data of the temporary use application Erase from device And a application management unit for restoring the application attribute data is saved in the second internal storage device in the first internal storage.

  Accordingly, the temporary use application can be temporarily executed in the electronic device regardless of the application installation status.

In addition to the above electronic device, the electronic device according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the electronic apparatus includes an interface to which an external device can be connected. Then, when the external device is connected to the interface, the application management unit acquires and installs the application attribute data of the temporary use application from the external device via the interface, and the connection between the external device and the interface is released. And automatically uninstall the temporary application.

  Thereby, when the connection with the external device is released, the application installed in the electronic device is automatically restored to the state before the temporary use application is installed.

In addition to the above electronic device, the electronic device according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the application management unit, when installing a temporary use application stores the application attribute data in the first internal storage for temporary use application stores an application program in the second internal storage device for temporary use application When the temporary use application is uninstalled, the application attribute data of the temporary use application is erased from the first internal storage device, and the application program of the temporary use application is erased from the second internal storage device.

In addition to the above electronic device, the electronic device according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, when the number of one or a plurality of installed applications is a predetermined maximum number, the application management unit erases the installed application attribute data from the first internal storage device when installing the temporary use application. When the temporary use application is uninstalled after the temporary use ends, the application attribute data saved in the second internal storage device is restored to the first internal storage device. When the number of installed applications is not the predetermined maximum number, the installed application attribute data is not saved when the temporarily used application is installed.

In addition to the above electronic device, the electronic device according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, when the remaining capacity of the first internal storage device is smaller than the size of the application attribute data of the temporary use application, the application management unit stores the installed application attribute data in the first internal storage when installing the temporary use application. When the temporary use application is uninstalled after the temporary use ends, the application attribute data saved in the second internal storage device is restored to the first internal storage device when the temporary use application is uninstalled after being erased from the device and saved in the second internal storage device. On the other hand, when the remaining capacity of the first internal storage device is equal to or larger than the size of the application attribute data of the temporary use application, the installed application attribute data is not saved when the temporary use application is installed.

  In addition to the above electronic device, the electronic device according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the temporary use application is an application that can be executed only for a predetermined period, and the application management unit uninstalls the temporary use application when the predetermined period ends.

  In addition to the above electronic device, the electronic device according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the first internal storage device is a non-volatile semiconductor memory, and the second internal storage device is a hard disk drive.

In addition to the above electronic device, the electronic device according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the application management unit generates a list of installed applications having a predetermined attribute or a list of installed applications not having the predetermined attribute, displays the list on the operation panel, and selects an application attribute of the application selected from the list Data is erased from the first internal storage device and saved in the second internal storage device.

An application management program according to the present invention stores a first internal storage device that stores one or a plurality of installed application attribute data for each installed application, and a second application program that has a larger capacity than the first internal storage device. When (a) a temporary use application is installed in a computer in an electronic device having an internal storage device, one of a plurality of installed application attribute data is erased from the first internal storage device and (2) storing the application attribute data of the temporary use application in the first internal storage device, and (b) temporarily uninstalling the temporary use application after the temporary use ends. Clear the application attribute data of Shon from the first internal storage device, and a step of restoring the application attribute data is saved in the second internal storage device in the first internal storage. Accordingly, the temporary use application can be temporarily executed in the electronic device regardless of the application installation status.

  According to the present invention, a temporary use application can be temporarily executed regardless of the installation state of the application in the electronic device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when installing a temporary use application. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when the temporary use application is uninstalled after the use permission period has elapsed. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when uninstalling the temporary use application by disconnecting the USB memory.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory 2 that is an external device can be connected to a multifunction device 1 that is an electronic device having an embedded system.

  The multifunction machine 1 is an example of an image forming apparatus, and includes a printer 11, a scanner 12, a facsimile machine 13, an operation panel 14, an interface 15, a flash memory 16, a hard disk drive 17, and an arithmetic processing unit 18. Is provided.

  The printer 11 is a device that prints a document image based on print data. The scanner 12 is a device that optically reads a document image from a document and generates image data of the document image. The facsimile machine 13 is a device that generates and transmits a facsimile signal from document data to be transmitted, and receives the facsimile signal and converts it into document data.

  The operation panel 14 is arranged on the surface of the housing of the multifunction device 1 and includes a display device that displays various information to the user and an input device that detects a user operation. For example, a liquid crystal display is used as the display device. A key switch, a touch panel, or the like is used as the input device.

  The interface 15 is a communication circuit for a predetermined peripheral device interface (here, USB).

  The flash memory 16 is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory and is a first internal storage device that stores various programs and various data. The hard disk drive 17 is a second internal storage device that stores various relatively large programs and various data.

  The flash memory 16 stores application attribute data 21-1 to 21 -N of applications installed in the multifunction machine 1. Application attribute data 21-i (i = 1,..., N) is attribute information of the i-th application (application ID, icon designation, application program path, resident program, activation state) , Creator, etc.). The application attribute data 21-1 to 21-N is stored in the flash memory 16 when an application is installed, and is read when displaying a list of applications, starting an application program 22-i, or the like.

  The hard disk drive 17 stores application programs 22-1 to 22-N of applications installed in the multifunction machine 1 and an application management program 33. The application programs 22-1 to 22-N are stored in the hard disk drive 17 when the application is installed, and are loaded into the arithmetic processing unit 18 when the application is executed. The application management program 23 is stored in advance in the hard disk drive 17.

  The application data of the i-th application includes application attribute data 31-i and application program 32-i. In the state shown in FIG. 1, a maximum number N of preset applications are installed in the multi-function device 1. ing.

  The arithmetic processing unit 18 is a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and programs from the flash memory 16, the hard disk drive 17, the ROM, etc. to the RAM. Various processing units are realized by loading and executing the program by the CPU.

  After the multifunction device 1 is started, various programs are appropriately executed by the arithmetic processing unit 18. In this embodiment, the processing unit 18 implements processing units such as an operating system, a platform 31, an application 32, and an application management unit 33 (not shown).

  The platform 31 is an execution platform that can execute various applications. In this embodiment, the platform 31 is a JAVA (registered trademark) virtual machine capable of executing a JAVA (registered trademark) application.

  The application 32 is a processing unit formed by executing the application program 22-i on the platform 31. The application 32 performs predetermined data processing and controls the printer 11, the scanner 12, the facsimile apparatus 13, the operation panel 14, and the like. In this embodiment, the application 32 is a JAVA (registered trademark) application.

  The application management unit 33 is a processing unit formed by executing the application management program 23. The application management unit 33 performs application installation, uninstallation, activation, deactivation, application activation, application termination, and the like.

  Furthermore, when installing the temporary use application, the application management unit 33 stores any one of one or a plurality of installed application data (here, application attribute data 21-1 to 21-N) in the flash memory 16. And the application data of the temporary use application (in this case, application attribute data of the temporary use application) is stored in the flash memory 16. In addition, when uninstalling the temporary use application after the temporary use is completed, the application management unit 33 erases the application data of the temporary use application (here, the application attribute data of the temporary use application) from the flash memory 16, and the hard disk drive The application data saved here in 17 (here, the application attribute data 21-i) is restored to the flash memory 16.

  Further, when the USB memory 2 is connected to the interface 15, the application management unit 33 acquires and installs installation data 41 including application data of a temporary use application from the USB memory 2 via the interface 15. 2 and the interface 15 are released, the temporary use application is automatically uninstalled from the multifunction device 1.

  Specifically, the application management unit 33 reads the temporary use application installation data 41 from the USB memory 2 via the interface 15. If the installation data 41 is encrypted, the application management unit 33 decrypts the installation data 41. Then, the application management unit 33 extracts the attribute data and program of the temporary use application from the installation data 41. For example, the attribute data of the temporary use application includes information indicating that the application is a temporary use application, and specifies a usable period. The temporary use application is an application that can be executed only for a predetermined period, and the application management unit 33 uninstalls the temporary use application when the predetermined period ends.

  Furthermore, when installing the temporary use application, the application management unit 33 stores the attribute data of the temporary use application in the flash memory 16, stores the program of the temporary use application in the hard disk drive 17, and uninstalls the temporary use application. At this time, the attribute data of the temporary use application is erased from the flash memory 16 and the program of the temporary use application is erased from the hard disk drive 17.

  Next, the operation of the electronic device will be described. Here, the operation at the time of installing and uninstalling the temporary use application will be described.

(A) Operation during installation

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the multifunction device 1 shown in FIG. 1 when installing a temporary use application.

  When the application management unit 33 detects that the USB memory 2 is connected to the interface 15 (step S1), the application management unit 33 determines whether the number of installed applications in the multifunction device 1 is a predetermined maximum number N (step S1). S2).

  If the number of installed applications is the predetermined maximum number N, the application management unit 33 displays a warning screen on the operation panel 14 (step S3). The warning screen displays a message that the number of installed applications has reached the predetermined maximum number N, and an input operation for whether to use any temporarily used application by evacuating any installed application. Contains a prompt message.

  Then, the user performs an input operation for using the temporary use application or an input operation for not using the temporary use application on the operation panel 14, and the operation is detected by the application management unit 33 (step S1). S4).

  When an input operation indicating that the temporary use application is not used is performed, the application management unit 33 ends this process. On the other hand, when an input operation indicating that the temporary use application is used is detected, the application management unit 33 reads the attribute data 21-1 to 21-N of the installed application, generates a list of installed applications, It is displayed on the operation panel 14 (step S5).

  When generating the list of installed applications, the application management unit 33 filters the installed applications based on the attribute data 21-1 to 21-N, generates a list of applications having predetermined attributes, A list of applications that do not have attributes may be generated.

  For example, the application management unit 33 may generate a list of applications that are not resident programs. Further, for example, the application management unit 33 may generate a list of applications whose creator is a user (that is, a user who is logged in to the multifunction device 1).

  Thereafter, when a user operation for selecting an application to be saved from the displayed list is detected, the application management unit 33 selects an application to be saved according to the operation (step S6), and attribute data 21 of the application. -I is evacuated (step S7). Specifically, the application management unit 33 compresses the attribute data 21-i, stores the compressed attribute data 21-i in the hard disk drive 17, and then deletes the attribute data 21-i from the flash memory 16. To do.

  If it is determined in step S2 that the number of installed applications has not reached the predetermined maximum number N, the application management unit 33 skips the processes in steps S3 to S7.

  Then, the application management unit 33 installs a temporary use application (step S8). Specifically, the application management unit 33 extracts the temporary use application attribute data and program from the installation data 41, stores the attribute data in the flash memory 16, and stores the program in the hard disk drive 17.

  When the installation is completed, the application management unit 33 reads the attribute data and activates the temporary use application (step S9).

  In this way, the temporary use application is installed in the multifunction device 1.

(B) Operation during uninstallation

  Uninstallation of the temporary use application is automatically executed when (b1) the use permission period of the temporary use application elapses or (b2) release of connection with the USB memory 2 is detected.

(B1) When the usage permission period of the temporary use application has elapsed

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the multifunction device 1 shown in FIG. 1 when the temporary use application is uninstalled after the use permission period has elapsed.

  When detecting the elapse of the use permission period of the installed temporary use application (step S11), the application management unit 33 uninstalls the temporary use application from the multi function device 1 (step S12). Specifically, the application management unit 33 deletes the attribute data of the temporary use application from the flash memory 16 and deletes the program of the temporary use application from the hard disk drive 17.

  Then, the application management unit 33 determines whether there is an application in which the attribute data 21-i is saved when the temporary use application is installed (step S13). If such an application exists, The attribute data 21-i is restored to the flash memory 16 (step S14). Specifically, the application management unit 33 reads the compressed attribute data 21-i from the hard disk drive 17 and decompresses it, stores the decompressed attribute data 21-i in the flash memory 16, and then compresses it. The attribute data 21-i is deleted from the hard disk drive 17.

  In this manner, the temporary use application is uninstalled from the multifunction device 1 when the use permission period has elapsed.

(B2) When disconnection from the USB memory 2 is detected

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the electronic device shown in FIG. 1 when the temporary use application is uninstalled by disconnecting the USB memory 2.

  When the application management unit 33 detects disconnection of the USB memory 2 from the interface 15 (step S21), the application management unit 33 determines whether there is a temporary use application installed from the USB memory 2 (step S22).

  If there is no temporarily used application installed from the USB memory 2, the application management unit 33 ends this process. On the other hand, when there is a temporary use application installed from the USB memory 2, the application management unit 33 uninstalls the temporary use application from the multi function device 1 (step S13). Specifically, the application management unit 33 deletes the attribute data of the temporary use application from the flash memory 16 and deletes the program of the temporary use application from the hard disk drive 17.

  Then, the application management unit 33 determines whether there is an application in which the attribute data 21-i has been saved when the temporary use application is installed (step S24). If such an application exists, The attribute data 21-i is restored to the flash memory 16 (step S25). Specifically, the application management unit 33 reads the compressed attribute data 21-i from the hard disk drive 17 and decompresses it, stores the decompressed attribute data 21-i in the flash memory 16, and then compresses it. The attribute data 21-i is deleted from the hard disk drive 17.

  In this way, the temporary use application is uninstalled from the multifunction device 1 when the USB memory 2 is detached.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the application management unit 33 deletes one or more installed application data from the flash memory 16 when installing the temporary use application. The hard disk drive 17 is saved and the application data of the temporary use application is stored in the flash memory 16. Then, when uninstalling the temporary use application after the temporary use ends, the application management unit 33 erases the application data of the temporary use application from the flash memory 16 and saves the application data saved in the hard disk drive 17 to the flash memory 16. Restore.

  As a result, regardless of the application installation status (the number of installed applications and the total size) in the multifunction device 1, the temporarily used application can be temporarily executed in the multifunction device 1. In addition, since the state of the multifunction device 1 is restored to the state before use after the temporary use application, an unspecified user temporarily loads a desired application in a multifunction device installed in a public facility such as a convenience store. It can be used as an application.

  The above-described embodiments are preferred examples of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. is there.

  For example, in the above embodiment, when the number of installed applications is the maximum number, the installed applications are saved. Instead, the remaining amount of flash memory 16 is determined based on the size of application data of the temporary use application. Similarly, when the capacity is small, the installed application may be saved.

  In the above embodiment, only the application attribute data 21-i of the application data is stored in the flash memory 16, but the attribute data 21-i and the program 22-i of the application data are stored in the flash memory 16. You may make it memorize. In this case, as in the case described above, the application program 22-i is also saved from the flash memory 16 to the hard disk drive 17 when the temporary use application is temporarily installed, and the temporary use application is then uninstalled. At that time, it is restored to the flash memory 16.

  In the above-described embodiment, the USB memory 2 is used as the external device. Instead, another portable storage medium such as a memory card may be used. In that case, the interface 15 corresponding to the portable storage medium is used. Further, instead of the storage medium, a communication device or another electronic device may be used instead of the USB memory 2.

  In the above embodiment, the user selects the application to be saved from the installed application. Instead, the application management unit 33 may automatically select the installed application to be saved. .

  The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, and a multifunction peripheral.

1 MFP (an example of electronic equipment)
2 USB memory (an example of an external device)
15 Interface 16 Flash memory (an example of a first internal storage device)
17 Hard disk drive (example of second internal storage device)
18 Arithmetic processing unit (an example of a computer)
21-1 to 21-N Application attribute data (an example of application data)
22-1 to 22-N Application program 23 Application management program 33 Application management unit

Claims (9)

In an electronic device having an embedded system,
A first internal storage device that stores one or more installed application attribute data for each installed application;
A second internal storage device storing an application program having a larger capacity than the first internal storage device;
When installing a temporary use application, any one of the one or more installed application attribute data is erased from the first internal storage device and saved in the second internal storage device. the application attribute data is stored in the first internal storage device, when uninstalling the temporary use application after using temporary completion, erases the application attribute data of the temporary use application from the first internal storage device, wherein An application management unit that restores the application attribute data saved in the second internal storage device to the first internal storage device;
An electronic device comprising: It has an interface that can connect external devices,
When the external device is connected to the interface, the application management unit acquires and installs the application attribute data of the temporary use application from the external device via the interface, and the external device and the interface Automatically disconnecting the temporary use application when disconnected
The electronic device according to claim 1. Before SL application management unit, when installing the temporary use application the application attribute data is stored in the first internal storage device, the second inner said application program of the temporary use application of the temporary use application When the temporary use application is stored in the storage device and the temporary use application is uninstalled, the application attribute data of the temporary use application is deleted from the first internal storage device, and the application program of the temporary use application is deleted from the second internal application Erasing from the storage device,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: When the number of the one or more installed applications is a predetermined maximum number, the application management unit receives the installed application attribute data from the first internal storage device when installing the temporary use application. When the temporary use application is uninstalled after being erased and saved in the second internal storage device, and the temporary use application is uninstalled, the application attribute data saved in the second internal storage device is stored in the first internal storage device. The restored application attribute data is not saved when the temporary use application is installed when the number of the one or more installed applications that are restored is not a predetermined maximum number. From Electronic device according to any one of the Motomeko 3. When the remaining capacity of the first internal storage device is smaller than the size of the application attribute data of the temporary use application, the application management unit is configured to store the installed application attribute data when the temporary use application is installed. When the temporary use application is uninstalled after the temporary use is completed, the application attribute data saved in the second internal storage device is deleted from the first internal storage device and saved in the second internal storage device. restored to 1 internal storage device, wherein when the remaining capacity of the first internal storage device is greater than or equal to the size of the application attribute data of the temporary use application when installing the temporary use application the installed app Electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that does not retract the Shon attribute data. The temporary use application is an application that can be executed only for a predetermined period,
The application management unit uninstalls the temporary use application when the predetermined period ends;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: The first internal storage device is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory,
The second internal storage device is a hard disk drive;
The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein The application management unit generates a list of the installed applications having a predetermined attribute or a list of the installed applications that do not have a predetermined attribute, displays the list on an operation panel, and the application selected from the list is displayed on the operation panel. 8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein application attribute data is erased from the first internal storage device and saved in the second internal storage device. 1 or the first and the internal storage device for storing a plurality of installed application attribute data for each of the installed applications, larger capacity than the first internal storage device, and a second internal storage device for storing application programs To the computer in the electronic equipment
When installing a temporary use application, any one of the one or more installed application attribute data is erased from the first internal storage device and saved in the second internal storage device. Storing the application attribute data of the first internal storage device;
When uninstalling the temporary use application after the end of temporary use, the application attribute data of the temporary use application is deleted from the first internal storage device, and the application attribute data saved in the second internal storage device is stored in the second internal storage device. Restoring to the first internal storage device;
An application management program for executing

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