Information processor having program and configuration data stored in different storage areas and reflecting configuration data in operation in program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9471328-B2
Application number	US-201313790362-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2013
Priority date	Mar 13, 2012
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

An information processor has a program stored in a first storage area. The program is installed when authenticated based on a comparison of authentication information generated from the pre-certified files of the program and authentication information of the pre-certified files written in an authentication information file. The pre-certified files include the authentication information file and a first configuration file that defines an operation of the program. When the program is executed, the information processor searches for a second configuration file that exists when the program is installed and has the same file configuration as the first configuration file. Configuration data written in the second configuration file are registered with a second storage area different from the first storage area, when the second configuration file is located by the search. The configuration data are reflected in the operation of the program when determined as being stored in the second storage area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information processor, comprising:
a processor; and
a storage device including a first storage area in which a program is stored, the program being installed in the information processor through authentication based on a comparison of authentication information generated from a plurality of pre-certified files of the program and authentication information of the plurality of pre-certified files written in an authentication information file, the plurality of pre-certified files including the authentication information file and a first configuration file that defines an operation of the program,
wherein the program, when executed by the processor, causes the information processor to
search the information processor for a second configuration file, the second configuration file existing in the information processor at a time of the installation of the program and having a same file configuration as the first configuration file;
register configuration data written in the second configuration file with a second storage area different from the first storage area in which the program is stored, in response to locating the second configuration file by the search;
determine whether the configuration data are stored in the second storage area; and
reflect the configuration data in the operation of the program in response to determining that the configuration data are stored in the second storage area,
wherein the information processor is caused to register the configuration data in correlation with non-redundant logical printer information, the non-redundant logical printer information being generated by an operating system in order to identify a setting for a hardware item controlled by the information processor,
wherein the second configuration file is stored in a folder or a directory whose folder name or directly name includes the logical printer information, and
wherein the information processor is caused to register the configuration data in correlation with the logical printer information on a folder or directory basis.

2. The information processor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information processor is caused to store the configuration data in a PrinterDriverData registry as the second storage area.

3. The information processor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information processor is caused to, in response to determining that the configuration data are stored, reflect the configuration data in the operation of the program in preference to default configuration data written in the first configuration file in the first storage area.

4. The information processor as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein multiple setting items are writable in the configuration data, and
wherein the information processor is caused to, when none of the setting items is written in the configuration data, read prescribed values of the setting items not written in the configuration data from a function management database.

5. The information processor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information processor is cause to search for a configuration file instruction information file specifying a filename of the second configuration file, and to register the configuration data written in the second configuration file specified by the configuration file instruction information file with the second storage area.

6. The information processor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information processor is caused to read a digital signature of the second configuration file, and to register the configuration data written in the second configuration file when the digital signature of the second configuration file matches a digital signature created from the second configuration file stored in the information processor.

7. The information processor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the information processor is further caused to display a screen displaying and receiving a prescribed value of a function provided by a hardware item controlled by the information processor,
wherein the information processor is caused to create the screen using the configuration data when the configuration data are stored in the second storage area, and to create the screen using default configuration data written in the first configuration file when the configuration data are not stored in the second storage area.

8. The information processor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first configuration file is a default configuration file of the program, and the second configuration file is a customized configuration file constructed outside a configuration of the program.

Assignees

• Fukasawa Naoki
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fukasawa Naoki

Classifications

• G06F9/4401 Primary

  Bootstrapping (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) · CPC title

• G06F21/608 Primary

  Secure printing · CPC title