Duplicate Setting Prevention System For Image Processing Apparatus

Abstract

A duplicate setting prevention system for an image processing apparatus includes a setting file, a set of history information, a determination unit, a setting unit, a prohibiting unit, and a history information recording unit. The setting file is stored in a removable memory removably mounted on an image processing apparatus and is for setting the image processing apparatus. The set of history information is stored in the removable memory and indicates that the image processing apparatus has been set based on the setting file. When the removable memory is mounted on the image processing apparatus, the determination unit reads out the history information set and determines that a setting has been performed to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file. The setting unit performs the setting to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file. The prohibiting unit prohibits the setting unit from performing the setting to the image processing apparatus when the determination unit determines that the setting has been performed to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file. The history information recording unit records, in the history information set of the removable memory, that the setting is performed to the image processing apparatus after the setting unit has completed the setting based on the setting file.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing information stored in a removable memory included in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a history file stored in the removable memory shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view showing programs for constituting a duplicate setting prevention program stored in a ROM included in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view showing information stored in an EEPROM included in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a personal computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of creating a setting file by means of a setting file creation program in the personal computer shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the duplicate setting prevention system (duplicate setting prevention program) for the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A duplicate setting prevention system for an image processing apparatus, comprising: a setting file that is stored in a removable memory removably mounted on an image processing apparatus and that is for setting the image processing apparatus;a set of history information that is stored in the removable memory and indicates that the image processing apparatus has been set based on the setting file;a determination unit that, when the removable memory is mounted on the image processing apparatus, reads out the history information set and determines that a setting has been performed to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file;a setting unit that performs the setting to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file ;a prohibiting unit that prohibits the setting unit from performing the setting to the image processing apparatus when the determination unit determines that the setting has been performed to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file; anda history information recording unit that records, in the history information set of the removable memory, that the setting is performed to the image processing apparatus after the setting unit has completed the setting based on the setting file.

2. The duplicate setting prevention system according to claim 1, further comprising: an annunciation unit that annunciates that the setting has been already performed to the image processing apparatus when the determination unit determines that the setting has been performed based on the setting file.

3. The duplicate setting prevention system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the history information set includes a combination of a set of first information identifying the setting file and a set of second information identifying the image processing apparatus, and wherein the prohibiting unit prohibits the setting unit from performing the setting to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file when the determination unit determines that the history information set includes the combination of the first information set and the second information set.

4. The duplicate setting prevention system according to claim 2, further comprising: a standby state changing unit that changes a state of the image processing apparatus to a standby state after the annunciation unit performs the annunciation.

5. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a mounting section that is capable of removably mounting a removable memory, the removable memory storing therein a setting file and a set of history information, the setting file being for setting the image processing apparatus, the history information set indicating that the image processing apparatus has been set based on the setting file;a determination unit that, when the removable memory is mounted on the mounting section, reads out the history information set and determines that a setting has been performed to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file;a setting unit that performs the setting based on the setting file;a prohibiting unit that prohibits the setting unit from performing the setting to the image processing apparatus the setting unit when the determination unit determines that the setting has been performed to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file; anda history information recording unit that records, in the history information set of the removable memory, that the setting is performed to the image processing apparatus after the setting unit has completed the setting based on the setting file.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an annunciation unit that annunciates that the setting has been already performed to the image processing apparatus when the determination unit determines that the setting has been performed based on the setting file.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an identification information storage unit that stores a set of identification information identifying the image processing apparatus, whereinthe determination unit determines that the history information set includes a combination of a set of first information identifying the setting file and a set of second information that is the same as the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit, andwherein the prohibiting unit prohibits the setting unit from performing the setting based on the setting file when the determination unit determines that the history information set includes the combination of the first information set and the second information set.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a standby state changing unit that changes a state of the image processing apparatus to a standby state after the annunciation unit performs the annunciation.

9. A computer readable medium containing a duplicate setting prevention program for instructing the image processing apparatus, the duplicate setting prevention program comprising: a program for detecting a removable memory that stores a setting file and a set of history information, the setting file being for setting the image processing apparatus, the history information set indicating that the image processing apparatus has been set based on the setting file;a program for reading out the history information set when the detecting program detects the removable-memory and for determining that a setting has been performed to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file;a program for performing the setting based on the setting file;a program for prohibiting the performing program from performing the setting to the image processing apparatus when it is determined that the setting has been performed to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file; anda program for recording, in the history information set of the removable memory, that the setting is performed to the image processing apparatus after the performing program has completed the setting based on the setting file.

10. The computer readable medium according to claim 9, the duplicate setting prevention program further comprising: a program for annunciating that the setting has been already performed to the image processing apparatus when the determining program determines that the setting has been performed based on the setting file.

11. The computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the determining program determines that the history information set includes a combination of a set of first information identifying the setting file and a set of second information identifying the image processing apparatus, and wherein the prohibiting program prohibits the performing program from performing the setting to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file when the determining program determines that the history information set includes the combination of the first information set and the second information set.

12. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, the duplicate setting prevention program further comprising a program for changing a state of the image processing apparatus to a standby state after the annunciating program performs the annunciation.

13. A duplicate setting prevention method comprising: detecting a removable memory that stores a setting file and a set of history information, the setting file being for setting the image processing apparatus, the history information set indicating that the image processing apparatus has been set based on the setting file;reading out the history information set when the removable memory is detected and determining that a setting has been performed to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file;prohibiting the setting to the image processing apparatus when it is determined that the setting has been performed to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file; andrecording, in the history information set of the removable memory, that the setting is performed to the image processing apparatus after the setting has been completed based on the setting file.

14. The duplicate setting prevention method according to claim 13, further comprising: annunciating that the setting has been already performed to the image processing apparatus when it is determined that the setting has been performed based on the setting file.

15. The duplicate setting prevention method according to claim 13, wherein it is determined that the history information set includes a combination of a set of first information identifying the setting file and a set of second information identifying the image processing apparatus, and wherein the setting is prohibited to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file when it is determined that the history information set includes the combination of the first information set and the second information set.

16. The duplicate setting prevention method according to claim 14, further comprising changing a state of the image processing apparatus to a standby state after the annunciation is performed.

17. A combination of a removable memory and an image processing apparatus, the combination comprising: a removable memory that stores therein a setting file and a set of history information, the setting file being for setting the image processing apparatus, the history information set indicating that the image processing apparatus has been set based on the setting file;an image forming apparatus comprising: a mounting section that is capable of removably mounting the removable memory,a determination unit that, when the removable memory is mounted on the mounting section, reads out the history information set and determines that a setting has been performed to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file;a setting unit that performs the setting based on the setting file;a prohibiting unit that prohibits the setting unit from performing the setting to the image processing apparatus the setting unit when the determination unit determines that the setting has been performed to the image processing apparatus based on the setting file; anda history information recording unit that records, in the history information set of the removable memory, that the setting is performed to the image processing apparatus after the setting unit has completed the setting based on the setting file.

18. The combination according to claim 17, wherein the image processing apparatus further comprises an annunciation unit that annunciates that the setting has been already performed to the image processing apparatus when the determination unit determines that the setting has been performed based on the setting file.

19. The combination according to claim 17, wherein the image processing apparatus further comprises an identification information storage unit that stores a set of identification information identifying the image processing apparatus, wherein the determination unit determines that the history information set includes a combination of a set of first information identifying the setting file and a set of second information that is the same as the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit, andwherein the prohibiting unit prohibits the setting unit from performing the setting based on the setting file when the determination unit determines that the history information set includes the combination of the first information set and the second information set.

20. The combination according to claim 18, wherein the image processing apparatus further comprises a standby state changing unit that changes a state of the image processing apparatus to a standby state after the annunciation unit performs the annunciation.