Identifying one of a server and a cloud service as a controller of a multi-function device
A system comprising a multi-function device 112 configured to communicate with both a server 111 and a cloud service 121. The multi-function device 112 comprises: an output unit 407 configured to send S 102, S 401 identification information of the multi-function device 112 to the cloud service 121; an input unit 407 configured to receive S 106, S 403 controller information which identifies either the server 111 or the cloud service 121 as a controller of the multi-function device 112; and a login unit 406 configured to receive S 201, S 501 authentication information. The output unit 407 is further configured to send S 202, S 204 an authentication request including the authentication information to the controller 111, 121 identified by the controller information. The input unit 407 is further configured to receive S 203, S 205 an authentication response from the controller 111, 121 that indicates whether or not the authentication information is accepted.
1. A multi-function device configured to communicate with both a server and a cloud service, the multi-function device comprising:
an output unit configured to send identification information of the multi-function device to the cloud service;
an input unit configured to receive controller information which identifies either the server or the cloud service as a controller of the multi-function device; and
a login unit configured to receive authentication information;
wherein the output unit is further configured to send an authentication request including the authentication information to the controller identified by the controller information; and
wherein the input unit is further configured to receive an authentication response from the controller that indicates whether or not the authentication information is accepted.
2. The multi-function device according to claim 1 , wherein:
if the controller information identifies the server as the controller of the multi-function device, but the server is not available to receive the authentication information, then the authentication information is sent to the cloud service.
3. The multi-function device according to claim 1 , wherein:
if the controller information identifies the cloud service as the controller of the multi-function device, but the cloud service is not available to receive the authentication information, then the multi-function device is configured to process the authentication request.
4. The multi-function device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the input unit is further configured to receive first information from the server and second information from the cloud service.
5. The multi-function device according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a user interface generation unit configured to generate a user interface based on the first information received from the server and the second information received from the cloud service.
6. The multi-function device according to claim 5 , wherein:
the first information comprises a first list of jobs;
the second information comprises a second list of jobs; and
the user interface generation unit generates the user interface based on the first list of jobs and the second list of jobs.
7. The multi-function device according to claim 5 , wherein:
the first information comprises information identifying a first workflow;
the second information comprises information identifying a second workflow; and
the user interface generation unit generates the user interface to display icons for accessing the first workflow and the second workflow.
8. The multi-function device according to claim 5 , wherein:
the user interface generation unit is configured to update the user interface if there is an update of the first information or the second information.
9. The multi-function device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the output unit is configured to send the identification information of the multi-function device to the cloud service at the time of start-up of the multi-function device.
10. The multi-function device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the authentication information comprises a user identification, wherein the user identification provides a user of the multi-function device with access to available services.
11. The multi-function device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the authentication information comprises a job code identification, wherein the job code provides a job to be executed by the multi-function device.
12. A system comprising:
the multi-function device according to claim 1 ;
a server; and
a cloud service.
13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein:
the cloud service comprises a memory configured to store a register,
wherein the cloud service updates the register when the output unit of the multi-function device sends the identification information of the multi-function device to the cloud service.
14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein:
the cloud service is configured to transmit to the server the identification information of the multi-function device.
15. The system according to claim 12 , wherein:
the cloud service is configured to:
associate the server with a first location;
determine a second location of the multi-function device based on the identification information of the multi-function device;
identify the server as the controller if the second location of the multi-function device corresponds to the first location of the server; and
identify the cloud service as the controller if the second location of the multi-function device does not correspond to the first location of the server.
16. The system according to claim 12 , comprising:
a plurality of servers;
wherein the cloud service is configured to:
associate the plurality of servers each with a respective location;
determine a location of the multi-function device based on the identification information of the multi-function device;
identify a server of the plurality of servers as the controller if the location of the multi-function device corresponds to the location of the server of the plurality of servers; and
identify the cloud service as the controller if the second location of the multi-function device does not correspond to the location of any of the plurality of servers.
17. The system according to claim 12 :
wherein the controller is configured to create the user interface based on the first information and the second information, and transmit the user interface to be generated by the multi-function device.
18. A method of configuring a multi-function device to communicate with both a server and a cloud service, the method comprising:
the multi-function device sending identification information of the multi-function device to the cloud service;
the multi-function device receiving controller information which identifies either the server or the cloud service as a controller of the multi-function device;
the multi-function device receiving authentication information;
the multi-function device sending an authentication request including the authentication information to the controller identified by the controller information; and
the multi-function device receiving an authentication response from the controller that indicates whether or not the authentication information is accepted.
19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program which when executed by a multi-function device configures a multi-function device to communicate with both a server and a cloud service, the program configured to execute a method comprising:
the multi-function device sending identification information of the multi-function device to the cloud service;
the multi-function device receiving controller information which identifies either the server or the cloud service as a controller of the multi-function device;
the multi-function device receiving authentication information;
the multi-function device sending an authentication request including the authentication information to the controller identified by the controller information; and
the multi-function device receiving an authentication response from the controller that indicates whether or not the authentication information is accepted.