Business support system, business support method, information processing apparatus, communication device, and control methods and control programs of information processing apparatus and communication device

A business support system comprising:

• an information processing apparatus for providing a business support;
• and
• a communication device for receiving the business support,
• the information processing apparatus comprising:
• a timer that counts a current time;
• a work time register that registers a work time;
• a registration unit registering communication devices of which the current time has fallen within the work time;
• a second memory storing second instructions;
• and
• a second processor structured to execute the second instructions to:
• determine whether the current time falls within the work time or outside the work time in reference to said work time register;
• assign an identifier used for a business use of the communication device to the communication device, register the identifier and a network address of the communication device in the registration unit in association with each other, and start to support the business use of the communication device by the business application for supporting the business use of the communication device, when it has been determined that the current time falls within the work time;
• and
• delete the identifier and the network address from the registration unit and stop to support the business use of the communication device by the business application, when it has been determined that the current time falls outside the work time, and
• the communication device comprising:
• a first memory storing first instructions;
• and
• a first processor configured to execute the first instructions to:
• receive and hold the identifier assigned from the information processing apparatus when the current time has fallen within the work time, and start the business use of the communication device using the assigned identifier and the network address by the business application;
• and
• when receiving, from the information processing apparatus, that the current time has fallen outside the work time, erases the assigned identifier and stops the business use of the communication device by the business application.

A method of supporting a business, comprising:

• determining whether a current time falls within a work time or outside the work time in reference to the current time counted by a timer and a work time registered in a work time register;
• when it has been determined that the current time falls within the work time, assigning an identifier used for business use of a communication device to the communication device, registering the identifier and a network address of the communication device in association with each other, and starting the business use of the communication device using the assigned identifier and the network address by a business application for supporting the business use of the communication device;
• and
• when it has been determined that the current time falls outside the work time, erasing the assigned identifier from the communication device, deleting a registration of the identifier and the network address, and stopping the business use of the communication device by the business application.