Multifunction peripheral, multifunction peripheral control system, and multifunction peripheral management method

A multifunction peripheral control system comprising a multifunction peripheral and an information processing apparatus, the multifunction peripheral and the information processing apparatus being connected to each other via a communication network so as to communicate with each other, the multifunction peripheral and an application which operates on the information processing apparatus carrying out a cooperative processing together,

• the multifunction peripheral including:
• an input section configured to receive an instruction inputted by a user;
• and
• a control section configured to control an operation of each section of the multifunction peripheral,
• the information processing apparatus including an application processing section configured to execute the application,
• the multifunction peripheral control system further comprising a storage section configured to store use history information such that the use history information is associated with an execution user who carries out the cooperative processing, the use history information being indicative of a history of use of the cooperative processing,
• the multifunction peripheral control system having (i) a first function of carrying out the cooperative processing in accordance with an instruction which the input section receives from the user and (ii) a second function of carrying out the cooperative processing in accordance with an instruction from the application,
• in a case where the cooperative processing is carried out using the second function, the control section (i) setting, as an execution user who carries out the cooperative processing, a user designated by the application and (ii) carrying out the cooperative processing,
• in a case where the cooperative processing is carried out using the first function, the control section (i) setting, as an execution user who carries out the cooperative processing, a user inputted or designated from the input section and (ii) carrying out the cooperative processing,
• in a case where an execution user who carries out the cooperative processing using the first function and an execution user who carries out the cooperative processing using the second function are identical, the control section causing use history information which is stored in the storage section and corresponds to the execution user to be updated in accordance with a result of carrying out the cooperative processing, regardless of whether the first function is used or the second function is used.

A method of managing a multifunction peripheral,

• the multifunction peripheral carrying out a cooperative processing together with an application that operates on an information processing apparatus, the multifunction peripheral and the information processing apparatus being connected via a communication network so as to communicate with each other, the multifunction peripheral including an input section,
• the multifunction peripheral having (i) a first function of carrying out the cooperative processing in accordance with an instruction which the input section receives from a user and (ii) a second function of carrying out the cooperative processing in accordance with an instruction from the application,
• the method comprising the step of:
• (A) storing use history information such that the use history information is associated with an execution user who carries out the cooperative processing, the use history information being indicative of a history of use of the cooperative processing,
• in a case where the cooperative processing is carried out using the second function, the method (i) setting, as an execution user who carries out the cooperative processing, a user designated by the application and (ii) carrying out the cooperative processing,
• in a case where the cooperative processing is carried out using the first function, the method (i) setting, as an execution user who carries out the cooperative processing, a user inputted or designated from the input section and (ii) carrying out the cooperative processing,
• in a case where an execution user who carries out the cooperative processing using the first function and an execution user who carries out the cooperative processing using the second function are identical, the step (A) involving causing use history information corresponding to the execution user to be updated in accordance with a result of carrying out the cooperative processing, regardless of whether the first function is used or the second function is used.