Information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, information processing system, method for controlling information processing apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and storage medium storing program

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a time measuring unit;
• a storage unit configured to store setting information to be used for operating the image forming apparatus;
• and
• a transmission unit configured to transmit, in response to the image forming apparatus switching from a state of not being communicating with an information processing apparatus to a state of being communicating with the information processing apparatus, first time information obtained by the time measuring unit, and after transmitting the first time information, transmit second time information obtained by the time measuring unit at a timing at which the setting information stored in the storage unit is updated and update information indicating the updated setting information to the information processing apparatus,
• wherein
• the transmitted first time information is used by the information processing apparatus to generate correction information indicating a gap between a time measured by the time measuring unit of the image forming apparatus and a time measured by a time measuring unit of the information processing apparatus, and
• the transmitted second time information and the correction information are used by the information processing apparatus to determine whether to update setting information managed by the information processing apparatus using the update information transmitted by the transmission unit.

An information processing system in which an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus are connected to each other,

• wherein the image forming apparatus comprises:
• a first time measuring unit;
• a first storage unit configured to store setting information to be used for operating the image forming apparatus;
• and
• a first transmission unit configured to transmit, in response to the image forming apparatus switching from a state of not being communicating with the information processing apparatus to a state of being communicating with the information processing apparatus, first time information obtained by the first time measuring unit, and after transmitting the first time information, transmit second time information obtained by the first time measuring unit at a timing at which the setting information stored in the first storage unit is updated, and update information indicating the updated setting information to the information processing apparatus,
• wherein the information processing apparatus comprises:
• a reception unit configured to receive, from the image forming apparatus, the first time information, the second time information obtained by the first time measuring unit at a timing at which the setting information is updated, and the update information indicating the setting information updated at a time indicated by the second time information;
• a second storage unit configured to store setting information of the image forming apparatus in association with time information indicating a time at which the setting information is updated;
• a second time measuring unit configured to measure a time;
• a holding unit configured to hold correction information generated through comparison between the first time information and third time information obtained by the second time measuring unit in response to reception of the first time information;
• an acquisition unit configured to acquire corrected time information obtained by correcting the second time information received by the reception unit with the correction information;
• and
• a determination unit configured to determine whether to update the setting information stored in the second storage unit using the update information received by the reception unit, based on comparison between time information associated with the setting information stored in the second storage unit and the corrected time information.

A method for controlling an information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

• receiving, as first receiving, from an image forming apparatus, first time information obtained by the image forming apparatus;
• measuring a time;
• holding, in a holding unit, correction information generated through comparison between the first time information and third time information obtained in the measuring in response to reception of the first time information;
• storing, in a storage unit, setting information of the image forming apparatus in association with time information indicating a time at which the setting information is updated;
• receiving, as second receiving, from the image forming apparatus, second time information obtained by the image forming apparatus in accordance with update of setting information of the image forming apparatus, and update information indicating the updated setting information;
• acquiring corrected time information obtained by correcting the second time information received in the second receiving with the correction information;
• and
• determining whether to update the setting information stored in the storage unit using the update information received in the second receiving, based on comparison between time information associated with the setting information stored in the storage unit and the corrected time information.

A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

• measuring a time by a time measuring unit;
• storing, in a storage unit, setting information to be used for operating the image forming apparatus;
• and
• transmitting, in response to the image forming apparatus switching from a state of not being communicating with an information processing apparatus to a state of being communicating with the information processing apparatus, first time information obtained in the measuring, and after transmitting the first time information, transmitting second time information obtained in the measuring at a timing at which the setting information stored in the storage unit is updated, and update information indicating the updated setting information to the information processing apparatus,
• wherein
• the transmitted first time information is used by the information processing apparatus to generate correction information indicating a gap between a time measured by the time measuring unit of the image forming apparatus and a time measured by a time measuring unit of the information processing apparatus, and
• the transmitted second time information and the correction information are used by the information processing apparatus to determine whether to update setting information managed by the information processing apparatus using the update information transmitted in the transmitting.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method, the method comprising:

• receiving, as first receiving, from an image forming apparatus, first time information obtained by the image forming apparatus;
• measuring a time;
• holding, in a holding unit, correction information generated through comparison between the first time information and third time information obtained in the measuring in response to reception of the first time information;
• storing, in a storage unit, setting information of the image forming apparatus in association with time information indicating a time at which the setting information is updated;
• receiving, as second receiving, from the image forming apparatus, second time information obtained by the image forming apparatus in accordance with update of setting information of the image forming apparatus, and update information indicating the updated setting information;
• acquiring corrected time information obtained by correcting the second time information received in the second receiving with the correction information;
• and
• determining whether to update the setting information stored in the storage unit using the update information received in the second receiving, based on comparison between time information associated with the setting information stored in the storage unit and the corrected time information.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method, the method comprising:

• measuring a time;
• storing, in a storage unit, setting information to be used for operating an image forming apparatus;
• and
• transmitting, in response to the image forming apparatus switching from a state of not being communicating with an information processing apparatus to a state of being communicating with the information processing apparatus, first time information obtained in the measuring, and after transmitting the first time information, transmitting second time information obtained in the measuring at a timing at which the setting information stored in the storage unit is updated, and update information indicating the updated setting information to the information processing apparatus,
• wherein
• the transmitted first time information is used by the information processing apparatus to generate correction information indicating a gap between a time measured by a time measuring unit of the image forming apparatus and a time measured by a time measuring unit of the information processing apparatus, and
• the transmitted second time information and the correction information are used by the information processing apparatus to determine whether to update setting information managed by the information processing apparatus using the update information transmitted at the transmitting.

An information processing apparatus, comprising:

• a network interface that receives, from an image forming apparatus, first time information obtained by the image forming apparatus, second time information obtained by the image forming apparatus in accordance with update of setting information of the image forming apparatus, and update information indicating the updated setting information;
• a first storage that stores setting information of the image forming apparatus in association with time information indicating a time at which the setting information is updated;
• a time measuring unit that measures a time;
• a second storage that holds correction information generated through comparison between the first time information and third time information obtained by the time measuring unit in response to reception of the first time information;
• and
• at least one processor and at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor which act as:
• an acquisition unit configured to acquire corrected time information obtained by correcting the second time information received by the network interface with the correction information;
• and
• a determination unit configured to determine whether to update the setting information stored in the first storage using the update information received by the network interface, based on comparison between the time information associated with the setting information stored in the first storage and the corrected time information.