JP2015122011A - Information processing program and information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing program and an information processing device for appropriately suppressing an inconvenience that can occur in the case of starting short-range radio communication to be a trigger of wireless LAN communication with a partner device during executing file conversion using a conversion device.SOLUTION: According to this invention, in the case of starting first radio communication by a short-range radio communication system with an external device during executing processing for acquiring second data converted from first data by a conversion device from the conversion device on a network, a period condition which can transmit data by second radio communication different from the short-range radio communication system performed with the external device without using a relay device is restricted, the period condition being established by first communication control means in accordance with the start of the first radio communication.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing program and an information processing apparatus.

  In Patent Document 1, when the communication method of the partner device acquired using communication by the short-range wireless communication method (hereinafter referred to as “short-range wireless communication”) indicates a wireless LAN standard that can be used by the own device, A technique for transmitting data by switching communication with a partner apparatus to communication based on a wireless LAN standard is disclosed.

  According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, by transmitting a short distance wireless communication between both devices by bringing the terminal device closer to the printing device, transmission of print data from the terminal device to the printing device can be performed by communication according to a wireless LAN standard ( (Hereinafter referred to as “wireless LAN communication”).

JP 2007-166538 A

  When the file to be printed is a file in a format that cannot be processed by a terminal device, the file to be printed may be converted into a format that can be processed by the terminal device using a conversion device. When the terminal device performs the file conversion, it takes several seconds to several minutes until the terminal device acquires the converted file from the conversion device.

  Since there is a limit to the number of counterpart devices that can be connected at the same time for each communication unit for wireless LAN communication, the printing device cannot perform wireless LAN communication with more terminal devices than can be connected. . Therefore, even if the print data cannot be sent during the file conversion period, the print data can be sent immediately if the connection between the terminal device and the printing device is maintained by wireless LAN communication. There is a possibility that another terminal device in the network cannot be connected to the printing device by wireless LAN communication.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and may occur when short-distance wireless communication that triggers wireless LAN communication with a counterpart device is started during file conversion using the conversion device. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing program and an information processing apparatus in which the image quality is suitably suppressed.

  In order to achieve this object, an information processing program according to the present invention includes a first communication unit that communicates with an external device through first wireless communication that is wireless communication based on a short-range wireless communication method, and the short-range wireless communication method. A program that can be executed by the control unit of an information processing apparatus that includes a second communication unit that communicates with an external device through second wireless communication that is wireless communication using a different wireless communication method, and a control unit. Based on the first wireless information for performing the second wireless communication with the relay device, the selection receiving unit that receives the selection of data, and the first data that is the processing target data received by the selection receiving unit. The second data is output to the relay device by the second wireless communication, and is output to the conversion device on the network and is converted from the first data by the conversion device, which is different from the first data. Conversion data acquisition means for executing processing for acquiring file-format second data from the conversion device, and when the first wireless communication with an external device is started, the conversion data acquisition means is executing the processing. A first determination unit for determining whether there is a time, a timing unit for measuring an elapsed time from a predetermined timing according to the determination when the first determination unit determines that the process is being executed, and an external When the first wireless communication with the device is started, the external device and the second wireless are based on the second wireless information for performing the second wireless communication with the external device without using a relay device. When it is determined that the process is being executed by the first communication control unit that establishes communication and the first determination unit, then the elapsed time measured by the timing unit reaches a predetermined value, The second data or the third data generated from the second data is established by the first communication control means on the condition that the second data is obtained by the conversion data obtaining means. The control unit is caused to function as data output means for outputting to the external device through second wireless communication.

  The present invention can be configured in various modes such as an information processing device, a control device that controls the information processing device, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a recording medium that records an information processing program.

  According to the information processing program according to claim 1, short-distance wireless communication with an external device during execution of processing for acquiring second data converted from first data by the conversion device from the conversion device on the network. When the first wireless communication by the method is started, the first wireless communication is established with the first communication control unit in response to the start of the first wireless communication, and is performed with the external device without going through the relay device. The time condition in which data can be transmitted by the second wireless communication different from the short-range wireless communication method is limited. Specifically, the data transmission in the second wireless communication established by the first communication control means is measured from a predetermined timing according to the determination after it is determined that the process acquired from the conversion device is being executed. This is performed on the condition that the second data is acquired from the conversion device before the elapsed time reaches a predetermined value. Therefore, it is possible to suitably suppress various inconveniences such as a situation in which a device that is ready to transmit the second data or the third data cannot establish the second wireless communication with the external device.

  According to the information processing program of claim 2, in addition to the effect of claim 1, the following effect is obtained. After it is determined that the process acquired from the conversion device is being executed, if the elapsed time counted from a predetermined timing according to the determination reaches a predetermined value, the second communication control unit establishes the second Wireless communication is disconnected. Therefore, since the second wireless communication established by the first communication control means is maintained only for a period until the elapsed time reaches a predetermined value, the above various disadvantages can be suitably suppressed.

  According to the information processing program of claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 2, the following effect is obtained. After it is determined that the process acquired from the conversion device is being executed, if the elapsed time measured from a predetermined timing according to the determination reaches a predetermined value, the external device is connected to connect the second wireless communication Therefore, the external device can disconnect the corresponding second wireless communication, and can make a vacant device connectable by the second wireless communication at the same time.

  According to the information processing program of claim 4, in addition to the effect of claim 1, the following effect is obtained. The establishment of the second wireless communication by the first communication control means is determined that the process acquired from the conversion device is being executed, and then the elapsed time measured from a predetermined timing according to the determination reaches a predetermined value. It is performed on the condition that the second data has been acquired from the conversion device before. Therefore, it is possible to suitably suppress various inconveniences such as a situation in which a device that is ready to transmit the second data or the third data cannot establish the second wireless communication with the external device.

  According to the information processing program of the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by any one of the first to fourth aspects, the following effect is produced. After it is determined that the processing acquired from the conversion device is being executed, before the elapsed time measured from the predetermined timing according to the determination reaches the predetermined value, the external device and the other information processing device When the first wireless communication is started, the elapsed time from a predetermined timing corresponding to the start of the first wireless communication by another information processing apparatus is measured instead of the elapsed time during the time measurement. Therefore, in consideration of another information processing apparatus that has started the first wireless communication with the external device, it is possible to limit a time condition in which data can be transmitted by the second wireless communication.

  According to the information processing program of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by any one of the first to fifth aspects, the following effect is produced. First wireless information for performing second wireless communication with the relay device and third wireless information for setting the external device to perform second wireless communication with the relay device are set in the external device. If they are the same, the second data or the third data is output to the external device via the relay device without establishing the second wireless communication by the first communication control means. Therefore, according to the establishment of the second wireless communication by the first communication control means, it is possible to suppress the vacant device that can be connected by the second wireless communication at the same time.

  According to the information processing program of claim 7, in addition to the effect of claim 6, the following effect is obtained and the comparison with the first radio information is performed using the third radio information acquired from the external device. Can do. Further, when the first wireless information and the third wireless information are not the same, the second wireless communication can be established based on the second wireless information acquired from the external device.

  According to the information processing program of the eighth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by any one of the first to seventh aspects, the following effect is produced. If the elapsed time measured by the time measuring means reaches a predetermined value before the second data is acquired from the conversion device, the external device and the external device are provided on the condition that the acquisition of the second data from the conversion device is completed. Is displayed on the display unit for guiding the user to start the first wireless communication again. Therefore, after it is determined that the processing acquired from the conversion device is being executed, even if the elapsed time counted from the predetermined timing according to the determination reaches a predetermined value, the external device can be Can be prompted to start the first wireless communication again.

  According to the information processing program of the ninth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by any one of the first to eighth aspects, the following effect is produced. When the data amount of the first data selected as the processing target data or the second data converted from the first data is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value, the second wireless communication by the first communication control means is performed. An error display is displayed on the display unit without establishing. Therefore, when the amount of data is large and it takes a long time to convert the data, the second wireless communication is not established by the first communication control means. It is possible to prevent the empty space from being consumed.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the tenth aspect, the same effect as the information processing program of the first aspect is obtained.

It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a terminal. (A) And (b) is a flowchart which shows a file selection process and a conversion thread, respectively. It is a flowchart which shows a NFC printing process. It is a flowchart which shows the NFC printing process of 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a terminal 10 equipped with an application 12b which is an embodiment of an information processing program of the present invention. Hereinafter, “application” may be referred to as “application”. The terminal 10 of the present embodiment is configured as a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. The terminal 10 includes a CPU 11, a flash memory 12, a RAM 13, an operation key 15, an LCD 16, a touch panel 17, a memory card interface (hereinafter referred to as “memory card I / F”) 18, a voice input / output unit 19, and a telephone network communication unit 20. A short-range communication unit 22 and a wireless communication unit 23 are provided. These units are connected to each other via a bus line 24.

  The CPU 11 controls each unit connected to the bus line 22 according to a fixed value, a program, or the like stored in the flash memory 12 or the like. The flash memory 12 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory. The flash memory 12 stores an operating system 12a and an application 12b. Hereinafter, the “operating system” may be referred to as “OS”. In the following, the CPU 11 that executes a program such as an application or an operating system may be simply described by a program name. For example, the description “application” may mean “CPU 11 that executes the application”. The OS 12 a is basic software for realizing standard functions of the terminal 10. In the present embodiment, the OS 12a is an Android (registered trademark) OS.

  The application 12b is an application provided by a vendor of various devices, and is installed in the terminal 10 by the user, and allows the terminal 10 to use various functions of the corresponding device. For example, the application 12b makes it possible to use a device print function, a scan function, and the like directly from the terminal 10 without going through a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”).

  According to the application 12b of this embodiment, the printing function of the MFP 100 is used as a trigger when short-distance wireless communication is established between the terminal 10 and a multi-function peripheral device (hereinafter referred to as “MFP”) 100. Thus, an image based on a file selected as a print target (hereinafter referred to as a “print target file”) can be printed. In particular, when the file to be printed is a PDF format file, the application 12b uploads the file to the conversion server 200, and the conversion server 200 uploads the image file in a predetermined format (in this embodiment, an image file in JPEG format). And the MFP 100 prints an image based on the converted image file. Each process shown in the flowcharts of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 3 to be described later is a process executed by the CPU 11 in accordance with the application 12b.

  The flash memory 12 is provided with an application storage area 12c. The application storage area 12c is a storage area used by the application 12b and allocated to the application 12b. In the application storage area 12c, for example, wireless settings based on the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard set by the application 12b (hereinafter, this communication is referred to as “first Wi-Fi communication”), More specifically, an SSID (Service Set Identifier) of an access point (hereinafter referred to as “AP”) 50 that is a relay apparatus is stored. Hereinafter, the SSID of the AP 50 may be referred to as “infrastructure SSID”.

  The RAM 13 is a rewritable volatile memory having a temporary area for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 11 executes the application 12b and the like. The operation key 15 is a mechanical key for inputting an instruction or the like to the terminal 10, and is provided on the housing of the terminal 10, for example. The LCD 16 is a liquid crystal display device that displays various screens. The touch panel 17 is provided so as to overlap the LCD 16, and inputs an instruction or the like to the terminal 10 by contacting or approaching an indicator such as a finger or a stick. The memory card I / F 18 is an interface to which a rewritable nonvolatile memory card MC is mounted, and controls writing or reading of data with respect to the memory card MC. The voice input / output unit 19 is a voice input / output device including a microphone, a speaker, and the like. The telephone network communication unit 20 is a circuit for performing a call via a mobile phone network (not shown).

  The short-range communication unit 22 is an interface for performing communication by short-range wireless communication in which a short distance of about 10 cm, for example, is used as a communicable distance. In the present embodiment, the short-range wireless communication performed by the short-range communication unit 22 is non-contact communication according to the NFC standard (hereinafter, this communication is referred to as “NFC communication”). In the present embodiment, the terminal 10 can perform NFC communication with the MFP 100 having the short-range communication unit 122.

  The wireless communication unit 23 is an interface for performing communication based on the wireless LAN standard (wireless LAN communication). In the present embodiment, the wireless LAN communication performed by the wireless communication unit 23 is wireless communication based on a wireless LAN conforming to the IEEE802.11b / g / n standard. The terminal 10 can perform wireless communication (that is, first Wi-Fi communication) based on the Wi-Fi standard with a device such as the MFP 100 via the AP 50. The terminal 10 is also configured to be capable of direct communication (hereinafter referred to as “second Wi-Fi communication”) with a device such as the MFP 100 based on the Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) standard.

  The MFP 100 has various functions such as a print function, a scan function, a copy function, and a facsimile function. MFP 100 includes a printer unit, a scanner unit, a facsimile communication unit, and the like (not shown) for realizing various functions. The MFP 100 includes a near field communication unit 122 similar to the near field communication unit 22. In addition, the MFP 100 includes a wireless communication unit 123 similar to the wireless communication unit 23.

  The AP 50 is a relay device that relays the first Wi-Fi communication. The AP 50 has a broadband router function and can be connected to the Internet 800. The conversion server 200 is a server that converts a first format file (in this embodiment, a PDF format file) uploaded from the terminal 10 into a second format image file different from the first format. Various formats such as JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP can be adopted as the second format that is the file format after conversion. The conversion server 200 according to the present embodiment converts a PDF file into a JPEG image file. The conversion server 200 is communicably connected to the terminal 10 via the Internet 800 and the AP 50.

  FIG. 2A is a flowchart showing the file selection process. This process is started when a print menu screen (not shown) is displayed on the LCD 16 when the application 12b is activated. The CPU 11 waits for one menu item to be selected from the print menu screen (S201: No). When photo printing is selected from the menu items that can be selected from the print menu screen (S201: photo printing), the CPU 11 selects a photo image to be printed from photo images stored in the memory card MC. A photo selection screen (not shown) is displayed on the LCD 16, and selection of one or a plurality of photo images to be printed is accepted via the photo selection screen (S205), and this processing is terminated.

  On the other hand, when document printing is selected from the menu items selectable from the print menu screen (S201: document printing), a document file to be printed is selected from the document files stored in the memory card MC. The document file selection screen (not shown) is displayed on the LCD 16 (S202). The document file of the present embodiment is a PDF file (hereinafter referred to as “PDF file”).

  When the document file selection screen is displayed, the CPU 11 waits for the PDF file to be printed to be selected via the document file selection screen (S203: No). When the CPU 11 accepts the selection of the PDF file (S203: Yes), the CPU 11 activates the conversion thread (S204) and ends this process. The conversion thread is a process for causing the conversion server 200 to convert a PDF file selected for printing into a JPEG format image file (hereinafter referred to as “JPEG file”). Hereinafter, conversion from a PDF file to a JPEG file performed by the conversion server 200 may be referred to as “file conversion” or “conversion”.

  FIG. 2B is a flowchart showing the conversion thread described above. The CPU 11 executes the conversion thread in parallel with the print acceptance process described above and other processes such as an NFC print process described later with reference to FIG. The CPU 11 determines whether the processing flag is set to ON (S221). The “processing flag” is a flag indicating whether the PDF file to be printed is being processed by the conversion server 200, that is, whether or not file conversion using the conversion server 200 is being performed. Provided. When the processing flag is set to ON, it indicates that file conversion using the conversion server 200 is being performed. The in-process flag is initialized to off with the activation of the application 12b.

  The CPU 11 transmits the PDF file that has received the selection as the print target to the AP 50 through the first Wi-Fi communication, and uploads it to the conversion server 200 via the Internet 800 (S222). When the PDF file is uploaded, the conversion server 200 starts a process for converting the PDF file. The conversion server 200 assigns a file ID to the uploaded file, analyzes the file, and acquires the number of pages constituting the PDF file to be printed. The file ID is identification information for individually specifying the files to be converted by the conversion server 200.

  The CPU 11 acquires the file ID assigned to the uploaded PDF file and the number of pages of the PDF file from the conversion server 200 (S223, S224). The CPU 11 acquires these information by requesting the conversion server 200 to acquire the file ID and the number of pages.

  The CPU 11 waits until a predetermined time, for example, 5 seconds elapses after uploading the PDF file (S225: No). When the CPU 11 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (S225: Yes), the CPU 11 inquires of the conversion server 200 whether the conversion of the corresponding file is completed using the acquired file ID (S226). The CPU 11 determines whether the file conversion is completed based on a reply from the conversion server 200 in response to the inquiry (S227). When the CPU 11 determines that the file conversion has not been completed (S227: No), the CPU 11 shifts the process to S225 and waits for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) to elapse.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 11 determines that the file conversion is completed (S227: Yes), the CPU 11 starts downloading the JPEG file (S228). Specifically, the CPU 11 starts downloading the JPEG file by transmitting the file ID and the download request acquired in S223 to the conversion server 200. As a result of the process of S228, the conversion server 200 sequentially transmits the JPEG file obtained by the file conversion from the PDF file uploaded in S222 to the terminal 10 page by page. The terminal 10 sequentially acquires JPEG files converted from the PDF file selected as the print target.

  The CPU 11 waits until the download is completed (S229: No). When the CPU 11 determines that the download is complete (S229: Yes), the CPU 11 sets the processing flag to OFF (S230), and ends this processing.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the NFC printing process. This process is started when the application 12b is activated. The CPU 11 executes the NFC print process in parallel with other processes such as the print acceptance process and the conversion thread described above. The CPU 11 waits for reception of an NFC event (S301: No). The NFC event is an event that the OS 12a notifies the application 12b when the terminal 10 (the near field communication unit 22) detects a device (hereinafter referred to as “NFC device”) such as the MFP 100 that is a communication partner of NFC communication. is there. As the terminal 10 detects the NFC device, NFC communication is established and started between the terminal 10 and the detected NFC device.

  When the CPU 11 determines that an NFC event has been received (301: Yes), the CPU 11 requests the MFP 100 for the SSID by NFC communication, and thereby acquires the SSID from the MFP 100 by NFC communication (S302). More specifically, in S302, the CPU 11 detects two types of SSIDs, specifically, the SSID of the AP used by the MFP 100 as a relay device (that is, the infrastructure SSID), and that the MFP 100 detects the terminal 10 as an NFC device. Acquire the SSID issued along with this. The latter SSID is a so-called one-time SSID that permits connection with the wireless communication unit 123 on the condition of one-time use. Hereinafter, the latter SSID is referred to as “direct SSID”.

  When photo printing is selected from the print menu screen (S303: photo printing), the CPU 11 executes the conventional processing to cause the MFP 100 to print the photo image selected as the printing target (S313), and performs this processing. finish. Specifically, as a conventional process, the CPU 11 first establishes the second Wi-Fi communication between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100 by setting the direct SSID acquired in S <b> 302, and sets the print target. Print data is generated from the JPEG file (here, a photo image) and the print settings set in the application 12b. Next, the CPU 11 transmits the generated print data and a print instruction to the MFP 100 through the second Wi-Fi communication.

  On the other hand, when document printing is selected from the print menu screen (S303: document printing), the CPU 11 determines whether a document file to be printed (in this embodiment, a PDF file) has been selected (S304). . When the CPU 11 determines that the PDF file to be printed has not been selected (S304: No), the CPU 11 displays an error display notifying that the file to be printed has not been selected on the LCD 16 (S314). End the process.

  When the CPU 11 determines that the PDF file to be printed has been selected (S304: Yes), the CPU 11 determines whether the PDF file to be printed is being processed by the conversion server 200 (S305). The CPU 11 performs the determination in S305 according to the content of the processing flag. Specifically, when the processing flag is set to ON, the CPU 11 affirms the determination in S305. On the other hand, when the processing flag is set to OFF, the CPU 11 denies the determination of S305.

  If the CPU 11 denies the determination in S305 (S305: No), it indicates that the PDF file to be printed is not being processed by the conversion server 200, that is, the download of the converted JPEG file has been completed. Therefore, in this case, the CPU 11 causes the MFP 100 to print the downloaded JPEG file by executing the conventional process (S313), and ends this process.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 11 affirms the determination in S305, that is, when the PDF file to be printed is being processed by the conversion server 200 (S305: Yes), the CPU 11 determines the number of pages constituting the PDF file to be printed, That is, it is determined whether the number of pages acquired in S224 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold P (for example, P = 20) (S306). When the CPU 11 determines that the number of pages is equal to or greater than the threshold value P (S306: Yes), the CPU 11 displays an error display notifying that printing cannot be performed during file conversion on the LCD 16 (S314), and ends this processing. .

  When the CPU 11 determines that the number of pages is less than the threshold P (S306: No), the CPU 11 determines whether the infrastructure SSID set by the application 12b is the same as the infrastructure SSID used by the MFP 100 ( S307). Specifically, the CPU 11 determines whether the infrastructure SSID stored in the application storage area 12c is the same as the infrastructure SSID acquired in S302.

  When the CPU 11 determines that the infrastructure SSIDs are different from each other (S307: No), the CPU 11 performs processing for establishing the second Wi-Fi communication between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100 ( A handover process is executed (S308). Specifically, the CPU 11 establishes the second Wi-Fi communication by setting the direct SSID acquired in S302. After the processing of S308, the CPU 11 activates a built-in timer (not shown) and starts measuring time by the timer (S309).

  The CPU 11 determines whether another terminal is held over the MFP 100, or more specifically, whether NFC communication is established between the two devices due to the holding (S310). When NFC communication is established between the two apparatuses due to the other terminal being held over MFP 100, MFP 100 notifies terminal 10 accordingly. Therefore, in S310, the determination in S310 is performed depending on whether or not the notification is received from the MFP 100. Specifically, when CPU 11 receives a notification that NFC communication has been established from MFP 100, CPU 11 affirms the determination in S310. On the other hand, if the CPU 11 has not received notification from the MFP 100 that NFC communication has been established, the determination in S310 is denied.

  When the CPU 11 denies the determination of S310 (S310: No), the CPU 11 determines whether the download of the JPEG file is completed (S311). The CPU 11 makes the determination in S311 according to the contents of the processing flag. Specifically, when the processing flag is set to ON, the CPU 11 denies the determination of S311. On the other hand, when the processing flag is set to OFF, the CPU 11 affirms the determination in S311.

  When the CPU 11 denies the determination of S311, that is, when the download of the JPEG file has not yet been completed (S311: No), the CPU 11 waits for a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) from the start of timing in S309. It is determined whether the time has passed (S318). When the CPU 11 determines that the predetermined time has not yet elapsed (S318: No), the CPU 11 shifts the process to S310.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 11 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (S318: Yes), the CPU 11 notifies the MFP 100 of an instruction to disconnect the second Wi-Fi communication (S319), and is established with the MFP 100. The second Wi-Fi communication that has been disconnected is disconnected (S320). The MFP 100 disconnects the second Wi-Fi communication established with the terminal 10 based on the instruction notified in S319. As a result, the MFP 100 can increase the available Wi-Fi communication vacancy. According to the processing of S311 and S318, if downloading of the JPEG file is not completed even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the second Wi-Fi communication is established between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100, the terminal 10 And the second Wi-Fi communication between the MFP 100 and the MFP 100 are forcibly disconnected. Therefore, the period during which the second Wi-Fi communication continues to be established in a situation where downloading of the JPEG file is not completed is limited to a finite period.

  The CPU 11 displays an error display notifying that the second Wi-Fi communication has been disconnected on the LCD 16 (S321), and waits for completion of downloading of the JPEG file (S322: No). When the CPU 11 determines that the download is completed (S322: Yes), the CPU 11 displays a reconnection guidance for prompting the user to hold the terminal 10 over the MFP 100 in place of the error display on the LCD 16 (S323). Exit.

  According to S322 and S323, since the reconnection guidance is displayed, the user can recognize the handling after the second Wi-Fi communication is disconnected in S320. In particular, since the reconnection guidance is displayed on the condition that the download of the JPEG file is completed, that is, on the condition that the print data is ready to be transmitted, the terminal 10 is held over the MFP 100 again. In addition, the second Wi-Fi communication is not disconnected again in S320. Thus, the reconnection guidance is displayed at an appropriate timing as the timing of holding the terminal 10 over the MFP 100 again, which is convenient.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 11 determines in S311 that the download has been completed (S311: Yes), the CPU 11 executes a print execution process (S312) and ends this process. Specifically, the CPU 11 generates print data from the downloaded JPEG file and the print settings set in the application 12b, and transmits the generated print data and a print instruction to the MFP 100. The MFP 100 uses the printing function to execute printing according to the received print data, thereby printing an image according to the converted JPEG file, that is, an image according to the PDF file selected as the print target. Printed on paper. Note that when the second Wi-Fi communication is established between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100, the print data is transmitted from the terminal 10 to the MFP 100 by the second Wi-Fi communication.

  When the CPU 11 affirms the determination in S310, that is, when another terminal is held over the MFP 100 (S310: Yes), the CPU 11 clears the elapsed time during the time counting by the built-in timer, and starts a new time measurement. Start (S315). The CPU 11 determines whether a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed since the time measurement was started in S315 (S316). When the CPU 11 determines that the predetermined time has not yet elapsed (S316: No), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the download of the JPEG file has been completed (S317) as in S311. When CPU11 denies determination of S317 (S317: No), CPU11 transfers a process to S316.

  If the CPU 11 affirms the determination in S317 (S317: Yes), the CPU 11 executes a print execution process (S312) and ends this process. When the CPU 11 executes the print execution process based on affirming the determination in S317, the print data is transmitted from the terminal 10 to the MFP 100 by the second Wi-Fi communication established between both apparatuses. Done.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 11 affirms the determination of S316, that is, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the time measurement was started in S315 (S316: Yes), the CPU 11 shifts the process to S319. According to the processing of S316 and S317, after the second Wi-Fi communication is established between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100, another terminal is held over the MFP 100 before the download of the JPEG file is completed. Thus, if NFC communication is established between the two devices, the second Wi-Fi communication between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100 is not completed even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the establishment of the NFC communication. Is forcibly disconnected.

  In S307, when the CPU 11 determines that the infrastructure SSID set by the application 12b is the same as the infrastructure SSID acquired in S302 (S307: Yes), the AP 50 is set between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100. The first Wi-Fi communication via has already been established. Therefore, in this case, the CPU 11 executes the print execution process by transmitting the print data by the first Wi-Fi communication via the AP 50 on the condition that the download of the JPEG file is completed (S312). Exit. In such a case, it is not necessary to establish the second Wi-Fi communication, so that it is possible to prevent the MFP 100 from consuming available devices that can be connected by Wi-Fi communication at the same time.

  According to the first embodiment, when NFC communication is established between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100 in a situation where the PDF file to be printed is being processed by the conversion server 200, the terminal 10 The JPEG file can be transmitted to the MFP 100 using the second Wi-Fi communication (that is, communication based on the Wi-Fi Direct standard). Specifically, the limitation of the time condition is that the JPEG file cannot be prepared until the predetermined period elapses after the second Wi-Fi communication is established with the MFP 100, that is, the download cannot be completed. This is performed by the CPU 11 forcibly disconnecting the communication in S320.

  Accordingly, since one of the connectable numbers of Wi-Fi communication in MFP 100 is not occupied for a long period of time, another terminal that is ready to transmit print data cannot establish second Wi-Fi communication with MFP 100. The situation can be suppressed. Further, since power is required to maintain the wireless LAN communication, it is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of power for maintaining the connection in a situation where print data cannot be transmitted immediately because the file is being converted.

  In particular, after NFC communication is established between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100, when another terminal is held over the MFP 100, the CPU 11 sets the time measurement based on the other terminal held over the MFP 100 to S315. Therefore, the terminal 10 that cannot immediately prepare the JPEG file can be prevented from interfering with the second Wi-Fi communication between the other terminal and the MFP 100 for a long period of time.

  As the number of pages constituting the PDF file to be printed increases, the time required for file conversion in the conversion server 200, that is, the time until a JPEG file can be prepared becomes longer. On the other hand, according to S306, if the number of pages is greater than or equal to the threshold value P, an error occurs and the second Wi-Fi communication is not established. Also in this respect, it is possible to suppress the terminal 10 that cannot immediately prepare the JPEG file from interfering with the second Wi-Fi communication between the other terminal and the MFP 100 for a long period of time.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, when NFC communication is established between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100 in a situation where a PDF file to be printed is being processed by the conversion server 200, the second file established between these devices is used. The Wi-Fi communication is maintained for a predetermined time. Instead, in the second embodiment, the second Wi-Fi communication is established between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100 on the condition that the download of the JPEG file is completed before the predetermined time elapses. In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, the configuration unique to the second embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the NFC printing process of the second embodiment. This process is a process executed by the CPU 11 of the terminal 10 in accordance with the application 12b of the second embodiment. Like the first embodiment, the application 12b Starts when is started. In this process, when the CPU 11 denies the determination in S307 (S307: No), the CPU 11 starts timing by a timer without performing the handover process (S309).

  If the CPU 11 determines that the download of the JPEG file has been completed in S311 or S317 (S311: Yes, S317: Yes), the CPU 11 executes a handover process in the same manner as in S308 (S401), and the process proceeds to S312. Transition.

  According to the second embodiment, when NFC communication is established between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100 in a situation where a PDF file to be printed is being processed by the conversion server 200, a JPEG file download is predetermined. The second Wi-Fi communication is established between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100 on the condition that the communication is completed within the time.

  Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the terminal 10 can transmit the print data immediately because the time condition for transmitting the converted JPEG file to the MFP 100 using the second Wi-Fi communication is limited. It is possible to suppress a situation in which another terminal in the unsettled state cannot establish the second Wi-Fi communication with the MFP 100, or wasteful consumption of power for maintaining the connection.

  In the above embodiment, the application 12b is an example of an information processing program. The terminal 10 is an example of an information processing device. MFP 100 is an example of an external device. The conversion server 200 is an example of a conversion device. The Internet 800 is an example of a network. The AP 50 is an example of a relay device. The short-range communication unit 22 is an example of a first communication unit. The wireless communication unit 23 is an example of a second communication unit. The CPU 11 is an example of a control unit. The LCD 16 is an example of a display unit. NFC communication is an example of first wireless communication. The first Wi-Fi communication and the second Wi-Fi communication are examples of the second wireless communication. The infrastructure SSID is an example of first wireless information. The direct SSID is an example of second wireless information. A PDF file is an example of the first data. A JPEG file is an example of second data. Print data generated from a JPEG file is an example of third data.

  CPU11 which performs the process of S203 is an example of a selection reception means. CPU11 which performs each process of a conversion thread | sled is an example of a conversion data acquisition means. The CPU 11 that executes the process of S305 is an example of a first determination unit. CPU11 which performs the process of S309 and S315 is an example of a time measuring means. The CPU 11 that executes the processes of S308 and S401 is an example of a first communication control unit. The CPU 11 that executes the process of S312 is an example of a data output unit. The CPU 11 that executes the process of S320 is an example of a second communication control unit. CPU11 which performs the process of S319 is an example of a notification means. The CPU 11 that executes the process of S307 is an example of a second determination unit. The CPU 11 that executes the process of S302 is an example of a wireless information acquisition unit. CPU11 which performs the process of S323 is an example of a 1st display means. The CPU 11 that executes the process of S306 is an example of a third determination unit. The CPU 11 that executes the process of S314 is an example of a second display unit.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be easily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be inferred.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the terminal 10 such as a smartphone is illustrated as the information processing apparatus on which the application 12b is mounted. Can be adopted as an information processing apparatus. For example, when a device such as a tablet terminal, a notebook personal computer, a digital camera, or a music playback device has a configuration corresponding to the short-range communication unit 22 and the wireless communication unit 23, these devices are It can be employed as an information processing apparatus for mounting 12b.

  In the above embodiment, the OS 112a of the terminal 100 has been described as an Android OS. However, another OS may be employed. In the above-described embodiment, NFC communication is exemplified as short-range wireless communication. However, non-contact communication conforming to other standards such as TransferJet (registered trademark) may be employed.

  In each of the embodiments described above, MFP 100 having a plurality of functions such as a print function is illustrated as an external device. However, any device having a print function can be adopted as an external device even if it has only a print function. . In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied when the terminal 10 uses the printing function of the MFP 100. However, the present invention is applied even when a function other than the printing function of the MFP 100 is used. Applicable. For example, when the terminal 10 uses the FAX transmission function of the MFP 100 by transmitting a JPEG file transmitted by the second Wi-Fi communication with the establishment of NFC communication as a trigger, the present invention can be applied. Good.

  In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied when a PDF file is selected as a print target. However, any file format other than a PDF file, for example, Microsoft Word, can be used as long as the file can be converted by the conversion server 200. The present invention can be similarly applied to a DOC format file created by (Registered Trademark) and various types of files created by Microsoft Excel (Registered Trademark). In the above embodiment, the conversion server 200 is a dedicated server that performs file format conversion. However, a server having a function other than the conversion function may be used. For example, it may be a server that can convert the file format and generate print data from the converted file.

  In the above embodiment, when the second Wi-Fi communication (that is, communication based on the Wi-Fi Direct standard) is established between the terminal 10 and the MFP 100, the terminal 10 determines that the second Wi-Fi communication is the second Wi-Fi communication. The configuration is such that print data is transmitted to MFP 100 by communication. Instead of the second Wi-Fi communication, an ad hoc mode Wi-Fi communication may be applied.

  In the above-described embodiment, the SSID for direct use is the SSID that is used only once, but the number of uses is not limited to one. Further, the use may be limited not by the number of times but by a time factor such as an elapsed time since it was issued. As the direct SSID, an SSID with no use restriction may be used. In the above embodiment, the terminal 10 is configured to establish the second Wi-Fi communication using the direct SSID acquired from the MFP 100. Alternatively, the second Wi-Fi communication may be established by the terminal 10 generating a direct SSID and transmitting it to the MFP 100.

  In the above embodiment, the print data generated from the converted JPEG file is transmitted to MFP 100. Alternatively, the converted JPEG file, print settings, and print instruction may be transmitted to the MFP 100, and the MFP 100 may perform printing based on the received JPEG file and print settings.

  In the said embodiment, although it was set as the structure by which time measurement is started when CPU11 judges No in S307, if the timing which starts timekeeping is after CPU11 judges Yes in S305, it will be especially limited. Not. In the above embodiment, the threshold value used in the determination in S316 is a uniform threshold value such as 30 seconds. However, a threshold value corresponding to the situation at that time may be used. For example, at the timing when a new time is started in S315, the remaining time until the elapsed time of the time started in S309 before reaching the threshold used in the determination in S318 is a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds). ) Is shorter, the remaining time may be a threshold used in the determination in S316. In the above embodiment, the time measurement started in S309 and S315 is performed using the same timer, but separate timers may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the CPU 11 is configured to determine whether the number of pages of the PDF file to be printed is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold P in S306. Instead, if the conversion server 200 can obtain the number of pages of the converted JPEG file by analyzing the file, it is determined whether the number of pages of the converted JPEG file is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value P. It is good also as a structure. Further, when the terminal 10 can acquire the number of remaining pages for conversion from the conversion server 200 or can calculate the number of remaining pages for conversion based on information from the conversion server 200, the number of remaining pages for conversion is predetermined. It is good also as a structure which judges whether it is more than the threshold value P of this. Alternatively, instead of the number of pages, the data size of the file to be processed may be used to determine whether the data size is a predetermined threshold value P or more.

  In the above embodiment, the terminal 10 is configured to acquire the number of pages of the PDF file to be printed from the conversion server 200. However, the terminal 10 may be configured to analyze the PDF file to be printed and acquire the number of pages. .

  In the above embodiment, when the CPU 11 affirms the determination in S305, the processing after S306 is executed. However, considering whether the conversion server 200 starts the file conversion or not, the processing after S306 is performed. May be configured to be executed. For example, if the CPU 11 affirms the determination in S305, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the conversion server 200 is before starting the file conversion. If the file conversion has already started, the CPU 11 and subsequent steps While executing the process, the process of S314 may be executed before the start. The execution timing of the determination as to whether or not the conversion server 200 starts file conversion may be after the CPU 11 denies the determination in S306.

  In the above embodiment, the reconnection guidance is displayed when the second Wi-Fi communication is disconnected. However, the CPU 11 performs error display in S314 based on the affirmative determination in S306. In this case, on the condition that the download of the JPEG file is completed, the reconnection guidance may be displayed on the LCD 16 similarly to S323.

  In the second embodiment, when another terminal is held over the terminal 10, the terminal 10 is preferentially caused to perform second Wi-Fi communication with the MFP 100 on the condition that the download is completed within a predetermined time. It was. Alternatively, if the terminal held up later is in a state where print data can be transmitted immediately, the terminal held up later may be preferentially communicated with MFP 100 in the second Wi-Fi. In this case, the handover process in S401 may not succeed. Therefore, in this modified example, when the connection of the second Wi-Fi communication is completed within a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) after the process of S401, the CPU 11 shifts the process to S312 and does not complete it. In such a case, the CPU 11 may be configured to shift the process to S321.

  In the above-described embodiment, the CPU 11 has been described as a configuration that executes each process described in FIGS. 2 to 4. However, a configuration in which a plurality of CPUs cooperatively execute each process described in each of these drawings. Also good. Further, an IC such as an ASIC may be configured to execute each process described in each of the above drawings independently or in cooperation with a plurality of ICs. Further, the CPU 11 and an IC such as an ASIC may cooperate to execute each process described in the above drawings. Moreover, it is good also as a structure implemented combining each characteristic demonstrated by the said embodiment and each modification mentioned above suitably.

10: MFP, 11: CPU, 12a: OS, 12b: Application

Claims (10)

A first communication unit that communicates with an external device through first wireless communication that is wireless communication based on a short-range wireless communication method;
A second communication unit that communicates with an external device through second wireless communication that is wireless communication based on a wireless communication method different from the short-range wireless communication method;
An information processing program that can be executed by the control unit of an information processing device comprising a control unit,
Selection accepting means for accepting selection of processing target data;
Based on the first wireless information for performing the second wireless communication with the relay device, the first device, which is the processing target data whose selection has been received by the selection receiving means, is used for the relay device in the second wireless communication. Output to the conversion device on the network, and obtaining from the conversion device second data of a file format different from the first data converted from the first data by the conversion device Conversion data acquisition means for executing
First determination means for determining whether the process by the conversion data acquisition means is being executed when the first wireless communication with an external device is started;
When the first determination means determines that the process is being executed, the time measurement means measures the elapsed time from a predetermined timing according to the determination;
When the first wireless communication with the external device is started, based on the second wireless information for performing the second wireless communication with the external device without going through the relay device, the external device and the second wireless communication First communication control means for establishing wireless communication;
If it is determined by the first determination means that the process is being executed, then the second data is acquired by the conversion data acquisition means before the elapsed time measured by the timing means reaches a predetermined value. On the condition that the second data or the third data generated from the second data is output to the external device by the second wireless communication established by the first communication control means As an output means,
An information processing program for causing the control unit to function. If the elapsed time counted by the timing means reaches a predetermined value before the second data is acquired by the conversion data acquisition means, the second wireless communication established by the first communication control means is performed. As the second communication control means for cutting,
The information processing program according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is caused to function. If the elapsed time counted by the timing means reaches a predetermined value before the second data is acquired by the conversion data acquisition means, the second wireless communication established by the first communication control means is performed. As notification means for notifying the external device of the disconnection by the second wireless communication established by the first communication control means,
The information processing program according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is caused to function.   When the first communication control unit determines that the processing is being executed by the first determination unit, the first communication control unit acquires the converted data before the elapsed time measured by the time measuring unit reaches a predetermined value. 2. The information processing program according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless communication is established based on the second wireless information on condition that the second data is acquired by means.   When the time determining means determines that the process is being executed by the first determining means, the time measuring means is connected to the external device before the elapsed time from the predetermined timing according to the determination reaches a predetermined value. When the first wireless communication is started with the information processing apparatus, the elapsed time from a predetermined timing corresponding to the start of the first wireless communication is measured instead of the elapsed time during the time measurement. An information processing program according to any one of claims 1 to 4. When the first determination unit determines that the process is being executed, the external device that is set in the first wireless information and the external device performs the second wireless communication with the relay device. As a second determination means for determining whether the third wireless information for the same is the same,
Make the control function,
The first communication control means establishes the second wireless communication based on the second wireless information when the second determining means determines that the first wireless information and the third wireless information are not the same. And
The data output means includes
When the second determination means determines that the first wireless information and the third wireless information are not the same, the second data or the third data is determined by the first communication control means. 2 output to the external device by wireless communication,
If the second determination means determines that the first wireless information and the third wireless information are the same, the second wireless communication is not established by the first communication control means, and the second wireless communication is not established. 6. The data or the third data is output to the external device by outputting the data or the third data to the relay device by the second wireless communication based on the first wireless information. Information processing program described in 1. When the first wireless communication with the external device is started, the second wireless information generated by the external device and the third wireless information set in the external device are transmitted through the first wireless communication. As wireless information acquisition means to acquire from the external device,
Make the control function,
The second determination means determines whether the first wireless information and the third wireless information acquired by the wireless information acquisition means are the same;
The first communication control unit adds the second wireless information acquired by the wireless information acquisition unit when the second determination unit determines that the first wireless information and the third wireless information are not the same. The information processing program according to claim 6, wherein the second wireless communication is established with the external device. The information processing apparatus includes a display unit,
The acquisition of the second data by the conversion data acquisition means is completed when the elapsed time counted by the time measurement means reaches a predetermined value before the second data is acquired by the conversion data acquisition means. As a first display means for displaying on the display unit a display for guiding the start of the first wireless communication with the external device again,
The information processing program according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is caused to function. The information processing apparatus includes a display unit,
Third determination means for determining whether a data amount of the first data or the second data converted from the first data is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold;
When the third determination unit determines that the data amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, a predetermined error display is displayed on the display unit without establishing the second wireless communication by the first communication control unit. As the second display means for displaying,
Make the control function,
The first communication control means establishes the second wireless communication based on the second wireless information when the third determining means determines that the data amount is not equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. The information processing program according to any one of claims 1 to 8. A first communication unit that communicates with an external device through first wireless communication that is wireless communication based on a short-range wireless communication method;
A second communication unit that communicates with an external device through second wireless communication that is wireless communication based on a wireless communication method different from the short-range wireless communication method;
A control unit,
The controller is
Selection accepting means for accepting selection of processing target data;
Based on the first wireless information for performing the second wireless communication with the relay device, the first device, which is the processing target data whose selection has been received by the selection receiving means, is used for the relay device in the second wireless communication. Output to the conversion device on the network, and obtaining from the conversion device second data of a file format different from the first data converted from the first data by the conversion device Conversion data acquisition means for executing
First determination means for determining whether the process by the conversion data acquisition means is being executed when the first wireless communication with an external device is started;
When the first determination means determines that the process is being executed, the time measurement means measures the elapsed time from a predetermined timing according to the determination;
When the first wireless communication with the external device is started, based on the second wireless information for performing the second wireless communication with the external device without going through the relay device, the external device and the second wireless communication First communication control means for establishing wireless communication;
If it is determined by the first determination means that the process is being executed, then the second data is acquired by the conversion data acquisition means before the elapsed time measured by the timing means reaches a predetermined value. On the condition that the second data or the third data generated from the second data is output to the external device by the second wireless communication established by the first communication control means Output means;
An information processing apparatus comprising:

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