JP6524682B2 - Display device and display control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device and a display control program.

  Electronic products, for example, various products such as printers, scanners, multifunction machines, etc. periodically or periodically update installed software (also referred to as firmware).

  If the firmware (FW) update request processing unit determines that the size of the FW update data is larger than the free space of the storage device managed by the sub CPU, it suspends the process of storing the FW update data in the storage device. Pops up a message (user notification error message) indicating that the FW update process can not be continued, and receives a response from the user indicating the continuation request of the FW update process, the energy saving control from the energy saving state to the normal state There is known an electronic device which requests the part to return from the energy saving state to the normal state (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-34503 A

  There has been a need for a mechanism to properly notify the user that the software needs to be updated. Here, even if a message for the user is displayed when the electronic device is in the energy saving state as in the case of the document 1, the energy saving state can be said to be a state in which the user is not using the electronic device. The possibility of seeing is low and there is almost no effect to display. In addition, displaying a message while in the energy saving state consumes extra power to realize the display even though the energy saving state is in progress, and it is desirable to keep the electronic device in the energy saving state. It is disadvantageous for the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems described above, and provides a display device and a display control program for more appropriately executing notification regarding software update.

  One of the aspects of the present invention is a display device, a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of update data for updating software, and a screen for displaying a first image when the device is in a predetermined normal state. A display control unit that causes the second image to be displayed on the screen when the device is in a power saving state where power consumption is lower than the normal state, and the display control unit is configured to According to the determination that the update data is present, the first image is an update notification image for notifying that the update data is present, regardless of whether the normal state or the power saving state is set. Generate as.

  According to the configuration, the determination unit determines the presence or absence of the update data regardless of whether the apparatus is in the normal state or the power saving state, so the frequency of the presence or absence of the update data does not decrease. The display control unit generates the update notification image as the first image regardless of which of the normal state and the power saving state is in response to the determination unit determining that the update data is present. Therefore, when the device is in the power saving state, the update notification image is not displayed on the screen (the second image is continuously displayed), and when the device is in the normal state, it is displayed as the first image on the screen. The update notification image of is displayed. That is, since the update notification image can be displayed at the timing when the user uses the apparatus, it is possible to accurately notify the user that there is the latest update data (necessity of software update).

In one aspect of the present invention, the determination unit may make the determination by inquiring of a server capable of providing the update data to the outside the presence or absence of the update data.
According to this configuration, the display device itself can reliably determine the presence or absence of the update data.

In one aspect of the present invention, the determination unit may inquire about the presence or absence of the update data in addition to inquiring the server about the presence or absence of a print job.
According to this configuration, the process is made more efficient because the process is inquired about the presence or absence of the update data in addition to the inquiry about the presence or absence of the print job.

In one aspect of the present invention, the display control unit, which causes the first image to be displayed on the screen according to the priority for each image when in the normal state, has a priority higher than the update notification image. Another high first image may be displayed on the screen.
According to the configuration, when the apparatus is in the normal state, the other first image can be displayed on the screen before the update notification image, which contributes to the user's benefit.

In one aspect of the present invention, the determination unit determines whether the update data is automatic update data for automatically updating the software or arbitrary update data for updating according to update permission from a user. In the case of arbitrary update data, the display control unit may generate the update notification image as the first image.
According to this configuration, it is possible to display on the screen information having meaning to notify the user, that is, an update notification image for notifying that there is arbitrary update data.

  The technical idea of the present invention is not realized only by the invention of a display device. For example, each process which a display apparatus performs can be regarded as invention of a method. In addition, the present invention is applied to various categories such as a computer program (display control program) having a function of causing such a method to be executed by hardware (display device etc.), and a computer readable storage medium storing the program. May be realized.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus configuration. 5 is a flowchart showing display control processing and notification image preparation processing. The figure which illustrates the change of the display content in a display part.

1. Outline of device configuration:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the function of the apparatus according to the present embodiment.
The electronic device 10 is grasped as a product such as, for example, a printer, a scanner, or a multifunction device including the plurality of functions. The electronic device 10 corresponds to an example of the display device of the present invention in that the electronic device 10 has a function (image display function) of displaying an image on a predetermined screen. In the present application, a display device refers to all or part of a device or device having at least an image display function. Therefore, the specific example of the display device is not limited to the printer, the scanner, or the multifunction device including the plurality of functions. Moreover, each configuration of the electronic device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is not limited to the case where it is integrated in one place or in one case, and the respective configurations exist in mutually separated places and can communicate. You may build one system by

  In the example of FIG. 1, the electronic device 10 includes the controller 11, the power supply circuit 14, the network interface (I / F) 15, the wireless communication I / F 16, the print engine 17, the scanner 18, the operation panel 19, the light emitting unit 21, and the like. It is comprised including. However, not all of these configurations are essential to realize the present invention. The controller 11 is a general term for a circuit for controlling the behavior of the electronic device 10. The controller 11 includes, for example, an IC having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and other storage devices and memories. In the controller 11, the CPU executes arithmetic processing according to the programs W 1, W 2,... Stored in the ROM etc. using the RAM etc. as a work area to perform functions necessary for controlling the behavior of each part of the electronic device 10 The functions such as the determination unit 12 and the display control unit 13 are realized.

  The programs W1, W2, ... include a display control program according to the present invention, and firmware (a type of software) to be updated by update data described later. The number of CPUs constituting the controller 11 may be one or more. For example, the main CPU and the sub CPU may be present in the configuration of the controller 11, and each CPU may share the role and control the behavior of each part of the electronic device 10.

  The power supply circuit 14 is a circuit that performs rectification, transformation, and the like on a commercial alternating current voltage AC supplied from the outside to generate a necessary level of direct current DC, and supplies the DC to each part in the electronic device 10 as a power supply voltage. The network I / F 15 is an I / F that is connected to a cable and performs communication with the outside via the network NW. The network NW is a concept including the Internet and a local area network (Local Area Network). The wireless communication I / F 16 is an I / F that carries out wireless communication in accordance with a so-called Wi-Fi wireless communication standard. The wireless communication I / F 16 can connect to the Internet or communicate with other Wi-Fi compatible devices via an access point (not shown).

  The print engine 17 prints an image on a print medium in accordance with a print instruction (print job). Various printing methods, such as an inkjet method and a laser method, can be considered as the printing method adopted by the print engine 17. The scanner 18 is a mechanism that optically reads an original according to a scan instruction and converts it into electronic data (image data), and includes a light source, an imaging element, and the like. Of course, it is also possible for the print engine 17 to execute printing (copy the original) based on the image data generated by reading the original by the scanner 18.

  The operation panel 19 includes an operation receiving unit (button, switch or the like) for receiving an operation from the user, the display unit 20 and the like. The display unit 20 is often a liquid crystal display (LCD), but may be, for example, an organic EL display or a plasma display other than the LCD. The display unit 20 displays various information related to the electronic device 10. That is, the screen of the display unit 20 corresponds to an example of a predetermined screen. The display unit 20 may also function as a so-called touch panel to double as the (part of) the operation reception unit. The light emitting unit 21 is configured by, for example, one or more LEDs. The light emitting unit 21 indicates the state of the electronic device 10 at that time (for example, the state in which the power is on) to the outside according to the light emitting state (lighting, blinking, extinguishing, light emitting color).

2. Description of Normal State and Power Saving State:
Next, the normal state and the power saving state of the electronic device 10 will be described. The normal state is basically a state in which all the functions and capabilities of the electronic device 10 are activated. On the other hand, the power saving state is a state in which the power consumption is low because the function and capability are limited compared to the normal state. For the power saving state, various names such as an energy saving mode, a power saving mode, and a sleep mode can be adopted. The power saving state may include a plurality of states (modes). For example, the electronic device 10 can adopt either the first power saving state or the second power saving state whose power consumption is lower than that of the first power saving state as the power saving state.

  As an example, in the first power saving state, a drive circuit for driving various motors (motors included in the print engine 17 and the scanner 18) (not shown) mounted on the electronic device 10 is stopped to allow the electronic device 10 to stop. Disables various sensors (optical sensors) (not shown) mounted, lowers the function of the wireless communication I / F 16, lowers the power supply voltage output by the power supply circuit 14, and further operates the operating frequency of at least a part of the CPU It is in a lowered state. However, in the first power saving state, when the user operates the operation panel 19, the normal state is restored. Therefore, the function of the operation panel 19 (the function including the sensor as the touch panel of the display unit 20) is kept in an effective state.

  As an example, in the second power saving state, in addition to the first power saving state, the light emitting unit 21 is further turned off, and a storage medium I / F (not shown) provided in the electronic device 10 (for example, inserted It is a state in which the function of the reading I / F of the memory card is invalidated and the power supply voltage output from the power supply circuit 14 is cut off at a predetermined level.

  The controller 11 realizes the transition from the normal state to the power saving state and the return from the power saving state to the normal state according to a predetermined sequence. For example, the controller 11 indicates that the time during which no instruction from the outside (instructions such as print, scan, copy, etc.) and operations (operation via the operation panel 19 etc.) have been continuously reached a certain time or more As a condition, transition from the normal state to the power saving state is made. When the controller 11 receives an operation of powering off by pressing the power button (not shown) in the normal state, the controller 11 transitions to the power saving state.

  When transitioning from the normal state to the power saving state, the controller 11 may move in stages, that is, first to the first power saving state and then to the second power saving state. In addition, the controller 11 can save what type of saving depending on the difference in the conditions that triggered the transition to the power saving state (for example, the difference such as whether the predetermined time has elapsed or the power off operation has been received). Transition to the power state (either the first power saving state or the second power saving state) may be branched. In addition, the controller 11 transitions from the normal state to the second power saving state only when transition to the second power saving state is previously permitted by the user operation, and such permission is If there is not, the transition from the normal state to the first power saving state may be made.

  In the first power saving state, for example, the controller 11 detects an operation on the operation panel 19 as described above, or an external device (for example, an external device via the network I / F 15 or the wireless communication I / F 16). When a print instruction or a scan instruction is received from various terminals such as a PC, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc., the normal state is restored. Further, in the second power saving state, for example, when the power-on operation by pressing the power button is received, the controller 11 returns to the normal state. Also in the second power saving state, when the print instruction or the scan instruction is received from the external device, the normal state may be restored. Hereinafter, basically, the first power saving state and the second power saving state are simply referred to as the power saving state without distinction.

3. Description of display control process:
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing display control processing and notification image preparation processing realized by the controller 11. The controller 11 executes display control processing (steps S100 to S120) and notification image preparation processing (steps S200 to S220) in parallel. Further, the first image display (step S110) in the display control process is affected by the notification image preparation process. In that sense, the notification image preparation process may be regarded as part of the display control process.

  In step S100, the display control unit 13 determines whether the current state of the electronic device 10 is the normal state or the power saving state. In the present embodiment, the partial configuration in the electronic device 10 including the controller 11 is operated to the extent that the respective processes described in FIG. 2 (except for step S110) can be performed even in the power saving state. doing. If the current state of the electronic device 10 is the normal state, the display control unit 13 proceeds to step S110. If the current state is the power saving state, the display control unit 13 proceeds to step S120.

  In step S110, that is, when the electronic device 10 is in the normal state, the display control unit 13 controls the display unit 20 to display the first image on the display unit 20. On the other hand, in step S120, that is, when the electronic device 10 is in the power saving state, the display control unit 13 controls the display unit 20 to cause the display unit 20 to display the second image. That is, the display control unit 13 performs the determination of step S100 as needed, and switches the display by the display unit 20 to either the first image or the second image according to the result of the determination.

  The first image is a general term for an image displayed on the display unit 20 when the electronic device 10 is in the normal state. As a typical example, the home screen of the electronic device 10 corresponds to the first image. On the home screen, each function (for example, print function, scan function, copy function, facsimile function, etc.) that the electronic device 10 can provide is displayed as characters or illustrations, etc., and the user can Each function of the electronic device 10 is utilized through operation. Informs the user of some meaning or state with characters or illustrations, such as various guidance images (for example, guidance images showing details and settings of the print function) to be the transition destination from the home screen, and "update notification image" described later All the images displayed on the display unit 20 for the purpose correspond to the first image.

  The second image is a generic name of an image that informs the user of "a state in which virtually nothing is displayed". As a typical example, a black image corresponds to the second image. For example, the display unit 20 displays a black image in which all the gradation values of all the three element colors of RGB (red, green, blue) are 0 in all pixels as the second image. It will be "a state in which virtually nothing is displayed". In addition, when the display unit 20 is an LCD, the display unit 20 can be put in a “state where nothing is displayed” by turning off the backlight of the LCD. The state in which the backlight is turned off in this manner is also included in the second image display in a broad sense. In addition, the image for realizing the second image = "a state in which substantially nothing is displayed" is, for example, an image of the entire surface gray color or an image of one color other than the black screen. It may be.

  The notification image preparation process (steps S200 to S220) is executed regardless of whether the electronic device 10 is in the normal state or the power saving state. In step S200, the determination unit 12 confirms the presence or absence of update data for updating the firmware (a type of software) loaded in the electronic device 10. In the present embodiment, the update data is provided from the external server 30 (see FIG. 1) through the network NW. For example, the determination unit 12 periodically or irregularly receives the presence or absence of update data in the server 30 which is the provider of the update data via the network I / F 15 (or the wireless communication I / F 16). Execute the query. Then, when a notification of update data presence is received from the server 30 as a response to the inquiry, it is determined that the update data is present. On the other hand, when a notification that there is no update data is received from the server 30 as a response to the inquiry, it is determined that there is no update data.

  Alternatively, when the server 30 acquires new update data, the server 30 may notify the electronic device 10 registered in advance in the server 30 of the presence of the update data. That is, when the determination unit 12 receives the notification of the update data existence from the server 30 via the network I / F 15, the determination unit 12 may determine that the update data is present (step S200).

  If the determination unit 12 determines that there is update data in the confirmation in step S200, the process proceeds to step S220 in the branch processing in step S210. If the determination unit 12 determines that there is no update data in the confirmation, the determination in step S200 is repeated.

  In step S220, the display control unit 13 generates an update notification image (a type of first image) for notifying that there is update data. Generation of the update notification image indicates generation of image data (update notification image data) for causing the display unit 20 to display the update notification image. However, update notification image data is already stored in a predetermined storage medium, and processing for acquiring (reading) the update notification image data from the storage medium is also included in the generation of the update notification image in a broad sense. . After step S220, the process returns to step S200 again.

  As described above, the controller 11 executes the display control process and the notification image preparation process in parallel. Therefore, if the timing at which the update notification image is generated in step S220 is the normal state, that is, the first image display period (step S110), the display control unit 13 selects the update notification image based on the update notification image data. It is displayed on the display unit 20. The user recognizes the necessity of updating the firmware (that the update data should be downloaded from the server 30 and the firmware of the electronic device 10 should be updated by the update data) by viewing the update notification image displayed on the display unit 20. Do.

  On the other hand, if the timing at which the update notification image is generated in step S220 is the power saving state, that is, the second image display period (step S120), the display control unit 13 displays the display unit as illustrated in FIG. 3A. The display of the second image (image G2) by 20 is maintained. That is, during the power saving state, the update notification image (image G1) is not displayed on the display unit 20 even if the update notification image (image G1 indicated by a broken line in FIG. 3A) is prepared (generated). Thereafter, the display on the display unit 20 switches from the second image to the first image at the timing when the electronic device 10 returns from the power saving state to the normal state. Therefore, the display control unit 13 causes the display unit 20 to display the update notification image (image G1) prepared (generated) in the power saving state at the timing when the electronic device 10 returns from the power saving state to the normal state See Figure 3B).

  In the first image display period (step S110), the display control unit 13 causes the display unit 20 to display the first image according to the priority for each image. The update notification image has higher priority than the home screen described above and various guidance images to be transition destinations from the home screen. Therefore, when the display control unit 13 generates the update notification image, the display unit 20 displays the update notification image prior to the home screen and the various guidance images in the first image display period (step S110). Display. When the user performs a predetermined operation in a state where the update notification image is displayed on the display unit 20 (for example, when the user operates an OK button (not shown) for closing the update notification image), the update notification image disappears , And then the first image having lower priority than the update notification image is displayed.

  However, in the present embodiment, the presence of other first images having higher priority than the update notification image is not denied. For example, an error notification image for notifying a predetermined error (such as a failure) to the electronic device 10, or that the electronic device 10 is currently executing a predetermined process (a message indicating that an image is being printed or a document is scanned) An execution notification image or the like for notifying that it is medium) corresponds to a first image having a higher priority than the update notification image.

  Therefore, for example, when the controller 11 detects the predetermined error while the electronic device 10 is in the power saving state, the display control unit 13 first displays an error notification image at the timing when the power saving state returns to the normal state. It is displayed on the part 20 (step S110) to inform the user of the existence of an error. In addition, when the electronic device 10 returns to the normal state from the power saving state triggered by the reception of the print instruction from the external device, the display control unit 13 is first executing printing after the return to the normal state. An execution notification image for notifying that effect is displayed on the display unit 20 (step S110). After the display of the error notification image and the execution notification image, a first image (such as an update notification image) having a lower priority than the display of the error notification image and the execution notification image is displayed on the display unit 20.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the controller 11 (determination unit 12) determines the presence or absence of update data for updating the firmware regardless of whether the electronic device 10 is in the normal state or the power saving state. (Steps S200 and S210) The frequency of confirmation of presence / absence of update data does not decrease. That is, even if the electronic device 10 has a relatively long time (time in the power saving state) which is not used by the user, the firmware update can be surely confirmed. Further, the controller 11 (display control unit 13) responds to the determination that the update data is present (in the case of “Yes” in step S210), regardless of which of the normal state and the power saving state, the update notification An image is generated as a first image (step S220). Therefore, when there is update data, if the electronic device 10 is in the power saving state, the update notification image is not displayed on the screen of the display unit 20 (the second image (image G2 continues to be displayed). The update notification image (image G1) is displayed on the screen of the display unit 20 in the normal state.

  That is, since the update notification image can be displayed at the timing when the user uses the electronic device 10, it is possible to accurately notify the user of the necessity of the firmware update. Conversely, since there is no unnecessary processing such as displaying the update notification image at a timing when the user is unlikely to see the display unit 20 as in the power saving state, extra power is not required during the power saving state. Avoid consumption and do not penalize users.

4. Modification:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various aspects without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, some modifications as described below can be adopted. The structure which combined embodiment and a modification suitably is also contained in the indication range of the present invention. In the following description, the description common to the above-described embodiment will be appropriately omitted.

Modification 1:
The electronic device 10 may be a printer compatible with cloud printing. Cloud print refers to a process in which a printer downloads and executes a print job uploaded from a predetermined terminal to a predetermined server using the Internet (performs printing according to the print job). . Here, it is assumed that a print job specifying the electronic device 10 (printer) as a print destination is uploaded to the server 30. In the first modification, the controller 11 can print its own (electronic device 10) to the server 30 periodically or irregularly via the network I / F 15 regardless of either the normal state or the power saving state. Inquires about the presence or absence of the print job specified as.

  When the controller 11 receives a print job notification as a result of executing a print job inquiry to the server 30, the controller 11 returns the print job from the server 30 (returns to the normal state in the case of the power saving state). Download and execute. In such a configuration, the determination unit 12 inquires the server 30 about the presence or absence of the print job and inquires the presence or absence of the update data (step S200). As described above, according to the first modification, by simultaneously executing the print job inquiry to the server 30 and the update data inquiry, management of the timing of each inquiry becomes easy, and the processing by the controller 11 becomes more efficient. Be done.

Modification 2:
In steps S200 and S210, in addition to the determination of the presence or absence of the update data, the determination unit 12 automatically updates the firmware (forced update) when the update data is present, and the update permission from the user is permitted. It is determined which of the arbitrary update data to update according to In the second modification, it is assumed that the update data held by the server 30 is added with identification information for identifying whether it is automatic update data or arbitrary update data. The determination unit 12 can determine whether the update data is the automatic update data or the arbitrary update data by referring to such identification information.

  When the update data is the automatic update data, the controller 11 downloads the automatic update data from the server 30 regardless of whether the electronic device 10 is in the normal state, and updates the firmware using the automatic update data. Run. On the other hand, when the update data is the arbitrary update data, the controller 11 generates the update notification image regardless of whether the electronic device 10 is in the normal state (step S220). As described above, according to the second modification, when the update data is the arbitrary update data, the update notification image is generated, and the update notification image is displayed on the display unit 20 at the timing of the first image display (step S110). Be done. In other words, automatic update data, which is data for updating firmware regardless of the user's decision, does not notify the user of its existence in advance (before automatic update), while it makes sense. Send a notification (notice of the existence of any update data). The user who recognizes the existence of the arbitrary update data by the update notification image determines whether or not the arbitrary update data is downloaded from the server 30, and does not cause the electronic device 10 to download the arbitrary update data from the server 30 or (Does or does not update the firmware with the arbitrary update data).

Reference Signs List 10 electronic device (display device) 11 controller 12 determination unit 13 display control unit 17 print engine 18 scanner 19 operation panel 20 display unit 30 server W1, W2 …program

Claims (4)

A display device,
A determination unit that determines the presence or absence of update data for updating software;
A first image is displayed on a predetermined screen when the device is in a predetermined normal state, and a second image is displayed on the screen when the device is in a power saving state where power consumption is lower than that in the normal state. And a display control unit,
The determination unit performs the determination by inquiring the server about the presence or absence of the update data in addition to inquiring the server which can provide the update data to the outside about the presence or absence of the print job,
The display control unit notifies that the update data is present regardless of whether the normal state or the power saving state is in response to the determination unit determining that the update data is present. A display device generating an update notification image of the image as the first image. The display according to claim 1 , wherein the display control unit causes the second image to be displayed on the screen prior to the generated first image when in the power saving state. apparatus. A display control program for controlling the display device,
A determination function that determines the presence or absence of update data for updating software;
A first image is displayed on a predetermined screen when the device is in a predetermined normal state, and a second image is displayed on the screen when the device is in a power saving state where power consumption is lower than that in the normal state. And display control function,
The determination function performs the determination by inquiring the server about the presence or absence of the update data in addition to inquiring the server capable of providing the update data to the outside about the presence or absence of the print job,
The display control function notifies that the update data is present regardless of whether the normal state or the power saving state is in response to the determination function determining that the update data is present. A display control program for generating an update notification image of the first image as the first image. 4. The display according to claim 3 , wherein the display control function causes the second image to be displayed on the screen prior to the generated first image when in the power saving state. Control program.