JP6525843B2 - INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, SERVER, SLEEP CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to sleep control of an information processing apparatus.

  In order to reduce power consumption, there is an information processing apparatus that transitions to a sleep state when there is no user operation for a certain period of time. In such an information processing apparatus, the user can not read the document if the user transits to the sleep state while there is no operation of the user while reading the displayed document. That is, it is not preferable to perform sleep control on the basis of only the presence or absence of the user's operation. In order to solve such a problem, the information processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 transitions to the sleep state while the line of sight of the user detected in the state in which the image is displayed faces the display means. I try not to. Patent Document 2 also discloses sleep control of an electronic device in which the detection result of the user's eyes is considered in addition to the presence or absence of the user's operation.

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2011-233964 JP 2005-269891 A

A user may use a plurality of information processing devices together. For example, while playing a game with a smartphone, it is a case where a capture method is examined with a tablet terminal. The user operates the tablet terminal while searching the capture method, and the smartphone is not operated. Also, the user looks at the tablet terminal and does not look at the smartphone.
Therefore, if the techniques of Patent Literatures 1 and 2 are adopted, even if the user finishes checking the capture method and tries to resume the game, the smartphone can not resume immediately because the smartphone is in the sleep state. Also, while looking at a strategy, if you look at your smartphone to check the game screen, you may already be asleep. As described above, when using a plurality of information processing apparatuses together, if sleep control is performed based on the user's operation or the line of sight, there is a problem of transitioning to the sleep state in an undesirable scene.
The main object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system that solves such a problem and a component device thereof.

One aspect of the present invention that solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus when the device itself transitions to the sleep state when a predetermined condition, a first obtaining means for obtaining a first application information running on its own device A second acquiring unit for acquiring information of a second application being executed by another apparatus used together with the own apparatus, character information about the second application or the display screen displayed on the own apparatus by the first application , or If the image information is included, an information processing apparatus characterized by comprising a control means for restricting the transition to the sleep state.

  According to the present invention, when the user uses a plurality of information processing apparatuses, it is possible to obtain the special effect that the transition to the sleep state is limited in an unfavorable scene.

(A), (b) is a block diagram of the information processing system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. Processing procedure explanatory drawing of the information processing apparatus which operate | moves as an own apparatus. Process procedure explanatory drawing in the case of acquiring the information of 1st AP. Processing procedure explanatory drawing in a related operation determination part. (A)-(c) is an illustration figure of AP in process of execution. (A)-(c) is an illustration figure of the information of AP in process to acquire. FIG. 7 is a functional configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus according to a second embodiment. Processing procedure explanatory drawing of the information processing apparatus which operate | moves as an own apparatus. FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus according to a third embodiment. Processing procedure explanatory drawing of the information processing apparatus which operate | moves as an own apparatus. The example of AP in process of execution in the example of a 3rd embodiment. FIG. 14 is a functional configuration diagram of an information processing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment. Processing procedure explanatory drawing of a related AP management part. (A), (b) is an illustration figure of the registration timing of related AP.

First Embodiment
FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an information processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The information processing system is configured to include a first information processing device 1, a second information processing device 2 and a server 3 each having a communication function. The first information processing apparatus 1 and the second information processing apparatus 2 are, for example, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, a digital camera, and an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine, for example, and include a computer. The server 3 is a computer having a server function, and has a database (DB) 31 for acquiring and holding information passed between the first information processing device 1 and the second information processing device 2. The information transferred through the server 3 is information set in the first information processing apparatus 1 or the second information processing apparatus 2 and information on an application under execution (hereinafter, referred to as “AP”). In this embodiment, it is assumed that one user uses the first information processing device 1 together with the second information processing device 2 at the same time. "Same period" has almost the same meaning. In the following description, since the first information processing apparatus 1 and the second information processing apparatus 2 have the same functions as long as the present invention is implemented, the first information processing apparatus 1 and the second information processing apparatus 2 are referred to as an information processing apparatus when it is not necessary to distinguish between the two.

FIG. 1B is a hardware block diagram of a computer portion of the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus is configured by connecting a CPU 101, a RAM 102, a ROM 103, a communication unit 104, an operation unit 105, and a display unit 106 to a control bus 100.
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 executes operation control of the entire apparatus and various processes described later by executing the computer program of the present invention. A random access memory (RAM) 102 temporarily stores the computer program and data. The RAM 102 also functions as a work area used when the CPU 101 executes various processes. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 103 holds the computer program and data. The communication unit 104 exchanges information with other devices and the server 3. It is connected to another device by near field communication using Bluetooth or infrared, or Wifi communication. The server 3 is connected via the Internet or an intranet. It is desirable that communication settings be made in advance so that the other device and the server 3 are automatically connected at the start of use (at the time of start-up). The operation unit 105 includes a touch panel, a button, and the like, and inputs an operation (a touch operation, a button press, and the like) of the user to the apparatus. The display unit 106 displays an application (hereinafter, referred to as “AP”) being executed by the apparatus.

  Here, a functional block (function implementing body) formed in the apparatus by the CPU 101 of the information processing apparatus executing the computer program of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the information processing apparatus. Referring to FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus has a function of the operation detection unit 201. The operation detection unit 201 detects that the own device is in a predetermined state, for example, a non-operation state without an operation by the user in the operation unit 105 has continued for a predetermined time.

  The information processing apparatus also has the function of the setting information holding unit 202. The setting information holding unit 202 holds setting information of the own device. The setting information includes the device ID of the own device (ID is an abbreviation of identification, the same applies hereinafter), model name, operation system and its version, and the like. The user ID of the user may be included as setting information. The device ID is identification information for uniquely identifying the own device. Values such as the SIM card number, the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the network card, and the serial number can be used as the device ID. In a digital camera or the like, a firmware version may be held instead of the operating system. The setting information is transmitted to the server 3 by the communication unit 104 when the device is activated. The server 3 registers the received setting information in the DB 31. When registering, the device ID included in the setting information is used as a key. Further, at the end of the operation of the own apparatus, the communication unit 104 requests the server 3 to delete the setting information. The server 3 deletes the registered setting information. Thereby, setting information of the information processing apparatus being activated is registered in the server 3.

  The information processing apparatus also has a function of the first AP information acquisition unit 203. The first AP information acquisition unit 203 acquires information of the first AP being executed by the own apparatus (first acquisition unit). The information to be acquired is the name of the first AP, the displayed text or image, a screen shot or the like. The acquired first AP information is transmitted to the server 3 through the communication unit 104. At the time of transmission, the device ID is acquired from the setting information holding unit 202, and is associated with the first AP information. The server 3 registers the received information of the first AP in the DB 31 in association with the registered setting information using the device ID as a key.

  An example of information on the first AP will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6A is an example of a display screen of the display unit 106 when the game AP (first AP) named “ABC” is being executed on the tablet terminal. FIG. 7A shows an example of the information acquired by the server 3 at this time. The “name” of the game AP is “ABC”. Although the game screen is displayed on the tablet terminal, the document is not displayed. Therefore, "text" and "image" are blank. In the game AP, there is also a scene where a document such as "notice" is displayed, in which case "text" and "image" are acquired. The “screen shot” is image data of the display screen of FIG.

  FIG. 6B is an example of a display screen of the display unit 106 during execution of a web browser as another example of the first AP. The example of the information acquired at this time is FIG.7 (b). The “name” of the first AP is the “web browser”. Here, the document of the web page "Cheats of ABC" is displayed. Get "text" from the displayed document. In the web page, the document may contain tags such as html, but it is desirable to delete such tags. When an image is embedded in the text of the web page, the "image" is acquired. The "screen shot" is image data of the display screen of FIG. 6 (b).

  FIG. 6C is an example of a display screen of the display unit 106 during execution of another example mail AP of the first AP. An example of the information acquired at this time is FIG. 7C. The "name" of the first AP is "mail". Here, the contents of the received mail are displayed. Get "text" from the displayed mail document. It is desirable to delete tags such as html included in the document and headers representing the mail reception path. Since normal mail does not contain images, "Image" is blank. If the email contains an image, that image will be acquired. The “screen shot” is image data of the display screen of FIG. When the information processing apparatus is a digital camera or the like and can not execute the first AP, all the information shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C is blank.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus has the function of the other apparatus search unit 204. The other device search unit 204 searches for another information processing device (other device) to be used together with the own device. The own apparatus is the first information processing apparatus 1 in the example of FIG. 1, and the other apparatus is the second information processing apparatus 2. The other device is directly or indirectly connected to the own device. The search for other devices connected directly is performed by pairing. That is, the user starts up the own apparatus, searches for an operating information processing apparatus among the information processing apparatuses set in the pairing setting by the communication unit 104, and automatically connects if found. Here, the other device (the second information processing device 2) is specified by the search and is automatically connected. When the other device is activated after the start of the search, the other device searches for and connects the already started self device, and in any case, the self device and the other device are automatically connected. The other device search unit 204 starts communication with the connected other device. The other device returns its device ID to its own device. As a result, the own apparatus recognizes another apparatus as an information processing apparatus that can be used by the user at the same time.

  The search for other devices connected indirectly is performed via the server 3. The other apparatus search unit 204 acquires the user ID from the setting information holding unit 202. Next, the communication unit 104 transmits the user ID to the server 3. The server 3 searches whether or not information of other apparatuses having the same user ID as the received user ID is registered in the DB 31 in addition to the own apparatus. If found, the server 3 returns the device ID of the other device to the own device as a search result. As a result, the own apparatus recognizes another apparatus as an information processing apparatus that can be used by the user at the same time.

  The information processing apparatus also has a function of the second AP information acquisition unit 205. The second AP information acquisition unit 205 acquires information on the second AP being executed by another apparatus used by the user together with the own apparatus. Specifically, information is acquired from the other device having the device ID searched by the other device search unit 204. The information to be acquired is the same as that acquired by the first AP information acquisition unit 203. That is, the name of the second AP, the displayed text or image, the screen shot, etc. Methods of information acquisition include methods by direct communication and methods by communication via the server 3. The direct communication method is by pairing described above. That is, as in the case of the other apparatus search unit 204, the other apparatus connected in pairing is requested to transmit information. The other device transmits the information to the own device. Communication via the server 3 is performed using the device ID as a key. That is, the second AP information acquisition unit 205 transmits the device ID searched by the other device search unit 204 to the server 3. The server 3 takes out the information on the AP from the DB 31 using the received device ID as a key. The server 3 transmits the extracted second AP information to the own device.

The information processing apparatus also has the function of the related operation determination unit 206. The related operation determination unit 206 determines whether the information of the first AP being executed by the own device and the information of the second AP being executed by the other device satisfy a predetermined operation condition. The operation condition is, in the present embodiment, whether or not the first AP and the second AP are operated in association with each other. For example, the related operation determining unit 206 determines that the related operation is performed in the following case.
(1) The case where the description regarding the first AP is included in the second AP.
For example, the name of the first AP is included in the text of the second AP. Alternatively, the description regarding the second AP is included in the first AP. This determination is made possible by performing character string matching on "name" and "text" shown in FIG.
(2) The case where the image regarding 1st AP is contained in 2nd AP.
For example, the image of the second AP is included in the screen shot of the first AP. Alternatively, an image related to the second AP is included in the first AP. This determination can be made by using a specific object recognition technique of image search or the like.

  The information processing apparatus also has a function of the sleep control unit 207. The sleep control unit 207 causes the device to transition to the sleep state when the device detects a predetermined state, for example, a state in which the no-operation state is continued for a predetermined time. In the sleep state, normally, a function with relatively large power consumption, such as turning off the display of the screen of the display unit 106, is stopped. In the present embodiment, in addition to such a normal sleep state, sleep control is performed such that the state immediately before transition is restored by one-touch operation on the operation unit 105 or the display unit 106 or the like. For example, even in the sleep state, the operation of the touch panel of the operation unit 105 is not stopped. Alternatively, the password is not locked even if the device transitions to the sleep state. In the following description, the normal sleep state is referred to as the first sleep state, and the sleep state eased from the first sleep state to return by the one-touch operation is referred to as the second sleep state. In the first sleep state, the operation of the touch panel of the operation unit 105 is stopped, and the user can only perform the button operation. In order to return from the first sleep state to the normal state, it is necessary to press the button or button image of the operation unit 105 and then input a password, but by relaxing to the second sleep state, such a Operation is unnecessary.

  When the related operation determination unit 206 determines that the predetermined operation condition is satisfied, the sleep control unit 207 restricts the transition to the sleep state (first / second sleep state). The simple limit example is to stop the transition to the sleep state, but various limits can be set. For example, the time until transition to the sleep state can be made longer than a preset time.

<Example of operation form>
Next, an operation mode example of the information processing system configured as described above will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the processing procedure of the information processing apparatus when operating as the own apparatus. The information processing apparatus checks the operation of the user at the operation unit 105 (S301). This process is performed every predetermined unit time (for example, 20 milliseconds). The operation detection unit 201 determines whether the non-operation state has continued for a predetermined time (for example, 60 seconds) (S302). For this determination, a time counter of the information processing apparatus is used. That is, when the operation is not detected within the unit time, the operation detection unit 201 increases the time counter by the number of units, for example, “1”. If there is an operation, the time counter is reset to "0", and the process returns to S301 (S302: N). Since the time counter increases by “1” when there is no 20-millisecond operation, when the time counter reaches “3000”, the no-operation state continues for a fixed time. In this case (S302: Y), the other device search unit 204 searches for another device in use at the same time (S303). If no other device is found (S304: N), the device is transited to the sleep state (first sleep state) (S310), and the process is ended.

  In S304, when another device is found (S304: Y), the device ID is acquired from the other device as a search result. In this case, the first AP information acquisition unit 203 acquires information of the first AP being executed by the own apparatus (S305). A processing procedure when acquiring information of the first AP will be described later. After that, the second AP information acquisition unit 205 acquires information on the second AP being executed by another device (S306). Then, based on the acquired information on the first AP and the second AP information, the related operation determining unit 206 determines whether the first AP and the second AP are operated in association with each other (S307). The procedure of the determination process will be described later. If it is determined that the related operation is performed (S308: Y), the transition to the sleep state is limited (S309). When it is determined that the related apparatus is not operated (S308: N), the own apparatus is shifted to the sleep state (second sleep state) (S310), and the process is ended. When it is determined that the operation is related (S308: Y), the transition to the sleep state is restricted and the process is ended.

  A processing procedure in the case of acquiring information on the first AP will be described with reference to FIG. This process is executed by the first AP information acquisition unit 203. The first AP information acquisition unit 203 determines whether or not the first AP is being executed by the own apparatus (S401). If not being executed, the process ends (S401: N). If the first AP is being executed (S401: Y), the first AP information acquisition unit 203 acquires the name of the first AP being executed (S402). In addition, it is determined whether the first AP in execution includes an obtainable text (S403). If the text is included (S403: Y), the text is acquired (S404). If the text is not included (S403: N), it is determined whether the image is included (S405). If the image is included (S405: Y), the image is acquired (S406). When the image is not included (S405: N), a screen shot of the first AP in execution is acquired (S407), and the process is finished.

  A detailed procedure example of the determination process in S307 will be described with reference to FIG. The related operation determination unit 206 acquires a name that is a character string from the information of the first AP, and stores the acquired name (S501). A storage destination of the acquired name and information to be described later is a buffer formed in the RAM 102. The related operation determination unit 206 also acquires text, which is a character string, from the information of the second AP, and stores the acquired text (S502). After that, the related operation determining unit 206 determines whether the name of the first AP is included in the text of the second AP by comparing the character strings (S503). If it is included (S 503: Y), it is determined that the first AP and the second AP are operated in association with each other (S 508). If it is not included (S 503: N), the related operation determination unit 206 extracts a screen shot from the information of the first AP, and stores the extracted screen shot (S 504). Also, an image is extracted from the second AP information extracted by the second AP information acquisition unit 205, and the extracted image is stored (S505). After that, the related operation determining unit 206 determines whether the image of the second AP stored is included in the screen shot of the first AP (S506). If it is not included (S506: N), it is determined that the first AP and the second AP are not operated in association with each other (S507), and the process is ended. If it is included (S506: Y), it is determined that the first AP and the second AP are operated in association with each other (S508).

First Embodiment
Next, an embodiment of sleep control will be described. In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the user is executing the game AP (first AP) named "ABC" on the tablet terminal which is the own device (first information processing apparatus 1) (FIG. 6A). . I was unable to understand how to proceed along the way, and I decided to investigate the capture method. Then, the user took out the smart phone which is the other device (the second information processing apparatus 2), launched the web browser (the second AP), and searched for the web page. As a result, since the web page "ABC capture" is found, the user is examining the capture method with a smartphone (FIG. 6 (b)). In the first embodiment, an example of sleep control of the tablet terminal in the above scene will be described.

  The user operates the smartphone, and the non-operation state continues for a certain period of time on the tablet terminal executing the game AP. Therefore, the process of the tablet terminal proceeds from S302 to S303 in FIG. The process of the tablet terminal further proceeds from step S304 to step S307 because a smart phone that is automatically connected and in use by the user is found. In S307, it is determined whether the game AP being executed on the tablet terminal and the web browser being executed on the smartphone are operated in association with each other. As apparent from FIG. 6 (a), the name “ABC” of the game AP is included in the text displayed during the execution of the web browser. Therefore, the process of the tablet terminal proceeds from step S503 to step S508 in FIG. In S508, it is determined that the related operation has been performed. Therefore, the process of the tablet terminal proceeds from S308 to S309 in FIG. 3, and the transition to the sleep state is restricted.

  As described above, in the tablet terminal executing the game AP, the transition to the sleep state is restricted even if the no-operation state is continued for a predetermined time. Therefore, even if it takes time to operate the smartphone, the user can confirm the content displayed on the tablet terminal (display unit 106). In addition, if you check the tablet terminal (display unit 106) many times while checking the capture method, if you transition to the sleep state without restriction, you need to cancel the sleep state that many times, but According to the embodiment, it is possible to save the trouble.

Second Embodiment
As in the first embodiment, on the tablet terminal, the game AP (first AP) named "ABC" is being executed (FIG. 6 (a)). Since the smart phone has detected the reception of the mail on the way, the smart AP executes the mail AP (second AP) and reads the received mail (FIG. 6 (c)). In the second embodiment, an example of sleep control of the tablet terminal in this situation will be described.

  The user operates the smartphone while reading the mail, and the non-operation state continues for a predetermined time on the tablet terminal executing the game AP. Therefore, the process of the tablet terminal proceeds from S302 to S303 in FIG. In S307, it is determined whether the game AP being executed on the tablet terminal and the mail AP being executed on the smartphone are operated in association with each other. The name "ABC" of the game AP is not included in the text displayed on the mail AP. Therefore, the process of the tablet terminal proceeds from S503 of FIG. 5 to S504. In S504, the document (mail) displayed in the mail AP does not contain an image. As a result, although the process of the tablet terminal proceeds from S506 to S507, in S507, it is determined that the related operation has not been performed. Therefore, the process of the tablet terminal proceeds from S308 to S310 in FIG. 3, and the tablet terminal is put to sleep.

  While the user is reading the email, the tablet device is not operated. Therefore, the tablet terminal transitions to the sleep state. However, since the sleep state at this time is the second sleep state, when the user finishes reading the mail and resumes the game AP being executed on the tablet terminal, it is possible to release the sleep by one-touch operation.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, an example in which sleep control of the own device is performed based on the operation state of another device is shown. The hardware configuration of the information processing system is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus is as shown in FIG. That is, in addition to the functional configuration shown in FIG. 2, an operation state management unit 801 that manages the operation state is added. The operation state management unit 801 classifies and manages the operation states of the own device and other devices into three states of “operation (normal)”, “operation (sleep cancellation)”, and “sleep”. These three states are transmitted not only to the own device but also to other devices. "Operation (normal)" is a normal operating state before transitioning to the sleep state. The “operation (sleep cancellation)” is a state in which the transition to the sleep state is restricted in S309 of FIG. "Sleep" is a sleep state. Both the own device and the other device are "active (normal)" immediately after activation. Also, when the user's operation is detected in "operation (sleep cancellation)", the operation state changes to "operation (normal)".

  An exemplary processing procedure of the information processing apparatus in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 9, the processing of S301 to S310 is the same processing as that of FIG. In S901, a request for acquiring the operation state is transmitted from the own device (the first information processing device 1) to another device (the second information processing device 2), and the current operation state is acquired from the other device. If the operation state of the other device is "operation (normal)", the process advances to step S305. In the case of other than "operation (normal)", that is, "operation (sleep cancellation)" or "sleep", transition to the sleep state is made (S310). The operation state management unit 801 sets the operation state to “sleep” (S904) and ends the processing. When it is determined in S308 that the first AP and the second AP are not operated in association with each other (S308: N), the same processing is performed. When it is determined in S308 that the first AP and the second AP are operated in association with each other (S308: Y), the transition to the sleep state is restricted (S309). Therefore, the operation state management unit 801 sets the operation state of the own device as “operation (sleep cancellation)” (S903) and ends the processing.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the operation state management unit 801 (third acquisition unit) that acquires information indicating the operation state of the other device is provided, and the operation state of the other device is considered in the sleep control of the own device. . Specifically, when the no-operation state continues in the own device for a certain time, and the operation state of the other device acquired by the operation state management unit 801 represents the sleep state or the state in which the transition to the sleep state is restricted, , Go to sleep immediately. Therefore, the first AP information acquisition unit 203 and the second AP information acquisition unit 205 do not start up (do not need to be activated). Acquisition of information on the first AP and the second AP is limited to the case where the other device is “operation (normal)”, so the load on the device itself associated with sleep control is reduced compared to the first embodiment.

<Example>
An example of sleep control in the second embodiment will be described. As in the first embodiment, the user plays a game named “ABC” on the tablet terminal which is the first information processing apparatus 1 (FIG. 6A). On the way, I was unable to understand how to proceed, and decided to investigate the capture method. Then, the user took out the smart phone which is the 2nd information processor 2, and ran a web browser. It is assumed that the web page AP “ABC capture” is found and the capture method is examined (FIG. 6 (b)). In this example, an example of sleep control of the tablet terminal will be described.

  In this scene, the user is operating a smartphone, and the state where there is no user operation is continued for a certain period of time on the tablet terminal that is executing the game. Therefore, the process of the tablet terminal proceeds from S302 to S303 in FIG. In step S901, the operation state of the smartphone is acquired, but the smartphone is being operated by the user, and the operation state is “operation (normal)”. Therefore, the process of the tablet terminal proceeds from S902 to S305. In S307, it is determined that the game AP being executed on the tablet terminal and the web browser being executed on the smartphone are operated in association with each other. Therefore, the process of the tablet terminal proceeds from S308 to S309 in FIG. 9, and the transition to the sleep state is restricted in the tablet terminal. Further, in step S903, the operation state of the tablet terminal becomes "operation (sleep cancellation)".

<Modification>
In the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that the user leaves the seat for a predetermined time or more while keeping the tablet terminal and the smartphone, which are in a non-operation state, in the seat. In this state, the smartphone becomes the above-mentioned own device, and the tablet terminal operates as another device. Hereinafter, an example of sleep control of the smartphone will be described.
In the smartphone, the non-operation state is continued for a fixed time. Therefore, the process of the smartphone proceeds from S302 to S303 in FIG. In S901, the smartphone acquires the operating state of the tablet terminal. According to the above process, the operating state of the tablet terminal is “operation (sleep cancellation)”. Therefore, the process of the smartphone proceeds from S902 to S310, and the smartphone executes sleep. Further, in step S904, the operation state of the smartphone is "sleep".

  The sleep control of the tablet terminal in this state will be described. As processing on the tablet terminal side, the tablet terminal is the own device, and the smartphone is the other device. The user has left his seat, but the tablet terminal has been inactive since that time. Therefore, the process of the tablet terminal proceeds from S302 to S303 in FIG. In S901, the tablet terminal acquires the operating state of the smartphone. By the above process, the operating state of the smartphone is "sleep". Therefore, the process of the tablet terminal proceeds from S902 to S310, and the tablet terminal transitions to the sleep state. Also, in step S904, the operating state of the tablet terminal is "sleep". Therefore, when the user leaves the seat and a predetermined time passes, both the tablet terminal and the smartphone go to sleep. Therefore, it leads to the reduction of useless power consumption.

Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, an example in which sleep control is performed using setting information unique to another device instead of the information on the second AP will be described. The hardware configuration of the information processing system is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus is as shown in FIG. That is, in place of the second AP information acquisition unit 205 in FIG. 2, a setting information acquisition unit 1001 that acquires setting information unique to another apparatus is provided. The sleep control unit 207 restricts the transition to the sleep state when the acquired information on the other apparatus-specific setting information is included in the information on the first AP.

  The processing procedure of the information processing apparatus in the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The processes in S301 to S310 are the same as those in FIG. In the third embodiment, after S305, the setting information acquisition unit 1001 acquires setting information unique to another apparatus directly or via the server 3 (S1101). Thereafter, the related operation determination unit 206 determines whether the first AP is operated in association with another device (S1102). If the description regarding the setting information (device ID, model name, etc.) unique to the other device is included in the text of the first AP being executed in the own device, it is determined that the related operation is performed.

  An example of the third embodiment will be described. Here, an example in which the own device (the first information processing device 1) is a smart phone and the other device (the second information processing device 2) is a digital camera is shown. That is, it is assumed that the user operates the digital camera "XYZ" while confirming how to use the digital camera with the smartphone. The smartphone executes a web browser and displays a web page "How to use digital camera XYZ" shown in FIG. The user is operating a digital camera. Therefore, in the smartphone, a state in which there is no user operation continues for a certain period of time. Therefore, the process of the smartphone proceeds from S302 to S303. In S1102, it is determined whether the web browser running on the smartphone is operated in association with the digital camera. As shown in FIG. 12, since the model name "XYZ" of the digital camera is included in the text displayed on the web browser, it is determined that the digital camera is being operated in association. Therefore, the process of the smartphone proceeds from S308 to S309, and the transition to the sleep state is restricted. Since the smartphone displaying the web browser does not go to sleep even if there is no operation for a certain period of time, it is possible to operate the digital camera without a rush. In addition, it is not necessary to repeat the release of the smartphone's sleep state many times.

Fourth Embodiment
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fourth embodiment, an example in which sleep control is performed based on the operation type of another device will be described. The hardware configuration of the information processing system is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus is as shown in FIG. That is, the operation type determination unit 1301, the operation information transmission unit 1302, and the associated AP holding unit 1306 are added to the information processing apparatus. In addition, the server 3 includes a related AP management unit 1310 that manages the related AP. The associated AP managing unit 1310 includes an operation information receiving unit 1303, an associated use determining unit 1304, and an associated AP registration unit 1305.

  The operation type determination unit 1301 determines an operation type, that is, whether the user's operation is a sleep release operation or any other normal operation. The sleep release operation refers to a plurality of user operations input from the sleep state until the state immediately before is returned. Specifically, an input screen is displayed by, for example, a button operation or a slide operation on the operation unit 105 and the display unit 106, and a plurality of touch operations are performed on the input screen to input a pass code. A series of these operations is a wakeup operation. Operations other than wakeup are normal operations.

  The operation information transmission unit 1302 transmits the operation information to the server 3. The operation information is a collection of device IDs, AP names, operation types, and operation times. The device ID is a device ID of a device (self device / other device) to which an operation by a user is input. The AP name is the name of the AP being executed when the operation is input. A series of operations with the same operation type may be combined into one operation information. For example, the above-described sleep release operation may be integrated into one operation information.

The operation information receiving unit 1303 of the server 3 acquires the above-described operation information from the own device and another device (receiving means). The related use determination unit 1304 determines whether the own device and another device are used in association with each other based on the acquired operation information. If the following two conditions are satisfied, it is determined that the own device and the other device are used in association with each other.
(1) The device ID of the device (the own device or another device) to which the sleep release operation has been input is different from the device ID of the device (the own device or the other device) to which the operation immediately preceding the sleep release has been input about.
(2) Device ID of the device (the own device or another device) to which the operation immediately before the sleep release is input and the device of the device (the own device or the other device) to which the operation after the sleep release is input The same as ID.

  The associated AP registration unit 1305 functions as associated application registration means for registering, as associated applications, a plurality of APs determined to be used in association, that is, combinations of APs being executed by two information processing apparatuses. Hereinafter, the related application is referred to as "related AP". The related AP registration unit 1305 holds the registered related AP in the related AP holding unit 1306. That is, the related AP holding unit 1306 functions as a related application holding unit. In the case of this example, since the first AP is executed in the own apparatus and the second AP is executed in the other apparatus, the associated AP holding unit 1306 acquires and holds the combination of the first AP and the second AP as the associated AP. become. In this case, the related operation determination unit 206 determines that the first AP and the second AP are operated in association with each other. As a result, the sleep control unit 207 limits the transition of the device to the sleep state.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 14, the determination procedure of the related AP will be described. In this example, the server 3 forms a buffer corresponding to the operation information in the RAM (not shown). That is, an unlock buffer that holds operation information for releasing the sleep is formed in the RAM 102. Also, a before-unlock buffer for holding operation information immediately before the wakeup and an after_unlock buffer for holding operation information after the wakeup are formed in the RAM 102. In the server 3, first, the operation information receiving unit 1303 checks whether the operation information has been received (S 1401). If not received (S1402: N), the process returns to S1401. When the operation information is received (S1402: Y), the related use determining unit 1304 determines whether the operation type of the received operation information is a sleep release operation (S1403). If it is not the sleep release operation (S1403: N), the operation information is held in the before-unlock buffer (S412). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to end the process of the related AP management unit 1310 (S413). The instruction to end the process is output when shutting down the server 3 or the like. If there is an instruction (S413: Y), the process ends. If there is no instruction, the process returns to S1401.

  In the case of the operation for releasing the sleep state in S403 (S1403: Y), the received operation information for releasing the sleep is held in the unlock buffer (S1404). Thereafter, the related usage determining unit 1304 determines whether the information processing apparatus to which the sleep release operation has been input is different from the information processing apparatus to which the operation immediately preceding the sleep release is input (S1406). The operation information for wakeup is held in the unlock buffer. The operation information of the operation immediately before the sleep release is held in the before_unlock buffer described later. The device ID is extracted from the operation information held in the two buffers, and it is determined whether they are different (S1405). If the device IDs are the same (S1405: N), the process proceeds to S1412. If the device IDs are different (S1405: Y), the operation information receiving unit 1303 checks whether the operation information has been received (S1406). If the operation information is not received (S1407: N), the process proceeds to S1406. If it is received (S1407: Y), the received operation information is held in the after_unlock buffer (S1408).

  The related use determining unit 1304 determines whether the time difference between the sleep release operation and the operation one after the sleep release is within a predetermined time (S1409). At this stage, it does not matter whether the information processing apparatus to which the sleep release operation has been input and the information processing apparatus to which the next operation has been input are the same or different. The operation information for wakeup is held in the unlock buffer. Also, the operation information of the operation after one wakeup is held in the after_unlock buffer. The operation time is taken out from the two pieces of operation information, and the determination is made by obtaining the time difference. If the next operation is not input within a predetermined time (S1409: N), the process proceeds to S1412. When the next operation is input within a predetermined time (S1409: Y), the related use determining unit 1304 determines that the information processing apparatus to which the operation immediately before the sleep cancellation is input and the operation after the one that is the sleep cancellation are It is determined whether the input information processing apparatus is the same (S1410). The operation information of the operation immediately before the wakeup is held in the before_unlock buffer. The operation information of the operation after one wakeup is held in the after_unlock buffer. The device ID is extracted from the two pieces of operation information, and it is determined whether they are the same. If not (S1410: N), the process proceeds to S1412. If they are the same (S1410: Y), the associated AP registration unit 1305 sets the combination of the following two APs as the associated AP. The first is an AP in operation in the information processing apparatus to which a sleep release operation has been input. The second is an AP in operation in the information processing apparatus to which an operation one after sleep release is input. The associated AP registration unit 1305 registers the associated AP in the associated AP holding unit 1306 (S1411), and proceeds to S1402.

  Here, the registration timing of the related AP will be described with reference to FIG. As in the first example of the first embodiment, it is assumed that the game AP is being executed on the tablet terminal which is the first information processing apparatus 1. In addition, it is assumed that the user looks at a web browser or receives an e-mail on the smartphone as the second information processing apparatus 2. Circles and triangles in FIG. 15 indicate user operation timings. Circles are timings of normal operation which is not wake up. The triangles indicate the timing of the wakeup operation. The time difference T0 is a timing difference between the two operations, and is within a predetermined time.

  The upper part of FIG. 15A shows a state in which the user is using the game AP on the tablet terminal. The user performs a required operation while confirming the game screen by the operation (1). The process proceeds from step S1403 to step S1412 for normal operation that is not sleep release. I lost track of how to go along and decided to investigate the capture method. The user takes out the smartphone. As shown in the lower part of FIG. 15 (a), the smartphone when taken out is in the sleep state. Therefore, the user cancels the sleep by the operation (2). After that, the web browser is activated on the smartphone by operation (3), and the capture method is examined. Since the sleep release operation (2) is input, the process advances from step S1403 to step S1404. The previous operation (1) of the sleep cancellation operation (2) is input to the tablet terminal. In addition, the sleep release operation (2) is input to the smartphone. Device IDs differ between the tablet terminal and the smartphone. Therefore, the process proceeds from S1405 to S1406. Furthermore, an operation (3) after one operation of the sleep release operation (2) is performed by the smartphone. The device IDs operated before and after the wakeup are different. Therefore, the process proceeds from S1410 to S1412. That is, in this scene, it is not registered as a related AP.

  Next, the user transfers the operation to the tablet terminal again to confirm the game screen. The tablet terminal is in the sleep state because there is no input of operation for a while. The user wakes up in operation (4). The user who confirms the game screen operates the smartphone by the operation (5) in order to further investigate the capture method. In the tablet terminal, since the sleep release operation (4) is performed, the process proceeds from S1403 to S1404. The last operation (3) of wakeup is done with the smartphone. The sleep release operation (4) is performed on the tablet terminal. Device IDs differ between a smartphone and a tablet terminal. Therefore, the process proceeds from S1405 to S1406. In addition, the time difference between the sleep release operation (4) and the one operation after (5) is T0, which is within a predetermined time. Therefore, the process proceeds from S1409 to S1410. Furthermore, the operation (5) after one wakeup is performed by the smartphone. The device IDs for which the operation before and after the wakeup has been performed are the same. Therefore, the process proceeds from step S1410 to step S1411. That is, the game operating on the tablet terminal and the web browser operating on the smartphone are registered as the related AP.

  In the example of FIG. 15 (b), the user is playing a game on the tablet terminal in the upper operation (1). The process proceeds from step S1403 to step S1412 for normal operation that is not sleep release. Since the smartphone has received an email on the way, the user performs an operation (2) for releasing the smartphone from sleep and an operation (3) for reading the email. The timing of the operation up to this point is the same as in FIG. As in the case of FIG. 15 (a), the game AP and the mail AP are not registered as related APs in this scene.

  Next, the user transfers the operation to the tablet terminal to resume the game. The tablet terminal is in the sleep state because there is no input of operation for a while. Therefore, the user releases the sleep in the operation (4). After waking up, the user operates the game AP by the operation (5). Since the sleep release operation (4) is performed, the process advances from step S1403 to step S1404. The last operation (3) of wakeup is done with the smartphone. The sleep release operation (4) is performed on the tablet terminal. Device IDs differ between smartphones and tablet terminals. Therefore, the process proceeds from S1405 to S1406. In addition, the time difference between the sleep release operation (4) and the one operation after (5) is T0, which is within a predetermined time. Therefore, the process proceeds from S1409 to S1410. Furthermore, the operation (5) after one wakeup is performed on the tablet terminal. Before and after the wakeup, the device ID on which the operation was performed is different. Therefore, the process proceeds from S1410 to S1412. That is, in this scene, it is not registered as a related AP. That is, since the game AP and the mail AP are not registered as related APs, the tablet terminal shifts to the sleep state.

[Other embodiments]
The first to fourth embodiments and the examples have been described above in detail, but when hardware is configured as a substitute for software processing using the CPU 101, the functions shown in each embodiment may be implemented by the operation unit or the circuit. It should be configured. The present invention can also be embodied as an apparatus, a method, a computer program or a recording medium (storage medium). Specifically, the present invention may be applied to an apparatus including a single device in addition to a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, an imaging device, a web application, etc.). Further, it goes without saying that the object of the present invention can be achieved by the following. That is, a recording medium (or storage medium) storing a program code (computer program) of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system, an apparatus or a server. Such storage media are, of course, computer readable storage media. Then, the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system, apparatus or server reads out and executes the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the recording medium recording the program code constitutes the present invention.

Claims (19)

In an information processing apparatus that transitions to a sleep state when the own apparatus is in a predetermined state,
A first acquisition unit that acquires information of a first application being executed on the own apparatus;
A second acquisition unit for acquiring information of a second application being executed by another apparatus used together with the own apparatus;
A control unit that restricts the transition to the sleep state when the display screen displayed on the own device by the first application includes character information or image information related to the second application ;
An information processing apparatus comprising: In an information processing apparatus that transitions to a sleep state when the own apparatus is in a predetermined state,
A first acquisition unit that acquires information of a first application being executed on the own apparatus;
A second acquisition unit for acquiring information of a second application being executed by another apparatus used together with the own apparatus;
Control means for limiting transition to the sleep state when the information of the first application and the information of the second application satisfy a predetermined operation condition;
Wherein if the description of the first application is included in the second application, or, if the description of the second application is included in the first application, to limit the transition to the sleep state An information processing apparatus characterized by In an information processing apparatus that transitions to a sleep state when the own apparatus is in a predetermined state,
A first acquisition unit that acquires information of a first application being executed on the own apparatus;
A second acquisition unit for acquiring information of a second application being executed by another apparatus used together with the own apparatus;
Control means for limiting transition to the sleep state when the information of the first application and the information of the second application satisfy a predetermined operation condition;
Wherein, when the image for the first application is included in the second application, or if the image relating to the second application is included in the first application, to limit the transition to the sleep state An information processing apparatus characterized by In an information processing apparatus that transitions to a sleep state when the own apparatus is in a predetermined state,
A first acquisition unit that acquires information of a first application being executed on the own apparatus;
A second acquisition unit for acquiring information of a second application being executed by another apparatus used together with the own apparatus;
Control means for limiting the transition to the sleep state when the information of the first application and the information of the second application satisfy a predetermined operation condition;
A setting information acquisition unit configured to acquire setting information specific to the other device instead of the information of the second application;
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit restricts transition to the sleep state when the acquired description about the unique setting information is included in the information of the first application. In an information processing apparatus that transitions to a sleep state when the own apparatus is in a predetermined state,
A first acquisition unit that acquires information of a first application being executed on the own apparatus;
A second acquisition unit for acquiring information of a second application being executed by another apparatus used together with the own apparatus;
Control means for limiting the transition to the sleep state when the information of the first application and the information of the second application satisfy a predetermined operation condition;
The related application holding means holds the combination of the own device and the application being executed on the other device as related applications.
Wherein, the information combination of the first application and the second application when a related application that is being held in the related application holding means, and limits the transition to the sleep state Processing unit. The related application holding unit is operated by an operation type indicating whether or not the user has made a sleep release operation operated by the user in the own apparatus and the other apparatus, an apparatus ID for identifying the operated apparatus, an operation time, and At the same time, based on the operation information including the name of the application being executed, the device ID of the device to which the wakeup operation has been input is different from the device ID of the device to which the immediately preceding operation of the wakeup is input, The first application and the first application when the device ID of the device to which the operation immediately before the wakeup is input and the device ID of the device to which the operation after the 1st wakeup is input are the same Holding a combination of two applications as the related application,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 . The associated application holding unit further wherein if the time difference between the sleep cancel operation time and one operation time of operation after the wake is constant within the time than, in the information processing apparatus operation wake is entered Holding an application in operation and an application in operation in an information processing apparatus to which an operation after one wakeup has been input as the related application
The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 . A third acquisition unit configured to acquire information representing an operation state of the other device;
When the operation state of the other device acquired when the own device is in the predetermined state represents a sleep state or a state in which the transition to the sleep state is restricted, the first acquisition unit and the second acquisition unit are activated. do not do,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 .   The other device is an information processing device that is automatically or directly connected to the own device.
  An information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.   It has a touch panel for accepting user operations,
  The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sleep state is a state in which the one-touch operation on the touch panel returns the state immediately before the transition. A server connected to two information processing apparatuses according to claim 6 , respectively.
Receiving means for receiving the operation information from the two information processing apparatuses;
Association use determining means for determining whether the two information processing devices are used in association with each other;
Associated application registration means for causing any of the associated application holding means to hold a combination of applications operating on the two information processing devices determined to be used in association as the associated application;
A server characterized by comprising: The related use determining means is different in the device ID of the information processing device to which the operation to release sleep is input and the device ID of the information processing device to which the operation immediately before the release of sleep is input, and 1 of the release of sleep. The two information processing apparatuses are related when the apparatus ID of the information processing apparatus to which the previous operation has been input and the apparatus ID of the information processing apparatus to which the operation after one of the wakeup has been input are the same. To determine that it is being used,
The server according to claim 11. The related application registration means is information in which a time difference between the operation time of the sleep release and the operation time of the operation one after the sleep release is within a predetermined time, and the operation immediately before the sleep release is input. If the device ID of the processing device is the same as the device ID of the information processing device to which the operation after one of the wake-up operations is input, the application and the sleep operating on the information processing device to which the wake-up operation is input An application running on an information processing apparatus to which an operation after one release has been input is set as the related application.
A server according to claim 12. The first information processing apparatus searches for a second information processing apparatus in use with the own apparatus when the no-operation state of the own apparatus continues for a fixed time.
The second when the information processing apparatus is found, obtains the second application information running on the information and the second information processing apparatus of the first application running on the host device, prior Symbol first application A sleep control method for restricting the transition to the sleep state in the own device when the display screen displayed on the own device includes character information or image information related to the second application . The first information processing apparatus searches for a second information processing apparatus in use with the own apparatus when the no-operation state of the own apparatus continues for a fixed time.
If the second information processing apparatus is found, the operation state of the second information processing apparatus is acquired, and if the acquired operation state is not a sleep state or a state in which the transition to the sleep state is not restricted, the own apparatus While acquiring the information of the first application being executed and the information of the second application being executed by the second information processing apparatus, the first application and the second application are associated and operated based on the acquired information If it is operated in conjunction, it limits the transition to the sleep state in its own device,
When the second information processing apparatus is found, the operation state of the second information processing apparatus is acquired, and when the acquired operation state is a sleep state or a state in which the transition to the sleep state is restricted, the first information processing apparatus A sleep control method comprising: transitioning the device to a sleep state without acquiring information of an application and the second application. Prior SL determination, operation type indicating whether the operation of the wake which is operated by the user, engineered self apparatus or the second information processing apparatus apparatus ID for identifying the operation time, and, when operated Based on the operation information including the name of the application being executed, the apparatus ID of the information processing apparatus to which the operation for releasing the sleep is input and the apparatus ID of the information processing apparatus to which the operation immediately before the release of sleep is input are different. And when the device ID of the information processing device to which the operation immediately before the wakeup is input is the same as the device ID of the information processing device to which the operation after the wakeup 1 is input, Determining that the first application and the second application are operated in association with each other;
The sleep control method according to claim 15 . The time difference between the sleep release operation time and the operation time of the one operation after the sleep release is within a predetermined time, and the device ID of the information processing apparatus to which the operation immediately before the sleep release is input, and the sleep If the information after the release is the same as the device ID of the information processing apparatus to which the operation after one is input, the application operating on the information processing apparatus to which the operation to release the sleep is input and the operation after one release of the sleep are It is determined that the application being operated by the input information processing apparatus is operated in the related manner,
The sleep control method according to claim 16 .   A computer program for operating a computer having a communication function as an information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.   A computer program for operating a computer having a communication function as a server according to any one of claims 11 to 13.

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