JP2005260312A - User interface device, information processing device, and method of setting information to information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience in wirelessly transmitting setting information from a user interface device to an information processing device to execute setting processing. <P>SOLUTION: In a UI device 10, a setting information generating processor 14 causes a user to input item values for resource items included in resource item information acquired from an operation target device 30, and generates setting information including the item values. A communication state monitoring section 16 always monitors the connection state of a radio line to the device 30. If in an online state, the processor 14 causes a resource setting information transmitter 26 to immediately transmit the generated setting information to the target device 30. On the other hand, if in an offline state, the processor 14 temporarily stores the setting information in a resource setting information holder 18. Then, after confirming that it has been in an online state, the processor 14 causes the section 18 to transmit the temporarily-stored setting information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information setting method, a user interface device, and an information processing for improving convenience when transmitting setting information from a user interface device to the information processing device to cause the information processing device to perform setting processing based on the setting information. Relates to the device.

  There is Bluetooth as a technology for wirelessly connecting an information processing apparatus body such as a personal computer (PC) and a portable user interface device (mobile device) such as a mobile phone or PDA (Personal Digital Assistance). If Bluetooth is used, a portable device can be easily connected to a desired information processing apparatus. Then, the user of the portable device can perform environment setting and function setting of the information processing apparatus system, network, etc., or device operation control by performing a predetermined input operation. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that control information is sent from a GUI remote controller corresponding to a portable device to a device control device corresponding to an information processing device, thereby controlling the operation of the target device based on the control information. The structure to be made is disclosed. Thus, it is convenient because the information processing apparatus can easily perform processing control using the portable device owned by each individual.

  By the way, since the portable device is connected to the information processing apparatus through a wireless line, the online state and the offline state are repeated with the information processing apparatus. In other words, in the case of Bluetooth, the distance over which wireless communication can be performed, such as within 10 m, is limited, so if the portable device is out of the range when it is online, it is offline. Also, even within the communicable range, when a wireless line established due to an obstacle is interrupted, when it is automatically disconnected due to timeout due to no response or no access, or when it is overloaded Go offline. Then, the wireless line is re-established, and the online state is established.

  When setting item values related to the system configuration of an information processing device in a portable device and sending the setting information to the information processing device to perform setting processing, the setting screen is displayed on the portable device and the setting is performed. It is possible to input item values from the screen even when offline. However, even if the item value is set by the user, since the portable device is offline, naturally, the setting information including the set item value cannot be transmitted to the information processing apparatus. Therefore, it becomes necessary to handle the setting information differently between online and offline.

JP 2001-169370 A

  However, a conventional portable device has not been provided with a configuration that recognizes whether the current state is online or offline and varies the handling of setting item information depending on the state.

  On the other hand, on the information processing apparatus side, it is desirable to construct a system environment in which a plurality of portable devices can be used as a remote user interface. However, a conventional information processing device has a plurality of portable devices. It was not configured to accommodate.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to improve convenience when transmitting setting information wirelessly from a user interface device to an information processing apparatus to execute setting processing. An object of the present invention is to provide a user interface device, an information processing apparatus, and an information setting method for the information processing apparatus that are to be improved.

  In order to achieve the above object, a user interface device according to the present invention has a wireless communication function and transmits setting information including item data to be set to a wirelessly connected information processing apparatus. A connection state monitoring means for monitoring a connection state of a wireless line with the information processing device, accepting item data set by a user for each setting item designated by the information processing device, and the item data When setting information generated by setting information generating means for generating setting information, information holding means for holding setting information, and setting information generated by the setting information generating means is connected to a wireless line with the information processing apparatus Transmit as it is, and when the wireless line is not connected, the setting information is temporarily held in the information holding means, and the wireless line connection is confirmed. And a sending control means for transmitting removed setting information from said information holding means after.

  In addition, the information processing apparatus includes a transmission request unit that requests the information processing apparatus to transmit setting item information in which an item to be set is specified, and the setting information generation unit responds to the request from the transmission request unit. An item data setting screen is displayed based on the setting item information sent from, and a user interface control unit that allows the user to input item data from the displayed item data setting screen is provided.

  Further, the user interface control unit displays the setting information transmission button on the item data setting screen so that the setting information transmission button can be selected only when the wireless line is connected.

  The user interface control unit may display a save button for setting information in the information holding unit on the item data setting screen when a wireless line is not connected.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus having a wireless communication function, and is transmitted from a user interface device via a connection state monitoring means for monitoring a connection state of a wireless line with the user interface device and a wireless line. Setting processing means for performing setting processing based on the item data included in the setting information, and the setting processing means is connected to the user interface device that has transmitted the setting information used for the setting processing in the setting processing means. When the line disconnection is detected, the setting is invalidated.

  Further, the setting processing means invalidates the environment setting by returning to the initial setting.

  An information setting method for an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is implemented in a user interface device having a wireless communication function, and transmits setting information including item data to be set for the information processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus. And receiving the item data set by the user for each setting item specified by the information processing device, and a method of causing the information processing device to perform setting processing based on the setting information; An information generating step for generating setting information including item data received by the receiving step, and the setting information generated in the information generating step are transmitted as they are when a wireless line with the information processing apparatus is connected, A transmission step for temporarily storing setting information when a wireless line is not connected; and the information processing apparatus. Monitoring the connection state of the radio channel, characterized in that it comprises a retransmission step of transmitting the setting information that has been temporarily stored when they become online.

  An information setting method for an information processing apparatus according to another invention is implemented in an information processing apparatus having a wireless communication function, and is set based on item data included in setting information transmitted from a user interface device via a wireless line A method for performing processing, comprising: a receiving step for receiving setting information sent from the user interface device; and a setting for setting a corresponding item value according to item data included in the setting information received by the receiving step And a setting invalidation step of invalidating the environment setting when recognizing that the wireless line with the user interface device that has transmitted the setting information used in the setting step is disconnected. And

  According to the present invention, the state of the wireless line established with the information processing apparatus to be operated is constantly monitored, the generated remote setting information is immediately transmitted when online, and temporarily stored when offline, You can send it after confirming that you are online. Thereby, a user's convenience can be aimed at.

  In addition, since the setting information transmission button can be selected only when the wireless line is connected, the user can clearly recognize whether or not the wireless line is connected by referring to the display of the transmission button. It is also possible to prevent transmission when the wireless line is disconnected. In this way, user convenience can be achieved.

  In addition, when a disconnection with the user interface device that transmitted the setting information is detected, the setting can be invalidated based on the setting information, so that the processing control with the setting contents by the user interface device that cannot access the information processing apparatus is performed. Can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a user interface device and an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is realized by a computer that operates according to a value set for each resource item, a copier, a multifunction machine having a copy function, a FAX function, and the like. Since the information processing apparatus operates in response to a user operation on the user interface device in a system environment set by the user interface device, the information processing device will be referred to as an operation target device in the following description.

  On the other hand, the user interface device in the present embodiment is implemented by a portable communication device such as a mobile phone or a PDA having a wireless communication function on which user interface components such as a jog dial and a hard key are mounted. The information processing apparatus on which the environment is set and operated is referred to as an operation target device, whereas the user interface device on the environment setting and operation side is referred to as a user interface device (UI device) in the following description. .

  In the present embodiment, the resource of the operation target device 30 can be set from the UI device 10 as described in detail below. FIG. 2 shows an example of each item of the resource when a multifunction machine equipped with a copy function, a facsimile function, etc. is used as the operation target device 30. The resource item is a data item related to a resource for which some value such as a setting item related to the system configuration of the operation target device 30 and a parameter related to operation control of the operation target device 30 is set. When values are set for these resource items, the operation target device 30 operates in a system environment based on the set values. In the present embodiment, a setting value for a resource is referred to as a resource item value or simply an item value.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the UI device 10 includes a communication control unit 12, a setting information generation processing unit 14, and a connection state monitoring unit 16. The communication control unit 12 is a means for performing wireless communication with the operation target device 30. The resource item information transmission request unit 22 transmits a resource item information transmission request to the operation target device 30. Resource item information receiving unit 24 that receives resource item information transmitted from the operation target device 30 and resource setting that transmits resource setting information including resource item values (also simply referred to as “setting information”) to the operation target device 30 An information transmission unit 26 is included. The setting information generation processing unit 14 causes the user to input a value to be set for each item included in the resource item information, and generates setting information including the item value. The user interface (UI) control unit 20 displays an item data setting screen on the display screen of the UI device 10. On the item data setting screen, a resource item whose value is to be set based on the resource item information, and an initial value when an initial value is set, and an input value by the user are displayed. Display examples are shown in FIGS. The connection state monitoring unit 16 constantly monitors the connection state of the wireless line with the operation target device 30. The resource setting information holding unit 18 holds the resource setting information generated by the setting information generation processing unit 14. Since the configuration of the resource items is not necessarily the same in all the operation target devices 30, the resource setting information is held in pairs with information that can identify the operation target device 30 such as an IP address.

  On the other hand, the operation target device 30 includes a communication control unit 32, a resource setting processing unit 34, an operation control unit 36, and a connection state monitoring unit 38. The communication control unit 32 is a means for performing wireless communication with the UI device 10, and is extracted from the request receiving unit 40 that receives a transmission request for resource item information and the resource item information storage unit 48 in response to the transmission request. A resource item information transmitting unit 42 that transmits resource item information to the UI device 10 and a resource setting information receiving unit 44 that receives resource setting information are included. The resource setting processing unit 34 writes the item value included in the resource setting information received by the resource setting information receiving unit 44 or the initial value of the resource item stored in the resource initial value storage unit 50 in the resource setting value table 46. . The resource setting value table 46 is a table in which currently valid item values are set, and the operation control unit 36 performs a predetermined setting process based on the item values written in the resource setting value table 46. With this setting process, the system operating environment of the operation target device 30 is set. The connection state monitoring unit 38 constantly monitors the connection state of the wireless line with the UI device 10.

  Next, the operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  Assume that the user of the UI device 10 sets a desired value for each resource item illustrated in FIG. 2 and wants to use the operation target device 30 that operates based on the set resource item value. In this case, the user walks the UI device 10 to a range where wireless communication with the operation target device 30 is possible, performs a predetermined operation, and executes the processing shown in FIG. 3 which is characteristic in the present embodiment on the UI device 10. Let it begin.

  In the UI device 10, when the connection state monitoring unit 16 confirms that the online state is established (steps 101 and 102), the setting information generation processing unit 14 has already generated resources for the corresponding operation target device 30. It is confirmed whether the setting information is held (step 103). If not held (step 104), the setting information generation processing unit 14 causes the resource item information transmission request unit 22 to issue a transmission request for resource item information in order to obtain a resource item for which a value is to be set (step 105). .

  In the operation target device 30, when it is confirmed by the connection state monitoring unit 38 that the online state is maintained (steps 201 and 202), the communication control unit 32 receives information transmitted from the UI device 10. Suppose that When the received information is a resource item information transmission request transmitted by the UI device 10 (step 203), the resource item information transmission unit 42 lists the resource item list illustrated in FIG. 2 from the resource item information storage unit 48. Is extracted and transmitted to the requested UI device 10 (step 205).

  In the UI device 10, when the resource item information receiving unit 24 acquires the resource item information returned in response to the transmission request from the operation target device 30 (step 106), the setting information generation processing unit 14 adds the resource item information to the resource item information. Based on this, resource setting information is generated (step 107). That is, the user interface control unit 20 of the setting information generation processing unit 14 displays an item data setting screen for displaying each resource item included in the resource item information on the liquid crystal screen of the UI device 10. More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the name of the resource item and an input field for displaying a setting value for each resource item are displayed in association with each other. If an initial value is included in the resource item information as the resource item value, the initial value is displayed in the input field. The user sets an item value in the input field of each resource item on the item data setting screen. The resource setting information generated in this way includes at least a value set for each resource item.

  On the other hand, if the resource setting information for the corresponding operation target device 30 is held in step 104, the held resource setting information is extracted from the resource setting information holding unit 18 and displayed on the screen (step 108). The held resource setting information is information generated when the operation target device 30 was previously accessed in steps 105 to 107, and is basically generated based on the resource item information having the same contents. Information. Therefore, the stored resource setting information may be transmitted without being displayed on the screen, but in the present embodiment, the item values set in the past are displayed for the user to confirm. If the setting value is to be changed, the resource setting information is generated again by changing the corresponding resource item value on the item data setting screen (step 107).

  By the way, the connection state monitoring unit 16 constantly monitors the connection state of the wireless line even when the processes in steps 103 to 108 are executed. The user interface control unit 20 switches a button to be displayed on the screen according to the connection state. That is, since the generated resource setting information can be transmitted when online, the transmission button 54 is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 52 as illustrated in FIG. On the other hand, since it is not possible to transmit the resource setting information even when it is offline, it is desirable to disable the transmission button so that it cannot be selected. In order to release the liquid crystal screen from the setting process of the resource item value, it is desirable to temporarily save the generated resource setting information in the resource setting information holding unit 18 until it comes online. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the save button 56 is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 52 as illustrated in FIG. 6 instead of the send button when offline. As a result, the user can recognize that the wireless line with the operation target device 30 is currently disconnected, and can temporarily save the set resource item value simply by selecting the save button 56. Yes (steps 109 and 110).

  After that, the connection state monitoring unit 16 constantly monitors the connection state of the wireless line with the operation target device 30 (step 111). When it is confirmed that the resource is online, the resource setting information transmission unit 26 extracts the resource setting information temporarily held in the resource setting information holding unit 18 and transmits it to the operation target device 30 (step 112). ). The connection state monitoring process in the connection state monitoring unit 16 is performed asynchronously with the information transmission / reception process, the setting process, etc. regarding the resource item, but the connection state monitoring process is included in FIG. 3 for convenience. Therefore, during the processing in step 111, the UI device 10 can execute other processing. Asynchronous execution of processing is the same in the connection state monitoring unit 38 in the operation target device 30.

  In the operation target device 30, when it is confirmed by the connection state monitoring unit 38 that the online state is maintained (steps 201 and 202), the communication control unit 32 receives information transmitted from the UI device 10. Suppose that When the received information is the resource setting information transmitted by the UI device 10 (step 206), the resource setting processing unit 34 writes the resource item value included in the resource setting information, so that the resource setting value table The setting contents 46 are updated (step 207). The operation control unit 36 sets the system environment and operation control parameters according to the resource item values reflected in the resource setting value table 46.

  As described above, the user of the UI device 10 can operate the operation target device 30 in the environment set by himself / herself. However, according to the present embodiment, whether the operation target device 30 is online. Alternatively, it is monitored whether it is offline, so that appropriate processing can be performed online and offline. That is, the generated remote setting information is immediately transmitted when online, temporarily stored when offline, and transmitted after being online. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve the convenience of the user who intends to set the operation target device 30 in a desired operating environment in this way.

  By the way, the above has mainly described the operation for improving the convenience in the UI device 10. Hereinafter, the improvement of the convenience in the operation target device 30 will be described.

  The operation target device 30 expands the currently effective resource item value in the resource setting value table 46, and the system environment is set according to the setting contents in the table 46. Thereby, the UI device 10 that is the transmission source of the resource item value can be used after setting the operation target device 30 in the desired system environment. However, when the wireless line with the UI device 10 is disconnected and becomes offline, the UI device 10 can no longer use the operation target device 30. Nevertheless, there is a possibility that the resource item value set by the UI device 10 will remain expanded in the resource setting value table 46 if no allowance is provided. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the connection state monitoring unit 38 constantly monitors the connection state of the wireless line with the UI device 10 and the resource setting processing unit 34 changes to the offline state, the resource setting value table 46 setting contents are made invalid. More specifically, the resource setting processing unit 34 extracts the initial value of the resource item from the resource initial value storage unit 50 and expands it in the resource setting value table 46 (step 208). By updating the resource setting value table 46 with the initial value, the resource item value for the UI device 10 in the offline state can be invalidated and returned to the standard item value.

  By the way, the information processing apparatus does not necessarily operate as the operation target device 30 for a certain UI device 10, but is preferably configured so as to be compatible with a plurality of UI devices 10. A highly functional information processing apparatus can easily cope with a plurality of UI devices 10 by using a personal profile. That is, the resource setting information sent from each UI device 10 is included in the personal profile and held. Then, when any of the UI devices 10 and the wireless line are connected and become online, the remote setting information may be extracted from the personal profile corresponding to the UI device 10 and expanded in the resource setting value table 46. In this way, the UI device 10 in the online relationship can be matched with the UI device 10 that is the transmission source of the remote setting information developed in the resource setting value table 46.

  On the other hand, in a low-function information processing apparatus that cannot hold a personal profile, remote setting information sent from the UI device 10 cannot be held inside. Therefore, as described above, when the wireless line with the UI device 10 is disconnected and becomes offline, the setting contents of the resource setting value table 46 are updated with the initial values in order to be invalidated.

  In the present embodiment, the case where an item value related to a resource is set in the UI device 10 has been described as an example. However, what is set in the present invention is not limited to the resource for the operation target device 30, but may be other types of information, or the operation target device 30 may set for other devices. It may be an item value.

1 is a block configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a user interface device and an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. It is the figure which showed the example of the list of the resource items handled in this Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the process by the side of UI device in this Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the process by the side of the operation target device in this Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the example of the item data setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal screen of UI device in this Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the example of the item data setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal screen of UI device in this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  10 UI device, 12, 32 communication control unit, 14 setting information generation processing unit, 16 connection state monitoring unit, 18 resource setting information holding unit, 20 user interface (UI) control unit, 22 resource item information transmission request unit, 24 resource Item information reception unit, 26 Resource setting information transmission unit, 28 Resource item information storage unit, 30 Operation target device, 34 Resource setting processing unit, 36 Operation control unit, 38 Connection status monitoring unit, 40 Request reception unit, 42 Resource item information Transmission unit, 44 Resource setting information receiving unit, 46 Resource setting value table, 48 Resource item information storage unit, 50 Resource initial value storage unit, 52 Liquid crystal screen, 54 Send button, 56 Save button.

Claims (8)

In a user interface device having a wireless communication function and transmitting setting information including item data to be set to a wirelessly connected information processing device,
Connection state monitoring means for monitoring a connection state of a wireless line with the information processing device;
For each setting item specified by the information processing apparatus, setting information generating means for receiving item data set by a user and generating setting information including the item data;
Information holding means for holding setting information;
The setting information generated by the setting information generating unit is transmitted as it is when a wireless line with the information processing apparatus is connected, and the setting information is temporarily stored in the information holding unit when the wireless line is not connected. A transmission control means for retrieving the setting information from the information holding means and transmitting it after confirming the connection of the wireless line;
A user interface device characterized by comprising: The user interface device according to claim 1, wherein
Transmission request means for requesting the information processing apparatus to transmit setting item information in which an item to be set is specified;
The setting information generation unit displays an item data setting screen based on the setting item information sent from the information processing apparatus in response to a request from the transmission request unit, and item data is displayed to the user from the displayed item data setting screen. A user interface device having a user interface control unit for inputting The user interface device according to claim 2, wherein
The user interface control unit displays a setting information transmission button on an item data setting screen so that a transmission button for setting information can be selected only when a wireless line is connected. The user interface device according to claim 2 or 3,
The user interface control unit displays a save button for setting information in the information holding unit on an item data setting screen when a wireless line is not connected. In an information processing apparatus having a wireless communication function,
A connection state monitoring means for monitoring a connection state of a wireless line with the user interface device;
Setting processing means for performing setting processing based on item data included in setting information sent from the user interface device via a wireless line;
Have
The information processing apparatus, wherein the setting processing unit invalidates the setting when a line disconnection with the user interface device that has transmitted the setting information used for the setting processing in the setting processing unit is detected. . The information processing apparatus according to claim 5,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the setting processing unit invalidates the environment setting by returning to the initial setting. A setting process based on the setting information is performed on the information processing apparatus by transmitting setting information including item data to be set for the information processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus. A way to do it,
A receiving step for receiving item data set by the user for each setting item specified by the information processing apparatus;
An information generating step for generating setting information including the item data received by the receiving step;
The setting information generated in the information generation step is transmitted as it is when a wireless line with the information processing apparatus is connected, and the transmission step temporarily holds the setting information when the wireless line is not connected;
A retransmission step of monitoring the connection state of the wireless line with the information processing apparatus and transmitting the setting information temporarily stored when it comes online;
An information setting method for an information processing apparatus, comprising: A method for performing setting processing based on item data included in setting information that is implemented in an information processing apparatus having a wireless communication function and transmitted from a user interface device via a wireless line,
A receiving step of receiving setting information sent from the user interface device;
A setting step for setting a corresponding item value according to the item data included in the setting information received by the receiving step;
A setting invalidation step for invalidating the environment setting when recognizing that the wireless line with the user interface device that has transmitted the setting information used in the setting step is disconnected;
An information setting method for an information processing apparatus, comprising:

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