JP2007213289A - Keyboard switching system, its control method, computer program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an environment where the locale of equipment to/from which a keyboard is attachable/detachable is dynamically set according to the locale of a keyboard connected to the equipment. <P>SOLUTION: When a keyboard is connected to equipment to/from which a keyboard is attachable/detachable, the locale type of the connected keyboard is identified (step S2020), and whether or not the locale of the equipment and the locale of the keyboard are the same is determined (step S2040), and when they are different, the locale of the equipment is dynamically changed so as to be made to correspond to the locale of the keyboard (step S2070). Also, when the keyboard is separated from the equipment, the pre-change locale is stored so as to be reset as the locale of the equipment before the keyboard is connected (step S2060). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a keyboard system for an embedded device such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction device. More specifically, the device locale can be set according to the locale of a keyboard connected to the device. The present invention relates to a keyboard switching system, a control method thereof, a computer program, and a storage medium.

  As multifunction devices and higher performance of embedded devices such as copiers, facsimiles, and multifunction devices have advanced, application programs that run on embedded devices have increased, and the use of embedded devices has expanded. An environment that is easy to operate is required.

  Conventionally, some embedded devices without a hardware keyboard have a virtual keyboard (sometimes called a software keyboard) imitating a hardware keyboard provided in the device. This type of virtual keyboard displays a virtual keyboard on the display device of the device when data input is required, and data is input from there. However, since the display device of the device is not so large, when the virtual keyboard is displayed, the original application screen is obscured, and there are portions that are difficult for the user to operate. For this reason, there is a demand to connect a hardware keyboard by USB connection or the like. The keyboard and hardware of USB-connected hardware keyboards have different key arrangements and types depending on the locale (country and language), and the keyboard itself holds locale information and can be known by an external inquiry.

  On the other hand, on the device side, the user can set the locale of the device, and when the device locale is changed, the display message on the screen and the virtual keyboard are changed according to the locale (for example, from Japanese to English). For this reason, if the locale on the device side does not match the locale on the keyboard side, the screen may not be displayed in the language desired by the user, or the input from the keyboard may not be correct.

  As an answer to this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228867 is disclosed. This is because the device detects the connection / disconnection of the keyboard and erases / displays the virtual keyboard on the display device in response to the connection / disconnection of the keyboard. When the keyboard is connected, the original application screen is displayed.

  Further, Patent Document 2 is disclosed, which identifies a connected keyboard (ASCII layout / JIS layout) type, switches a keyboard control program (driver), and converts an input from the keyboard into an appropriate code. That's it.

JP 2000-207108 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-073352

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, even when the keyboard connection / separation is detected and the virtual keyboard erasure / display is controlled, the locale on the device side does not match the locale on the keyboard side. Is not considered.

  In the other prior art, the input from the keyboard is converted to an appropriate code, but the screen display according to the locale on the keyboard side is not considered.

  For this reason, if the locale on the device side does not match the locale on the keyboard side, the screen may not be displayed in the language desired by the user, or the input from the keyboard may not be correct. In addition, it is conceivable for the user to set the locale of the device in accordance with the connected keyboard, but there are also problems such as the user's operation becoming complicated and forgetting to set.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to dynamically set the locale of a device according to the locale of the keyboard connected to the device in a device to which the keyboard can be attached and detached. Is to provide an environment.

The keyboard switching system of the present invention is a keyboard switching system for a device to which a keyboard can be attached and detached, a keyboard detection unit for detecting connection and separation of the keyboard, a device locale acquisition unit for acquiring locale information of the device, Whether the keyboard locale acquisition means for acquiring the locale information of the keyboard whose connection is detected by the keyboard detection means, and the locale information obtained by the device locale acquisition means and the locale information obtained by the keyboard locale acquisition means are equal. A locale determining unit that determines whether or not the locale is determined to be different by the locale determining unit, a locale storage unit that stores locale information of the device, and a locale of the device is set according to the locale of the keyboard Locale setting means to perform When separation of the keyboard is detected by the keyboard detection means, locale return means for returning the locale of the device to a locale before keyboard connection stored in the locale storage means, and connection and separation of the keyboard, When the locale is changed, locale notification means for notifying the application program on the device of the change of the locale is provided.
Further, the control method of the keyboard switching system of the present invention is a control method of a keyboard switching system for a device to which a keyboard can be attached and detached, and includes a keyboard detection step for detecting connection and disconnection of the keyboard, and locale information of the device. A device locale acquisition step of acquiring, a keyboard locale acquisition step of acquiring locale information of the keyboard whose connection has been detected by the keyboard detection step, a locale information obtained in the device locale acquisition step and the keyboard locale acquisition step; A locale determining step for determining whether or not the obtained locale information is equal; a locale storing step for storing locale information of the device in a storage means when the locale determining step determines that the locale is different; and Change the device locale to the keyboard locale A locale setting step for setting together, and when the keyboard separation is detected by the keyboard detection step, a locale return step for returning the locale of the device to the locale before keyboard connection stored in the locale storage means; And a locale notification step of notifying the application program on the device of the change of the locale when the locale of the device is changed by connecting and disconnecting the keyboard.
The computer program of the present invention is a computer program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for controlling a keyboard switching system of a device to which a keyboard can be attached and detached, and a keyboard detection procedure for detecting connection and disconnection of the keyboard. A device locale acquisition procedure for acquiring locale information of the device, a keyboard locale acquisition procedure for acquiring locale information of the keyboard whose connection has been detected by the keyboard detection procedure, and a locale obtained by the device locale acquisition procedure A locale determination procedure for determining whether or not the information and the locale information obtained in the keyboard locale acquisition procedure are equal; and if the locale determination procedure determines that the locale is different, the locale information of the device is stored in the storage means Locale storage procedure to remember When the keyboard separation is detected by the locale setting procedure for setting the locale of the device in accordance with the locale of the keyboard and the keyboard detection procedure, the device is stored in the locale before keyboard connection stored in the locale storage means. The computer executes a locale return procedure for returning the locale of the device and a locale notification procedure for notifying the application program on the device of the locale change when the locale of the device is changed by connecting and disconnecting the keyboard. It is characterized by making it.
A computer-readable storage medium according to the present invention stores the above-described computer program.
Further, the control method of the keyboard switching system of the present invention is a control method of a keyboard switching system for a device to which a keyboard can be attached and detached, and includes a device locale acquisition step of acquiring locale information of the device, and locale information of the keyboard. A locale determination step for determining whether the locale information obtained in the keyboard locale acquisition step, the locale information obtained in the device locale acquisition step and the locale information obtained in the keyboard locale acquisition step are equal, and the locale determination step; And a locale setting step of setting a locale of the device in accordance with a locale of the keyboard when it is determined that the locales are different.
The computer program of the present invention is characterized by causing a computer to execute each step of the control method described above.

  According to a system to which the present invention is applied, in a processing device that uses a virtual keyboard as an input means, an input item of a screen created by an application program and a virtual keyboard used when data is input to the input item. A virtual keyboard management information storage means for storing the correspondence; a virtual keyboard management information registration means for registering a correspondence between the input item and the virtual keyboard in the virtual keyboard management information storage means in response to a request from the application program; In response to a program request, a virtual keyboard management information deleting unit that deletes the association between the input item and the virtual keyboard from the virtual keyboard management information storing unit, and data input to an input item of a screen created by the application program The virtual A virtual keyboard selection means for selecting a virtual keyboard associated with the input item in accordance with the management information stored in the board management information storage means, and a virtual keyboard display for displaying the virtual keyboard selected by the virtual keyboard selection means And when the keyboard is connected to the device, the locale of the connected keyboard is identified. If the locale of the device and the locale of the keyboard are different, the locale of the device is dynamically set, and the device When the keyboard is disconnected from the keyboard, it is reset to the locale of the device before the keyboard is connected, so the device is automatically set to the locale that matches the keyboard by connecting / disconnecting the keyboard. Is effective.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a preferred first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the virtual keyboard system of the present invention is applied as a printing system. Here, descriptions of operations and functions of the virtual keyboard system, the printing system, and the printing apparatus that have been widely known will be omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus of a printing system according to the present embodiment. The printing apparatus 100 is configured as a multifunction printing apparatus having a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile communication function, and the like. Furthermore, it is configured as a multifunction machine having a function that allows an application program installed in advance or an arbitrary application program to be installed and executed from the management apparatus 2 when the user needs it.

  The printing apparatus 100 includes, as main components, a controller unit 101 that controls the entire printing apparatus, an operation unit 106, a display unit 107, a line control unit 108, a scanner 109, a printer 110, an external storage medium 111, and a LAN control unit 112. A keyboard 113 is provided.

  The controller unit 101 includes a CPU 102, a ROM 103, a RAM 104, a timer 105, and the like. Various programs executed by the CPU 102 and data required by the programs are stored in the ROM 103 in advance. Also, some programs and data can be stored in advance in the external storage medium 111 and read into the RAM 104 for execution.

  As shown in the example of FIG. 4A, the operation unit 106 also includes a numeric keypad 402 used for inputting a facsimile destination (telephone number).

  The display unit 107 includes an LCD and a touch panel 401, and displays an application program selection menu using tab buttons. The user can switch between application programs by selecting the tab button.

  This application program selection menu is displayed according to the activation state of the application program installed in the printing system. Under the application program selection menu, an application screen (the mail program screen in this example) is displayed by the application program as shown in the example of FIG. It is used to display various messages such as the display of the document name, text, and mail destination input guidance, and the progress of processing. By pressing the touch panel 401, the touch panel 401 can function as a part of the operation unit 106.

  The line control unit 108 is for performing a telephone call or facsimile transmission / reception via a telephone line. The line control unit 108 encodes an image read by the scanner 109 into a data format for facsimile transmission, and also combines received data. An encoder / decoder, a modem, and an NCU are provided, and communicate with the facsimile apparatus 4 via the public network 3.

  The scanner 109 is used to read a document when performing copying or facsimile transmission.

  The printer 110 is used to print out an image read by the scanner 109 and print out facsimile reception data by a copy function.

  The external storage medium 111 is used not only to store application programs but also to store images read by the scanner 109.

  The LAN control unit 112 is for communicating with other facsimile apparatuses and communicating with the management apparatus 2 via the local network 1.

  The keyboard 113 is a detachable keyboard and is used for data input. The keyboard 113 may be a USB or PS / 2 keyboard physically connected to the device. The keyboard may be connected to the device via a network, or may be configured as a software program and a virtual keyboard logically connected to the device.

  In the present invention, when a keyboard is connected to the device, the locale of the connected keyboard is identified. If the locale of the device and the locale of the keyboard are different, the locale of the device is dynamically set, and the device When the keyboard is disconnected from the keyboard, it is configured to reset to the locale of the device before the keyboard is connected.

  The operation relating to the present invention of the printing system having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. These are flowcharts for explaining processing at the time of connecting / disconnecting the keyboard in the printing system.

  First, in step S2010, the printing apparatus 100 determines whether the keyboard 113 is connected to the device, and waits in step S2010 until the keyboard is connected.

  When the keyboard 113 is connected, the locale information of the keyboard 113 is acquired in step S2020.

  In step S2030, the device locale is acquired. In step S2040, it is determined whether the device locale is different from the keyboard locale. If the locale is different, the device supports the keyboard locale. In step S2090, an error message is displayed and the process ends.

  If the device supports the keyboard locale, the device locale is stored in step S2060, and the device locale is set to the keyboard locale in step S2070.

  In step S2080, the application program is notified that the locale has been changed. Upon receiving the locale change notification, the application performs processing such as redisplaying the screen according to the changed locale.

  For example, when an English keyboard is connected and the locale of the device is changed from Japanese to English, the display of the application screen is changed from FIG. 4A to FIG. 4B.

  Next, processing when the connected keyboard 113 is separated will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S3010, it is determined whether the keyboard 113 has been separated and waits.

  When the keyboard 113 is separated, it is determined in step S3020 whether the locale of the device has been changed.

  If it has been changed, in step S3030, the locale of the device before change stored in step S2060 is reset.

  In step S3040, the application program is notified that the locale has been changed. Upon receiving the locale change notification, the application performs processing such as redisplaying the screen according to the changed locale.

  As described above, according to the system to which the present invention is applied, when a keyboard is connected to a device, the locale of the connected keyboard is identified, and when the locale of the device is different from the locale of the keyboard, Set the device locale dynamically. Also, when the keyboard is disconnected from the device, it is reset to the locale of the device before the keyboard is connected, so the locale of the device is automatically set by connecting / disconnecting the keyboard, and the application screen is also changed. Therefore, there is an effect that the operability for the user is improved.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a preferred second embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Since the block diagram of the printing system according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, in addition to the first embodiment, whether the device locale is unconditionally set according to the keyboard locale, is set according to a user instruction, or setting is prohibited. Can be specified. In addition, if the keyboard locale is not supported by the device, it must be configured so that the default locale, the user's instruction, or the setting prohibition condition can be specified. It is characterized by.

  FIG. 6 is a screen of a device for specifying locale setting conditions. On this screen, a condition is specified whether the device locale is unconditionally set according to the keyboard locale, is set according to a user instruction, or setting is prohibited. Also, if the keyboard locale is not supported by the device, a condition for setting the default locale, setting according to a user instruction, or prohibiting the setting is also specified.

  The operation of the printing system having the above-described configuration related to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Since the outline of the processing procedure is the same as that of the first embodiment, only different parts will be described here.

  First, in step S5010, the printing apparatus 100 determines whether the keyboard 113 is connected to the device, and waits in step S5010 until the keyboard is connected.

  When the keyboard 113 is connected, the locale information of the keyboard 113 is acquired in step S5020.

  In step S5030, the device locale is acquired. In step S5040, it is determined whether the device locale is different from the keyboard locale. If the locale is different, the locale setting is performed in steps S5050 to S5060. Determine the conditions.

  If the locale setting condition is “prohibited” in step S5050, an error message is displayed and the process ends in step S5180. If it is not “prohibited”, the process proceeds to step S5060.

  In step S5060, if the locale setting condition is “user instruction”, in step S5070, for example, the display as shown in FIG. 7 is received and the user instruction is accepted. In step S5080, the user's support is determined, and the locale If the setting is “OK”, the process advances to step S5090.

  When the locale setting condition is “automatic”, the process proceeds to step S5090. In step S5090, it is determined whether the device supports the locale of the keyboard. In step S5100 to step S5120, an unsupported locale setting condition is determined.

  If the locale setting condition is “prohibited”, an error message is displayed in step S5180, and the process ends.

  If the locale setting condition is “user instruction”, in step S5130, for example, a display as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed to accept the user instruction. In step S5140, the user instruction is determined, and the locale setting is “possible. "" Proceeds to step S5150.

  If the locale setting condition is “default locale”, the process proceeds to step S5150 with the default locale as a setting candidate locale in step S5120.

  If the device supports the keyboard locale in step S5090, the device locale is stored in step S5150, and the device locale is set to the keyboard locale in step S5160.

  In step S5170, the application program is notified that the locale has been changed. Upon receiving the locale change notification, the application performs processing such as redisplaying the screen according to the changed locale.

  As described above, according to the system to which the present invention is applied, when a keyboard is connected to a device, the locale of the connected keyboard is identified, and when the locale of the device is different from the locale of the keyboard, Set the device locale dynamically. Also, when the keyboard is disconnected from the device, it is reset to the locale of the device before the keyboard is connected, so the locale of the device is automatically set by connecting / disconnecting the keyboard, and the application screen is also changed. Therefore, there is an effect that the operability for the user is improved.

  Furthermore, since the setting conditions of the locale of the device can be specified, the locale changing process when the keyboard is connected can be controlled more finely, and the operability of the device is improved.

  An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement procedure which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement procedure which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen display for demonstrating the processing operation which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement procedure which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen display for demonstrating the processing operation which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen display for demonstrating the processing operation which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Printing apparatus 101 Controller part 102 CPU
103 ROM
104 RAM
105 Timer 106 Operation Unit 107 Display Unit 108 Line Control Unit 109 Scanner 110 Printer 111 External Storage Medium 112 LAN Control Unit 113 Keyboard 400 Operation Panel 401 LCD Panel 402 Numeric Keypad

Claims (12)

A keyboard switching system for a device with a removable keyboard,
Keyboard detection means for detecting connection and separation of the keyboard;
Device locale acquisition means for acquiring locale information of the device;
Keyboard locale acquisition means for acquiring locale information of a keyboard whose connection is detected by the keyboard detection means;
Locale determining means for determining whether locale information obtained by the device locale obtaining means and locale information obtained by the keyboard locale obtaining means are equal;
If the locale determining means determines that the locale is different, locale storage means for storing locale information of the device;
Locale setting means for setting the locale of the device according to the locale of the keyboard;
A locale return means for returning the locale of the device to the locale before keyboard connection stored in the locale storage means when the keyboard detection means detects the separation of the keyboard;
A keyboard switching system comprising locale notification means for notifying a change of a locale to an application program on the device when the locale of the device is changed by connection and disconnection of the keyboard.   In the locale setting means, a locale setting condition specifying means for specifying a condition for unconditionally setting the locale of the device according to the locale of the keyboard, setting according to a user instruction, or prohibiting the setting The keyboard switching system according to claim 1, further comprising:   In the locale setting means, if the device does not support the keyboard locale, an unspecified condition for setting a default locale, setting according to a user instruction, or prohibiting the setting is not specified. The keyboard switching system according to claim 1, further comprising a support locale setting condition specifying unit. A control method of a keyboard switching system for a device that can be attached and detached,
A keyboard detection step of detecting connection and separation of the keyboard;
A device locale acquisition step of acquiring locale information of the device;
Keyboard locale acquisition step of acquiring locale information of the keyboard whose connection is detected by the keyboard detection step;
A locale determination step for determining whether the locale information obtained in the device locale acquisition step and the locale information obtained in the keyboard locale acquisition step are equal;
When it is determined that the locale is different by the locale determination step, a locale storage step of storing the locale information of the device in a storage unit;
A locale setting step for setting the locale of the device according to the locale of the keyboard;
When separation of the keyboard is detected by the keyboard detection step, a locale return step of returning the locale of the device to the locale before keyboard connection stored in the locale storage unit;
A control method for a keyboard switching system, comprising: a locale notification step of notifying a change of a locale to an application program on the device when the locale of the device is changed by connection and disconnection of the keyboard.   In the locale setting step, a locale setting condition specifying step for specifying a condition for setting the locale of the device unconditionally according to the locale of the keyboard, setting according to a user instruction, or prohibiting the setting The keyboard switching system control method according to claim 4, further comprising:   In the locale setting step, if the device does not support the keyboard locale, an unsupported locale that specifies the conditions for setting the default locale, setting it according to the user's instruction, or prohibiting the setting 5. The keyboard switching system control method according to claim 4, further comprising a setting condition designating step. A computer program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for controlling a keyboard switching system of a device to which a keyboard can be attached and detached,
A keyboard detection procedure for detecting connection and disconnection of the keyboard;
A device locale acquisition procedure for acquiring locale information of the device;
Keyboard locale acquisition procedure for acquiring locale information of the keyboard whose connection is detected by the keyboard detection procedure;
A locale determination procedure for determining whether the locale information obtained in the device locale acquisition procedure is equal to the locale information obtained in the keyboard locale acquisition procedure;
If the locale determination procedure determines that the locale is different, a locale storage procedure for storing locale information of the device in a storage means;
A locale setting procedure for setting the locale of the device according to the locale of the keyboard;
When separation of the keyboard is detected by the keyboard detection procedure, a locale return procedure for returning the locale of the device to the locale before keyboard connection stored in the locale storage means;
A computer program that causes a computer to execute a locale notification procedure for notifying a change of a locale to an application program on the device when the locale of the device is changed due to connection and disconnection of the keyboard.   In the locale setting procedure, a locale setting condition specifying procedure for specifying a condition for setting the locale of the device unconditionally according to the locale of the keyboard, setting according to a user instruction, or prohibiting the setting. The computer program according to claim 7, further comprising:   In the locale setting procedure, when the keyboard locale is not supported by the device, it is not supported to specify a condition for setting the default locale, setting by user instruction, or prohibiting the setting. The computer program according to claim 7, further comprising a locale setting condition designation procedure.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to any one of claims 7 to 9. A control method of a keyboard switching system for a device that can be attached and detached,
A device locale acquisition step of acquiring locale information of the device;
Keyboard locale acquisition step of acquiring locale information of the keyboard;
A locale determination step for determining whether the locale information obtained in the device locale acquisition step and the locale information obtained in the keyboard locale acquisition step are equal;
A control method of a keyboard switching system, comprising: a locale setting step of setting a locale of the device in accordance with a locale of the keyboard when it is determined that the locale is different in the locale determination step.   A computer program that causes a computer to execute the steps of the method according to claim 11.

Images