JP2009169491A - Application control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an application control system for preferentially executing an application program whose use is predicted to be preferable. <P>SOLUTION: This application control system for controlling a plurality of application programs operating on a platform is provided with: a monitoring means 11 for monitoring the opened/closed states of windows Wa and Wb of the plurality of application programs A and B; and a control means 12 for controlling the plurality of application programs A and B. When the monitoring means 11 detects that the windows Wa and Wb of the plurality of application programs A and B have been opened, the control means 12 sets the application program B whose priority order is lower than that of the preliminarily set application program A whose priority order is the highest between the application programs A and B corresponding to the detected windows Wa and Wb, to a stopped state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an application control system that controls an application program of a computer.

Conventionally, for example, when there are a plurality of application programs for controlling the controlled device in an environment where the controlled device such as a projector or a printer is connected to a computer, which program is to be used is determined. , A process called “association” may be performed. This “association” is automatically set between the application program started first and the file used by the application program in the connection environment, or is set manually.

However, according to the prior art, the application program recommended by the manufacturer of the controlled device and the application program desired by the user are not necessarily associated with each other.
Therefore, for example, when a new function is added to the controlled device and an application program whose development time is older than that of the controlled device with the new function is “associated”, the new function cannot be used. May cause problems.
In addition, when a plurality of application programs are started without performing the “association” process, the plurality of application programs compete with each other, and each application program performs an unintended operation or an unnecessary operation. There is a risk that the display by the application program may be unsightly.

Although there is no prior art that the applicant of the present application knows at the time of the patent application as a prior art capable of solving the above-mentioned problems, Patent Document 1 is cited as a related prior art document. In the invention described in this prior art document, in an environment where a plurality of workers can use a plurality of application programs, necessary software and windows are automatically opened based on code information of an IC card or the like, and other workers The software and windows are automatically locked to prevent other workers' data from being destroyed.
JP-A-8-179912

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and a problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an application control system capable of preferentially executing an application program that is expected to be used. It is in.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an application control system for controlling a plurality of application programs operating on a platform, the monitoring means for monitoring the open / closed state of the windows of the plurality of application programs, and the plurality of the plurality of application programs. Control means for controlling the application program, the control means when the monitoring means detects that the windows of the plurality of application programs are opened,
Of the application programs corresponding to the detected window, an application program having a lower priority than a preset application program having the highest priority is set in a stopped state.

According to this configuration, when a plurality of application programs are activated and the windows of the application programs are opened, the open state of the windows is detected by the monitoring unit. Then, the application program having a lower priority than the application program having the highest priority is brought into a stopped state.
Therefore, it is possible to preferentially execute an application program that is preferably used based on the set priority order.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided an application control system for controlling a plurality of application programs operating on a platform, the monitoring means for monitoring the open / closed state of windows of the plurality of application programs, and the control for controlling the plurality of application programs. And when the monitoring means detects that the windows of the plurality of application programs have been opened, a specific application set in advance among the application programs corresponding to the detected windows. It is characterized in that other application programs for the program are brought into a stopped state.

According to this configuration, when a plurality of application programs are activated and the windows of the application programs are opened, the open state of the windows is detected by the monitoring unit. Then, other application programs for the specific application program are stopped.
Therefore, a specific application program can be preferentially executed as an application program that is preferably used.

When the monitoring unit detects that the window of the specific application program has been opened, the control unit puts another application program for the specific application program in a stopped state regardless of the priority order. It is characterized by.

According to this configuration, when a specific application program is activated, the activation of the specific application program can be maintained and other application programs can be stopped regardless of the priority order.

More preferably, in each window of each application program, a window identification value that can be detected when the window is opened and cannot be detected when the window is closed is set in advance corresponding to each application program, and the monitoring unit Is characterized by recognizing whether the window of each application program is open or closed based on whether or not the window identification value is detected.

According to this configuration, for example, when a window of the application program is opened with the activation of the application program, the window identification value corresponding to the opened window is detected by the monitoring unit.
When the window of the application program is closed, the window identification value corresponding to the closed window is not detected by the monitoring unit.
Therefore, whether the window is open or closed can be identified based on whether or not the window identification value is detected.

More preferably, the control unit starts the application program in the stopped state when the monitoring unit detects that the window of the application program that has not been stopped is closed.

According to this configuration, when the window of the application program being executed is closed, the stopped application program can be automatically started.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a controlled device 1 using an application control system 10 as an example of the present invention.
Shows an example in which the personal computer 2 is connected to the personal computer 2 by wireless or wired LAN (Local Area Network). In the figure, reference numeral 3 denotes a screen for projecting an image projected by a projector that is the controlled device 1.

The controlled device 1 is a projector including a microcomputer according to an example of the present embodiment. A microcomputer is a storage device, a central processing unit (CPU: Central).
Processing Unit) and input / output devices. In this microcomputer, an operating system 1a for small devices is installed as software serving as the platform.

In the microcomputer of the controlled device 1, an application program A, a control program b, an application control system 10, and the like are installed as programs that operate on the operating system 1a.

The personal computer 2 is a general computer that includes a storage device, a central processing unit, an input / output device, a display device, and the like. In this personal computer 2, an operating system 2a for a general personal computer is installed as software as a platform.

Furthermore, an application program B or the like is installed in the personal computer 2 as a program that operates on the operating system 2a.

The application program A is a program that causes the controlled device 1 to function in cooperation with the operating system 2a on the personal computer 2 side, a program (not shown) that operates on the operating system 2a, and the like.

When the application program A is activated, the controlled device 1 opens the window Wa and other windows on the screen 3 (drawing in detail), and closes the window when the application program B is stopped.
On the window, for example, an image based on a display screen of the personal computer 2, still image data, moving image data, or the like stored in the personal computer 2 is displayed.

Further, the application program A is created on the assumption that it is activated independently.
More specifically, it is assumed that the application program A operates in cooperation with a program (not shown) on the personal computer 2 side, but does not link with other unrelated programs (for example, application program B). Is made.
However, this application program A and other unrelated programs (for example, application program B) can be operated in parallel.

For each window of the application program A, a window identification value that can be detected when the window is opened and cannot be detected when the window is closed is set in advance corresponding to the application program A.
This window identification value is a value for identifying a window, and is assigned to each window when the application program A is created.
As the window identification value, a window handle set for each window when the application program A is created may be used.

The application program B is substantially the same program as the application program A. That is, the application program B causes the personal computer 2 to function so as to control the controlled device 1 in cooperation with the control program b.

When the application program B is activated, the personal computer 2 opens the window Wb and other windows on the display device and the screen 3 (details are drawn), and opens the window when the application program B is stopped. close.
On the window, for example, an image based on a display screen of the personal computer 2, still image data, moving image data, or the like stored in the personal computer 2 is displayed.

The application program B is substantially the same as the application program A,
It is made on the assumption that it starts alone. More specifically, the application program B operates in cooperation with the control program b as described above.
It is created on the assumption that it is not linked to other unrelated programs (for example, application program A). However, this application program B and other unrelated programs (for example, application program A) can be operated in parallel.

Further, in each window of the application program B, a window identification value (window handle) that can be detected when the window is opened and cannot be detected when the window is closed is substantially the same as each window of the application program A. It is preset corresponding to B.
As for the window identification value, the window handle set for each window when the application program B is created can be used as in the case of the application program A.

The control program b is a program that causes the controlled device 1 to function based on data, control commands, and the like transmitted from the personal computer 2 to the controlled device 1.
In addition to the above-described control program b, for example, when a USB memory is connected to a single controlled device 1 to which the personal computer 2 is not connected,
In some cases, the data in the memory is used as means for taking in the controlled device 1 and projecting it from the controlled device 1 onto the screen 3.

Next, the application control system 10 will be described in detail.
According to an example of the present embodiment, the application control system 10 causes the controlled device 1 to function by the monitoring unit 11 and the control unit 12 on the operating system 1a.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of operations performed by the application control system 10. The application control system 10 includes a monitoring unit 11 that monitors the open / closed state of the windows Wa and Wb of the application programs A and B, and a control unit 12 that controls the application programs A and B, respectively. ing.

The monitoring unit 11 is configured to recognize the open / close state of the windows of the application programs A and B depending on whether or not the above-described window identification value is detected.

When the monitoring means 11 detects that the windows of the application programs A and B are opened, the control means 12 has a preset priority order among the application programs A and B corresponding to the detected windows. An application program having a lower priority than the highest application program is set in a stopped state.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 shows an operation example of the application control system 10.
According to this operation example, first, in step 1, the application programs A and B are activated.

As another example, step 1 may be omitted, and each of the application programs A and B may be started based on a program other than the monitoring unit 11 and the control unit 12 or another operation command.

Next, in step 2, the open / close state of the windows of the application programs A and B is monitored by the monitoring unit 11 of the application control system 10.

Next, in step 3, it is determined whether or not the windows corresponding to the application programs A and B are opened. When the windows corresponding to the application programs A and B are opened, the process proceeds to the next step 4a. Otherwise, processing returns to step 2.

That is, according to step 3, when both of the window of application program A and the window of application program B are open, the process proceeds to the next step 4a, one is opened and the other is closed. If yes, the process returns to step 2.

Note that, according to the example of the present embodiment, the two application programs A and B are controlled. However, when there are three or more application programs as another example, two or more applications are executed according to step 3. If the program window is open, the process proceeds to the next step 4a. If only one application program is open, the process returns to step 2.

More specifically, the process of step 3 will be described in detail. The application control system 10 includes data indicating a correspondence relationship between the window identification value and the application program in advance.

The table in FIG. 4 is a data image showing an example of the correspondence relationship. For example, when the window identification value 1001 or 1002 is detected by the monitoring unit 11, it is determined that the application program A is started.
Further, when any one of the window identification values 1003, 1004, and 1005 is detected by the monitoring unit 11, it is determined that the application program B has started.

In the next step 4a, it is determined whether or not the window detected in step 3 includes a window corresponding to the specific application program. If the specific application program is not included, the next step 5a is performed. If the specific application program is included, the process proceeds to step 4b.

In step 4b, other application programs for the specific application program are stopped, and the process jumps to step 6.

The specific application program is a single program specified based on data preset in the application control system 10. This specific application program may be specified based on data that cannot be changed,
It may be specified based on data whose settings can be changed by a user or the like.

In the next step 5, the application program B having a lower priority than the application program A having the highest priority among the activated application programs A and B is stopped.

In steps 4b and 5, “put application program in a stopped state”
Means that the window of the application program with the lower priority cannot be opened, and more specifically, the application program B is terminated.
The priority order is data preset in the application control system 10.

The table in FIG. 5 is a data image showing an example of the priority order. According to this data example, for example, the application program A is set with the priority of No. 1, the application program B is set with the priority of No. 2, and the priority is No. 3.
Application programs D and C are set as the fourth one.
This priority order may be data that cannot be changed, or data that can be set and changed by a user or the like.

Therefore, for example, when each of the application programs A and B is activated, in step 5, the application program B having a lower priority than the application program A having the highest priority is stopped. .

If three or more application programs B, D, and C are activated, in step 5, application program D, C having a lower priority than all the application programs B having the highest priority are all displayed. Stopped.

Therefore, according to steps 2, 3, 4a, and 5, the application program that is expected to be preferably used by the manufacturer or the user of the controlled device 1 is preferentially executed based on a preset priority order. Can be made.

Further, according to steps 4a and 4b, when the monitoring means 11 detects that a window of a specific application program has been opened, other application programs for the specific application program are stopped regardless of the priority order. Can be.

Next, in step 6, it is determined whether or not all windows corresponding to the activated application program A have been closed. If closed, the process proceeds to the next step 7; Wait for all corresponding windows to close.
The fact that all the windows corresponding to the application program A are closed is recognized when all the window identification values corresponding to the application program A are not detected by the monitoring unit 11.

In the next step 7, the stopped application program B is started.
That is, on the condition that all the windows of the application program A being started are closed, the application program B stopped in step 4 is started.

Therefore, according to steps 6 to 7, for example, since the running application program A does not meet the user's preference, the application program A is substituted when the user prevents the application program A from being activated. The application program B can be automatically started.

Then, after step 7, the processing by the application control system 10 returns to step 2.

For example, when there are three or more application programs and there are two or more application programs stopped in step 5, two or more application programs are started in step 7. Then, these two or more application programs are returned to processing, and only those with high priority or specific application programs are left, and those with other low priority are put into a stopped state.

Further, according to the above example, the priority of the application program A on the controlled device 1 side is higher than the priority of the application program B on the personal computer 2 side, but conversely, the application program B on the personal computer 2 side. Of course, it is possible to make the priority order higher than the priority order of the application program A on the controlled device 1 side.

(Example 2)
Next, an application control system 10 ′ that is another embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In contrast to the application control system 10 described above, the control means 12 is replaced with a control means 12 ′. That is, the application control system 10 is changed on the program.

When the monitoring unit 11 detects that the windows of the application programs A and B are opened, the control unit 12 ′ selects a predetermined specific program among the application programs A and B corresponding to the detected window. The other application program B for the application program A is brought into a stopped state.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 shows an operation example of the application control system 10 ′.
This operation example is a flowchart related to the application control system 10 described above (
The processing after step 3 is changed with respect to FIG. Therefore, the changed part will be mainly described below, and other detailed description will be omitted.

In step 4 ′, among the activated application programs A and B, the other application program B for the specific application program A is stopped. Note that it is assumed that the specific application program A is started in step 1.

The specific application program is a single program specified based on data preset in the application control system 10 ′. In one example, the application program A is a specific application program, but the application program B or another application program may be a specific application program.
The specific application program may be specified based on data that cannot be changed, or may be specified based on data whose settings can be changed by a user or the like.

If there are three or more application programs being activated, in step 4 ′, only the activation of the specific application program is continued, and the other two or more application programs are stopped.

Therefore, according to steps 2 to 4 ′, it is possible to preferentially execute an application program that is expected to be used by a specific application program.

In the next step 5 ′, it is determined whether or not all windows corresponding to the application program A specified in step 4 ′ are closed based on whether or not the window identification value is detected by the monitoring means 11, and all windows are determined. If it is determined that the window is closed, the process proceeds to the next step 6; otherwise, the process waits for all windows corresponding to the application program A to be closed.
In step 6, the application program B in the stopped state is activated.

Therefore, according to steps 5 ′ to 6, for example, since the application program A specified in advance does not meet the user's preference, the application program A is changed to the application program A when the user stops the application program A. The alternative application program B can be automatically started.

If there are three or more application programs and there are two or more application programs stopped in step 4 ′, for example, in the next step 6, a preset one of the two or more application programs is set. Only the application program with the highest priority may be activated.

(Modification 1)
According to a preferred example of the above-described embodiment, the application control system is installed in the microcomputer in the controlled device 1 in a system environment in which the controlled device 1 having the microcomputer and the personal computer 2 are LAN-connected. However, the application control system 10 may be installed on the personal computer 2 side in the system environment.

(Modification 2)
The application control system may be a plurality of programs installed in the microcomputer on the controlled device 1 side and the personal computer 2, respectively, and the plurality of programs may be linked.

(Modification 3)
In an environment in which a plurality of application programs are installed on a single computer (for example, the microcomputer of the controlled device 1 or the personal computer 2), the application control system 10 is installed on the single computer. It is also possible to control a plurality of application programs on the computer.

(Modification 4)
Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the projector device is cited as an example of the controlled device 1, but the controlled device 1 may be a printer, a scanner, a digital camera, a facsimile device,
It can also be a mobile phone, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or the like.

The schematic diagram which shows the usage example connected to the personal computer about the projector apparatus using an example of the application control system which concerns on this invention. The block diagram which shows the application control system. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the application control system. The table | surface which shows the data image of the correspondence of a window identification value and an application program. The table which shows the data image of the priority of an application program. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement about the other example of the application control system which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: controlled device, 2: personal computer, 1a, 2a: operating system, 10, 10 ′: application control system, 11: monitoring means, 12, 12 ′: control means, A, B: application program, Wa, Wb : Window, b: Control program

Claims (5)

An application control system for controlling a plurality of application programs operating on a platform, comprising: monitoring means for monitoring open / closed states of windows of the plurality of application programs; and control means for controlling the plurality of application programs. ,
When the monitoring means detects that the windows of the plurality of application programs are opened, the control means is higher than a preset application program having a higher priority order among the application programs corresponding to the detected windows. An application control system characterized in that an application program having a low priority is put into a stopped state. An application control system for controlling a plurality of application programs operating on a platform, comprising: monitoring means for monitoring open / closed states of windows of the plurality of application programs; and control means for controlling the plurality of application programs. ,
When the monitoring unit detects that the windows of the plurality of application programs have been opened, the control unit selects another application for a specific application program set in advance among the application programs corresponding to the detected window. An application control system characterized in that a program is stopped. When the monitoring unit detects that the window of the specific application program has been opened, the control unit puts another application program for the specific application program in a stopped state regardless of the priority order. The application control system according to claim 1. In each window of each application program, a window identification value that can be detected when the window is opened and cannot be detected when the window is closed is preset for each application program,
The monitoring means recognizes the open / closed state of the window of each application program based on whether or not the window identification value is detected.
Application control system described in the section. 5. The control means, when the monitoring means detects that the window of the application program that has not been stopped is closed, starts the application program that has been stopped. The application control system according to any one of the preceding claims.

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