JP2016040663A - Information processing device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress screen flicker by displaying an indicator at an appropriate timing in an information processing device.SOLUTION: An information processing device 100 includes a screen display unit, an input reception unit, an execution processing unit 101, a counting unit 103, and an indicator display unit 105. The screen display unit displays a screen D. The input reception unit receives an input operation. A processing execution unit 101 executes processing according to the input operation. The counting unit 103 counts the elapsed time from the start of the processing. The indicator display unit 105 displays an indicator indicating that the processing is being executed, on the screen D if the execution of the processing continues even when the elapsed time is a predetermined time or more.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program for executing the information processing method.

  Conventionally, an information processing apparatus in which a screen display state changes depending on a process to be executed is known. As such an information processing apparatus, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a remote operation apparatus capable of remotely operating an MFP (Multifunctional Peripheral). For example, in the remote operation device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a simulated image of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus is displayed on the touch screen, and the simulated image displayed before the state change is displayed on the touch screen. In response to the reception of the business information, the image is changed to a simulated image reflecting the state change. That is, in the remote operation device described above, the screen display is changed based on the received screen control information.

JP2013-157774A

  In the remote control device disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, when the display changes from a simulated image in which a certain required process is completed to another simulated image, the process is performed during the execution of the required process. An indicator indicating that the program is being executed is displayed. The time required for completing the required process differs depending on the process, and even if the same process is executed, the time required for the process may be different for each execution.

  In a conventional information processing apparatus such as the remote control apparatus of Patent Document 1, the above-described indicator is displayed if the process is executed regardless of the time taken for the above-described process. For this reason, an indicator is displayed even when processing is completed in a short time, and the screen flickers in the information processing apparatus.

  An object of the present invention is to suppress screen flicker by displaying an indicator at an appropriate timing in an information processing apparatus.

Hereinafter, a plurality of modes will be described as means for solving the problems. These aspects can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.
An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a screen display unit, an input receiving unit, a process execution unit, a counting unit, and an indicator display unit.
The screen display unit displays a screen. The input receiving unit receives an input operation. The process execution unit executes a process according to the input operation. The counting unit counts the elapsed time from the start of processing.
The indicator display unit displays an indicator indicating that the process is being executed on the screen display unit when the process continues even if the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the required time.

  In the information processing apparatus, when the input receiving unit receives an input operation, the process execution unit executes a process according to the input operation. When the process execution unit starts the above process, the counting unit counts an elapsed time from the start of the process. The indicator display unit monitors the elapsed time, and displays an indicator indicating that the process is being executed on the screen display unit when the above process is being executed even if the elapsed time exceeds the required time. To do.

  In the information processing apparatus described above, the indicator is displayed when the execution of the process continues even after a required time has elapsed since the start of the process. That is, no indicator is displayed for a process that completes execution in a short time. Thereby, it can suppress that an indicator is displayed for a moment and disappears. As a result, screen display flicker can be suppressed.

  After the indicator display unit erases the indicator by the end of the process, the screen may be updated according to the execution result of the process. Thereby, it is possible to avoid updating the screen display during the execution of the process. That is, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a screen display that causes the operator to feel uncomfortable, that is, the display screen is updated while the indicator indicating the execution of the process is displayed.

  The information processing apparatus may further include a communication unit. The communication unit communicates with the remote device during execution of processing. Thus, data can be transmitted / received to / from a remote device installed at a remote location during the execution of processing using the communication unit.

An information processing method according to another aspect of the present invention includes the following steps.
◎ Step to display the screen.
◎ Step of accepting input operation.
A step of executing processing according to the input operation.
A step of counting the elapsed time from the start of processing.
A step of displaying an indicator indicating that the process is being executed when the process continues to be executed even if the elapsed time exceeds the required time.

  In the information processing method described above, the indicator is displayed when the execution of the process continues even after the required time has elapsed since the start of the process. That is, no indicator is displayed for a process that completes execution in a short time. Thereby, it can suppress that an indicator is displayed for a moment and disappears. As a result, screen display flicker can be reduced.

The information processing method may further include the following steps.
◎ A step of erasing the indicator after the processing is completed.
A step of updating the screen according to the execution result of the process after the indicator is erased.

  In the step of executing the process, communication with the remote device may be performed.

  A program according to still another aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the above information processing method.

  In the information processing apparatus, flickering of the screen can be suppressed by displaying the indicator at an appropriate timing.

The figure which shows the whole structure of a remote operation apparatus. The figure which shows the basic composition of the remote operation apparatus which is executing the remote operation program. The figure which shows the structure of the remote operation apparatus which has a communication monitoring function. The figure which shows an example of the remote operation screen of the state which displayed the indicator. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the remote operation apparatus in execution of the remote operation program.

1. First Embodiment (1) Overall Configuration of Remote Operation Device An information processing device according to the present invention will be described below. In the first embodiment described below, the information processing apparatus is a remote operation apparatus for remotely operating an image forming apparatus (described later). Therefore, first, the overall configuration of the remote operation device 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a remote operation device.
The remote operation device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a portable terminal such as a tablet terminal or a smartphone, for example. Further, the remote operation device 100 operates the image forming apparatus 200 (described later) as a remote operation target based on the display of a remote operation screen (FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, etc.) displayed on a display unit (described later).
The remote operation device 100 includes a main system unit 1, a control unit 2, a storage unit 3, a communication unit 4, a display unit 5, and an input / output device 6.

The main system unit 1 performs various types of information processing in a portable terminal such as a tablet terminal or a smartphone. Therefore, the main system unit 1 includes a CPU 11 (Central Processing Unit), a memory controller 13, and a peripheral interface 15.
The CPU 11 performs various processes in accordance with instructions indicated in various programs received from the storage unit 3 (described later) via a memory controller 13 (described later). Further, the CPU 11 may receive the setting value stored in the storage unit 3 via the memory controller 13 as necessary, and perform the above-described various processes using the received setting value.

  The memory controller 13 controls transmission / reception of various programs and data from the storage unit 3 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 11. The peripheral interface 15 is, for example, a chip set that is mounted on the remote operation device 100 or controls the various devices connected to the remote operation device 100.

The control unit 2 controls the display unit 5 and the input / output device 6 based on a command transmitted from the CPU 11 via the peripheral interface 15. Therefore, the control unit 2 includes a display control unit 21 and an input / output control unit 23.
The display control unit 21 receives display data to be displayed on a screen display unit 51 (described later) of the display unit 5 from, for example, a display data storage area secured in a part of the storage unit 3 via the memory controller 13 and the peripheral interface 15. And display the display data on the screen display unit 51.

  When an input operation is performed on an input receiving unit 53 (described later) of the display unit 5, the input / output control unit 23 defines a position in the input receiving unit 53 where the input operation is performed in the input receiving unit 53. Is input as a coordinate value (described later). The input / output control unit 23 transmits the coordinate value of the input receiving unit 53 on which the input operation has been performed to the main system unit 1. As a result, the CPU 11 can execute processing according to the position of the input receiving unit 53 where the input operation has been performed.

  The input / output control unit 23 receives an input from the input / output device 6 connected to the remote operation device 100 and transmits the input to the main system unit 1. Further, the input / output control unit 23 outputs various output data received from the main system unit 1 to the input / output device 6 as necessary.

The storage unit 3 includes a storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and an SSD (Solid State Disk) provided in the remote operation device 100.
The storage unit 3 is installed with an OS (Operating System) such as an OS exclusively for portable terminals such as iOS (registered trademark) and Android OS (registered trademark), and a communication program, a touch program, and a graphic program that are provided as standard in the OS. ing.

  The OS supervises various information processing in the remote operation device 100 by software. The communication program executes data transmission / reception between the communication unit 4 and an external device such as the image forming apparatus 200 according to a communication protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). The touch program executes control of the input receiving unit 53 of the display unit 5 via the input / output control unit 23. The graphic program controls the screen display unit 51 of the display unit 5 via the display control unit 21.

  In addition, a remote operation program for remotely controlling the image forming apparatus 200 as a remote operation target is installed in the storage unit 3 as application software that can be executed on a computer of the remote operation apparatus 100 or the like. Furthermore, other programs may be installed in the storage unit 3 as application software as necessary.

  Further, as described above, the storage unit 3 has an area for storing screen data to be displayed on the screen display unit 51, and stores various setting values, data, and / or cache data as necessary. An area to be stored is secured.

  The communication unit 4 performs data transmission / reception with the image forming apparatus 200 as a remote operation target and / or other external devices as necessary according to the communication protocol executed in the communication program. As the communication unit 4, a device capable of transmitting and receiving data by wireless communication such as a wireless LAN device can be used.

  The communication unit 4 may be configured by a wired LAN device or the like, and data transmission / reception between an external device such as the image forming apparatus 200 and the remote operation device 100 may be performed by wired communication. The communication unit 4 may be configured by a wired LAN device and a wireless LAN device connected to the wired LAN device by wire. In this case, even if the remote operation device 100 includes only a wired LAN device, data transmission / reception between the remote operation device 100 and an external device such as the image forming apparatus 200 can be performed by wireless communication.

The display unit 5 is a display device that can accept an input operation from an operator. Accordingly, the display unit 5 includes a screen display unit 51 and an input reception unit 53.
The screen display unit 51 is a thin display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The screen display unit 51 receives display data stored in an area secured in a part of the storage unit 3 from the display control unit 21 and displays the received screen data.

  The input receiving unit 53 is a touch sensor (or a touch screen) such as a capacitance method or a resistance film method having a plurality of electrodes arranged in a matrix. In the input receiving unit 53, when an operator's finger touches the electrodes arranged in a matrix, an electrical change such as a change in resistance value or a change in capacitance occurs. The input operation is performed at which position of the input receiving unit 53 by the input / output control unit 23 identifying which electrode among the electrodes arranged in the matrix form has undergone the electrical change. Can be identified.

  The input / output device 6 is another input / output device such as a push button connected to an external device connection terminal such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) socket provided in the remote operation device 100 as necessary.

  The image forming apparatus 200 that is a remote operation target remotely operated by the remote operation apparatus 100 is capable of performing FAX transmission / reception, printing of a FAX document (FAX function), scanning of an image on a paper surface (scan function), and other scanned images. An image forming apparatus such as an MFP that performs printing (copy function) on paper and printing (printing function) of a document converted into electronic data.

The image forming apparatus 200 can execute the above functions by remote control. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 200 has a communication device such as a LAN device (wireless LAN device, wired LAN device) that performs data communication with an external terminal or the like.
In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 200 includes a wireless LAN device, and performs data communication with the remote operation device 100 via the wireless LAN device. If the image forming apparatus 200 does not include a wireless LAN device, data communication can be performed wirelessly with the remote operation device 100 via a wireless LAN device connected to a wired LAN device included in the image forming apparatus 200. .

(2) Remote Operation Program Next, a remote operation device 100 that is executing a remote operation program for remotely operating a remote operation target (image forming apparatus 200) will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a remote operation device that is executing a remote operation program. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a remote operation device having a communication monitoring function. Hereinafter, a case where a remote operation program for executing the copy function in the image forming apparatus 200 is being executed in the remote operation apparatus 100 will be described as an example.

  First, the remote operation screen D displayed on the screen display unit 51 of the display unit 5 during the execution of the remote operation program will be described. During execution of the remote operation program, a remote operation screen D as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is displayed on the screen display unit 51 on the display unit 5 of the remote operation device 100. At this time, when an input operation (touch input) is performed at the position of the input receiving unit 53 corresponding to the position where each button of the copy condition setting unit D1 is arranged, a condition for executing the copy is set.

  When an input operation is performed at the position of the input receiving unit 53 corresponding to the position where the round button of the copy command unit D2 is arranged, copying (printing) of an image or the like is executed under the set copy conditions. Further, when an input operation is performed at the position of the input receiving unit 53 corresponding to the position where the square button of the copy command unit D2 is arranged, the copy condition is reset.

  Further, when an input operation is performed at a location where “copy” is displayed in the function switching unit D3, the image forming apparatus 200 is instructed to execute the copy function. When an input operation is performed at a location where “scanner” is displayed, the image forming apparatus 200 is instructed to execute a scanner function. Further, when an input operation is performed at a location where “FAX” is displayed, the image forming apparatus 200 is instructed to execute the FAX function.

  Note that when the function is switched, a remote operation program corresponding to the selected function may be executed in the remote operation device 100. Alternatively, all functions of the image forming apparatus 200 may be remotely operable in one remote operation program.

  When an input operation is performed at the position of the input receiving unit 53 corresponding to the position where the copy condition setting screen mode switching unit D4 is displayed, the copy condition setting screen mode is changed, and then the above copy condition is set. The display state of the setting unit D1 changes.

  Next, the configuration of each functional block included in the remote operation device 100 that is executing the remote operation program will be described. The function of each functional block described below is achieved by executing a remote operation program mainly in the main system unit 1. The remote operation device 100 that is executing the remote operation program includes a process execution unit 101, a counting unit 103, and an indicator display unit 105.

  The process execution unit 101 inputs an input operation and position information where the input operation has been performed from the input reception unit 53, and executes a process according to the position where the input operation has been performed in the input reception unit 53. Each process (copy condition setting, copy command, function switching, etc.) described in the description of the remote operation screen D is executed in the process execution unit 101.

In addition, the process execution unit 101 transmits the processing results obtained by executing each process in the process execution unit 101 to the image forming apparatus 200 or the like via the remote operation device 100 or the communication unit 4 as necessary. Output.
Furthermore, the process execution unit 101 transmits a signal requesting the image forming apparatus 200 to execute each operation via the communication unit 4 or communicates data such as setting values in the image forming apparatus 200 as necessary. Received from the image forming apparatus 200 via the unit 4.

The counting unit 103 counts the elapsed time from the start of the process being executed in the process execution unit 101. Specifically, the counting unit 103 counts the elapsed time from the reception of the process start signal from the process execution unit 101, and counts the elapsed time from the start of the process being executed in the process execution unit 101. .
The counting unit 103 uses, for example, a signal that fluctuates in a required time period such as a pulse signal generated from a clock generator of the remote operation device 100 and / or a clock function of the remote operation device 100, and the like. Can count time.

  The indicator display unit 105 monitors the elapsed time counted by the counting unit 103, and even if the elapsed time of a certain process exceeds a required time (for example, 0.5 seconds to 1 second), the process execution unit 101. When the process end signal of the process is not received from (that is, when the process is continued), an indicator IND (FIG. 3) indicating that the process is being executed is displayed on the screen display unit 51 of the display unit 5. To do.

When the indicator display unit 105 displays the indicator IND, the indicator display unit 105 darkens the display of the remote operation screen D, for example, as shown in FIG. IND is displayed. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a remote operation screen in a state where an indicator is displayed.
The shape of the indicator IND is not limited to a circle, and an indicator having an arbitrary shape can be used. In addition, the shape of the indicator may be changed according to the above processing or the type of packet communication.

As a modification of the remote operation device 100 that is executing the remote operation program, the remote operation device 100 may be able to monitor the communication state between the remote operation device 100 and the image forming apparatus 200. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the remote operation device 100 that is executing the remote operation program further includes a packet detection unit 107.
The packet detection unit 107 monitors communication in the communication unit 4 and monitors whether data communication is being performed between the communication unit 4 and the image forming apparatus 200. Specifically, the packet detection unit 107 monitors whether a data communication packet transmitted / received in data communication with the image forming apparatus 200 via the communication unit 4 has been detected by the communication unit 4.

  When the communication state with the image forming apparatus 200 is monitored in the remote operation device 100, the counting unit 103 counts an elapsed time since the packet detection unit 107 last detected the data communication packet. Specifically, the counting unit 103 starts counting the elapsed time when a data communication packet is detected by the packet detection unit 107, and stops counting the elapsed time when the next data communication packet is detected. Thus, the elapsed time since the data communication packet was detected can be counted.

  Further, the indicator display unit 105 monitors the above-mentioned elapsed time, and even if the elapsed time since the last detection of the data communication packet is equal to or longer than the required time, the indicator detection unit 105 receives the next data communication packet from the packet detection unit 107. When the detected packet detection signal is not received (that is, when data communication with the image forming apparatus 200 is stopped), the indicator IND is displayed.

  Accordingly, it is possible to detect a processing waiting time that occurs due to a cause (mainly communication delay) other than that it takes time for processing in the processing execution unit 101 (and / or the image forming apparatus 200). That is, it is possible to identify the cause of the processing waiting time. For example, the operator can visually confirm the cause of the processing waiting time by changing the shape of the indicator IND displayed for each cause of the processing waiting time.

(3) Operation of Remote Operation Device Next, the operation of the remote operation device 100 executing the remote operation program will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the remote operation device that is executing the remote operation program.
When the remote operation program is started in the remote operation device 100, first, the remote operation screen D as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is displayed on the screen display unit 51 of the display unit 5 (step S1).

After displaying the remote operation screen D, the input receiving unit 53 receives an input operation (step S2). And the input reception part 53 confirms whether input operation was performed (step S3). If the input receiving unit 53 has not detected an input operation (for example, a touch operation with the operator's finger) (“No” in step S3), the process returns to step S2, and the input receiving unit 53 detects the input operation. Wait until
On the other hand, when the input receiving unit 53 detects an input operation (in the case of “Yes” in step S3), the input receiving unit 53 inputs a signal indicating that there has been an input operation and at which position of the input receiving unit 53 Position information indicating whether the operation has been performed is transmitted to the process execution unit 101.

  The process execution unit 101 that has received the signal indicating that there has been an input operation and the above-described position information starts executing each process according to the position indicated by the position information (the position at which the input operation has been performed) ( Step S4). Since a specific example of which process is performed for the input operation performed at which position has been described above, description thereof is omitted here.

  After the above process is started, the process execution unit 101 outputs a process start signal indicating that the process has started. The counting unit 103 that has received the processing start signal starts counting elapsed time (step S5).

The process execution unit 101 monitors whether or not each process being executed has ended (step S6), and outputs a process end signal indicating that the process has ended when the process ends. When the process end signal is not output from the process execution unit 101, that is, when the process execution is continued in the process execution unit 101 ("No" in step S6), the process proceeds to step S7.
On the other hand, if a process end signal is output from the process execution unit 101, that is, if the process execution unit 101 has finished executing the process (“Yes” in step S6), the process proceeds to step S10.

When the process execution unit 101 determines that the process is being executed, the indicator display unit 105 checks whether the indicator IND is displayed on the remote operation screen D (step S7).
When it is determined that the indicator IND is displayed on the remote operation screen D (in the case of “Yes” in step S7), the process returns to step S5 to execute the process in the process execution unit 101 and the elapsed time in the counting unit 103. Continue counting.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the indicator IND is not displayed on the remote operation screen D (“No” in step S7), the indicator display unit 105 monitors the elapsed time counted by the counting unit 103, It is confirmed whether or not the elapsed time is longer than the required time (step S8).

If it is determined that the elapsed time is not equal to or longer than the required time (in the case of “No” in step S8), the process returns to step S5 to execute the process in the process execution unit 101 and count the elapsed time in the counting unit 103. Continue.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the required time, that is, when it is determined that the process whose elapsed time is equal to or longer than the required time continues (“Yes” in step S8). ”), The indicator display unit 105 displays an indicator IND indicating that a certain process is being executed on the screen display unit 51 on which the remote operation screen D is displayed (step S9). After displaying the indicator IND in step S9, the process returns to step S5, and the execution of the process in the process execution unit 101 and the counting of the elapsed time in the counting unit 103 are continued.

  As in steps S7 to S9 above, the indicator IND is displayed when it is determined that the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the required time, so that the indicator IND is displayed when the execution of the process continues for the required time or longer. The indicator IND can be prevented from being displayed when the required time has not elapsed since the start of the execution of the process. As a result, the flickering of the screen display of the screen display unit 51 caused by the indicator IND being displayed for a moment and disappearing can be suppressed.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S6 that the execution of a certain process has been completed and a process end signal is output from the process execution unit 101, the counting unit 103 that has received the process end signal counts the elapsed time. Stop (step S10). In this case, the counting unit 103 may reset the elapsed time for the certain process. Thereby, when the certain process is executed again in the process execution unit 101, the elapsed time after the certain process is executed again can be counted.

  Even if the elapsed time is not reset, from the current elapsed time count result, the elapsed time count result at the end of the previous process (that is, the time taken to execute the previous process (or that the process was executed) Thus, the elapsed time from the start of execution of the current process (that is, the time taken to execute the current process) can be obtained by subtracting the cumulative time so far).

After stopping counting the elapsed time, the indicator display unit 105 checks whether the indicator IND is displayed on the remote operation screen D (step S11).
When it is determined that the indicator IND is displayed on the remote operation screen D (“Yes” in step S11), the indicator display unit 105 erases the indicator IND displayed on the remote operation screen D (step S11). S12). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S13.
On the other hand, if it is determined that the indicator IND is not displayed on the remote operation screen D (“No” in step S11), the process proceeds to step S13 without deleting the display of the indicator IND.

Whether the process execution unit 101 needs to change the screen display of the remote operation screen D as a result of performing a certain process after the indicator IND is erased or after the process is terminated without the indicator IND being displayed. Is determined (step S13).
When it is determined that there is no need to change the screen display of the remote operation screen D (“No” in step S13), the remote operation device 100 ends the execution of the remote operation program or all the necessary processing.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the screen display of the remote operation screen D needs to be changed (in the case of “Yes” in step S13), the process execution unit 101 displays the remote operation screen D according to the execution result of the process. The screen display is updated (step S14). Thereafter, the remote operation device 100 ends the execution of the remote operation program or all the steps of the required processing.

  By further executing steps S10 to S14 after the execution of the process in the process execution unit 101, it is possible to avoid updating the screen display during the execution of the process. That is, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a screen display that makes the operator feel uncomfortable that the screen display is updated while the indicator IND indicating the execution of the process is displayed.

  The operation of the remote operation device 100 described above is not limited to the operation example shown in the flowchart of FIG. The operation of the steps in the flowchart can be changed, omitted, another step can be added, and / or the operation order of the steps can be changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(4) Effects of Embodiment The effects of the first embodiment can be described as follows.
The information processing apparatus (for example, the remote operation apparatus 100) includes a screen display unit (for example, the screen display unit 51), an input reception unit (for example, the input reception unit 53), and a process execution unit (for example, the process execution unit 101). And a counting unit (for example, the counting unit 103) and an indicator display unit (for example, the indicator display unit 105).

The screen display unit displays a screen. The input receiving unit receives an input operation. The process execution unit executes a process according to the input operation.
The counting unit counts the elapsed time from the start of processing. The indicator display unit displays an indicator (for example, indicator IND) indicating that the process is being executed on the screen display unit when the execution of the above process continues even if the elapsed time becomes equal to or longer than the required time.

  In the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment, the indicator is displayed when the execution of the process continues even after a required time has elapsed since the start of the process. That is, no indicator is displayed for a process that completes execution in a short time. Thereby, it can suppress that an indicator is displayed for a moment and disappears. As a result, screen display flicker can be suppressed.

  In the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment, after the indicator display unit erases the indicator when the process ends, the screen is updated according to the execution result of the process (for example, step S14). Thereby, it is possible to avoid updating the screen display during the execution of the process. That is, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a screen display that causes the operator to feel uncomfortable, that is, the display screen is updated while the indicator indicating the execution of the process is displayed.

  The information processing apparatus further includes a communication unit (for example, the communication unit 4). The communication unit communicates with a remote device (for example, the image forming apparatus 200) during execution of processing. Thus, data can be transmitted / received to / from a remote device installed at a remote location using the communication unit.

An information processing method according to another aspect of the present invention includes the following steps.
A step of displaying a screen (for example, step S1).
A step of receiving an input operation (for example, steps S2 and S3).
A step of executing processing corresponding to the input operation (for example, step S4).
A step of counting the elapsed time from the start of the process (for example, step S5).
A step of displaying an indicator indicating that the process is being executed when the process continues even if the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the required time (for example, steps S6 to S9).

  In the information processing method described above, the indicator is displayed when the execution of the process continues even after the required time has elapsed since the start of the process. That is, no indicator is displayed for a process that completes execution in a short time. Thereby, it can suppress that an indicator is displayed for a moment and disappears. As a result, screen display flicker can be suppressed.

The information processing method further includes the following steps.
A step of deleting the indicator after the processing is completed (for example, steps S11 and S12).
A step of updating the remote operation screen according to the execution result of the processing after the indicator is erased (for example, steps S13 and S14).

  Thereby, it is possible to avoid updating the screen display during the execution of the process. That is, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a screen display that causes the operator to feel uncomfortable, that is, the display screen is updated while the indicator indicating the execution of the process is displayed.

(5) Other Embodiments Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, a plurality of embodiments and modifications described in this specification can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.
(A) Other Embodiments of Remote Operation Program In the remote operation program executed in the remote operation device 100 of the first embodiment, the copy condition setting screen mode switching unit D4 is a transparent push button that accepts an input operation. A user interface component and a user interface component whose display state is changed when the copy condition setting screen mode is switched without accepting an input operation installed below the user interface component may be configured.

  Thereby, before the copy condition setting screen mode is changed in the remote operation device 100 and the image forming apparatus 200 (remote operation target), a display that makes the user feel uncomfortable that the display state of the copy condition setting screen mode switching unit D4 changes. Can be suppressed.

(B) Other Embodiments of Remote Operation Object In the first embodiment described above, the image forming apparatus 200 is a remote operation object. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other devices capable of remote operation can also be targeted for remote operation.

(C) Other Embodiments of Information Processing Apparatus In the first embodiment described above, the remote operation apparatus 100 that remotely operates the image forming apparatus 200 is the information processing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the above-described effect of the present invention can be obtained even in an information processing apparatus in which the display state of a plurality of screen display portions is changed by executing one process.

  For example, an information processing apparatus connected to another information processing apparatus via a network (may be connected via a server or may be connected on a peer-to-peer basis) The present invention can be applied to an online game or the like. For example, in an online game or the like, after executing a process that needs to be executed in another information processing apparatus by an input operation in its information processing apparatus, based on information from the other information processing apparatus, When the screen display is changed, the indicator may be displayed at a predetermined position on the screen display after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of reception of information from another information processing apparatus. Thereby, flickering of the screen can be reduced by displaying the indicator in the information processing apparatus.

  In addition, the present invention similarly applies not only when it takes time to display a screen due to communication, but also when it takes time to calculate data to be displayed inside the apparatus and when it takes time to draw (render) the screen. Applicable.

Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to an input operation from the touch screen but also to a change in the display state of the screen in accordance with an operation with a hardware key.

  The present invention can be widely applied to information processing apparatuses.

1 Main system section 11 CPU
13 memory controller 15 peripheral interface 2 control unit 21 display control unit 23 input / output control unit 3 storage unit 4 communication unit 5 display unit 51 screen display unit 53 input reception unit 6 input / output device 100 remote operation device 101 processing execution unit 103 counting unit 105 indicator display unit 107 packet detection unit 200 image forming apparatus D remote operation screen D1 copy condition setting unit D2 copy command unit D3 function switching unit D4 copy condition setting screen mode switching unit IND indicator

Claims (7)

A screen display for displaying the screen;
An input receiving unit for receiving input operations;
A process execution unit that executes a process according to the input operation;
A counting unit for counting an elapsed time from the start of the processing;
An indicator display unit for displaying an indicator indicating that the process is being executed on the screen display unit when the execution of the process continues even if the elapsed time is equal to or longer than a required time;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen is updated according to an execution result of the process after the indicator display unit erases the indicator due to the end of the process.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit that communicates with a remote device during execution of the processing. A step of displaying a screen;
A step of accepting an input operation;
Executing a process according to the input operation;
Counting elapsed time from the start of the process;
A step of displaying an indicator indicating that the process is being executed when the process continues to be executed even if the elapsed time is equal to or longer than a required time;
An information processing method including: Erasing the indicator after completion of the process;
Updating the screen according to the execution result of the process after the indicator is erased;
The information processing method according to claim 4, further comprising:   The information processing method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein communication with a remote device is performed in the step of executing the processing. The program for making a computer perform the information processing method in any one of Claims 4-6.

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