JP2016139385A - Control device, communication connection method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control device for controlling a communicating partner with wireless communication by Bluetooth, which is improved in user convenience in communication connection.SOLUTION: A control device for controlling electronic equipment by Bluetooth communication includes: a user interface part for receiving an instruction of the electronic equipment; and a communication control part for executing pairing connection processing with the instructed electronic equipment and the acquisition processing of a Bluetooth device address of the electronic equipment by the same processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device that controls a communication partner by wireless communication, and more particularly to a control device that can improve user convenience during communication connection.

  In recent years, wireless communication using Bluetooth (registered trademark) has become widespread. For example, a printer is caused to execute printing by the communication from a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

  In the case of performing communication by Bluetooth, it is necessary to first perform preprocessing (preparation processing) called pairing connection with a communication partner so that communication is possible. After that, the Bluetooth address of the communication partner is acquired, and the connection process with the communication partner is formally performed using the address.

  Patent Document 1 below describes an image forming apparatus that can omit an operation for setting such as a pairing process.

JP 2014-158268 A

  Regarding the above-described communication connection by Bluetooth, an OS (Operating System) provides an API (Application Programming Interface) that performs the above-described pairing connection function. That is, one function is prepared for executing the pairing connection procedure. Therefore, when creating an application including Bluetooth communication connection processing in the OS, it is necessary to take the following procedure in order to formally connect to the communication partner.

  First, a part for pairing connection is created using the pairing connection API. Thereafter, using another API, a function for searching for a paired connection-completed device and acquiring a Bluetooth address of a desired communication partner is created. And the part which performs formal connection with the communicating party is created using the acquired Bluetooth address.

  Therefore, the communication connection processing by Bluetooth has been a relatively troublesome part for an application developer, and includes a process for searching for a paired connection-completed device for an application user as described above. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time for processing. Therefore, a simpler tool is desired for communication connection processing by Bluetooth.

  Note that Patent Document 1 does not disclose a solution to such a problem on the host device side.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a control device that controls a communication partner by wireless communication using Bluetooth, and that can improve user convenience during communication connection.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a control device that controls an electronic device by Bluetooth communication includes: a user interface unit that receives an instruction from the electronic device; and the instructed electronic device. A communication control unit that executes pairing connection processing and Bluetooth device address acquisition processing of the electronic device in the same processing.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferred aspect is characterized in that the communication control unit establishes communication with the electronic device using the acquired Bluetooth device address.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferred aspect is characterized in that the user interface unit displays an interface screen for instructing the electronic device.

  Furthermore, in the above-described invention, a preferable aspect includes an operating system, an application program, and middleware interposed between the operating system and the application program, and the middleware performs processing by the user interface unit and the communication control unit. It is performed using the function provided, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, a preferred aspect is characterized in that the pairing connection process and the Bluetooth device address acquisition process executed in the same process are performed by a function included in the middleware.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the present invention, in a communication connection method in a control device that controls an electronic device by Bluetooth communication, an instruction from the electronic device is received, and the communication with the instructed electronic device is performed. The pairing connection process and the Bluetooth device address acquisition process of the electronic device are executed in the same process.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a control device that controls an electronic device by Bluetooth communication to execute a communication connection process. The pairing connection process with the electronic device and the Bluetooth device address acquisition process of the electronic device are executed in the same process.

  Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below.

It is a functional block diagram concerning the example of an embodiment of a control device to which the present invention is applied. 2 is a diagram showing a software configuration of a host device 1. FIG. It is a time chart which shows an example of the communication connection process based on background art. 4 is a time chart showing an example of communication connection processing in the host device 1. 4 is a diagram illustrating a user interface screen displayed on the host device 1. FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals or reference symbols.

  FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a control device to which the present invention is applied. A host device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a control device according to the present embodiment, and performs a pairing process and a process of acquiring a communication partner's Bluetooth address during the communication connection process by Bluetooth. In addition, an API for the processing is provided as middleware. Thereby, user convenience can be improved regarding development and use of an application using communication by Bluetooth.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the system according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which a host device 1 is connected to a plurality of printers 2 (2A, 2B, 2C,...) As an example by communication using Bluetooth.

  The host device 1 is a host computer of the printer 2 that issues a print instruction to the printer 2, and can be configured by, for example, a smartphone, a personal computer, a portable terminal device, or the like. Although not shown, the host device 1 includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, HDD, display (display device), operation device (instruction device), and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the host device 1 includes a user I / F 11, a communication control unit 12, and a print control unit 13 as a functional configuration. These parts may be provided in each application provided in the host device 1 or may be provided independently from each application and used by each application.

  The user I / F 11 (user interface unit) is a part that controls a user interface with the user of the host device 1, such as displaying an input screen on the display device of the host device 1 and acquiring input information on the input screen. It has a function. The user I / F 11 is configured by a program describing processing contents, a CPU that executes processing according to the program, and the like.

  The communication control unit 12 is a part that controls communication between the host device 1 and another device, and in particular controls communication connection when performing communication with the printer 2 by Bluetooth. The communication control unit 12 includes a program that describes processing contents, a CPU that executes processing according to the program, and the like.

  The print control unit 13 is a part that provides a print instruction to the printer 2 and includes functions of a so-called printer driver and utility. The print control unit 13 includes a driver program and a utility program for the printer 2 and a CPU that executes processing according to these programs.

  Although not shown, the host device 1 can include a portion having functions other than the functions described above.

  The printer 2 (2A, 2B, 2C...) Is a printing device that performs printing in accordance with an instruction from the host device 1 or the like, and there are a plurality of printers. It is an example of the electronic device which the host apparatus 1 makes a communication other party. Each printer 2 has a function of performing communication by Bluetooth, and communicates with the host device 1 by the communication. Each printer 2 has an address necessary for communication connection by Bluetooth. This address is an address unique to a device that performs Bluetooth communication, and is generally called a Bluetooth device address. Here, it is called a Bluetooth address. Each printer 2 has the functions and configurations of a conventional general printing apparatus.

  Next, a software configuration in the host device 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the host device 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the host device 1 includes an OS 101 (Operating System) at the lowest level. The OS is an OS described as background art, and includes various APIs (functions) that can be used by the middleware 102 and the application 103. As one of them, the one having the function of the above-described Bluetooth pairing connection is prepared. The OS 101 is, for example, iOS (registered trademark).

  The middleware 102 exists between the OS and the application program, and belongs to general middleware that can simplify the coding of the application program. Here, the middleware 102 has a function for using the printer 2. It is specialized. Accordingly, each API (function) that controls each function for causing the printer 2 to execute printing is provided. These APIs operate according to the OS 101, and are created using the API of the OS 101.

  The API of the middleware 102 includes the APIs that configure the user I / F 11, the communication control unit 12, and the print control unit 13 described above. In particular, the middleware 102 includes one API (function) that executes both the above-described pairing connection process and the Bluetooth address acquisition process, which are used when the communication control unit 12 performs the Bluetooth communication connection. The API (function) is configured by wrapping the API related to the above-described pairing connection provided by the OS 101. Accordingly, the pairing connection process and the address acquisition process are executed in the same process by the API. The middleware 102 also includes an API related to port opening for officially connecting Bluetooth communication. The middleware 102 also includes various APIs related to print processing in the printer 2 with respect to the processing of the print control unit 13.

  The middleware 102 is provided from the manufacturer or seller of the printer 2.

  Next, the application 103 is a program (group) created (coded) using the API of the middleware 102, and can execute various processes. Here, the printer 2 executes the printing process. Including processing to be performed. For example, it is an application that prints out image data (photo data) stored in the host device 1. The application 103 is located at the highest level of the software and is a target operated by the user of the host device 1.

  In the host device 1 having the configuration as described above, the following processing is executed when the communication connection with the printer 2 is established. First, for comparison, a processing procedure in the case of the background art will be described. FIG. 3 is a time chart showing an example of a communication connection process based on the background art. The user of the host device requests use of the printer from a predetermined application provided in the host device (T1 in FIG. 3). For example, the user performs an operation for selecting image data and printing the image data on an interface screen provided by the application.

  Upon receiving the request, the host device searches for a printer that can communicate via Bluetooth or the like (T2 in FIG. 3), and generates a printer selection screen based on the response from the printer (T3 in FIG. 3). (T4 in FIG. 3). On this screen, printers that can communicate with Bluetooth are displayed in a list format, and the user has an interface that allows the user to select a printer that the user wants to communicate with.

  When the printer selection screen is displayed on the host device, the user performs an operation for selecting a desired printer on the screen (T5 in FIG. 3). Upon receiving this selection instruction, the host device executes pairing connection with the selected printer. Specifically, using the API for pairing connection provided by the OS described in the background art, a request for pairing is made to the selected printer (T6 in FIG. 3), and the response from the printer ( In response to T7) in FIG. 3, the pairing connection process is completed.

  Thereafter, in order to formally connect to the printer, the host device executes a process of acquiring the Bluetooth address of the printer. Specifically, the printer is searched from the printers that have been paired (T8 in FIG. 3), a Bluetooth address request is made to the printer, and a response to the request from the printer (T9 in FIG. 3). ) To obtain a Bluetooth address.

  After that, the host device makes a port open request to the printer using the acquired Bluetooth address (T10 in FIG. 3), receives the response (T11 in FIG. 3), and completes the connection process with the printer. To do.

  Thereafter, a print instruction is given to the connected printer, and processing requested by the user is executed.

  The processing in the host device based on the background technology is performed by the above-described application. The application uses an API provided by the OS and an API provided by middleware based on the background technology.

  As described above, based on the background art, the processing until obtaining the Bluetooth address of the communication partner is performed as described above with the pairing connection ([1] in FIG. 3) according to the API configuration provided by the OS. This is divided into subsequent Bluetooth address acquisition ([2] in FIG. 3) and executed.

  Next, communication connection processing in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a time chart illustrating an example of communication connection processing in the host device 1. The user of the host device 1 makes a printer use request from the application 103 of the host device 1 (T21 in FIG. 4). For example, the user performs an operation of selecting image data and printing the image data on the interface screen provided by the application 103. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a user interface screen displayed on the host device 1. FIG. 5A shows a screen for requesting the use of the printer 2, and the user performs an instruction operation on the portion indicated by M1 in FIG.

  The user I / F 11 of the host apparatus 1 receives the instruction, and in accordance with the instruction, the communication control unit 12 of the host apparatus 1 searches for a printer capable of communication by Bluetooth by broadcasting or the like (T22 in FIG. 4), and the printer 2 The selection screen of the printer 2 is generated based on the response from (T23 in FIG. 4) (T24 in FIG. 4).

  FIG. 5B shows a selection screen for the printer 2, and the printer 2 capable of communication by Bluetooth is displayed in a list format on the screen. The user can select the printer 2 desired to be the communication partner from among them by, for example, selecting and operating a portion indicated by M2 in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 5B, the printer 2A is selected.

  When the selection screen is displayed on the host device 1 by the user I / F 11, the user performs an operation for selecting the desired printer 2 on the screen as described above (T25 in FIG. 4). The host apparatus 1 receives this selection instruction, and the communication control unit 12 executes a pairing connection process with the selected printer 2 and a process for acquiring the Bluetooth address of the printer 2.

  The present embodiment is characterized by this process, and the communication control unit 12 performs an API (function) that executes the pairing connection process and the Bluetooth address acquisition process included in the middleware 102 described above in the process. ) Is used.

  Specifically, the communication control unit 12 simultaneously makes a pairing request and a Bluetooth address request to the selected printer 2 using the API (T26 in FIG. 4). Thereafter, the communication control unit 12 receives a response from the printer 2 to the request (T27 in FIG. 4) and completes the pairing connection process and the Bluetooth address acquisition process.

  Thereafter, the user I / F 11 displays a screen for receiving a print execution instruction on the host device 1, for example, displays a screen as shown in FIG. 5C, and receives a print execution instruction from the user. For example, the user gives an instruction to execute printing by operating the M3 portion of the screen shown in FIG.

  In response to the instruction, the communication control unit 12 performs a process of formally connecting to the selected printer 2. Specifically, a port open request is made to the printer 2 using the acquired Bluetooth address (T28 in FIG. 4), and a response is received (T29 in FIG. 4) to connect to the printer 2 To complete.

  Next, the print control unit 13 issues a print instruction to the connected printer 2 in accordance with the print execution instruction, and the printer 2 executes a print process requested by the user.

  As described above, according to the host device 1 according to the present embodiment, the processing until obtaining the communication partner's Bluetooth address is performed by the pairing connection according to the configuration of the API provided by the middleware 102 as described above. And the Bluetooth address acquisition process can be executed as a series of processes ([3] in FIG. 4).

  As described above, in the host device 1 according to the present embodiment, the pairing connection and the Bluetooth address acquisition process are performed when the communication connection process by Bluetooth is performed by the API (function) provided as the middleware 102. Can be executed in the same process. In the process based on the background art, as described based on FIG. 3, the pairing connection and the Bluetooth address acquisition process are executed as separate processes. In the Bluetooth address acquisition process, a printer search process (T8 in FIG. 3) is performed. Compared to what is necessary, the processing is simplified, the program creation and execution are shortened, and the convenience of the application creator (program developer) and the user can be improved.

  In addition, since an API that executes a pairing connection and Bluetooth address acquisition process as a series of processes is provided as the middleware 102, there is no need to modify the OS, and other APIs provided as the middleware 102 can be used. 103 developer's work can be facilitated.

  In the present embodiment, the other party that communicates with Bluetooth is a printer, but the present invention can be applied to other electronic devices.

  The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

  1 Host device, 2 (2A, 2B, 2C) Printer, 11 User I / F, 12 Communication control unit, 13 Print control unit, 101 OS, 102 Middleware, 103 Application

Claims (7)

A control device for controlling an electronic device by Bluetooth communication,
A user interface unit for receiving instructions from the electronic device;
A communication control unit configured to perform the pairing connection process with the instructed electronic device and the Bluetooth device address acquisition process of the electronic device in the same process. In claim 1,
The communication control unit establishes communication with the electronic device by using the acquired Bluetooth device address. In claim 1 or 2,
The user interface unit displays an interface screen for instructing the electronic device. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3,
An operating system, an application program, and middleware interposed between the operating system and the application program,
The process by the said user interface part and the said communication control part is performed using the function with which the said middleware is provided. The control apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In claim 4,
The pairing connection process and the Bluetooth device address acquisition process executed in the process are performed by a function included in the middleware. A communication connection method in a control device that controls an electronic device by Bluetooth communication,
Receiving instructions from the electronic device;
The pairing connection process with the instruct | indicated electronic device and the acquisition process of the Bluetooth device address of the said electronic device are performed by the same process. The communication connection method characterized by the above-mentioned. A program for causing a control device that controls an electronic device by Bluetooth communication to execute communication connection processing,
Receiving instructions from the electronic device;
The pairing connection process with the instructed electronic device and the Bluetooth device address acquisition process of the electronic device are executed in the same process.

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