JP2016224645A - Portable terminal, content designation program, and output program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content designation program capable of instructing an output device through an output program to execute an output operation selected from a plurality of output operations by a user.SOLUTION: The content designation program causes a portable terminal to execute: first acceptance processing for accepting user operation for designating content data (S41 to S44); second acceptance processing for accepting user operation for designating output operation which an output device is caused to execute through an output program (S50); and starting processing for designating, as instruction information to an OS, data identification information for identifying content data which is designated and accepted by the first acceptance processing and operation identification information for identifying output operation which is designated and accepted by the second acceptance processing, and starting an output program by utilizing a sharing function (S51 to S53).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a content specifying program that specifies content data, an output program that outputs content data, and a portable terminal that executes each program.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printing application that allows a user to specify image data stored in a portable terminal and cause a printer to print an image indicated by the specified image data. An application for transferring image data to a printing application is also disclosed.

JP 2012-203742 A

  In recent years, a printer is often a so-called MFP (abbreviation of Multi Function Peripheral) having not only a print function for recording an image on a sheet but also a FAX transmission function for transmitting an image by FAX. However, the print application disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the FAX function of the MFP cannot be used.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object thereof is content capable of instructing an output device through an output program to execute an output operation selected by a user from among a plurality of output operations. To provide a designated program.

  (1) A content specification program according to an embodiment of the present specification can be read by a mobile terminal including an operation unit, a storage unit, and a communication unit. The OS of the portable terminal provides a sharing function for starting the second program designated by the first program and delivering the instruction information designated by the first program to the second program. The storage unit stores an output program that can be read by the portable terminal. The output program can cause the portable terminal to execute a process for causing an output device capable of communicating through the communication unit to execute a plurality of output operations for outputting content data. The content designation program read by the portable terminal is configured to receive a user operation for designating the content data through the operation unit, and to the output device through the output program among the plurality of output operations. Second acceptance processing for accepting a user operation for designating the output operation to be executed through the operation unit, designating data identification information and operation identification information to the OS as the instruction information, and using the sharing function And causing the portable terminal to execute an activation process for activating the output program. The data identification information identifies the content data that has been designated in the first acceptance process. The operation identification information identifies the output operation that has received a designation in the second reception process.

  According to the above configuration, by accepting a user operation for designating content data and an output operation, it is possible to cause the output device to output the content data designated by the user through the output program in the output operation designated by the user.

  (2) Preferably, the portable terminal includes a display unit. The storage unit stores a plurality of the output programs. The content specification program includes a program information acquisition process for acquiring a plurality of program identification information for identifying the output program stored in the storage unit from the OS, a plurality of program specification objects, and an operation specification object. The portable terminal is caused to execute display control processing for displaying a selection screen. The program designation object indicates the output program identified by the program identification information. The action designation object is associated with each of the plurality of program designation objects, and indicates the output action that can be executed by the output device by the output program indicated by the corresponding program designation object. In the activation process when the content designation program accepts a user operation for selecting an object included in the selection screen in the second acceptance process and accepts the selection of the action designation object in the second acceptance process, The action identification information for identifying the output action indicated by the selected action designation object is designated as the instruction information to the OS, and is indicated by the program designation object corresponding to the selected action designation object. The output program to be executed is activated using the sharing function.

  According to the above configuration, the user can designate a desired output program from among the plurality of output devices installed in the mobile terminal, and the output device can execute an output operation through the output program.

  (3) Preferably, the content specifying program executes operation information acquisition processing for acquiring operation information from the output program through the OS for each of the plurality of output programs identified by the program identification information in the portable terminal. Let The operation information indicates the output operation that the output program can cause the output device to execute. In the display control process, the content designation program includes the action designation object indicating the output action indicated by the action information in the selection screen.

  According to the above configuration, it is not necessary for the content specifying program to recognize in advance the output operation that can be executed by each output program. Therefore, even if the output program supports a new output operation, for example, due to version upgrade, the output operation can be selected by the user in the content designation program.

  (4) Preferably, the output program can communicate with the plurality of output devices through the communication unit. The content specifying program causes the portable terminal to execute device information acquisition processing for acquiring device information from the output program through the OS for each of the plurality of output programs identified by the program identification information. The device information is information indicating the output device capable of executing the output operation indicated by the operation information among the output devices with which the output program can communicate. In the display control process, the content designation program further includes a device designation object in a mode associated with the action designation object on the selection screen based on the device information. The device designation object indicates the output device that can communicate with the output program indicated by the corresponding program designation object and can execute the output operation indicated by the corresponding operation designation object. The content designation program further designates device identification information as the instruction information to the OS in the activation process when selection of the device designation object is accepted in the second reception process, and the selected The output program indicated by the program designation object corresponding to the device designation object is activated using the shared function. The action identification information identifies the output action indicated by the action designation object corresponding to the selected device designation object. The device identification information identifies the output device indicated by the selected device designation object.

  According to the above configuration, the user can select an output device that is desired to execute an output operation from among a plurality of output devices that can communicate with the output program in the content specifying program. Further, by hierarchizing the program designation object, the action designation object, and the device designation object, the user operation for selecting the output program, the output action, and the output device can be simplified.

  (5) Preferably, in the startup process, the content specification program further specifies, as the instruction information, processing information for instructing a process to be executed first by the started output program, and In the activation process when selection of an action designation object is accepted in the second acceptance process, the process information that instructs to display a preview screen on the display unit is designated as the instruction information to the OS. The preview screen includes a preview image indicating an image obtained by outputting the content data identified by the content identification information in the output operation identified by the operation identification information, and the operation identification among a plurality of the output devices. And an object for receiving a user operation for designating the output device for executing the output operation identified by the information.

  According to the above configuration, the user can confirm the output result image before the output device outputs the content data. As a result, it becomes easier to obtain an output result desired by the user. In other words, processing re-execution due to the output result being different from the user's intention can be suppressed.

  (6) Preferably, the content specifying program omits display of the preview screen and outputs the output operation to the output device in the activation process when the selection of the device specified object is received in the second receiving process. The processing information for instructing to execute is designated to the OS as the instruction information.

  According to the above configuration, since the content designation program accepts all user operations, the user operations until content data is output can be simplified.

  (7) Preferably, the content designation program omits designation of the action identification information as the instruction information in the activation process when selection of the program designation object is accepted in the second acceptance process, and The processing information that instructs to display the operation selection screen on the display unit is designated as the instruction information to the OS. The action selection screen includes a first object for accepting a user operation for designating the output device, and a first object for accepting a user operation for designating the output action to be executed by the output device designated through the first object. 2 objects.

  According to the above configuration, the output operation for outputting the content data can be specified by the user in the output program.

  (8) As another example, the output program can communicate with a plurality of the output devices through the communication unit. The content specifying program causes the portable terminal to execute device information acquisition processing for acquiring device information from the output program through the OS for each of the plurality of output programs identified by the program identification information. The device information is information indicating the output operation that can be executed by the output device with which the output program can communicate. In the display control process, the content designation program includes the action designation object indicating the output action indicated by the action information on the selection screen for each output device.

  As described above, the objects may be hierarchized in the order of the output program, the output device that can communicate with the output program, and the output operation that can be executed by the output device.

  (9) Another portable content specification program according to the present specification can be read by a portable terminal including an operation unit, a storage unit, and a communication unit. The storage unit stores an output program that can be read by the portable terminal. The output program can cause the portable terminal to execute a process for causing an output device capable of communicating through the communication unit to execute a plurality of output operations for outputting content data. The content designation program read by the portable terminal causes the portable terminal to execute an operation information acquisition process for acquiring operation information from the output program. The operation information indicates the output operation that the output program can cause the output device to execute. The content designating program performs a first operation for accepting a user operation for designating the content data through the operation unit and a user operation for designating one of the output operations indicated by the operation information through the operation unit. The portable terminal is caused to execute a second receiving process for receiving and a starting process for starting the output program and transferring the data identification information and the operation identification information to the output program. The data identification information identifies the content data that has been designated in the first acceptance process. The operation identification information identifies the output operation that has received a designation in the second reception process.

  According to the above configuration, by accepting a user operation for designating content data and an output operation, it is possible to cause the output device to output the content data designated by the user through the output program in the output operation designated by the user. In addition, since it is not necessary for the content specification program to recognize in advance the output operation that can be executed by the output program, even if the output program supports a new output operation, for example, by version upgrade, the output operation can be performed in the content specification program. Can be selected.

  (10) The output program described in the present specification can be read by a portable terminal including a display unit, an operation unit, a storage unit, and a communication unit. The communication unit can communicate with an output device that executes at least one of a plurality of output operations for outputting content data. The storage unit stores an activation source program readable by the mobile terminal. The start source program starts processing the output program and notifies the output program of at least one of data identification information for identifying content data and operation identification information for identifying the output operation. Can be executed. The output program read by the portable terminal is configured to display an operation selection screen on the display unit in response to being activated by the OS of the portable terminal that has received a user operation instructing activation of the output program. One display process is executed by the portable terminal. The action selection screen includes an action designation object corresponding to the output action to be executed by the output device. The output program receives a user operation for selecting the object included in the action selection screen through the operation unit, and a selection of the action designation object is received in the first acceptance process. And causing the portable terminal to execute a second display process for displaying a data selection screen on the display unit. The data selection screen includes a data designation object corresponding to the content data. In response to receiving the user operation for selecting the object included in the data selection screen through the operation unit and the selection of the data designation object in the second reception process. Then, the portable terminal is caused to execute a third display process for displaying a preview screen on the display unit. The preview screen includes a preview image and an output instruction object. When the output program is started by the OS, the preview image is an image obtained by outputting the content data that has been designated in the second acceptance process in the output operation that has been designated in the first acceptance process. It is the image shown. The output instruction object is an object corresponding to an instruction for causing the output device to execute the output operation. The output program, in response to receiving a user operation for selecting the object included in the preview screen through the operation unit, and receiving the selection of the output instruction object in the third reception process, The portable terminal is caused to execute output instruction processing for transmitting output instruction information to the output device through the communication unit. The output instruction information when the output program is started by the OS is information that causes the content data that has been designated in the second acceptance process to be output in the output operation that has been designated in the first acceptance process. It is. The output program is activated by the activation source program, and the first display process and the first reception process are performed in response to both the data identification information and the operation identification information being notified from the activation source program. The second display process and the second reception process are omitted, and the portable terminal is caused to execute the third display process. The preview image when the output program is activated by the activation source program indicates an image obtained by outputting the content data indicated by the data identification information by the output operation identified by the operation identification information. The output instruction information when the output program is activated by the activation source program causes the output device to output the content data indicated by the data identification information in the output operation identified by the operation identification information. It shows that.

  According to the above configuration, for example, an output program started through a menu screen or the like provides a user interface for designating content data and an output operation. On the other hand, the output program activated by the activation source program that has received the specification of the content data and the output operation omits providing these user interfaces. That is, it is possible to appropriately provide a user interface necessary for causing the output device to output the content data depending on whether or not the program has been started by the boot source program.

  (11) Preferably, the communication unit can communicate with a plurality of the output devices. In the third display process when the output program is activated by the activation source program, the output program causes the display unit to display the preview screen further including a device designation object. The device designation object is the object corresponding to the process of designating the output device that executes the output operation. The output program transmits the output instruction information through the communication unit to the output device designated through the device designation object in the output instruction processing when activated by the activation source program.

  According to the above configuration, an output operation desired by the user can be executed.

  (12) Preferably, the activation source program can further notify the output program of device identification information for identifying the output device. The output program is activated by the activation source program, and in response to the data identification information, the operation identification information, and the device identification information being notified from the activation source program, the first display process, The first reception process, the second display process, the second reception process, the third display process, and the third reception process are omitted, and the output device identified by the device identification information is passed through the communication unit. The portable terminal is caused to execute the output instruction process for transmitting the output instruction information.

  According to the above configuration, since the activation source program accepts all user operations, it is possible to simplify the user operations until the content data is output.

  (13) Preferably, the output program is activated by the activation source program, and only the data identification information of the data identification information and the operation identification information is notified from the activation source program. The second display process and the second reception process are omitted in response to causing the portable terminal to execute the first display process and receiving the selection of the action designation object in the first reception process. The third display process is executed by the portable terminal.

  According to the above configuration, the user interface is provided for accepting the designation of the output operation that is not accepted by the activation source program, and the user interface is provided for accepting the specification of the content data that is accepted by the activation source program. Is omitted. Thereby, requesting the user for overlapping user operations is suppressed.

  (14) The mobile terminal described in the present specification includes an operation unit, a storage unit, a communication unit, and a control unit. The OS of the portable terminal provides a sharing function for starting the second program designated by the first program and delivering the instruction information designated by the first program to the second program. The communication unit can be electrically connected to an output device that executes at least one of a plurality of output operations for outputting content data. The storage unit stores a content designation program and an output program. The control unit that executes the content specifying program executes a first operation for receiving the user operation for specifying the content data through the operation unit and the output device among the plurality of output operations through the output program. A second reception process for accepting a user operation for designating the output operation through the operation unit, data identification information and operation identification information as the instruction information for the OS, and using the sharing function A starting process for starting the output program is executed. The data identification information identifies the content data that has been designated in the first acceptance process, and the operation identification information identifies the output operation that has been designated in the second acceptance process. The control unit that executes the output program started by the content specifying program executes output instruction processing for transmitting output instruction information to the output device through the communication unit. The output instruction information is information for outputting the content data identified by the data identification information in the output operation identified by the operation identification information.

  According to the present invention, by accepting a user operation for designating content data and an output operation, it is possible to cause the output device to output content data designated by the user through an output program in an output operation designated by the user.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording system 100 according to the embodiment. 2A is a block diagram of the multifunction device 10, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram of the portable terminal 50. FIG. 3 shows an example of information stored in the data storage area 62B, where (A) shows an operation information record and (B) shows a device information record. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the content output process. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of device selection processing. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the content specifying process. 7A and 7B are display examples of the display unit 53, where FIG. 7A shows a menu screen, and FIG. 7B shows a main screen in which the multifunction device 10A is designated as a designated device. 8A and 8B show display examples of the display unit 53, where FIG. 8A shows a device selection screen and FIG. 8B shows a main screen in which the multifunction machine 10B is designated as a designated device. FIG. 9 is a display example of the display unit 53, where (A) shows a data selection screen and (B) shows a preview screen. FIG. 10 is a display example of the display unit 53, where (A) shows a map designation screen and (B) shows an example of a selection screen. 11A and 11B show display examples of a preview screen. FIG. 11A shows a preview screen when the multifunction device 10A is designated as the designated device, and FIG. 11B shows a preview when the multifunction device 10B is designated as the designated device. Show the screen. 12A and 12B show display examples of the display unit 53. FIG. 12A shows a preview screen when the FAX switching icon 128 of FIG. 11A is selected, and FIG. 12B shows another example of the selection screen. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a sharing function realized by the sharing API.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment of the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a recording system 100 in the present embodiment. A recording system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes multifunction devices 10A and 10B (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as “multifunction device 10”) and a portable terminal 50. The multifunction device 10 and the portable terminal 50 are electrically connected. The multi-function device 10 and the portable terminal 50 may be connected through a communication network 101 such as a wired LAN (Local Area Network) or a wireless LAN, or are connected by a USB (abbreviation of Universal Serial Bus) cable or the like. It may be. The state in which a plurality of devices can communicate is an example of a state in which the plurality of devices are “electrically connected”.

[Multifunction machine 10]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the multifunction machine 10 includes a printer unit 11, a scanner unit 12, a FAX unit 13, a display unit 23, an operation unit 24, a communication unit 25, and a mounting unit 26. CPU 31, storage unit 32, and communication bus 33 are mainly provided. Each component constituting the multi-function device 10 is connected to each other through a communication bus 33. The multifunction machine 10 is an example of an output device.

[Printer unit 11, scanner unit 12, FAX unit 13]
The printer unit 11 executes a print operation for recording an image indicated by the image data on a recording sheet. The recording paper is an example of a sheet or a recording medium. As a recording method of the printer unit 11, a known method such as an ink jet method or an electrophotographic method can be adopted. The scanner unit 12 performs a scanning operation for reading an image recorded on a document and generating image data. The FAX unit 13 performs a FAX transmission operation and a FAX reception operation for transmitting and receiving image data by a method compliant with the FAX protocol.

  The print operation and the FAX transmission operation among the plurality of operations described above are examples of an output operation for outputting content indicated by content data. The operations executed by the multifunction machine 10 are not limited to these. As an example of the output operation, the multi-function device 10 may execute a media storage operation for storing content data acquired from the portable terminal 50 in a portable storage medium attached to the attachment unit 26. As another example of the output operation, the multi-function device 10 may cause the display unit 23 to display an image indicated by the image data acquired from the mobile terminal 50.

  Operations that can be executed by the multifunction peripherals 10A and 10B may be different. In the present embodiment, the multi-function device 10A can execute a print operation and a FAX transmission operation, and the multi-function device 10B can execute a print operation and a media storage operation. Further, the output device is not limited to one that can execute a plurality of operations, and may be capable of executing only a single operation. In the MIB (abbreviation of Management Information Base) of the multifunction device 10, for example, a device ID for identifying the multifunction device 10 and operation information indicating an operation that can be executed by the multifunction device 10 may be defined. The operation information may include, for example, an operation ID that identifies an executable operation. The action ID is an example of action identification information.

[Display unit 23]
The display unit 23 includes a display screen that displays various types of information. As the display unit 23, a liquid crystal display (abbreviation of Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL display (abbreviation of Organic Electro-Luminescence Display), or the like can be adopted.

[Operation unit 24]
The operation unit 24 receives a user operation for selecting an object displayed on the display screen of the display unit 23. Specifically, the operation unit 24 has a button, and outputs various operation signals associated with the pressed button to the CPU 31. Further, the operation unit 24 may include a film-like touch sensor superimposed on the display screen of the display unit 23. That is, the display unit 23 may be configured as a touch panel display.

  The “object” refers to an image that can be selected by the user operating the operation unit 24. As an example, the object is a character string displayed on the display unit 23. One of the objects is highlighted when the direction key of the operation unit 24 is pressed, and the object is highlighted by pressing the enter button of the operation unit 24. A light-displayed object may be selected. As another example, an object when the operation unit 24 is a touch panel is an icon, a button, a link, or the like displayed on the display unit 23, and the object displayed at the touch position may be selected.

  The operation unit 24 realized as a touch panel receives a user operation for touching the display screen of the display unit 23. The operation unit 24 outputs position information indicating the position on the display screen touched by the user. The position information can be expressed, for example, as coordinates (x, y) on the xy plane with the upper left corner of the display screen as the origin, the right direction as the positive direction of the x axis, and the downward direction as the positive direction of the y axis. For the touch sensor, a known method such as a capacitance method or a resistance film method can be adopted.

  Note that “touch” in this specification includes all operations for bringing an input medium into contact with a display screen. That is, a tap operation to move the touched input medium away from the display screen within a predetermined time, a long touch operation to make the touched input medium stand still on the display screen, a slide operation to slide the touched input medium on the display screen, a display screen Flick operation where the acceleration of the input medium sliding above the threshold is more than a threshold, pinch-in operation to slide two input media touched at different positions on the display screen toward each other, two touched at different positions on the display screen A pinch-out operation or the like that slides the input medium away from each other is an example of a touch.

  In addition, even if the input medium is not touching the display screen, the concept of “touch” may include bringing the input medium close to a position where the distance from the display screen is very small. Furthermore, the input medium may be a user's finger or a touch pen. Hereinafter, the tap of the position of the icon displayed on the display unit 53 will be described as an example of a user operation for selecting the icon.

[Communication unit 25]
The communication unit 25 is an interface for communicating with an external device through the communication network 101. That is, the multifunction machine 10 outputs various information to the mobile terminal 50 through the communication unit 25 and receives various data or various information from the mobile terminal 50 through the communication unit 25. Although the specific communication procedure of the communication part 25 is not specifically limited, For example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance) is employable. Note that the multifunction machine 10 may have a mounting interface such as a USB cable instead of the communication unit 25.

[Mounting part 26]
The mounting unit 26 is an interface to / from which a portable storage medium is attached / detached. The CPU 31 can read data or information from the portable storage medium attached to the attachment unit 26 or write data or information to the portable storage medium attached to the attachment unit 26. Although the specific example of a portable storage medium is not specifically limited, For example, USB memory, SD card, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM etc. may be sufficient.

[CPU 31]
A CPU (abbreviation of Central Processing Unit) 31 controls the overall operation of the multifunction machine 10. The CPU 31 acquires and executes various programs, which will be described later, from the storage unit 32 based on various information output from the operation unit 24 and various information acquired from an external device through the communication unit 25. That is, the CPU 31 and the storage unit 32 constitute an example of a control unit.

[Storage unit 32]
The storage unit 32 includes a program storage area 32A and a data storage area 32B. In the program storage area 32A, an OS (abbreviation of Operating System) 34 and a control program 35 are stored. The control program 35 may be a single program or an aggregate of a plurality of programs. Data or information necessary for execution of the control program 35 is stored in the data storage area 32B.

  Note that “data” and “information” in this specification are common in that they are bits or bit strings that can be handled by a computer. “Data” refers to data that can be handled by the computer without taking into account the meaning of each bit. On the other hand, “information” refers to information that the operation of the computer branches depending on the semantic content indicated by each bit. Furthermore, the “instruction” is a control signal for prompting the destination apparatus to perform the next operation, and may include information or itself has a property as information. There is also.

  In addition, even if the format (for example, text format, binary format, flag format, etc.) is changed for each computer, “data” and “information” have the same data and information as long as they are recognized as the same meaning content. Are treated as For example, information indicating “two” is stored as text information “0x32” in ASCII code in one computer, and binary format information “10” in binary notation in another computer. May be.

  However, the distinction between the above “data” and “information” is not strict, and exceptional handling is allowed. For example, data may be temporarily treated as information, or information may be temporarily treated as data. Also, what is handled as data in a certain device may be handled as information in another device. Furthermore, information may be extracted from the data, or data may be extracted from the information.

  The storage unit 32 includes, for example, RAM (abbreviation of Random Access Memory), ROM (abbreviation of Read Only Memory), EEPROM (abbreviation of Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), HDD (abbreviation of Hard CPU) 31 (HDD). It is configured by a buffer or the like or a combination thereof.

  The storage unit 32 may be a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. Non-transitory media include recording media such as CD-ROM and DVD-ROM in addition to the above examples. A non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electrical signal that carries a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a computer-readable signal medium that is a kind of computer-readable medium, but a non-transitory computer-readable storage. Not included in the media.

  The program stored in the program storage area 32A is executed by the CPU 31. However, in this specification, the operation of each program may be described with the CPU 31 omitted. That is, in the following description, the description that “the program A executes the process A” may indicate that “the CPU 31 executes the process A described in the program A”. The same applies to the portable terminal 50 described later.

  Further, the program stored in the program storage area 32A determines an event and operates according to the determination result. However, in this specification, the operation of each program may be described by omitting the determination. That is, in the following description, the description to the effect that “the control program executes process A according to condition A” is “whether or not the control program is condition A. The control program makes an affirmative determination. In response to this, the processing A may be executed.

  The program stored in the program storage area 32A identifies, acquires, extracts, or selects data and the like. The program specifies data and the like, for example, specifies data that satisfies a condition from a plurality of data and stores the data itself or information for identifying the data in a predetermined storage area. Refers to processing. The information for identifying data or the like is, for example, identification information for identifying the data or the like, an index of an array in which the data or the like is stored, a pointer of a storage area in which the data or the like is stored, or the like. The same applies to the process in which the program acquires, extracts, or selects data.

  The OS 34 is an API (Application) for controlling the printer unit 11, the scanner unit 12, the FAX unit 13, the display unit 23, the operation unit 24, the communication unit 25, the mounting unit 26, and the like, which are hardware constituting the multifunction machine 10. This is a basic program that provides Programming Interface. That is, each of the above programs controls each hardware by calling an API provided by the OS 34. However, in this specification, the operation of each program may be described with the OS 34 omitted. That is, in the following description, the description “the program B controls the hardware C” may refer to “the program B controls the hardware C through the API of the OS 34”. The same applies to the portable terminal 50 described later.

[Portable terminal 50]
As shown in FIG. 2B, the mobile terminal 50 mainly includes a display unit 53, an operation unit 54, a communication unit 55, a CPU 61, a storage unit 62, and a communication bus 63. The display unit 53, the operation unit 54, the communication unit 55, the CPU 61, the storage unit 62, and the communication bus 63 included in the portable terminal 50 are the display unit 23, the operation unit 24, the communication unit 25, the CPU 31, Since it is common with the memory | storage part 32 and the communication bus 33, description for the second time is abbreviate | omitted. The CPU 61 and the storage unit 62 are an example of a control unit. The mobile terminal 50 is, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone, or a tablet terminal.

  The program storage area 62A of the storage unit 62 stores an OS 64, an output program 65, a map program 66, and a program A (not shown). Program A is another example of an output program. In the data storage area 62B of the storage unit 62, various types of information shown in FIG. 3 are stored. Furthermore, a content data folder in which content data is stored may be provided in the data storage area 62B. The content data may be, for example, image data, photo data, document data, spreadsheet data, presentation data, moving image data, music data, or the like.

  The display unit 53 of the portable terminal 50 is divided into a common display area 80 and a program display area 81 as shown in FIGS. Regardless of the display contents of the program display area 81, the OS 64 displays a status bar in the common display area 80. Various information is displayed on the status bar by the OS 64. The status bar includes, for example, a back icon 82 to be described later, a screen title displayed in the program display area 81, an icon indicating the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal 50, an icon indicating the communication state of the communication unit 55, and the mobile terminal 50. An icon or the like indicating a push notification received from an external service is displayed. In the program display area 81, a screen generated by a program executed in the foreground is displayed.

  Hereinafter, when it is described that “the program displays the screen on the display unit 53”, the program screen is displayed in the program display area 81 and the status bar is displayed in the common display area 80. The program screen is a screen displayed in the program display area 81 in accordance with a program instruction. However, the display unit 53 can be switched between a partial screen mode in which the display area is divided into a common display area 80 and a program display area 81 and a full screen mode in which the entire display area is the program display area 81. Also good.

  The OS 64 may be, for example, Android (registered trademark of Google Inc.) OS, iOS (registered trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc.), Windows Phone (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation) Operating System, or the like. The OS 64 can execute a plurality of programs installed in the portable terminal 50 in parallel. The plurality of programs are virtually executed in parallel by, for example, time division multiplexing. The OS 64 executes one of a plurality of programs executed in parallel in the foreground, and executes the other programs in the background.

  The foreground is a state in which, for example, a program screen resulting from the execution of the program is displayed in most of the display area of the display unit 53. The “most part of the display area” may refer to the program display area 81, for example. The background is a state in which, for example, a program screen resulting from execution of a program different from the program is displayed in a large part of the display area of the display unit 53. In other words, the portable terminal 50 can cause the display unit 53 to display only a program screen that depends on the execution of a program that is executed in the foreground among a plurality of programs that are executed in parallel.

  Further, the OS 64 provides a sharing function for starting the second program designated by the first program and passing the instruction information designated by the first program to the second program to the program installed in the portable terminal 50. For example, the first program can use a shared function by executing an API provided by the OS 64 (hereinafter referred to as “shared API”). More specifically, the first program executes the shared API with the program ID of the second program and the designation information as arguments. Details of the sharing function will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the sharing source application 41 executes the sharing API of the OS 64 for realizing the sharing function (S1). To execute the shared API, a URI (abbreviation of Uniform Resource Identifier), a type, and an action are obtained as arguments. The URI is information indicating the location of the shared data. The type is information indicating the data format of the shared data. The action is information indicating the type of processing (for example, browsing, editing, transmission, printing, etc.) for shared data to be executed by the sharing destination application. The URI, type, and action are examples of instruction information delivered from the sharing source application to the request destination application.

  On the other hand, the applications 42, 43, 44,... That are candidates for sharing destination applications declare in advance to the OS 64 the data format of the shared data that can be processed and the types of processing that can be executed. Therefore, the OS 64 identifies (S2) an application that can execute the process indicated by the action on the shared data in the data format indicated by the type from among the applications 42, 43, 44,. A list of applications is displayed on the display unit 53 (S3). Then, the OS 64 waits in a state in which a user operation for selecting one of the listed applications can be accepted through the operation unit 54 (S4).

  Next, in response to accepting a user operation for selecting one of the listed applications through the operation unit 54 (S4), the OS 64 starts the application with the URI, type, and action as arguments. (S5). In the following embodiment, the map program 66 corresponds to the application 41 in FIG. 13, the output program 65 corresponds to one of the applications 42 to 44 in FIG. 13, and the program A (not shown) is the applications 42 to 44 in FIG. Corresponds to the other one.

  Note that the processing in steps S2 to S5 may be executed by a sharing source application. In this case, in step S2, the sharing source application acquires, from the OS 64, information specifying an application that can execute the process indicated by the action on the shared data in the data format indicated by the type. In step S5, the sharing source application executes the sharing API of the OS 64 to start the application selected by the user operation.

  The output program 65 is a program that causes the multifunction peripheral 10 connected through the communication unit 55 to execute an operation on the content data. The output program 65 transmits, for example, recording instruction information for executing a printing operation, FAX instruction information for executing a FAX transmission operation, and the like to the multifunction machine 10 through the communication unit 55. The recording instruction information and FAX instruction information are examples of output instruction information. The output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display a preview screen before transmitting the output instruction information.

  The map program 66 is an example of a content designation program and an activation source program that allow a user to designate an arbitrary area of a map image and deliver image data indicating the map image of the designated area to the output program 65. The specific examples of the content specifying program and the activation source program are not limited to the map program 66, and are, for example, a paint program that edits an image according to a user operation and delivers image data indicating the edited image to the output program 65. Also good.

  More specifically, the map program 66 is an example of an activation source program that accepts a user operation that specifies at least one of an output program, content data, an output operation, and an output device. Hereinafter, the output program specified by the user is expressed as “specified program”, the content data specified by the user is expressed as “specified data”, the output operation specified by the user is expressed as “specified operation”, and specified by the user The output device is indicated as “designated device”. The activation source program designates designation data, designation operation, and designation information indicating the designation device to the OS 64, and activates the designation program using the sharing function.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the data storage area 62B stores a program ID and operation information associated with the program ID. Hereinafter, the record shown in FIG. 3A may be referred to as an “operation information record”. The program ID is an example of program identification information that identifies an output program. The output program 65 is identified by the program ID “001”, and the program A is identified by the program ID “002”. The operation information indicates an output operation that can be executed by the multifunction device 10 by the output program identified by the corresponding program ID. In the example of FIG. 3A, the output program 65 can cause the multifunction device 10 to execute a printing operation and a FAX transmission operation, and the program A can cause the multifunction device 10 to perform a printing operation.

  The operation information record may be a so-called manifest file managed by Android OS, for example. The operation information in this case may be an action defined in the manifest file. For example, the print operation may be indicated by “SEND” and the FAX transmission operation may be indicated by “VIEW”. 3A illustrates only the operation information records of the output program 65 and the program A, but the operation information records of other programs (for example, the map program 66) installed in the portable terminal 50 are further registered. It may be.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the data storage area 62B can store a device ID, device information associated with the device ID, and a default flag. Hereinafter, the record shown in FIG. 3B may be referred to as a “device information record”. The data storage area 62B can store one or a plurality of device information records. The device information record is not registered when the output program 65 is installed, and is registered in a device selection process described later. Also, the device information record shown in FIG. 3B is information managed by the output program 65 and may not be directly referred to by other programs. Further, a device information record managed by the program A may be registered in the data storage area 62B.

  The device ID is an example of device identification information for identifying the multifunction peripherals 10A and 10B. In the present embodiment, the device ID of the multifunction device 10A is “MFP-A”, and the device ID of the multifunction device 10B is “MFP-B”. The device information is information indicating an output operation that can be executed by the multifunction device 10 identified by the corresponding device ID, and is acquired from the multifunction device 10 identified by the corresponding device ID. In the example of FIG. 3B, “print” indicates a print operation, “FAX transmission” indicates a FAX transmission operation, and “media storage” indicates a media storage operation. That is, the MFP 10A in the example of FIG. 3B can execute a print operation and a FAX transmission operation. In addition, the multi-function device 10B in the example of FIG. 3B can execute a print operation and a media storage operation.

  The default flag is information indicating a device information record that is used preferentially among a plurality of device information records. In the default flag, either “ON” indicating that it is used preferentially or “OFF” indicating that it is not used preferentially is set. That is, in the default flag, “ON” is set in one of the plurality of device information records, and “OFF” is set in the other device information records. Hereinafter, a device information record in which “ON” is set in the default flag is referred to as a “default device information record”.

[Operation of Recording System 100]
The operation of the recording system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The recording system 100 executes a process for causing the multi-function device 10 to perform an output operation on content data designated by the portable terminal 50 based on a user operation.

  First, the OS 64 of the portable terminal 50 displays a menu screen on the display unit 53 and displays a status bar in the common display area 80. FIG. 7A shows an example of a menu screen. The menu screen shown in FIG. 7A includes a plurality of program icons 111, 112, 113, 114, 115. The program icons 111 to 115 correspond to programs installed on the mobile terminal 50. For example, the program icon 111 corresponds to the program A, the program icon 114 corresponds to the output program 65, and the program icon 115 corresponds to the map program 66.

  Then, the OS 64 receives selection of the program icons 111 to 115 through the operation unit 54. The OS 64 activates the output program 65 in response to accepting the selection of the program icon 114 through the operation unit 54, and executes the output program 65 in the foreground. Selection of the program icon 114 is an example of a user operation that instructs activation of the output program 65.

[Content output processing]
The output program 65 of the portable terminal 50 executes standard activation processing in response to being activated by the OS 64 that has received selection of the program icon 114. The output program 65 accepts specified data, a specified operation, and a user operation for specifying a specified device in the content output process. Then, the output program 65 causes the designation device to execute a designation operation on the designation data. Details of the content output process will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the output program 65 displays the main screen on the display unit 53 (S11). FIG. 7B is an example of a main screen. The main screen shown in FIG. 7B includes a plurality of operation icons 116 and 117 and a device icon 119. Then, the output program 65 accepts selection of various icons included in the main screen through the operation unit 54 (S12). The process of step S11 is an example of a first display process, the process of step S12 is an example of a first reception process, and the main screen is an example of an operation selection screen.

  The action icons 116 and 117 are examples of action designation objects corresponding to output actions that can be executed by the designated device. The device icon 119 is an example of a device designation object corresponding to processing for designating a designated device. The device icon 119 describes a device ID for identifying the multifunction peripheral 10A that is currently designated as the designated device. In the main screen displayed when the output program 65 is activated, the device icon 119 indicates that the multifunction device 10A identified by the device ID “MFP-A” included in the default device information record is designated as the designated device. Indicates. The operation icons 116 and 117 correspond to “print” and “FAX transmission” indicated by the device information included in the default device information record. On the other hand, when the device information record is not registered, “unselected” or the like is displayed on the device icon 119, and the operation icon may be hidden.

  Next, the output program 65 executes device selection processing in response to the selection of the position of the device icon 119 received through the operation unit 54 (S12: device icon) (S13). The device selection process is a process for causing the user to select a designated device. Details of the device selection process will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the output program 65 searches for a multi-function device 10 that can execute a specified operation among a plurality of multi-function devices 10 that can communicate through the communication unit 55 (S31). The output program 65 transmits the device ID and the operation information transmission request stored in the MIB to the multi function device 10 through the communication unit 55 using, for example, SNMP (abbreviation of Simple Network Management Protocol). Next, the output program 65 receives the device ID and the operation information returned from the multifunction machine 10 through the communication unit 55. Next, the output program 65 compares the operation ID of the designated operation with the operation ID included in the operation information received from the multifunction device 10. Then, the output program 65 identifies the MFP 10 whose operation information includes the operation ID of the designated operation as the target MFP. Note that since the designation operation has not yet been designated at the stage of device selection processing in step S13, the output program 65 identifies all the multifunction peripherals 10A and 10B that can communicate through the communication unit 55 as target multifunction peripherals.

  Note that the operation information may be model information indicating a model of the multifunction machine 10. In this case, the output program 65 accesses the correspondence information indicating the correspondence relationship between the model information and the operation ID corresponding to the model information, and acquires the operation ID corresponding to the received model information. That is, the correspondence information is also information indicating an operation that can be executed by the multifunction peripheral 10 of the model indicated by the model information. Note that the correspondence information may be stored in the portable terminal 50 or may be stored in a cloud server (not shown).

  Next, the output program 65 displays a device selection screen on the display unit 53 (S32). FIG. 8A is an example of a device selection screen. The device selection screen shown in FIG. 8A includes device icons 121 and 122. The device icons 121 and 122 correspond to the multifunction peripherals 10A and 10B that are the target multifunction peripherals identified in step S31. The device icons 121 and 122 describe the device IDs of the corresponding multifunction peripherals 10A and 10B. Then, the output program 65 receives selection of an icon included in the device selection screen through the operation unit 54 (S33).

  Next, the output program 65 receives the device information of the multifunction machine 10 corresponding to the device icon 122, for example, in response to receiving selection of the device icon 122 through the operation unit 54 (S33: Yes) (S34). . The device information receiving method is the same as that in step S31. If the MIB of the multifunction machine 10 is referred to in step S31, the process in step S34 can be omitted.

  Next, the output program 65 includes a device ID “MFP-B” described in the selected device icon 122, device information of the multifunction peripheral 10B identified by the device ID, and a default flag “ON”. A device information record (hereinafter referred to as “new device information record”) is stored in the data storage area 62B (S35). In step S35, the output program 65 includes a device ID included in the new device information record among the device information records already stored in the data storage area 62B (hereinafter referred to as “old device information record”). It is determined whether or not an old apparatus information record including “MFP-B” exists.

  When the old operation record does not exist, the output program 65 adds the new device information record to the data storage area 62B. If the old device information record including the device ID “MFP-B” does not exist, the output program 65 sets “OFF” to the default flag of all the old device information records, and stores the new device information record in the data storage area. Add to 62B. Further, when there is an old device information record including the device ID “MFP-B”, the output program 65 sets “ON” in the default flag of the old device information record, and sets all the other old device information records. Set “OFF” to the default flag.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the output program 65 displays the main screen shown in FIG. 8B on the display unit 53 again (S <b> 11). In the main screen shown in FIG. 8B, the operation icon 117 is not included, and the device icon 120 indicating that the device ID “MFP-B” is designated as the designated device is replaced with the device icon 119. Are different from the main screen shown in FIG. 7B. Although the output program 65 supports the FAX transmission operation, the multifunction machine 10B identified by the device ID “MFP-B” cannot execute the FAX transmission operation. Therefore, the operation icon 117 is shown in FIG. Not included in the main screen. Further, although the MFP 10B can execute the media storage operation, the output program 65 does not support the media storage operation. Therefore, an operation icon corresponding to the media storage operation is displayed on the main screen shown in FIG. 8B. Do not show.

  Further, a back icon 82 is further displayed in the common display area 80 when the device selection screen is displayed in the program display area 81. The back icon 82 is an example of a back object corresponding to switching to the screen displayed immediately before on the display unit 53. The back icon 82 is not displayed when the main screen that is the initial screen of the menu screen and the output program 65 is displayed in the program display area 81, and is displayed when other screens are displayed in the program display area 81. The The back icon 82 may be displayed in the program display area 81 instead of the common display area 80. Further, the output program 65 may cause the back icon 82 to be displayed in the program display area 81.

  Then, the OS 64 outputs notification information indicating that the back icon 82 has been selected to the output program 65 in response to accepting selection of the back icon 82 displayed together with the device selection screen through the operation unit 54. In response to receiving the notification information output from the OS 64, the output program 65 skips steps S33 to S35 and causes the display unit 53 to display the main screen again. That is, the main screen displayed on the display unit 53 immediately before the device selection screen is displayed is displayed again. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the back icon 82 displayed together with the device selection screen shown in FIG. 8A is selected and the main screen shown in FIG. .

  Returning to FIG. 4 again, the output program 65 corresponds to the selected operation icon 116, 117 in response to the selection of one of the operation icons 116, 117 received through the operation unit 54 (S12: operation icon). The operation ID for identifying the operation and the device ID described in the device icon 119 are temporarily stored in the data storage area 62B. The temporarily stored operation ID is a designated operation ID for identifying the designated operation. The temporarily stored device ID is a designated device ID that identifies the designated device. In the present embodiment, the following description will be continued on the assumption that the operation ID of the printing operation is temporarily stored as the designated operation ID and the device ID “MFP-A” is temporarily stored as the designated device ID.

  Next, the output program 65 determines whether it has been activated by the sharing function (S14). Then, in response to determining that the output program 65 is not activated by the sharing function (S14: No), the output program 65 displays a data selection screen on the display unit 53 (S15). Further, the output program 65 receives selection of an icon included in the data selection screen through the operation unit 54 (S16). The process of step S15 is an example of a second display process, and the process of step S16 is an example of a second reception process. On the other hand, the output program 65 skips the processing of steps S15 and S16 in response to determining that it has been activated by the sharing function (S14: Yes). Details of the processing when activated by the sharing function will be described later.

  FIG. 9A is an example of a data selection screen. The data selection screen shown in FIG. 9A includes a plurality of data icons 123, 124, and 125. Data icons 123 to 125 are examples of data designation objects corresponding to content data that can be designated as designated data. In the data icons 123 to 125, the data ID (for example, file name) of the corresponding content data is described. The content data corresponding to the data icons 123 to 125 may be stored in a content data folder, or may be stored in a server (not shown) that can communicate through the communication unit 55.

  Next, when the output program 65 receives one selection of the data icons 123 to 125 through the operation unit 54 (S16: Yes), the content data corresponding to the selected data icon is designated as specified data. Temporarily stored in the storage area 62B. Alternatively, the output program 65 may temporarily store in the data storage area 62B information specifying the specified data (hereinafter referred to as “specified data ID”) instead of the specified data itself. The specified data ID may be, for example, information indicating the storage location of the specified data or a URL indicating the specified data. In the present embodiment, the following description is continued assuming that the data icon 123 is selected. On the other hand, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the main screen again in response to receiving notification information indicating that the back icon 82 displayed together with the data selection screen has been selected from the OS 64.

  Next, the output program 65 displays a preview screen on the display unit 53 in response to accepting selection of the data icon 123 through the operation unit 54 (S16: Yes) (S17). Further, the output program 65 receives selection of an icon included in the preview screen through the operation unit 54 (S18). The process of step S17 is an example of a third display process, and the process of step S18 is an example of a third reception process.

  FIG. 9B is an example of a preview screen. The preview screen shown in FIG. 9B includes a preview image 126, a print instruction icon 127, and a fax switching icon 128. On the other hand, the preview screen shown in FIG. 9B does not include a device designation icon described later. The preview image 126 is an image showing an image obtained by outputting the designation data designated in step S16 by the designation operation designated in step S12. That is, the preview image 126 indicates an image in which an image indicated by image data identified by the file name “Photo.JPEG” is recorded on a recording sheet.

  The print instruction icon 127 is an example of an output instruction object corresponding to an instruction for causing the designated device to execute a printing operation on designated data. The fax switching icon 128 is an example of an operation designation object corresponding to an instruction to switch the designated operation from a print operation to a fax transmission operation. That is, the preview screen includes an output instruction object corresponding to the designated operation among the plurality of operations indicated by the device information of the default device information record, and an operation designation object corresponding to an operation different from the designated operation. On the other hand, the preview screen in the case of one operation indicated by the device information included in the default device information record does not include an operation designation object.

  Next, in response to the selection of the print instruction icon 127 being accepted through the operation unit 54 (S18: output icon), the output program 65 transmits the print instruction information to the MFP 10A through the communication unit 55 (S19). The print instruction information is an example of output instruction information for causing the designated device to execute a printing operation for the designated data. The print instruction information of the present embodiment includes image data identified by the file name “Photo.JPEG” and a designated operation ID for identifying the output operation “print”. Then, the output program 65 transmits the print instruction information to the multifunction peripheral 10 </ b> A that is the designated device through the communication unit 55. The process of step S19 is an example of an output instruction process. Note that the print instruction information may include a designated data ID such as a URL instead of the designated data itself.

  On the other hand, although not shown, the control program 35 of the multifunction peripheral 10 </ b> A receives print instruction information from the portable terminal 50 through the communication unit 25. Then, the control program 35 causes the printer unit 11 to execute a printing operation according to the received print instruction information. That is, the printer unit 11 records the image indicated by the content data “Photo.JPEG” included in the print instruction information on a recording sheet.

  Returning to FIG. 4 again, the output program 65 receives the selection of the FAX switching icon 128 included in the preview screen shown in FIG. 9B through the operation unit 54 (S18: switching icon), and the data The designated operation ID temporarily stored in the storage area 62B is switched from the operation ID of the printing operation to the operation ID of the FAX transmission operation. In addition, the output program 65 displays the preview screen on the display unit 53 again (S17). Details of this processing will be described later. Further, the output program 65 receives the notification information indicating that the back icon 82 displayed together with the preview screen displayed in step S17 has been selected from the OS 64, and the data shown in FIG. The selection screen is displayed on the display unit 53 again.

[Content specification processing]
On the other hand, the OS 64 activates the map program 66 in response to accepting selection of the program icon 115 included in the menu screen through the operation unit 54. The map program 66 of the portable terminal 50 executes content output processing in response to being activated by the OS 64 that has received selection of the program icon 115. The content output process is a process for causing a designated device to execute a designated operation for designated data through a designated program. Details of the content output process will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the map program 66 acquires map image data (S41). For example, the map program 66 acquires map image data including the current position of the mobile terminal 50 acquired from GPS (abbreviation of Global Positioning System) from a server (not shown) through the communication unit 55. Specifically, the map program 66 requests the map image data from the server through the communication unit 55, and receives the map image data returned from the server through the communication unit 55.

  Next, the map program 66 displays a map designation screen on the display unit 53 (S42). FIG. 10A is an example of a map designation screen. The map designation screen shown in FIG. 10A includes a map display area 129 and a [Share] icon. In the map display area 129, the map image 130 indicated by the map image data acquired in step S41 is displayed. Then, the map program 66 receives a user operation for the map display area 129 and the [Share] icon through the operation unit 54 (S43).

  The map program 66 changes the map image 130 to be displayed in the map display area 129 in response to accepting a user operation at the position of the map display area 129 through the operation unit 54 (S43: map display area). The map program 66 acquires map image data indicating the map image 130 after the change from the server. For example, the map image 130 displayed in the map display area 129 is slid following the slide operation, is reduced following the pinch-in operation, and is enlarged following the pinch-out operation.

  The map program 66 also displays map image data indicating the map image 130 displayed in the map display area 129 in response to accepting selection of the [Share] icon through the operation unit 54 (S43: [Share] icon). Is stored in the data storage area 62B as designated data (S44). The process of steps S41 to S44 is an example of a first reception process.

  Next, the map program 66 acquires the program ID of the output program installed in the portable terminal 50 (S45). For example, the map program 66 may acquire the program ID included in the operation information record shown in FIG. Alternatively, if the operation information record of a program other than the output program is also included in FIG. 3A, the map program 66 may acquire a program ID associated with the operation information including the output operation. More specifically, the map program 66 may receive the program ID shown in FIG. 3A from the OS 64 as a return value of the API by executing an API for acquiring the program ID. In the present embodiment, the program ID “001” of the output program 65 and the program ID “002” of the program A are acquired. The process of step S45 is an example of a program information acquisition process.

  Next, the map program 66 acquires operation information (S46) and device information (S47) from each program identified by the program ID acquired in step S45 (S48). That is, the map program 66 acquires operation information associated with the program ID from the operation information record shown in FIG. 3A through the OS 64 (S46). Further, the map program 66 acquires device information managed by each output program from the device information record shown in FIG. 3B through the OS 64 (S47). More specifically, the map program 66 may acquire operation information and device information from the OS 64 or the output program by executing an API provided by the OS 64. The process of step S46 is an example of the operation information acquisition process, and the process of step S47 is an example of the apparatus information acquisition process.

  In step S46, the map program 66 according to the present embodiment acquires operation information “print” and “FAX transmission” associated with the output program 65 and operation information “print” associated with the program A. Further, in step S47, the map program 66 displays the device information “print” and “FAX transmission” associated with the device ID “MFP-A” and the device information “associated with the device ID“ MFP-B ”. “Print” and “Media storage” are acquired as device information associated with the output program 65. On the other hand, the map program 66 cannot acquire device information associated with the program A in step S47.

  Next, the map program 66 displays the selection screen on the display unit 53 (S49). FIG. 10B is an example of the selection screen. The selection screen illustrated in FIG. 10B includes program icons 131 and 132 that are examples of program designation objects, action icons 133, 134, and 135 that are examples of action designation objects, and devices that are examples of apparatus designation objects. Icons 136, 137, and 138. And the map program 66 receives selection of the icon contained in a selection screen through the operation part 54 (S50). The process of step S49 is an example of a display control process, and the process of step S50 is an example of a second reception process.

  The program icon 131 indicates the output program 65 identified by the program ID “001”. The program icon 132 indicates the program A identified by the program ID “002”. The operation icon 133 indicates operation information “print” associated with the output program 65. The operation icon 134 indicates operation information “FAX transmission” associated with the output program 65. The operation icon 135 indicates operation information “print” associated with the program A. The device icon 136 indicates the multifunction peripheral 10A that allows the output program 65 to execute a printing operation. The device icon 137 indicates the multifunction machine 10B that allows the output program 65 to execute a printing operation. The device icon 138 indicates the multifunction peripheral 10A that allows the output program 65 to execute a FAX transmission operation.

  Here, the program icon 131, the operation icons 133 and 134, and the device icons 136 to 138 are associated with each other. That is, the operation icons 133 and 134 are associated with the program icon 131. The device icons 136 and 137 are associated with the operation icon 133, and the device icon 138 is associated with the operation icon 134. Similarly, the operation icon 135 is associated with the program icon 132. These relationships can also be expressed as each icon being hierarchized or grouped.

  That is, the operation icons 133 and 134 indicate output operations that the output program 65 indicated by the program icon 131 can cause the output device to execute. Similarly, the operation icon 135 indicates an output operation that the program A indicated by the program icon 132 can cause the output device to execute. The device icons 136 and 137 indicate the multifunction peripherals 10A and 10B that can communicate with the output program 65 indicated by the program icon 131 and can execute the print operation indicated by the operation icon 133. Similarly, the device icon 138 indicates the multi-function device 10 </ b> A that can communicate with the output program 65 indicated by the program icon 131 and can execute the FAX transmission operation indicated by the operation icon 134.

  Then, in response to accepting selection of the program icon 131 through the operation unit 54 (S50: program icon), the map program 66 uses the data ID of the map image data temporarily stored in step S44 as designation information to the OS 64. The output program 65 indicated by the program icon 131 is activated using the sharing function (S51). Specifically, the map program 66 executes the shared API using the program ID of the output program 65 and the designation information as arguments. Steps S51 and steps S52 and S53 described later are examples of activation processing. When the program icon 132 is selected, the program A is activated using the shared function instead of the output program 65.

  Further, in response to the selection of the operation icon 133 received through the operation unit 54 (S50: operation icon), the map program 66 sends the data ID and the operation ID of the print operation indicated by the operation icon 133 to the OS 64 as designation information. The output program 65 indicated by the program icon 131 corresponding to the operation icon 133 is activated using the shared function (S52). When the operation icon 134 is selected, the operation ID of the FAX transmission operation is included in the designation information instead of the operation ID of the printing operation. When the operation icon 135 is selected, the program A is activated using the shared function instead of the output program 65.

  Furthermore, the map program 66 receives the selection of the device icon 136 through the operation unit 54 (S50: device icon), and the operation ID of the print operation indicated by the data ID and the operation icon 133 corresponding to the device icon 136. , And the device ID “MFP-A” of the MFP 10A indicated by the device icon 136 is specified to the OS 64 as the specification information, and the output program 65 indicated by the program icon 131 corresponding to the device icon 136 is shared. (S53). When device icon 137 is selected, device ID “MFP-B” is included in the designation information instead of device ID “MFP-A”. When the device icon 138 is selected, the operation ID of the FAX transmission operation is included instead of the operation ID of the printing operation.

  In response to the execution of the shared API, the OS 64 terminates or executes the map program 66 that has been executed in the foreground, starts the output program 65, and executes it in the foreground. The output program 65 obtains designation information from the map program 66 through the OS 64 in response to being activated by the map program 66 using the sharing function, and (A), (B), or ( The content output process is executed from the position C). In the following, among the processes shown in FIG. 4, the details of the processes already described are omitted, and the processes that are specific to the case where the processes are started by the sharing function are mainly described.

  First, the output program 65 acquires the designation information output by the program that started the output program 65 (S31: Yes). Specifically, the output program 65 receives the designation information output by the OS 64 as a return value by executing an API that requests the OS 64 for the designation information. Then, the output program 65 determines whether or not each of the data ID, operation ID, and device ID is included in the acquired designation information.

  First, when activated by the map program 66 that accepts the selection of the program icon 131, the output program 65 determines that the designation information includes the data ID and does not include the operation ID and the device ID. Then, the output program 65 temporarily stores the data ID included in the designation information in the data storage area 62B as the designation data ID. The output program 65 executes content output processing from the position shown in FIG. That is, the output program 65 displays the main screen on the display unit 53 (S11).

  The output program 65 omits the processes of steps S15 and S16 and performs the process of step S17 in response to receiving one selection of the operation icons 116 and 117 through the operation unit 54 (S12: operation icon). Execute (S34: Yes). That is, the output program 65 skips the processes of steps S35 and S36, and executes the processes after step S17 using the specified data indicated by the specified data ID.

  When the output program 65 is activated by the map program 66 that accepts selection of one of the operation icons 133 and 134, the output program 65 determines that the designation information includes a data ID and an operation ID and does not include a device ID. Then, the output program 65 temporarily stores the data ID included in the designation information as the designation data ID and the operation ID contained in the designation information as the designation operation ID in the data storage area 62B. The output program 65 executes content output processing from the position shown in FIG. That is, the output program 65 skips the processes of steps S11 to S16 and displays the preview screen on the display unit 53 (S17).

  Note that the designation information when the operation icon 133 is selected includes an operation ID for identifying the print operation. In this case, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the preview screen shown in FIG. On the other hand, the designation information when the operation icon 134 is selected includes an operation ID for identifying a FAX transmission operation. In this case, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the preview screen shown in FIG.

  The preview screen shown in FIG. 11A includes a preview image 139, a device icon 119, a print instruction icon 127, and a FAX switching icon 128. The preview image 139 indicates an image obtained by outputting the map image 130 indicated by the map image data that is the designated data by the print operation that is the designated operation. The device icon 119 indicates that the multifunction device 10A identified by the device ID “MFP-A” included in the default device information record shown in FIG. 3B is designated as the designated device.

  Next, the output program 65 executes the device selection process shown in FIG. 5 (S20) in response to receiving selection of the device icon 119 through the operation unit 54 (S18: device icon). In step S31, the output program 65 identifies the multi-function peripheral 10 that can execute the print operation as the designated operation among the plurality of multi-function peripherals 10 that can communicate through the communication unit 55. Since other processes have already been described, the description thereof will be omitted.

  Then, the output program 65, for example, on the device selection screen shown in FIG. 8A, the designated device ID temporarily stored in the data storage area 62B in response to accepting the selection of the device icon 122 through the operation unit 54. Is switched from the device ID “MFP-A” of the multifunction device 10A to the device ID “MFP-B” of the multifunction device 10B. Further, the output program 65 executes again the third display process for displaying the preview screen shown in FIG. 11B on the display unit 53 (S17).

  The preview screen shown in FIG. 11B is different from the preview screen shown in FIG. 11A in that the device icon 120 is included instead of the device icon 119 and the FAX switching icon 128 is not included. That is, the FAX switching icon 128 is hidden in response to the designation of the multifunction device 10B that cannot execute the FAX transmission operation as the designated device. The non-display of the FAX switching icon 128 is an example that the icon cannot be selected.

  Further, in response to the selection of the FAX switching icon 128 being accepted through the operation unit 54 (S18: switching icon), the output program 65 uses the designated operation ID temporarily stored in the data storage area 62B as the operation ID of the printing operation. To the operation ID of the FAX transmission operation. Further, the output program 65 executes again the third display process for displaying the preview screen shown in FIG. 12A on the display unit 53 (S35). The preview screen shown in FIG. 12A includes a preview image 140, a FAX instruction icon 141, a print switching icon 142, and a grayed out device icon 119.

  The preview image 140 is an image showing an image recorded on a recording sheet in a device in which the map image 130 indicated by the map image data is transmitted by FAX and received by FAX. The preview image 140 is different from the preview image 139 in that it includes a FAX header, for example. The FAX header includes, for example, a name indicating a FAX transmission source and a FAX transmission time. The FAX instruction icon 141 is an example of an output instruction object corresponding to an instruction for causing a specified apparatus to execute a FAX transmission operation for specified data. The print switching icon 142 is an example of an operation designation object corresponding to an instruction to switch the designated operation from a FAX transmission operation to a print operation.

  Then, in response to accepting selection of the print switching icon 142 through the operation unit 54 (S18: switching icon), the output program 65 uses the designated operation ID temporarily stored in the data storage area 62B as the operation of the FAX transmission operation. Switch from ID to operation ID of print operation. Further, the output program 65 executes again the third display process for displaying the preview screen shown in FIG. 11A on the display unit 53 (S17). Further, in response to the selection of the FAX instruction icon 141 being accepted through the operation unit 54 (S18: output icon), the output program 65 transmits the FAX instruction information to the multifunction peripheral 10A that is the designated device through the communication unit 55 ( S19). The FAX instruction information is an example of output instruction information for causing a specified apparatus to execute a FAX transmission operation for specified data.

  The FAX instruction information of the present embodiment includes map image data that is specified data, an operation ID that identifies a FAX transmission operation that is a specified operation, destination information (for example, a telephone number) that identifies an external device that is a FAX transmission destination, and including. And although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the control program 35 receives FAX instruction information from the portable terminal 50 through the communication part 25. FIG. Then, the control program 35 causes the FAX unit 13 to execute a FAX transmission operation according to the received FAX instruction information. That is, the FAX unit 13 transmits the map image data, which is the content data included in the FAX instruction information, by FAX to the external device specified by the destination information.

  Further, the device icon 119 in the preview screen shown in FIG. 12A is grayed out because the device information record of the multifunction device 10 capable of executing the FAX transmission operation is not stored in the data storage area other than the multifunction device 10A. Has been. The output program 65 does not have to execute the device selection process even if a user operation for tapping the position of the grayed-out device icon 119 is received through the operation unit 54. Graying out the device icon 119 is an example that the icon cannot be selected.

  Further, the map program 66 is executed again in the foreground in response to selection of the back icon 82 displayed together with the preview screen shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 12A. The That is, the OS 64 executes the output program 65 that has been executed in the foreground in the background, and executes the map program 66 in the foreground. Then, the map program 66 executed in the foreground displays the map designation screen shown in FIG.

  Furthermore, when activated by the map program 66 that accepts one selection of the device icons 136, 137, and 138, the output program 65 determines that the designation information includes a data ID, an operation ID, and a device ID. Then, the output program 65 uses the data ID included in the specified information as the specified data ID, the operation ID included in the specified information as the specified operation ID, and the device ID included in the specified information as the specified device ID. Temporarily stored in the storage area 62B. The output program 65 executes content output processing from the position shown in FIG. That is, the output program 65 skips the processing of steps S11 to S18 and transmits output instruction information for executing the specified operation to the specified device through the communication unit 55 (S19).

  The designation information when the device icon 136 is selected includes an operation ID for identifying a printing operation and a device ID “MFP-A” for identifying the multifunction peripheral 10A. The designation information when the device icon 137 is selected includes an operation ID for identifying a printing operation and a device ID “MFP-B” for identifying the multifunction machine 10B. Furthermore, the designation information when the device icon 138 is selected includes an operation ID for identifying the FAX transmission operation and a device ID “MFP-A” for identifying the multifunction machine 10A.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
According to the above embodiment, by accepting at least one designation of the designation program, the designation data, the designation operation, and the designation device by the map program 66, the designation device is caused to execute the designation operation for the designation data through the designation program. be able to. In addition, by realizing the process of starting the output program 65 and transferring the designation information from the map program 66 to the output program 65 by the sharing function provided by the OS 64, these processes are implemented in the output program 65 and the map program 66. Compared with the case where it does, the output program 65 and the map program 66 can be simplified.

  However, the method in which the map program 66 activates the output program 65 and delivers the designation information is not limited to the use of the sharing function provided by the OS 64. For example, the map program 66 may operate as a so-called plug-in for the output program 65. For example, the output program 65 may activate the map program 66 as a plug-in and acquire the designation information from the map program 66 as a return value.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, since the operation information and device information of each output program are acquired in steps S46 and S47, the map program 66 needs to recognize the operation information and device information of each output program in advance. There is no. As a result, the user can select an output operation newly supported by the output program by version upgrade or the like, or an output device newly connected to the communication network 101. However, acquisition of one or both of the operation information and the device information may be omitted. In other words, the output program 66 may display an icon on the selection screen based on one of the acquired operation information and device information or information preset in the output program 66.

  In the selection screen in the above-described embodiment, the program icons 131 and 132, the operation icons 133, 134, and 135, and the device icons 136, 137, and 138 are displayed in a hierarchical manner. As a result, a plurality of pieces of information can be specified by tapping one icon, so that the user operation can be simplified. However, the display information of the program icon, the operation icon, and the device icon is not limited to the example of FIG. For example, as shown in the selection screen shown in FIG. 12B, the icons may be hierarchized in the order of the program icon 131, the device icons 136 and 137, and the operation icons 133A, 133B, and 134.

  Device icons 136 and 137 shown in FIG. 12B correspond to the multifunction peripherals 10A and 10B that can cause the output program 65 identified by the program icon 131 to execute the output operation. That is, the map program 66 designates designation information including the data ID and the device ID “MFP-A” to the OS 64 in response to the selection of the device icon 136, and outputs it using the sharing function. The program 65 is started. Further, the map program 66 designates designation information including the data ID and the device ID “MFP-B” to the OS 64 according to the selection of the device icon 137, and outputs it using the sharing function. The program 65 is started.

  In addition, operation icons 133A and 133B shown in FIG. 12B correspond to print operations that the output program 65 can cause the multifunction peripherals 10A and 10B to execute. That is, the map program 66 designates specification information including the data ID, the device ID “MFP-A”, and the operation ID for identifying the print operation to the OS 64 in response to the selection of the operation icon 133A. In addition, the output program 65 is activated using the sharing function. Further, in response to selection of the operation icon 133B, the map program 66 specifies designation information including the data ID, the device ID “MFP-B”, and the operation ID for identifying the print operation to the OS 64, In addition, the output program 65 is activated using the sharing function.

  Furthermore, the operation icon 134 shown in FIG. 12B corresponds to a FAX transmission operation that the output program 65 can cause the multifunction peripheral 10A to execute. That is, the map program 66 designates specification information including the data ID, the device ID “MFP-A”, and the operation ID for identifying the FAX transmission operation to the OS 64 in response to the operation icon 134 being selected. And the output program 65 is started using the sharing function.

  In addition, the output program 65 in the above embodiment accepts designation data, a designation operation, and designation of a designation device in response to being activated through the menu screen, and causes the designation device to execute a designation operation for the designation data. it can. On the other hand, the output program 65 starts content output processing from different positions (A), (B), and (C) according to the type of specified information acquired in response to being activated using the sharing function. To do. Thereby, since the map program 66 and the output program 65 do not require the user to perform an overlapping operation, the user operation can be simplified.

  Note that the output program 65 in the above embodiment determines the start position of the content output process in accordance with the type of specified information acquired. However, the determination method of the start position is not limited to this. For example, the map program 66 may further specify processing information for instructing processing to be executed first by the activated output program 65 to the OS 64 as instruction information in steps S51 to S53.

  As an example, the map program 66 may include a screen ID for specifying the main screen in the designation information in step S51. As another example, the map program 66 may include a screen ID for specifying the preview screen in the designation information in step S52. The screen ID is an example of processing information. As yet another example, the map program 66 may include, in the designation information, processing information indicating that the processing of steps S11 to S18 is omitted and the output instruction processing is executed in step S53.

  Moreover, in the portable terminal 50 of the above embodiment, an example in which each process executed by the control unit of the present invention is realized by the CPU 61 executing various programs stored in the program storage area 62A of the storage unit 62. Explained. However, the configuration of the control unit is not limited to this, and part or all of the configuration may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit (also referred to as an IC (Integrated Circuit)).

  Furthermore, the present invention may be realized not only as the mobile terminal 50 but also as a program that causes the mobile terminal 50 to execute processing. Then, the program may be provided by being recorded on a non-transitory recording medium. The non-transitory recording medium may include a storage unit mounted on a server that can be connected to the portable terminal 50 through the communication network 101 in addition to a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or the like. And the program memorize | stored in the memory | storage part of the server may be distributed through the communication networks 101, such as the internet, as the information or signal which shows the said program.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Multifunction machine 11 ... Printer part 12 ... Scanner part 25, 55 ... Communication part 31, 61 ... CPU
35 ... Control program 65 ... Output program 66 ... Map program 50 ... Portable terminal 53 ... Display unit 54 ... Operation unit 62 ... Storage unit

Claims (14)

A content designation program that can be read by a portable terminal including an operation unit, a storage unit, and a communication unit,
The OS of the portable terminal provides a sharing function for starting the second program designated by the first program and delivering the instruction information designated by the first program to the second program;
The storage unit stores an output program readable by the mobile terminal,
The output program can cause the portable terminal to execute a process for causing an output device capable of communicating through the communication unit to perform a plurality of output operations for outputting content data.
The content specifying program read by the mobile terminal is:
A first accepting process for accepting a user operation for designating the content data through the operation unit;
A second receiving process for receiving, through the operation unit, a user operation for designating the output operation to be executed by the output device through the output program among the plurality of output operations;
Data identification information and operation identification information are designated to the OS as the instruction information, and the portable terminal is caused to execute a startup process for starting the output program using the shared function. A content designation program for identifying the content data whose designation has been received in the first reception process, and wherein the operation identification information identifies the output operation whose designation has been received in the second reception process. The portable terminal includes a display unit,
The storage unit stores a plurality of the output programs,
The content specifying program is:
A program information acquisition process for acquiring, from the OS, a plurality of program identification information for identifying the output program stored in the storage unit;
The portable terminal is caused to execute a display control process for displaying a selection screen including a plurality of program designation objects and an action designation object, and the program designation object indicates the output program identified by the program identification information, An action designation object is associated with each of the plurality of program designation objects, and indicates the output action that can be executed by the output device by the output program indicated by the corresponding program designation object;
The content specifying program is:
In the second reception process, a user operation for selecting an object included in the selection screen is received,
In the activation process when the selection of the action designation object is accepted in the second acceptance process, the action identification information for identifying the output action indicated by the selected action designation object is used as the instruction information to the OS. The content specifying program according to claim 1, wherein the output program indicated by the program specifying object corresponding to the selected operation specifying object is activated using the shared function. The content specifying program causes the portable terminal to execute an operation information acquisition process for acquiring operation information from the output program through the OS for each of the plurality of output programs identified by the program identification information. , The output operation that the output program can cause the output device to execute,
The content designation program according to claim 2, wherein the content designation program includes the action designation object indicating the output action indicated by the action information in the selection screen in the display control process. The output program can communicate with a plurality of the output devices through the communication unit,
The content specifying program causes the portable terminal to execute device information acquisition processing for acquiring device information from the output program through the OS for each of the plurality of output programs identified by the program identification information. The information indicating the output device capable of executing the output operation indicated by the operation information among the output devices that can communicate with the output program,
In the display control process, the content designation program further includes a device designation object in a mode associated with the action designation object on the selection screen based on the device information, and the device designation object The output device indicated by the program designation object is communicable and indicates the output device capable of executing the output action indicated by the corresponding action designation object.
The content designation program further designates device identification information as the instruction information to the OS in the activation process when selection of the device designation object is accepted in the second reception process, and the selected The output program indicated by the program designation object corresponding to the device designation object is activated using the shared function, and the action identification information is indicated by the action designation object corresponding to the selected device designation object. The content specification program according to claim 3, wherein the output operation is identified, and the device identification information identifies the output device indicated by the selected device designation object. The content specifying program is:
In the startup process, further specifies, as the instruction information, processing information for instructing a process to be executed first by the started output program as the instruction information;
In the activation process when the selection of the action designation object is accepted in the second acceptance process, the process information for instructing to display a preview screen on the display unit is designated as the instruction information to the OS. ,
The preview screen
A preview image indicating an image obtained by outputting the content data identified by the content identification information in the output operation identified by the operation identification information;
The content designation program according to claim 4, further comprising: an object for receiving a user operation for designating the output device that executes the output operation identified by the operation identification information among the plurality of output devices.   The content designation program instructs the output device to execute the output operation while omitting the display of the preview screen in the activation process when the selection of the device designation object is accepted in the second acceptance process. The content specification program according to claim 5, wherein the processing information to be specified is specified to the OS as the instruction information. The content designation program omits designation of the action identification information as the instruction information in the activation process when the selection of the program designation object is accepted in the second acceptance process, and the action selection screen is displayed. Specifying the processing information to be displayed on the part as the instruction information to the OS,
The operation selection screen is
A first object for accepting a user operation for designating the output device;
The content specifying program according to claim 5, further comprising: a second object for receiving a user operation that specifies the output operation to be executed by the output device specified through the first object. The output program can communicate with a plurality of the output devices through the communication unit,
The content specifying program causes the portable terminal to execute device information acquisition processing for acquiring device information from the output program through the OS for each of the plurality of output programs identified by the program identification information. , Information indicating the output operation that can be executed by the output device that can communicate with the output program,
The content designation program according to claim 2, wherein the content designation program includes the operation designation object indicating the output operation indicated by the operation information in the selection screen for each output device in the display control process. A content designation program that can be read by a portable terminal including an operation unit, a storage unit, and a communication unit,
The storage unit stores an output program readable by the mobile terminal,
The output program can cause the portable terminal to execute a process for causing an output device capable of communicating through the communication unit to perform a plurality of output operations for outputting content data.
The content specifying program read by the portable terminal causes the portable terminal to execute operation information acquisition processing for acquiring operation information from the output program, and the output program causes the output device to execute the operation information. The output operation can be
The content specifying program is:
A first accepting process for accepting a user operation for designating the content data through the operation unit;
A second receiving process for receiving a user operation for designating one of the output operations indicated by the operation information through the operation unit;
The content data for which the portable terminal is executed to start the output program and transfer the data identification information and the operation identification information to the output program, and the data identification information is designated in the first reception process. And the operation identification information identifies the output operation that has been designated in the second acceptance process. An output program that can be read by a portable terminal including a display unit, an operation unit, a storage unit, and a communication unit,
The communication unit can communicate with an output device that executes at least one of a plurality of output operations for outputting content data.
The storage unit stores an activation source program readable by the mobile terminal,
The start source program starts processing the output program and notifies the output program of at least one of data identification information for identifying content data and operation identification information for identifying the output operation. Can be executed, and
The output program read by the portable terminal is configured to display an operation selection screen on the display unit in response to being activated by the OS of the portable terminal that has received a user operation instructing activation of the output program. 1 display process is executed by the portable terminal, and the action selection screen includes an action designation object corresponding to the output action to be executed by the output device;
The output program is
A first acceptance process for accepting a user operation for selecting the object included in the action selection screen through the operation unit;
In response to receiving the selection of the action designation object in the first reception process, the portable terminal is caused to execute a second display process for displaying a data selection screen on the display unit, and the data selection screen Contains a data specification object corresponding to the content data,
The output program is
A second receiving process for receiving a user operation for selecting the object included in the data selection screen through the operation unit;
In response to receiving the selection of the data designation object in the second receiving process, the portable terminal is caused to execute a third display process for displaying a preview screen on the display unit, and the preview screen includes a preview image, The preview image when the output program is activated by the OS includes the content data that has been designated in the second acceptance process, and the designation has been accepted in the first acceptance process. It is an image showing an image output by the output operation, the output instruction object is an object corresponding to an instruction to cause the output device to execute the output operation,
The output program is
A third receiving process for receiving a user operation for selecting the object included in the preview screen through the operation unit;
In response to receiving the selection of the output instruction object in the third reception process, the portable terminal executes an output instruction process for transmitting output instruction information to the output device through the communication unit. The output instruction information when activated by the OS is information that causes the content data that has been designated in the second acceptance process to be output in the output operation that has been designated in the first acceptance process.
The output program is activated by the activation source program, and the first display process and the first reception process are performed in response to both the data identification information and the operation identification information being notified from the activation source program. , Omitting the second display process and the second reception process, causing the portable terminal to execute the third display process,
The preview image when the output program is activated by the activation source program indicates an image obtained by outputting the content data indicated by the data identification information by the output operation identified by the operation identification information,
The output instruction information when the output program is activated by the activation source program causes the output device to output the content data indicated by the data identification information in the output operation identified by the operation identification information. An output program that indicates that The communication unit can communicate with a plurality of the output devices,
The output program causes the display unit to display the preview screen further including a device designation object in the third display process when activated by the activation source program, and the device designation object executes the output operation The object that accepts a user operation corresponding to the process of designating the output device to be
11. The output program transmits the output instruction information to the output device designated through the device designation object in the output instruction processing when activated by the activation source program through the communication unit. Output program. The activation source program can further notify the output program of device identification information for identifying the output device,
The output program is activated by the activation source program, and in response to the data identification information, the operation identification information, and the device identification information being notified from the activation source program, the first display process, The first reception process, the second display process, the second reception process, the third display process, and the third reception process are omitted, and the output device identified by the device identification information is passed through the communication unit. The output program according to claim 10 or 11, which causes the portable terminal to execute the output instruction process for transmitting the output instruction information.   The output program is activated by the activation source program, and the first display processing is performed in response to only the data identification information of the data identification information and the operation identification information being notified from the activation source program. Is executed by the portable terminal and the selection of the action designation object is received in the first reception process, the second display process and the second reception process are omitted, and the third display process is performed. The output program according to any one of claims 10 to 12, which is executed by the portable terminal. An operation unit;
A storage unit;
A communication department;
A portable terminal comprising a control unit,
The OS of the portable terminal provides a sharing function for starting the second program designated by the first program and delivering the instruction information designated by the first program to the second program;
The communication unit can be electrically connected to an output device that executes at least one of a plurality of output operations for outputting content data,
The storage unit stores a content designation program and an output program,
The control unit that executes the content specifying program includes:
A first accepting process for accepting a user operation for designating the content data through the operation unit;
A second receiving process for receiving, through the operation unit, a user operation for designating the output operation to be executed by the output device through the output program among the plurality of output operations;
Data identification information and operation identification information are specified to the OS as the instruction information, and a startup process for starting the output program using the shared function is executed, and the data identification information is the first information The content data that has been designated in the reception process is identified, and the operation identification information identifies the output operation that has been designated in the second reception process,
The control unit that executes the output program started by the content specifying program executes output instruction processing for transmitting output instruction information to the output device through the communication unit, and the output instruction information includes the data identification information A portable terminal, which is information for outputting the content data identified by the output operation identified by the operation identification information.

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