JP2018092454A - Information processing apparatus, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize smooth processing of an original application after completing the processing of another application, in the case of activating another application while the original application is in operation and causing another application to operate.SOLUTION: First, a Write-app activate request is received from a Read-app, and the activate request is associated with request ID of the Read-app. Then, the Write-app is started, and the Write-app captures an image. An image ID list including ID of the captured image and information about a storage destination is created, and a Read-app call request and a request ID are notified. The Read-app identifies a processing result of its own request by accepting the request ID as a response to the processing result of the Write-app, and performs processing using the processing result.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention particularly relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and a storage medium that are suitable for performing processing using a plurality of applications.

  An information processing apparatus such as a smartphone can realize various functions by installing an OS and a plurality of applications and operating using each application. For example, it is possible to connect to a camera using a camera connection application and capture an image, or to edit an image using an image editing application. Patent Document 1 discloses a communication device that communicates with a digital camera using a camera communication application.

JP 2014-86844 A

  The user must search for data to be processed for each application in order to select and start an application in accordance with the function desired to be used. For example, if you want to edit an image captured from the camera, first start the camera connection application to capture the image, then start the image editing application separately to search for the captured image, It is necessary to edit. Thus, when processing is performed using a plurality of applications, it takes a lot of trouble for the user.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to enable smooth processing when another application is activated during the operation of the application.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention obtains a request ID corresponding to a processing content based on a first application, and issues a request ID notification and a second application activation request according to the first application. First request means; first processing means for activating the second application in response to an activation request by the first request means; and executing processing based on the second application; In response to the completion of the execution of the processing by the processing means, a second request means for making a request ID notification and a start request for the first application, and responding to the start request by the second request means And a second processing means for starting the first application and executing processing based on the request ID notified by the second requesting means. The features.

  According to the present invention, when another application is started during the operation of the application and the other application is operated, the processing can be smoothly performed in the original application after the processing of the other application is completed.

It is a figure for demonstrating the structural example of the network containing a communication apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of a communication apparatus. It is a figure which shows the software structural example of a communication apparatus. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram for explaining a processing procedure for activating Write-app from Read-app to acquire an image and performing image editing processing. It is a figure which shows the example of the display screen at the time of starting Read-app. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram for explaining a processing procedure for starting up Read-app from Write-app and performing image editing processing.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which a user operates a communication device (smart phone) that is an information processing apparatus to activate an image editing application and activate a data capture application. Note that, as the “activation” of the application in the present embodiment, there are a case where an unexecuted application is executed and a case where the running application is moved from the background to the foreground.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a network including the communication device 101 according to the present embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication device 101 can connect to the digital camera 102 using a data capturing application and capture an image from the digital camera 102 via the network 103. The connection with the digital camera 102 may be wired or wireless.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the communication device 101 according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 2, the CPU 201 controls processing of the entire communication device 101. The ROM 202 stores various control programs executed by the CPU 201, data, and the like. The RAM 203 has a work area for the CPU 201, a data save area during error processing, a control program load area, and the like. The HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 204 stores an OS (Operating System), various applications, various control programs executed in the communication device 101, contents, and data.

  The input device 205 includes various buttons such as a button for switching power ON / OFF. The BMU (bit move unit) 206 is, for example, data transfer between memories (for example, between the VRAM 207 and another memory) and data transfer between the memory and each I / O device (for example, the NETI / F 209). To control. In the VRAM 207, image data to be displayed on the display device 211 is drawn. The image data drawn in the VRAM 207 is transferred to the display device 211 in accordance with a predetermined rule, whereby an image is displayed on the display device 211. In addition, the display device 211 is equipped with a touch panel, and the user inputs an instruction related to the icon displayed at the position when the user touches the display surface of the display device. The NETI / F 209 communicates with the digital camera 102 and the like via the network 103. The bus 212 includes an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration example of the communication device 101 according to the present embodiment.
A predetermined OS 301 is installed in the communication device 101, and a data capturing application (hereinafter referred to as “Write-app”) 302 and an image editing application (hereinafter referred to as “Read-app”) 303 are installed. The CPU 201 of the communication device 101 activates the OS 301, performs basic processing performed by the communication device 101, and performs cooperation processing of installed applications and processing of recording data in the HDD 204 or the like. In addition, the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 activates Write-app 302 and performs a process of taking data from the digital camera 102 via the NETI / F 209, for example. In addition, the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 activates the Read-app 303 to perform processing for processing the captured image and instructing the printing apparatus to print the image. Here, it can be said that Write-app 302 is an input application and an output application.

  Next, a processing procedure of the communication device 101 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 first activates Read-app and accepts an image capture instruction from the user on a screen for performing the process.

FIG. 4 illustrates a processing procedure for performing image editing processing in the present embodiment, in which the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 activates Read-app and then activates Write-app to acquire an image from an external device. It is a sequence diagram. Note that the processing described below is realized by the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 starting up the OS 301, Write-app 302, and Read-app 303, operating in accordance with these, and controlling each unit.
First, in response to a user operation, the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 starts the process by starting Read-app. When the Read-app is activated, a screen as shown in FIG. 5A is displayed on the display device 211. On the screen shown in FIG. 5A, the user selects edit contents to be executed via the touch panel of the display device 211.

  For example, when “Process Photo” is selected, the screen shown in FIG. 5B is displayed on the display device 211, and when “Print Photo” is selected, the display device 211 displays FIG. The screen shown in (c) is displayed. When “Send photo” is selected, a screen shown in FIG. 5D is displayed on the display device 211. On the screens shown in FIGS. 5B to 5D, an image to be edited can be selected from images stored in the HDD 204 or the like. On the other hand, when editing an image that is not held by the communication device 101, an image can be captured from an external device by selecting “Add photo from Write-app”. The process shown in FIG. 4 is started when this “add photo from Write-app” is selected by the user.

  At T401 in FIG. 4, the CPU 201 issues a request ID by Read-app, and at T402, the CPU 201 accepts the write-app activation request by Read-app, and associates the request ID issued at T401 with the activation request. Store in the HDD 204. Here, the request ID is given a different ID depending on the selected editing content. For example, the request ID differs depending on which screen of the screens shown in FIGS. 5B to 5D is selected as “Add photo from Write-app”.

  Next, in T403, the CPU 201 makes an activation request to the Write-app from the OS to activate the Write-app, and in T404, the CPU 201 accepts the request ID in the Write-app. When Write-app is activated, Write-app receives the ID of the requesting Read-app. The ID of the Read-app is an ID unique to the Read-app installed in the communication device 101 and is stored in the HDD 204 when the Read-app is installed, and is read from the HDD 204 when a write-app activation request is made. To be notified.

  Subsequently, in T405, the CPU 201 collates the ID of the Read-app with Write-app. That is, it is determined by Write-app whether or not the ID of Read-app that is a request source matches the ID of Read-app stored in HDD 204. Note that the CPU 201 operates in accordance with the Write-app, and the Read-app ID that can be linked to the Write-app is readable from the Write-app and stored in the HDD 204 in advance. If the ID of the Read-app does not match the ID stored in the HDD 204, in T406, the CPU 201 notifies the OS of an error from the Write-app and stops the activation of the Write-app. By doing so, it is possible to prevent Write-app from being erroneously started by an unknown application.

  On the other hand, if the ID of the Read-app matches the ID stored in the HDD 204, in T407, the CPU 201 issues an image acquisition request from the Write-app to the external device (digital camera 102). In T408, the CPU 201 receives image data from the digital camera 102 via the NETI / F 209 by Write-app.

  When the reception of the image is completed, next, in T409, the CPU 201 performs image storage processing by Write-app. That is, the CPU 201 stores the image received in T408 in the HDD 204 or the like, and assigns an image ID to the newly stored image. The image ID will be described as a code associated with the file path of the storage destination. Note that the image ID may be the file path itself of the storage destination.

  Next, in T410, the CPU 201 performs image ID list generation processing by Write-app. Specifically, first, in Write-app, the image ID of the stored image is acquired, an image ID list in which the image ID of the stored image is associated with the storage destination is generated, and can be read from the OS and stored in the HDD 204. Remember. In T411, the CPU 201 receives the request ID from the write-app as a call request from the write-app to the read-app by the OS. Here, the request ID is the same as that received by Write-app in T404.

  Subsequently, in T412, the CPU 201 makes an activation request to the Read-app from the OS to activate the Read-app. At this time, when the Read-app is activated, the Read-app obtains the ID of the request-source Write-app that made the call request. The ID of Write-app is an ID unique to Write-app installed in communication device 101, and is stored in HDD 204 when Write-app is installed, and is read from HDD 204 when a Read-app call request is made. Be notified.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the Read-app is still active after performing the process of T402. Therefore, the process of T412 is a confirmation process for canceling the sleep state or starting. Function. On the other hand, the Read-app may temporarily stop starting after performing the process of T402. In T413, the CPU 201 receives the image ID list generated by Write-app in T410 and the request ID received in T411 as a response via the OS in Read-app.

  Next, in T414, CPU201 collates ID of Write-app by Read-app. That is, the Read-app determines whether the Write-app ID matches the Write-app ID stored in the HDD 204. The CPU 201 operates in accordance with the Read-app, and the Write-app ID that can be linked with the Read-app is readable from the Read-app and stored in the HDD 204 in advance. If the Write-app ID does not match the ID stored in the HDD 204, in T415, the CPU 201 notifies the OS of an error from the Read-app and stops the activation of the Read-app. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the Read-app from being erroneously started by an unknown application.

  On the other hand, if the Write-app ID matches the ID stored in the HDD 204, in T416, the CPU 201 displays a screen corresponding to the request ID acquired in T413. For example, the same screen that was displayed when the request ID was notified from Write-app is displayed on the display device 211. Then, the CPU 201 acquires an image from the HDD 204 based on the image ID list acquired in the Read-app, and adds it to the list display. For example, when “Add photo from Write-app” is selected on the screen shown in FIG. 5B, the screen shown in FIG. 5B is displayed, and a new list display of images on the left side of the screen is displayed. Add an image.

  It takes a certain amount of time until the user captures an image from the digital camera 102 after selecting “Add Photo from Write-app” on any of the screens shown in FIGS. 5B to 5D. For example, when waiting on the screen shown in FIG. 5B until an image is acquired, the acquired image is added to the screen as it is at T416. However, it may take a long time to capture an image from the digital camera 102, and during that time, the user may stop starting the Read-app and execute other processing. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the Read-app request ID is acquired when Write-app activation is requested. As a result, even when Read-app activation is temporarily stopped after Write-app activation request, Read when request ID is transmitted when Write-app processing is completed and Read-app is resumed The processing contents of -app can be determined. As a result, when Write-app processing is completed and Read-app is started again, the screen corresponding to the time when Write-app startup is requested is displayed, so the editing process that the user wants to perform smoothly is performed. be able to.

  In T417, the CPU 201 performs the editing process selected by the user using Read-app, stores the editing result in the HDD 204 according to the OS, and ends the process. The start timing of the editing process may be when the user instructs the start of the editing process, or may be immediately after the end of the process of T416. In the former case, for example, in the example of the screen shown in FIG. 5C, after the image is acquired, the user selects the printer, the number of copies, and the image to be edited, and after the print setting is input, the print start icon is displayed. When the icon is selected, the editing process (printing process) is started. In the latter case, for example, in the example of the screen shown in FIG. 5C, the user first selects the printer and the number of copies before the user selects “Add photo from Write-app”. Then, it is considered that the user has instructed to start editing when “add photo from Write-app” is selected by the user when the print setting is input. However, when a plurality of images are acquired at T416, the user may be allowed to select only an image to be edited.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the Read-app activation request from the Read-app and the request ID corresponding to the processing content of the Read-app are notified, and the Write-app is the response of the processing result. The request ID is notified to Read-app. As a result, the Read-app can identify the processing result of its own request and operate according to the request ID, and can smoothly perform the editing process desired by the user. In addition, since the image ID list is notified to Read-app as a response to the processing result from Write-app, when Read-app performs editing processing, the image storage destination can be referred to immediately. The editing process can be performed more smoothly.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which a user operates a communication device (smartphone) to activate a data capture application (Write-app) and activate an image editing application (Read-app). Note that the configuration of the communication device according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining a processing procedure for performing image editing processing by activating Read-app from Write-app in the present embodiment.
First, the process starts when Write-app is activated by a user operation. In T601, the CPU 201 makes an image acquisition request from the write-app to the external device (digital camera 102). In T602, the CPU 201 receives image data from the digital camera 102 via the NETI / F 209 by Write-app.

  Subsequently, in T603, the CPU 201 performs image storage processing by Write-app. That is, the CPU 201 stores the image received in T602 in the HDD 204 or the like, and assigns an image ID to the newly stored image. In T604, the CPU 201 performs image ID list generation processing using Write-app. Specifically, first, in Write-app, the image ID of the stored image is acquired, an image ID list in which the image ID of the stored image is associated with the storage destination is generated, and can be read from the OS and stored in the HDD 204. Remember. In T605, the CPU 201 accepts an activation request from Write-app to Read-app by the OS.

  Next, in T606, the CPU 201 makes an activation request from the OS to the Read-app to activate the Read-app. At this time, when the Read-app is activated, the Read-app acquires the ID of the Write-app that made the activation request. In T607, the CPU 201 receives the image ID list generated by Write-app in T604 via the OS in Read-app.

  Next, in T608, the CPU 201 collates the ID of Write-app with Read-app. That is, the Read-app determines whether the Write-app ID matches the Write-app ID stored in the HDD 204. The CPU 201 operates in accordance with the Read-app, and the Write-app ID that can be linked with the Read-app is readable from the Read-app and stored in the HDD 204 in advance. If the Write-app ID does not match the ID stored in the HDD 204, in T609, the CPU 201 notifies the OS of an error from the Read-app and stops the activation of the Read-app. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the Read-app from being erroneously started by an unknown application.

  On the other hand, if the ID of Write-app matches the ID stored in HDD 204, in T610, CPU 201 reads the image stored in T603 based on the image ID list acquired in T607 in Read-app from HDD 204. get. Further, the CPU 201 causes the display device 211 to display a screen for instructing the user to edit contents. As a screen for instructing the user to edit contents, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. 5A, and when the user selects the editing contents, as shown in FIGS. 5B to 5D. A screen is displayed. At this time, the image captured from the digital camera 102 is also included in the image list. In order to distinguish from images already stored in the HDD 204, a list of images may be displayed so that the image captured immediately before can be distinguished from other images.

  Next, in T611, the CPU 201 performs an editing process selected by the user using Read-app, and ends the process.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when Write-app is activated by a user operation, Read-app can be smoothly activated to select an editing process.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which Write-app is an application that captures an image from the digital camera 102 has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to other applications as Write-app. For example, an application that retrieves an image from a database or an application that performs a photographing process may be applied as Write-app. In this case, an image ID list of the searched image or a newly captured image is generated. In the above-described embodiment, the data to be handled is image data. However, the data is not limited to image data, and may be other data such as audio data.

  Moreover, although embodiment mentioned above demonstrated the smart phone as an example as information processing apparatus, if it is an apparatus which can install an application, it will not specifically limit. For example, the present invention can be similarly applied to a mobile phone, a tablet, a personal computer (PC), or the like as the information processing apparatus. Further, when Read-app and Write-app are applications that do not require a communication function, the information processing apparatus does not necessarily have to be a communication device.

  The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

201 CPU
204 HDD

In particular, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method, and a program suitable for performing processing using a plurality of applications.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus having a first application program for executing output processing for content and a second application program for executing processing for fetching the content from an external device. , In accordance with the first application program, a first request means for making a request for starting the second application program, and starting the second application program in response to the start request for the second application program In accordance with the activated second application program, a processing unit that communicates with the external device to execute processing for capturing the content from the external device, and the content is external to the external device. After being taken in from the device Second request means for requesting activation of the first application program in accordance with the second application program; and second for activating the first application program in response to the activation request for the first application program. And an output processing means for executing an output process on the content fetched from the external device in accordance with the first application program.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus having a first application program for executing output processing for content and a second application program for executing processing for fetching the content from an external device. First request means for requesting activation of the second application program according to the first application program, and associating an identifier with the activation request of the second application program according to the first application program Storage means for storing in a predetermined storage area, first activation means for activating the second application program in response to an activation request for the second application program, and the activated second application program Thus, the loading process means for executing a process to communicate with the external device capturing the contents from the external device, after which the content is taken in from the external device, according to the second application program, said first a second requesting means for performing the first activation request of an application program, in response to the activation request of the first application program, and a second activating means for activating the first application program, the first Output processing means for executing processing for adding and displaying content captured from the external device according to an application program on a screen corresponding to an identifier stored in the predetermined storage area .

According to the present invention, when another application is started during the operation of the application and the other application is operated, after the processing of the other application is completed , the result of the operation of the other application is reflected in the original application. Can be processed smoothly by the original application .

Claims (9)

Acquisition means for acquiring a request ID corresponding to the processing content based on the first application;
First request means for making a notification of the request ID and a second application activation request in accordance with the first application;
First processing means for activating the second application in response to an activation request by the first requesting means and executing processing based on the second application;
A second requesting unit for performing a notification of the request ID and a request for starting the first application in response to completion of execution of the processing by the first processing unit;
A second processing unit that starts the first application in response to a startup request by the second request unit and executes a process based on the request ID notified by the second request unit. A characteristic information processing apparatus. Storage means for storing an ID unique to each of the first application and the second application;
The apparatus further comprises a collating unit that collates an ID of a request source application with an ID stored in the storage unit in response to a request by the first request unit and the second request unit. The information processing apparatus according to 1.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storage unit stores the request ID in association with the activation request for the second application.   The said 1st application is an application for outputting data, The said 2nd application is an application for inputting the said data, The any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Information processing device.   5. The information according to claim 4, wherein the first application is an application for editing and outputting data, and the second application is an application for capturing the data from an external device. Processing equipment. Further comprising generating means for generating data ID and storage destination information input by the processing based on the second application as information used by the first application;
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second processing unit executes processing based on the first application using information generated by the generation unit. An acquisition step of acquiring a request ID corresponding to the processing content based on the first application;
A first requesting step for performing a notification of the request ID and a request for starting a second application according to the first application;
A first processing step of activating the second application in response to the activation request in the first requesting step and executing processing based on the second application;
A second request step for making a notification of the request ID and a request for starting the first application in response to completion of the processing in the first processing step;
A second processing step of starting the first application in response to the start request in the second request step and executing a process based on the request ID notified in the second request step. A characteristic information processing method.   The program for functioning a computer as each means of the information processing apparatus of any one of Claims 1-6.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 8.