JP2020025244A - Information processing device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable setting in just proportion while saving time and effort of a user in searching for setting items when the user wants to use a specific function.SOLUTION: An information processing device, which executes a function on the basis of setting of a plurality of setting items which is received on an input screen, includes: input means that receives an input of information indicating the function; determination means that determines a setting flow of the plurality of setting items corresponding to the function input by the input means, on the basis of dependence information indicating a dependency of the plurality of setting items; and display means that displays a setting screen of the plurality of setting items corresponding to the function in the determined setting flow.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multifunction peripheral has been provided with a screen on which a user performs device setting for using a function. The settings are often classified into categories such as network settings, file transmission settings, and destination settings, and it is common for a user to search for a setting item desired to be set from each category.

  Further, there is disclosed a technique for setting print setting items using a wizard. By using the wizard, the user can sequentially set necessary setting items according to a setting flow of device setting displayed by the wizard (see Patent Document 1).

  However, the conventional category setting for device setting provided on the device setting screen is not always easy to find the setting items. For example, when a user wants to use a specific function of scanning and sending an e-mail, it is necessary for the user to search and set related setting items from among categories of network setting, file transmission setting, and destination setting. Because the user sets it himself, there may be cases where the setting is too small or too small. If the wizard setting flow is provided in advance, the setting is easy, but the function to be used differs depending on the user. It is not feasible to prepare a wizard setting flow for all functions in advance because there are items to be added later. Therefore, also in this case, when setting a function for which the setup flow of the wizard is not prepared, the user must find out the setting item after all. As described above, in the related art, there is a problem in that when a user wants to use a specific function, the user himself has to search and set a related setting item from each category.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and when an user wants to use a specific function, an information processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus capable of saving the trouble of searching for a setting item by a user without any excess Methods and programs are provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an embodiment of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that executes a function based on a setting of a plurality of setting items received on an input screen, and an input that inputs information indicating the function. Means, determining means for determining a setting flow of the plurality of setting items corresponding to the function input by the input means, based on dependency information indicating a dependency of the plurality of setting items, and the determined setting Display means for displaying a setting screen of the plurality of setting items corresponding to the function in a flow.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when a user wants to use a specific function, there is an effect that it becomes possible to save the trouble of searching for a setting item by a user, and to set it without excess or shortage.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of an MFP that is an example of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the MFP. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of main applications of the MFP. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a functional block. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the attribute storage table. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence of a process of newly registering an attribute in the attribute storage table when a new installation or update update of an application is performed in the MFP. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state after the attribute storage table is updated by adding a new item. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process after activation of the setting value application. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the function selection screen. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the input screen. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence of an overall operation when device setting is performed in the MFP. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process in which the setting value application determines an order based on the order determination table. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the sorting process. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting flow of the wizard displayed in the order determined by the order determination process. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a skip selection screen according to the first modification. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process in which the setting value application determines an order based on the order determination table. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a wizard setting flow generated when the “Yes” button is selected on the skip selection screen.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. An example of application to an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) is shown as an example of the information processing apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of an MFP that is an example of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment. Here, an example having an image reading unit and an image forming unit and having a copy, scan, fax, and printer as basic functions is shown as an example.

  The MFP 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes, in a main body 10, an image reading unit 10-1 as a scanner and an image forming unit 10-2 as a plotter.

  The operation panel 11 provided on the main body 10 is a user interface that displays a setting screen and receives input of device settings of the main body 10 from a user.

(Hardware configuration)
The MFP 1 includes a computer-based control unit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the MFP 1. As shown in FIG. 2, MFP 1 has control unit 100 (CPU 101, ROM 102, and RAM 103). Further, the MFP 1 includes an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 104, a communication I / F 105, an image reading control unit 106, an image forming control unit 107, an LCD 108, and a touch panel 109. Each unit is mutually connected via a system bus A.

  The control unit 100 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, and a RAM 103, and controls the MFP 1 as a whole. The CPU 101 is a central processing unit that executes arithmetic processing and control processing. The CPU 101 reads out various programs stored in the ROM 102, the HDD 104, and the like into the RAM 103 and executes the programs.

  The ROM 102 is a non-volatile memory that stores a fixed program (for example, a basic input / output system (BIOS)). The RAM 103 is a volatile memory used by the CPU 101 as a work area for various processes. The HDD 104 is an auxiliary storage device that stores an OS (Operating System), various kinds of software, various kinds of data, and the like.

  Communication I / F 105 is an interface for MFP 1 to connect to a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, or the like. In transmission of an e-mail or a folder, which will be described later, data is transmitted to a device on the network via the communication I / F 105. It also has a fax communication unit.

  The image reading control unit 106 controls the image reading unit 10-1 according to an instruction from the control unit 100. Specifically, the image reading control unit 106 reads a document image under the control of the image reading unit 10-1. The image forming control unit 107 controls the image forming unit 10-2 according to an instruction from the control unit 100. Specifically, the image forming control unit 107 forms an image on a sheet under the control of the image forming unit 10-2.

  The LCD 108 and the touch panel 109 are configured on the operation panel 11. The LCD 108 is a display device that displays a setting screen such as a function selection screen and an input screen, which will be described later, according to various display information output from the CPU 101. The display device is not limited to the LCD, but may be an organic EL or the like. The touch panel 109 is a touch sensor that detects the position on the screen of the LCD 108 touched by the user. The touch panel 109 is provided on the screen of the LCD 108 and notifies the CPU 101 of information on the touch position of the user. Note that input means for performing various settings and other operations is not limited to the touch panel 109. A hardware key that outputs an operation signal to the CPU 101 may be provided, and various settings and other operations may be performed using the hardware key. Further, operations such as various settings may be performed using an input device such as a mouse.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main application (hereinafter, referred to as an “app”) of the MFP 1. The MFP 1 has a copy application 201, a scanner application 202, a fax application 203, and a printer application 204 installed therein. Each app functions to handle copying, scanning, faxing, and printing, respectively. Further, a setting value application 205 is installed in the MFP 1. The setting value application 205 functions so as to dynamically generate a setting flow of a wizard for performing device setting of a function that a user wants to use. Specifically, the setting value application 205 sets information (dependency information) indicating a dependency relationship between the various setting items of the device and the function in the attribute storage table T. Then, the setting value application 205 dynamically generates a setting flow of the wizard for performing the device setting of the specific function specified by the user based on the dependency of each setting item in the attribute storage table T.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a functional block. FIG. 4 mainly shows the configuration of functional blocks related to device settings. These are realized by the control unit 100 by the CPU 101 executing a program stored in the ROM 102, the HDD 104, or the like.

  The input unit 31 receives input information. For example, the input unit 31 receives from the touch panel 109 a signal input by a user performing a touch operation on the LCD screen.

  The setting processing unit 32 sets the attribute storage table T in the HDD 104. In addition, when there is a new installation or an update, the setting processing unit 32 updates the attribute storage table T based on the corresponding setting items and information indicating the dependency. In addition, the setting processing unit 32 displays display information indicating that there is a new setting item for a function whose device setting is required by updating the attribute storage table T among functions of a function selection screen described later.

  When the input unit 31 receives the selection of the device setting of the specific function, the determination processing unit 33 sets the received setting item for setting the function and the setting order to the latest setting of the attribute storage table T. Decide based on For example, the determination processing unit 33 extracts a setting item having a dependency relationship with the specific function from various setting items set in the attribute storage table T, and generates an order determination table including the setting items restricted by the extraction. I do. Further, the determination processing unit 33 rearranges the setting items in the order determination table in the order of setting according to information indicating a dependency (priority) between the setting items. The determination processing unit 33 determines the order of the setting items rearranged in the order determination table as the setting flow of the wizard for performing the device setting of the function, and determines the order of the input screen corresponding to each setting item in the determined setting flow order. The display is requested to the display output unit 34.

  The display output unit 34 displays an input screen of the wizard on the LCD 108 in the determined order of the setting flow based on the request from the determination processing unit 33.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the attribute storage table T. The attribute storage table T1 shown in FIG. 5 has a setting item t1, a setting category t2, a related function t3, a prerequisite item t4, a setting method t5, and a new item flag t6. In each item, the relationship between the setting item t1 and the related function t3 and the relationship between the setting item t1 and the prerequisite item t4 mainly correspond to the information indicating the dependency.

  In the setting item t1, the type of the setting item (for example, “device IP address” or “valid protocol”) is set. Information indicating the conventional categorization is set in the setting category t2. When the setting is performed by the conventional method, since each setting item of the setting item t1 is classified into the setting category t2, a necessary setting item is searched for and set from a screen or a tab indicating each category.

  In the related function t3, information (for example, a function name) indicating a specific function that the user wants to use is set. When one specific function is selected by the user, the setting item (setting item of setting item t1 associated with the same function name as the function selected by the user) among the various functions set in the related function t3 (Record information) is extracted, and the setting of the device is performed based on the extracted row.

  In the premise item t4, other setting items (types of setting items) which must be set before setting each setting item are set. For example, the setting example in the second line indicates that the device IP address must be set first in order to set the valid protocol. With this setting, the setting order of the setting items is guaranteed.

  In the setting method t5, a setting method to be performed by the user is set. For example, as shown in an example of the setting method t5, a text input and options are set. Here, the text input is a setting method for receiving a text input, for example, by providing a text input box on an input screen. The option is a setting method for receiving an input of a selection button by providing a selection button on an input screen or the like.

  In the new item flag t6, information for identifying whether each setting item of the setting item t1 is a newly added item is set. In this example, an example is shown in which True is set in the case of new addition and False is set in the case of non-new addition.

  The attribute storage table T1 may provide data in which data is set in advance for each of the items t1 to t6, or may be set later by the setting processing unit 32. Further, the attribute storage table T1 is appropriately updated according to a new installation or an update update of the application. Here, “mail size restriction” shown in FIG. 5 indicates a function of stopping transmission of an e-mail when the size of the e-mail to be transmitted exceeds a set value. For example, when "10 megabytes" is set as the setting value of "mail size restriction", transmission of an e-mail exceeding 10 megabytes is stopped.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of a process for newly registering an application in the attribute storage table T1 when a new installation or update update of an application is performed in the MFP 1.

  First, when an application used by the user (here, the scanner application 202 is taken as an example) is newly installed or updated (S1), the scanner application 202 sets the information of the setting items registered in the attribute storage table T1 to the set value. The application 205 is notified (S2).

  The setting value application 205 checks whether there is new item information in the setting item information notified from the scanner application 202 based on the latest attribute storage table T1, and stores the new item information in the attribute storage table of the HDD 104. It is added to T1 (S3).

  Further, the setting value application 205 sets the new item flag t6 of the information of the added new item to True (S4). Steps S3 and S4 are repeated by the number of new items in the setting item information notified from the scanner application 202.

  Note that the setting value application 205 does not update the attribute storage table T1 if there is no new item information in the setting item information notified from the scanner application 202.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state after the attribute storage table T1 is updated by adding a new item. The attribute storage table T2 shown in FIG. 7 is obtained by adding information d1 of a new item to the attribute storage table T1 (see FIG. 5). The information d1 of the new item includes “automatic distribution of mail size” of the setting item t1, “mail transmission” of the related function t3, “mail size restriction” of the prerequisite item t4, and “option” of the setting method t5. It is. In addition, “TRUE” indicating a new item is set in the new item flag t6. In the automatic mail size distribution, when the size of the e-mail to be sent exceeds the value set in the "e-mail size limit" item (the setting value described above), whether to change the form of the e-mail and send it Is a setting item for specifying. The change of the mode of the e-mail includes, for example, a change of the mode such as dividing the e-mail into a plurality of mails so as not to exceed the value set in the “mail size restriction” item. In addition, for example, the MFP 1 may store a file attached to an e-mail in a predetermined storage area, and may add a file path of the storage destination or identification information such as a file path to the body of the e-mail. An example is given. When the identification information is added to the body of the e-mail and the attached file is not transmitted, the user can obtain the attached file based on the identification information added to the e-mail. As a specific example, a link for downloading the attached file is attached to the e-mail, and the user downloads the attached file from the storage destination by clicking the link.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing after the start of the setting value application 205. First, when the user activates the setting value application 205 (S11), the setting value application 205 acquires a function list (a list of related functions) included in the attribute storage table T from the HDD 104 (S12).

  Subsequently, the setting value application 205 searches the attribute storage table T for a line corresponding to the related function based on the acquired list of related functions, and determines whether True is set in the new item flag (S13).

  Subsequently, when True is set in the new item flag, the setting value application 205 indicates that there is a new setting item in the operation button indicating the target function name on the function selection screen (see FIG. 9) described later. Display information (for example, "New") is set (S14). Specifically, in the case of the attribute storage table T2 (see FIG. 7), only the related function (mail transmission) of the new item information d1 is set to True in the new item flag t6. Therefore, the setting value application 205 sets the display information of “New” to the operation button (see FIG. 9) indicating the function name of “send mail” on the function selection screen (see FIG. 9). The setting value application 205 repeats step S13 and step S14 by the number of functions for which True is set in the new item flag, and if there are a plurality of new items, “New” is assigned to each of the operation buttons of the corresponding related function. Set the display information of.

  When the setting of the New display on the function selection screen is completed, the setting value application 205 displays the function selection screen (S15).

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the function selection screen. FIG. 9 shows a function selection screen 1000 from which a basic function and a specific function (related function) can be selected. A copy button 1001, a fax transmission button 1004, a print button 1005, and the like are operation buttons for setting basic functions. An e-mail transmission button 1002, a folder transmission button 1003, and the like are operation buttons for setting a specific function. “New” shown in the mail transmission button 1002 is shown as an example of display information indicating that there is a new setting item.

  When the user touches the “New” operation button on the function selection screen, the setting value application 205 generates a setting flow of the wizard, and corresponds to each setting method (setting of the setting method t5) in the order of the setting items. Display the input screen. The user completes the device setting by performing various settings in the display order of the input screen. Here, an example of a setting method of the input screen will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the input screen. FIG. 10 shows, as an example, a configuration of an input screen 1010 for inputting a text and an input screen 1020 for selecting a setting from options. The input screen 1010 is provided with one or more text input areas (text input boxes) according to the set number. In this example, a case where one text input area 1011 is provided is shown. The input screen 1020 is provided with a plurality of selection buttons. This example shows a case where three selection buttons 1021 to 1023 are provided.

  The setting value application 205 has a framework as shown in FIG. 10 and generates an input screen using the framework corresponding to the setting value. The framework is associated with the setting method t5 (see FIG. 7). When the setting method t5 is "text input", the framework for text input is used. When the setting method t5 is "option", the framework for options is set. An input screen is generated by adoption.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence of an overall operation when device setting is performed in the MFP 1. After displaying the function selection screen 1000 (see FIG. 9), the MFP 1 performs device setting for a specific function (New function of the function selection screen 1000) that the user wants to use as follows. It should be noted that the New display on the function selection screen 1000 is displayed not only once in the first time, but also thereafter when the device setting is not performed. For example, it is displayed after the main body is activated, or when the user requests display of the function selection screen 1000. Further, after the setting value application 205 sets the device of the New function, the new item flag t6 (see FIG. 7) is changed from True to False so that the display information of New is not displayed on the function selection screen 1000 from the next time. can do.

  First, the setting value application 205 requests the display output unit 34 to display a function selection screen (S21), and the display output unit 34 displays a function selection screen (for example, the function selection screen 1000 shown in FIG. 9) (S22). .

  When the user touches an operation button of a specific function desired to be used in the function selection screen, the input is received by the input unit 31 (S23).

  The input unit 31 requests the setting value application 205 to create a corresponding setting item when an operation button of a specific function is input (S24).

  Upon receiving a request to create a setting item, the setting value application 205 searches the attribute storage table T of the HDD 104 and extracts a corresponding setting item (S25).

  Further, the setting value application 205 generates an order determination table in which the extracted setting items are registered, and sorts the setting items in the setting order based on the dependency of each setting item (S26).

  Subsequently, the setting value application 205 requests the display output unit 34 to display the input screens one by one from the top in the order of the setting items determined by the rearrangement in the order determination table (S27).

  The display output unit 34 generates an input screen requested to be displayed by the setting value application 205, and outputs the input screen to the LCD 108 (S28).

  The user performs an operation of setting a setting item on the input screen displayed on the LCD, and the input unit 31 receives the input information (S29). When receiving the input of the setting item on the input screen, the input unit 31 requests the setting value application 205 to input the next setting item (S30). In response to this request, the operations from step S27 to step S30 are performed for the setting items in the next setting order.

  The operations from step S27 to step S30 are repeated until the last setting item of the setting items set in the order determination table is designated. With this operation, the MFP 1 dynamically generates a setting flow of the setting item of the function desired by the user based on the latest setting of the attribute storage table T, and provides the setting flow of the dynamically generated wizard.

  When the setting items of the last order are completed, the setting value application 205 requests the display output unit 34 to display a setting completion screen (S31), and the display output unit 34 displays the setting completion screen (S32). Note that the setting value application 205 changes the new item flag from True to False, so that the display information of New is not displayed on the next function selection screen.

  Next, a specific example of an order determination process performed by the setting value application 205 will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process in which the setting value application 205 determines an order based on the order determination table. First, the setting value application 205 initializes a parameter n (n is a natural number) (S101).

  Subsequently, the setting value application 205 extracts the n-th row from the attribute storage table T (S102). The row is record information, and the first row of record information is extracted.

  Subsequently, the setting value application 205 determines whether or not the function selected by the user on the function selection screen (specific function that the user intends to use) is included in the column of the related function t3 in the extracted row (S103).

  If the function is included (S103: Yes determination), the setting value application 205 adds the n-th line to the order determination table (also called a wizard screen generation table) (S104).

  If the corresponding function is not included (S103: No determination), the setting value application 205 skips step S104 and performs the determination processing of step S105.

  Subsequently, the setting value application 205 determines whether the next row exists in the attribute storage table T (S105).

  When the next row exists in the attribute storage table T (S105: Yes determination), the setting value application 205 increments n (S106), and repeats the processing from step S102.

  When there is no next line in the attribute storage table T (S105: No determination), the setting value application 205 performs a sort process for sorting the order determination table in the setting order of the setting items (S107). A specific example of the sorting process will be described later.

  After the sorting process, the setting value application 205 generates a setting item input screen according to the setting order after the sorting of the order determination table (S108).

  That is, in this order determination process, the attribute storage table T is checked line by line, and it is determined whether the column of the related function includes the function selected by the user. Then, the information of the line including the function selected by the user is added to the order determination table. As a result, the order determination table is a table in which only the rows for which the wizard input screen is to be generated are extracted. Once all the rows of the setting items corresponding to the function selected by the user have been extracted to the order determination table, the order determination table is sorted based on the dependencies of each row, and the wizard setting flow screen is generated in the sorted order. .

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the sorting process. First, the setting value application 205 initializes a parameter n (n is a natural number) (S201).

  Next, the setting value application 205 extracts the n-th row (the first row: record information) from the order determination table (S202).

  Subsequently, the setting value application 205 determines whether the prerequisite item is included in the prerequisite item t4 column of the extracted row (S203).

  If the prerequisite item is included (S203: Yes determination), the setting value application 205 sets the n-th row to the setting item of the prerequisite item in the setting item t1 column of each row of the order determination table. The next line (in the display order of the input screen, the line to be displayed next) is moved (S204). When the prerequisite item is not included (S203: No determination), the setting value application 205 skips step S204 and performs the determination processing of step S205.

  Subsequently, the setting value application 205 determines whether or not the next row exists in the order determination table (S205).

  If the next row exists in the order determination table (S205: Yes determination), the setting value application 205 increments n (S206), and repeats the processing from step S202.

  If there is no next row in the order determination table (S205: No determination), the setting value application 205 ends this sort processing.

  By the above sort processing, the input screen of the prerequisite items is displayed first in the setting flow of the wizard to ensure the setting order.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting flow of the wizard displayed in the order determined by the order determination process. In FIG. 14, screen transitions of the input screen displayed in the setting flow are indicated by arrows. The upper part of each input screen shows the names of the setting items set on each input screen. Also, when there is only one setting on each input screen, the setting is indicated as setting 1, and when there are a plurality of settings, setting 1, setting 2,... Are indicated.

  In the example shown in FIG. 14, first, an input screen 1110 for setting the device IP address is displayed, and the user inputs the setting to the input box 1111 of the setting 1. When the user presses the next button B1, the screen transitions to the next input screen. In this example, the screen transitions to an effective protocol input screen 1120.

  Also on the input screen 1120 of the valid protocol, the user inputs the setting to the input box 1121 of the setting 1. When the user presses the previous button B2, a transition is made to the immediately preceding input screen. When the user presses the next button B1, the screen transitions to the next input screen. In this example, the screen transits to an input screen 1130 for the SMTP server address. Note that the next button B1 and the previous button B2 have the same function in other input screens.

  Also on the input screen 1130 of the SMTP server address, the user inputs the setting in the input box 1131 of the setting 1, and the next button B1 is used to transit to the next input screen. For example, the screen sequentially transitions to various input screens not illustrated in FIG. 14 (including, for example, an input screen for SMTP authentication information). As described above, the screen changes to the mail size control input screen 1140 by sequentially setting various input screens from the SMTP server address input screen 1130.

  When the screen transitions to the input screen 1140 of the mail size control, the user inputs the setting in the input box 1141 of the setting 1, and the screen transitions to the next input screen with the next button B1.

  When the screen transitions to the input screen 1150 for automatic mail size distribution, the user selects one of the settings 1 and 2 provided as options and presses the next button B1. Here, as an example, setting 1 and setting 2 are provided as a selection button 1151 and a selection button 1152, respectively. For example, when the user selects whether or not to execute the automatic mail size distribution as an option, “Yes” is displayed on the selection button 1151 of the setting 1 and “No” is displayed on the selection button 1152 of the setting 2. .

  In this example, the file compression and the setting of the input screen of the mail address after the input screen 1150 of the automatic mail size distribution are omitted. When the next button B1 is pressed after the setting of the last input screen is completed, since there is no subsequent input screen, a setting confirmation screen 1160 displaying the contents set on the input screen so far is displayed. When the OK button B3 is pressed on the setting confirmation screen 1160, the device setting is completed.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured to store the dependency of each setting item, determine the setting flow of the wizard based on the dependency, and display the wizard screen with the determined setting flow. .

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the setting information is associated with the dependency between the function and the setting item and the priority (dependency) between the setting items, and the setting information is added to the latest setting information at the time of device setting of the function. Construct an input screen dynamically based on Therefore, even when a setting item is added later, the setting information is updated with that information, and is automatically reflected in the setting flow of the wizard when setting the function.

  Therefore, when the user wants to use a specific function, the setting flow of the wizard of the corresponding function is automatically constructed, so that the setting is simplified. In addition, since the user does not have to search for setting items, and the input screen for necessary settings is displayed in the correct order without excessiveness, it is possible to prevent excessive or insufficient settings by the user.

  Here, these effects will be described with reference to FIG. Conventionally, the setting items “device IP address” and “valid protocol” are set on the “network” setting screen in order to correspond to “network” in the setting category t2, and “SMTP server address” and “SMTP authentication information” are set. Is set on the setting screen of “file transmission” to correspond to “file transmission” of the setting category t2, and “folder IP address”, “folder name” and “folder authentication information” are set in the setting category t2. In order to support "Address Book", it was set on the "Address Book" setting screen.

  However, for example, since the prerequisite item t4 of the “SMTP server address” is “valid protocol”, to set the “SMTP server address” on the “file transmission” setting screen, first switch to the “network” setting screen. After setting the "valid protocol", the user must return to the "file transmission" setting screen and set the "SMTP server address". For this reason, conventionally, setting took time and effort.

  However, in the present embodiment, these settings can be made in the automatically generated wizard setting flow, so that the trouble of switching settings or searching for setting items is omitted.

(Modification 1)
In the above-described embodiment, when performing the device setting for the new item, the input screen is also displayed in the setting flow of the wizard for the already set items related to the device setting of the new item. May be skipped. For example, the user is allowed to select whether to skip setting of an existing set item, and when skip is selected, an input screen of only a newly added setting item is displayed. Whether or not to skip the setting of an existing set item can be displayed by the user when the function including the new item is selected on the function selection screen and can be selected.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a skip selection screen according to the first modification. The skip selection screen 1200 shown in FIG. 15 can be provided with a selection button for selecting whether or not to skip the setting of a default set item. In the example shown in FIG. 15, a “Yes” button 1201 for receiving a selection of “Skip” and a “No” button 1202 for receiving a selection of “Do not skip” are provided. When a “Yes” button 1201 is selected, a wizard screen is generated and displayed only with a new item input screen.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process in which the setting value application 205 according to the first modification determines an order based on the order determination table. The flow shown in FIG. 16 is a flow obtained by adding the processing when the “Yes” button 1201 is selected on the skip selection screen 1200 to the flow shown in the embodiment (see FIG. 12). Hereinafter, the description of the processes common to the flow illustrated in FIG. 12 will be omitted, and mainly different processes will be described.

  The flow illustrated in FIG. 16 includes a determination process (S304) between steps S103 and S104 of the flow illustrated in FIG. In FIG. 16, step S303 is the same as step S103 in FIG. That is, the setting value application 205 determines whether the function selected by the user on the function selection screen is included in the column of the related function t3 of the row extracted from the attribute storage table T. If the function is included (S303: Yes determination), the setting value application 205 performs a determination process according to the second modification (Step S304).

  Specifically, in the determination process, the setting value application 205 sets the new item flag t6 in the column of the acquired item, that is, the line in which the function selected by the user in the function selection screen is included in the column of the related function t3. "True" is set. If “True” is set, or if “True” is a prerequisite item of the set item (S304: Yes determination), the setting value application 205 determines in step S305 that step S104 in FIG. The same processing is performed. That is, the setting value application 205 adds the n-th row to the order determination table.

  On the other hand, if “True” is not set, or if “True” is not a prerequisite item for the set item (S304: No), the setting value application 205 skips step S305 and returns to step S306. Perform determination processing. Step S306 is the same as the determination process of step S105 in FIG.

  Other processes are performed in the same procedure as the procedure shown in FIG. Since further description is a repetition of the description of FIG. 12, the description is omitted.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a setting flow of the wizard generated when the “Yes” button 1201 is selected on the skip selection screen 1200. In comparison with the setting flow in the case where the default setting is not skipped (see FIG. 14), in the setting flow shown in FIG. 17, the input screen for the default setting is skipped, so that the input screen 1140 for the mail size control is immediately displayed. Will be done.

  As described above, when the new item flag is “False” due to the addition of the determination processing in step S304, the determination in step S304 is No, and the addition of the nth line is excluded from the order determination table. Therefore, even if the item is related to a new item, the default set item is excluded from generation of the input screen by “False”, and the default setting is skipped from the setting flow of the wizard.

  In the present embodiment and the modified example, an example of application to the MFP has been described as an example of the information processing apparatus, but the information processing apparatus is not limited to this. For example, the information processing apparatus may be applied to an image processing apparatus (image forming apparatus or image reading apparatus) having one function instead of the multifunction peripheral. Further, the information processing apparatus may be applied to a projector, an electronic blackboard, and the like.

  The program executed by the computer according to the present embodiment and the modified example is a file in an installable format or an executable format such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). The program may be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Further, the programs of the present embodiment and the modified example may be configured to be provided by being incorporated in a ROM or the like in advance.

  Further, the program executed by the computer according to the present embodiment and the modified example may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet, and provided by being downloaded via the network. Further, the program executed by the computer according to the present embodiment and the modification may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

1 MFP
31 input unit 32 setting processing unit 33 decision processing unit 34 display output unit 100 control unit 201 copy application 202 scanner application 203 fax application 204 printer application 205 setting value application T attribute storage table

JP 2011-197924 A

Claims (10)

An information processing device that executes a function based on a setting of a plurality of setting items received on an input screen,
Input means for inputting information indicating the function,
Determining means for determining a setting flow of the plurality of setting items corresponding to the function input by the input means, based on dependency information indicating a dependency of the plurality of setting items;
Display means for displaying a setting screen of the plurality of setting items corresponding to the function in the determined setting flow,
An information processing apparatus comprising: Having storage means for storing dependency information indicating a dependency of the plurality of setting items,
The information processing device according to claim 1. The determining means comprises:
In response to the information indicating the function being input by the input unit, a setting flow of the plurality of setting items corresponding to the function is determined based on the dependency information indicating a dependency of the plurality of setting items. The information processing device according to claim 1. Setting means for performing setting processing of the dependency information,
The determining unit, when adding the dependency information indicating the new setting item by the setting process, according to the information indicating the function corresponding to the new setting item is input by the input unit, The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a setting flow of the plurality of setting items corresponding to a function is determined based on the dependency information indicating a dependency of the plurality of setting items including the new setting item. The setting means sets display information indicating that the new setting item is present in the information indicating the function when dependency information indicating a new setting item is added by the setting process.
The information processing device according to claim 4. The dependency information includes information indicating a correspondence relationship with the setting item on which the information indicating the function depends,
The determining unit limits the plurality of setting items corresponding to the function input by the input unit to the setting items on which information indicating the function depends.
The information processing device according to claim 1. further,
The dependency information includes information indicating a priority of the plurality of setting items,
The determining means rearranges the setting flow of the restricted setting item based on the information indicating the priority.
The information processing device according to claim 6. The determining means, in the setting flow, to skip the setting of a default set item,
The information processing device according to claim 1. An information processing method for executing a function based on a setting of a plurality of setting items received on an input screen,
Inputting information indicating the function;
Determining a setting flow of the plurality of setting items corresponding to the input function based on dependency information indicating a dependency of the plurality of setting items;
Displaying a setting screen of the plurality of setting items corresponding to the function in the determined setting flow,
An information processing method including: Computer
An input unit for inputting information indicating a function,
A determination processing unit that determines a setting flow of a plurality of setting items corresponding to the input function, based on dependency information indicating a dependency of the plurality of setting items;
A display output unit that displays a setting screen of the plurality of setting items corresponding to the function in the determined setting flow,
Program to make it work.

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