JP2020115395A - Print program and information processing terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a driver program that can perform processing of causing an image output device to perform output operation in an execution condition suitable for an application of an instruction source by a simple user operation.SOLUTION: A driver program 66 causes an information processing device to perform: first acquisition processing (S32/S42) of acquiring designated data and a dedicated application ID from an editing program 65 via an OS 64; second acquisition processing (S32/S43) of acquiring designated condition information; output instruction processing (S34/S45) of transmitting print instruction information to a multi-functional device 10 through a communication I/F; and first storage processing (S33/S44) of associating and storing the designated condition information and the designated application ID in a memory in response to a determination that the designated condition information and the designated application ID are not stored in the memory.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a program of an information processing terminal that causes an image output device to execute an output operation according to an execution condition indicated by condition information registered in advance.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a program of an information processing terminal that causes a printer to execute a printing operation in response to acquisition of a print request instruction from an application installed in the information processing terminal. More specifically, the program described in Patent Document 1 reads out the print setting information registered in advance in association with the application from the memory and causes the printer to execute the print operation according to the print setting information.

JP-A-8-147118

In the information processing terminal described in Patent Document 1, print setting information needs to be registered in advance for each application through the print mode setting screen shown in FIG. That is, in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that an independent advance preparation is required in order to execute the print operation using the print setting information. Then, as the number of applications installed in the information processing terminal increases, the burden on the user increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to realize a process of causing an image output device to perform an output operation under an execution condition suitable for an application of an instruction source by a simple user operation. To provide a driver program for an information processing terminal.

Various disclosures are made herein. The driver program, which is one of the disclosed examples, can be read by an information processing terminal including a memory, an input interface, and a communication interface. The driver program causes the information processing terminal to execute a first acquisition process for acquiring specified data and specified program information from the specified program via the OS of the information processing terminal. The designated data is data to be output by the image output device. The designated program information is program identification information for identifying the designated program. The driver program causes the information processing terminal to execute a second acquisition process of acquiring designated condition information. The designated condition information is condition information indicating an execution condition of the output operation for the designated data, and the input of the condition information stored in the memory in association with the designated program information. The condition information specified through the interface or the condition information specified through the input interface within the range of capability information indicating execution conditions that can be specified for the image output device. The driver program causes the information processing terminal to execute output instruction processing for transmitting output instruction information to the image output device through the communication interface. The output instruction information is information for instructing to execute the output operation targeting the designated data according to the execution condition indicated by the designated condition information. The driver program includes a first determination process for determining whether or not the specified condition information acquired in the second acquisition process is stored in the memory in association with the specified program information, and the first determination process. When it is determined that the specified condition information and the specified program information are stored in the memory in association with each other, the information processing apparatus is caused to execute the first storage processing.

According to the driver program according to the above disclosed example, when the execution of the print operation using the designated condition information not associated with the designated program information is instructed, the designated condition information is associated with the designated program information. Store in memory. That is, it becomes unnecessary to request the user to perform an independent process for registering the condition information in association with the designated program information. As a result, the process of causing the printer to execute the printing operation under the execution condition suitable for the designated program can be realized by a simple user operation.

The driver program which is another disclosed example can be read by an information processing terminal including a memory, an input interface, a communication interface, and a display. The driver program causes the information processing terminal to execute a first acquisition process for acquiring specified data and specified program information from the specified program via the OS of the information processing terminal. The designated data is data to be output by the image output device. The designated program information is program identification information for identifying the designated program. The driver program causes the information processing terminal to execute a first display process of displaying a first screen on the display. The first screen includes a condition object associated with each of the condition information stored in the memory, and an addition instruction object associated with the condition object. The driver program receives a user operation on the first screen through the input interface, and a condition specified in response to one of the condition objects being specified in the first reception process. The information processing terminal is caused to execute a second acquisition process for acquiring the condition information associated with the object as specified condition information and an output instruction process for transmitting output instruction information to the image output device through the communication interface. .. The output instruction information is information for instructing to execute the output operation targeting the designated data according to the execution condition indicated by the designated condition information. The driver program is associated with the condition information associated with the condition object corresponding to the specified addition instruction object in response to the addition instruction object being specified in the first reception process, The information processing terminal is caused to execute a first storage process of storing the designated program information in the memory.

According to the driver program according to another disclosure example, the association between the condition information and the designated program information can be changed by a simple operation through the first screen for allowing the user to designate the designated condition information.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-function peripheral 10 and an information processing terminal 50 that form a system 100 according to this embodiment. 2A and 2B show examples of information stored in the memory 62. FIG. 2A shows device information, FIG. 2B shows initial condition information, and FIG. 2C shows a condition list. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process in which the driver program 66 notifies the editing program 65 of condition information. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process in which the driver program 66 causes the multi-function peripheral 10 to execute a print operation according to an instruction from the editing program 65. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the condition list update process. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the execution condition determination process. 7A and 7B are display examples of the display 53, where FIG. 7A shows an edit screen and FIG. 7B shows a print screen. 8A and 8B are display examples of the display 53, where FIG. 8A shows a registration confirmation screen and FIG. 8B shows an addition confirmation screen. 9A and 9B show display examples of the display 53. FIG. 9A shows a condition list screen in which the check box 141 is unchecked, and FIG. 9B shows a condition list screen in which the check box 141 is checked. 10A and 10B show display examples of the display 53. FIG. 10A shows the condition edit screen displayed in S68, and FIG. 10B shows the condition edit screen displayed in S69.

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 goes without saying that the embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention. For example, the execution order of each process described below can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system 100 according to this embodiment. The system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a multifunction peripheral 10 and an information processing terminal 50. Further, the system 100 may include a single-function printer instead of the multifunction machine 10. The multifunction device 10 and the information processing terminal 50 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via the communication network 101. The specific example of the communication network 101 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, the Internet, a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, the multifunction device 10 and the information processing terminal 50 may be connected by a USB cable or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device 10 includes a printer 11, a FAX unit 13, a display 23, an input I/F 24, a communication I/F 25, a CPU 31, a memory 32, and a communication bus 33. Prepare mainly. The constituent elements of the multi-function peripheral 10 are connected to each other through the communication bus 33. The multifunction device 10 is an example of an image output device.

The printer 11 executes a print operation for recording an image represented by image data on a sheet. As the recording method of the printer 11, a known method such as an inkjet method or an electrophotographic method can be adopted. The FAX unit 13 executes a FAX transmission operation of FAX-transmitting image data to an external device and a FAX reception operation of FAX-receiving image data from the external device. The multi-function device 10 may further include a scanner that reads an image recorded on a document to generate image data. The print operation and the FAX transmission operation are examples of the output operation.

The display 23 is a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like, and has a display surface for displaying various information.

The input I/F 24 is a user interface that receives an input operation by the user. Specifically, the input I/F 24 has a button, and outputs various operation signals associated with the pressed button to the CPU 31. Furthermore, the input I/F 24 may include a film-shaped touch sensor that is superimposed on the display surface of the display 23. The operation of designating an object displayed on the display surface of the display 23 and the operation of inputting a character string or a number string are examples of user operations. The “object” is, for example, a character string displayed on the display 23, an icon, a button, a link, a radio button, a check box, a pull-down menu, or the like.

The input I/F 24, which is realized as a touch sensor, outputs position information indicating the position touched by the user on the display surface. It should be noted that the term “touch” in this specification includes all operations of bringing the input medium into contact with the display surface. In addition, even if the input medium does not touch the display surface, "hover" or "floating touch" that brings the input medium close to a position where the distance between the display surface and the display surface is very small is defined as the concept of "touch". May be included. Furthermore, the input medium may be a user's finger, a touch pen, or the like. The user operation of tapping the position of the object displayed on the display 23 is an example of the user operation of designating the object.

The communication I/F 25 is an interface capable of communicating with an external device via the communication network 101. That is, the multifunction peripheral 10 outputs various information to the external device through the communication I/F 25 and receives various information from the external device through the communication I/F 25. The specific communication procedure of the communication I/F 25 is not particularly limited, but Wi-Fi (registered trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance) can be adopted, for example. Further, when the multi-function device 10 and the information processing terminal 50 are connected by a USB cable or the like, the communication I/F 25 may be a USB interface to which the USB cable can be attached and detached.

The CPU 31 controls the overall operation of the multifunction machine 10. The CPU 31 acquires various programs to be described later from the memory 32 and executes them based on various information output from the input I/F 24, various information acquired from an external device through the communication I/F 25, and the like. The CPU 31 and the memory 32 form an example of a controller.

The memory 32 stores an OS 34 and a device program 35. The device program 35 may be a single program or an aggregate of a plurality of programs. The memory 32 also stores data or information necessary for executing the device program 35. The memory 32 is configured by, for example, a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, an HDD, a portable storage medium such as a USB memory that is attached to and detached from the multifunction device 10, a buffer provided in the CPU 31, or a combination thereof.

The memory 32 may be a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transmission medium. In addition to the above examples, the non-transmission medium also includes a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM. The non-transmission medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electric signal that carries a program downloaded from a server or the like 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 same applies to the memory 62 of the information processing terminal 50 described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing terminal 50 mainly includes a display 53, an input I/F 54, a communication I/F 55, a CPU 61, a memory 62, and a communication bus 63. The display 53, the input I/F 54, the communication I/F 55, the CPU 61, the memory 62, and the communication bus 63 included in the information processing terminal 50 include the display 23, the input I/F 24, the communication I/F 25, which are included in the multifunction peripheral 10. The configuration is similar to that of the CPU 31, the memory 32, and the communication bus 33, and the description thereof will be omitted. The CPU 61 and the memory 62 are an example of a controller.

The information processing terminal 50 may be, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a PC, or the like. The memory 62 stores an OS 64, an editing program 65, and a driver program 66. Further, the memory 62 can store the device information shown in FIG. 2A, the initial condition information shown in FIG. 2B, and the condition list shown in FIG. 2C.

The editing program 65 is a program that edits content data according to a user operation. The content data may be stored in the memory 62, or may be downloaded from a server (not shown), for example. The number of editing programs 65 installed in the information processing terminal 50 may be one or more. Further, the information processing terminal 50 may be installed with a browsing program for allowing the user to browse the content data. The editing program and the browsing program are programs that can be designated programs described later. The program installed in the information processing terminal 50 is uniquely identified by the application ID, which is an example of program identification information. The editing program 65 is identified by the application ID “application A”.

The driver program 66 is a program for instructing the multifunction device 10 to execute a print operation according to an instruction from the designated program. More specifically, the driver program 66 acquires the image data to be printed by the designated program, and sends the print instruction information to the multifunction machine 10 through the communication I/F 55. The print instruction information is an example of output instruction information for instructing execution of a print operation for the designated image data.

The device information includes a device ID “MFP-A” that identifies the multifunction device 10 and capability information that indicates the capability of the multifunction device 10. The capability information is information for indicating variations in execution conditions of print operations. The multi-function device 10 can execute the print operation according to the execution condition selected from the range of the capability information. As an example, the device information may be stored in the memory 62 when the driver program 66 is installed. As another example, the driver program 66 may receive the device information from the multifunction device 10 through the communication I/F 55 and store the received device information in the memory 62. As still another example, the driver program 66 may receive device information from a server (not shown) through the communication I/F 55 and store the received device information in the memory 62.

For example, the capability information includes size information, color information, and recording surface information. The size information is information indicating the size of the sheet on which the image is recorded (for example, "A4", "B5"). The color information is information indicating a color used for recording an image (for example, “monochrome” or “color”). The recording surface information is information indicating the surface (for example, "single-sided" or "double-sided") of the sheet on which the image is recorded. That is, the multi-function device 10 can execute a print operation for recording an image in "monochrome" or "color" on "one side" or "both sides" of the "A4" or "B5" sheet. However, the specific example of the capability information is not limited to the above example.

The initial condition information is information indicating the default value of the execution condition of the print operation to be executed by the multifunction machine 10. The initial condition information is stored in the memory 62 when the driver program 66 is installed, for example. Further, the driver program 66 may be able to change the initial condition information according to a user's instruction through the input I/F 54. The initial condition information is different from the condition information included in the condition record described later in that the application ID is not associated. For example, the initial condition information includes size information “A4”, color information “monochrome”, and recording surface information “single-sided”.

The condition list includes one or more condition records. The condition record is uniquely identified by the condition ID. The condition record includes condition information and one or more sets of corresponding application ID and default flag. When the driver program 66 is installed, no condition record is registered in the condition list. Then, the driver program 66 registers the condition record generated according to the user's instruction through the input I/F 54 in the condition list. The condition list is actually normalized and stored in the memory 62.

The default flag is information for identifying the condition information to be delivered to the program identified by the corresponding application ID, out of the plurality of condition information registered in the condition list. Of the plurality of default flags associated with the same application ID, one default flag is set to the first value “ON” and the other default flags are set to the second value “OFF”.

The operation of the system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

The flowchart in this specification basically shows the processing of the CPUs 31 and 61 according to the instructions described in the program. That is, the processes such as “judgment”, “extraction”, “selection”, “calculation”, “determination”, “specification”, and “control” in the following description represent the processes of the CPUs 31 and 61. The processing by the CPU 61 also includes hardware control via the OS 64. Further, “data” in the present specification is represented by a computer-readable bit string. Data having substantially the same meaning and different formats are treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in this specification.

Further, in the present embodiment, the OS 64, the editing program 65, and the driver program 66 specify the arguments of the function by calling the function defined in each program in steps S12, S13, S31, S32, S41, and S42. Hand over the information you have given. Here, the function called in each of the above steps may be one or plural. Further, the information to be passed may be designated as an argument of the same function or may be designated as an argument of a different function.

First, the editing program 65 of the information processing terminal 50 causes the display 53 to display the editing screen shown in FIG. The edit screen includes a read instruction icon 111, a print instruction icon 113, and an edited image 114. Then, the edit program 65 receives a user operation on the edit screen through the input I/F 54.

The editing program 65 causes the display 53 to display a list of readable content data in response to the user operation for designating the read instruction icon 111 received through the input I/F 54, and displays the edited image indicated by the read content data. 114 is displayed on the display 53, and the content data is edited in response to the user operation for instructing the editing of the edited image 114 being accepted through the input I/F 54.

The editing program 65 causes the memory 62 to temporarily store the data ID for identifying the content data being edited, in response to the user operation for designating the print instruction icon 113 being accepted through the input I/F 54 (S11). Hereinafter, the data ID temporarily stored here will be referred to as “designated data ID”, and the content data identified by the designated data ID will be referred to as “designated data”. Further, the editing program 65 secures a memory area (hereinafter, referred to as “designated area”) necessary for storing the condition information in the memory 62. The editing program 65 for which the print instruction icon 113 is designated is an example of a designated program, and the application ID “app A” of the editing program 65 is an example of designated program information (hereinafter referred to as “designated application ID”). ..

Further, the editing program 65 calls the reading function defined in the OS 64 by designating the designated application ID “application A” and the first pointer as arguments (S12). The first pointer indicates the start address of the reserved designated area. Hereinafter, the function called in step Sxx may be referred to as “function Sxx”. Next, the OS 64 defines in the driver program 66 the designated application ID “app A” designated as an argument of the read function S12 and the first pointer as an argument in response to the call of the read function S12. The read function S13 is called (S13).

Next, the driver program 66 acquires the designated application ID “application A” and the first pointer designated as the argument of the read function S13 in response to the call of the read function S13. The calling of the read function S13 is an example of a request for notification of condition information from a specified program by specifying a specified application ID. Then, the driver program 66 determines whether the condition information associated with the designated application ID is stored in the memory 62 (S14). More specifically, the driver program 66 determines whether or not a condition record including the app ID “app A” and the default flag “ON” is registered in the condition list. The process of S14 is an example of the second determination process.

Next, in response to the driver program 66 determining that the condition record including the app ID “app A” and the default flag “ON” is registered in the condition list (S14: Yes), FIG. The device information shown in (1) and the condition information included in the condition record are stored in the designated area indicated by the first pointer (S15). For example, the condition information “A4”, “monochrome”, and “double-sided” corresponding to the condition ID “003” are stored in the designated area. On the other hand, in response to the driver program 66 determining that the condition record including the application ID “app A” and the default flag “ON” is not registered in the condition list (S14: No), the driver program 66 is displayed as shown in FIG. The device information shown and the initial condition information shown in FIG. 2B are stored in the designated area indicated by the first pointer (S16).

Then, the driver program 66 ends the read function S13 (S17). Further, the OS 64 ends the read function S12 (S18) in response to the end of the read function S13 (S17). Further, the editing program 65 reads the device information and the condition information stored in the designated area in response to the completion of the read function S12 (S18). That is, the processing of S15 to S18 is an example of the notification processing in which the driver program 66 notifies the editing program 65 of the condition information and the like via the OS 64.

Next, the editing program 65 displays the print screen shown in FIG. 7B on the display 53 (S19). The print screen includes pull-down menus 121, 122, 123, an “OK” icon 124, a “driver” icon 125, and a preview image 126. Then, the editing program 65 receives a user operation on the print screen through the input I/F 54 (S20).

The pull-down menus 121 to 123 are objects for receiving designation of execution conditions within the range of capability information included in the device information stored in the designated area. In the pull-down menus 121 to 123 of the print screen displayed first, the condition information “A4”, “monochrome”, and “duplex” stored in the designated area are designated. Next, the editing program 65 overwrites the condition information stored in the designated area with the newly designated condition information in response to the user operation for the pull-down menus 121 to 123 accepted through the input I/F 54. For example, it is assumed that the condition information stored in the designated area is changed to size information “A4”, color information “color”, and recording surface information “duplex”.

Then, the editing program 65 receives the designation of the [OK] icon 124 through the input I/F 54 (S20: OK), and designates the designated application ID “app A”, the first pointer, and the second pointer as arguments. , And calls the first print instruction function defined in the OS 64 (S31). The second pointer indicates the top address of the memory area that stores the designated data. Alternatively, instead of the second pointer, the designated data ID may be designated as an argument. Next, the OS 64 designates the designated application ID, the first pointer, and the second pointer designated as the arguments of the first print instruction function S31 in response to the call of the first print instruction function S31. Then, the first print instruction function defined in the driver program 66 is called (S32).

Next, the driver program 66 responds to the call of the first print instruction function S32 by specifying the designated application ID “app A” designated as an argument of the first print instruction function S32, the first pointer, and the second pointer. A pointer is acquired (S32). The condition information stored in the designated area indicated by the first pointer obtained in step S32 is an example of the designated condition information received by the designated program through the input I/F 54. The driver program 66 reads the designated condition information from the designated area indicated by the first pointer. The driver program 66 reads the designated data from the memory area indicated by the second pointer.

That is, the driver program 66 acquires the designated application ID, the designated condition information, and the designated data from the designated program via the OS 64. The process in which the driver program 66 acquires the designated application ID, the first pointer, and the second pointer in step S32 is an example of the first acquisition process and the second acquisition process.

Next, the driver program 66 executes the condition list update process in response to the acquisition of the designated application ID, the designated condition information, and the designated data (S33). The condition list update process is a process of editing an existing condition record or newly registering a condition record based on the various information acquired in step S32. Details of the condition list update process will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the driver program 66 determines whether or not a condition record including the same condition information as the specified condition information “A4”, “color”, and “double-sided” is registered in the condition list (S51). Next, when the driver program 66 determines that the condition record including the same condition information as the designated condition information is not registered in the condition list (S51: No), the registration shown in FIG. A confirmation screen is displayed on the display 53 (S52). The process of S51 is an example of the first determination process, and the process of S52 is an example of the third display process.

The registration confirmation screen is an example of a suggestion screen suggesting that a new condition record including the specified condition information and the specified application ID is newly registered in the condition list. The registration confirmation screen includes a message “Do you want to associate the specified execution condition with the application and newly register it?”, a check box 131, a [YES] icon 132, and a [NO] icon 133.

Next, the driver program 66 receives a user operation on the registration confirmation screen through the input I/F 54 (S53). The process of S53 is an example of the third reception process. The driver program 66 switches the display mode of the check box 131 from one of the checked state and the unchecked state to the other in response to the designation of the check box 131 received through the input I/F 54.

Next, the driver program 66 newly assigns a number in response to accepting the designation of the [YES] icon 132 through the input I/F 54 with the check box 131 unchecked (S53: YES). A condition record including the condition ID "005", the specified condition information "A4", "color", "double-sided", the specified app ID "app A", and the default flag "OFF" is registered in the condition list (S54). The process of S54 is an example of the first storage process. The designation of the [YES] icon 131 is an example of an instruction operation for instructing execution of the first storage processing.

Further, the driver program 66, in the state where the check box 131 is checked, in response to receiving the designation of the [YES] icon 132 through the input I/F 54 (S53: YES), newly assigned condition ID “ A condition record including “005”, designated condition information “A4”, “color”, “double-sided”, designated app ID “app A”, and default flag “ON” is registered in the condition list (S54). Further, the driver program 66 sets the second value “OFF” to the default flag associated with the designated application ID “app A” and having the first value “ON” set in the condition record different from the condition ID “005”. To set.

On the other hand, when the driver program 66 receives the designation of the [NO] icon 133 through the input I/F 54 (S53: NO), S54 is skipped and the condition list update process is ended. The processing of S55 to S58 will be described later in S44.

Returning to FIG. 4, the driver program 66 transmits the print instruction information to the multifunction machine 10 through the communication I/F 55 (S34). The print instruction information is information for instructing to execute the print operation for the designated data according to the execution condition indicated by the designated condition information. The print instruction information includes, for example, designated data and designated condition information. The process of S34 is an example of the output instruction process. Next, the driver program 66 ends the first print instruction function S32. Further, the OS 64 ends the first print instruction function S31 in response to the end of the first print instruction function S32.

On the other hand, the device program 35 of the multi-function peripheral 10 receives the print instruction information from the information processing terminal 50 through the communication I/F 25. Then, the device program 35 causes the printer 11 to execute the print operation according to the print instruction information (S35). That is, the printer 11 according to the present embodiment records the image indicated by the designated data in color on both sides of an A4 size sheet.

Returning to FIG. 3, the editing program 65 receives the designation of the [driver] icon 125 through the input I/F 54 (S20: driver), and sets the application ID “app A” and the second pointer as arguments. , And the second print instruction function defined in the OS 64 is called (S41). Next, in response to the call of the second print instruction function S41, the OS 64 specifies the designated application ID and the second pointer designated as the arguments of the second print instruction function S41 as arguments, and then the driver program 66. The second print instruction function defined in step S42 is called (S42).

Next, the driver program 66 acquires the designated application ID “application A” and the second pointer designated as the arguments of the second print instruction function S42 in response to the call of the second print instruction function S42 ( S42). The driver program 66 reads the designated data from the memory area indicated by the second pointer. That is, the driver program 66 acquires the designated application ID and the designated data from the designated program via the OS 64. The process in which the driver program 66 acquires the designated application ID and the second pointer in step S42 is an example of the first acquisition process. Next, the driver program 66 executes an execution condition determination process (S43). The execution condition determination process is a process of determining designated condition information to be included in the print instruction information. Details of the execution condition determination processing will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the driver program 66 extracts a condition record that matches the first extraction condition from the plurality of condition records registered in the condition list (S61). The first extraction condition is a condition that the designated application ID “application A” is included. More specifically, the driver program 66 reads a condition record including the designated application ID “application A” from the condition list. For example, the condition records identified by the condition IDs “001” and “003” are read. The process of S61 is an example of the extraction process.

Next, the driver program 66 displays the condition list screen shown in FIG. 9A on the display 53 (S62). The condition list screen is an example of a first screen that allows the user to specify one of the condition records extracted in S61. The condition list screen shown in FIG. 9A has a check box 141, condition icons 142A and 144A, check boxes 142B and 144B associated with the condition icons 142A and 144A, a [print] icon 146, Edit] icon 147. The check box 141 is displayed in a state where the check is cleared. Then, the driver program 66 receives a user operation on the condition list screen through the input I/F 54 (S63, S64, S66). The process of S62 is an example of the first display process, and the processes of S63, S64, and S66 are an example of the first reception process.

The condition icons 142A and 144A are an example of a first condition object corresponding to one of the condition records extracted under the first extraction condition. In other words, the condition icons 142A and 144A correspond to one of the condition records including the designated application ID. Further, in the condition icons 142A and 144A, a character string representing the content of the condition information included in the corresponding condition record is described. Further, the condition icon 144A corresponding to the condition record having the first value "ON" set in the default flag has a display mode different from that of the condition icon 142A corresponding to the condition record having the second value "OFF" set in the default flag. different. For example, only the condition icon 144A is highlighted. Furthermore, the check boxes 142B and 144B corresponding to the first condition object are displayed in a checked state.

Then, in response to the user operation of checking the check box 141 being accepted through the input I/F 54 (S63: Yes), the driver program 66 performs the second extraction from the plurality of condition records registered in the condition list. A condition record that matches the condition is extracted (S61). The second extraction condition is a condition that it is registered in the condition list. That is, the driver program 66 reads all condition records from the condition list.

Next, the driver program 66 displays the condition list screen shown in FIG. 9B on the display 53 (S62). 9B differs from FIG. 9A in that the condition list screen shown in FIG. 9B further includes condition icons 143A and 145A and check boxes 143B and 145B associated with the condition icons 143A and 145A. In other respects, it is common with FIG. The condition icons 143A and 145A are an example of a second condition object corresponding to one condition record that does not include the designated application ID. The check boxes 143B and 145B corresponding to the second condition object are displayed in the unchecked state.

Further, the driver program 66, for example, in response to receiving a user operation for checking the check box 143B through the input I/F 54 (S64: Yes), the condition record associated with the condition icon 143A corresponding to the check box 143B. Includes the designated application ID “application A” and the default flag “OFF” (S65). This process is an example of the second storage process. That is, the check box 143B in the unchecked state is an example of the addition instruction object corresponding to the instruction to add the designated application ID to the condition record. Then, the driver program 66 causes the display 53 to display the condition list screen in which the check box 143B is changed from the unchecked state to the checked state (S62).

In addition, the driver program 66, for example, in response to receiving a user operation for canceling the check of the check box 142B through the input I/F 54 (S64), a condition record associated with the condition icon 142A corresponding to the check box 142B. Then, the designated application ID “application A” and the corresponding default flag are deleted (S65). This process is an example of the deletion process. That is, the checked check box 142B is an example of a deletion instruction object corresponding to an instruction to delete the designated application ID from the condition record. Then, the driver program 66 causes the display 53 to display the condition list screen in which the check box 142B is changed from the checked state to the unchecked state (S62).

Further, the driver program 66 uses the first extraction condition in response to the user operation for canceling the check of the check box 141 shown in FIG. 9B being accepted through the input I/F 54 (S63: Yes). The extraction process (S61) is executed again. Although not shown, the driver program 66 cancels the highlighted display of the condition icon 144A in response to receiving the designation of the highlighted condition icon 144A through the input I/F 54. Although not shown, the driver program 66 cancels the highlighting of the condition icon 144A and highlights the condition icon 142A in response to, for example, the designation of the condition icon 142A received through the input I/F 54. ..

In addition, the driver program 66 receives the designation of the [print] icon 146 through the input I/F 54 with the condition icon 144A highlighted, for example (S66: print), and S67 to S70 described later. Is skipped, and the condition information of the condition record associated with the condition icon 144A is determined as the designated condition information (S71). That is, the driver program 66 causes the memory 62 to temporarily store the condition information of the condition record associated with the condition icon 144A as the specified condition information. The process of S71 is an example of the second acquisition process. A user operation of tapping the [Print] icon 146 with the condition icon 144A highlighted is an example of a user operation of designating one of the first condition objects.

Further, the driver program 66 receives the designation of the [edit] icon 147 through the input I/F 54, for example, in a state where the condition icon 144A is highlighted (S66: edit & S67: Yes). The condition edit screen shown in (A) is displayed on the display 53 (S68). On the other hand, the driver program 66 receives the designation of the [Edit] icon 147 through the input I/F 54 in a state where all the condition icons 142A to 144A are not highlighted (S66:Edit & S67:No). ), the condition edit screen shown in FIG. 10B is displayed on the display 53 (S69). What is the process of S68 and S69? It is an example of a second display process.

The condition edit screen is an example of a second screen that allows the user to edit the condition information. The condition edit screen includes radio buttons 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, an “OK” icon 157, and a “cancel” icon 158. Each of the radio buttons 151 to 156 corresponds to one of the execution conditions indicated by the capability information. That is, the number of radio buttons displayed on the condition edit screen changes depending on the capability information.

In the condition edit screen shown in FIG. 10A, the radio buttons 151, 153, and 156 corresponding to the condition information of the condition record associated with the condition icon 144B are checked. That is, the initial state of the condition edit screen displayed in S68 shows the condition information designated by the user through the condition list screen. On the other hand, in the condition edit screen shown in FIG. 10B, the radio buttons 151, 153, 155 corresponding to the initial condition information are checked. That is, the initial state of the condition edit screen displayed in S69 indicates initial condition information.

Then, the driver program 66 receives a user operation on the condition edit screen through the input I/F 54 (S70). The process of S70 is an example of the second reception process. The driver program 66 changes the check state of the radio buttons 151 to 156 in response to receiving a user operation for checking one of the radio buttons 151 to 156 through the input I/F 54. As an example, the driver program 66 unchecks the radio button 151 and checks the radio button 152 in response to receiving the designation of the radio button 152 of FIG. 10A through the input I/F 54. The user operation of changing the check states of the radio buttons 151 to 156 is an example of the editing operation.

Further, the driver program 66 receives the designation of the [OK] icon 157 through the input I/F 54 (S70: Yes), and sets the condition information corresponding to the check states of the radio buttons 151 to 156 to the designated condition information. (S71). That is, the driver program 66 generates condition information corresponding to the check states of the radio buttons 151 to 156, and temporarily stores the generated condition information in the memory 62 as designated condition information. For example, assume that the [OK] icon 157 is tapped while the radio buttons 152, 153, 155 are checked. That is, the designated condition information includes size information "B5", color information "monochrome", and recording surface information "both sides".

Next, returning to FIG. 4, the driver program 66 executes a condition list update process (S44). Then, when the driver program 66 determines that the condition record identified by the condition ID “002” includes the specified condition information “B5”, “monochrome”, and “double-sided” (S51: Yes), the condition is determined. It is determined whether or not the record includes the designated application ID “application A” (S55). The process of S55 is an example of the first determination process.

Next, the driver program 66 skips S56 to S58 described later and updates the condition list in response to determining that the specified application ID is included in the condition record including the specified condition information (S55: Yes). The process ends. On the other hand, when the driver program 66 determines that the condition record including the specified condition information does not include the specified application ID (S55: No), the addition confirmation screen shown in FIG. To be displayed (S56). Then, the driver program 66 receives a user operation on the additional confirmation screen through the input I/F 54 (S57). The process of S56 is an example of the third display process, and the process of S57 is an example of the third reception process.

The addition confirmation screen is an example of a suggestion screen that suggests adding the specified application ID to the condition record including the specified condition information. The registration confirmation screen includes a message "Do you want to associate the application with the specified execution condition?", a check box 136, a [YES] icon 137, and a [NO] icon 138.

The driver program 66 switches the display mode of the check box 136 from one of the checked state and the unchecked state to the other in response to the designation of the check box 136 received through the input I/F 54. Then, in the state where the check box 136 is unchecked, the driver program 66 receives the designation of the [YES] icon 137 through the input I/F 54 (S57: YES), and sets the condition ID “002”. The specified application ID “application A” and the default flag “OFF” are added to the identified condition record (S58). The process of S58 is an example of the first storage process. The designation of the [YES] icon 137 is an example of an instruction operation for instructing execution of the first storage processing.

Further, the driver program 66 is identified by the condition ID “002” when the check box 136 is checked and the designation of the [YES] icon 137 is accepted through the input I/F 54 (S57:YES). The designated application ID “application A” and the default flag “ON” are added to the condition record (S58). Further, the driver program 66 sets the second value “OFF” to the default flag associated with the designated application ID “app A” and set to the first value “ON” in the condition record different from the condition ID “002”. To set. On the other hand, when the driver program 66 receives the designation of the [NO] icon 138 through the input I/F 54 (S57: NO), S58 is skipped and the condition list update process is terminated.

Returning to FIG. 4 again, the driver program 66 transmits the print instruction information to the multifunction device 10 through the communication I/F 55 (S45). The process of S45 is an example of the output instruction process. Then, the device program 35 of the multi-function peripheral 10 causes the printer 11 to execute the printing operation according to the print instruction information received from the information processing terminal 50 (S46). The processing of S45 and S46 may be the same as S34 and S35.

[Operation and effect of this embodiment]
As an example of the operation and effect of this embodiment, the device program 35 uses which condition information among the condition information stored in the memory 62 in association with the specified program ID when the specified data is acquired from the specified program. The user can specify through the condition list screen whether or not to execute the output operation. Then, when the user designates the designated condition information through the condition list screen, the association between the condition information and the designated application ID can be changed by accepting a simple user operation through the check boxes 142B to 145B.

As another example, by accepting a series of user operations through the condition editing screen, the condition information stored in the memory 62 is edited into the specified condition information, and the specified condition information is associated with the specified application ID and stored in the memory 62 can be stored. As still another example, when the designated condition information acquired from the designated program is not associated with the designated application ID, the designated condition information is stored in the memory 62 in association with the designated application ID.

Further, according to the above embodiment, when the designated condition information not associated with the designated application ID is designated, the designated condition information is stored in the memory 62 in association with the designated application ID. The user is informed through the confirmation screen or the additional confirmation screen. As a result, only the specified condition information desired by the user can be stored in the memory 62 in association with the specified application ID.

Further, in the multi-function peripheral 10 and the information processing terminal 50 of the above-described embodiment, the various programs stored in the memories 32 and 62 are executed by the CPUs 31 and 61, whereby the respective processes executed by the controller of the present invention are realized. I explained an example. However, the configuration of the controller is not limited to this, and part or all of the controller may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit.

Furthermore, the present invention may be realized not only as the multifunction peripheral 10 and the information processing terminal 50, but also as a program that causes the multifunction peripheral 10 and the information processing terminal 50 to execute processing. Then, the program may be recorded and provided in a non-transitory recording medium. The non-transitory recording medium may include a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, and the like, as well as a storage unit mounted in a server that can be connected to the multifunction peripheral 10 and the information processing terminal 50 via a communication network. Then, the program stored in the storage unit of the server may be distributed through a communication network such as the Internet as information or a signal indicating the program.

10... Multifunction device 11... Printer 13... FAX unit 23, 53... Display 24, 54... Input I/F
25, 55... Communication I/F
31, 61... CPU
32, 62... Memory 34, 64... OS
35... Device program 50... Information processing terminal 65... Editing program 66... Driver program

Claims (9)

A driver program readable by an information processing terminal including a memory, an input interface, and a communication interface,
The driver program causes the information processing terminal to execute a first acquisition process for acquiring designated data and designated program information from a designated program via the OS of the information processing terminal, and the designated data is output by an image output device. The designated program information is program identification information for identifying the designated program,
The driver program causes the information processing terminal to execute a second acquisition process for acquiring specified condition information, and the specified condition information is condition information indicating an execution condition of the output operation for the specified data. Of the condition information stored in the memory in association with the specified program information, the condition information specified through the input interface or capability information indicating execution conditions that can be specified for the image output device. The condition information specified through the input interface within the range of
The driver program causes the information processing terminal to execute an output instruction process of transmitting output instruction information to the image output device through the communication interface, and the output instruction information indicates the output operation targeting the designated data, Information for instructing execution according to the execution condition indicated by the specified condition information,
The driver program is
A first determination process of determining whether or not the specified condition information acquired in the second acquisition process is stored in the memory in association with the specified program information;
A driver for causing the information processing apparatus to execute a first storage process of storing the specified condition information and the specified program information in the memory in association with each other in response to the determination that the specified condition information is not stored in the first judgment process. program. The information processing terminal includes a display,
The driver program is responsive to executing the first acquisition process,
Of the condition information stored in the memory, an extraction process of extracting the condition information associated with the designated program information,
A first display process of displaying a first screen including a first condition object on the display is executed by the information processing terminal, and the first condition object is associated with each of the condition information extracted in the extraction process. Is a conditional object,
The driver program is
A first reception process for receiving a user operation on the first screen through the input interface;
The second condition acquiring the condition information associated with the specified first condition object as the specified condition information in response to one of the first condition objects being specified in the first acceptance process. The driver program according to claim 1, which causes the information processing terminal to execute an acquisition process. The first screen further includes a second condition object and an addition instruction object associated with the second condition object, and the second condition object is one of the condition information stored in the memory. The condition object associated with the condition information not associated with the specified program information,
The driver program is associated with the condition information associated with the second condition object corresponding to the specified addition instruction object in response to the addition instruction object being specified in the first reception processing. 3. The driver program according to claim 2, wherein the driver program causes the information processing terminal to execute a second storage process of storing the designated program information in the memory. The first screen further includes a cancellation instruction object associated with the first condition object,
The driver program is stored in the memory in association with the condition information associated with the corresponding first condition object in response to the cancellation instruction object being designated in the first acceptance process. The driver program according to claim 2 or 3, which causes the information processing terminal to execute a deletion process of deleting the designated program information. The first screen further includes an edit instruction object for instructing to edit the condition information,
The driver program is responsive to one of the condition objects and the edit instruction object being designated in the first acceptance process,
Second display processing for displaying a second screen including the condition information associated with the specified condition object on the display,
A second receiving process for receiving an editing operation for editing the condition information displayed on the second screen through the input interface;
The driver program according to any one of claims 2 to 4, which causes the information processing terminal to execute the second acquisition process of acquiring the condition information edited in the second reception process as the specified condition information. The information processing terminal includes a display,
The driver program is
Third display processing for displaying a suggestion screen suggesting execution of the first storage processing on the display in response to the determination that the display is not stored in the first determination processing,
After displaying the suggestion screen in the third display process, the information processing terminal is caused to execute a command operation for instructing the execution of the first storage process through the input interface,
The driver program according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which causes the information processing terminal to execute the first storage processing in response to receiving the instruction operation in the third reception processing. The driver program is
In the second acquisition process, the condition information received by the specified program through the input interface is acquired from the specified program through the OS as the specified condition information.
In response to the first determination processing determining that the designated condition information acquired from the program is not stored in the memory in association with the designated program information, the third display processing is performed by the information processing terminal. The driver program according to claim 6, which is executed by a computer. The driver program is
It is determined whether or not the condition information associated with the specified program information is stored in the memory in response to the specified program information being specified and the notification of the condition information requested by the specified program. A second determination process to
In response to determining that the condition information is stored in the second determination process, the information processing terminal is caused to execute a notification process of notifying the designated program of the condition information via the OS,
The driver program according to claim 7, wherein in the second acquisition process, the specified condition information is acquired from the specified program to which the condition information has been notified by the notification process. A driver program readable by an information processing terminal including a memory, an input interface, a communication interface, and a display,
The driver program causes the information processing terminal to execute a first acquisition process for acquiring designated data and designated program information from a designated program via the OS of the information processing terminal, and the designated data is output by an image output device. The designated program information is program identification information for identifying the designated program,
The driver program causes the information processing terminal to execute a first display process of displaying a first screen on the display, and the first screen is a condition associated with each of the condition information stored in the memory. An object and an additional instruction object associated with the condition object,
The driver program is
A first reception process for receiving a user operation on the first screen through the input interface;
A second acquisition process for acquiring, as specified condition information, the condition information associated with the specified condition object in response to one of the condition objects being specified in the first reception process;
The information processing terminal is caused to execute an output instruction process of transmitting output instruction information to the image output device through the communication interface, and the output instruction information includes the specified operation condition, the output operation targeting the specified data, and the specified condition information. It is information for instructing to execute according to the execution condition indicated by
The driver program is associated with the condition information associated with the condition object corresponding to the specified addition instruction object in response to the addition instruction object being specified in the first reception process, A driver program for causing the information processing terminal to execute a first storage process of storing the specified program information in the memory.