JP2020170524A - Output program and portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an output program which outputs content data designated through a program having a designation interface to an output device suitable for the program.SOLUTION: An output program makes a portable terminal execute acquisition processing of acquiring information provided from an activation source program when activated by the activation source program, first determination processing (S34) of determining whether a program ID has been acquired by the acquisition processing, second determination processing (S35) of determining whether the device ID associated with the program ID has been stored in response to determining that the program ID has been acquired (S34: Yes), first decision processing (S36) of deciding the device ID as a designation device ID in response to determining that the device ID has been stored (S35: Yes), and output instruction processing of transmitting output instruction information to an output device identified by the designation device ID.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to an output program that outputs content data and a mobile terminal that executes the output program.

Conventionally, there have been known applications in which a user specifies content data and an output device executes an output operation for the specified content data. For example, the application described in Patent Document 1 causes a user to specify image data stored in a mobile terminal, and causes a printer to print an image indicated by the image data.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-203742

In recent years, the methods for specifying content data have diversified, and it is required to develop an interface suitable for each method. For example, the interface for extracting a desired area from a map image and the interface for editing an image to be printed on the surface of a CD-ROM or the like are significantly different. Therefore, there is a tendency to develop a plurality of programs having a designation interface specialized for a specific designation method.

On the other hand, the process for causing the output device to execute the output operation may differ greatly depending on the manufacturer or model of the output device. Therefore, in order to execute the process, it is necessary to develop a program suitable for each output device. However, it is extremely difficult to develop a plurality of programs having an optimum designation interface for a specific designation method, and then further implement the optimum processing for causing the output device to execute the output operation in each program. In particular, if a plurality of output devices having different specifications are attempted to execute an output operation, the implementation load of the optimum processing for each output device increases the possibility of affecting the implementation of the designated interface.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an output program capable of outputting content data designated through a program having a designated interface to an output device suitable for the program. To provide.

(1) The output program described in the present specification can be read by a mobile terminal including a communication unit and a storage unit. The communication unit can communicate with a plurality of output devices through a communication network. The output device can perform at least one of a plurality of output operations for outputting content data. The storage unit can store a start-up source program that can be read by the mobile terminal, and can store a plurality of sets of program identification information and device identification information corresponding to each other. The program identification information is information for identifying the activation source program. The device identification information is information for identifying the output device. The activation source program causes the user to specify the content data, activates the output program, and provides the output program with designated data information for identifying the designated content data. Can be executed. The output program can cause the mobile terminal to execute an acquisition process for acquiring information provided by the activation source program in response to being activated by the activation source program. In the acquisition process, at least the designated data information is acquired. The output program has a first determination process of adding the program identification information to the designated data information and determining whether or not the program identification information has been acquired in the acquisition process, and the first determination process of determining that the program identification information has been acquired. The second determination process for determining whether or not the device identification information associated with the program identification information is stored in the storage unit, and the device identification information being stored are described above. The first determination process of determining the device identification information as the designated device information according to the determination in the second determination process, and the output instruction process of transmitting the output instruction information to the output device identified by the designated device information. To the mobile terminal. The output instruction information is information for outputting the content data identified by the designated data information.

According to the above configuration, the content data identified by the designated data information acquired from the activation source program is output to the output device associated with the program identification information of the activation source program. As a result, the content data specified by the activation source program can be output to an output device suitable for the activation source program.

(2) Preferably, the output program has acquired the device identification information and the third determination process of adding the device identification information to the designated data information to determine whether or not the device identification information has been acquired by the acquisition process. A fourth determination process for determining whether or not communication is possible between the output device identified by the device identification information and the communication unit according to the determination in the third determination process, and a communication possibility and the fourth determination process. In response to the determination in the above, the second determination process of determining the device identification information acquired in the acquisition process as the designated device information, and the third determination process of determining that the device identification information has not been acquired. Alternatively, the mobile terminal is made to execute the first determination process in response to the determination that communication is not possible in the fourth determination process.

According to the above configuration, when the starting program further accepts the designation of the output device, the output device can be made to execute the output operation.

(3) Preferably, in the third determination process, the output program determines whether or not the program identification information and the device identification information are added to the designated data information and acquired in the acquisition process, and the program In response to the determination in the third determination process that the identification information and the device identification information have been acquired, the mobile terminal is subjected to a storage process in which the program identification information and the device identification information are associated and stored in the storage unit. Let it run.

According to the above configuration, the device identification information specified by the user through the activation source program is stored in the storage unit in association with the program identification information of the activation source program. As a result, the output device indicated by the device identification information can be made to execute the output operation at the next startup by the start source program.

(4) Preferably, the mobile terminal includes an operation unit. The output program performs the fifth determination process of determining whether or not the designated operation information has been acquired in the acquisition process in response to the determination in the first determination process that the program identification information has not been acquired. Let the mobile terminal execute it. The designated operation information is information for identifying the designated operation which is the output operation to be executed by the output device. The output program can execute the designated operation identified by the designated operation information and can communicate through the communication unit in response to the determination in the fifth determination process that the designated operation information has been acquired. A first reception process for receiving a search process for searching an output device, a user operation for designating one of the device identification information of the output device found in the search process, and the first reception process for receiving the user operation through the operation unit. The mobile terminal is made to execute the third determination process of determining the device identification information designated in the process as the designated device information. The output instruction information is information that causes the content data identified by the designated data information to be output by the designated operation.

According to the above configuration, since the user is made to select one of the output devices capable of executing the specified operation identified by the specified operation information acquired from the start source program, the output device is output to the output device suitable for the start source program. The operation can be executed.

(5) Preferably, the output program designates one of the plurality of output operations as the designated operation in response to the determination in the fifth determination process that the output program has not acquired the designated operation information. A second reception process for receiving a user operation to be performed through the operation unit, and a search process for searching for an output device capable of executing the designated operation specified in the second reception process and communicating through the communication unit. The mobile terminal is made to execute the first reception process and the third decision process.

According to the above configuration, since the user is made to select the designated operation for outputting the content data and the output device capable of executing the designated operation, the output device suitable for the start-up source program can execute the designated operation.

(6) Preferably, the output program performs a storage process of associating the program identification information acquired in the acquisition process with the device identification information designated in the first reception process and storing the device identification information in the storage unit. Let the mobile terminal execute it.

According to the above configuration, the device identification information specified by the user through the output program is stored in the storage unit in association with the program identification information of the activation source program. As a result, the output device indicated by the device identification information can be made to execute the output operation at the next startup by the start source program.

(7) Preferably, the output program causes the mobile terminal to execute a providing process of providing the designated device information determined by the first determination process or the third determination process to the activation source program.

According to the above configuration, the device identification information of the output device suitable for the start source program can be recognized by the start source program.

(8) Preferably, the mobile terminal includes a display unit. The output program causes the mobile terminal to execute a preview display process for displaying the preview screen on the display unit.
The preview screen includes the preview image showing the execution result of the output operation according to the output instruction information, the device switching object corresponding to the switching of the designated device information, and the output instruction corresponding to the execution of the output instruction process. Including objects. The output program receives the user operation for selecting an object through the operation unit, the third reception process, and the search process and the first reception process in response to the reception of the selection of the device switching object in the third reception process. The reception process is executed by the mobile terminal, and the output instruction process is executed by the mobile terminal in response to the reception of the selection of the output instruction object in the third reception process.

According to the above configuration, the output device determined by the determination process can be changed to the output device desired by the user. As a result, the output device suitable for the starting program can execute the output operation.

(9) Preferably, the output program is started by the OS of the mobile terminal that has received the user operation instructing the start of the output program, regardless of the start process by the start program. The fourth determination process of determining the device identification information stored in the storage unit in association with the program identification information of the output program as the designated device information, and the user operation of designating the designated data information are performed. The output instruction information that causes the mobile terminal to execute the fourth reception process received through the unit and outputs the content data identified by the designated data information specified in the fourth reception process in the output instruction process. , The output device identified by the designated device information determined in the fourth determination process is transmitted through the communication unit.

According to the above configuration, the content data specified by the output program can be output to an output device suitable for the output program.

(10) The mobile terminal described in the present specification includes a communication unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The communication unit can communicate with a plurality of output devices through a communication network. The output device can perform at least one of a plurality of output operations for outputting content data. The storage unit can store a start-up source program that can be read by the mobile terminal, and can store a plurality of sets of program identification information and device identification information corresponding to each other. The program identification information is information for identifying the activation source program. The device identification information is information for identifying the output device. The control unit that executes the activation source program causes the user to specify the content data, activates the output program, and provides the output program with designated data information for identifying the designated content data. It is possible to execute the startup process. The control unit that executes the output program activated by the activation source program can execute an acquisition process for acquiring information provided by the activation source program. In the acquisition process, at least the designated data information is acquired. The control unit that executes the output program adds the program identification information to the designated data information and determines whether or not the program identification information has been acquired by the acquisition process, and has acquired the program identification information. The second determination process for determining whether or not the device identification information associated with the program identification information is stored in the storage unit according to the determination in the first determination process, and the device identification information The first determination process of determining the device identification information as the designated device information and the output instruction information to the output device identified by the designated device information according to the determination in the second determination process that the device is stored. Is executed with the output instruction processing to send. The output instruction information is information for outputting the content data identified by the designated data information.

According to the present invention, the content data identified by the designated data information acquired from the activation source program is output to the output device associated with the program identification information of the activation source program, and is therefore suitable for the activation source program. The content data can be output to the output device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording system 100 according to an embodiment. 2A and 2B are a block diagram of the multifunction device 10 and FIG. 2B is a block diagram of the mobile terminal 50. FIG. 3 is an example of the information stored in the data storage area 62B, in which (A) shows the device information list, (B) shows the device change flag, and (C) shows the registration device ID. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the external activation process. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the device determination process. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the device selection process. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the standard start processing. 8A and 8B are display examples of the display unit 53, in which FIG. 8A shows a menu screen and FIG. 8B shows a label editing screen before the label image is edited. 9A and 9B are display examples of the display unit 53, in which FIG. 9A shows a label editing screen after the label image has been edited, and FIG. 9B shows an operation selection screen. 10A and 10B show a display example of the display unit 53, in which FIG. 10A shows a device selection screen and FIG. 10B shows a preview screen. 11A and 11B are display examples of the display unit 53, in which FIG. 11A shows a main screen and FIG. 11B shows an acquisition source selection screen. 11A and 11B are display examples of the display unit 53, in which FIG. 11A shows a data selection screen and FIG. 11B shows a preview screen. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a sharing function realized by the shared API.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. It goes without saying that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the recording system 100 according to the present embodiment. The recording system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is composed of multifunction devices 10A and 10B (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as "multifunction device 10") and a mobile terminal 50. The multifunction device 10 and the mobile terminal 50 are configured to be able to communicate through the communication network 101. The communication network 101 may be, for example, a wired LAN (abbreviation for Local Area Network), a wireless LAN, or a combination thereof.

[Multifunction device 10]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the multifunction device 10 includes a printer unit 11, a scanner unit 12, a fax unit 13, a display unit 23, an operation unit 24, a communication unit 25, and a mounting unit 26. , CPU (abbreviation of Central Processing Unit) 31, a storage unit 32, and a communication bus 33 are mainly provided. The components constituting the multifunction device 10 are connected to each other through the communication bus 33. The multifunction device 10 is an example of an output device.

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

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

In addition, the output operation is a label printing operation for recording a disk-shaped image (hereinafter referred to as "label image") on the surface of a CD-ROM, an embossing operation for forming irregularities on the surface of a card or the like, and a postcard. It may include a postcard printing operation for recording an image on a label, a garment printing operation for recording an image on a fabric, and the like. These operations can be performed only by an output device having dedicated hardware for recording an image on a recording medium (for example, CD-ROM, card, postcard, cloth) different from general recording paper. Further, the output operation includes a bookbinding operation for binding a plurality of recording sheets on which an image is recorded, a 3D printing operation for generating a three-dimensional structure based on CAD data, an embroidery operation for sewing a thread into a cloth to generate an image, and the like. May include. These operations can also be realized only by an output device having dedicated hardware.

The operations that can be performed by the multifunction devices 10A and 10B may be different. In the present embodiment, the multifunction device 10A can execute a print operation, a fax transmission operation, and a label print operation, and the multifunction device 10B can execute a print operation, a media storage operation, and a label print operation. Further, the output device is not limited to one capable of performing a plurality of operations, and may be capable of performing only a single operation. Even if the MIB (abbreviation of Management Information Base) of the multifunction device 10 defines, for example, a device ID for identifying the multifunction device 10 and operation information indicating an operation that the multifunction device 10 can perform. Good. The operation information may include, for example, an operation ID for identifying an operation that can be performed. The device ID is an example of device identification information, and the operation ID is an example of operation identification information.

[Display unit 23]
The display unit 23 includes a display screen for displaying various information. As the display unit 23, a liquid crystal display (abbreviation of Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL display (abbreviation of Organic Electro-Luminence Display), and the like can be adopted.

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

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

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

The term "touch" in the present specification includes all operations of bringing the input medium into contact with the display screen. That is, a tap operation for separating the touched input medium from the display screen within a predetermined time, a long touch operation for keeping the touched input medium stationary on the display screen, a slide operation for sliding the touched input medium on the display screen, and a display screen. A flick operation in which the acceleration of the input medium that slides up is above the threshold, a pinch-in operation that slides two input media that touched different positions on the display screen in a direction that brings them closer to each other, and two touches that touch different positions on the display screen. A pinch-out operation in which the input media are slid away from each other is an example of touch.

Further, even if the input medium does not touch the display screen, bringing the input medium close to a position where the distance from the display screen is very small may be included in the above-mentioned concept of "touch". Further, the input medium may be a user's finger, a stylus, or the like. Hereinafter, tapping at the position of the icon displayed on the display unit 53 will be described as an example of a user operation for selecting the icon.

[Communication unit 25]
The communication unit 25 is an interface for communicating with an external device through the communication network 101. That is, the multifunction device 10 outputs various information to the mobile terminal 50 through the communication unit 25, and receives various data or various information from the mobile terminal 50 through the communication unit 25. The specific communication procedure of the communication unit 25 is not particularly limited, but for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance) can be adopted.

[Mounting part 26]
The mounting unit 26 is an interface to which the portable storage medium is attached / detached. The CPU 31 can read data or information from the portable storage medium mounted on the mounting unit 26, or write data or information to the portable storage medium mounted on the mounting unit 26. Specific examples of the portable storage medium are not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a USB memory, an SD card, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or the like.

[CPU31]
The CPU 31 controls the overall operation of the multifunction device 10. The CPU 31 acquires and executes various programs described later from the storage unit 32 based on various information output from the operation unit 24 and various information acquired from the external device through the communication unit 25. That is, the CPU 31 and the storage unit 32 form an example of the control unit.

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

It should be noted that "data" and "information" in the present specification are common in that they are bits or bit strings that can be handled by a computer. "Data" refers to data that can be handled without the computer considering the meaning and content of each bit. On the other hand, "information" refers to information in which the operation of a computer branches depending on the meaning and content indicated by each bit. Further, the "instruction" is a control signal for prompting the destination device to perform the next operation, may include information, and has the property of information itself. There is also.

In addition, "data" and "information" are the same data and information as long as they are recognized as having the same meaning even if the format (for example, text format, binary format, flag format, etc.) is changed for each computer. Treated as. For example, information indicating that there are "two" is retained as text format information "0x32" in ASCII code on one computer, and as binary format information "10" in binary notation on another computer. May be done.

However, the above distinction between "data" and "information" is not strict, and exceptional handling is permitted. For example, the data may be temporarily treated as information, or the information may be temporarily treated as data. Further, what is treated as data in one device may be treated as information in another device. Furthermore, information may be extracted from the data, or data may be extracted from the information.

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

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

The program stored in the program storage area 32A is executed by the CPU 31. However, in the present specification, the operation of each program may be described by omitting the CPU 31. That is, in the following description, the description to the effect that "the program A executes the process A" may refer to "the CPU 31 executes the process A described in the program A". The same applies to the mobile terminal 50 described later.

Further, the program stored in the program storage area 32A determines an event and operates according to the determination result. However, in the present specification, the operation of each program may be described without making a judgment. That is, in the following description, the description to the effect that "the control program executes the process A according to the condition A" is "determines whether or not the control program is the condition A. The control program makes an affirmative judgment. The process A may be executed depending on the fact that the process A is executed. The same applies to the mobile terminal 50 described later.

Further, the program stored in the program storage area 32A identifies, acquires, extracts, or selects data or the like. When a program specifies data or the like, for example, data that meets the conditions is specified from a plurality of data or the like, and the data or the like or information for identifying the data or the like is stored in a predetermined storage area. Refers to the process of memorizing. The information for identifying the data or the like is, for example, identification information for identifying the data or the like, an index of an array in which the data or the like is stored, a pointer of a storage area in which the data or the like is stored, or the like. The same applies to the process in which the program acquires, extracts, or selects data or the like. The same applies to the mobile terminal 50 described later.

The OS 34 is an API (Application) for controlling the printer unit 11, the scanner unit 12, the FAX unit 13, the display unit 23, the operation unit 24, the communication unit 25, the mounting unit 26, etc., which are the hardware constituting the multifunction device 10. It is a basic program that provides (abbreviation of Programming Interface). That is, each of the above programs controls each hardware by calling the API provided by the OS 34. However, in this specification, the operation of each program may be described by omitting OS34. That is, in the following description, the description to the effect that "program B controls hardware C" may refer to "program B controls hardware C through the API of OS34". The same applies to the mobile terminal 50 described later.

[Mobile terminal 50]
As shown in FIG. 2B, the mobile terminal 50 mainly includes a display unit 53, an operation unit 54, a communication unit 55, a CPU 61, a storage unit 62, and a communication bus 63. The display unit 53, the operation unit 54, the communication unit 55, the CPU 61, the storage unit 62, and the communication bus 63 included in the mobile terminal 50 are the display unit 23, the operation unit 24, the communication unit 25, and the CPU 31 included in the multifunction device 10. Since the configuration is the same as that of the storage unit 32 and the communication bus 33, the description thereof will be omitted. The CPU 61 and the storage unit 62 are examples of control units. The mobile terminal 50 is, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, or the like.

The OS 64, the output program 65, the content designation program 66, and the program A (not shown) are stored in the program storage area 62A of the storage unit 62. The content designation program 66 and the program A are examples of the activation source program. Further, various information shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the data storage area 62B of the storage unit 62. Further, the data storage area 62B may be provided with a content data folder in which content data is stored. The content data may be, for example, image data, photo data, document data, spreadsheet data, presentation data, moving image data, music data, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, the display unit 53 of the mobile terminal 50 is divided into a common display area 80 and a program display area 81. In the common display area 80, the status bar is displayed by the OS 64 regardless of the display contents of the program display area 81. Various information is displayed on the status bar depending on the OS64. In the status bar, for example, the title of the screen displayed in the program display area 81, the icon indicating the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal 50, the icon indicating the communication status of the communication unit 55, and the push received by the mobile terminal 50 from the external service. An icon or the like indicating a notification is displayed. In the program display area 81, a screen generated by a program running in the foreground is displayed.

Hereinafter, when it is described that "the program causes the display unit 53 to display the screen", it is assumed that the program screen is displayed in the program display area 81 and the status bar is displayed in the common display area 80. The program screen is a screen displayed in the program display area 81 according to the instruction of the program. However, the display unit 53 can switch between a partial screen mode in which the display area is divided into a common display area 80 and a program display area 81, and a full screen mode in which the entire display area is the program display area 81. May be good.

OS64 may be, for example, Android (registered trademark of Google inc.) OS, iOS (registered trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc.), Windows Phone (registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation) Operating System, and the like. The OS 64 can execute a plurality of programs installed in the mobile terminal 50 in parallel. A plurality of programs are virtually executed in parallel by a time division multiplexing method, for example. Further, the OS 64 executes one of a plurality of programs executed in parallel in the foreground, and executes the other programs in the background.

The foreground is, for example, a state in which a program screen based on the execution of the program is displayed in most of the display area of the display unit 53. The “most of the display area” may refer to, for example, the program display area 81. The background is, for example, a state in which a program screen based on the execution of a program different from the program is displayed in most of the display area of the display unit 53. That is, the mobile terminal 50 can display only the program screen based on the execution of the program executed in the foreground on the display unit 53 among the plurality of programs executed in parallel.

The output program 65 is a program that causes the multifunction device 10 connected through the communication unit 55 to execute an output operation for the content data. The output program 65 transmits, for example, recording instruction information for executing the print operation, FAX instruction information for executing the FAX transmission operation, and the like to the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 55. The recording instruction information and the FAX instruction information are examples of output instruction information. Further, the output program 65 can transmit output instruction information for causing the multifunction device 10 to execute a label printing operation, an embossing operation, a postcard printing operation, a garment printing operation, a bookbinding operation, a 3D printing operation, an embroidery operation, and the like. May be good. Further, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the preview screen before transmitting the output instruction information.

The content specification program 66 causes the user to specify at least one of the content data, the output operation, and the output device. Further, the content designation program 66 can start the output program 65 by designating at least one of the program ID, the designated data ID, the designated operation ID, and the designated device ID. These processes executed by the content designation program 66 are examples of startup processes. Further, the program A is another example of a content designation program that executes a startup process.

Hereinafter, the content data specified by the user is referred to as "designated data", the output operation specified by the user is referred to as "designated operation", and the output device specified by the user is referred to as "designated device". Further, the designated operation and the designated device may be designated in advance by the program. The program ID is an example of program identification information for identifying the content designation program 66, the designated data ID is an example of designated data information for identifying designated data, and the designated device ID is for identifying the designated device. It is an example of designated device information, and the designated operation ID is an example of designated operation information for identifying the designated operation.

The content designation program 66 according to the present embodiment edits a label image according to a user operation, and provides the output program 65 with label image data indicating the label image as designated data. However, the specific example of the content designation program 66 is not limited to this. As an example, the program A may have the user specify one of a plurality of photographic data stored in the data storage area 62B, and provide the designated photographic data to the output program 65. As another example, the program A may cause the user to specify an arbitrary area of the map image and provide the output program 65 with image data indicating the map image of the designated area.

The content designation program 66 can start the output program 65 as a so-called plug-in, for example. In this case, the content designation program 66 may execute the plug-in API for starting the application as a plug-in with the information for specifying the output program 65, the URI, and the designated information as arguments. The argument specified by the plug-in API may be, for example, information in the intent format used in the Android OS. Alternatively, the content specification program 66 may start the output program 65 by executing the explicit shared API described later. The arguments specified in the explicit shared API may be common to the plug-in API.

The output program 65 is started by, for example, the content designation program 66.
The output program 65 is a program that acquires the program ID, the designated data ID, the designated device ID, and the designated operation ID provided from the content designation program 66, and causes the designated device to execute the designated operation for the designated data. The output program 65 can acquire various information provided by the content specification program 66 by referring to, for example, an argument in the intent format. The output program 65, for example, transmits output instruction information for executing the label print operation to the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 55.

Further, the output program 65 operates according to various information acquired from the content designation program 66, and can provide the generated information generated by the operation to the content designation program 66. As the generated information, for example, image data generated by the output program 65, a URL indicating the location of the generated image data, result information indicating an operation result by the output program 65, and the like can be considered.

As an example, the output program 65 may provide the generated information to the content designation program 66 by adding the generated information to the argument in the intent format. The argument to which the output program 65 has added the generated information is provided as a return value to the content specification program 66. As a result, the content designation program 66 can acquire various information included in the return value. As another example, the output program 65 may provide generation information to the content specification program 66 as a return value of the plug-in API or the explicit shared API executed by the content specification program 66 to start the output program 65. Good.

As another example, the output program 65 may provide the generated information to the content designation program 66 by storing the generated information in the area of the storage unit 62 accessible to the content designation program 66. In this case, the content designation program 66 acquires the generated information by reading the generated information stored in the storage unit 62. As another example, the output program 65 provides the content specification program 66 with the generation information by executing an API for passing the arguments to the application, using the information for specifying the content specification program 66 and the generation information as arguments. You may. The argument in this case may also be intent-format information.

The OS 64 provides the program installed in the mobile terminal 50 with a sharing function that starts the second program designated by the first program and provides the designated information specified by the first program to the second program. The first program can use the sharing function, for example, by executing the API provided by OS64 (hereinafter, referred to as "shared API"). More specifically, the first program executes the shared API with the program ID and the specified information of the second program as arguments. The details of the sharing function will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the sharing source application 41 executes the sharing API of the OS 64 to realize the sharing function (S1). At least URI (abbreviation of Uniform Resource Identifier), type, and action are required as arguments to execute the implicit shared API. The argument may be, for example, intent format information. The sharing source application 41 may include other information in the argument of the implicit sharing API. The URI is information indicating the location of the shared data. The type is information indicating the data format of the shared data.
The action is information indicating the type of processing (for example, viewing, editing, transmission, printing, etc.) for the shared data to be executed by the sharing destination application. The URI, type, and action are examples of designated information provided by the sharing source application to the requesting application.

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

Next, the OS 64 starts the application with the URI, the type, and the action as arguments in response to receiving the user operation for selecting one of the listed applications through the operation unit 54 (S4). (S5). In the following embodiment, the content designation program 66 corresponds to the application 41 of FIG. 13, and the output program 65 corresponds to one of the applications 42 to 44 of FIG.

The processing of steps S2 to S5 may be executed by the sharing source application. In this case, the sharing source application acquires information from the OS 64 that identifies an application that can execute the process indicated by the action for the shared data in the data format indicated by the type in step S2. Then, in step S5, the sharing source application starts the application selected by the user operation by executing the explicit sharing API with the information, URI, type, and action that identifies the application acquired from OS64 as arguments. Can be made to. The sharing source application 41 may include other information in the argument of the explicit sharing API.

Alternatively, the sharing source application executes an explicit sharing API with predetermined application-specific information, URI, type, and action as arguments in response to the user being instructed to use the sharing function. May start a predetermined sharing destination application. In the present embodiment, for example, the output program 65 may be set as a predetermined sharing destination application in the content designation program 66 which is the sharing source application. More specifically, the information for specifying the output program 65 may be described in the setting file referenced by the content designation program 66 at startup or the source code of the content designation program 66.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the data storage area 62B can store the program ID and the device ID associated with the program ID. Hereinafter, the information shown in FIG. 3A may be referred to as a “device information list”, and each record shown in FIG. 3A may be referred to as a “device information record”. That is, the device information list can include a plurality of device information records. The device information list is edited by the output program 65.

In the present embodiment, the content designation program 66 is identified by the program ID "001", the program A is identified by the program ID "002", and the output program 65 is identified by the program ID "999". In the present embodiment, the device ID of the multifunction device 10A is "MFP-A", and the device ID of the multifunction device 10B is "MFP-B". Hereinafter, the device ID associated with the program ID “999” of the output program 65 may be referred to as a “default ID”. The default ID may be, for example, specified by the user through a user interface (not shown), or may be a designated device ID determined by a device determination process described later.

Further, the data storage area 62B stores the device change flag as shown in FIG. 3 (B). The device change flag indicates whether or not the designated device has been changed in the device selection process described later. The device change flag is set to either "ON" indicating that the designated device has been changed or "OFF" indicating that the designated device has not been changed. The initial value of the device change flag is "OFF". The value of the device change flag is set by the output program 65.

Further, the data storage area 62B can store the registration device ID as shown in FIG. 3C. The registration device ID is a device ID provided from the output program 65 to the content designation program 66 in step S20 described later. The registration device ID is edited by the content designation program 66.

[Operation of recording system 100]
The operation of the recording system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. The recording system 100 executes a process of causing the multifunction device 10A designated based on the user operation to perform a label print operation on the content data designated by the mobile terminal 50 based on the user operation.

First, the OS 64 of the mobile terminal 50 displays the menu screen on the display unit 53 and displays the status bar on the common display area 80. FIG. 8A is an example of the menu screen. The menu screen shown in FIG. 8A includes a plurality of program icons 111, 112, 113, 114, 115. The program icons 111 to 115 correspond to the programs installed in the mobile terminal 50. For example, the program icon 111 corresponds to the program A, the program icon 114 corresponds to the output program 65, and the program icon 115 corresponds to the content designation program 66.

Then, the OS 64 accepts one selection of the program icons 111 to 115 through the operation unit 54. The OS 64 activates the content designation program 66 in response to receiving the selection of the program icon 115 through the operation unit 54, and executes the content designation program 66 in the foreground. The selection of the program icon 115 is an example of a user operation instructing the start of the content designation program 66.

The content designation program 66 causes the display unit 53 to display the label edit screen in response to being started by the OS 64 that has accepted the selection of the program icon 114. FIG. 8B is an example of a label editing screen before the label image is edited. FIG. 9A is an example of a label editing screen after the label image has been edited. The label editing screen shown in FIGS. 8B and 9A includes a label image display area 121, a plurality of editing icons 122, 123, 124, a device icon 125, and a label icon 126. Then, the content designation program 66 accepts the selection of the icon included in the label edit screen through the operation unit 54.

The label image display area 121 is an area for displaying a label image edited by using the edit icons 122 to 124. The edit icon 122 corresponds to an instruction to add a character string to the label image. The edit icon 123 corresponds to an instruction to add a color to the label image. The edit icon 124 corresponds to an instruction to add a photo to the label image. The device icon 125 corresponds to an instruction to switch the designated device. The label icon 126 corresponds to an instruction to start the output program 65 by designating the label print operation as a designated operation.

The device icon 125 describes the registration device ID “MFP-A” stored in the data storage area 62B. The registration device ID is temporarily stored in the data storage area 62B as a temporary designated device ID at the time of starting the content designation program 66. On the other hand, when the registration device ID is not stored in the data storage area 62B, a character string such as "unselected" indicating that the registration device ID does not exist may be described in the device icon 125.

Further, the label icon 126 shown in FIG. 8B is grayed out as an example of a non-selectable mode. However, as another example of the non-selectable mode, the label icon 126 may be hidden on the label editing screen shown in FIG. 8 (B). On the other hand, the label icon 126 shown in FIG. 9A is in a selectable mode. That is, the label icon 126 cannot be selected before the label image is edited, and can be selected according to the editing of the label image.

The content designation program 66 edits the label image according to the user operation in response to receiving the selection of the edit icons 122 to 124 through the operation unit 54. Then, the content designation program 66 causes the display unit 53 to display the label editing screen in which the edited label image is arranged in the label image display area 121. Further, the content designation program 66 uses label image data indicating the edited label image as designated data and a data ID for identifying the label image data (for example, "label image.PEG") as designated data ID. Temporarily store in the data storage area 62B.

The output program 65 and the content designation program 66 can read, edit, or delete the data stored in the storage unit 62 by using the API of the OS64. The data ID is information in a format used to specify data in the API of OS64.
The data ID is, for example, a file path or a URI. If the designated data and the designated data ID are already temporarily stored in the data storage area 62B, they are overwritten with the new designated data and the designated data ID.

The storage destination of the label image data indicating the edited label image may be, for example, an external server (not shown) such as a cloud server. That is, the content designation program 66 may transmit the label image data indicating the edited label image to the external server through the communication unit 55. Then, the content designation program 66 may temporarily store the data ID of the label image data as the designated data ID in the data storage area 62B. The designated data ID in this case may be, for example, in the form of a URL for downloading the label image data from an external server.

As an example, the content designation program 66 displays a software keyboard (not shown) on the display unit 53 in response to the selection of the edit icon 122, and a character string input through the software keyboard is placed at a position desired by the user. Deploy. As another example, the content specification program 66 displays a list of selectable colors on the display unit 53 in response to the selection of the edit icon 123, and displays the color selected through the operation unit 54 as the background of the label image. Set to color. As yet another example, the content specification program 66 causes the display unit 53 to display a list of selectable photos in response to the selection of the edit icon 124, and the user desires the photos selected through the operation unit 54. Place it in the desired position.

Further, the content designation program 66 executes the device selection process shown in FIG. 6 in response to receiving the selection of the device icon 125 through the operation unit 54. Details of the device selection process will be described later. The content designation program 66 may accept the designation of the designated operation in steps S42 and S43 described later, or the label print operation may be predetermined as the designated operation. Then, the content designation program 66 temporarily stores the device ID of the multifunction device 10 selected in the device selection process in the data storage area 62B as a temporary designation device ID. If the temporary designated device ID is already temporarily stored in the data storage area 62B, it is overwritten with the new device ID.

Further, the content designation program 66 outputs the program ID, the designated data ID, the device ID which is the temporary designated device ID, and the designated operation ID in response to the acceptance of the selection of the label icon 126 through the operation unit 54. Is used as an argument to execute the API for starting the output program 65. The API executed here may be an API for invoking the output program 65 as a plug-in, or may be an explicit shared API. As a result, the OS 64 executes the content designation program 66 in the background and the output program 65 in the foreground. In the present embodiment, the program ID "001" and the designated operation ID "label print operation" are fixed, and the designated data ID "label image.JPEG" and the device ID "MFP-A" are designated by the user by the above-mentioned processing. It is a thing.

The content designation program 66 may provide at least the designated data ID, and the provision of the program ID, the device ID, and the designated operation ID can be omitted. Further, the designated operation ID does not have to be fixed. The content program 66 may further include, for example, a print icon corresponding to the print operation, a FAX icon corresponding to the FAX transmission operation, a media icon corresponding to the media save operation, and the like in the label edit screen. Then, the content designation program 66 may provide the operation ID of the output operation corresponding to the selected icon to the output program 65 as the designated operation ID.

[External startup process]
As shown in FIG. 4, the output program 65 acquires the information provided by the content designation program 66 in response to being activated by the activation process by the content designation program 66 (S11). The output program 65 acquires at least the designated data ID. The output program 65 according to the present embodiment acquires the program ID “001”, the designated data ID “label image.JPEG”, the device ID “MFP-A”, and the designated operation ID “label print operation”. Then, the output program 65 temporarily stores various information acquired from the content designation program 66 in the data storage area 62B. The process of step S11 is an example of the acquisition process.

Next, the output program 65 executes the device determination process (S12). The device determination process is a process of determining the multifunction device 10 to execute the designated operation for the designated data. The details of the device determination process will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the output program 65 determines whether or not the device ID has been acquired in step S11 (S31). Next, in response to the determination that the output program 65 has acquired the device ID “MFP-A” (S31: Yes), the multifunction device 10A identified by the device ID “MFP-A” is transmitted through the communication unit 55. It is determined whether or not communication is possible (S32). The process of step S31 is an example of the third determination process, and the process of step S32 is an example of the fourth determination process.

For example, in step S32, the output program 65 transmits an echo request of ICMP (abbreviation of Internet Control Message Protocol) to the multifunction device 10A through the communication unit 55. Then, the output program 65 determines that the multifunction device 10A is in a communicable state in response to receiving the echo reply from the multifunction device 10A through the communication unit 55. On the other hand, the output program 65 determines that the multifunction device 10A is in a non-communication state in response to the fact that the echo reply cannot be received even after a predetermined time has elapsed. However, the method for determining whether or not the multifunction device 10A can communicate is not limited to the above example, and other well-known methods may be adopted.

Then, the output program 65 determines the device ID “MFP-A” acquired from the content designation program 66 as the designated device ID in response to the determination that the multifunction device 10A is in a communicable state (S32: Yes). (S33). Then, the output program 65 temporarily stores the device ID “MFP-A” acquired from the content designation program 66 in the data storage area 62B as the designated device ID. The process of step S33 is an example of the second determination process.

On the other hand, the output program 65 determines that the device ID has not been acquired (S31: No), or that the multifunction device 10A is in a non-communication state (S32: No). , It is determined whether or not the program ID has been acquired in step S11 (S34). Next, in response to the determination that the output program 65 has acquired the program ID "001" (S34: Yes), the device ID associated with the program ID "001" is stored in the device information list. Whether or not it is determined (S35). The process of step S34 is an example of the first determination process, and the process of step S35 is an example of the second determination process.

Then, the output program 65 determines that the device ID "MFP-A" associated with the program ID "001" is stored in the device information list (S35: Yes), and the device ID " "MFP-A" is determined as the designated device ID (S36). That is, the output program 65 temporarily stores the device ID “MFP-A” in the data storage area 62B as the designated device ID. The process of step S36 is an example of the first determination process. Further, the output program 65 sets “ON” for the device change flag (S37).

On the other hand, the output program 65 determines that the device ID associated with the program ID is not stored in the device information list in response to the determination that the program ID has not been acquired (S34: No). (S35: No), the device selection process is executed (S38). The device selection process is a process of accepting a user operation for designating a designated device. The details of the device selection process will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the output program 65 determines whether or not the designated operation ID has been acquired in step S11 (S41). The process of step S41 is an example of the fifth determination process. Next, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the operation selection screen in response to the determination that the designated operation ID has not been acquired (S41: No) (S42). FIG. 9B is an example of the operation selection screen. The operation selection screen shown in FIG. 9B includes a plurality of operation icons 131, 132, 133, 134. The operation icon 131 corresponds to the print operation, the operation icon 132 corresponds to the label print operation, the operation icon 133 corresponds to the FAX transmission operation, and the operation icon 134 corresponds to the media save operation.

Next, the output program 65 accepts a user operation for selecting one of the operation icons 131 to 134 included in the operation selection screen through the operation unit 54 (S43). The output program 65 determines, for example, the label print operation corresponding to the operation icon 132 as the designated operation in response to the selection of the operation icon 132 being received through the operation unit 54 (S43: Yes). That is, the output program 65 temporarily stores the operation ID of the label print operation in the data storage area 62B as the designated operation ID. The process of step S43 is an example of the second reception process. On the other hand, the output program 65 skips the processes of steps S42 and S43 in response to the determination that the designated operation ID has been acquired (S41: Yes).

Next, the output program 65 searches for the multifunction device 10 capable of executing the designated operation among the plurality of multifunction devices 10 capable of communicating through the communication unit 55 (S44). The process of step S44 is an example of the search process. The output program 65 uses, for example, SNMP (abbreviation for Simple Network Management Protocol) to transmit transmission request information requesting transmission of the device ID and operation information stored in the MIB to the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 55. .. Next, the output program 65 receives the device ID and the operation information returned from the multifunction device 10 through the communication unit 55. Next, the output program 65 compares the designated operation ID with the operation ID included in the operation information received from the multifunction device 10. Then, the output program 65 specifies the multifunction device 10 whose operation information includes the designated operation ID as the target multifunction device. In the present embodiment, the multifunction devices 10A and 10B whose operation information includes the designated operation ID "label print operation" are specified as the target multifunction devices.

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

As another example, the transmission request information may include a designated operation ID. The control program 35 of the multifunction device 10 may receive transmission request information from the mobile terminal 50 through the communication unit 25 and determine whether or not the designated operation ID included in the transmission request information is stored in the MIB. Then, the control program 35 may transmit the device ID to the mobile terminal 50 through the communication unit 25 in response to the determination that the designated operation ID is stored in the MIB. On the other hand, the control program 35 does not transmit the device ID to the mobile terminal 50 in response to the determination that the designated operation ID is not stored in the MIB. Then, the output program 65 of the mobile terminal 50 may specify the multifunction device 10 indicated by the device ID received through the communication unit 55 as the target multifunction device.

Next, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the device selection screen (S45). FIG. 10A is an example of a device selection screen. The device selection screen shown in FIG. 10A includes device icons 135 and 136. The device icons 135 and 136 correspond to the multifunction devices 10A and 10B, which are the target multifunction devices specified in step S44. Further, the device IDs of the corresponding multifunction devices 10A and 10B are described in the device icons 135 and 136. Then, the output program 65 accepts the selection of the icon included in the device selection screen through the operation unit 54 (S46).

Next, the output program 65 assigns the device ID “MFP-A” of the multifunction device 10A corresponding to the device icon 135, for example, in response to receiving the selection of the device icon 135 through the operation unit 54 (S46: Yes). , The designated device ID is determined (S47). That is, the output program 65 temporarily stores the device ID “MFP-A” as the designated device ID in the data storage area 62B. The process of step S46 is an example of the first reception process, and the process of step S47 is an example of the third decision process. Further, the output program 65 sets the device change flag to “ON” (S48).

Returning to FIG. 4, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the preview screen (S13). Then, the output program 65 accepts the selection of the icon included in the preview screen through the operation unit 54 (S14). The process of step S13 is an example of the preview display process, and the process of step S14 is an example of the third reception process. FIG. 10B is an example of a preview screen. The preview screen shown in FIG. 10B includes a preview image 141, a device icon 142, and a print icon 143.

The preview image 141 is an image showing the result of causing the designated device to execute the designated operation for the designated data. The preview image according to the present embodiment shows an image in which the label image is recorded on the surface of the CD-ROM by the multifunction device 10A. The device icon 142 is an example of a device switching object corresponding to an instruction to switch a designated device. The current designated device ID is described in the device icon 142. The print icon 143 is an example of an output instruction object corresponding to an execution instruction of the output instruction process described later.

For example, in step S13, the output program 65 reads the label image data from the data storage area 62B using the API of OS64, and generates the preview image data using the label image data. On the other hand, when the label image data is stored in the external server, the output program 65 receives the label image data from the external server through the communication unit 55 in step S13, and generates the preview image data using the label image data. You may.

Next, the output program 65 executes the device selection process in response to receiving the selection of the device icon 142 through the operation unit 54 (S14: device icon) (S15).
Since the details of the device selection process have already been described, the description will be omitted again. Then, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the preview screen in which the designated device ID switched in step S15 is described in the device icon 142 (S13).

Further, the output program 65 transmits output instruction information to the multifunction device 10A, which is a designated device, through the communication unit 55 in response to receiving the selection of the print icon 143 through the operation unit 54 (S14: print icon) (S16). ). The output instruction information is information for causing the designated device to execute the designated operation for the designated data. The output instruction information of the present embodiment includes label image data identified by the designated data ID "label image.JPEG" and output operation ID "label print operation". Specifically, the output program 65 reads the designated data using the API of the OS 64, generates output instruction information including the read designated data, and transmits the generated output instruction information to the multifunction device 10A through the communication unit 55. .. The process of step S16 is an example of the output instruction process.

When the designated data ID is a URL for downloading the designated data from the external server, the output program 65 receives the designated data from the external server through the communication unit 55, and outputs output instruction information including the received designated data. You may generate and transmit the generated output instruction information to the compound machine 10A through the communication unit 55. Alternatively, the output program 65 may transmit output instruction information including a URL for downloading the designated data from the external server to the multifunction device 10A through the communication unit 55.

On the other hand, although not shown, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10A receives output instruction information from the mobile terminal 50 through the communication unit 25. Then, the control program 35 causes the printer unit 11 to execute an output operation according to the received output instruction information. The printer unit 11 in the present embodiment executes a label print operation of recording the label image represented by the label image data "label image.JPEG" on the surface of the CD-ROM. Alternatively, the multifunction device 10A may download the designated data from the external server using the URL included in the output instruction information, and have the printer unit 11 execute the label print operation for the designated data.

Next, the output program 65 stores the device information record including the program ID “001” acquired in step S11 and the designated device ID “MFP-A” in the device information list (S17). If a device information record including the same program ID is already stored, it is overwritten with a new device information record. If the program ID has not been acquired in step S11, the output program 65 skips the process of step S17. The process of step S17 is an example of a storage process. Further, the output program 65 may store the designated device ID “MFP-A” as the default ID in the device information record including the program ID “999” of the output program 65.

Next, the output program 65 determines the value set in the device change flag (S18). Then, the output program 65 sets “OFF” in the device change flag according to the determination that “ON” is set in the device change flag (S18: Yes). Further, the output program 65 provides the designated device ID to the content designation program 66, which is the activation source program (S20). The process of step S20 is an example of the provided process. On the other hand, the output program 65 skips the processes of steps S19 and S20 in response to the determination that "OFF" is set in the device change flag (S18: No).

Further, although not shown, the content designation program 66 acquires the designation device ID provided by the output program 65. Then, the content designation program 66 stores the designated device ID acquired from the output program 65 in the data storage area 62B as the registration device ID. If the registered device ID is already stored in the data storage area 62B, it is overwritten with the designated device ID acquired from the output program 65. The content designation program 66 that realizes these processes may be executed in the foreground or in the background.

[Action and effect of this embodiment]
According to the above embodiment, the content data identified by the designated data ID provided by the content designation program 66 can be output to the output device determined by the device determination process. The output device determined by the device determination process is an output device identified by the device ID provided by the content designation program 66, and an output device identified by the device ID associated with the program ID of the content designation program 66. , Or an output device specified by the user in the device selection process.

More specifically, the output device identified by the designated device ID determined in steps S33 and S36 is an output device to which output instruction information is transmitted by the output program 65 that the content designation program 66 has started in the past. That is, the output device can execute the designated operation. Further, the output device identified by the designated device ID determined in step S47 is an output device capable of executing the designated operation.

As a result, the content data designated by the content designation program 66 can be output to an output device suitable for the content designation program 66. These processes are particularly advantageous when an output device having dedicated hardware is required, such as a label print operation, an embossing operation, a postcard print operation, a garment print operation, a 3D print operation, or an embroidery operation. It works.

Further, the designated device ID determined in the device determination process is stored in the device information list in association with the program ID of the content designation program 66 (S17), and is registered as the registration device ID in the content designation program 66 (S20). .. As a result, when the output program 65 is started next time by the content designation program 66, the output device to which the output instruction information was transmitted in the previous output instruction process can execute the output operation. That is, the output device suitable for the content designation program 66 can execute the designated operation.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the content designation program 66 activated through the menu screen activates the output program 65 as a plug-in has been described. However, the content designation program 66 may activate the output program 65 by using the sharing function. Alternatively, as shown in the following modification, the output program 65 may start the content designation program 66 as a plug-in.

[Modification example]
Hereinafter, the operation of the recording system 100 according to the modified example will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The detailed description of the common points with the above-described embodiment will be omitted, and the differences will be mainly described. First, the OS 64 activates the output program 65 in response to receiving the selection of the program icon 114 through the operation unit 54, and executes the output program 65 in the foreground. The output program 65 executes the standard start-up process shown in FIG. 7 according to the start-up process by the OS 64, not by the start-up process by the content designation program 66.

First, the output program 65 determines the default ID as the designated device ID (S51).
That is, the output program 65 reads the device ID "MFP-A" associated with the program ID "999" from the device information list, and temporarily uses the device ID "MFP-A" as the designated device ID in the data storage area 62B. Remember. The process of step S51 is an example of the fourth determination process.

Next, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the main screen (S52). FIG. 11A is an example of the main screen. The main screen shown in FIG. 11A includes a plurality of operation icons 146, 147, 148 and device icons 149. Then, the output program 65 accepts the selection of various icons included in the main screen through the operation unit 54 (S53).

The operation icons 146 to 148 correspond to the output operation specified by the operation information of the multifunction device 10A which is the designated device. The operation icon 146 corresponds to the print operation, the operation icon 147 corresponds to the FAX transmission operation, and the operation icon 148 corresponds to the label print operation. The operation information of the multifunction device 10A may be acquired from the multifunction device 10A in step S52, for example, or the operation information acquired in step S44 may be included in the device information record. The device icon 149 corresponds to an instruction to switch the designated device. In the device icon 149, the device ID “MFP-A” of the multifunction device 10A, which is a designated device at the present time, is described.

Next, the output program 65 executes the device selection process in response to receiving the selection of the device icon 149 through the operation unit 54 (S53: device icon) (S54).
Since the details of the device selection process have already been described, the description will be omitted again. Then, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the main screen in which the designated device ID switched in step S54 is described in the device icon 149 (S52).

Further, the output program 65 determines, for example, the print operation corresponding to the operation icon 146 as the designated operation in response to the selection of the operation icon 146 being received through the operation unit 54 (S53: operation icon). That is, the output program 65 temporarily stores the operation ID of the print operation in the data storage area 62B as the designated operation ID. Next, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the acquisition source selection screen (S55). Then, the output program 65 accepts the selection of the icon included in the acquisition source selection screen through the operation unit 54 (S56).

FIG. 11B is an example of an acquisition source selection screen. The acquisition source selection screen is a screen for allowing the user to select the acquisition source of the designated data. The acquisition source selection screen shown in FIG. 11B includes acquisition source icons 151 and 152 and plug-in icons 153 and 154. The acquisition source icon 151 corresponds to the photo data folder of the data storage area 62B, which is the acquisition source of the photo data, and the acquisition source icon 152 corresponds to a server (not shown) on the Internet. Further, the plug-in icon 153 corresponds to the content designation program 66, and the plug-in icon 154 corresponds to the program A.

Next, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the data selection screen in response to, for example, receiving the selection of the acquisition source icon 151 through the operation unit 54 (S56: acquisition source icon) (S57). Then, the output program 65 accepts the selection of the icon included in the data selection screen through the operation unit 54 (S58). The process of step S58 is an example of the fourth reception process.

FIG. 12A is an example of a data selection screen. The data selection screen shown in FIG. 12A includes a plurality of data icons 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160.
The data icons 155 to 160 correspond to content data that can be designated as designated data. The data icons 155 to 160 correspond to the photo data stored in the photo data folder of the data storage area 62B. On the other hand, when the acquisition source icon 152 is selected, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display a data selection screen including a data icon corresponding to the content data stored in the server on the Internet.

Next, the output program 65 determines the content data corresponding to the data icon 155 as the designated data, for example, in response to receiving the selection of the data icon 155 through the operation unit 54 (S58: Yes). That is, the output program 65 temporarily stores the data ID of the content data corresponding to the data icon 155 in the data storage area 62B as the designated data ID.

Next, the output program 65 causes the display unit 53 to display the preview screen (S59).
Then, the output program 65 accepts the selection of the icon included in the preview screen through the operation unit 54 (S60). The process of step S59 is an example of the preview display process, and the process of step S60 is an example of the third reception process.

FIG. 12B is an example of a preview screen. The preview screen shown in FIG. 12B includes a preview image 161 and a print icon 162. The preview image 161 is an image showing the result of outputting the designated data designated in step S58 by the designated operation designated in step S53. That is, the preview image 161 indicates an image in which the photograph represented by the photographic data corresponding to the data icon 155 is recorded on the recording paper. The print icon 162 corresponds to an execution instruction of the output instruction process.

Then, the output program 65 transmits the recording instruction information to the multifunction device 10A, which is the designated device, through the communication unit 55 in response to receiving the selection of the print icon 162 through the operation unit 54 (S60: Yes) (S61). .. The process of step S61 is an example of the output instruction process. On the other hand, although not shown, the control program 35 of the multifunction device 10A receives the recording instruction information from the mobile terminal 50 through the communication unit 25. Then, the control program 35 causes the printer unit 11 to execute a print operation according to the received print instruction information. That is, the printer unit 11 records the photograph indicated by the photographic data included in the recording instruction information on the recording paper.

On the other hand, the output program 65 activates the content designation program 66 corresponding to the plug-in icon 153, for example, in response to receiving the selection of the plug-in icon 153 through the operation unit 54 (S56: plug-in icon) (S62). .. For example, in step S62, the output program 65 may execute a function for starting the content specification program 66 as a plug-in, or may specify the program ID of the content specification program 66 and execute the shared API. .. Then, the OS 64 executes the output program 65 in the background and the content designation program 66 in the foreground.

The content designation program 66 executes the process described with reference to FIGS. 8 (B) and 9 (A) in response to being activated by the output program 65. Then, the content designation program 66 provides, for example, a designated data ID or the like as a return value of the function or shared API executed by the output program 65 in step S62. These processes are an example of start-up processes. Then, the output program 65 executes the external activation process shown in FIG. 4 (S63). Since the details of the external startup process have already been described, the description will be omitted again.

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

Further, the present invention can be realized not only as a mobile terminal 50 but also as a program for causing the mobile terminal 50 to execute a process. Then, the program may be recorded and provided on a non-transitory recording medium. The non-transitory recording medium may include a storage unit mounted on a server that can be connected to the mobile terminal 50 through the communication network 101, in addition to a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, and the like. Then, the program stored in the storage unit of the server may be distributed as information or a signal indicating the program through a communication network 101 such as the Internet.

10 ... Multifunction device 11 ... Printer unit 12 ... Scanner unit 25, 55 ... Communication unit 31, 61 ... CPU
35 ... Control program 65 ... Output program 66 ... Content designation program 50 ... Mobile terminal 53 ... Display unit 54 ... Operation unit 62 ... Storage unit

Claims (10)

An output program that can be read by a mobile terminal including a communication unit and a storage unit, the communication unit can communicate with a plurality of output devices through a communication network, and the output device outputs a plurality of content data. It is possible to execute at least one of the output operations of the above, and the storage unit stores an activation source program that can be read by the mobile terminal, and sets a plurality of program identification information and device identification information corresponding to each other. The program identification information can be stored, the program identification information is information for identifying the activation source program, and the device identification information is information for identifying the output device.
The activation source program causes the user to specify the content data, activates the output program, and provides the output program with designated data information for identifying the designated content data. Can be run by
The output program can cause the mobile terminal to execute an acquisition process for acquiring information provided by the activation source program in response to being activated by the activation source program. At least acquire the specified data information and
The output program
The first determination process of adding the program identification information to the designated data information and determining whether or not the program identification information was acquired by the acquisition process, and
A second determination is made as to whether or not the device identification information associated with the program identification information is stored in the storage unit in response to the determination in the first determination process that the program identification information has been acquired. Judgment processing and
In the first determination process of determining the device identification information as the designated device information in response to the determination in the second determination process that the device identification information is stored,
The mobile terminal is made to execute an output instruction process for transmitting output instruction information to the output device identified by the designated device information, and the output instruction information outputs the content data identified by the designated data information. An output program that is information. The output program
A third determination process for determining whether or not the device identification information has been acquired in the acquisition process in addition to the designated data information.
In response to the determination in the third determination process that the device identification information has been acquired, the fourth determination process for determining whether or not communication is possible between the output device identified by the device identification information and the communication unit. ,
The second determination process of determining the device identification information acquired in the acquisition process as the designated device information in response to the determination in the fourth determination process that communication is possible.
A request for the mobile terminal to execute the first determination process in response to the determination in the third determination process that the device identification information has not been acquired or the determination that communication is not possible in the fourth determination process. Item 1. The output program according to item 1. In the third determination process, the output program determines whether or not the program identification information and the device identification information have been acquired in the acquisition process in addition to the designated data information.
In response to the determination in the third determination process that the program identification information and the device identification information have been acquired, the storage process of associating the program identification information with the device identification information and storing the device identification information in the storage unit is performed. The output program according to claim 2, which is executed by a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal is provided with an operation unit.
The output program performs the fifth determination process of determining whether or not the designated operation information has been acquired in the acquisition process in response to the determination in the first determination process that the program identification information has not been acquired. The designated operation information to be executed by the mobile terminal is information for identifying the designated operation which is the output operation to be executed by the output device.
The output program
In response to the determination in the fifth determination process that the designated operation information has been acquired, the output device that can execute the designated operation identified by the designated operation information and can communicate through the communication unit is searched for. Search processing and
A first reception process for receiving a user operation for designating one of the device identification information of the output device found in the search process through the operation unit, and
The mobile terminal is made to execute the third determination process of determining the device identification information designated in the first reception process as the designated device information.
The output program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the output instruction information is information for outputting the content data identified by the designated data information by the designated operation. The output program
A user operation for designating one of the plurality of output operations as the designated operation is accepted through the operation unit in response to the determination in the fifth determination process that the designated operation information has not been acquired. 2 Reception processing and
The mobile phone includes the search process for searching for the output device capable of executing the designated operation designated in the second reception process and capable of communicating through the communication unit, the first reception process, and the third determination process. The output program according to claim 4, which is executed by the terminal. The output program requests the mobile terminal to execute a storage process of associating the program identification information acquired in the acquisition process with the device identification information designated in the first reception process and storing the device identification information in the storage unit. Item 4. The output program according to Item 4. The output program according to any one of claims 4 to 6 for causing the mobile terminal to execute a providing process of providing the designated device information determined in the first determination process or the third determination process to the activation source program. Described output program. The mobile terminal is provided with a display unit.
The output program causes the mobile terminal to execute a preview display process for displaying the preview screen on the display unit, and the preview screen includes the preview image showing an execution result of the output operation according to the output instruction information. , The device switching object corresponding to the switching of the designated device information, and the output instruction object corresponding to the execution of the output instruction process.
The output program
The third reception process for receiving a user operation for selecting an object through the operation unit, and the search process and the first reception process according to the reception of the selection of the device switching object in the third reception process. Let the mobile terminal execute
The output program according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the mobile terminal executes the output instruction process in response to receiving the selection of the output instruction object in the third reception process. The output program is started by the OS of the mobile terminal that has received the user operation instructing the start of the output program, regardless of the start process by the start source program.
A fourth determination process of determining the device identification information stored in the storage unit in association with the program identification information of the output program as the designated device information.
The mobile terminal is made to execute the fourth reception process of accepting the user operation for designating the designated data information through the operation unit.
In the output instruction process, the output instruction information for outputting the content data identified by the designated data information designated in the fourth reception process is identified by the designated device information determined in the fourth determination process. The output program according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is transmitted to the output device through the communication unit. With the communication department
Memory and
A mobile terminal equipped with a control unit
The communication unit can communicate with a plurality of output devices through a communication network.
The output device can perform at least one of a plurality of output operations for outputting content data.
The storage unit
The activation source program that can be read by the mobile terminal is stored,
It is possible to store a plurality of sets of program identification information and device identification information corresponding to each other, the program identification information is information for identifying the activation source program, and the device identification information identifies the output device. Information for
The control unit that executes the activation source program causes the user to specify the content data, activates the output program, and provides the output program with designated data information for identifying the designated content data. It is possible to execute the startup process,
The control unit that executes the output program started by the start source program can execute an acquisition process for acquiring information provided by the start source program, and in the acquisition process, at least the designation is specified. Get data information,
The control unit that executes the output program
The first determination process of adding the program identification information to the designated data information and determining whether or not the program identification information was acquired by the acquisition process, and
A second determination is made as to whether or not the device identification information associated with the program identification information is stored in the storage unit in response to the determination in the first determination process that the program identification information has been acquired. Judgment processing and
In the first determination process of determining the device identification information as the designated device information in response to the determination in the second determination process that the device identification information is stored,
An output instruction process for transmitting output instruction information to the output device identified by the designated device information is executed, and the output instruction information is information for outputting the content data identified by the designated data information. Terminal.

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