JP5206006B2 - Update program and program update apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an update program and a program update device.

Setting items required by an application running on a computer are often set using a GUI (graphical user interface). Since the operability may be deteriorated depending on the arrangement of the setting items, an information processing apparatus that rearranges the setting items according to the use frequency of the setting items for an application has been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). 3).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-312036 JP 2000-132297 A JP 2005-284559 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an update program and a program update apparatus that can take over the operability before the update even if the program is updated.

  In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention provides the following update program and program update apparatus.

[ 1 ] An extraction step for extracting a used function among functions provided by an old version program to be updated, and a comparison step for comparing the function provided by the old version program with the function provided by the new version program For the function extracted in the extraction step, the operation target corresponding to the function provided by the old version program is not changed while the display position in the dialog box for arranging the operation target for executing the function is not changed. And when all of the operation objects corresponding to the new function found in the comparison step cannot be displayed in the dialog box of the new version program, at least the function provided by the old version program is extracted in the extraction step Before addressing a feature that was not done Updates for executing an updating step of updating the old version program to display a new dialog box that is different for the computer and the dialog box operation target.

[ 2 ] The extraction step acquires operation history information for an operation target for executing the provided function from the old version program, and whether the operation frequency for the operation target is greater than a threshold based on the operation history information. The update program according to [1 ], in which it is determined whether or not the operation frequency is greater than the threshold, and the function is determined to be used and the function is extracted.

[ 3 ] The update program according to [ 2 ], wherein the extraction step acquires the operation history information of a plurality of times updated in the past for the operation target.

[ 4 ] The update program according to [ 2 ], wherein the extraction step acquires the operation history information for the operation target for each operator, and the update step updates the old version program for each operator.

[5] In the updating step, in addition to not changing the display position, the attribute information such as the name and color of the operation target is added to the operation target corresponding to the function extracted in the extraction step. The update program according to [1], which is performed without being changed.

[ 6 ] The update step determines whether or not all the operation targets for executing the function provided by the old version program can be arranged in the original dialog box based on the comparison result in the comparison step, When it is determined that the operation cannot be arranged, the operation object for executing the function extracted in the extraction step is preferentially arranged in the original dialog box , and the other operation object is moved to another dialog box. The update program according to [ 1 ].

[7] Extraction means for extracting a used function among functions provided by the old version program to be updated, and comparison means for comparing the function provided by the old version program with the function provided by the new version program The operation target corresponding to the function provided by the old version program is not changed for the function extracted by the extraction unit without changing the display position in the dialog box for arranging the operation target for executing the function. And when all of the operation objects corresponding to the new function found by the comparison means cannot be displayed in the dialog box of the new version program, at least the functions provided by the old version program are extracted by the extraction means The operation target corresponding to the function that was not performed is Program update system that includes a updating means for updating the old version program to display a new dialog box that is different from the box.

According to the update program according to claim 1 , it becomes possible to take over the operability before the update even if the program is updated, and when a new function exists in the update program, the new function should be used. Can do.

According to the update program according to claim 2 , even if the program is updated, the operability for the operation target before the update can be taken over.

According to the update program according to the third aspect , it is possible to take over the operability before the update in consideration of the operability updated in the past.

According to the update program of the fourth aspect , it is possible to take over operability for each operator.

According to the update program of the fifth aspect , the operability can be succeeded more reliably than in the case where this configuration is not adopted.

According to the update program according to the sixth aspect , it is possible to take over the operability before the update even if there is a change such as a reduction in the size of the display screen or an increase in the number of operation objects due to the update.

According to the program update device of the seventh aspect , even if the program is updated, the operability before the update can be taken over, and when a new function exists in the update program, the new function is used. be able to.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The printing system 1 includes a server 2, a terminal device 4 connected to the server 2 via a network 3, to which a program update device is applied, and a printing device 5 connected to the network 3. Yes.

  The network 3 is a network such as the Internet or a LAN (local area network), and may be wired or wireless.

(server)
The server 2 includes a storage unit 20 composed of ROM, RAM, HDD (hard disk), etc., a control unit 21 composed of a CPU and the like, and a communication unit 22 connected to the network 3.

  The storage unit 20 stores programs such as a new version program 200 and a Web application 201 and data such as Web browser screen information 202 including a program list.

  The new version program 200 is an update program for updating an old version program as an update target. In the present embodiment, “update” means version upgrade, but includes upgrade, revision upgrade, update, transition to the next generation, transition to compatible products by company consolidation, and the like.

  The program list included in the Web browser screen information 202 includes the program name and version of the new version program 200.

  The Web application 201 distributes the new version program 200 selected by the user from the program list to the terminal device 4.

(Terminal device)
The terminal device 4 includes a storage unit 40 composed of ROM, RAM, HDD (hard disk), etc., a control unit 41 composed of CPU, etc., a communication unit 42 connected to the network 3, a keyboard, a mouse, etc. And an input unit 43 and a display unit 44 such as a liquid crystal display. The input unit 43 and the display unit 44 may be configured with a touch panel display. For example, a mobile phone or a personal computer can be used as the terminal device 4.

  The storage unit 40 stores the old version program 400 to be updated that is stored and updated (upgraded) in the first storage area, and the Web that downloads the new version program 200 from the server 2 and stores it in the second storage area. A program such as the browser 410 and data such as document data are stored.

  The web browser 410 connects to the server 2 from the terminal device 4 via the network 3, downloads the new version program 200 selected by the user from the program list provided from the server 2, and stores the second area of the storage unit 40. To store.

  The new version program 200 and the old version program 400 are printer drivers that drive the printing apparatus 5 in this embodiment, but may be device drivers that drive computer peripheral devices such as a scanner and an external storage device. These programs 200 and 400 may be programs other than the device driver. The new version program 200 and the old version program 400 include a function of displaying a plurality of operation targets on a display screen.

  Here, the “operation target” refers to what is displayed on the display screen and processes a command by being selected by the operator. “Operation target” includes, for example, a menu on a menu bar, items on a pull-down menu, tabs and setting items displayed in a dialog box (display screen), and a child further displayed for performing detailed settings from the dialog box. Setting items on a dialog box (display screen), input items such as a text box and a component box, icons, radio buttons, selection buttons, a stamp field to which an electronic seal is added, and the like are included.

  The printing device 5 prints print data sent from the terminal device 4 on a recording material such as paper, and various types such as an electrophotographic method, an ink jet method, and a thermal transfer method can be used. . The printing device 5 may be a multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a facsimile function and a scan function in addition to the printer function.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the new version program 200 and the old version program 400.

(New version program)
The new version program 200 includes an upgrader unit 210 and a client unit 220.

  The upgrader unit 210 includes a version information acquisition unit 211, a version upgrade determination processing unit 212, and an old version operation log data extraction unit (extraction means) 213.

  The client unit 220 includes a user interface (UI) 221 such as a GUI (graphical user interface), a UI control unit 222 that controls the UI 221, a new version UI data management unit 223, an old version UI data management unit 224, And a UI data creation unit (comparison means, update means) 225.

  The version information acquisition unit 211 acquires version information from the old version program 400 that is installed (installed).

  The version upgrade determination processing unit 212 compares the version of the old version program 400 before the version upgrade with the version of the new version program 200, and determines whether the version upgrade is possible.

  The old version operation log data extraction unit 213 acquires operation log data (operation history information) for, for example, a setting item (operation target) for executing the function provided by the old version program 400, and stores the operation log data for each version. Save to a different storage location. Also, the old version operation log data extraction unit 213 determines whether the operation frequency for the setting item is larger than a threshold based on the operation log data, and when the operation frequency is larger than the threshold, the function actually used Judgment and extract the function. Note that the threshold value is 0 times in the present embodiment, but may be 2 times or more. The threshold may be the number of operations in a certain period.

  The new version UI data management unit 223 stores and manages the new version UI data. The UI data includes a list of functions provided by the new version program 200 and attribute information of UI setting items provided by each function (label name (name), choice character string, display position, color, key assignment, etc.). Etc. are included.

  The old version UI data management unit 224 stores and manages the old version UI data. The UI data includes a list of functions provided by the old version program 400 for each old version to be upgraded, and UI setting item attribute information provided by each function (label name (name), option character string). , Display position, color, key assignment, etc.).

  The introductory UI data creation unit 225 compares the UI data of the old and new versions and creates introductory UI data that is actually provided to the user, and is actually used among the functions provided by the old version program 400. Introducing UI data is created based on the UI data of the old version only for the functions that have been added. Note that the operation log data may be analyzed in units of users, and the introduction UI data may be generated in units of users based on information actually used by the users.

(Old version program)
The old version program 400 includes a user interface (UI) 401 such as a GUI (graphical user interface), a UI control unit 402 that controls the UI 401, and operation log data that stores operation log data (operation history information) for setting items. And a storage unit 403.

(Operation of this embodiment)
Next, an example of the operation of the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described by dividing into (1) downloading a new version program, (2) upgrading an old version program, and (3) printing processing.

(1) Download new version program The user operates the input unit 43 of the terminal device 4 to activate the Web browser 410 and inputs a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating the location of the Web browser screen. The web browser 410 connects to the server 2 from the terminal device 4 via the network 3.

  The control unit 21 of the server 2 transmits Web browser screen information 202 including a program list to the terminal device 4 via the communication unit 22 and the network 3 based on the Web application 201.

  The control unit 41 of the terminal device 4 displays a Web browser screen including a program list on the display unit 44 based on the Web browser screen information 202 received via the communication unit 42.

  The user operates the input unit 43 to select the new version program 200 to be downloaded from the program list. The control unit 41 requests the server 2 to download the selected new version program 200.

  The control unit 21 of the server 2 reads the new version program 200 selected by the user from the storage unit 20 and distributes it to the terminal device 4 via the communication unit 22 and the network 3.

  The control unit 41 of the terminal device 4 stores the new version program 200 distributed from the server 2 in the storage unit 40 and activates the new version program 200.

(2) Version Upgrade of Old Version Program When the new version program 200 is activated, the version information acquisition unit 211 of the upgrader unit 210 extracts version information from the old version program 400.

  The old version operation log data extraction unit 213 acquires operation log data for setting items for causing the functions provided by the old version program 400 to be executed. Also, the old version operation log data extraction unit 213 determines whether the operation frequency for the setting item is larger than a threshold based on the operation log data, and when the operation frequency is larger than the threshold, the function actually used Judgment and extract the function.

  The upgrade determination processing unit 212 determines whether upgrade is possible based on the version information extracted by the version information acquisition unit 211.

  If the upgrade determination processing unit 212 determines that the upgrade is possible, the introduction UI data creation unit 225 extracts the new version UI data from the new version UI data management unit 223, and extracts the new version UI data management unit 224 from the old version UI data management unit 224. The UI data of the old version is extracted, and the introduction UI data is created based on the UI data of the old version and the new version, and the operation log data.

  That is, the introductory UI data creation unit 225 compares the old version UI data with the new version UI data, and creates the introductory UI data based on the old version UI data for the functions provided by both the old and new versions. For the functions that are provided only by either one, the introductory UI data is created based on the new version UI data. The timing for creating the UI data may be statically created at the time of update, or may be dynamically created at the timing when the user uses the function after the update. In addition, the user may select which UI data before and after the update is to be used.

  Thereafter, the old version program 400 is deleted from the storage unit 40 by the control unit 41 based on a user instruction.

(3) Print Processing The user activates the upgraded program 200 by operating the input unit 43 of the terminal device 4 and causes the display unit 44 to display a dialog box for print settings. The user performs a setting operation on the dialog box, and designates document data to be printed among a plurality of document data stored in the storage unit 40. The control unit 41 converts the document data into print data, and transmits the print data to the printing apparatus 5 via the network 3 together with the print setting information. The printing device 5 prints the print data on paper according to the print setting information.

(Concrete example)
Table 1 shows the display positions of the setting items in each version. In the table, the figure numbers in parentheses indicate the drawings to be referred to.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of a print setting display screen in version V1, FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of a print setting display screen in version V2, and FIGS. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a display screen for print settings in version V3.

  In the version V1, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the display position of the setting item “paper size” 111 is set to the upper left, the display position of the setting item “duplex printing” 112 is set to the upper right, and the display of the setting item “N up” 113 is displayed. It is assumed that the position is the lower left. In the upper part of the dialog box (display screen) 100, the name of the dialog box 100 and the version information 110 of the version V1 are displayed as “print setting V1”. Here, “paper size” 111 is a setting item for designating the size of paper on which print data is printed, and “double-sided printing” 112 is a setting item for printing print data on the front and back sides of the paper, “N UP” 113 is a setting item for printing print data for N pages on one sheet.

  Further, as shown in Table 1, the setting items “paper size” 111 and “double-sided printing” 112 are assumed to be inherited so as not to change the display position from the introduction of the version V1 to the version V3.

  In version V2, as shown in Table 1, the display position of “N up” 113 is changed according to the operation results of “N up” 113 in version V1, and “paper folding” 114 is added. In other words, if there is an operation record of “N up” 113 in version V1, the display position is not changed and the newly added “paper folding” 114 is left unchanged as shown in FIG. Is displayed in the lower right corner. Here, “paper folding” 114 is a setting item for folding the paper after printing the print data on the paper.

  On the other hand, when there is no operation record of “N-up” 113 in version V1, “N-up” 113 was displayed in the lower left in version V1, but in version V2, as shown in FIG. It is displayed in the lower right near “duplex printing” 112. As a result, “N-up” 113 can be easily set at the same time as “double-sided printing” 112, which can respond to an increase in awareness of the natural environment and costs.

  In version V3, as shown in Table 1, the display position of “N up” 113 is changed based on the operation results of “N up” 113 of version V2 to be directly migrated and the operation results of version V1. In addition, according to the operation result of “paper folding” of version V2, it is displayed on a separate page and “bar code printing” is added. As a result, in the case of a base that is also the same customer, the version is increased from V1 to V2, but in another base, the version V1 is maintained for the convenience of the budget, and the version is increased to version V3 all at once by a top-down instruction. You can also change the position. Here, “bar code printing” is a setting item for converting print data into a bar code and printing it on paper. A two-dimensional code such as a QR code may be used instead of the barcode.

  Since the barcode printing function has attracted attention as an added value, a “barcode printing” designation function has been provided from version V3. In the old version, the default dialog box 100 already has “paper size” 111, “ Since four items “duplex printing” 112, “N-up” 113, and “paper folding” 114 are displayed, there is no space for placing setting items. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, if there is no operation record of “paper folding” 114, “paper folding” is moved to another dialog box 101 and displayed, and “bar code printing” 116 is displayed. In view of not competing with the display position of “N-up” 113, it is displayed in the lower left or lower right. If there is an operation record of “paper folding” 114 in the version V2, “paper folding” 114 is left in the default dialog box 100 as shown in FIGS. Display in another dialog box 101.

(Modification)
The old version operation log data extraction unit 213 may also manage a history of version upgrade from 1.0 to 2.2 through 1.0, and may manage operation log data for each version.

  The introductory UI data creation unit 225 creates introductory UI data based on a plurality of versions of operation log data existing in the history set up in the past, thereby allowing users who are updating and using a plurality of versions. However, it doesn't make the operability uncomfortable. In addition, the operability can be taken over continuously at the next and subsequent version upgrades.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a new version upgrade program and an old version upgrade program according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, a UI data migration determination processing unit 226 is added to the first embodiment. The UI data migration determination processing unit 226 determines whether or not the old version UI data can be applied to the function provided by the new version.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen for explaining the operation of the UI data migration determination processing unit 226. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, when six setting items 120a to 120f are displayed on the display screen 100 of version V1, the display area of version V2 is smaller than that of version V1. Therefore, the arrangement locations of some of the setting items 120e and 120f are changed in another dialog box under the constraint that all the setting items 120a to 120f with operation results in the version V1 cannot be displayed on the display screen 100.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the number of setting items 120a to 120d is four in version V1, but the number of setting items 120a to 120f is increased to six in version V2. , The location of some of the setting items 120c and 120d among the setting items 120a to 120f is changed to another dialog box 101.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a new version upgrade program and an old version upgrade program according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, a product name acquisition unit 214 and a product migration determination processing unit 227 are added in the first embodiment, and the other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. .

  The product name acquisition unit 214 acquires new and old product names from an environment in which the new version program 200 and the old version program 400 or the old and new versions of the programs 200 and 400 are installed.

  The product migration determination processing unit 227 acquires new and old (before and after) product names and compares them to determine whether migration is possible. As a result, it is possible to cope with the consolidation of software that has been increasing in recent years due to changes in the environment such as M & A. When it is determined that the migration is possible, the operability of the function used in the old version is inherited and updated in the new version as in the first embodiment.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  Further, the program used in the above embodiment may be read from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM into a storage unit of a server or a terminal device, or from a server or the like connected to a network such as the Internet. You may download to a memory | storage part.

  Part or all of the update program may be realized by hardware such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

  The present invention can also be applied to systems other than the printing system.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the new version program and the old version program according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a print setting display screen in version V1. 4A and 4B are diagrams schematically illustrating an example of a display screen for print setting in version V2. FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams schematically illustrating an example of a display screen for print setting in version V3. FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams schematically illustrating an example of a print setting display screen in version V3. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a new version upgrade program and an old version upgrade program according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating examples of display screens for explaining the operation of the UI data migration determination processing unit. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a new version upgrade program and an old version upgrade program according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system 2 Server 3 Network 4 Terminal device 5 Printing device 20 Storage part 21 Control part 22 Communication part 40 Storage part 41 Control part 42 Communication part 43 Input part 44 Display part 100 Dialog box 101 Another dialog box 110 Version information 120a-120f Setting item 200 New version program 201 Application 202 Browser screen information 210 Upgrader unit 211 Version information acquisition unit 212 Version upgrade determination processing unit 213 Old version operation log data extraction unit 214 Product name acquisition unit 220 Client unit 222 UI control unit 223 New version UI data management unit 224 Old version UI data management unit 225 Introduction UI data creation unit 226 UI data migration judgment processing unit 227 Product migration judgment processing unit 400 Old version Gram 401 UI
402 UI control unit 403 Operation history storage unit 410 Web browser

Claims (7)

An extraction step for extracting the used function from the functions provided by the old version program to be updated;
A comparison step of comparing the function provided by the old version program with the function provided by the new version program;
For the function extracted in the extraction step, the operation target corresponding to the function provided by the old version program and the display position in the dialog box for arranging the operation target for executing the function are not changed. When all of the operation objects corresponding to the new function found in the comparison step cannot be displayed in the dialog box of the new version program, at least the functions provided by the old version program are extracted in the extraction step. An update program for causing a computer to execute an update step of displaying the operation target corresponding to a function that has not been displayed in a new dialog box different from the dialog box and updating the old version program.   The extraction step acquires operation history information for an operation target for executing the provided function from the old version program, and whether or not an operation frequency for the operation target is greater than a threshold based on the operation history information. The update program according to claim 1, wherein when the operation frequency is greater than the threshold value, the function is determined to be used and the function is extracted.   The update program according to claim 2, wherein the extraction step acquires the operation history information of a plurality of times updated in the past for the operation target. The extraction step acquires the operation history information for the operation target for each operator,
The update program according to claim 2, wherein the updating step updates the old version program for each operator. The update step does not change the display position of the operation target corresponding to the function extracted in the extraction step, and does not change the attribute information such as the name and color of the operation target. The update program according to claim 1, wherein the update program is performed in step 1.   The update step determines whether or not all of the operation targets for executing the function provided by the old version program can be arranged in the original dialog box based on the comparison result in the comparison step. 2. When the determination is made, the operation target for executing the function extracted in the extraction step is preferentially arranged in the original dialog box, and the other operation target is moved to another dialog box. The update described. An extracting means for extracting the function used from the functions provided by the old version program to be updated;
A comparison means for comparing the function provided by the old version program with the function provided by the new version program;
For the function extracted by the extracting means, the operation target corresponding to the function provided by the old version program and the display position in the dialog box for arranging the operation target for executing the function are not changed. When all of the operation objects corresponding to the new function found by the comparison unit cannot be displayed in the dialog box of the new version program, at least the function provided by the old version program is extracted by the extraction unit. A program updating apparatus comprising: updating means for updating the old version program by displaying the operation target corresponding to the function that has not been displayed in a new dialog box different from the dialog box.

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