JP5445637B2 - Device control program and device control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a device control program and a device control method.

  Conventionally, multifunction devices (devices) having a printer function, a scanner function, and the like are known. In order to use such a multifunction peripheral from a computer, it is generally necessary to operate a printer driver dedicated to the multifunction peripheral and a scanner driver dedicated to the multifunction peripheral on the computer (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-125773 A

By the way, in general, in a device driver, a user is required to select a device to be controlled by the device driver. This is because a device to be controlled by the device driver is registered in the computer.
For this reason, conventionally, the user has to register the same multifunction device for each of the printer driver and the scanner driver for one multifunction device, which is a burden on the user.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device control program and a device control method for reducing the burden on the user when registering a device for each function. .

  1st invention is a device control program which can control a plurality of functions with which a device is provided, and any one of the devices connected so as to be communicable with a terminal device which executes the device control program is used as a user. A first selection process to be selected, a registration process for individually registering the device selected by the first selection process in the terminal device as a device for executing the function for each of the plurality of functions; A control process for controlling a device registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function and executing the function when executing any one of the plurality of functions; Let the device run.

According to the present invention, when a device having a plurality of functions is individually registered in the terminal device for each function, the user only needs to select the device once. Therefore, the user can select the device for each function. Can be reduced.
Therefore, according to this invention, the burden on the user when registering a device for each function can be reduced.

In addition, the 1st invention can also be paraphrased as follows.
A device control program capable of controlling a plurality of functions of a device,
A first selection process for allowing a user to select one of the devices that are communicably connected to a terminal device that executes the device control program;
A registration process for individually registering the device selected by the first selection process in the terminal device as a device for executing the function for each of the functions.
When executing any one of the plurality of functions, a control process for executing the function by controlling a device registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function;
A device control program for causing the terminal device to execute

  In addition, the first selection process for causing the user to select one of the devices can be paraphrased as a designation process for causing the user to designate one of the devices. In other words, instead of displaying a plurality of devices as options and allowing the user to select among them, for example, the user can directly input information that can uniquely identify the device such as the device name and IP address of the target device. As described above, a specific device may be directly designated without displaying options.

  A second invention is a device control program according to the first invention, wherein the device control program can control a plurality of types of devices, and the registration process includes a plurality of functions for each function. On the condition that the device selected by one selection process has the function, it is registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function.

When the device control program can control a plurality of types of devices, not all of the plurality of types of devices have the plurality of functions, and some devices may not have some functions.
According to the present invention, since a plurality of functions are registered in the terminal device on the condition that the device has the function for each function, the selected device does not have some functions. It can be reduced that the device is registered as a device for executing the part of the function.

  A third invention is a device control program according to the second invention, wherein the registration process determines, for each of the plurality of functions, whether or not the selected device has the function. Whether it is possible to control the function included in the selected device from the device control program when it is determined by the determination process and the first determination process that the selected device includes the function. And a second determination process for determining whether or not, and if it is determined that control is possible by the second determination process, it is registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function.

If the device control program can control multiple types of devices, even if the device has the multiple functions, the functions can be controlled from the device control program due to reasons such as different control commands depending on the model. It may be out of control.
According to the present invention, when the function cannot be controlled from the device control program, it is not registered as a device for executing the function, so that it is possible to reduce the fact that the registered device cannot be controlled in the control process.

  A fourth invention is a device control program according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein in the first selection process, a first function among devices connected to be communicable with the terminal device To the terminal device as a device for executing the first function, in the registration process, the device selected by the first selection process in the registration process. In addition to registration, functions other than the first function included in the device are registered as devices for executing the function.

According to the present invention, when a user selects a device to register a device having the first function, the device performs not only as a device for executing the first function but also other functions. Can also be registered as a device to do this.

  A fifth invention is a device control program according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, wherein a plurality of devices can be registered for one function in the terminal device, and any one of the plurality of functions When a new device is registered in the registration process for the function, the terminal device is caused to execute a first setting process for exclusively setting the newly registered device as a device used for executing the function. The control process controls, for each function, a device set as a device to be used for executing the function among devices registered as the device for executing the function for each function. Execute the function.

When a plurality of devices can be registered for one function, it can be said that the newly registered device is likely to be a device that the user intends to use.
According to the present invention, since a newly registered device is set as a “device used for executing the function”, when a plurality of devices can be registered for one function, the “device used for executing the function” Can be set as a “device to be used for executing the function”, while reducing the burden of setting the user to “”.

  A sixth invention is a device control program according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, wherein a plurality of devices can be registered for one function in the terminal device, and any one of the plurality of functions A third determination process for determining whether or not another device is already set as a device to be used for executing a function different from the function when a new device is registered in the registration process for the function; When it is determined by the third determination process that no other device is set as a device used for executing a function different from the function, the newly registered device is set to execute the different function. A second setting process that is exclusively set as a device to be used, and causing the terminal device to execute the control process for each of the plurality of functions. And it controls the device that is set as the device to be used to execute the functions of the devices registered as a device for executing the function to execute the function.

  According to the present invention, when a device used for executing a function is already set for a function, the newly registered device is not set as a device used for executing the function, so that a new device is registered. In this case, the user can continue to use a device that is already set as a device that is used to execute the function.

  A seventh invention is the device control program according to any one of the first to sixth inventions, wherein a plurality of devices can be registered for one function in the terminal device, and one function can be registered in the terminal device. A second selection process that allows the user to select one of the one or more registered devices, and a device that uses the device selected by the second selection process to execute the one function A fourth setting process for determining whether or not the selected device is registered as a device for executing another function, and the fourth determination. When it is determined by the processing that the selected device is registered as a device for executing another function, the selected device is executed as the other function. A fourth setting process that is exclusively set as a device to be used for the terminal device, and the control process registers the plurality of functions as a device for executing the function for each function. The device set as a device to be used for executing the function is controlled to execute the function.

When a device selected by a user among devices registered for one function is set as a device used for executing the one function, the user is likely to use the device for executing another function. It can be said. This is because, for example, when a newest device is newly installed and the latest device is set as a device used to execute the one function for the one function, the user uses the latest device for other functions. Because it is assumed that you want to do.
According to the present invention, since a device set as a device used to execute one function is also set as a device used to execute another function, it is troublesome to set the device as a device used to execute another function. Can be reduced.

An eighth invention is a device control method for controlling a plurality of functions included in a device, and a first selection step that allows a user to select one of the devices that are communicably connected to the terminal device. A registration step of individually registering the device selected in the first selection step in the terminal device as a device for executing the function for each of the plurality of functions, and any of the plurality of functions A control step of controlling a device registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function and executing the function when the function is executed.
According to this invention, the burden on the user when registering a device for each function can be reduced.

A ninth invention is a device control program capable of controlling a printer function and a scanner function included in a device, and has a printer function out of devices connected to be communicable with a terminal device that executes the device control program. A search process for searching for a device, a first selection process for allowing a user to select one of the devices searched for by the search process, and a device selected by the first selection process are a scanner A determination process for determining whether or not a scanner function is provided, and when the determination process determines that the scanner function is provided, the device is registered as a device for executing the printer function, and the scanner function is A registration process for registration as a device for execution, the printer function and A control process for controlling a device registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function and executing the function when any one of the functions is executed. To run.
According to the present invention, when it is determined that the selected device has the scanner function in addition to the print function, the device is registered as a device for executing the printer function and as a device for executing the scanner function. Is also registered, so that the burden on the user when registering the device in the device control program can be reduced.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mobile phone and a device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. A block schematically showing an electrical configuration of a mobile phone. The screen transition diagram of the screen displayed by a device control program. The screen transition diagram of the screen displayed by a device control program. 5 is a flowchart illustrating printer registration processing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a screen transition diagram according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a screen transition diagram according to the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating printer registration processing according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating printer registration processing according to the third embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing change processing for a printer that is normally used.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
(1) Overall Configuration FIG. 1 shows a mobile phone 1 (an example of a terminal device) that executes a device control program according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and various devices 2 that are communicably connected to the mobile phone 1. It is a schematic diagram shown. The mobile phone 1 has a wireless communication function in addition to a call function, and is wirelessly connected to the communication network 5 via the wireless LAN router 4 or the like.

The multifunction peripherals 2a and 2b are devices having a plurality of functions (specifically, a printer function and a scanner function). The plurality of multifunction peripherals 2a and 2b may be from different manufacturers, or may be different models from the same manufacturer.
The printers 2c and 2d and the scanners 2e and 2f are single-function devices each having only a printer function and a scanner function, respectively. These devices may be from different manufacturers or different models from the same manufacturer.
In the following description, the term “device 2” refers to any one of a plurality of devices.

(2) Electrical configuration of mobile phone FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the electrical configuration of the mobile phone 1. The cellular phone 1 includes a control unit 11, a transmission / reception unit 12, a voice input / output unit 13, a wireless communication unit 14, a display unit 15, an operation unit 16, an imaging unit 17, and a storage unit 18.

  The control unit 11 includes an application processor, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The application processor controls each unit of the mobile phone 1 by executing various programs stored in the ROM and the storage unit 18. The ROM stores various programs and data to be executed by the application processor. The RAM is used as a main storage device for the application processor to execute various processes.

The transmission / reception unit 12 includes an antenna, an RF (Radio Frequency) circuit, a baseband processor, and the like, and transmits and receives audio signals to and from the base station 3 via the antenna. Further, the transmission / reception unit 12 is configured to be able to perform packet communication with the base station 3.
The voice input / output unit 13 includes a microphone, a speaker, a voice processing circuit, and the like. The audio signal input from the microphone is transmitted to the base station 3 by the transmission / reception unit 12, and the audio signal received from the base station 3 by the transmission / reception unit 12 is sounded by the speaker.

The wireless communication unit 14 is configured based on Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11a / IEEE 802.11b) (registered trademark), and communicates via a wireless LAN router 4 or the like via a LAN (Local Aria Network) or the Internet. Wirelessly connected to the network 5.
Note that the wireless communication standard is not limited to Wi-Fi as long as the mobile phone 1 can be wirelessly connected to the communication network 5. For example, the mobile phone 1 is Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1
) (Registered trademark) may be wirelessly connected, or may be wirelessly connected by optical wireless data communication (IrDA) using infrared rays.
In this embodiment, the case where the mobile phone 1 is wirelessly connected to the communication network 5 will be described as an example. However, the mobile phone 1 may be connected to the communication network 5 by wire.

The display unit 15 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, a drive circuit that drives the display device, and the like.
The operation unit 16 includes a substantially transparent touch panel that covers the display surface of the display device, a control circuit that controls the touch panel, various operation buttons, and the like. The user can input a telephone number or operate an application program by operating the operation unit 16.

The imaging unit 17 includes an area image sensor, an optical system, an analog front end unit, an image processing unit, and the like, and images a subject to generate a digital image.
The storage unit 18 stores various programs and data using a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory. The storage unit 18 stores an operating system (OS), a device control program to be described later, various other application programs, data, and the like.

  An application program such as a device control program (hereinafter referred to as “application”) can be downloaded from an external server via the transmission / reception unit 12 or the wireless communication unit 14. The mobile phone 1 may be provided with a USB interface, and an application may be downloaded from an external computer via the USB interface.

(3) Device control program The device control program is an application program that can control a plurality of functions (specifically, a printer function and a scanner function) included in the device 2, and controls the printer to print an image; It has a function as a device driver that causes the mobile phone 1 to execute processing for capturing an image by controlling the scanner.
Furthermore, the device control program also includes a program for causing the mobile phone 1 to execute processing for organizing and managing a plurality of images into an album, processing for capturing images from the imaging unit 17, processing for transferring images to an e-mail application, and the like. An application program having a plurality of functions.

The device control program can control a plurality of types of devices 2, and the user can select a device 2 that executes printing or reading of a document from one or more devices 2 connected to the communication network 5.
For example, when the user selects a printer (including a multifunction device), the device control program registers the selected printer in the storage unit 18, and when the user instructs printing, the registered printer is controlled to control the registered printer. Start printing.

Here, “registration” refers to acquiring information (device information) for controlling the printer from the selected printer and writing the acquired device information in a predetermined area of the storage unit 18. Specifically, the device information includes a device name, location information indicating a location on the communication network 5 (IP address, domain name, etc.), function information indicating a function of the device, and the like.
The function information includes information indicating the presence / absence of a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, etc., more detailed information on each function such as the paper size supported by the printer function, whether color printing is possible, whether double-sided printing is possible, etc. included.

The same applies to image reading. The device control program registers the scanner selected by the user in the storage unit 18 and controls the registered scanner to capture the image.
As described above, the device control program can control both the printer function and the scanner function of the device 2, but some devices 2 have only one of the printer function and the scanner function. Therefore, it is desirable to register the device 2 for each function.

(3-1) User Interface of Device Control Program In the first embodiment, a case where only one device for executing a printer function and one device for executing a scanner function can be registered in the mobile phone 1 is taken as an example. explain.
In the first embodiment, the device control program sets the device 2 registered as a device for executing the printer function as a device to be used for executing the printer function, and similarly, a device for executing the scanner function. Is registered as a device to be used for executing the scanner function.

3 and 4 are screen transition diagrams of screens displayed by the device control program according to the first embodiment.
A screen 31 shown in FIG. 3 is a main menu. The main menu includes “Print from Photo Albums” for printing images stored in the album, “Print from Camera” for imaging and printing the subject with the imaging unit 17, and “Scan to cell” for capturing images from the scanner. Three menus of “Phone” are displayed. The user can select one of the menus by touching the screen 31.

The screen 32 is a screen displayed when “Print from Photo Albums” is selected in the main menu. As described above, the device control program can organize and manage images into albums, and the album is displayed as a list on the screen 32. When the user selects any album, the screen changes to a screen 33, and thumbnail images 33a of images included in the album are displayed in a list (only one is labeled in FIG. 3).

When the user touches any thumbnail image 33a on the screen 33 and selects an image, the screen transits to the screen 34 and the selected image is displayed. In the main menu mentioned above, select “Print from
Even when “Camera” is selected, after the subject is imaged, the screen transitions to the screen 34 and the captured image is displayed.
On the screen 34, the user can print the displayed image. When printing an image, the user first touches the “Setting” button 34 a to display the screen 35, and performs printer registration and print condition setting on the displayed screen 35.

Here, the device name (DC123450) displayed on the left side of the “Setting” button 34a on the screen 34 is the device name of the currently registered printer. If any printer is already registered when the screen 34 is displayed, the device control program displays the device name of the printer on the left side of the “Setting” button 34a. If no printer is registered, the device name is hidden. The printer here includes not only a single-function printer having only a printer function but also a multifunction machine having a printer function.

The screen 35 initially displays the registered printer device name and default printing conditions. However, the device name is hidden when no printer is registered.
If the printer has not yet been registered or if it is desired to change the registered printer, the user touches the field 35a for displaying the device name of the printer to display the screen 36.

When the user touches the field 35a, the device control program searches for printers connected to the communication network 5, and displays a list of device names of the searched printers on the screen 36. This search can be performed using a protocol for searching for devices connected to the communication network 5, for example.
When the user selects one of the printers on the screen 36, the device control program registers the selected printer in the mobile phone 1 by executing a “printer registration process” to be described later. As will be described in detail later, when the selected printer is a multifunction device, the device control program registers not only the multifunction device as a printer but also a scanner in the “printer registration process”.

When the “printer registration process” is completed, the screen 35 is displayed again, and the device name of the registered printer is displayed in the field 35a.
On the screen 35, print conditions such as “Document Size (Photo, Photo 2L, A4, Letter, etc.)”, “Media Type (Plain Paper, OHP, etc.)”, “Color Type (Color, GrayScale, etc.)” are set. be able to. For example, when “Document Size” is selected, a screen (not shown) for selecting the print paper size is displayed, and the user can select a size from “Photo”, “Photo 2L”, “A4”, “Letter”, etc. Either size can be selected.

After the printer is registered and the printing conditions are set on the screen 35, the screen returns to the screen 34 when the user touches the “Done” button 35b.
When the user touches the “Print” button 34 b on the screen 34, the device control program controls the registered printer (in other words, a printer set as a device used to execute the printer function), and displays the screen 34. Print the displayed image (Photo2) (an example of control processing). This control is performed based on the device information written in the storage unit 18 and the printing conditions set on the screen 35.

  Here, controlling the printer means generating a print command based on an image and printing conditions, and outputting the generated print command to the printer. Note that the image and the printing conditions may be transmitted to the printer, and the print data may be generated on the printer side.

FIG. 4 is a screen transition diagram when “Scan to cell Phone” is selected in the main menu of the screen 31.
When the user selects “Scan to cell phone” in the main menu, the screen transitions to the screen 40. The screen 40 initially displays the registered scanner device name and default reading conditions. If no scanner has been registered, the device name is not displayed.

  However, as described above, when the printer selected on the screen 36 is a multifunction device, the multifunction device is also registered as a scanner by the “printer registration process”. In this case, the user registers the scanner. Even if no operation is performed, the device name of the multifunction device is displayed in the field 40a for displaying the device name of the scanner.

If the scanner has not been registered yet or if it is desired to change the registered scanner, the user can select the scanner in the same manner as the printer. Since the configuration of the screen for selecting the scanner is substantially the same as the configuration of the screen for selecting the printer (screen 36), description thereof is omitted.
However, as shown in the screen 35 (FIG. 3), when there is a device 2 that has already been registered as a printer, even when the multifunction device is selected as a scanner, the multifunction device is selected as a printer. Do not register. This is because, in the present embodiment, the previously registered printer is prioritized so that the printer is not changed unintentionally by the user when the scanner is selected. If priority is not given to the previously registered printer, the selected multifunction device may be registered not only as a scanner but also as a printer.

On the screen 40, “Document Size (Photo, Photo 2L, A4, Letter, etc.)”, “Color Type (ColorHighSpeed, GrayScaleHighSpeed, ColorLowSpeed, GrayScaleLowSpeed, etc.)”, “Duplex (Long-Edge, Short-Edge, etc.)” It is also possible to set reading conditions such as

The user touches the “Scan” button 40b after registering the scanner, setting the reading conditions, setting the document on the scanner, and the like. When the user touches the “Scan” button 40b, the device control program controls a registered scanner (in other words, a scanner set as a device used to execute the scanner function) to read a document (control processing). Example). This control is performed based on device information written in the storage unit 18 and reading conditions set on the screen 40.
Here, controlling the scanner refers to outputting a command for setting the reading speed and reading resolution of the document based on the reading conditions to the scanner to read the document.

  When the reading is completed, the screen transitions to the screen 41, and an image (Image1) representing the read original is displayed. When the user touches the “Action” button 41 a on the screen 41, the screen transitions to the screen 42.

On the screen 42, menus “Save To Photo Albums”, “Email As JPEG”, and “Email As PDF” are displayed. When the user selects “Email As JPEG” or “Email As PDF”, the screen transitions to an email creation screen 43 in which an image converted to the JPEG format or PDF format is attached. This Email creation screen 43 is a screen displayed by an application different from the device control program.
On the other hand, when the user selects “Save To Photo Albums”, a screen (not shown) for selecting a save destination album is displayed, and then the album is saved and the screen 41 is returned to.

(3-2) Printer Registration Processing Next, the above-described “printer registration processing” will be described. Here, it will be described as “printer registration processing” including processing for searching for printers connected to the communication network 5.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of printer registration processing. This process is started when the user touches the field 35a on the screen 35 described above.
In S101, the control unit 11 (hereinafter simply referred to as “device control program”) that executes the device control program searches for a printer (an example of the first function) connected to the communication network 5 (first selection). Example of processing).

Here, data requesting device information of the device 2 connected to the communication network 5 is transmitted by broadcast, and the device information obtained as a response is received. The received device information is stored in the RAM.
The program code of the device control program is hard-coded with a list of device names of devices having a controllable printer function, and the device control program cannot be controlled unless the device name included in the acquired device information is listed. The device information is deleted from the RAM. Therefore, the device information of the printer that can be controlled by the device control program is stored in the RAM. Note that the list may be updated via the communication network 5 when the number of newly controllable devices increases.

In S102, the device control program determines whether or not one or more printers have been searched (whether or not one or more device information is stored in the RAM). If not, the process proceeds to S103 and is searched. If YES in step S104, the flow advances to step S104 (an example of first selection processing).
In S103, the device control program displays a message indicating that the printer has not been searched on the display unit 15 and ends the process (an example of the first selection process).

In S104, the device control program displays a list of searched device names on the screen 36 based on the device information stored in the RAM in S101 (an example of first selection processing).
In S105, the device control program waits until the user selects one of the printers (an example of a first selection process). If there is only one printer, this selection can be rephrased as “designation”.

In S106, the device control program acquires the device information of the printer selected by the user from the device information stored in the RAM in S101 (an example of registration processing).
In S107, the device control program determines whether or not the selected printer has a scanner function (that is, whether or not the printer is a multifunction device) based on the device information, and if so, the process proceeds to S108. If not, the process from S108 to S109 is skipped and the process proceeds to S110 (an example of a registration process, a determination process, and a first determination process).

In S108, the device control program determines whether the scanner function of the selected printer (that is, the multifunction device) can be controlled (an example of registration processing and second determination processing).
Specifically, for example, a list of device names of devices having a controllable scanner function is hard-coded in the program code of the device control program, and the device control program includes the device name included in the device information acquired in S106. If it is in the list, it is determined that it is a controllable scanner, and if it is not in the list, it is determined that it is an uncontrollable scanner.

Whether the device can be controlled is determined by the fact that the device control program may not be able to control the scanner function from the device control program even if the device has a scanner function, depending on the device model. Because.
The device control program proceeds to S109 if controllable, and proceeds to S110 if control is impossible (an example of registration processing).

  In S109, the device control program registers the selected printer (that is, the multifunction device) as a device for executing the scanner function (an example of registration processing). Then, the device control program sets the registered printer as a device used for executing the scanner function.

  In S110, the device control program registers the selected printer (single-function printer or multifunction device) as a device for executing the printer function (an example of registration processing). Then, the device control program sets the registered printer as a device used for executing the printer function.

(4) Effects of the Embodiment According to the device control program according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, when the user selects a printer, not only the printer is registered but also the printer has a scanner function. If provided, the printer (that is, the multifunction device) is also registered as a scanner.
Thus, according to this device control program, when a device having a printer function and a scanner function is individually registered in the mobile phone 1 for each function, the user only has to select a device once. The burden on the user can be reduced as compared with the case of selecting a device.

  For example, when the device 2 is a multifunction device, the user may want to use the multifunction device as both a printer and a scanner. More specifically, the image is printed on a printer, the user writes it on a printed paper by hand, and the paper is read by a scanner. In such a case, according to this device control program, the user can register the multifunction device for each of a plurality of functions by selecting the multifunction device only once. Can be used.

Further, according to this device control program, the printer is registered as a scanner on condition that the printer has a scanner function. When the device control program can control a plurality of types of printers, not all of the plurality of types of printers have a scanner function, and some printers may not have a scanner function (for example, the printer 2c, 2d).
According to this device control program, the printer is registered as a scanner on condition that the printer has a scanner function. Therefore, the printer is registered as a scanner even though the selected printer does not have the scanner function. Can be reduced.

  Further, according to this device control program, when the selected printer has a scanner function, and the scanner function of the selected printer cannot be controlled from the device control program, the device control program executes the scanner function. Since it is not registered as a device, it is possible to reduce the fact that the registered device cannot be controlled in the control process.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the first embodiment, the case where only one printer and scanner can be registered has been described as an example. However, in the second embodiment, a plurality of printers and scanners can be registered. In the second embodiment, the device control program exclusively sets one of the registered printers as a “normally used printer (device used for executing the printer function)”, and the “normally used printer” is set. The printer set as “printer” is controlled to print an image. The same applies to the scanner.

FIG. 6 is a screen transition diagram when “Print from Photo Albums” is selected in the second embodiment. The device name displayed in the field 55a on the screen 55 (screen corresponding to the screen 35 of the first embodiment) is not simply the device name of the registered printer, but “regular printer” among the registered printers. Is the device name of the printer set as. As described above, the device control program controls the printer set as “normally used printer” to print an image.

  The screen 55 is provided with a pull-down menu 55b for selecting “normally used printer”. When the user touches the pull-down menu 55b, a list of registered printer device names is displayed. The user can exclusively set the printer as a “normally used printer” by selecting one of the listed printers. Since it is set exclusively, if another printer has been set as “normally used printer” until then, the setting of “normally used printer” is canceled for the other printer.

FIG. 7 is a screen transition diagram when “Scan to cell Phone” is selected in the second embodiment. The device name displayed in the field 50a on the screen 50 (the screen corresponding to the screen 40 of the first embodiment) is not simply the device name of the registered scanner, but “normally used scanner” among the registered scanners. Is the device name of the scanner set as. As described above, the device control program controls the scanner set as “normally used scanner” to read the document.

  The screen 50 is provided with a pull-down menu 50b for selecting “normally used scanner”. When the user touches the pull-down menu 50b, a list of registered scanner device names is displayed. The user selects one of the scanners displayed in a list to exclusively set the scanner as a “normally used scanner”. Since it is set exclusively, if the other scanner has been set as “normally used scanner” until then, the setting of “normally used scanner” is canceled for the other scanner.

  In the “printer registration process” according to the second embodiment, the multifunction device “ABC-0000” (non-printing) is displayed on the screen 36 in FIG. 6 in a state where the multifunction device “DC123450” is set as the “normally used scanner”. When “shown” is selected as a printer, the multifunction device “ABC-0000” is also registered as a scanner, but is not set as a “normally used scanner”. In such a case, as shown in the screen 50, the multifunction device “DC123450” is displayed in the field 50a, and the multifunction device “ABC-0000” is displayed in the pull-down menu 50b.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of “printer registration processing” according to the second embodiment. Here, processes substantially the same as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In S201, the device control program determines whether a scanner other than the multifunction peripheral selected in S105 (or a multifunction peripheral) is set as “normally used scanner”, and no other scanner is set. If YES in step S202, the flow advances to step S202. If another scanner is set, the flow advances to step S203 (an example of third determination processing).
In S202, the device control program registers the selected printer (ie, multifunction device) as a device for executing the scanner function, and exclusively uses the printer (ie, multifunction device) as a “normally used scanner”. Setting (an example of second setting processing).

  In S203, the device control program determines whether or not the number n of registered scanners is less than the maximum registerable number N, and if it is less than the maximum registerable number N, the process proceeds to S204 and reaches the maximum registerable number N. If yes, the process proceeds to S205 without registering the printer as a scanner.

  In S204, the device control program registers the selected printer (that is, the multifunction device) as a device for executing the scanner function. However, in this case, it is not set as “normally used scanner”. Therefore, other scanners that have been set as “normally used scanners” become “normally used scanners” as they are.

  In S205, the device control program registers the selected printer (single-function printer or multi-function device) as a device for executing the printer function (an example of registration processing), and uses the device as a “normally used printer”. ".

According to the device control program according to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, when a device normally used for executing the scanner function is already set, a new device is registered as a device used for executing the scanner function. However, since the device is not set as a device that is normally used for executing the scanner function, even if a new device is registered, the user continues to use the device that is already set as the device that is normally used for executing the scanner function. Can be used.

Further, when it is desired to execute the scanner function on a newly registered device, the device can be made to execute the scanner function by selecting the device as a device normally used for executing the scanner function on the screen 50. .
In this embodiment, a plurality of printers can be registered. However, only one printer may be registered. In that case, the process of S110 is executed instead of the process of S205.

<Embodiment 3>
Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The third embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment, and when the selected printer has a scanner function and the printer (that is, the multi-function peripheral) is also registered as a scanner, another scanner has already “normally used”. The newly registered scanner is exclusively set as the “normally used scanner” even if it is set as the “scanner to be used”.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of “printer registration processing” according to the third embodiment. The “printer registration process” according to the third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that if an affirmative determination is made in S203, the process proceeds to S202 (an example of a first setting process). Since the process proceeds to S202, in the third embodiment, even if another scanner is already set as the “normally used scanner”, the printer (that is, the MFP) selected in S105 is set as the “normally used scanner”. It will be.
The “printer registration process” according to the third embodiment is substantially the same as the “printer registration process” according to the second embodiment in other respects.

  According to the device control program according to the third embodiment of the present invention described above, the newly registered device is set as “a device normally used for executing the scanner function”. When a plurality of devices can be registered for the scanner function, it can be said that there is a high possibility that the newly registered device is a device that the user intends to use.

  According to this device control program, a newly registered device is set as a “device that is normally used to execute the scanner function”. Therefore, if multiple devices can be registered for the scanner function, A device that is likely to be used by the user can be set as a “device that is normally used for executing the scanner function” while reducing the burden of setting the “device to be used” by the user.

<Change of device used normally>
Next, the “normally used device” changing process will be described with reference to FIG.
As described above, in the second and third embodiments, the “normally used printer” can be changed by the user from among the registered printers. In addition, the user can change the “normally used scanner” from among the registered scanners.

When the user changes the “normally used printer” and the printer has a scanner function, the device control program also sets the printer (that is, the multifunction device) as the “normally used scanner”.
Specifically, when the user changes “normally used printer”, the device control program determines whether the changed printer is also registered as a scanner (registered as a device for executing the scanner function). Whether or not the device name of the device that has been registered has a device name that matches the device name of the printer) (an example of the fourth determination process). (That is, the MFP) is also set as a “normally used scanner” (an example of a fourth setting process).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of “normally used device change processing”. This process is started when the user touches the pull-down menu 55b on the screen 55.

In S301, the device control program displays a list of registered printer device names in the pull-down menu, and waits until the user selects one of the printers from the pull-down menu 55b.
In step S <b> 302, the device control program acquires device information of the selected printer from the storage unit 18. As described above, all the registered device information of the printer and scanner is stored in the storage unit 18.

  In S303, the device control program determines whether or not the acquired device information is registered in the storage unit 18 as device information of a device for executing the scanner function. That is, the device control program determines whether the printer selected in S301 is also registered as a scanner. If the device control program is also registered as a scanner, the process proceeds to S304. If the device control program is not registered as a scanner, the process proceeds to S306.

  In step S304, the device control program determines whether another scanner has already been set as a “normally used scanner”. The device control program proceeds to S306 if another scanner is set as “normally used scanner”, and proceeds to S305 if it is not set.

In step S305, the device control program exclusively sets the printer (that is, the multifunction device) selected in step S301 as the “normally used scanner”.
In S <b> 306, the device control program exclusively sets the printer selected in S <b> 301 (that is, a printer or a multi-function peripheral) as a “normally used printer”.

  Thus, the change process ends. In this processing, if another scanner has already been set as “normally used scanner”, the printer selected in S301 (that is, the multifunction device) is not set as “normally used scanner”. The printer (that is, the multifunction device) selected in (1) may be set as a “normally used scanner”. In that case, the determination in S304 may be deleted.

According to the “normally used device” changing process described above, the printer selected on the screen 55 is not only set as a device normally used for executing the printer function, but also as a device normally used for executing the scanner function. Also set.
When a device selected by the user among one or more devices registered for one function is set as a device that is normally used for executing the one function, the user uses the device for executing another function. It is highly possible. This is because, for example, when a newest device is newly installed and the latest device is set as a device used to execute the one function for the one function, the user uses the latest device for other functions. Because it is assumed that you want to do.

Also, for example, assume that the user moves a location and sets a multifunction device in the destination location as a “normally used printer”. In this case, if the user wants to capture an image at the destination, the user often sets the multifunction device as a “normally used scanner”. That is, in a terminal device that can be carried like the mobile phone 1, if the “normally used printer” is changed, the printer (that is, the multifunction device) is likely to be set as the “normally used scanner”.

  According to this device control program, when the user changes the “normally used printer (device used for executing the printer function)” and the changed printer has the scanner function, the printer (that is, the composite) Is likely to be set as a “usually used scanner (device used for executing the scanner function)”, it is possible to reduce the trouble of the user setting the printer as a “normally used scanner”.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, the printer function and the scanner function are described as examples of the plurality of functions. However, the plurality of functions are not limited to these. For example, one of the plurality of functions may be a facsimile function. Good.

  (2) In the above embodiment, a mobile phone has been described as an example of a terminal device. However, the terminal device is not limited to a mobile phone, and may be a personal computer, a portable information terminal, or the like.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the device control program can control a plurality of types of devices has been described as an example. However, the device control program may control only one specific type of multifunction peripheral.
When any one of the one or more multifunction peripherals is selected, the device control program uses the multifunction peripheral as a device for executing the printer function and a device for executing the scanner function. You may register.
In this case, since the model is specified, the device control program should know in advance whether or not the multifunction peripheral has a printer function and a scanner function. Therefore, in this case, registration may be performed without determining whether the multi-function peripheral has a printer function or a scanner function, or whether the device control program can control these functions.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the printer is selected after selecting an image has been described as an example. However, for example, a menu such as “select a printer” or “set a printer for normal use” may be provided in the main menu .

  (5) In the above embodiment, when a printer is selected from the searched printers, if the printer has a scanner function, the printer (that is, the multifunction device) is registered as a scanner. When a scanner is selected from the scanners selected, if the scanner has a printer function, the scanner (that is, the multifunction machine) may be registered as a printer.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mobile phone 2 ... Device 2a, 2b ... Multifunction machine 2c, 2d ... Printer 2e, 2f ... Scanner 3 ... Base station 4 ... Wireless LAN router 5 ... Communication network 11 ... Control unit 12 ... Transmission / reception unit 13 ... Audio input / output unit 14 ... Wireless communication unit 15 ... Display unit 16 ... Operation unit 17 ... Imaging unit 18 ...・ Storage unit

Claims (15)

A device control program for controlling the device with the device and the second function having a first function,
And the device receiving process that accepts a specification before Symbol Lud device to perform the first function,
The device specified by the device reception process is registered in a terminal device that executes the device control program as a device for executing the first function, and the device as a device for executing the second function Registration processing to be registered in the terminal device;
A control process for controlling the device registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function and executing the function when the first function or the second function is executed;
To the terminal device ,
The device control program can control multiple types of devices,
In the registration process, for the first function and the second function, the function is executed for each function on the condition that the device specified by the device reception process has the function. A device control program for registering in the terminal device as a device for A device control program for controlling the device with the device and the second function having a first function,
A search process for searching for devices having a pre-Symbol first function,
A device reception process for receiving designation of a device that executes the first function from among the devices searched by the search process;
The device specified by the device reception process is registered in a terminal device that executes the device control program as a device for executing the first function, and the device as a device for executing the second function Registration processing to be registered in the terminal device;
A control process for controlling the device registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function and executing the function when the first function or the second function is executed;
To the terminal device ,
The device control program can control multiple types of devices,
In the registration process, for the first function and the second function, the function is executed for each function on the condition that the device specified by the device reception process has the function. A device control program for registering in the terminal device as a device for A device control program for controlling a device having a first function and a device having a second function,
Device acceptance processing for accepting designation of a device that executes the first function;
The device specified by the device reception process is registered in a terminal device that executes the device control program as a device for executing the first function, and the device as a device for executing the second function Registration processing to be registered in the terminal device;
A control process for controlling the device registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function and executing the function when the first function or the second function is executed;
To the terminal device,
A plurality of devices can be registered for one function in the terminal device,
When a new device is registered in the registration process for any one of the first function and the second function, the newly registered device is exclusive as a device used for executing the function. Causing the terminal device to execute a first setting process for setting to
The control process is set for each of the first function and the second function as a device used to execute the function among devices registered as the device for executing the function. A device control program that controls a device and executes that function. A device control program for controlling a device having a first function and a device having a second function,
A search process for searching for a device having the first function;
A device reception process for receiving designation of a device that executes the first function from among the devices searched by the search process;
The device specified by the device reception process is registered in a terminal device that executes the device control program as a device for executing the first function, and the device as a device for executing the second function Registration processing to be registered in the terminal device;
A control process for controlling the device registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function and executing the function when the first function or the second function is executed;
To the terminal device,
A plurality of devices can be registered for one function in the terminal device,
When a new device is registered in the registration process for any one of the first function and the second function, the newly registered device is exclusive as a device used for executing the function. Causing the terminal device to execute a first setting process for setting to
The control process is set for each of the first function and the second function as a device used to execute the function among devices registered as the device for executing the function. A device control program that controls a device and executes that function. A device control program for controlling a device having a first function and a device having a second function,
Device acceptance processing for accepting designation of a device that executes the first function;
The device specified by the device reception process is registered in a terminal device that executes the device control program as a device for executing the first function, and the device as a device for executing the second function Registration processing to be registered in the terminal device;
A control process for controlling the device registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function and executing the function when the first function or the second function is executed;
To the terminal device,
A plurality of devices can be registered for one function in the terminal device,
When a new device is registered in the registration process for one of the first function and the second function, another device is already set as a device used to execute a function different from the function. A third determination process for determining whether or not
When it is determined by the third determination process that no other device is set as a device used for executing a function different from the function, the newly registered device is set to execute the different function. A second setting process exclusively set as a device to be used;
To the terminal device,
The control process is set for each of the first function and the second function as a device used to execute the function among devices registered as the device for executing the function. A device control program that controls a device and executes that function. A device control program for controlling a device having a first function and a device having a second function,
A search process for searching for a device having the first function;
A device reception process for receiving designation of a device that executes the first function from among the devices searched by the search process;
The device specified by the device reception process is registered in a terminal device that executes the device control program as a device for executing the first function, and the device as a device for executing the second function Registration processing to be registered in the terminal device;
A control process for controlling the device registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function and executing the function when the first function or the second function is executed;
To the terminal device,
A plurality of devices can be registered for one function in the terminal device,
When a new device is registered in the registration process for one of the first function and the second function, another device is already set as a device used to execute a function different from the function. A third determination process for determining whether or not
When it is determined by the third determination process that no other device is set as a device used for executing a function different from the function, the newly registered device is set to execute the different function. A second setting process exclusively set as a device to be used;
To the terminal device,
The control process is set for each of the first function and the second function as a device used to execute the function among devices registered as the device for executing the function. A device control program that controls a device and executes that function. A device control program for controlling a device having a first function and a device having a second function,
Device acceptance processing for accepting designation of a device that executes the first function;
The device specified by the device reception process is registered in a terminal device that executes the device control program as a device for executing the first function, and the device as a device for executing the second function Registration processing to be registered in the terminal device;
A control process for controlling the device registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function and executing the function when the first function or the second function is executed;
To the terminal device,
A plurality of devices can be registered for one function in the terminal device,
A second device accepting process for accepting designation of one of one or more devices registered in the terminal device for one function;
A third setting process for exclusively setting a device designated by the second device reception process as a device used for executing the one function;
A fourth determination process for determining whether or not the designated device is registered as a device for executing another function;
When it is determined by the fourth determination process that the specified device is registered as a device for executing another function, the specified device is used for executing the other function. A fourth setting process to set exclusively as a device;
To the terminal device,
The control process is set for each of the first function and the second function as a device used to execute the function among devices registered as the device for executing the function. A device control program that controls a device and executes that function. A device control program for controlling a device having a first function and a device having a second function,
A search process for searching for a device having the first function;
A device reception process for receiving designation of a device that executes the first function from among the devices searched by the search process;
The device specified by the device reception process is registered in a terminal device that executes the device control program as a device for executing the first function, and the device as a device for executing the second function Registration processing to be registered in the terminal device;
A control process for controlling the device registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function and executing the function when the first function or the second function is executed;
To the terminal device,
A plurality of devices can be registered for one function in the terminal device,
A second device accepting process for accepting designation of one of one or more devices registered in the terminal device for one function;
A third setting process for exclusively setting a device designated by the second device reception process as a device used for executing the one function;
A fourth determination process for determining whether or not the designated device is registered as a device for executing another function;
When it is determined by the fourth determination process that the specified device is registered as a device for executing another function, the specified device is used for executing the other function. A fourth setting process to set exclusively as a device;
To the terminal device,
The control process is set for each of the first function and the second function as a device used to execute the function among devices registered as the device for executing the function. A device control program that controls a device and executes that function. A device control program according to any one of claims 2 , 4, and 6 to 8 ,
In the search process, and it acquires device information including at least device name before Kide device,
In the device reception process, a device control program for displaying a device name acquired by the search process on a display unit included in the terminal device. A device control program according to any one of claims 1 to 9 ,
One of the first function and the second function is a function for printing an image, and the other is a function for capturing an image. The device control program according to claim 1 or 2 ,
In a state where a device for executing the first function is registered in the terminal device, another device different from the device is designated as a device for executing the first function by the device reception process. In the registration process, the device for executing the first function is changed to the other device and the device for executing the second function is changed to the other device in the registration process. Device control program. A device control program according to any one of claims 1 to 11 ,
The terminal device includes a display unit,
The device control program is
A function selection process for accepting selection of one of the first function and the second function;
When a function is selected by the function selection process, a display process for causing the display unit to display a screen for accepting an instruction to execute the selected function from the user;
To the terminal device,
In the display process, if a device for executing the function selected by the function selection process has already been registered in the terminal device, device information indicating the registered device is displayed on the screen. Device control program. The device control program according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The registration process includes
For each of the first function and the second function, the first determination process determines whether the specified device has the function,
If the specified device by the first determination process is determined to have the function, or the function the specified device that has a controllable from the device control program A second determination process for determining whether or not;
Including
A device control program for registering in the terminal device as a device for executing the function when it is determined that control is possible by the second determination processing. A device control method for controlling a device having a device and a second function having a first function,
And the device acceptance stage to accept the designation of Lud device to perform before Symbol first function,
The device specified in the device reception stage is registered in a terminal device that executes the device control program as a device for executing the first function, and as a device for executing the second function A registration stage to register with the terminal device;
When executing the first function or the second function, a control step of controlling a device registered in the terminal device as a device for executing the function and executing the function;
Only including,
The terminal device can control a plurality of types of devices,
In the registration stage, for each of the first function and the second function, the function is executed on the condition that the device specified by the device reception process has the function. A device control method for registering in the terminal device as a device for use. In a terminal device connectable with a plurality of devices, a device control program for setting the device for each function to be executed,
When one device is designated for execution of one function, when another function that can be executed by the one device is controllable by the device control program, the function of the first function and the other function A setting process for setting the first device as an execution device;
When another device different from the device set as the execution device for the first function in the setting process is designated for the execution of the first function, another function that can be executed by the other device is If control is possible with a device control program, a setting change process for changing the device set as the execution device for the first function and the other function to the other device in the setting process;
A device control program for causing the terminal device to execute

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