JP6287300B2 - Application creation apparatus, application creation method, and application creation program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an application creation apparatus, an application creation method, and an application creation program, and more particularly to an application creation apparatus, an application creation method, and an application creation program for creating an application for an image processing apparatus.

  An application is installed in an image processing apparatus such as an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral), and the image processing apparatus is caused to execute image processing by the application. There is a service for creating an application operable by the image processing apparatus according to the user's needs by acquiring the application platform and registering the application in the image processing apparatus.

JP 2003-36254 A

  When creating an application, there is a demand for incorporating the latest user interface and trending user interface into the application.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides an application creation device, an application creation method, and an application creation program that can create an application while recommending appropriate information to the creator of the application. The purpose is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an application creation device is a device for creating an application for causing an image processing device to execute image processing, and stores an application for causing image processing to be performed. Obtaining means for extracting and obtaining UI information, which is information representing the user interface of the stored application, from the server that performs the processing, ranking means for assigning priority to the UI information, and creation of the application Displaying means for displaying UI information in accordance with the priority order as assisting information. The display means displays the UI information as assisting information when there is a difference between the user interface used in the created application and the user interface based on the UI information.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the application creation device is a device that creates an application for causing the image processing device to execute image processing, and is stored from a server that stores the application for executing image processing. UI for extracting and acquiring UI information that is information representing the user interface of an application, ranking means for giving priority to UI information, and information for assisting creation of an application Display means for displaying information according to priority. The acquisition unit selects an application for extracting UI information from applications stored in the server based on an application installed in the image processing apparatus.

  Preferably, the server stores a plurality of applications for executing image processing, the acquisition unit acquires UI information of each of the plurality of applications for each item included in the image processing instruction, and the ranking unit has the same Priorities are assigned to a plurality of pieces of UI information acquired from a plurality of applications for each item.

  Preferably, the application creation apparatus further includes a selection unit for selecting UI information used for the created application from the UI information displayed by the display unit.

  Preferably, the application creating apparatus has a first instruction for instructing to change a user interface used for the created application to a user interface based on UI information having a predetermined priority in the UI information. A change means is further provided.

  Preferably, the application creation apparatus controls to change a user interface used for an application installed in the image processing apparatus to a user interface based on UI information having a predetermined priority order in the UI information. Second change means for outputting a signal to the image processing apparatus is further provided.

  Preferably, the ranking means includes the usage frequency of the application in the server of the user interface, the download frequency of the application including the user interface from the server, the creation date of the application including the user interface, and the application including the user interface. Priorities are assigned to UI information based on at least one of the usage frequencies.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an application creation method is a method of creating an application for causing an image processing apparatus to execute image processing using the information processing apparatus, and an application for causing the information processing apparatus to execute image processing is provided. Extracting and acquiring UI information that is information representing the user interface of the stored application from the storing server, assigning priority to the UI information, and information for assisting creation of the application, Displaying the UI information on a display device to which the information processing device is connected in accordance with the priority order. The displaying step includes displaying the UI information as assisting information when there is a difference between the user interface used in the application being created and the user interface based on the UI information.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, an application creation method is a method for creating an application for causing an image processing apparatus to perform image processing using the information processing apparatus, and the application for causing the information processing apparatus to perform image processing. As information for assisting the creation of an application, a step of extracting and acquiring UI information, which is information representing a user interface of the stored application, from a server storing information, a step of assigning priority to the UI information And displaying the UI information on a display device to which the information processing device is connected in accordance with the priority order. The obtaining step includes selecting an application for extracting UI information from among applications stored in the server based on an application installed in the image processing apparatus.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, an application creation program is a program for causing a computer to create an application for causing an image processing apparatus to execute image processing, and stores an application for causing image processing to be executed. And extracting UI information, which is information representing the user interface of the stored application, assigning priority to the UI information, and providing UI information as information for assisting creation of the application. And causing the computer to execute a step of displaying on a display device to which the computer is connected according to the priority order. The displaying step includes displaying the UI information as assisting information when there is a difference between the user interface used in the application being created and the user interface based on the UI information.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, an application creation program is a program for causing a computer to create an application for causing an image processing apparatus to execute image processing, and stores an application for causing image processing to be executed. And extracting UI information, which is information representing the user interface of the stored application, assigning priority to the UI information, and providing UI information as information for assisting creation of the application. And causing the computer to execute a step of displaying on a display device to which the computer is connected according to the priority order. The obtaining step includes selecting an application for extracting UI information from among applications stored in the server based on an application installed in the image processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, when creating an application, the application can be created while recommending appropriate information to a user who desires to incorporate the latest user interface or trend user interface into the application.

It is a figure which shows the specific example of the system configuration | structure concerning embodiment, and the specific example of the apparatus structure of each apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the specific example of the apparatus structure of each apparatus contained in a system. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement outline | summary in embodiment. It is a figure showing an example of the screen for application creation. It is the figure which represented the data structure of the application typically. It is a figure showing the example of a part of UI information. It is a figure showing the specific example of the operation screen of a copy application. It is a figure showing the specific example of the operation screen of a copy application. It is a figure showing the specific example of the correspondence table. It is a figure showing an example of the screen for application creation. It is a block diagram which shows the specific example of a function structure of PC. It is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of operation in PC. It is a flowchart showing a part of operation | movement with PC.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, these descriptions will not be repeated.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a system configuration and a specific example of a device configuration of each apparatus according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, the system according to the present embodiment includes an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) 300 as an example of an image processing apparatus, and a PC (personal computer) as an example of an application creation apparatus that can communicate with MFP 300. 100.

  The PC 100 and the MFP 300 may be communicable by being electrically connected through a dedicated line such as a LAN (Local Area Network), wireless communication such as infrared communication, or the Internet. Communication may be possible using a public line.

  Further, the PC 100 may be able to communicate with the server 500, which is a storage device for storing downloadable applications, and acquire applications from the server 500. The PC 100 and the server 500 perform communication via the Internet, for example.

<Device configuration>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific example of device configurations of the PC 100 and the MFP 300. The PC 100 as an example of the application creation apparatus may be configured with a general personal computer.

  That is, with reference to FIG. 2, the PC 100 is a ROM (Memory Processing Unit) for storing a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 for controlling the entire apparatus and a program executed by the CPU 10 such as an application creation application. (Read Only Memory) 11, RAM (Random Access Memory) 12, which is a memory that stores calculation values and serves as a work area when the CPU 10 executes a program, and a large-sized storage for storing various data An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 13, which is an example of the device, an input device 14 such as a keyboard, a display 15, and a network controller 16 for controlling communication with the MFP 300 are included.

  MFP 300 may be any device as long as it can execute an application. Referring to FIG. 2, as an example, MFP 300 stores a CPU 30 for controlling the entire apparatus, a ROM 31 that is a memory for storing a program executed by CPU 30, and a calculated value when the program is executed by CPU 30. Between the RAM 32 which is a memory serving as a working area or a work area, the HDD 33 which is an example of a large-sized storage device for storing image data, the scanner 34, the printer 35, the operation panel 36 and the PC 100. And a network controller 37 for controlling the communication.

<Overview of operation>
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the operation in the present embodiment. In the system according to the present embodiment, MFP 300 can execute an application. The application executed by the MFP 300 indicates a program for executing specific image processing using the image processing function of the MFP 300. The MFP 300 can expand an image processing function and operability by installing an application.

  The PC 100 creates an application to be installed in the MFP 300 according to a user operation. At that time, the PC 100 accesses the server 500, acquires information about the application stored in the server 500, and uses it to create the application.

  As an example, in the following description, it is assumed that a copy application that is a program for executing a copy operation for installing in the MFP 300 by the PC 100 is created. It is assumed that “Copy 100”, “Copy 101”, and “Copy 103” are stored in the server 500 as a plurality of copy applications.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a creation screen displayed on the display 15 of the PC 100 while the PC 100 executes the application creation application to create the application. FIG. 4 shows an example of a creation screen in which a copy application is being created and an operation screen (user interface) to be displayed on the operation panel 36 of the MFP 300 is being created.

  While the PC 100 executes the above-described program to create an application, more specifically, from the start of creating a copy application to registering the completed copy application in the MFP 300, the PC 100 stores a plurality of information stored in the server 500. Information regarding the user interface of each copy application is acquired and reflected on the user interface of the copy application being created. Therefore, the operation screen shown in FIG. 4 is created with a “UI information acquisition” button 501 that is a button for instructing acquisition of information regarding the user interface of each of the plurality of copy applications stored in the server 500. And a “Register” button 502 which is a button for instructing registration of the copy application to the MFP 300. FIG. 3 shows an operation started in the present system when the button 501 is pressed. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation screen further includes an “change existing application” button 503 that is a button for instructing to change the user interface of the copy application already installed in MFP 300.

  Referring to FIG. 3, PC 100, which is an application creation apparatus, requests application information, which is information relating to a copy application being created, from server 500 in accordance with the user operation (step S1). In step S <b> 1, the PC 100 may request the server 500 not only for the copy application being created but also for application information related to the copy application. In response to the request, the stored application information “Copy 100”, “Copy 101”, and “Copy 103” is transmitted to the PC 100 (step S2).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the data structure of the application. Referring to FIG. 5, the application for MFP includes UI information that is information defining a display mode for causing MFP 300 to display an operation screen as a user interface, and information on a program main body that causes MFP 300 to execute an image forming process. And an image data used for the operation screen. The UI information is described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) as an example. The application information is information related to an application, and includes UI information that is information representing a user interface of the application.

  When the PC 100 acquires the application information from the server 500, the PC 100 acquires UI information by analyzing the information (step S3). FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a part of the UI information of the copy application 100 stored in the server 500. The PC 100 extracts and acquires UI information as shown in FIG. 6 by analyzing application information from the server 500. 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating specific examples of operation screens of the copy application 101 and the copy application 102, respectively. The PC 100 extracts and obtains UI information representing these operation screens from the application information obtained from the server 500 in step S2. The process of extracting the UI information from the application information may be performed on the server 500 side, and only the UI information may be sent from the server 500 in response to the request in step S1.

  The PC 100 determines the priority order of the acquired UI information (step S4) and assigns it to each UI information. Specifically, the PC 100 acquires UI information of each of the plurality of copy applications for each copy application item stored in the server 500, and prioritizes the plurality of UI information acquired from each of the plurality of copy applications for the same control item. Give a ranking.

  As an example, in step S4, the PC 100 analyzes each UI information and creates a correspondence table as shown in FIG. 9 for each control item of the application for each display control used in each application. Specifically, with reference to FIG. 9, the PC 100 creates a correspondence table in which items such as expressions for each control item, control types, font information, and the like are described for each application as UI information. As other items, the PC 100 may write the display position and size in the correspondence table. Which items are written to the correspondence table and compared may be set in advance, may be set for each user, or may be changed by a specific user such as an administrator.

  In the correspondence table of FIG. 9, the user interface character string (Wording) in “Copy number control” is “Copy 100” in “Copy 100” and “Copy 102”, and is different from “Copy Num” in “Copy 101”. ing. The character string of the user interface in “paper tray” is “Paper Ray” in “Copy 100” and “Copy 101”, and “Copy 102” is different from “Tray”. Further, the control type in the “paper tray” is different from the select menu in “Copy 100” and “Copy 102”, and different from the radio button in “Copy 101”.

  As an example, in step S4, the PC 100 refers to the table and increases the priority of UI information employed by the copy application stored in the server 500. For example, for the character string of the user interface in “copy number control”, the PC 100 sets the priority of the character string “Copyes” higher than the priority of the character string “Copy Num”. Similarly, for the user interface character string in the “paper tray”, the PC 100 sets the priority of the character string “Paper Tray” higher than the priority of the character string “Tray”. Similarly, for the control type in “paper tray”, the PC 100 sets the priority of the select menu higher than the priority of the radio button.

  When determining the priority order, the PC 100 displays the UI information according to the priority order (step S5).

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface creation screen. Referring to FIG. 10, as an example, if there is a user interface such as a character string represented in the UI information acquired from server 500 in step S5, PC 100 can be selected in the priority order determined in step S4. indicate. Therefore, as an example, the user interface creation screen includes a button 504 for instructing display of the user interface represented by the UI information acquired from the server 500, and a user represented by the UI information acquired from the server 500. A display area 505 for displaying the interface according to the priority order is included as assist information for assisting designation of the user interface.

  The PC 100 may compare the user interface specified in the creation of the copy application with the user interface represented by the UI information acquired from the server 500, and display the assist information when they are different. That is, the PC 100 may display the button 504 on the user interface creation screen when these user interfaces are different.

  In the example of FIG. 10, when the button 504 is touched for the character string of the user interface in the “copy number control”, the character string “Copyes” and the character string “Copy Num” are displayed as assist information in the display area 505 in step S4. Are displayed in order from the top in the priority order determined in. That is, a character string that is frequently used in the server 500 is displayed above.

  Preferably, UI information is displayed in the display area 505 so as to be selectable. Thereby, the user can select the user interface used in the control item from the user interfaces displayed in the display area 505. By checking in order from the top of the display area 505, the user can easily select a character string that is often used in the server 500.

  Upon receiving the selection in the display area 505, the PC 100 changes the user interface to the selected user interface for the control item of the copy application being created (step S6). Alternatively, when the user interface has not yet been specified in the creation of the copy application, the PC 100 determines the selected user interface.

  Preferably, as shown in FIG. 10, the user interface creation screen has a button 506 for instructing to change to a user interface based on UI information to which a predetermined priority is assigned for all control items. including. When the PC 100 receives a touch on the button 506, the user interface of all the control items for which UI information is acquired from the server 500 among the control items included in the copy application being created is given the highest priority as an example. The user interface is changed based on the given UI information. Thereby, the user can easily change the user interface such as the character string of the copy application to the user interface most frequently used in the server 500, for example.

  In the above example, the priority order of UI information is determined according to the frequency of use of the copy application stored in the server 500 by the PC 100. However, the priority order may be determined by other methods. . As another example, the PC 100 downloads the copy application from the server 500 including the user interface represented by the UI information (number of times, interval, etc.), creation date of the application including the user interface, and the user interface. The priority order of UI information may be determined in accordance with the frequency of use of the application including the above or a combination thereof.

  Thereafter, when the “Register” button 502 is pressed on the creation screen of FIG. 4, the PC 100 completes the creation of the copy application, and passes the copy application to the MFP 300 to request registration. In response to the request, the MFP 300 performs copy application registration processing.

  In the above description, the “UI information acquisition” button 501, which is a button for instructing acquisition of information related to the user interface of each application stored in the server 500, is explicitly displayed on the application creation screen of the PC 100. The UI information acquisition to assist information display is performed only when the user performs the operation of pressing the button. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. That is, the UI information acquisition may be automatically performed between the start of the application creation on the PC 100 and the registration of the application in the MFP 300 without necessarily requiring an explicit instruction from the user. Good.

  As an example, when the creation of an application is started and the MFP 300 for registering the application created by the user is designated, the PC 100 automatically enters the MFP 300 between the start of creation of the application and the registration of the application in the MFP 300. An application that has already been installed may be read, and an application for extracting UI information from among applications stored in the server 500 may be selected based on the application. That is, when the copy application is already installed in the MFP 300, the PC 100 automatically stores the copy application UI information stored in the server 500 between the start of the creation of the application and the registration of the application in the MFP 300. You may extract and acquire.

  When the “change existing application” button 503 is pressed on the creation screen in FIG. 4, the PC 100 also displays the copy application already installed from the MFP 300 that is the application registration destination in the UI information selected on the creation screen. The MFP 300 is requested to change to a user interface based on it. As a result, the user interfaces of the copy application being created and the copy application that is being newly registered in the MFP 300 and the copy application that has already been installed are unified to the selected user interface, and user convenience can be improved.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a specific example of a functional configuration of the PC 100 for performing the above operation. Each function of FIG. 11 is mainly realized by the CPU 10 when the CPU 10 of the PC 100 reads a program (application creation application) stored in the ROM 11 onto the RAM 12 and executes it. However, some functions may be realized by other device configurations shown in FIG. 2 or a hardware configuration such as an electric circuit (not shown).

  Referring to FIG. 11, a memory such as HDD 13 of PC 100 includes a correspondence table storage unit 131 that is a storage area for storing the correspondence table of FIG.

  Further, referring to FIG. 11, CPU 10 has an instruction input unit 101 for accepting user instruction input from an input device such as a keyboard, and a UI creation unit for creating an application in accordance with the user instruction and creating its user interface. 102, a request unit 103 for requesting application information about an application stored in the server 500 via the network controller 16 according to a user instruction, and a first part for extracting and acquiring UI information from the application information 1 acquisition unit 104, a ranking unit 105 for assigning priorities to UI information, a display unit 106 for displaying UI information in accordance with the priorities as information for assisting creation of applications, and a created application Network controller And a registration unit 107 for requesting registration by passing the MFP300 through-sixteen.

  When the server 500 stores a plurality of applications for executing specific image processing, the first acquisition unit 104 acquires UI information of each of the plurality of applications for each item included in the image processing instruction. In this case, the ranking unit 105 gives priority to a plurality of UI information acquired from each of a plurality of applications for the same item. The ranking unit 105 displays the frequency of use of the user interface by the application in the server 500, the frequency of download of the application including the user interface from the server 500 (number of times, period, etc.), the creation date of the application including the user interface, and the user Priorities are given to the UI information based on at least one of the usage frequencies of the applications including the interface.

  The display unit 106 may display UI information as assist information in accordance with a user instruction, a user interface used for a created application, a user interface based on the UI information acquired from the server 500, If there is a difference, the UI information may be displayed as the assist information.

  Preferably, the CPU 10 further includes a selection unit 108 for accepting selection of UI information used for the created application from the UI information displayed on the display unit 106.

  Preferably, the CPU 10 changes the user interface used for the created application to a user interface based on UI information having a predetermined priority order among the UI information acquired from the server 500. 1st change part 109 for instructing to is further included. The first changing unit 109 collects the user interface used in the created application in accordance with the user instruction into a user interface based on the UI information having the highest priority among the UI information acquired from the server 500, for example. To make a change to the UI creation unit 102.

  Note that the first acquisition unit 104 may select an application for extracting UI information from among applications stored in the server 500 based on applications already installed in the MFP 300.

  Preferably, CPU 10 uses a user interface used for an application already installed in MFP 300 as a user interface based on UI information having a predetermined priority (for example, UI information having the highest priority) among the UI information. It further includes a second changing unit 111 for outputting a control signal instructing to change to MFP 300 to MFP 300.

<Operation flow>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation flow in the PC 100. The operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12 is performed when the CPU 10 reads and executes a program (application creation application) stored in the ROM 11 on the RAM 12 to create an application. This operation is realized by the CPU 10 performing the functions shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 12, when CPU 10 detects that “UI information acquisition” button 501 is pressed on the creation screen of FIG. 4 (YES in step S101), CPU 10 is creating an application (YES in step S103). The UI information of the application related to the application being created is acquired from the server 500. By this operation, the CPU 10 can acquire UI information of a copy application screen stored in the server 500 as shown in FIGS. Then, the CPU 10 stores the UI information for each control item in the correspondence table (step S105). By this operation, UI information is written in the correspondence table as shown in FIG.

  The CPU 10 gives priority to the acquired UI information (step S107). The CPU 10 refers to the correspondence table in FIG. 9 and assigns priorities to the UI information according to the usage frequency, for example. Then, the CPU 10 displays the UI information acquired as the assist information for creating the application on the creation screen according to the priority order (step S109). By this operation, as shown in FIG. 10, UI information is displayed on the application creation screen in the order of priority as assist information. The CPU 10 displays the assist information as shown in FIG. 10 when there is a difference between the user interface specified by the user on the creation screen in FIG. 4 and the user interface indicated in the UI information acquired from the server 500. Also good.

  Preferably, the UI information indicated as assist information can be selected. When the selection of UI information used by the application being created is received from the UI information (YES in step S111), the CPU 10 changes the target UI information to the selected UI information (step S113).

  Alternatively, when the application creation screen includes a button 506 for instructing to change to a user interface based on UI information to which a predetermined priority is assigned for all control items as shown in FIG. May change the UI information in accordance with an instruction from the button 506. That is, when the CPU 10 receives an instruction for batch conversion by touching the button 506 (YES in step S115), a predetermined priority is assigned to a control item having the assist information of the copy application being created. The user interface is changed in a batch based on the UI information (step S117).

  Thereafter, when it is detected that the “Register” button 502 is pressed on the creation screen of FIG. 4 (YES in step S119), the CPU 10 completes the creation of the application, passes the application to the MFP 300, and requests registration. (Step S121). Then, the CPU 10 ends a series of operations.

  Alternatively, when it is detected that the “change existing application” button 503 is pressed on the creation screen of FIG. 4 (NO in step S119 and YES in step S123), the CPU 10 passes the UI information to the MFP 300 and has already been installed. The MFP 300 is requested to change the user interface of the copied application (step S125).

<Effect of Embodiment>
By performing the above operation on the PC 100 which is an application creation apparatus, a user who creates an application using the PC 100 can obtain information on the user interface in the application stored in the server 500 without performing complicated operations. Can be obtained. That is, this system can recommend appropriate information according to the user's request to incorporate the latest user interface or trend user interface into the application being created.

<Other example 1>
In the above example, when the copy application is created, the PC 100 instructs the copy application UI information from the server 500 by instructing the user to obtain UI information from the server 500 on the creation screen (FIG. 4). Is getting. As another example, the PC 100 may select an application for extracting UI information from applications stored in the server 500 based on applications already installed in the MFP 300.

  In this case, the PC 100 acquires application information about an application installed from the MFP 300 at a predetermined timing. The timing may be, for example, a timing at which a user who intends to create an application for MFP 300 receives designation of MFP 300 as a registration destination prior to creation. Alternatively, it may be the timing when communication between the PC 100 and the MFP 300 is established, a predetermined time interval, or the like.

  For example, the application information is acquired by requesting the acquisition of application information from the MFP 100 to the target MFP 300 using WebDAV (Distributed Authoring and Versioning Protocol for the WWW) or the like, and responding to the request from the MFP 300 to the PC 100. This is realized by transferring application information. As another example, the PC 100 acquires application information of the MFP 300 when the PC 100 analyzes management information such as MIB (Management information base) transmitted from the MFP 300 at a predetermined timing such as when communication is established. May be. Further, in the acquisition of the application information, the PC 100 may specify the function of the MFP 300 used for executing the application being created, and request the MFP 300 for application information regarding the application using the function. .

  As an example, the PC 100 may acquire UI information about an application already installed in the MFP 300 from the server 500. As another example, the PC 100 may acquire UI information about an application that is not installed in the MFP 300 from the server 500. As yet another example, the PC 100 may acquire UI information about an application that is installed in the MFP 300 by a predetermined number or less from the server 500. In this way, the PC 100 can automatically acquire from the server 500 UI information about an application that the user will create and register with the MFP 300.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation in the PC 100. Referring to FIG. 13, as an example, CPU 10 detects that “UI information acquisition” button 501 has been pressed at a timing when an application is not being created in the processing of FIG. 12 (YES in step S101 and in step S103). NO), referring to FIG. 13, the application information about the application already installed is acquired from MFP 300 (step S201).

  The CPU 10 acquires the UI information of the application already related to the application from the server 500. Here, as an example, the CPU 10 acquires UI information regarding an application already installed in the MFP 300. Then, the CPU 10 stores the UI information for each control item in the correspondence table (step S203). The CPU 10 may acquire the UI information from the server 500 in advance, create the correspondence table in FIG. 9, and store it in the memory. By doing so, since the correspondence table is already stored in the memory at the start of this operation, the assist information can be quickly displayed in the subsequent operations.

  Thereafter, the CPU 10 performs the same operations as steps S107 to S117 in FIG. 12 in steps S205 to S215. As described above, when the CPU 10 has acquired UI information about an application already installed in the MFP 300 from the server 500, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the “change existing application” button 503 is pressed after step S211 or S215. To check. When it is detected that the “change existing application” button 503 is pressed (NO in step S119 and YES in step S123), the CPU 10 passes the UI information to the MFP 300, and the copy application already installed is detected. The MFP 300 is requested to change the user interface (step S125).

  By performing the above operation on the PC 100 which is an application creation apparatus, a user who creates an application using the PC 100 can more easily obtain information on the user interface in the application stored in the server 500. .

<Other example 2>
Furthermore, a program (application creation application) for causing the CPU 10 of the PC 100 to execute the above-described operation can be provided. By providing such a program, an existing PC that can communicate with the MFP 300 can be operated as an application creation apparatus.

  Such a program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk attached to the computer, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), a ROM, a RAM, and a memory card, and provided as a program product. You can also. Alternatively, the program can be provided by being recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk built in the computer. A program can also be provided by downloading via a network.

  A program according to the present invention is a program module that is provided as a part of an operating system (OS) of a computer and that executes necessary processes by calling necessary modules in a predetermined arrangement at a predetermined timing. Also good. In that case, the program itself does not include the module, and the process is executed in cooperation with the OS. A program that does not include such a module can also be included in the program according to the present invention.

  The program according to the present invention may be provided by being incorporated in a part of another program. Even in this case, the program itself does not include the module included in the other program, and the process is executed in cooperation with the other program. Such a program incorporated in another program can also be included in the program according to the present invention.

  The provided program product is installed in a program storage unit such as a hard disk and executed. The program product includes the program itself and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  10, 30 CPU, 11, 31 ROM, 12, 32 RAM, 13, 33 HDD, 14 input device, 15 display, 16, 37 network controller, 34 scanner, 35 printer, 36 operation panel, 100 PC, 101 instruction input unit , 102 creation unit, 103 request unit, 104 first acquisition unit, 105 ranking unit, 106 display unit, 107 registration unit, 108 selection unit, 109 first change unit, 111 second change unit, 131 correspondence table storage unit, 300 MFP, 500 server, 501, 502, 503, 504, 506 buttons, 505 display area.

Claims (11)

An application creation device for creating an application for causing an image processing device to perform image processing,
Acquisition means for extracting and acquiring UI information, which is information representing a user interface of the stored application, from a server storing an application for executing image processing;
Ranking means for assigning priority to the UI information;
Display information for displaying the UI information according to the priority order as information for assisting the creation of an application;
The application creation apparatus, wherein the display unit displays the UI information as the assist information when there is a difference between a user interface used for the created application and a user interface based on the UI information. An application creation device for creating an application for causing an image processing device to perform image processing,
Acquisition means for extracting and acquiring UI information, which is information representing a user interface of the stored application, from a server storing an application for executing image processing;
Ranking means for assigning priority to the UI information;
Display information for displaying the UI information according to the priority order as information for assisting the creation of an application;
The acquisition unit is an application creation device that selects an application for extracting UI information from applications stored in the server based on an application installed in the image processing apparatus. The server stores a plurality of applications for executing image processing,
The acquisition unit acquires the UI information of each of the plurality of applications for each item included in the image processing instruction,
The application creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ranking unit assigns a priority to the plurality of UI information acquired from each of the plurality of applications for the same item.   The application creation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising selection means for selecting UI information used for a created application from the UI information displayed by the display means.   The system further comprises first changing means for instructing to change a user interface used in the created application to a user interface based on UI information having a predetermined priority in the UI information. Item 5. The application creation device according to any one of Items 1 to 4.   A control signal instructing to change a user interface used in an application installed in the image processing apparatus to a user interface based on UI information having a predetermined priority order in the UI information. The application creation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second change unit for outputting to the application.   The ranking means includes a use frequency of the user interface in the application on the server, a download frequency of the application including the user interface from the server, a creation date of the application including the user interface, and the user interface The application creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a priority order is given to the UI information based on at least one of usage frequencies of the included applications. A method of creating an application for causing an image processing apparatus to perform image processing on an information processing apparatus,
Extracting and acquiring UI information, which is information representing a user interface of the stored application, from a server storing an application for causing the information processing apparatus to execute image processing;
Assigning priorities to the UI information;
Displaying the UI information on the display device to which the information processing device is connected according to the priority order as information for assisting the creation of the application,
The displaying step includes displaying the UI information as the assisting information when there is a difference between a user interface used in the application being created and a user interface based on the UI information. Application creation method. A method of creating an application for causing an image processing apparatus to perform image processing on an information processing apparatus,
Extracting and acquiring UI information, which is information representing a user interface of the stored application, from a server storing an application for causing the information processing apparatus to execute image processing;
Assigning priorities to the UI information;
Displaying the UI information on the display device to which the information processing device is connected according to the priority order as information for assisting the creation of the application,
The obtaining step includes selecting an application for extracting UI information from applications stored in the server based on an application installed in the image processing apparatus. A program for causing a computer to create an application for causing an image processing apparatus to execute image processing,
Extracting and acquiring UI information, which is information representing a user interface of the stored application, from a server storing an application for executing image processing;
Assigning priorities to the UI information;
Causing the computer to execute the step of displaying the UI information on a display device to which the computer is connected in accordance with the priority, as information for assisting the creation of the application,
The displaying step includes displaying the UI information as the assisting information when there is a difference between a user interface used in the application being created and a user interface based on the UI information. Application creation program. A program for causing a computer to create an application for causing an image processing apparatus to execute image processing,
Extracting and acquiring UI information, which is information representing a user interface of the stored application, from a server storing an application for executing image processing;
Assigning priorities to the UI information;
Causing the computer to execute the step of displaying the UI information on a display device to which the computer is connected in accordance with the priority, as information for assisting the creation of the application,
Step includes selecting an application to extract the UI information of the applications stored on the server based on the applications installed in the image processing apparatus, an application creation program for the acquisition.

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