JP6642039B2 - Information processing apparatus, apparatus search program, and search method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an apparatus search program, and a search method, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus capable of executing a hybrid application program, and an apparatus search program and a search method executed by the information processing apparatus.

  In an office or the like, a plurality of image processing apparatuses such as a multifunction peripheral (MFP) may be installed, and these MFPs are generally connected to a local area network (LAN). In such a network environment, a search service that enables detection of a plurality of MFPs connected to the network is used. As an example of a protocol used for the search service, SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol), WSD (Web Services on Devices), SLP (Service Location Protocol), and mDNS (multicast Domain) are known. In a portable information device such as a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a “PC”), a smartphone, or a tablet terminal capable of remotely controlling a plurality of MFPs, it is possible to search for an MFP to be remotely controlled using these protocols. is there.

  On the other hand, Cordova is known as a framework for producing a hybrid application program. If this hybrid application program is used, the user interface portion is described in a description language independent of the operating system of an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) device, and a portion that depends on the operating system such as a portion that controls hardware resources of the device is described. , Java (registered trademark), C, C ++, or Objective-C.

However, in a hybrid application program, a user interface part and a part dependent on an operating system operate in cooperation. Specifically, the user interface receives a user's instruction, executes a device search in a portion depending on the operating system, and executes a series of processes for displaying a search result in the user interface. Since the order of each process and the timing at which each process is executed are determined, the user interface can obtain the device search result after the device search process by the operating system-dependent portion is completed. In other words, since the search result is displayed after all of the plurality of MFPs are detected by the search process, the search result cannot be displayed until all of the plurality of MFPs are detected, and the search result is displayed. There is a problem that the response time until is long.
JP-T-2015-524126A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a program written in a programming language that does not support a thread control instruction, and a search process for searching for an apparatus. The object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus in which the response time is shortened when displaying the result.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a device search program in which a response time is shortened when displaying a result of a search process for searching for a device in a program written in a programming language that does not support a thread control instruction. It is to be.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a search method in which a response time is shortened when displaying a result of a search process for searching for a device in a program written in a programming language that does not support a thread control instruction. It is to be.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus includes a display unit for displaying an image, an operation unit for receiving an operation by a user, and a first type of programming language that does not support a thread control instruction. A first execution unit that controls the display unit and the operation unit, and executes a second program that is described in a second type of programming language different from the first type. And a second execution unit that executes a search process for searching for a communicable device, wherein the first execution unit starts the second execution unit in response to a start operation being received by the operation unit. A start-up unit that performs communication and identifies a device with which communication is possible in response to detection of a predetermined interrupt between the start-up of the second execution unit and the end of the search process Device information acquiring means for acquiring the device identification information for the first time, and an interruption display means for displaying the acquired device identification information on the display means each time the device information is acquired by the device information acquiring means. The search process includes a plurality of division processes having different search conditions, and the second execution unit activates a plurality of sub-execution units that respectively execute the plurality of division processes in response to being activated by the first execution unit. End notification for notifying the first execution means of the end of the search processing on condition that all of the started thread execution means and the activated plurality of sub-execution means end the corresponding assigned division processing of the plurality of division processing. Each of the plurality of sub-execution units executes a corresponding assigned division process among the plurality of division processes, and issues an interrupt to the first execution unit each time a communicable device is detected. As well as comprising an output means for outputting the device identification information of the detected device to the first execution means.

  According to this aspect, the search process includes a plurality of division processes having different search conditions, the second execution unit activates a plurality of sub-execution units that respectively execute the plurality of division processes, and executes the plurality of sub-execution units. The first execution unit is notified of the end of the search process on condition that all the corresponding division processes are completed, and each of the plurality of sub-execution units executes the division process and detects a communicable device. Each time, an interrupt is generated for the first execution means, and the device identification information of the detected device is output. Therefore, the search process is divided into a plurality of division processes and executed in parallel, so that the response time can be further reduced.

  Preferably, the first execution means receives an operation for instructing stop of the execution of the search processing by the operation means during a period from the activation of the second execution means to the end of the search processing by the second execution means. And a stop instruction means for outputting a stop instruction to the second execution means, wherein the second execution means receives a stop instruction from the first execution means and outputs the stop instruction among the plurality of sub-execution means. A sub-stop instruction means for outputting a sub-stop instruction to a sub-execution means which has not finished the assigned division processing, wherein each of the plurality of sub-execution means further receives a sub-stop instruction from the second execution means. Then, the execution of the assigned division process is stopped.

  According to this aspect, when the first execution unit that executes the first program receives an operation to instruct to stop the execution of the search process, the plurality of sub-execution units stop the execution of the assigned division process. For this reason, the user can stop the search process halfway.

  Preferably, the first execution means is a search notifying means for displaying an image indicating that the search processing is being executed from when the second execution means is activated to when the second execution means ends the search processing. Is further included.

  According to this aspect, the first execution unit that executes the first program displays an image indicating that the search process is being executed until the second execution unit ends the search process. Can be notified that the search process is being executed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a device search program is a device search program that is executed by a computer that controls an information processing device including a display unit that displays an image and an operation unit that receives an operation by a user. A first program written in a first type of programming language that does not support a thread control instruction, and a first type of program language described in a second type of programming language different from the first type and capable of communication. A second program that defines a search process for searching for an apparatus, wherein the first program causes a computer to execute the second program in response to a start operation being received by the operation unit; After the second program is executed by the computer, the computer executes a thread for executing the second program. Until the process is completed, in response to detecting the interrupt, the device identification information acquiring step for acquiring the device identification information for identifying the communicable device, and the device identification information acquiring in the device information acquiring step A display step for displaying the acquired device identification information on the display means for each time, causing the computer to execute, the search processing includes a plurality of division processings with different search conditions, and the second program includes: And a thread control program that controls a plurality of sub-threads in which the computer executes the plurality of sub-programs, respectively. Optionally, causes the computer to execute the thread control program, and the thread control program On the condition that a thread start step for causing a computer to execute a plurality of subprograms, and that all of a plurality of subthreads for executing a plurality of subprograms by the computer each complete a corresponding division process among a plurality of division processes, The computer causes the computer to execute an end notification step of notifying the first execution thread executing the first program of the end of the search process, and each of the plurality of subprograms executes a corresponding one of the plurality of split processes. Executing an interrupt to the first execution thread each time a device capable of communication is detected and outputting device identification information of the detected device to the first execution thread. Let it.

  According to this aspect, the search process includes a plurality of division processes having different search conditions, the thread in which the computer executes the thread control program activates a plurality of subthreads in which the computer executes the plurality of subprograms, The computer notifies the first execution thread that executes the first program of the end of the search process, on condition that all of the plurality of sub-threads finish the corresponding assigned division process. Each time a division process is executed and a device that can communicate is detected, an interrupt is generated for the first execution thread, and device identification information of the detected device is output. Therefore, the search process is executed in parallel by a plurality of threads, so that the response time can be further reduced.

  Preferably, the first program further includes a search process performed by the operating unit after the computer executes the thread control program and before the computer notifies the end of the search process from the control thread that executes the thread control program. In response to an operation for instructing the execution of the thread to be stopped, the computer executes a stop instruction step of outputting a stop instruction to the control thread. The thread control program further receives the stop instruction from the first execution thread. In response, the computer executes a sub-stop instruction step of outputting a sub-stop instruction to a sub-thread of the plurality of sub-threads that has not finished the division processing in charge, and each of the plurality of sub-programs further includes: In response to a sub-stop instruction input from the control thread Te, a step to stop the execution of the charge division processing corresponding one of the plurality of division processing is executed on the computer.

  According to this aspect, when the first execution thread in which the computer executes the first program receives an operation for instructing the execution of the search process to be stopped, the plurality of sub-threads stop the execution of the assigned division process. For this reason, the user can stop the search process halfway.

  Preferably, the first program is further executing a search process from when the second program is executed by the computer until the thread at which the computer executes the second program ends the search process. And causing the computer to execute a search-in-progress notification step of displaying an image indicating.

  According to this aspect, the first execution thread in which the computer executes the first program determines that the computer is executing the search process until the thread executing the second program ends the search process. Since the displayed image is displayed, it is possible to notify the user that the search process is being executed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus search method is a search method executed by a computer that controls an information processing apparatus including a display unit that displays an image and an operation unit that receives an operation by a user. A first execution step of controlling a display unit and an operation unit by causing a computer to execute a first program described in a first type of programming language that does not support a thread control instruction; Executing a search process for searching for a communicable device by causing a computer to execute a second program written in a second type of programming language different from the type of the second type . The two execution steps sequentially execute a plurality of division processes having different search conditions included in the search process, and each time a communicable device is detected. With the computer generates an interrupt to the first execution thread for executing the first program includes an output step of outputting the device identification information of the detected device to the first thread of execution, a first execution step, the operation A start step of causing the computer to execute the second program in response to the start operation being received by the means; and a second execution thread for executing the second program by the computer after the computer executes the second program. A device information acquisition step of acquiring device identification information for identifying a communicable device in response to detecting an interrupt generated by the second execution thread until the search process ends; Displaying the acquired device identification information every time the device identification information is acquired in the step Including, an interrupt during the display step of displaying.

According to another aspect of this invention, apparatus search method, apparatus search method executed by a computer for controlling a display means for displaying an image, an operation unit for accepting an operation by a user, the information processing apparatus having a A first execution step of controlling a display unit and an operation unit by causing a computer to execute a first program written in a first type of programming language that does not support a thread control instruction; A second execution step of causing a computer to execute a second program described in a second type of programming language different from the first type, thereby executing a search process for searching for a communicable device. The first execution step is to execute the second program on the computer in response to the start operation being received by the operation means. In response to a startup step to cause the computer to execute the second program, and to detect a predetermined interrupt between the time when the computer executes the second program and the time when the thread executing the second program ends the search processing, A device information acquisition step for acquiring device identification information for identifying a device with which communication is possible, and an interrupt for displaying the acquired device identification information on a display means every time the device identification information is acquired in the device information acquisition step And a time display step. The search processing includes a plurality of division processings having different search conditions, and the second execution step executes the plurality of division processings in response to being activated in the first execution step. A thread launch step that causes the computer to execute a plurality of sub-executable programs; The computer causes the first execution thread executing the first program to terminate the search processing on condition that all of the plurality of sub-execution threads respectively executing the rams finish the corresponding charge division processing among the plurality of division processing. Each of the plurality of sub-execution threads executes a corresponding assigned division process among the plurality of division processes, and sends a first execution thread to the first execution thread each time a device capable of communication is detected. thereby generating an interrupt Te, including an output step of outputting the device identification information of the detected device to the first execution thread.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall outline of a print system according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of an outline of composition of a personal digital assistant. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU included in the portable information device according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a display control process according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a peripheral device search process according to the first embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of an interrupt process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data flow in the print system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a function of a CPU included in a portable information device according to a second embodiment. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a display control process according to the second embodiment. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a thread control process according to the second embodiment. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a peripheral device search process according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a data flow in a print system according to a second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of a print system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, print system 1 includes MFPs 100, 100A, 100B functioning as image processing apparatuses, wireless station 5, and a portable functioning as a remote control apparatus capable of remotely controlling any of MFPs 100, 100A, 100B. And information devices 200, 200A, and 200B. MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) 100, 100A, 100B, and wireless station 5 are connected to network 3. The portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B are connected to the network 3 through the wireless station 5.

  The network 3 is a local area network (LAN), and the connection form may be wired or wireless. The network 3 is not limited to a LAN, but may be a wide area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the Internet, or the like.

  The portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B are computers used by users, such as smartphones, tablet terminals, and PDA (Personal Digital Assistants). Here, a case where mobile information devices 200, 200A, and 200B are smartphones will be described as an example. Since the hardware configurations and functions of the portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B are the same, the portable information device 200 will be described as an example unless otherwise specified.

  In print system 1 according to the present embodiment, portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B remotely control MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B, respectively. In this case, each of portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B functions as a remote control device for remotely controlling MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B, and each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B is remotely controlled by any of portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B. Functions as a remote control to be operated. A remote operation program for remotely operating the MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, for example, a printer driver program is installed in the portable information devices 200, 200A, 200B. The remote operation program is an application program that is common to MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B, and that can be applied to any of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B. On the other hand, a remote control program that is remotely operated by portable information device 200 and executes processing is installed in MFP 100. Here, a case where portable information device 200 remotely controls MFP 100 will be described as an example.

  Further, portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B execute a process of searching MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B connected to network 3 in order to determine a device to be remotely operated. In the present embodiment, each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B corresponds to at least one of a plurality of protocols used for the search service. Therefore, each of portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B detects MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B by using a plurality of protocols.

  In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which MFP 100 supports the SSDP protocol and MFPs 100A and 100B each support the WSD protocol. In this case, each of portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B detects MFP 100 using the SSDP protocol, and detects MFPs 100A and 100B using the WSD protocol. If the protocols used by MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B are predetermined, for example, if it is predetermined that all MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B use the SSDP protocol, portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B respectively Is sufficient to search for MFPs 100, 100A, 100B using the SSDP protocol.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an outline of a configuration of the portable information device. Referring to FIG. 2, portable information device 200 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 201 for controlling the entire portable information device 200, a camera 202, a flash memory 203 for storing data in a nonvolatile manner, a communication unit. The wireless communication unit 204 includes a wireless communication unit 204 connected to the terminal 205, a display unit 206 for displaying information, an operation unit 207 for receiving a user operation, a wireless LAN I / F 208, an acceleration sensor 210, and an external storage device 211.

  The display unit 206 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and an organic ELD, and displays an image. The operation unit 207 includes a main key 207A and a touch panel 207B. Touch panel 207B is of a capacitance type. Note that the touch panel 207B is not limited to the capacitance type, and may use other types such as a resistance film type, a surface acoustic wave type, an infrared type, and an electromagnetic induction type.

  Touch panel 207B detects a position indicated by the user on the detection surface. The detection surface of the touch panel 165 is provided on the upper surface or the lower surface of the display unit 206 so as to overlap the display unit 206. Here, the size of the detection surface of the touch panel 207B is the same as the size of the display surface of the display unit 206. Therefore, the coordinate system of the display surface and the coordinate system of the detection surface are the same. Touch panel 207 </ b> B detects, on the detection surface, a position where the user indicates the display surface of display unit 206, and outputs the coordinates of the detected position to CPU 201. Since the coordinate system of the display surface is the same as the coordinate system of the detection surface, the coordinates output by the touch panel 207B can be replaced with the coordinates of the display surface. Hereinafter, the coordinates detected and output by the touch panel 207B on the detection surface when the user designates the display surface of the display unit 206 are also referred to as coordinates of the display surface of the display unit 206.

  The touch panel 207B is a multi-touch compatible touch panel. For this reason, the touch panel 165 displays a plurality of positions designated by the user on the display surface of the display unit 206 on the detection surface when the user designates the display surface of the display unit 206 with a plurality of fingers at one time. The CPU 201 outputs to the CPU 201 a plurality of coordinates indicating the detected positions.

  The camera 202 includes a lens and a photoelectric conversion element, forms an image of light condensed by the lens on the photoelectric conversion element, and the photoelectric conversion element photoelectrically converts the received light and outputs image data to the CPU 201. The photoelectric conversion element is a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, or the like.

  The wireless communication unit 204 wirelessly communicates with a mobile phone base station connected to a telephone communication network. The wireless communication unit 204 connects the portable information device 200 to a telephone communication network, and enables a call using the call unit 205. Radio communication section 204 decodes a voice signal obtained by demodulating a radio signal received from the mobile phone base station, and outputs the signal to communication section 205. Further, wireless communication section 204 encodes the voice input from communication section 205 and transmits the encoded voice to the mobile phone base station. The communication unit 205 includes a microphone and a speaker, and outputs audio input from the wireless communication unit 204 from the speaker, and outputs audio input from the microphone to the wireless communication unit 204. Further, the wireless communication unit 204 is controlled by the CPU 201, connects the portable information device 200 to an electronic mail server, and transmits and receives electronic mail.

  The wireless LAN I / F 208 is an interface for communicating with the wireless station 5 and connecting the portable information device 200 to the network 3. By registering the IP (Internet Protocol) address of each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B in portable information device 200, portable information device 200 can communicate with MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B, and can transmit and receive data. Becomes Note that, in the present embodiment, a case where portable information device 200 communicates with MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B using wireless LAN I / F 208 will be described as an example, but communication is performed using another communication method. Is also good. Specifically, when the portable information device 200 and the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B include a short-range wireless device such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), for example, the portable information device 200 is replaced with one of the MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B. Alternatively, one-to-one communication may be performed.

  The flash memory 203 stores a program to be executed by the CPU 201 or data necessary for executing the program. The CPU 201 loads a program recorded in the flash memory 203 into a RAM included in the CPU 201 and executes the program.

  The acceleration sensor 210 is a three-axis acceleration sensor that measures acceleration in three directions, that is, an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis that are orthogonal to each other. The acceleration sensor 210 outputs the detected acceleration to the CPU 201.

  The external storage device 211 is detachable from the portable information device 200, and a CD-ROM 211A storing a remote control program can be mounted. The CPU 201 can access the CD-ROM 211A via the external storage device 211. The CPU 201 can load a remote operation program recorded on a CD-ROM 211A mounted on the external storage device 211 into a RAM included in the CPU 201 and execute the program.

  Although the program recorded on the flash memory 203 or the CD-ROM 211A has been described as the program executed by the CPU 201, another computer connected to the network 3 may rewrite the program stored in the flash memory 203, Alternatively, it may be a new program additionally written. Furthermore, the portable information device 200 may be a program downloaded from another computer connected to the network 3. The program referred to here includes not only a program that can be directly executed by the CPU 201 but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

  The medium for storing the program executed by the CPU 201 is not limited to the CD-ROM 211A, but may be an optical disc (MO (Magnetic Optical disc) / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), an IC card, an optical card, A semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), and an EEPROM (Electrically EPROM) may be used.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU included in the portable information device according to the first embodiment. The function illustrated in FIG. 3 is a function formed in CPU 201 of portable information device 200 as CPU 201 executes the device search program in the first embodiment. The device search program according to the first embodiment includes a display control program written in a programming language that does not support thread control commands and a peripheral device search program written in a program language that supports thread control commands. And a program.

  The display control program is described in a description language such as HTML and JavaScript (registered trademark). The display control program may include a style sheet that determines the visual structure of a document such as CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). The description language of HTML and JavaScript is a general-purpose programming language that does not depend on the operating system of the device on which it is installed. Therefore, for example, the same display control program can be installed in each of the portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B even when the operating system is different in the portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B. This facilitates the development of the display control program.

  The peripheral device search program is described in a programming language such as Java (registered trademark), C, C ++, or Objective-C. Actually, the CPU 201 executes an execution file obtained by compiling a source program described in a programming language such as Java (registered trademark), C, C ++, or Objective-C. Hereinafter, the peripheral device search program includes an execution file obtained by compiling a source program. A peripheral device search program is a programming language that depends on the operating system of the device on which it is installed. Therefore, for example, when the portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B have different operating systems, it is necessary to install peripheral device search programs respectively corresponding to the operating systems of the portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B.

  Referring to FIG. 3, CPU 201 includes a first execution unit 251 and a second execution unit 253. The first execution unit 251 is a display control thread in which the CPU 201 executes the display control program, and the second execution unit 253 is a search thread started by the main thread and executing the peripheral device search program. The first execution unit 251 is an interface for a user that controls the display unit 206 and the operation unit 207, receives a user operation, and notifies the user of a response to the received operation.

  The first execution unit 251 includes an operation reception unit 261, an activation unit 263, a stop instruction unit 265, a searching notification unit 267, a device information acquisition unit 269, and an interruption display unit 271. The second execution unit 253 includes a search unit 273, an output unit 275, and an end notification unit 277.

  The operation reception unit 261 receives an operation input to the operation unit 207 by the user. The operation reception unit 261 outputs a start instruction to the start unit 263 and the searching notification unit 267 in response to the operation unit 207 receiving a start operation by the user. The activation operation is an operation for instructing the CPU 201 to execute the display control program. For example, a search instruction button to which a start operation is assigned is displayed on the display unit 206, and when the touch panel 207B detects a position within the search instruction button, the start operation is accepted. The operation receiving unit 261 outputs a stop instruction to the stop instruction unit 265 in response to the operation unit 207 receiving a stop operation by the user. The stop operation is an operation for instructing the CPU 201 to stop the execution of the device search process. For example, a stop instruction button to which a stop operation is assigned is displayed on the display unit 206, and when the touch panel 207B detects a position within the stop instruction button, the stop operation is accepted.

  The activation unit 263 activates the second execution unit 253 in response to an activation instruction input from the operation reception unit 261. Specifically, the activation unit 263 instructs the CPU 201 to execute the peripheral device search program. The second execution unit 253 is a search thread in which the CPU 201 executes a peripheral device search program. When activating the second execution unit 253, the activation unit 263 outputs a signal indicating that the second execution unit 253 has been activated to the stop instruction unit 265.

  After receiving a signal indicating that the second execution unit 253 has been activated from the activation unit 263 and inputting a suspension instruction from the operation reception unit 261, the stop instruction unit 265 causes the second execution unit 253 to respond to the input. At the same time, a display stop instruction is output to the notifying section 267. Specifically, the stop instruction unit 265 outputs a command for terminating the second execution unit 253 to the operating system. Thus, the second execution unit 253 is terminated by the operating system.

  The search unit 273 performs a search process in response to being activated by the activation unit 263. The search process is a process for detecting a peripheral device with which the wireless LAN I / F 208 can communicate according to a predetermined protocol. Specifically, the search unit 273 transmits a search command via the wireless LAN I / F 208 according to a predetermined protocol for the search process, and receives a response command returned by a peripheral device that responds to the search command. I do. When there are a plurality of predetermined protocols for the search process, the search unit 273 performs a process of sequentially selecting a plurality of protocols and searching for a peripheral device using the selected communication protocol. In the present embodiment, MFP 100 supports the SSDP protocol, and each of MFPs 100A and 100B supports the WSD protocol. Therefore, the search unit 273 performs a search process according to the SSDP protocol and a search process according to the WSD protocol.

  Search unit 273 outputs the received response command to output unit 275 in response to wireless LAN I / F 208 receiving the response command from the peripheral device. The output unit 275 outputs a response command to the first execution unit 251 by interruption via the operating system.

  The search unit 273 starts the search process by transmitting the search command, and ends the search process when a predetermined time has elapsed after transmitting the search command. The search unit 273 outputs the received response command to the output unit 275 every time a response command is received from the start to the end of the search process, and the output unit 275 receives the response command. Each time the command is output, a response command is output to the first execution unit 251 by interruption. Therefore, each time the response command is received by the second execution unit 253, the response command is output to the first execution unit 251. The response command includes device information that is information on the device that has transmitted the response command. The device information includes at least device identification information for identifying the device. The device information may include information indicating the type of the device. Upon completing all of the search processing according to the SSDP protocol and the search processing according to the WSD protocol, the search unit 273 outputs a notification instruction to the end notification unit 277.

  The end notification unit 277 notifies the first execution unit 251 that the search processing has ended in response to the input of the end instruction from the search unit 273. Specifically, it outputs an end signal to first execution section 251.

  The device information acquisition unit 269 receives a response command by an interrupt from the output unit 275. When detecting the interruption, the device information acquisition unit 269 acquires the response command output from the output unit 275. When acquiring the response command, the device information acquisition unit 269 outputs the response command to the interrupt-time display unit 271. The interrupt-time display unit 271 displays the device information included in the response command on the display unit 206 every time the response command is input. The device information is displayed in a predetermined area of the display unit 206 in order.

  The searching notification unit 267 notifies the user that the search process is being executed in response to the start instruction being input from the operation receiving unit 261. Specifically, the notifying section 267 displays a splash screen on the display section 206. The splash screen is an image indicating that the search process is being executed, and may be, for example, an image indicating an hourglass, or a moving image in which the display mode of a predetermined area changes over time. You may. The search-in-progress notification unit 267 displays an image indicating that the search process is being performed on a part of the display surface of the display unit 206. The image indicating that the search process is being performed may be displayed on the entire display surface of the display unit 206.

  The notifying section 267 displays an image indicating that the search process is being executed in response to the input of the start instruction from the operation accepting section 261 and the input of the end signal from the end notifying section 277. finish. This allows the user to be notified that the search processing has been completed. In addition, the search notification unit 267 responds to a stop instruction input from the operation reception unit 261 after a start instruction is input from the operation reception unit 261 and before an end signal is input from the end notification unit 277. Then, the display of the image indicating that the search process is being performed is ended. This allows the user to be notified that the search process has been stopped halfway.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the display control process according to the first embodiment. The display control process is a process executed by CPU 201 provided in portable information device 200 as CPU 201 executes the display control program. Hereinafter, a thread in which the CPU 201 executes the display control program is referred to as a display control thread. The display control program is a part of the device search program. Referring to FIG. 4, CPU 201 determines whether or not operation unit 207 has received a start-up operation (step S01). The process is in a standby state until a start operation is received (NO in step S01). If a start operation is received (YES in step S01), the process proceeds to step S02.

  In step S02, a search thread is started. Specifically, it causes the CPU 201 to execute the peripheral device search program. Hereinafter, a thread in which the CPU 201 executes the peripheral device search program is referred to as a search thread. In the next step S03, it is determined whether or not an end signal has been input from the search thread. If an end signal has been input from the search thread, the process ends. If not, the process proceeds to step S04.

  In step S04, it is determined whether a stop operation has been received. If the stop operation has been accepted, the process proceeds to step S05; otherwise, the process returns to step S03. In step S05, the search thread started in step S01 is terminated, and the process is terminated.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the peripheral device search process according to the first embodiment. The peripheral device search process is a process in which the CPU 201 included in the portable information device 200 executes a peripheral device search program. The thread in which the CPU 201 executes the peripheral device search program is a search thread started in step S01 of the display control process. Referring to FIG. 5, CPU 201 detects a display control thread (step S21). The display control thread is detected by inquiring the operating system of the thread that controls the display unit 206.

  In the next step S22, a communication protocol is selected. One of predetermined SSDP and WSD protocols is selected as a communication protocol for device search. Then, a search command corresponding to the protocol selected in step S22 is transmitted via the wireless LAN I / F 208 (step S23). In the next step S24, the wireless LAN I / F 208 determines whether or not it is currently receiving a response command transmitted by the peripheral device that responds to the search command transmitted in step S23. If a response command has been received, the process proceeds to step S25; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S26. In step S25, an interrupt is generated in the display control thread detected in step S21, and a response command is output.

  In the next step S26, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the search command was transmitted in step S23. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S28; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S27.

  In step S27, it is determined whether the end of the search thread has been detected. If the end is instructed by the operating system, the end of the search thread is detected. If the end of the search thread is detected, the process ends. If not, the process returns to step S24.

  In step S28, it is determined whether or not there is a protocol not selected in step S22 among SSDP and WSD protocols predetermined as a device search protocol. If there is an unselected protocol, the process returns to step S22; otherwise, the process ends.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of an interrupt process according to the first embodiment. The interrupt process is a process executed by the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 executes the display program at the time of the interrupt. In the stage where the display control process is being executed, the CPU 201 detects the occurrence of the interrupt. This is the process to be executed. The interruption display program is a part of the display control program. Referring to FIG. 6, CPU 201 determines whether or not an interrupt has occurred (step S11). The process waits until an interrupt is detected. If an interrupt is detected, the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S12, a response command is obtained. Get the response command output by the search thread that caused the interrupt. Then, the device information included in the obtained response command is displayed on the display unit 206, and the process ends.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a flow of data in the print system according to the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 7, the flow of time is shown from the top to the bottom in the vertical direction, and data transmitted and received by display control thread, search thread, and MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B are indicated by arrows.

  First, the display control thread activates the search thread and displays an image indicating that the search process is being executed. When activated by the display control thread, the search thread broadcasts a search command according to the SSDP protocol. Thus, each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B receives the search command according to the SSDP protocol. Since the MFP 100 supports the SSDP protocol, the MFP 100 returns a response command to the search thread in response to the search command. On the other hand, since the MFPs 100A and 100B do not support the SSDP protocol, they ignore the search command. The search thread outputs a response command received from MFP 100 to the display control thread by interruption. The display control thread displays the device information included in the response command in response to receiving the response command.

  Next, upon completion of the search processing according to the SSDP protocol, the search thread broadcasts a search command according to the WSD protocol. Thereby, each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B receives the search command according to the WSD protocol. Since the MFP 100 does not support the WSD protocol, the MFP 100 ignores the search command. Since the MFPs 100A and 100B support the SSDP protocol, each of the MFPs 100A and 100B responds to the search command and returns a response command to the search thread. The search thread outputs a response command received from MFP 100A to the display control thread by interruption, and outputs a response command received from MFP 100B to the display control thread by interruption. The display control thread displays the device information included in the response command in response to receiving the response command.

  When the search processing according to the WSD protocol ends, the search thread outputs an end signal to the display control thread, and ends the processing. The display control thread to which the end signal is input stops displaying the image indicating that the search process is being executed.

  As described above, the portable information device according to the first embodiment functions as an information processing device, and executes a display control program described in a description language that does not support a thread control instruction, thereby providing a display. A first execution unit 251 for controlling the unit 206 and the operation unit 207, and a second device for searching for a communicable device by executing a peripheral device search program described in a programming language that supports a thread control instruction. And an execution unit 253. The first execution unit 251 activates the second execution unit 253 in response to the activation operation received by the operation unit 251, and executes the second execution before the search process ends after the second execution unit 253 is activated. The device identification information of the communicable device searched for by the execution unit 253 is acquired and displayed. For this reason, it is possible to shorten the time from when the start operation by the user is accepted until when the device identification information is displayed. As a result, the response time can be shortened when the result of the search processing for searching for the device is displayed by a display control program written in a program language that does not support the thread control instruction. Further, since the display control program is described in a description language independent of the operating system, only one type needs to be created, which facilitates development.

  In addition, every time the second executor 253 detects a communicable device, the second executor 253 generates an interrupt to the first executor 251 and outputs device identification information of the detected device to the first executor 251. . For this reason, the first execution unit 251 can display the device identification information of the detected device every time a communicable device is detected.

  Further, when the first execution unit 251 executing the display control program receives an operation for instructing the execution of the search process to be stopped, the second execution unit 253 executing the peripheral device search program stops the execution of the search process. For this reason, the user can stop the search process halfway.

  In addition, the first execution unit 251 displays an image indicating that the search process is being executed on the display unit 206 from when the second execution unit 253 is activated to when the second execution unit 253 ends the search process. indicate. Therefore, it is possible to notify the user that the search process is being executed.

  In the first embodiment, the search unit 273 sequentially executes search processes corresponding to a plurality of protocols for device search. Separately from this, the search unit 273 may subdivide the network address into a plurality of subnetwork masks, and sequentially execute the search processing corresponding to each of the subdivided subnetwork masks. In this case, the search unit 273 sequentially performs the same number of search processes as the number of the plurality of subnet masks. When a plurality of devices to be searched are predetermined, the search unit 273 may sequentially execute a search process of searching for each of the plurality of devices. In this case, the search unit 273 sequentially executes the same number of search processes as the number of devices. Further, a plurality of devices may be grouped, and the search unit 273 may execute a search process corresponding to each of the plurality of groups. In this case, the search unit 273 sequentially executes the same number of search processes as the number of groups.

<Second embodiment>
The general outline of the print system according to the second embodiment is the same as the general outline shown in FIG. The configuration of the portable information device 200 according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. Therefore, description will not be repeated here.

  The portable information device 200 according to the second embodiment is different from the portable information device 200 according to the first embodiment in that a plurality of search threads that respectively execute a plurality of search processes are activated. The portable information device 200 according to the first embodiment executes a search process according to one of the SSDP protocol and the WSD protocol, and then executes a search process according to another protocol. The portable information device 200 according to the second embodiment activates, in parallel, a search thread for executing a search process corresponding to the SSDP protocol and a search thread for executing a search process corresponding to the WSD protocol.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU included in the portable information device according to the second embodiment. The function illustrated in FIG. 8 is a function formed in CPU 201 when CPU 201 included in portable information device 200 executes the device search program according to the second embodiment. The device search program according to the second embodiment includes a display control program written in a programming language that does not support thread control commands, and a thread control program written in a programming language that supports thread control commands. And a peripheral device search program.

  The display control program is described in a description language such as HTML and JavaScript (registered trademark). The display control program may include a style sheet that determines the visual structure of a document such as CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). The description language of HTML and JavaScript is a general-purpose programming language that does not depend on the operating system of the device on which it is installed. Therefore, for example, the same display control program can be installed in each of the portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B even when the operating system is different in the portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B.

  The thread control program and the peripheral device search program are described in a programming language such as Java (registered trademark), C, C ++, or Objective-C. Actually, the CPU 201 executes an execution file obtained by compiling a source program described in a programming language such as Java (registered trademark), C, C ++, or Objective-C. Hereinafter, the thread control program and the peripheral device search program include executable files obtained by compiling the source programs. The thread control program and the peripheral device search program are programming languages depending on the operating system of the device on which they are installed. Therefore, for example, when the operating systems of the portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B are different, it is necessary to install a thread control program and a peripheral device search program respectively corresponding to the operating systems of the portable information devices 200, 200A, and 200B. .

  Referring to FIG. 8, the functions of CPU 201 included in portable information device 200 according to the second embodiment are different from the functions shown in FIG. 3 in that activation unit 263 of first execution unit 251 and device information acquisition The point that the unit 269 has been changed to the activation unit 263A and the device information acquisition unit 269A, and the point that the second execution unit 253 has been changed to the second execution unit 255, the first sub execution unit 253A, and the second sub execution unit 253B. It is. The other functions are the same as those shown in FIG. 3, and thus description thereof will not be repeated here.

  The activation unit 263A activates the second execution unit 253 in response to an activation instruction input from the operation reception unit 261. Specifically, the activation unit 263A instructs the CPU 201 to execute the thread control program. The second execution unit 255 is a thread control thread in which the CPU 201 executes a thread control program. When activating the second execution unit 255, the activation unit 263A outputs a signal indicating that the second execution unit 255 has been activated to the stop instruction unit 265.

  The second execution unit 255 includes a thread activation unit 281, a sub stop instruction unit 283, and an end notification unit 285. The thread activation unit 281 activates the first sub execution unit 253A and the second sub execution unit 253B in response to the activation of the second execution unit 253 by the activation unit 263A. More specifically, the thread activation unit 281 instructs the CPU 201 to execute a peripheral device search program corresponding to the SSDP protocol, and instructs the CPU 201 to execute a peripheral device search program corresponding to the WSD protocol. Thereby, the CPU 201 forms the first sub execution unit 253A and the second sub execution unit 253B.

  The first sub execution unit 253A is a sub search thread in which the CPU 201 executes a peripheral device search program corresponding to the SSDP protocol. The second sub execution unit 253B is a sub search thread in which the CPU 201 executes a peripheral device search program corresponding to the WSD protocol. In response to the activation of the first sub-execution unit 253A and the second sub-execution unit 253B, the thread activation unit 281 outputs thread identification information for identifying them to the sub-suspension instructing unit 283 and the end notification unit 285. .

  Here, a case will be described as an example in which a sub-search thread corresponding to the SSDP protocol and a sub-search thread corresponding to the WSD protocol are started. Launch the same number of sub-search threads as the defined number of protocols.

  The first sub execution unit 253A includes a first search unit 273A, a first output unit 275A, and a first sub end notification unit 277A. The first search unit 273A executes a first search process corresponding to the SSDP protocol in response to being activated by the thread activation unit 281. Specifically, the first search unit 273A transmits a search command via the wireless LAN I / F 208 according to the SSDP protocol, and sends a response command according to the SSDP protocol returned by a peripheral device that responds to the search command. Receive.

  The first search unit 273A outputs the received response command to the first output unit 275A in response to the wireless LAN I / F 208 receiving a response command from a peripheral device responding to the search command. The first search unit 273A starts the search process by transmitting the search command, and ends the search process when a predetermined time has elapsed after transmitting the search command. The first search unit 273A outputs the received response command to the first output unit 275A every time a response command is received during a period from the start to the end of the search process. When ending the search processing corresponding to the first type of protocol, the first search unit 273A outputs an end signal to the first sub end notification unit 277A.

  The first output unit 275A outputs the response command to the first execution unit 251 by interruption via the operating system in response to the response command being input from the first search unit 273A. Note that the first output unit 275A may detect the first execution unit 251 by inquiring the operating system of a display control thread that controls the display unit 206. In this case, the first output unit 275A generates an interrupt to the first execution unit 251 which is the display control thread specified by the thread identification information acquired from the operating system, and outputs a response command.

  The first sub end notification unit 277A notifies the end notification unit 285 of the second execution unit 255 that the first search process has ended in response to the input of the end signal from the first search unit 273A. Specifically, the first sub-termination notification unit 277A outputs a sub-termination signal to the termination notification unit 285.

  The second sub execution unit 253B includes a second search unit 273B, a second output unit 275B, and a second sub end notification unit 277B. The second search unit 273B executes a second search process corresponding to the WSD protocol in response to being activated by the thread activation unit 281. Specifically, the second search unit 273B transmits a search command via the wireless LAN I / F 208 according to the WSD protocol, and sends a response command according to the WSD protocol, which is returned by a peripheral device responding to the search command. Receive.

  The second search unit 273B outputs the received response command to the second output unit 275B in response to the wireless LAN I / F 208 receiving the response command from the peripheral device. The second search unit 273B starts the search process by transmitting the search command, and ends the search process when a predetermined time has elapsed after transmitting the search command. The second search unit 273B outputs the received response command to the second output unit 275B every time a response command is received during a period from the start to the end of the search process. When completing the search processing corresponding to the second type of protocol, the second search unit 273B outputs an end signal to the second sub-end notification unit 277B.

  The second output unit 275B outputs a response command to the first execution unit 251 by interruption via the operating system. Note that the second output unit 275B may detect the first execution unit 251 by inquiring the operating system of a display control thread that controls the display unit 206. In this case, the second output unit 275B generates an interrupt to the first execution unit 251 which is the display control thread specified by the thread identification information acquired from the operating system, and outputs a response command.

  The second sub end notification unit 277B notifies the end notification unit 285 of the second execution unit 255 that the second search process has ended, in response to the input of the end signal from the second search unit 273B. Specifically, the second sub-termination notification unit 277B outputs a sub-termination signal to the termination notification unit 285.

  The end notification unit 285 receives the thread identification information of the search thread activated by the thread activation unit 281 from the thread activation unit 281. Here, the thread notification information of the first sub-execution unit 253A and the thread identification information of the second sub-execution unit 253B are input from the thread activation unit 281 to the end notification unit 285.

  The end notification unit 285 outputs an end signal to the searching notification unit 267 in response to the termination of all the search threads started by the thread start unit 281. Specifically, end notifying section 285 is searching in response to the input of the sub end signal from first sub end notifying section 277A and the input of the sub end signal from second sub end notifying section 277B. An end signal is output to the notification unit 267.

  Further, in response to the input of the sub end signal from the first sub end notification unit 277A, the end notification unit 285 outputs the first end signal including the thread identification information of the first sub execution unit 253A to the sub stop instruction unit 283. Output to The end notification unit 285 outputs a second end signal including the thread identification information of the second sub execution unit 253B to the sub stop instruction unit 283 in response to the input of the sub end signal from the second sub end notification unit 277B. I do.

  When the stop instruction unit 265 terminates the second execution unit 255, the second execution unit 255 is terminated by the operating system. When terminated by the operating system, the sub stop instruction unit 283 terminates the first sub execution unit 253A and the second sub execution unit 253B. Specifically, when the thread identification information of the first sub-execution unit 253A is input from the thread activation unit 281, the sub-stop instruction unit 283 detects that the first sub-execution unit 253A has been activated. When the thread identification information of the second sub-execution unit 253B is input from the thread activation unit 281, the sub-stop instruction unit 283 detects that the second sub-execution unit 253A has been activated. In addition, when the first termination signal is input from termination notification unit 285, sub stop instruction unit 283 detects that first sub execution unit 253A has completed the search process, and outputs a second termination signal from termination notification unit 285. Is input, the second sub-execution unit 253B detects that the search processing has been completed. When the sub-stop instructing unit 283 is terminated by the operating system, the first sub-executing unit 253A is terminated when the first sub-executing unit 253A is not terminated, and when the second sub-executing unit 253A is not terminated. Terminates the second sub execution unit 253B.

  When terminating the first sub-execution unit 253A, the sub-stop instruction unit 283 outputs a command for terminating the first sub-execution unit 253A to the operating system, and terminates the second sub-execution unit 253B when executing the second sub-execution unit. A command to end the unit 253B is output to the operating system. When terminating the first sub-execution unit 253A, the sub-stop instruction unit 283 outputs a termination command to the first sub-execution unit 253A. An end command may be output to the unit 253B. In this case, each of the first sub-execution unit 253A and the second sub-execution unit 253B responds to the end command from the sub-stop instruction unit 283 included in the second execution unit 255 to perform the first search processing or the second search. The search process of No. 2 is ended.

  The device information acquisition unit 269A receives a response command by an interrupt from each of the first output unit 275A and the second output unit 275B. When detecting the interruption, the device information acquisition unit 269 acquires a response command output from the first output unit 275A or a response command output from the second output unit 275B. When acquiring the response command, the device information acquisition unit 269A outputs the response command to the interruption display unit 271.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a display control process according to the second embodiment. The display control process according to the second embodiment is a process executed by CPU 201 of portable information device 200 as CPU 201 executes the display control program. Referring to FIG. 9, CPU 201 determines whether operation unit 207 has received a start instruction (step S01). The process enters a standby state until a start instruction is received (NO in step S01). If a start instruction is received (YES in step S01), the process proceeds to step S02A.

  In step S02A, a thread control thread is started. Specifically, the CPU 201 causes the CPU 201 to execute a thread control program. Hereinafter, a thread in which the CPU 201 executes the thread control program is referred to as a thread control thread. In the next step S03A, it is determined whether or not an end signal has been input from the thread control thread. If an end signal has been input from the thread control thread, the process ends. If not, the process proceeds to step S04.

  In step S04, it is determined whether a stop operation has been received. If the cancel operation has been accepted, the process proceeds to step S05A; otherwise, the process returns to step S03A. In step S05A, the thread control thread started in step S01 ends, and the process ends.

  The CPU 201 included in the portable information device 200 according to the second embodiment performs the same processing as the interrupt processing illustrated in FIG. 6 while performing the display control processing according to the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. Execute

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a thread control process according to the second embodiment. The thread control process is a process that the CPU 201 included in the portable information device 200 executes by executing the thread control program. The thread in which the CPU 201 of the portable information device 200 executes the thread control program is a thread control thread started in step S01 of the display control process. Referring to FIG. 10, CPU 201 selects a protocol for device search (step S31). One of SSDP and WSD predetermined as a protocol for device search is selected. In the next step S32, a sub search thread for executing a device search process corresponding to the protocol selected in step S31 is started. Specifically, the CPU 201 causes the CPU 201 to execute a peripheral device search program corresponding to the protocol selected in step S31. Hereinafter, a thread in which the CPU 201 executes the peripheral device search program corresponding to the device search protocol is referred to as a sub search thread. In the next step S33, the thread identification information of the sub search thread started in step S32 is obtained. In the next step S34, it is determined whether or not there is a protocol not selected in step S31 among SSDP and WSD predetermined as a protocol for device search. If such a protocol exists, the process returns to step S31; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S35.

  In step S35, it is determined whether all of the sub search threads started in step S32 have been completed. If all the sub search threads have been completed, the process ends. If not, the process proceeds to step S36.

  In step S36, it is determined whether the end of the thread control thread has been detected. When the termination is instructed by the operating system, the termination of the thread control thread is detected. If the end of the thread control thread is detected, the process proceeds to step S37; otherwise, the process returns to step S35.

  In step S37, all the non-terminated sub search threads among the sub search threads started in step S32 are terminated, and the process is terminated.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a peripheral device search process according to the second embodiment. The peripheral device search process according to the second embodiment is a process executed by CPU 201 of portable information device 200 as CPU 201 executes the peripheral device search program according to the second embodiment. The thread in which the CPU 201 executes the peripheral device search program in the second embodiment is a sub search thread started in step S32 of the thread control process. Referring to FIG. 11, the difference from the peripheral device search processing in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is that steps S22 and S28 are deleted, and steps S23 and S24 are replaced with steps S23A and S24A. The point has been changed to. Other processes are the same as those shown in FIG. 5, and thus description thereof will not be repeated here. In step S23A, a search command corresponding to the protocol assigned to the device search program according to the second embodiment is transmitted. In step S24, it is determined whether a response command corresponding to the protocol assigned to the device search program according to the second embodiment has been received.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a data flow in the print system according to the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 12, the flow of time is shown from top to bottom in the vertical direction, and a display control thread, a thread control thread, a first search thread corresponding to the SSDP protocol, and a second search thread corresponding to the WSD protocol , MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B are indicated by arrows.

  First, the display control thread activates the thread control thread and displays an image indicating that the search process is being executed. When activated by the display control thread, the thread control thread activates a first search thread and a second search thread. When activated by the thread control thread, the first search thread broadcasts a search command according to the SSDP protocol. Thus, each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B receives the search command according to the SSDP protocol. Since MFP 100 supports the SSDP protocol, MFP 100 responds to the search command and returns a response command to the first search thread. On the other hand, since the MFPs 100A and 100B do not support the SSDP protocol, they ignore the search command. The first search thread outputs a response command received from MFP 100 to the display control thread by interruption. When the search processing according to the SSDP protocol ends, the first search thread outputs a sub end signal to the thread control thread, and ends the processing. The display control thread displays the device information included in the response command in response to receiving the response command.

  On the other hand, when started by the thread control thread, the second search thread broadcasts a search command according to the WSD protocol. Thereby, each of MFPs 100, 100A, and 100B receives the search command according to the WSD protocol. Since the MFP 100 does not support the WSD protocol, the MFP 100 ignores the search command. Since MFPs 100A and 100B support the WSD protocol, each of MFPs 100A and 100B responds to the search command and returns a response command to the second search thread. The second search thread outputs a response command received from MFP 100A to the display control thread by interruption, and outputs a response command received from MFP 100B to the display control thread by interruption. When the search processing according to the WSD protocol ends, the second search thread outputs a sub end signal to the thread control thread, and ends the processing. The display control thread displays the device information included in the response command in response to receiving the response command.

  The thread control thread outputs an end signal to the display control thread when the sub end signal is input from the first search thread and the sub end signal is input from the second search thread. The display control thread to which the end signal is input stops displaying the image indicating that the search process is being executed.

  In the portable information device 200 according to the second embodiment, the search process includes a search process corresponding to the SSDP protocol, and a search process corresponding to the WSD protocol having different search conditions from SSDP. Is a first sub-execution unit 253A that executes a search process corresponding to the SSDP protocol in response to being activated by the first execution unit 251, and a search process corresponding to a WSD protocol having different search conditions from SSDP. The second sub-execution unit 253B that executes a plurality of division processes is activated, the first sub-execution unit 253A ends the search process corresponding to the SSDP protocol, and the second sub-execution unit 253B supports the WSD protocol. The first execution unit 251 is notified of the end of the search process on condition that the search process is ended. Each of the first sub-execution unit 253A and the second sub-execution unit 253B generates an interrupt to the first execution unit 251 and detects the device detected by the first execution unit 251 each time it detects a communicable device. The device identification information is output. For this reason, since the search process is divided into a plurality of division processes and executed in parallel, the response time can be further shortened as compared with the portable information device 200 according to the first embodiment.

  In addition, the first execution unit 251 performs an operation for instructing the execution of the search process to be stopped by the operation unit 207 during a period from when the second execution unit 253 is activated to when the second execution unit 253 ends the search process. In response to the acceptance, the second execution unit 253 outputs a stop instruction to the second execution unit 253. In response to the stop instruction being input, the second execution unit 253 outputs the first sub execution unit 253A and the second sub execution unit 253B. The first sub-execution unit 253A and the second sub-execution unit 253B further stop the execution of the search process in response to the input of the sub-stop instruction from the second execution unit 253. I do. For this reason, the user can stop the search process halfway.

  In the second embodiment, the plurality of sub search threads started by the second execution unit 255 correspond to the plurality of protocols for device search, respectively. Separately, the plurality of sub search threads activated by the second execution unit 255 may be subdivided into a plurality of network addresses using subnet masks, and may correspond to each of the plurality of subdivided subnet masks. In this case, the second execution unit 255 activates the same number of sub search threads as the number of the plurality of subnet masks. Further, when a plurality of devices to be searched are predetermined, a plurality of sub-search threads activated by the second execution unit 255 may be associated with each of the plurality of devices. In this case, the second execution unit 255 activates the same number of sub search threads as the number of devices. Furthermore, a plurality of devices may be grouped, and a plurality of sub-search threads activated by the second execution unit 255 may be associated with each of the plurality of groups. In this case, the second execution unit 255 activates the same number of sub-search threads as the number of groups.

  In the above-described embodiment, the portable information device 200 has been described as an example of the information processing device. However, the device search process illustrated in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 or FIG. Needless to say, the invention can be grasped as a device search method to be executed by the information device 200 and a device search program for causing the CPU 201 controlling the portable information device 200 to execute the device search method.

  The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative 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.

<Appendix>
(1) In the second execution step, each time a device capable of communication is detected, the computer generates an interrupt to a first execution thread that executes the first program, and the first execution thread 14. The search method according to claim 13, further comprising an output step of outputting device identification information of the detected device.
(2) The first execution step is performed after the computer executes the second program until the second execution thread in which the computer executes the second program ends the search processing. A stop instructing step of outputting a stop instruction to the second execution thread in response to an operation instructing stop of the execution of the search process being received by the operation means,
The search method according to (1), wherein the second execution step includes a step of stopping execution of the search processing in response to input of a stop instruction from the first execution thread.
(3) The search process includes a plurality of division processes having different search conditions,
The second program includes a plurality of subprograms each defining the plurality of division processes, and a thread control program that controls a plurality of subthreads each of which executes the plurality of subprograms by the computer,
The activation step causes the computer to execute the thread control program in response to the activation operation being received by the operating means,
The second execution step includes a thread activation step for causing the computer to execute the plurality of subprograms;
The computer executes the first program on the condition that all of a plurality of sub-threads, each of which executes the plurality of sub-programs, of the corresponding one of the plurality of sub-processes end the corresponding division process. An end notification step of notifying the first execution thread of the end of the search processing,
Each time the computer executes a corresponding division process among the plurality of division processes on each of a plurality of sub-threads that respectively execute the plurality of sub-programs, and detects a communicable device, the first execution thread 14. The search method according to claim 13, further comprising causing an interrupt to be generated and causing the first execution thread to execute an output step of outputting device identification information of the detected device.
(4) The first execution step is performed after the computer executes the second program until the second execution thread in which the computer executes the second program ends the search processing. A stop instruction step in which the computer outputs a stop instruction to a second execution thread that executes the second program in response to receiving an operation for instructing stop of the execution of the search process by the operation means. ,
The second execution step includes executing a plurality of sub-programs in which the computer executes the plurality of sub-programs in response to a stop instruction being input from the first execution thread in which the computer executes the first program. Including a sub-stop instruction step of outputting a sub-stop instruction to sub-threads of the threads that have not completed the assigned division processing,
The search method according to (3), wherein each of the plurality of sub-threads further executes a step of stopping the execution of the assigned division process in response to a sub-stop instruction being input from the second execution thread. .
(5) The first execution step is performed during a period from when the computer executes the second program to when a second execution thread in which the computer executes the second program ends the search processing. The search method according to any one of claims 13 to 14, further comprising a notification step during search for displaying an image indicating that the search processing is being performed.

  1 print system, 3 LAN, 5 wireless stations, 100, 100A, 100B MFP, 200, 200A, 200B portable information device, 201 CPU, 202 camera, 203 flash memory, 204 wireless communication unit, 205 communication unit, 206 display unit, 207 operation unit, 207A main key, 207B touch panel, 210 acceleration sensor, 211 external storage device, 251 first execution unit, 253, 255 second execution unit, 253A first sub execution unit, 253B second sub execution unit, 261 operation Accepting unit, 263 starting unit, 263A starting unit, 265 stop instruction unit, 267 searching notification unit, 269, 269A device information obtaining unit, 271 interrupt display unit, 273 searching unit, 273A first searching unit, 273B second Search unit, 275 output unit, 275A first output Unit, 275B second output unit, 277 end notification unit, 277A first sub-end notification unit, 277B second sub-end notification unit, 281 thread start unit, 283 sub stop instruction unit, 285 end notification unit.

Claims (7)

Display means for displaying an image;
Operation means for receiving an operation by the user;
A first execution unit that controls the display unit and the operation unit by executing a first program written in a first type of programming language that does not support a thread control instruction;
A second execution unit that executes a second program described in a second type of programming language different from the first type to execute a search process for searching for a communicable device,
A first execution unit configured to start the second execution unit in response to a start operation received by the operation unit;
A device for acquiring device identification information for identifying a communicable device in response to detecting a predetermined interrupt between the time when the second execution unit is activated and the time when the search processing is completed; Information acquisition means;
Each time the device identification information is acquired by the device information acquisition unit, an interruption-time display unit that displays the acquired device identification information on the display unit,
The search processing includes a plurality of division processing different search conditions,
The second execution means, in response to being activated by the first execution means, a thread activation means for activating a plurality of sub-execution means for respectively executing the plurality of division processes;
End notification means for notifying the first execution means of the end of the search processing, on condition that all of the activated plurality of sub-execution means end the corresponding assigned division processing of the plurality of division processings; ,
Each of the plurality of sub execution units,
Each time a corresponding division process among the plurality of division processes is executed and a device capable of communication is detected, an interrupt is generated for the first execution unit, and the detected execution is performed by the first execution unit. An output unit that outputs device identification information of the device. The first execution means may perform an operation for instructing the execution of the search processing to be stopped by the operation means during a period from when the second execution means is activated to when the second execution means ends the search processing. A stop instruction unit that outputs a stop instruction to the second execution unit in response to being accepted,
The second execution unit outputs a sub-stop instruction to a sub-execution unit of the plurality of sub-execution units that has not completed the assigned division process in response to a stop instruction input from the first execution unit. Including sub-stop instruction means to
Wherein the plurality of sub-executing means each further in response to the sub-cancellation instruction is inputted from the second execution means, to stop the execution of the charge division processing, the information processing apparatus according to claim 1. During the search, the first execution means displays an image indicating that the search processing is being executed from when the second execution means is activated to when the second execution means ends the search processing. notification means, further comprising, an information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. Display means for displaying an image;
An operation means for receiving an operation by a user, and a device search program executed by a computer that controls an information processing device including:
A first program written in a first type of programming language that does not support thread control instructions, and a device communicable and described in a second type of programming language different from the first type A second program that defines a search process to be searched.
An activation step for causing the computer to execute the second program in response to an activation operation being received by the operation means;
A device capable of communicating in response to detecting an interrupt between the time when the second program is executed by the computer and the time when the thread for executing the second program ends the search processing; Device information acquisition step of acquiring device identification information for identifying
Each time the device identification information is acquired in the device information acquisition step, an interruption display step of displaying the acquired device identification information on the display unit, causing the computer to execute
The search processing includes a plurality of division processing different search conditions,
The second program includes a plurality of subprograms each defining the plurality of division processes, and a thread control program that controls a plurality of subthreads each of which executes the plurality of subprograms by the computer,
The activation step causes the computer to execute the thread control program in response to the activation operation being received by the operating means,
The thread control program, a thread activation step for causing the computer to execute the plurality of subprograms,
The computer executes the first program on the condition that all of a plurality of sub-threads, each of which executes the plurality of sub-programs, of the corresponding one of the plurality of sub-processes end the corresponding division process. Causing the computer to execute an end notification step of notifying the first execution thread of the end of the search processing;
Each of the plurality of subprograms,
A corresponding division process among the plurality of division processes is executed, and each time a communicable device is detected, an interrupt is generated for the first execution thread, and the detected execution is performed by the first execution thread. An output step of outputting device identification information of the device. The first program may further include, after the computer causes the computer to execute the thread control program, until the computer notifies the control thread executing the thread control program of the end of the search process. Means for causing the computer to execute a stop instruction step of outputting a stop instruction to the control thread in response to an operation for instructing stop of execution of the search processing being received by the means;
The thread control program further outputs a sub-stop instruction to a sub-thread of the plurality of sub-threads that has not finished the assigned division process in response to the stop instruction being input from the first execution thread. Causing the computer to execute a sub-stop instruction step,
Each of the plurality of sub-programs further executes, in response to the sub-stop instruction being input from the control thread, a step of suspending execution of a corresponding assigned division process among the plurality of division processes in the computer. The device search program according to claim 4 , wherein: The first program may further execute the search process from when the second program is executed by the computer until the thread that executes the second program ends the search process after the computer executes the second program. The apparatus search program according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the computer causes the computer to execute a search-in-progress notification step of displaying an image indicating the presence. Display means for displaying an image;
An operation means for receiving an operation by a user, and a device search method executed by a computer that controls an information processing device including:
A first execution step of controlling the display unit and the operation unit by causing the computer to execute a first program written in a first type of programming language that does not support a thread control instruction;
A second execution step of executing a search process for searching for a communicable device by causing the computer to execute a second program described in a second type of programming language different from the first type; Including
The first execution step is a start step of causing the computer to execute the second program in response to a start operation being received by the operation means;
In response to detecting a predetermined interrupt between the time when the computer executes the second program and the time when the computer executes the second program and the thread that executes the second program ends the search processing, A device information acquisition step of acquiring device identification information for identifying a communicable device;
Each time the device identification information is acquired in the device information acquisition step, an interruption display step of displaying the acquired device identification information on the display means,
The search processing includes a plurality of division processing different search conditions,
The second execution step is a thread activation step that causes the computer to execute a plurality of sub-execution programs that respectively execute the plurality of division processes in response to being activated in the first execution step;
The computer executes the first program on the condition that all of a plurality of sub-execution threads, each of which executes the plurality of sub-execution programs, of the plurality of sub-execution programs, respectively, end the corresponding assigned division process among the plurality of division processes. An end notification step of notifying the first execution thread to be executed of the end of the search processing,
Each of the plurality of sub-execution threads,
A corresponding division process among the plurality of division processes is executed, and each time a communicable device is detected, an interrupt is generated for the first execution thread, and the detected execution is performed by the first execution thread. A device search method including an output step of outputting device identification information of a device.

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