JP6971733B2 - Information processing equipment and its control method and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention particularly relates to an information processing apparatus suitable for processing using a plurality of applications, a control method thereof, and a program thereof.

Information processing devices such as smartphones can realize various functions by installing an OS and a plurality of applications and operating using each application. For example, a camera connection application can be used to connect to a camera to capture an image, or an image editing application can be used to edit an image. The function of linking and using these a plurality of applications is known.

For example, it is disclosed that data is shared among a plurality of applications by transmitting the data acquired by the application of the linkage source by causing the MFP to execute the scanning process to the application of the linkage destination via the operating system. .. (See Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-21248

For example, in the information processing device, the image of the camera is edited by using the first application for executing the image acquisition process from the camera and the second application for executing the image editing process. May be processed. At this time, when a large number of images are captured from the camera using the first application, it takes time to complete the capture of all the images. Therefore, there is a problem that it is necessary to wait for a long time before starting the editing process by using the second application.

In order to solve the above problems, one of the inventions according to the present application is to provide a first application program for executing an output process for the content and a second application program for executing the process of fetching the content from an external device. The information processing apparatus having the first request means for making a start request of the second application program according to the first application program, and the second application program in response to the start request of the second application program. A capture processing means that executes a process of communicating with the external device and fetching the content from the external device according to the first activation means for activating the second application program and the activated second application program. And a generation means for generating information about the captured content according to the second application program, and a storage means for making the generated information available from the first application program and storing it in a storage medium. After the content is taken in from the external device, it responds to the second request means for making the start request of the first application program according to the second application program and the start request of the first application program. A second activation means for activating the first application program, and an output processing means for executing output processing for the content fetched from the external device according to the first application program are provided. If the capture processing means executes a process of fetching at least one content, the second request means can make the activation request, and the output processing means is fetched from the external device. While the content is acquired based on the stored information and the output process is executed and the first application program is started, the capture processing means performs a process of fetching the remaining content from the external device. It is characterized in that it further includes a notification control means for controlling the execution and the notification when the acquisition process of the remaining contents is completed.

According to the present invention, in the information processing apparatus, when processing is continuously performed using a plurality of applications, the processing of the second application can be started before the processing using the first application is completed. It will be possible.

It is a figure for demonstrating the configuration example of the network including the communication apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware composition example of the communication device in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the software configuration example of the communication device in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware composition example of the image pickup apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the processing procedure of the communication apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the display screen of Write-app in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the display screen of the Read-app in the embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the processing procedure of the communication apparatus in embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be exemplified in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the components described in this embodiment are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to them.

(First Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a user operates a communication device (smartphone) which is an information processing device to activate an image editing application (program) and activate a data acquisition application (program). As the "starting" of the application in this embodiment, there are cases where an unstarted application is started and a case where the application running in the background is moved to the foreground.

(Network configuration)
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a system including the communication device 101 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the communication device 101 can be connected to the image pickup device 102 by using a data acquisition application and can acquire an image from the image pickup device 102 via the network 103. The communication used for connection with the image pickup apparatus 102 may be wired communication or wireless communication.

(Communication equipment configuration)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the communication device 101 according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 2, the CPU 201 controls the processing of the entire communication device 101. Various control programs, data, and the like executed by the CPU 201 are stored in the ROM 202. The RAM 203 has a work area of the CPU 201, a data save area at the time of error processing, a control program load area, and the like. The HDD (hard disk drive) 204 is a storage medium for storing control programs, contents, and data executed in the OS (operating system), various applications, and the communication device 101.

The input device 205 is composed of various buttons such as a button for switching ON / OFF of the power supply. The BMU (bit move unit) 206 transfers data between memories (for example, between VRAM 207 and another memory) or data transfer between the memory and each I / O device (for example, NETI / F209). To control. Image data for display on the display device 211 is drawn on the VRAM 207. The image data drawn on the VRAM 207 is transferred to the display device 211 according to a predetermined rule, whereby the image is displayed on the display device 211. Further, the display device 211 is equipped with a touch panel, and when the user touches the display surface of the display device 211, an instruction related to the icon displayed at the position is input. The NETI / F209 communicates with the image pickup apparatus 102 and the like via the network 103. Bus 212 includes an address bus, a data bus and a control bus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a software configuration example of the communication device 101 according to the present embodiment.
A predetermined OS 301 is mounted on the communication device 101, and a data acquisition application (hereinafter, Write-app) 302 and an image editing application (hereinafter, Read-app) 303 are installed. The CPU 201 of the communication device 101 starts the OS 301 to perform basic processing performed by the communication device 101, as well as a process of linking installed applications and a process of recording data in the HDD 204 or the like. Further, the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 activates the Write-app 302 and performs a process of capturing an image from, for example, the image pickup device 102 via the NETI / F209. Further, the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 activates the Read-app 303 to process the captured image, instruct the printing device to print the image, and lay out the image on the page. Here, Write-app 302 is an input application and can be said to be an output application. It should be noted that the communication device 101 can install a plurality of Read-app 303s, and in the present embodiment, one of them will be described as an example.

(Configuration of image pickup device)
FIG. 4A is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the image pickup apparatus 102, which is an example of the external apparatus of the present embodiment. Although the image pickup device is described here as an example of the external device, the external device is not limited to this. For example, the external device may be a portable media player, a so-called tablet device, an information processing device such as a personal computer, or the like.

The control unit 401 controls each unit of the image pickup apparatus 102 according to the input signal and a program described later. Instead of the control unit 401 controlling the entire device, a plurality of hardware may share the processing to control the entire device.

The image pickup unit 402 is, for example, an optical lens unit, an optical system for controlling aperture, zoom, focus, etc., and an image pickup element for converting light (video) introduced through the optical lens unit into an electrical image signal. It is composed. As the image pickup device, CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is generally used. The image pickup unit 402 is controlled by the control unit 401 to convert the subject light imaged by the lens included in the image pickup unit 402 into an electric signal by the image pickup element, perform noise reduction processing, and obtain digital data as an image. Output as data. In the image pickup apparatus 102 of the present embodiment, the image data is recorded on the recording medium 410 according to the DCF (Design Rule for Camera File system) standard.

The non-volatile memory 403 is a non-volatile memory that can be electrically erased and recorded, and stores a program or the like described later executed by the control unit 401.

The work memory 404 is used as a buffer memory for temporarily holding image data captured by the image pickup unit 402, an image display memory of the display unit 406, a work area of the control unit 401, and the like.

The operation unit 405 is used for the user to receive an instruction to the image pickup apparatus 102 from the user. The operation unit 405 includes, for example, a power button for instructing the user to turn on / off the power of the image pickup apparatus 102, a release switch for instructing shooting, and a reproduction button for instructing reproduction of image data. Further, it includes an operation member such as a dedicated connection button for starting communication with an external device via the communication unit 411 described later. The operation unit 405 also includes a touch panel formed on the display unit 406, which will be described later. The release switch has SW1 and SW2. When the release switch is in the so-called half-pressed state, SW1 is turned on. As a result, instructions for preparing for shooting such as AF (autofocus) processing, AE (autoexposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing are received. Further, when the release switch is in the so-called fully pressed state, SW2 is turned on. As a result, instructions for taking a picture are received.

The display unit 406 displays the viewfinder image at the time of shooting, displays the shot image data, displays characters for interactive operation, and the like. The display unit 406 does not necessarily have to be built in the image pickup apparatus 102. The image pickup apparatus 102 can be connected to the internal or external display unit 406, and may have at least a display control function for controlling the display of the display unit 406.

The recording medium 410 can record the image data output from the image pickup unit 402. The recording medium 410 may be configured to be detachable from the image pickup device 102, or may be built in the image pickup device 102. That is, the image pickup apparatus 102 may have at least a means for accessing the recording medium 410.

The communication unit 411 is an interface for connecting to an external device. The image pickup device 102 of the present embodiment can exchange data with an external device via the communication unit 411. For example, the image data generated by the image pickup unit 402 can be transmitted to an external device via the communication unit 411. Further, the image pickup by the image pickup unit 402 can be controlled from an external device via the communication unit 411. In this embodiment, the communication unit 411 includes an interface for communicating with an external device by a so-called wireless LAN according to the standard of 802.11. The control unit 401 realizes wireless communication with an external device by controlling the communication unit 411.

The proximity radio communication unit 412 is composed of, for example, an antenna for radio communication, a modulation / demodulation circuit, and a communication controller for processing radio signals. The proximity radio communication unit 412 outputs the modulated radio signal from the antenna and demodulates the radio signal received by the antenna to perform short-range radio communication in accordance with the IEEE802.15 standard (so-called Bluetooth®). Realize. In the present embodiment, Bluetooth communication adopts version 4.0 (hereinafter referred to as BLE) of Bluetooth Low Energy, which has low power consumption. This BLE communication has a narrower communicable range (that is, a shorter communicable distance) than the wireless LAN communication. Further, the communication speed of BLE communication is slower than that of wireless LAN communication. On the other hand, BLE communication consumes less power than wireless LAN communication. The image pickup device 102 of the present embodiment can exchange data with an external device via the proximity wireless communication unit 412. For example, the image pickup by the image pickup unit 402 can be controlled from an external device via the communication unit 411. However, since the communication speed is slow, the image data generated by the image pickup unit 402 is not transmitted.

The communication unit 411 of the image pickup apparatus 102 in the present embodiment has an AP mode that operates as an access point in the infrastructure mode and a CL mode that operates as a client in the infrastructure mode. Then, by operating the communication unit 411 in the CL mode, the image pickup apparatus 102 in the present embodiment can operate as a CL device in the infrastructure mode. When the image pickup device 102 operates as a CL device, it is possible to participate in the network formed by the AP device by connecting to a peripheral AP device. Further, by operating the communication unit 411 in the AP mode, the image pickup apparatus 102 in the present embodiment operates as a simple AP (hereinafter referred to as a simple AP) which is a kind of AP but has more limited functions. Is also possible. When the image pickup device 102 operates as a simple AP, the image pickup device 102 forms a network by itself. The devices around the image pickup device 102 recognize the image pickup device 102 as an AP device and can participate in the network formed by the image pickup device 102. It is assumed that the program for operating the image pickup apparatus 102 as described above is held in the non-volatile memory 403.

Although the image pickup device 102 in this embodiment is a kind of AP, it is a simple AP that does not have a gateway function for transferring data received from a CL device to an Internet provider or the like. Therefore, even if data is received from another device participating in the network formed by the own machine, it is not transferred to a network such as the Internet.

Next, the appearance of the image pickup apparatus 102 will be described. 4 (b) and 4 (c) are views showing an example of the appearance of the image pickup apparatus 102. The release switch 405a, the play button 405b, the direction key 405c, and the touch panel 405d are operation members included in the above-mentioned operation unit 405. Further, the image obtained as a result of imaging by the imaging unit 402 is displayed on the display unit 406. Further, the image pickup apparatus 102 of the present embodiment has an antenna portion of the proximity wireless communication unit 412 on the side surface of the camera housing. Proximity wireless communication can be established with other devices by bringing the proximity wireless communication units 412 close to each other at a certain distance. As a result, communication is possible without contact via a cable or the like, and communication partners can be limited according to the user's intention.

(Processing procedure for communication equipment)
Next, the processing procedure of the communication device 101 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. In the present embodiment, first, the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 starts the Write-app, receives a user's instruction in the middle of the process by the Write-app, and starts the Read-app.

In FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, after the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 activates the Write-app, the image is acquired from the external device by the Write-app. Then, in order to explain the processing procedure in which the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 activates the Read-app by the user operation while the image is being downloaded from the external device, and the acquired image is subjected to the image editing process by the Read-app. It is a sequence diagram of. The process described below is realized by the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 starting the OS 301, Write-app 302, and Read-app 303, operating in accordance with these as appropriate, and controlling each part.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining a processing procedure in which the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 activates Write-app and then Red-app is activated to perform image editing processing in the present embodiment.

First, in response to the user's operation, the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 starts the Write-app to start the process. When the CPU 201 starts Write-app, the top screen 610 shown in FIG. 6A is displayed on the display device 211. When it is detected that the "image list in camera" button 611 is pressed by the user operation, the CPU 201 displays the image list screen 620 in the camera shown in FIG. 6B on the display device 211. Here, when the user's pressing operation on the return icon 623 is detected in FIG. 6B, the CPU 201 stops the execution of the image list function in the camera and switches to the display of the top screen 610.

In the display of the image list screen 620 in the camera, the communication device 101 receives the thumbnail image corresponding to the captured image recorded on the recording medium 410 of the image pickup device 102 from the image pickup device 102, and the HDD 204 of the communication device 101. Save to. Then, the saved thumbnail image is read out from the HDD 204 and displayed on the display device 211. The user selects a desired thumbnail image 621 from the plurality of thumbnail images listed for use in the Read-app. Upon receiving the user's pressing operation on the image capture icon 622, the CPU 201 makes the information about the selected thumbnail image readable from the Write-app as a "save-scheduled image list" and saves it in the RAM 203.

When a plurality of Read-apps are installed in the communication device 101, the CPU 201 displays an application selection dialog on the display device 211 that allows the user to select a Read-app that makes a start request from the Write-app according to the Write-app. indicate. The CPU 201 makes the Read-app type selected by the user readable from the Write-app and stores it in the RAM 203 in advance.

Then, in T501, the CPU 201 requests the external device (imaging device 102) to acquire the present image data corresponding to the thumbnail image selected by the user based on the image list to be saved by Write-app. Then, in the T502, the CPU 201 sequentially receives the present image data from the image pickup apparatus 102 via the NETI / F209 by Write-app. Every time the image data is received from the image pickup apparatus 102, the CPU 201 performs the storage process of the image data according to the Write-app in the T503. That is, the CPU 201 stores the present image data received by the T502 in the HDD 204. Then, an image ID is issued to the newly saved image data. In the present embodiment, the image ID is described as a code associated with the file path of the storage destination, but other than that may be used.

The CPU 201 repeats an image capture process including an image reception process on the T502, an image save process on the T503, and an image ID issuance process until all the image data included in the image list to be saved is captured. Run. While the image capture process is repeated, the CPU 201 displays the storage progress screen 630 shown in FIG. 6C on the display device 211 according to Write-app. On the save progress screen 630, in the image information area 631, a thumbnail image corresponding to the main image data in which the image capture process is being executed and a progress bar indicating the progress of the capture process are displayed. Then, when the image data capture process is completed, the image information area 631 switches to the display of the thumbnail image of the present image data to be captured next. In the image information area 632, the thumbnail image corresponding to the main image data saved in the HDD 204, the file name, and the mark indicating that the image has been captured are displayed after the image capture process is completed. Similar to the image information area 631, the image information area 633 displays a thumbnail image corresponding to the main image data in which the image capture process is being executed, a file name, and a mark indicating that the image capture process is in progress. Then, in the image information area 633, when the corresponding image data acquisition process is completed, the mark indicating that the image data is being imported is updated with the mark indicating that the image data has been imported. Then, the information about the present image data to be the next import process is added and displayed on the storage progress screen 630. Further, the icon 634 is for accepting a Read-app activation request from the user. The icon 634 is displayed on the save progress screen 630 when at least one of the main image data in the image list to be saved is saved in the HDD 204. Further, the user can instruct the interruption of the image capture process by pressing the "Cancel" button 635.

At T504, the CPU 201 determines whether or not a Read-app activation request has been made. That is, it is determined whether or not the user's pressing operation on the icon 634 of the save progress screen 630 is detected. If it is determined that the Read-app start request has been made, the CPU 201 notifies the OS 301 of the Read-app start request from the Write-app in T505.

Further, in T506, the CPU 201 performs an image ID list generation process by Write-app. Specifically, first, in Write-app, an image ID list showing the image ID of the present image data saved in T503 at the present time is generated, made readable from the OS 301, and stored in the HDD 204.

Next, in T507, the CPU 201 makes a start request from the OS to the Read-app. At this time, the CPU 201 acquires the ID of the Write-app of the boot request source via the OS and notifies the Read-app. Further, in T508, the CPU 201 receives the image ID list generated by Write-app in T506 via the OS in Read-app. Next, in T509, the CPU 201 collates the ID of the Write-app with the Read-app. That is, it is determined whether or not the ID of the request source Write-app matches the ID of the Write-app stored in the HDD 204. The CPU 201 operates according to the Read-app, and the ID of the Write-app that can cooperate with the Read-app is made readable from the Read-app and stored in the HDD 204 in advance. As a result of the collation, if the ID of the request source Write-app acquired in T507 matches the ID stored in advance in the HDD 204, the CPU 201 starts Read-app. As a result, the screen of Write-app moves to the background and is hidden, and the screen of Read-app is displayed in the foreground. For example, when Read-app is not started and is newly started, the screen as shown in FIG. 7A is displayed. If Read-app has already been started and exists in the background, the screens shown in FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (d) corresponding to the state are displayed.

In T510, the CPU 201 reads out the image data saved in the T503 based on the image ID list acquired in the T508 from the HDD 204 and acquires the image data in the Read-app. Then, the CPU 201 causes the display device 211 to display a screen for instructing the user to edit the contents according to the Read-app. The screen for instructing the user to edit the content is, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. 7 (a), and when the user selects the edit content, the screen is as shown in FIGS. 7 (b) to 7 (d). The screen is displayed. At this time, not only the image captured from the image pickup apparatus 102 in T510 but also the image already acquired by the communication device 101 by any other method is included in the image list and displayed. Therefore, the images captured from the image pickup apparatus 102 in the T510 may be displayed in a list so that they can be distinguished from other images. The CPU 201 operates according to the Read-app, selects a desired image from the displayed images in response to a user operation, and executes an editing process. Then, in T501, the CPU 201 saves the editing result in the HDD 204 according to the Read-app.

When Read-app is started, Write-app transitions to the background, but CPU201 still operates according to Write-app, and the remaining images in the image list to be saved while maintaining the connection with the camera. The import process of is continued. Then, in T512, the CPU 201 monitors whether or not all the image data capture processing of the image list to be saved is completed. If it is determined that the import processing of all the main image data in the image list to be saved is completed, the CPU 201 sets the image ID in T513 with respect to the image ID of the main image data not included in the image ID list generated in T506. Executes the list generation process. Specifically, first, the CPU 201 generates an image ID list in T506 in the Write-app, in other words, an image showing the image ID of the present image data saved in the HDD 204 after the start processing of the Read-app. Generate an ID list. Then, the image ID list is made readable from the OS and stored in the HDD 204. As a result, in T523 described later, the Read-app can receive the image ID list via the OS and can be used for the process of the Read-app. Therefore, it can be said that the image ID list is stored in the HDD 204 by Write-app so that it can be used for the Read-app process. Further, in T514, the CPU 201 notifies the OS 301 that the import process is completed according to the Write-app. According to the OS, the CPU 201 controls notification in T515 to notify the user that all the remaining images have been saved. Specifically, a message indicating that the capture processing of the remaining images has been completed is displayed on the display device 211. An example of the message displayed in T515 is shown in FIG. 7 (e). Message 751 is displayed in the foreground. The OS may notify the Read-app that the import process by Write-app has been completed, and the message 751 may be displayed according to the Read-app instead of the OS. Further, instead of the OS, the message 751 may be displayed according to Write-app.

In the present embodiment, the case where the CPU 201 gives a notification when the acquisition process is completed in S514 has been described, but during the import process, the number of newly captured images is read-appped via the OS 301. May be notified to.

At T516, the CPU 201 determines whether or not a call request for Write-app has been made from the Read-app. For example, it is determined whether or not an operation such as a user tapping a predetermined area of the message 751 is detected. If it is determined that the Write-app call request has been made from the Read-app, the CPU 201 notifies the OS of the Write-app call request from the Read-app in T517. Further, the CPU 201 disconnects from the external device according to Write-app.

In T516, the CPU 201 issues a request ID in the Read-app, and in the T517, the CPU 201 associates the request ID with the Write-app call request from the Read-app and stores it in the HDD 204. Here, the request ID is given a different ID depending on the editing content selected in Read-app. For example, the request ID differs depending on which screen of the screens shown in FIGS. 7 (b) to 7 (d) is selected from "Add photo from Write-app".

Next, in T518, the CPU 201 makes a start request from the OS to the Write-app. Then, the CPU 201 operates according to the Write-app and receives the request ID. Further, the CPU 201 operates according to Write-app and receives the ID of the requesting Read-app via the OS. The ID of the Read-app is a unique ID of the Read-app installed in the communication device 101, is stored in the HDD 204 when the Read-app is installed, and is read from the HDD 204 when making a start request for the Write-app. It will be issued and notified.

Subsequently, in T519, the CPU 201 collates the ID of the Read-app with the Write-app. That is, it is determined whether or not the ID of the request source Read-app matches the ID of the Read-app stored in the HDD 204. The CPU 201 operates according to the Write-app, and the ID of the Read-app that can be linked with the Write-app is made readable from the Write-app and stored in the HDD 204 in advance.

As a result of the collation, if the ID of the request source Read-app matches the ID stored in advance in the HDD 204, the CPU 201 starts Write-app. As a result, the Read-app screen moves to the background and is hidden, and the Write-app screen is displayed in the foreground. At this time, the Save-app save completion screen 640 as shown in FIG. 6D is displayed on the display device 211 together with the message dialog 641 indicating that the image capture process from the camera is completed.

At T520, the CPU 201 determines whether or not a Read-app activation request has been made. That is, it is determined whether or not the user has detected an operation for invoking Read-app according to the message dialog 641. When it is detected that the OK button 642 is pressed by the user, the CPU 201 notifies the OS of the start request from the Write-app to the Read-app in T521. Further, the CPU 201 receives the request ID from the Write-app as a call request from the Write-app to the Read-app depending on the OS. Here, the request ID is the same as that received by Write-app from the OS at T518.

Subsequently, in T521, the CPU 201 makes a start request from the OS to the Read-app. At this time, not only the ID of the request source Write-app but also the request ID is notified from the OS to the Read-app. Subsequent processing is the same as the above-mentioned T508 to T511.

Since the Read-app is still running even after the Write-app call process of T517 is performed, the Read-app start process is a process of canceling the sleep state or confirming that the device is running. Function. It should be noted that the Read-app may temporarily stop the activation after performing the processing of the T517, and restart in response to the activation request of the T521.

The CPU 201 displays the screen corresponding to the request ID when the Read-app is started and the screen of the Read-app is displayed in the foreground. The screen corresponding to the request ID acquired in T521 is displayed. For example, the same screen that was displayed when the request ID was notified from the Read-app on T501 is displayed on the display device 211. Then, the CPU 201 acquires an image from the HDD 204 based on the image ID list acquired in the Read-app and adds it to the list display. For example, on the screen shown in FIG. 7B, a new image is added to the list display of images on the left side of the screen.

According to the present embodiment, even while the communication device 101 is in the process of capturing an image from the camera using Write-app, Read-app is activated, and "layout printing" or the like is performed on the captured image. Enabled to execute the process in Read-app. In addition, the background image capture process was continued using Write-app, and the remaining images could also be processed by Write-app. Therefore, the user does not have to wait for a long time until the process of capturing all a large number of images is completed, and the usability is improved.

(Second embodiment)
(Processing procedure for communication equipment)
Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the communication device 101 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 8. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 first starts the Read-app, receives a user's instruction on the screen for performing the process by the Lead-app, and executes the process of calling the Write-app. It should be noted that the description of the same configuration and processing as in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

First, in response to the user's operation, the CPU 201 of the communication device 101 starts the Read-app to start the process. When the CPU 201 starts the Read-app, the display device 211 displays a screen as shown in FIG. 7A. On the screen shown in FIG. 7A, the user selects the editing content to be executed via the touch panel of the display device 211.

For example, when "process photo" is selected, the screen shown in FIG. 7B is displayed on the display device 211, and when "print photo" is selected, the display device 211 displays FIG. 7 The screen shown in (c) is displayed. When "Send Photograph" is selected, the screen shown in FIG. 7D is displayed on the display device 211. On the screens shown in FIGS. 7 (b) to 7 (d), an image to be edited can be selected from the images stored in the HDD 204 or the like. On the other hand, if you want to edit an image that is not held by the communication device 101, you can import the image from an external device by selecting "Add photo from Write-app". The process shown in FIG. 8 is started by selecting this "add photo from Lite-app" by the user.

In T801 of FIG. 8, the CPU 201 issues a request ID in the Read-app, and in the T802, the CPU 201 accepts the Write-app activation request by the Read-app and associates the request ID issued in the T801 with the activation request. Store in HDD 204. Here, the request ID is given a different ID depending on the selected editing content. For example, the request ID differs depending on which screen of the screens shown in FIGS. 7 (b) to 7 (d) selected "Add photo from Write-app".

Next, in the T803, the CPU 201 makes a start request from the OS to the Write-app to start the Write-app, and in the T804, the CPU 201 receives the request ID in the Write-app. When Write-app is started, Write-app receives the ID of the requesting Read-app. The ID of the Read-app is a unique ID of the Read-app installed in the communication device 101, is stored in the HDD 204 when the Read-app is installed, and is read from the HDD 204 when making a start request for the Write-app. It will be issued and notified.

Subsequently, in T805, the CPU 201 collates the ID of the Read-app with the Write-app. That is, it is determined by Write-app whether or not the ID of the request source Read-app matches the ID of the Read-app stored in the HDD 204. The CPU 201 operates according to the Write-app, and the ID of the Read-app that can be linked with the Write-app is made readable from the Write-app and stored in the HDD 204 in advance. When the ID of the Read-app matches the ID stored in the HDD 204, the CPU 201 starts the Write-app. As a result, the Read-app screen moves to the background and is hidden, and the Write-app screen is displayed in the foreground. For example, when Write-app is not started and is newly started, the top screen 610 shown in FIG. 6A is displayed. Further, when Write-app is running and the "image list in the camera" function is executed in the background, the image list screen 620 shown in FIG. 6B is displayed.

Then, the CPU 201 detects the state of Write-app and executes the process according to the detected state. Then, the CPU 201 executes the image list function in the camera, and determines the main image data to be captured in response to the user's operation. After that, the processing after T501 of FIG. 5 shown in the first embodiment is carried out.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the Write-app is an application used by the communication device 101 to capture an image from the image pickup device 102 has been described, but the Write-app can also be used for other applications. Can be applied. For example, as Write-app, an application for searching an image from a database or an application for performing a shooting process may be applied. In this case, an image ID list of the searched image or a newly captured image is generated. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the data to be handled is image data, but the data is not limited to image data and may be data of other contents such as audio data.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the smartphone has been described as an example of the communication device 101, but the device is not particularly limited as long as it is a device in which an application can be installed. For example, the communication device 101 can be similarly applied to a mobile phone, a tablet, a personal computer (PC), or the like. Further, when Read-app and Write-app are applications that do not require a communication function, they do not necessarily have to have a communication function and can be widely implemented by an information processing device.

The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by the processing to be performed. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention supplies one or more programs that realize one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device program. It can also be realized by the process of reading and executing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

Claims (10)

An information processing device having a first application program for executing output processing for contents and a second application program for executing processing for fetching the contents from an external device.
A first request means for making a start request for the second application program according to the first application program, and
The first starting means for starting the second application program in response to the start request of the second application program, and
An import processing means for executing a process of communicating with the external device and importing the content from the external device according to the activated second application program.
A generation means for generating information about the captured content according to the second application program.
A storage means for storing in a storage medium the generated information made available from the first application program,
After the content is taken in from the external device, a second request means for making a start request of the first application program according to the second application program, and a second request means.
A second starting means for starting the first application program in response to a request for starting the first application program, and a second starting means.
An output processing means for executing output processing on the content fetched from the external device according to the first application program is provided.
If the process of capturing at least one content is executed by the capture processing means, the second request means can make the activation request, and the output processing means is fetched from the external device. The capture processing means captures the remaining content from the external device while the captured content is acquired based on the stored information and the output process is executed and the first application program is started. And run
An information processing apparatus further comprising a notification control means for controlling to notify when the acquisition process of the remaining contents is completed. An information processing device having a first application program for executing output processing for contents and a second application program for executing processing for fetching the contents from an external device.
A first request means for making a start request for the second application program according to the first application program, and
The first starting means for starting the second application program in response to the start request of the second application program, and
An import processing means for executing a process of communicating with the external device and importing the content from the external device according to the activated second application program.
A generation means for generating information about the captured content according to the second application program.
A storage means for storing in a storage medium the generated information made available from the first application program,
After the content is taken in from the external device, a second request means for making a start request of the first application program according to the second application program, and a second request means.
A second starting means for starting the first application program in response to a request for starting the first application program, and a second starting means.
An output processing means for executing output processing on the content fetched from the external device according to the first application program is provided.
If the process of capturing at least one content is executed by the capture processing means, the second request means can make the activation request, and the output processing means is fetched from the external device. The capture processing means captures the remaining content from the external device while the captured content is acquired based on the stored information and the output process is executed and the first application program is started. And run
An information processing device further comprising a communication control means for controlling to disconnect communication with the external device when the acquisition process of the remaining contents is completed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second activation means display the screen of the second application program and the screen of the first application program in the foreground, respectively. .. When a request to start the second application program is made by the first request means, an identifier relating to the first application program is also issued.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second activation means activates the first application program based on the identifier. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the identifier identifies the state of the first application program. Further provided is a selection means for selecting whether or not to make a start request of the first application program according to the second application program after the content is captured from the external device in response to a user operation. ,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second request means makes a request to start the first application program according to the result of the selection. It is a control method of an information processing apparatus having a first application program for executing an output process for contents and a second application program for executing a process of fetching the contents from an external device.
A step of making a start request of the second application program according to the first application program, and
In response to the request to start the second application program, the step of starting the second application program and
A step of executing a process of communicating with the external device and fetching the content from the external device according to the activated second application program.
A step of generating information about the captured content according to the second application program, and
And storing in the storage medium the generated information made available from the first application program,
After the content is taken in from the external device, a step of making a start request of the first application program according to the second application program, and
The step of starting the first application program in response to the start request of the first application program, and
A step of executing an output process for the content fetched from the external device according to the first application program is provided.
If at least one process of capturing the content is executed, it becomes possible to request the activation of the first application program according to the second application program, and the content captured from the external device is stored. The acquisition process is executed based on the obtained information, and the process of fetching the remaining contents from the external device is executed while the first application program is started.
A control method further comprising a step of controlling to give a notification when the acquisition process of the remaining contents is completed. It is a control method of an information processing apparatus having a first application program for executing an output process for contents and a second application program for executing a process of fetching the contents from an external device.
A step of making a start request of the second application program according to the first application program, and
In response to the request to start the second application program, the step of starting the second application program and
A step of executing a process of communicating with the external device and fetching the content from the external device according to the activated second application program.
A step of generating information about the captured content according to the second application program, and
And storing in the storage medium the generated information made available from the first application program,
After the content is taken in from the external device, a step of making a start request of the first application program according to the second application program, and
The step of starting the first application program in response to the start request of the first application program, and
A step of executing an output process for the content fetched from the external device according to the first application program is provided.
If at least one process of capturing the content is executed, it becomes possible to request the activation of the first application program according to the second application program, and the content captured from the external device is stored. The acquisition process is executed based on the obtained information, and the process of fetching the remaining contents from the external device is executed while the first application program is started.
A control method further comprising a step of controlling to disconnect communication with the external device when the acquisition process of the remaining contents is completed. A program that causes a computer to function as each means of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A storage medium in which a program that causes a computer to function as each means of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is stored in a computer readable manner.

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