JP7466123B2 - Computer program, server device, terminal device, program generation method, and method - Google Patents

Description

The technology disclosed in this application relates to a computer program, a server device, a terminal device, and a method.

In recent years, it has become important for applications to improve their usability. However, in the past, in order to improve the usability of such applications, it was necessary to implement tools within each application. For example,
Tools were implemented using DK, and tools were executed directly within the game using PF (platform).

JP 2013-161407 A JP 2001-265563 A JP 2014-164718 A

However, implementing this tool within each application was a burden for application creators. Furthermore, the technology described in Patent Document 1 merely discloses a window manager that manages the windows of multiple applications. Furthermore, the technology described in Patent Document 2 merely discloses a method for combining the user interfaces of multiple applications. Furthermore, the technology described in Patent Document 3 merely enables a software keyboard to coexist with a running application.

The above-mentioned patent documents 1 to 3 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Therefore, some embodiments disclosed in the present application provide a computer program, a server device, a terminal device, a program generation method, and a method for improving the convenience of an application. Note that, for convenience, in the present application documents, an application whose convenience is improved may be referred to as a "first application," and an application (corresponding to the above-mentioned tool) that provides a service for improving the convenience of the first application may be referred to as a "second application."

The computer program according to one embodiment, when executed by a processor,
The method includes obtaining information related to a first application, using the information related to the first application to set information related to a second application, the information being for providing a service associated with the first application, and providing the one service based on the set information for providing the service in response to a user input related to a one service.

A computer program according to another embodiment includes the steps of:
The method determines whether at least a portion of a window area related to a first application overlaps with at least a portion of a window area related to a second application capable of providing a service associated with the first application, and if an overlap is determined, displays information related to the second application at a position associated with the first application.

A computer program according to another embodiment includes the steps of:
The overlap between at least a portion of a window area related to a first application and at least a portion of a window area related to a second application capable of providing a service associated with the first application is determined, and when an overlap is determined, the second application is placed in a state in which the service associated with the first application can be provided.

A server device in one embodiment includes a processor, and the processor executes computer-readable instructions to obtain information related to a first application, use the information related to the first application to set information related to a second application, the information being for providing a service associated with the first application, and, in response to an input, provide a service based on the set information for providing the service.

A server device according to another aspect includes a processor, and the processor executes computer-readable instructions to determine an overlap between at least a portion of a window area associated with a first application and at least a portion of a window area associated with a second application capable of providing a service associated with the first application, and if an overlap is determined, displays information associated with the second application at a position associated with the first application.

A server device according to another aspect includes a processor, and the processor executes computer-readable instructions to determine an overlap between at least a portion of a window area relating to a first application and at least a portion of a window area relating to a second application capable of providing a service associated with the first application, and if an overlap is determined, places the second application in a state in which the service associated with the first application can be provided.

A terminal device in one embodiment has a processor, and the processor executes computer-readable instructions to obtain information related to a first application, use the information related to the first application to set information related to a second application, the information being for providing a service associated with the first application, and in response to an input, provide a service based on the set information for providing the service.

A terminal device according to another aspect includes a processor, the processor executing computer-readable instructions to determine an overlap between at least a portion of a window area relating to a first application and at least a portion of a window area relating to a second application capable of providing a service associated with the first application, and if an overlap is determined, displays information relating to the second application at a position associated with the first application.

A terminal device according to another aspect includes a processor, and the processor executes computer-readable instructions to determine an overlap between at least a portion of a window area relating to a first application and at least a portion of a window area relating to a second application capable of providing a service associated with the first application, and, if an overlap is determined, places the second application in a state in which the service associated with the first application can be provided.

In one aspect, a method is implemented by a processor executing computer readable instructions, the method comprising: obtaining information associated with a first application; and using the information associated with the first application to generate information associated with a second application, the information associated with the first application being
setting information for providing a service associated with the application, and providing the service based on the set information for providing the service in response to an input;
It is something.

Another aspect of the method is a method executed by a processor executing computer-readable instructions, the method determining an overlap between at least a portion of an area of a window associated with a first application and at least a portion of an area of a window associated with a second application capable of providing a service associated with the first application, and if an overlap is determined, displaying information associated with the second application at a location associated with the first application.

Another aspect of the method is a method executed by a processor executing computer-readable instructions, which determines an overlap between at least a portion of a window area associated with a first application and at least a portion of a window area associated with a second application capable of providing a service associated with the first application, and, if an overlap is determined, places the second application in a state in which the service associated with the first application can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the server device 20 (terminal device 30) illustrated in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functions of a system according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is an example of a data structure included in the system according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is an example of a screen displayed by a system according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is an example of a data structure included in a system according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is an example of a flow of processing performed by a system according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is an example of a flow of processing performed by a system according to an embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the use of a system according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is an example of a flow of processing performed by a system according to an embodiment. FIG. 11 is an example of a screen including a screen displayed by a system according to an embodiment. FIG. 12 is an example of a flow of processing performed by a system according to an embodiment. FIG. 13 is an example of a screen displayed by a system according to an embodiment. FIG. 14 is an example of a data structure included in a system according to an embodiment. FIG. 15 is an example of a data structure held by a system according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that common components in the drawings are given the same reference numerals. Also, it should be noted that components shown in one drawing may be omitted in another drawing for convenience of explanation.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings, although illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention, are not necessarily drawn to scale.

1. Example of a System FIG . 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a system configuration according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the system 1 may include one or more server devices 20 connected to a communication network 10, and one or more terminal devices 30 connected to the communication network 10. Note that FIG. 1 shows three server devices 20A to 20C as examples of the server devices 20, and one or more terminal devices 30.
As an example of the system, three terminal devices 30A to 30C are illustrated, but one or more other server devices 20 may be connected to the communication network 10 as the server device 20, and one or more other terminal devices 30 may be connected to the communication network 10 as the terminal device 30. In addition, in the present application documents, the term "system" is used to refer to both the server and the terminal device, or to only the server or only the terminal device. In other words, the system may be in any of the following forms: only the server, only the terminal device, or both the server and the terminal device.

The system may be an information processing device on a cloud. The system may be a virtual information processing device and may be logically configured as one information processing device. The owner and the administrator of the system may be different persons.

The communication network 10 may be a mobile phone network, a wireless LAN, a landline telephone network, the Internet, an intranet, Ethernet (registered trademark), and/or a combination thereof, and
The communication network 10 may communicate various data disclosed in the present application. For example, information related to a first application, information related to a second application, information for providing a service associated with the first application, etc.
etc. may be communicated from the server device 20 to the terminal device 30 or from the terminal device 30 to the server device 20.

The server device 20 may be able to perform operations such as obtaining information related to a first application by executing a specific installed application, using the information related to the first application to set information related to a second application, which is information for providing a service associated with the first application, and providing the one service based on the information for providing the set service in response to a user's input related to a one service.

Alternatively, the terminal device 30 may be able to perform operations such as obtaining information related to a first application by executing an installed web browser, using the information related to the first application to set information related to a second application, which is information for providing a service associated with the first application, and providing the one service based on the information for providing the set service in response to a user's input related to a one service.

The terminal device 30 may be any terminal device capable of performing such operations, such as a smartphone, a tablet, a mobile phone (feature phone), and/or a personal computer, but is not limited to these.

2. Hardware Configuration of Each Device Next, an example of the hardware configuration of the server device 20 will be described.

2-1. Hardware Configuration of Server Device 20 An example of the hardware configuration of the server device 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the server device 20 (terminal device 30) shown in FIG. 2 (note that in FIG. 2, the reference numerals in parentheses indicate the hardware configuration of each terminal device 30 as described later).
0.)

2, the server device 20 may mainly include a computing device 21, a main memory device 22, and an input/output interface device 23. The server device 20 may further include an input device 24 and an auxiliary output device 26. These devices may be connected to each other by a data bus and/or a control bus.

The arithmetic unit 21 performs calculations using instructions and data stored in the main memory 22, and stores the results of the calculations in the main memory 22.
The server device 20 can control an input device 24, an auxiliary storage device 25, an output device 26, etc. via an input/output interface device 23. The server device 20 may include one or more computing devices 21. The computing device 21 may include one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor,
and/or may include a graphics processing unit (GPU).

The main memory 22 has a storage function, and is connected to the input device 24, the auxiliary memory 25, and the communication network 10.
The main memory 22 stores commands and data received from the server device 20, etc. via the input/output interface device 23, as well as the results of the calculations performed by the calculation device 21.
This may include, but is not limited to, AM (random access memory), ROM (read only memory) and/or flash memory.

The auxiliary storage device 25 is a storage device. It may store instructions and data (computer programs) that configure the specific application, the web browser, etc., and is used by the computing device 21.
The instructions and data (computer programs) may be loaded into the main memory 22 via the input/output interface device 23 under the control of the I/O interface device 24. The auxiliary memory device 25 may be a magnetic disk device and/or an optical disk device, a file server, etc.
Not limited to these.

The input device 24 is a device for inputting data from the outside, and may be a touch panel, a button, a keyboard, a mouse, and/or a sensor, etc.

The output device 26 may include, but is not limited to, a display device, a touch panel, and/or a printer device, etc. Also, the input device 24 and the output device 26 may be integrated together.

In such a hardware configuration, the calculation device 21 sequentially loads instructions and data (computer program) constituting a specific application stored in the auxiliary storage device 25 into the main storage device 22, and calculates the loaded instructions and data, thereby controlling the output device 26 via the input/output interface device 23, and/or transmitting and receiving various information to and from other devices (e.g., a server device 20 and other terminal devices 30, etc.) via the input/output interface device 23 and the communication network 10.

The server device 20 has such a configuration, and by executing an installed specific application, the server device 20 acquires information related to a first application, which is defined below, and uses the information related to the first application to acquire information related to a second application, which is
The program may be capable of executing operations such as setting information for providing a service associated with the first application, and providing the one service based on the set information for providing the one service in response to an input by a user for the one service (including various operations described in detail later). Moreover, such operations may be executed by a user giving an instruction to the system of the example of the invention disclosed in the present application documents using the input device 24 or an input device 34 related to a terminal device 30 described later. Moreover, when the program is executed on the computing device 21, the output device 26 of the server device 20 as the system used by the user may be configured to execute operations such as setting information for providing the one service based on the set information for providing the one service in response to an input by a user for the one service.
or may be configured to be displayed on the output device 36 of the terminal device 30 as a system used by the user.

2-2. Hardware Configuration of Terminal Device 30 An example of the hardware configuration of the terminal device 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The hardware configuration of each terminal device 30 may be the same as that of each server device 20 described above. Therefore, the reference numerals for the components of each terminal device 30 are shown in parentheses in Fig. 2.

2, each terminal device 30 can mainly include a calculation device 31, a main memory device 32, an input/output interface device 33, an input device 34, an auxiliary memory device 35, and an output device 36. These devices are connected to each other by a data bus and/or a control bus.

The arithmetic device 31, the main memory device 32, the input/output interface device 33, the input device 34, the auxiliary memory device 35, and the output device 36 may be substantially the same as the arithmetic device 21, the main memory device 22, the input/output interface device 23, the input device 24, the auxiliary memory device 25, and the output device 26 included in each of the above-mentioned server devices 20. However, the capacity and capabilities of the arithmetic device and the memory devices may be different.

In such a hardware configuration, the calculation device 31 sequentially loads instructions and data (computer programs) constituting a specific application stored in the auxiliary storage device 35 into the main storage device 32, and by calculating the loaded instructions and data, it is possible to control the output device 36 via the input/output interface device 33, and also to send and receive various information between the output device 36 and other devices (e.g., each server device 20, etc.) via the input/output interface device 33 and the communication network 10.

The terminal device 30 has such a configuration, and by executing an installed specific application, acquires information related to a first application, sets information related to a second application, which is information for providing a service associated with the first application, using the information related to the first application, and in response to an input related to a service by a user, based on the set information for providing the service:
The server device 20 can execute the operation of providing the one service (including various operations described in detail later).
The program can receive and display a web page from the computer 31 and perform similar operations. Such operations may be performed by a user giving an instruction to the system of the example of the invention disclosed in the present application using the input device 34. When the program is executed on the computing device 31, the program may be configured to be displayed on the output device 36 of the terminal device 30 as the system used by the user.

3. Functions of each device Next, an example of the functions of each of the server device 20 and the terminal device 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functions of the system shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the system of the example may have an acquisition unit 41 that acquires information related to a first application, a setting unit 42 that sets information related to a second application for providing a service associated with the first application, a display unit 43 that displays a window related to the second application, and a service providing unit 44 that provides the service. In addition, the system of the example may further have a customization unit 45 that can customize the setting contents and display contents.

3-1. Acquisition unit 41
The acquisition unit 41 has a function of acquiring information related to the first application. The application may be software or a program, which is an instruction to a computer and is combined to obtain a result. It is sufficient if it is something that has been done.

The information related to the first application may be information related to the display state of the first application, information for identifying the first application, such as an ID of the first application, a name, a title, an icon, or a location of an executable file of the first application, and/or information generally related to the first application.
When a platform that supports the execution of the first application exists, device 1 may obtain, as information related to the first application, functional restriction information and option information from the platform, such as information indicating that the first application cannot be resized and information indicating that screenshots cannot be taken.

The information on the display state of the first application may include the position, size, style, and/or resolution-aware mode (DPI awar
The acquired and stored style may be used to restore the style of the first application after the second application is terminated. The resolution awareness mode (DPI awareness mode) may include, for example,
naware, System, Per-Monitor, Per-Monitor V2
In this application, the resolution-aware mode (DPI aware
s mode) is sometimes simply referred to as the resolution recognition mode.

The acquisition unit 41 may store the acquired information related to the first application.
This is an example in which the acquired window position, size, style, and resolution recognition mode related to the first application are stored in the storage table.

The information related to the first application may be obtained from any source that holds information related to the first application, for example, it may be obtained from an application that manages the execution of the first application, it may be obtained from an application that manages the window of the first application, it may be obtained from an OS that supports the execution of the first application, or it may be obtained from memory when the first application is being executed.

The acquisition unit 41 may acquire information related to the first application based on information identifying the first application.
The acquisition unit 41 may have the information in advance, or the information may be acquired by the acquisition unit 41.
The first application may be acquired as information for identifying the first application an application related to a currently active window or an application designated by a user. The latter designation of an application by a user may be, for example, an application selected directly or indirectly by the user using a pointing device such as a mouse or a pointer, and may take various forms.

The mode of selecting an application is also such that, for example, at least a part of the area of a window related to the application of this example (e.g., the second application) overlaps with at least a part of the area of a window related to the application to be identified (e.g., the first application), and the acquisition unit 41 included in the second application:
In this case, acquiring unit 41 may have a function of determining whether at least a part of an area of a window related to the first application overlaps with at least a part of an area of a window related to a second application capable of providing a service associated with the first application, and may identify an application for which information related to the application is to be acquired as the first application by determining such an overlap.

The acquisition unit 41 may acquire information corresponding to a service described later as information related to the first application, and for example, if the service is related to sharing of information, the acquisition unit 41 may acquire information on the range of information sharing, or may acquire information on a group that performs the first application together. For example, if the first application is a game, this may be information that identifies other game players who have interactions with the user through the game.

The acquisition unit 41 may acquire information related to the first application at various times. For example, the acquisition unit 41 may acquire information related to the first application at the time when the second application is started.
Information relating to the application may be acquired, or information relating to the first application may be acquired at the time when the second application is displayed, or information relating to the first application may be acquired at a predetermined time after the second application is displayed.

The predetermined timing after the second application is displayed may be, for example, when a window related to the second application is dragged at a user's instruction, or when a window related to the first application is dragged at a user's instruction, and the first application is displayed.
When at least a portion of an area of a window related to the first application overlaps with at least a portion of an area of a window related to the second application, the second application may acquire information related to the first application. In this case, specifically, as described above, the second application may have a function of determining whether at least a portion of an area of a window of the first application overlaps with at least a portion of an area of a window of the second application, and may acquire information related to the first application at the timing when it is determined that there is an overlap.

In addition, the second application may obtain information related to the first application while the first application is running, or, even in a state in which the first application is not running, may obtain information related to the first application from, for example, a file in which information related to the first application is stored.
Information relating to the first application may be acquired.

In addition, when the first application and the second application are associated in advance, the second application may be launched by launching the first application, or may be launched by an instruction from a third application such as the platform of the first application or another application, or may be launched by user input.

3-2. Setting section 42
The setting unit 42 has a function of setting information related to a second application, which is information for providing a service associated with the first application, by using information related to the first application. The setting unit 42 may set information related to a display state of the second application as the information related to the second application, and may set information related to a position, size, style, and/or resolution recognition mode of a window related to the second application,
may be set.

The setting unit 42 may set information related to the second application by storing information related to the second application. Fig. 4 shows an example in which the position, size, style, and resolution recognition mode of the window related to the second application are set in association with each of the elements by using the position, size, style, and resolution recognition mode of the window related to the first application acquired by the acquisition unit 41, and stored in the storage table. Here, the position, size, style, and resolution recognition mode of the window related to the second application may be the same as or different from the corresponding position, size, style, and resolution recognition mode of the window related to the first application.

For example, the position of the window related to the second application may be set to a value obtained by adding or subtracting a predetermined value for the X and Y coordinates of the window related to the first application. For example, the upper left corner of the screen is the origin, and the X coordinate increases in value toward the right of the screen and the Y coordinate increases in value toward the bottom of the screen.
The X coordinate of the position of the window related to the application may be set to the X coordinate of the position of the window related to the first application, and the Y coordinate of the position of the window related to the second application may be set to a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value from the Y coordinate of the position of the window related to the first application. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5 described later, the window related to the second application is set to be displayed near the window related to the first application. More specifically, the position of the window related to the second application may be set to a position where a part or all of the display area of the window related to the second application is displayed adjacent to the window related to the first application. In this configuration, the position of the window related to the second application is set so that the second application capable of providing a service associated with the first application is displayed close to the first application, which is advantageous in that the user can visually understand that the second application provides a service for the first application. In addition, in this configuration, when a user who operates the first application selects the provision of a service related to the second application, the user only needs to move a small distance with his/her finger or pointer on the touch panel, which is advantageous in that the user can easily access the service related to the second application.

Furthermore, as shown in this figure, the setting unit 42 may set the position of the window related to the second application at a position where at least a portion of the area of the window related to the second application overlaps with at least a portion of the area of the window related to the first application.

Regarding the size, the size of the window related to the second application may be set to a value obtained by adding or subtracting a predetermined value from the size of the window related to the first application. The size may be in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. For example, as described above, in the coordinate axes of the X coordinate, which has the upper left corner of the screen as the origin and increases in value toward the horizontal direction to the right of the screen, and the Y coordinate, which increases in value toward the vertical direction to the bottom of the screen, the size of the window related to the second application in the X direction may be a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to the size of the window related to the first application in the X direction. Here, the predetermined value to be added may be, for example, the value of the length of the display area of the second window in the X direction. Furthermore, the size of the window related to the second application in the Y direction may be a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to the size of the window related to the first application in the Y direction. Here, the predetermined value to be added may be, for example,
It may be a value of the length in the Y direction of the display area of the window. In such a configuration, the second application capable of providing a service associated with the first application is displayed in an area larger than the window area related to the first application, which has the advantage that the user can display related to the service for the first application in the display area of the second application, as described below.

Regarding the style, the style of the window related to the second application is set to the style of the first application.
The style of the window associated with the first application may be the same or different. In the case of the same style, it is possible to change the style without adversely affecting the atmosphere of the first application.
The advantage is that the second application can be displayed in a different style. Also, the different style may be a similar style to the style of the window associated with the first application. In the case of a similar style, the second application can be displayed in a different style.
This has the advantage of giving the user the impression that there is some kind of relationship with the first application. In addition, a different style has the advantage of being able to highlight the unique style of the second application that is different from the style of the first application. In addition, a different style makes it easier to distinguish between the first application and the second application, which has the advantage of preventing confusion between the applications and reducing the possibility of erroneous operation of each application. In addition, the style of the window related to the first application may be changed,
In this case, it is easy to display a window related to a first application within a window related to a second application, and there is also the advantage that functions such as resizing the window related to the first application can be restricted as necessary.

Regarding the resolution recognition mode, the resolution recognition mode of the window related to the second application may be the same as or different from the resolution recognition mode of the window related to the first application. In particular, when the resolution recognition mode is set to the same, there is an advantage that the user does not feel uncomfortable due to the difference in the resolution recognition mode between the display of the window of the second application and the display of the window of the first application. In addition, there is an advantage that the function of maintaining a constant display of the window related to the first application can be achieved by setting the resolution recognition mode of the window related to the second application.

Furthermore, the window of the second application may be set as the parent of the window of the first application, or may be set as a window independent of the window of the first application. In particular, when the window of the second application is set as the parent of the window of the first application, the window of the first application may be set as a child of the window of the second application in the setting of the window of the second application. When such a parent-child relationship is set, there is an advantage that the window related to the first application can follow the window related to the second application. For example, when the window of the second application is moved by the user, there is an advantage that the window of the first application can easily follow the movement of the window of the second application. Furthermore, when such a parent-child relationship is set, there is an advantage that the processing load can be reduced, compared to the case where the window related to the first application and the window related to the second application are displayed and moved independently.

The function of setting information related to the second application by setting unit 42 may be set within the second application, but particularly when setting information related to the display state of a window application, the function may be configured to instruct the application managing the window to set the position of the window related to the application.

The setting unit 42 may set the information related to the second application at various times. For example, when the acquisition unit 41 acquires the information related to the first application,
Alternatively, the information related to the second application may be set at the timing when an instruction to change the position of the window related to the second application is obtained from the user.

3-3. Display unit 43
The display unit 43 has a function of displaying a window related to the second application. The display unit 43 may display the window related to the second application in various forms. Advantageously, this allows the user to become aware of a second application that provides a service associated with the first application.

Further, the display unit 43 displays, based on the information related to the set second application,
A window related to the second application may be displayed. For example, display unit 43 may display the window of the second application on the same screen as the window of the first application. In this case, there is an advantage that the user can use the second application while viewing both the first application and the second application on the same screen.

Furthermore, the display unit 43 may have a function of displaying one or more icons indicating a service associated with the first application on the second application. When the display unit 43 has such a configuration, there is an advantage that the user can easily understand the service content.

Furthermore, the display unit 43 may have a function of acquiring a user's input regarding what is displayed. For example, the display unit 43 may acquire information that one or more icons indicating a service associated with the first application are selected by the user, and that a service corresponding to the selected icon is selected. When the display unit 43 has such a configuration, there is an advantage that the user can select service content that is easily understood. Note that what indicates a service is not limited to an icon, and may be a display that allows a service to be selected from one or more services in various forms.

The display unit 43 may display the second application at various times.
For example, the display unit 43 may display the second application when the second application is started, or may display the information related to the first application when the display unit 43 acquires the information related to the first application. The display unit 43 may display the second application when it is determined that at least a part of the area of the window related to the first application overlaps with at least a part of the area of the window related to the second application. In this case, the display unit 43 may display the information related to the second application, such as the window of the second application or a display area showing the second application, at a position associated with the first application. In this case, for example, the second application may be displayed at a position as shown in FIG. 5 as a position associated with the first application.

Furthermore, display unit 43 may set the second application to a state in which a service associated with the first application can be provided at a timing when display unit 43 determines that at least a portion of an area of a window related to a first application overlaps with at least a portion of an area of a window related to a second application. The state in which a service can be provided may be, for example, a state in which one or more icons indicating a service are displayed as described above, and when one of the icons is selected by clicking or the like, the service corresponding to the selected icon can be provided.

Also, as described below, if the service includes a screenshot function, one of the one or more icons may be selected to launch an application that provides a screenshot of the second application.

Also, as described below, if the service launches an application that provides information sharing functionality, one or more of the icons may be selected to launch the application that provides information sharing.

5 is an example of a window display related to a second application that can be displayed by the display unit 43. A first application 501 to which a service is provided and a second application 502 to which the service is provided are displayed.
The application 502 is displayed, and the display area of the second application is
Icons 503 to 510 are displayed. Each of the icons 503 to 510 may be displayed in a simple manner to express the service that the icon represents.

Although not shown, each icon 503 to 510 may be grouped according to the content provided by the service represented by the icon. In this case, something indicating each group may be displayed in association with each icon. The thing indicating each group may be a frame, color, mark, or the like. When such grouping is displayed, there is an advantage that the user can specify an icon by referring to the group according to the group to which the service he or she wants to use belongs. An example of a group is, for example, an information sharing service.

The display function of the display unit 43 may be a display on a display device integrated with an information processing device on which the program is executed, or a display device that is not integrated with an information processing device on which the program is executed. In the latter case, for example, the system may be in a server-client format or a format of a cloud and a terminal that operates the cloud, in which the information processing device on which the program is executed and the information processing device equipped with the display device are directly or indirectly connected to each other in a manner that they communicate information although they are independent of each other.

3-4. Service providing unit 44
The service providing unit 44 has a function of providing a service based on the set information for providing the service.

When the second application provides a service associated with the first application, there is an advantage in creating the first application in that the burden of coding required to provide the services provided by the second application, and optimization such as performing usage testing and adjustments to provide each service to the user in an optimal manner, is reduced.

In addition, when the first application is a game and a service for the first application is created within the game platform, the creator of the first application decides what kind of service to provide to the user of the first application. In contrast, when a function for providing a service for the first application is included in a second application that is independent of the first application, the user of the first application can decide whether or not to use such a service, and the user of the first application can directly provide the service to the user of the first application, regardless of the decision of the creator of the first application.
This has the advantage of being able to advertise the fact that such services can be provided.

In addition, when there are a plurality of first applications, if each of the first applications creates a service, it is highly likely that the first applications will have different GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces), and users of the first applications may need to learn how to operate the GUI of each first application.
Since the user only needs to learn the operation method of the first application program, etc., there is an advantage that the user can apply the second application program that he or she is familiar with to various first applications.

The service provided by the second application may be a service implemented in the second application, or may be a service implemented in another application. In the latter case, the term "provision of a service" may include a process of starting a service implemented in the other application. In the latter case, the second application may use various methods to start the service implemented in the other application. For example, the second application may have information on the directory location of the executable program of the other application, and may have instructions and authority to start the executable program of the other application. The directory location may be in the same information processing device, or in another information processing device via a network.

The service providing unit 44 may provide a service in response to an input by a user relating to the service. The input by a user relating to the service may take various forms. For example, as described below, a service associated with one of one or a plurality of icons displayed on the second application may be selected. In addition, when the second application provides a service relating to a window,
A user input to a window of the second application may initiate a service associated with the window of the second application.

The type of service may be various. For example, it may be a service for changing the size of a window. When the service related to the second application includes a service for changing the size of a window, the second application is applied to various first applications that do not have a function for changing the size of a window, which is advantageous in that the user can easily change the size of the window for various first applications that do not have a function for changing the size of a window. Note that the window-related service provided by the second application is not limited to a service for changing the size of a window, and may be various services such as a service for changing the position of a window and a service for changing the shape of a window. Note that the service for changing the size of a window may be a service for minimizing, maximizing, and/or normalizing the size of a window.

As another example, the service may provide a screenshot. When the service related to the second application includes a service for providing a screenshot, the second application is applied to various first applications that do not have a screenshot function, which has an advantage that the user can easily obtain screenshots of various first applications that do not have the screenshot function.

A service may also be, for example, an application that provides information sharing.
When the service related to the application includes a service for sharing information, the second application is applied to various first applications that do not have an information sharing function, which has the advantage that users can easily share information about various first applications that do not have an information sharing function. In particular, when the first application is an application related to a game, if a service for sharing information between parties who play the game together is provided for the first application, it becomes possible to share more information about the game between the parties, which has the advantage that interest in the game can be increased even in the application related to the game that does not have the function of sharing such information.

The information sharing may be an SNS application, a video application, a chat application, or the like. When a service capable of sharing information in real time, such as an SNS application or a chat application, is provided to a first application that does not have a function for sharing such information, information related to the first application is shared in real time with those involved in the first application, so that the use of the first application is more activated. When a service capable of sharing information on the movement related to the display of the first application, such as a video application, is provided to a first application that does not have a function for sharing such information, the use of the first application is more improved. The types of services are not limited to these, and may be applications that improve the convenience of the first application.

6 is an example of a storage table showing the correspondence between icons displayed on the display unit 43 and used to acquire a user's selection, and services associated with the icons. For example, such a table may be used to provide a service associated with an icon selected by the user. Note that the provision of a service here may be a service implemented in the second application, as described above, or may be the launching of another application that implements a service.

In addition, the processing for executing the various services described above may be implemented within the second application, or the processing for launching another application which implements such services may not be implemented within the second application.

3-5. Customization section 45
The customization unit 45 has a function of customizing information according to user preferences, applications, etc. The customization unit 45 may have a function of customizing the size, style, and/or resolution recognition mode of a window related to the second application, and may also have a function of customizing one or more icons indicating the displayed services and the display positions of such icons.

The customization unit 45 customizes the size, style, and
and/or may have a function of displaying a screen for the user to input the size, style, and/or resolution recognition mode of the window related to the second application. The user may be able to input the size, style, and/or resolution recognition mode of the window related to the second application using such an input screen. The customization unit 45 may store such input size, style, and/or resolution recognition mode of the window related to the second application. When the customization unit has such a configuration, the setting unit 42 may use a storage table stored in the customization unit 45 to set the size, style, and/or resolution recognition mode of the window related to the second application, which is information related to the second application. In this way,
If the customization unit 45 has a function of customizing information related to the second application based on user input, it becomes possible to change the display manner of the application according to each user's preferences, which has the advantage of improving convenience, for example by not interfering with the operation of the application.

The customization unit 45 may also have a function of displaying a screen for the user to input the size, style, and/or resolution recognition mode of a window related to a second application for each type of first application. Here, the types of first applications may be games, SNS, file management software, and the like. The customization unit 45 may also have a storage table in which these types of first applications are associated with information for identifying the application, such as a specific application name or application ID. Such a storage table may be in the setting unit 42 and/or the display unit 43. The user can use such an input screen to input the size, style, and/or resolution recognition mode of a window related to a second application for each type of first application.
It may be possible to input a size, style, and/or resolution recognition mode of a window related to the application. The customization unit 45 may store the input size, style, and/or resolution recognition mode of a window related to the second application for each type of first application. When the customization unit 45 has such a configuration, the setting unit 42 uses information identifying the first application, such as the name or first application ID of the first application acquired by the acquisition unit 41 described above, and the storage table to identify the type of the corresponding first application, and to set the size, style, and/or resolution recognition mode of a window related to the second application associated with the type of the first application.
In this way, when the customization unit 45 has a function of customizing information related to the second application for each type of first application based on a user's input, the display mode of the application can be changed according to the preferences of each user for each type of first application, such as a game or SNS, which has the advantage of further improving convenience.

The customization unit 45 may also have a function of displaying a screen for the user to input one or more icons indicating the services to be displayed and the display positions of the icons. In this case, the user may be able to input one or more icons indicating the services to be displayed and the display positions of the icons. The customization unit 45 may store the input one or more icons indicating the services to be displayed and the display positions of the icons. When such information is stored, the display unit 43 may display using the stored one or more icons indicating the services to be displayed and the display positions of the icons. In this way, when the customization unit 45 has a function of customizing one or more icons indicating the services to be displayed and the display positions of the icons based on the user's input, the type and display mode of the service can be changed according to the preferences of each user, which has the advantage of improving convenience.

The customization unit 45 may have a function of displaying a screen for the user to input one or more icons indicating the service to be displayed for each type of first application and the display position of the icon. In this case, the user may be able to input one or more icons indicating the service to be displayed for each type of first application and the display position of the icon. The customization unit 45 may store one or more icons indicating the service to be displayed and the display position of the icon in association with the input type of first application. In addition, when such information is stored, the display unit 43 may perform the above-mentioned display using one or more icons indicating the service to be displayed for each type of first application and the display position of the icon stored in the above. Here, the type of first application may be, for example, a game, an SNS, a file management software, etc., as described above. In addition, the customization unit 45 may have a storage table in which the types of first applications are associated with information identifying the application, such as a specific application name or an application ID, as described above. Such a storage table may be in the display unit 43. Furthermore, the display unit 43 may use information for identifying the first application, such as the first application name or the first application ID acquired by the acquisition unit 41, to identify the type of the corresponding first application using the storage table, and may identify and display one or more icons indicating the service to be displayed that are associated with the type of the first application, and the display positions of the icons.
However, if there is a function that can customize one or more icons indicating services to be displayed for each type of first application and the display position of such icons based on user input, it becomes possible to change the type of service and the display mode for each type of first application, such as games or SNS, according to each user's preferences, which has the advantage of further improving convenience.

4. Flow of information processing according to the embodiment
4-1. Embodiment 1
Next, a flow of information processing according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In the form described in the first embodiment, it is assumed that the first application is a game, and that the game and a second application according to the exemplary system are associated in advance.
A service that may be provided by the second application may be the resizing of a window.

Step 1
When a game is launched, an example system associated with the game is launched (
701).

Step 2
When the example system is started, the example system obtains information related to the game, such as a window position, a size, a style, and a resolution recognition mode related to the game, from a first application, which is a game (702).
The acquisition unit 41 may process this.

Step 3
In one example, the system sets the position, size, style, and resolution recognition mode of a window related to a game as information related to a second application for providing a service associated with the first application, or sets the information by appropriately processing the information (
703), such a step may be processed by the setting unit 42 in the exemplary system.

Step 4
The system of the example displays a window related to the second application as information related to the second application by using the set information (704). This step may be processed by the display unit 43 in the system of the example.

Step 5
The exemplary system provides a service for changing the size of the window of the second application by using a mouse or the like (705). Such steps, in the exemplary system, include the following steps:
This may be processed by the service providing unit 44.

4-2. Embodiment 2
Next, the flow of information processing according to the second embodiment, which is one aspect of the present invention, will be described with reference to Fig. 8. In the form described in the second embodiment, it is assumed that the first application is a spreadsheet software, and the spreadsheet software and the second application according to the example system are not previously associated with each other. It is also assumed that the service that can be provided by the second application is a screenshot. First, it is assumed that the spreadsheet software and the example system are started, and each window is displayed in a non-overlapping position.

Step 1
When a user selects a window related to the example system and drags the position of the window, the position of the window related to the example system is moved in accordance with the drag operation (801). This step may be processed by the display unit 43 in the example system. Note that the example system may monitor whether at least a part of the area of the window related to the example system overlaps with at least a part of the area of a window related to another application. This monitoring may be processed by the acquisition unit 41 in the example system.

9 is an example of a screen showing a state in which the second application 902 is being dragged, before the second application 902 is dragged close to the first application 901 such as a spreadsheet software.

Step 2
When the system of the example determines that at least a part of the area of a window related to the system of the example overlaps with at least a part of the area of a window related to a spreadsheet software as another application, the system of the example acquires the position, size, style, and resolution recognition mode of the window related to the spreadsheet software as information related to the spreadsheet software from the spreadsheet software which is the first application (802). This step may be processed by the acquisition unit 41 in the system of the example.

Step 3
The system of the example sets the position, size, style, and resolution recognition mode of a window related to the spreadsheet software as information related to the second application for providing a service associated with the first application, using the information or processing it appropriately (803). This step may be processed by the setting unit 42 in the system of the example.

Step 4
The system of the example displays a window related to the second application as information related to the second application using the set information (804). Note that an icon indicating a screenshot in a display area of the window of the second application may be displayed. This step may be processed by the display unit 43 in the system of the example.

In this way, even if multiple first applications for which a second application can provide a service are launched and multiple first applications are displayed on the screen, the user can select one first application from the multiple first applications by dragging the second application and allowing the window areas to overlap, which is an advantage in that the second application can provide a service to the selected first application.

The second application may be configured so that a second second application can be separately launched and applied to a second first application. In this case, the second application may be configured to manage data such as information related to the first application and information related to the second application corresponding to each launched application.

Step 5
The system of the example makes the second application capable of providing a service associated with the spreadsheet software (805). This step may be processed by the display unit 43 and the service providing unit 44 in cooperation with each other in the system of the example.

Step 6
When an icon showing a screenshot in a display area of the displayed window of the second application is selected by a user, for example, by clicking, the system of the example acquires information indicating that the icon is selected (806). This step may be processed by the acquisition unit 41 in the system of the example.

Step 7
The system executes a screenshot program that is previously associated with the icon representing the selected screenshot (807). For example, the screenshot program in the second application may execute a screenshot function that obtains information about an image displayed in a window related to the spreadsheet software using the position and size of the window related to the spreadsheet software. In the system, this step may be processed by the service providing unit 44.

4-3. Embodiment 3
Next, a flow of information processing according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 10. In the form described in the third embodiment, it is assumed that the first application is a game, and that the game and a second application according to the example system are associated in advance.
It is assumed that the game platform, which is an application, launches a game, and the service provided by the second application is a video application, such as a case where a live broadcast of a game is shared as a video.

Step 1
When the gaming platform is launched, the games associated with the gaming platform and an example system associated with the games are launched (1001).

Step 2
When the example system is started, the example system acquires, as information related to the game, the position, size, style, and resolution recognition mode of a window related to the game from the game, which is the first application (1002). This step may be processed by the acquisition unit 41 in the example system.

Step 3
In one example, the system sets the position, size, style, and resolution recognition mode of a window related to a game as information related to a second application for providing a service associated with the first application, or sets the information by appropriately processing the information (
1003), this step may be processed by the setting unit 42 in the system of the example.

Step 4
The system of the example displays a window related to the second application as information related to the second application by using the set information (1004). This step may be processed by the display unit 43 in the system of the example. Note that an icon indicating a video application may be displayed in the display area of the window related to the second application.

Step 5
The system of the example obtains information that the user has clicked on an icon representing the video application within the display area of the window related to the second application (1005). This step may be processed by the display unit 43 in the system of the example.

Step 6
The system of the example starts the video application, which is a service associated with the icon representing the video application (1006). This step may be processed by the service providing unit 44 in the system of the example.
When the service to be provided is processed by an external application, the service 4 may provide information corresponding to the service to the external application. For example, in the case of a video application, the range of the screen to be shared as a video may be provided with information on the window of the game, which is the first application (e.g., window size, position, style, etc.).
or resolution-aware modes) may be provided for video applications.

11 is an example showing a screen state when an external video application is launched. This figure shows a situation in which a launched video application 1103 is displayed as another window in addition to a game application 1101 and a second application 1102. Note that in this figure, the video application 1103 is displayed in a window separate from the second application, but may be stored in the second application (not shown). In this case, there is an advantage that the screen can be used efficiently by displaying another application in the second application.

4-4. Embodiment 4
Next, the flow of information processing according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 12. The fourth embodiment will describe a mode in which the size, style, resolution recognition mode, service icon, and service icon position are customized, and a mode in which the service icon is displayed according to the type of the first application. Note that the first application is a game (
The application ID is XX0.

Step 1
When the system of the example is started by a user and customization is selected, a display enabling customization is displayed (1201). This step may be processed by the customization unit 45 in the system of the example.

13 is an example of a screen that allows customization. In an example system customization screen 1301, application type 1302, style 1303, resolution recognition mode 1304, service list 1305, etc. are displayed. Application type 1302 may be a list that allows application types such as games and SNS to be selected. Style 1303 may be a list that allows selectable styles for the selected application type to be selected. Resolution recognition mode 1304 may be a list that allows selectable resolution recognition modes for the selected application type to be selected. Service list 1305 may be an icon that allows selectable services for the selected application type to be selected. Such icons may be selected with a finger, a pointer, etc.,
The second application may be dragged onto the display area 1307 so that the user can select a desired service to place it in a desired position.

Step 2
The user selects an application type 1302 and then customizes the second application according to the application type (1202). In an example system, this step may be processed by the customization unit 45. For example, the application type to be customized may first be selected from a list in the application type 1302. The size may be changed by actually changing the size of the window of the second application 1306 with a mouse or a finger, and the style and resolution recognition mode may be selected from lists in the style 1303 and resolution recognition mode 1304. A service may be selected from a service list 1305, and the display position may be specified by dragging the selected service to a desired position in the display area 1307 of the second application.

Step 3
The system of the example stores such input from the user (1203). In the system of the example, such a step may be processed by the customization unit 45. FIG. 14 is an example of a storage table stored by the customization unit 45. Here, an example is shown in which the information is stored for each type of application. Note that, when the type of application is used, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, there may be a table that stores the relationship between the information identifying the first application, such as the name or first application ID of the first application, and the type of application, and such a table may be used to identify the application type from the information identifying the first application to be used.

Step 4
When a user applies the example system to a first application, game XX0,
The position of the window related to the game and XX0 as information for identifying the first application
The system of the example acquires (1204). This step may be processed by the acquisition unit 41 in the system of the example.

Step 5
In the example system, the position of a window related to a game is set as information related to the second application for providing a service associated with the first application by processing the information or setting it appropriately, and after identifying the type of application as a game from XX0, the size, style, resolution recognition mode, service icon, and position of the service icon associated with the type of application in the storage table as a game are set and displayed (1205). In the example system, such steps may be processed by the setting unit 42 and the display unit 43.

Step 6
In response to the user's selection of a service on the display area of the second application, the example system provides the corresponding service (1206). Such a step may be processed by the service providing unit 44 in the example system.

The system and information processing described in the present application may be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of these, and a part or all of the system and information processing may be implemented as computer programs and executed by various computers, and these computer programs may be stored in storage media. These programs may also be stored in non-transient or temporary storage media.

It goes without saying that what is described in this application document is not limited to what is described in this application document, but can be applied to various examples within the scope of various technical ideas having various technical advantages and configurations described in this application document.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 System 10 Communication network 20 (20A to 20C) Server device 30 (30A to 30C) Terminal device 21 (31) Arithmetic device 22 (32) Main memory device 23 (33) Input/output interface 24 (34) Input device 25 (35) Auxiliary memory device 26 (36) Output device 41 Acquisition unit 41
42 Setting unit 42
43 Display unit 43
44 Service providing unit 44

Claims (25)

A computer program comprising:
When executed by the processor,
Acquire information related to a first application;
displaying one or more icons representing services associated with the first application;
When selected, one of the one or more icons launches an application that executes the service different from the first application and provides sharing of information related to the first application;
The information related to the first application includes a position and a size of a window related to the first application;
Obtaining at least a portion of information related to the first application when the computer program is started;
displaying a window related to the computer program according to a position and size of the window set using the position and size of the window related to the first application;
Computer program. displaying an application for executing the service in a window different from a window related to the first application and starting the application;
2. The computer program product of claim 1. The display position of the one or more icons can be customized.
A computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 2 . displaying a screen on which the display position of the one or more icons can be customized;
A computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The customization can be set for each type of the first application.
5. A computer program according to claim 3 or 4 . causing an application providing said information sharing to be displayed outside the window of said computer program;
A computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . The application that provides information sharing includes any one of an SNS application, a video application, and a chat application.
A computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . The first application is a game application.
A computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 7 . The processor,
acquiring information related to the first application in a server device via a communication line;
A computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 8 . The processor,
acquiring information related to the first application in a terminal device via a communication line;
A computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 9 . The processor is a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, or a graphics processing unit (GPU);
A computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 10 . The processor is installed in a smartphone, tablet, mobile phone, or personal computer.
A computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 11 . The processor uses a main memory.
A computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 12 . A processor is provided.
The processor executes instructions in a computer readable computer program ,
Acquire information related to a first application;
displaying one or more icons representing services associated with the first application;
When selected, one of the one or more icons launches an application that executes the service, which is different from the first application and provides sharing of information related to the first application;
The information related to the first application includes a position and a size of a window related to the first application;
Obtaining at least a portion of information related to the first application when the computer program is started;
displaying a window related to the computer program according to a position and size of the window set using the position and size of the window related to the first application;
A server device comprising: displaying an application for executing the service in a window different from a window related to the first application and starting the application;
The server device according to claim 14 . 16. A server device according to claim 14 or 15 , comprising a computing device. The server device according to any one of claims 14 to 16 , further comprising a main storage device. A processor is provided.
The processor executes instructions in a computer readable computer program ,
Acquire information related to a first application;
displaying one or more icons representing services associated with the first application;
When selected, one of the one or more icons launches an application that executes the service, which is different from the first application and provides sharing of information related to the first application;
The information related to the first application includes a position and a size of a window related to the first application;
Obtaining at least a portion of information related to the first application when the computer program is started;
displaying a window related to the computer program according to a position and size of the window set using the position and size of the window related to the first application;
A terminal device comprising: displaying an application for executing the service in a window different from a window related to the first application and starting the application;
The terminal device according to claim 18. 20. A terminal device according to claim 18 or 19 , comprising a computing device. 21. A terminal device according to any one of claims 18 to 20 , comprising a main memory device. 1. A method performed by a processor executing instructions in a computer readable computer program , comprising:
The processor executes the instructions to
Acquire information related to a first application;
displaying one or more icons representing services associated with the first application;
When selected, one of the one or more icons launches an application that executes the service, which is different from the first application and provides sharing of information related to the first application;
The information related to the first application includes a position and a size of a window related to the first application;
Obtaining at least a portion of information related to the first application when the computer program is started;
displaying a window related to the computer program according to a position and size of the window set using the position and size of the window related to the first application;
A method comprising: displaying an application for executing the service in a window different from a window related to the first application and starting the application;
23. The method of claim 22 . 24. The method of claim 22 or 23 , wherein the computer comprises a computing device. 25. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 24 , wherein the computer comprises a main memory.

Images