WO2011105139A1

WO2011105139A1 - Data transfer program, data transfer device, printer driver and application program

Info

Publication number: WO2011105139A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/051066
Authority: WO
Inventors: 英治荒川
Original assignee: ブラザー工業株式会社
Priority date: 2010-02-26
Filing date: 2011-01-21
Publication date: 2011-09-01
Also published as: JP2011180630A

Abstract

Provided is a data transfer program for transferring the same image data to a plurality of external devices even without each user performing a print operation for an external device of the transfer destination. A control unit (11) sets a memory ID of a memory card which is an external device of a transfer destination, creates image data on the basis of a received print instruction, associates the image data with the memory ID of the memory card of the transfer destination and stores thereof into a storage means. Thereafter, the control unit (11) detects a memory card to which data can be transferred through a communication interface and assesses whether or not the memory ID of the memory card detected in this manner and the memory ID stored in the storage means match. At this time, the controller (11) reads image data associated with the memory ID that has been assessed to match from an HDD, and transfers the image data via the communication interface to a memory card having a memory ID that has been assessed to match.

Description

Data transfer program, data transfer device, printer driver and application program

The present invention relates to a data transfer program, a data transfer device, a printer driver, and an application program.

Conventionally, a device driver that transfers image data is known as an example of a data transfer program. This device driver operates in cooperation with an operating-system (hereinafter referred to as OS) of a computer such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC), generates image data based on raster data supplied from the OS, and displays it. Transfer to device.

Such a device driver does not actually output data to a printer, but generates and displays image data in a format that can be used for image formation on a display device based on raster data supplied from the OS. Transfer to device. Therefore, it is sometimes called a printer driver. Note that this device driver is sometimes called a virtual printer driver in order to distinguish it from a printer driver that is a device driver for a printer.

As the printer driver, there is known a program that converts a data file created by a document creation software installed in a PC into image data for a display device and transfers the converted image data to the display device (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

In this case, the printer driver requests the OS to output image data to the display device. The OS requested to output specifies a communication interface that communicates with the display device in accordance with a printer port previously assigned to the printer driver, and causes the communication interface to output image data.

JP2009-128670

In the above conventional technology, image data can be transferred only to one external device that is communicably connected to a specific communication interface.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a data transfer program, a data transfer device, a printer driver, and an application program that can transfer the same image data to a plurality of external devices. .

To achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a data transfer program for causing a computer to execute a process of transferring image data to a transfer destination external device via a communication interface. A printer driver and an application program, wherein the printer driver sets an identification information of a transfer destination external device, a reception step for receiving a print instruction, and a creation step for creating image data based on the print instruction; A storage processing step of storing the image data in a storage unit in association with identification information of the transfer destination external device, and the application program can transfer data via the communication interface. Detection to detect external devices A step for determining whether or not the identification information of the external device detected in the detection step and the identification information stored in the storage unit match, and the identification information determined to match in the determination step The computer is caused to execute a transfer step of reading the received image data from the storage means and transferring the image data to the external device detected by the detection step via the communication interface.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the data transfer program according to the first aspect, the printer driver can set a plurality of identification information of transfer destination external devices in the setting step.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the data transfer program according to the first aspect, when the application program detects a new external device by the detecting step, the identification information assigning step assigns the identification information to the external device. And an identification information storage processing step of storing in the identification information storage means the identification information of the external device allocated in the identification information allocation step.

The invention according to claim 4 is the data transfer program according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a memory card that is detachably attached to a display device capable of displaying the image data. Image data is transmitted from the communication interface to the external device via the display device.

The invention according to claim 5 is the data transfer program according to claim 1, wherein the application program stores the image data stored in the storage unit in all the external devices associated with the identification information. When transferred by the transfer step, the computer is caused to execute an erasing step of erasing the image data stored in the storage means.

The invention according to claim 6 is the data transfer program according to claim 1, based on an instruction step for instructing addition or deletion of identification information of the external device to which the image data is transferred, and an instruction by the instruction step Deleting the identification information associated with the image data stored in the storage means, or causing the computer to execute a changing step of adding new identification information to the image data stored in the storage means for association. And

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in a data transfer device that transfers image data to a transfer destination external device via a communication interface, a setting unit that sets identification information of the transfer destination external device, and a reception that receives a print instruction Means for creating image data based on the print instruction, storage processing means for storing the image data in the storage means in association with identification information of the external device of the transfer destination, and via the communication interface Detection means for detecting an external device capable of transferring data, determination means for determining whether or not the identification information of the external device detected by the detection means matches the identification information stored in the storage means, and Image data associated with the identification information determined to match by the determination means is read from the storage means, and the communication interface is read out. Transfer means for transferring to the external device detected by the detection means via the over scan, characterized by comprising a.

The invention according to claim 8 is the data transfer apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the setting means is capable of setting a plurality of identification information of an external apparatus as a transfer destination.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the data transfer device according to the seventh aspect, when a new external device is detected by the detecting unit, an identification information allocating unit that allocates identification information to the external device, and the identification information And an identification information storage unit that stores identification information of the external device allocated by the allocation unit.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the data transfer device according to the seventh aspect, the external device is a memory card that is detachably attached to a display device capable of displaying the image data, and the transfer means is The image data is transmitted from the communication interface to the external device via the display device.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the data transfer apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the image data stored in the storage means is transferred by the transfer means to all external devices associated with identification information associated with the image data. And erasing means for erasing the image data stored in the storage means.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the data transfer device according to the seventh aspect, the instruction means for instructing addition or deletion of the identification information of the external device to which the image data is transferred, and the instruction by the instruction means And changing means for deleting the identification information associated with the image data stored in the storage means or adding new identification information to the image data stored in the storage means for association.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a setting step for setting identification information of a transfer destination external device, a receiving step for receiving a print instruction, a creation step for creating image data based on the print instruction, and the image data The printer driver is configured to cause the computer to execute a storage processing step of storing in a storage unit in association with identification information of the external device of the transfer destination.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detection step of detecting an external device capable of transferring data via a communication interface, identification information of the external device detected by the detection step, and image data in a storage means associated with a printer driver. A determination step for determining whether or not the stored identification information matches, and image data associated with the identification information determined to match by the determination step is read from the storage means, and the communication interface is used to read the image data. An application program that causes the computer to execute a transfer step of transferring to an external device detected in the detection step.

In the present invention, information that associates image data for which a print instruction has been made with identification information of an external device that is a transfer destination is stored in a storage unit, and image data is transferred to an external destination via the communication interface based on the identification information. Transfer to device. Therefore, the same image data can be transferred to a plurality of external devices. Moreover, when a user performs a printing operation, even when data transfer to the external device that is the transfer destination via the communication interface is not possible, the image is displayed when data transfer is possible via the communication interface. Data can be transferred to an external device.

It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of a structure of the data transfer apparatus and display apparatus which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of a data transfer apparatus. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the data transfer operation | movement by each program. It is a figure which shows the display content of driver UI. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the data for memory | storage. It is a figure which shows the function structure of a data transfer apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of a memory card management table. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the data for memory | storage, and a memory card management table. It is a figure which shows an example of a memory ID management table. It is a figure which shows an example of a transfer destination table. It is a figure which shows the flow of a memory ID management process. It is a figure which shows the flow of an image data creation process. It is a figure which shows the flow of an image data transfer management process. It is a figure which shows an example of a memory card management table. It is a figure which shows the display content of display apparatus management program-UI. It is a figure which shows an example of a memory card management table.

[1. Overview of data transfer equipment]
First, an outline of a data transfer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, it is assumed that a data transfer program is installed in the data transfer apparatus. This data transfer program includes a printer driver and a display device management program which is an application program. It is assumed that various application programs that can display and process data files such as image files and document files are also installed in the data transfer apparatus.

[1.1. Data Transfer Device Configuration "
First, specific configurations of the data transfer device 10 and the display device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition, the display device 100 is a thin device having a planar shape with a display unit 103 provided on the front.

As shown in FIG. 1, the data transfer device 10 and the display device 100 include a communication interface 20. The communication interface 20 is a wired communication interface, for example, a USB interface corresponding to the USB standard. A plurality of communication interfaces 20 are provided in the data transfer apparatus 10. A wireless communication interface can also be used as the communication interface 20. When a wireless communication interface is used, simultaneous communication with a plurality of display devices 100 by wireless communication is possible.

The data transfer device 10 is equipped with a data transfer program. The data transfer program operates in cooperation with an operating-system (hereinafter referred to as OS) and various application programs that are also mounted in the data transfer apparatus 10, thereby transferring image data to the display apparatus 100 via the communication interface 20. Forward.

As shown in FIG. 2, the data transfer apparatus 10 includes a control unit 11 including a CPU 17, a ROM 18, a RAM 19, and the like, a display controller 12, a liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as LCD) 13, a Hard-Disk-Drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD). ) 14, an input device 15, a communication interface 20, and the like. The data transfer apparatus 10 can be a computer such as a general-purpose personal computer. The data transfer apparatus 10 is installed with the above-described OS, printer driver, various application programs, and the like.

In addition to the data transfer program, the HDD 14 stores a display device management program, a document creation program, a spreadsheet program, and the like as the various application programs described above. These various application programs are read and executed by the CPU 17 of the data transfer apparatus 10 from the HDD 14. Although details will be described later, image data transfer between the data transfer device 10 and the display device 100 is executed by executing a data transfer program or the like among these various application programs.

The RAM 19 is a memory that temporarily stores various data, and is used as a temporary storage area when the CPU 17 executes various programs.

The HDD 14 includes a system area in which the various programs are stored and a data area in which various data files are stored. This data area stores image data generated by the printer driver included in the data transfer program, various tables generated by the display device management program, and the like.

The display controller 12 executes display control of the LCD 13 of the data transfer apparatus 10. The input device 15 is composed of a plurality of devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, for example, and performs a predetermined operation when the user operates various application programs of the data transfer device 10.

As described above, the communication interface 20 is a wired communication interface that controls wired communication. For example, the communication interface 20 is a USB interface that performs wired communication according to the USB standard.

In addition to the display unit 103, the display device 100 includes various operation keys, a control unit, and a memory card interface (hereinafter referred to as MC-I / F) 104 (see FIG. 1). A memory card MC can be detachably attached to the MC-I / F 104. By inserting the memory card MC into the MC-I / F 104, it becomes possible to write data from the display device 100 to the memory card MC and to read data written to the memory card MC into the display device 100. . In the display device 100, the memory card MC inserted into the MC-I / F 104 is recognized as a storage device (storage) from the data transfer device 10 via the communication interface 20. Therefore, the control unit 11 of the data transfer apparatus 10 can transfer and store the image data generated by the data transfer program to the memory card MC via the communication interface 20.

[1.2. Overview of data transfer operation]
An outline of data transfer to the display device 100 executed by the data transfer device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. This data transfer is executed by the control unit 11 in cooperation with each other such as a data transfer program and various application programs on a common OS.

The data transfer program includes a printer driver and a display device management program that is an application program for managing the display device 100. The printer driver includes a user interface program (hereinafter referred to as a driver UI). The driver UI is included in the printer driver. Here, for convenience of explanation, the driver UI is separated from the printer driver.

First, the user sets identification information (hereinafter referred to as a memory ID) of a memory card MC as an external device to which image data is transferred using the driver UI by a data transfer program (step S10). A plurality of memory IDs can be set in the driver UI, and are assigned to each memory card MC. This driver UI is activated when a user selects a printer driver property or a print command property of a document creation program. The setting of the memory ID is performed by an input to the input device 15 by the user, and the control unit 11 stores the memory ID of the data transfer target in a predetermined area of the HDD 14 based on an input operation to the input device 15 by the user. An example of the driver UI is shown in FIG. In the figure, three memory IDs of the memory IDs “0001”, “0002”, and “0003” can be selected in a check box format, and the memories with the two memory IDs of the memory IDs “0002” and “0003” are selectable. It shows that the card MC is a data transfer target.

Then, when the user makes a print request for arbitrary file data stored in the HDD 14, the OS accepts this print request (step S11). This print request by the user is sent as a print request to the OS when the user designates printing of file data created by the document creation program by an input operation to the input device 15, for example. The OS that has received the print request requests the print data of the file data designated by the user in the print request from an application program (hereinafter also referred to as APP) corresponding to the file format of the file data. APP corresponding to the file format of file data is, for example, a document creation program if the target of a print request is a document file.

The application program that receives the print request from the OS outputs the file data requested for printing to the OS data conversion program as data (vector data) in a predetermined format. The OS data conversion program converts the data output from the application program from vector data to raster data (step S12). For example, when Windows (registered trademark) is used for the OS, there is GDI (Graphic-Device-Interface) as a data conversion program, and this GDI is a graphic subsystem that is a part of the OS. The GDI converts vector data received from the document creation program into raster data.

The OS outputs the raster data generated by the data conversion program to the printer driver and issues a print instruction (step S13).

When the printer driver receives a print instruction from the OS (step S14), the printer driver converts the raster data received from the OS into image data in a unique format of the display device 100 so that the display device 100 can display the raster data (step S15). .

Next, the printer driver creates storage data including the converted image data and the memory ID preset in step S10 (step S16). For example, if the memory IDs “0002” and “0003” are preset in step S10, the storage data has the data structure shown in FIG.

When the creation of the storage data is completed, the printer driver stores the storage data in the storage data storage folder set in the HDD 14 (step S17). Note that when the storage data storage folder is not generated, the printer driver generates a storage data storage folder in the HDD 14.

On the other hand, the display device management program determines whether or not there is a memory card MC that can transfer data (step S18). Specifically, the display device management program stores data when the display device 100 is connected via the communication interface 20 and when the memory card MC is inserted into the MC-I / F 104 of the display device 100. It is determined that there is a transferable memory card MC.

If it is determined that there is a data transferable memory card (step S18: Yes), the display device management program determines whether the memory card MC determined to be data transferable is a memory card MC that requires image data transfer. It is determined whether or not (step S19). Specifically, the display device management program includes the memory ID of the memory card MC determined to be able to transfer data in step S18 in the storage data stored in the storage data storage folder set in the HDD 14. It is determined whether or not. The display device management program determines that there is a memory card that requires image data transfer when the memory ID of the memory card MC determined to be capable of data transfer in step S18 is included.

If it is determined that there is a memory card capable of image transfer (step S19: Yes), the display device management program includes the memory data including the memory ID of the memory card MC determined to be capable of data transfer in step S18. Read image data from. Then, the display device management program transfers the read image data to the memory card MC inserted in the MC-I / F 104 of the display device 100 via the communication interface 20 and stores it in the memory card MC (step). S20). For example, when there is storage data shown in FIG. 5, when the memory ID of the memory card MC that can transfer data via the communication interface 20 is “0002” or “0003”, the display device management program stores the memory data in the memory card MC. The image data “A” is transferred to the card MC. Upon receiving the image data “A” addressed to the memory card MC via the communication interface 20, the display device 100 stores the image data “A” in the memory card MC via the MC-I / F 104.

Thereafter, the display device management program stores the memory ID of the memory card MC to which the image data has been transferred, as transferred data in a predetermined data format (for example, text format) in the storage data storage folder set in the HDD 14. (Step S21). By storing the transferred data in this way, image data is prevented from being repeatedly transferred to the memory card MC having the same memory ID. Thereafter, the display device management program repeats steps S18 to S21, and when there is a memory card MC to which image data needs to be transferred, the image data is transferred and stored in the HDD 14 as transferred data.

In step S18, when it is determined that there is no memory card MC to which data can be transferred (step S18: No), when it is determined that there is no memory card MC to which image data needs to be transferred (step S19: No), or When the process of step S21 ends, the control unit returns the process to step S18.

As described above, in the data transfer apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, information that associates the image data for which a print instruction has been given and the memory ID of the memory card MC that is the transfer destination external apparatus is stored in the HDD 14 that is a storage unit. . Then, based on the memory ID, the image data is transferred to the transfer destination memory card MC via the communication interface 20. Therefore, the same image data can be transferred to a plurality of memory cards MC without the user performing a printing operation on each transfer destination memory card MC.

In addition, when a user performs a printing operation, data can be transferred via the communication interface 20 even if the data cannot be transferred to the destination memory card MC via the communication interface 20. In addition, the image data can be transferred to the memory card MC.

In the data transfer device 10 according to the present embodiment, a plurality of communication interfaces 20 are provided, and when the display device 100 in which the memory card MC that requires data transfer is inserted is connected, the display devices 100 are connected. The image data can be simultaneously transferred to the memory card MC.

As will be described later, a memory ID can be further added to the storage data generated by the printer driver using a user interface program of the display device management program (hereinafter referred to as display device management program-UI). Further, the memory ID can be deleted from the storage data generated by the printer driver. In this way, after the storage data is once generated by the printer driver, even if the APP for generating the vector data is deleted from the data transfer device 10, the image data is displayed by the display device management program-UI. Can be easily changed.

[2. Specific Configuration and Operation of Data Transfer Device 10]
Next, an example of a specific configuration and operation of the data transfer apparatus 10 will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

The data transfer apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes the control unit 11 including the CPU 17, the ROM 18, and the RAM 19 as described above. The control unit 11 functions as various functional units as shown in FIG. 6 by reading and executing various programs stored in the HDD 14.

For example, the printer driver functions as the image data creation unit 31, the driver UI 32, the process communication unit 33, and the like by being read and executed by the control unit 11. The display device management program is read and executed by the control unit 11 to function as an image data management unit 41, a display device management program-UI 42, a memory ID management setting unit 43, and the like. In addition, the APP is read and executed by the control unit 11 to process a data file in a predetermined data format, display and edit, convert it into vector data, and output it to a printer driver. Have Note that the printer driver, the display device management program, and the APP are executed by the control unit 11 in cooperation with the OS as described above.

Further, the storage data, the memory card management table 52, the memory ID management table 53, the transfer destination table 54, and the like are stored in the HDD 14 by the printer driver and the display device management program. As shown in FIG. 5, the storage data is a data file having a data structure including the memory ID information of the transfer destination memory card MC and the image data information, and is generated by the printer driver and stored in the HDD 14. It is stored in the storage folder 51 for storage data. As shown in FIG. 7, in the memory card management table 52, for each memory ID, information of image data to be transferred (for example, storage location and file name) and transfer status (information on whether transfer has been performed or not transferred) are stored. The set information is generated by the display device management program based on the storage data. The memory ID management table 53 is a table in which the memory ID of the memory card MC to which image data can be transferred is set. As shown in FIG. 9, the memory card written in a predetermined storage area in the memory card MC. It is a table in which identification information unique to MC and a memory ID assigned to a display device management program are associated with each other. The transfer destination table 54 is a table for setting the memory ID of the memory card MC that is the transfer destination of the image data, is set for transfer for each memory ID, and is used by the printer driver. For example, in the transfer destination table shown in FIG. 10, the image data is transferred to the memory card MC having the memory IDs “0002” and “0003”, and the image data is transferred to the memory card MC having the memory ID “0001”. Is set not to be transferred.

The operation of the data transfer apparatus 10 configured as described above will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

First, the flow of the memory ID management process will be described with reference to FIG. This memory ID management process is a process for setting a memory card MC to which image data can be transferred, and is performed when the display device management program is executed by the control unit 11.

When the memory ID management process is started, the memory ID management setting unit 43 determines whether or not the memory card MC is detected (step S30). Specifically, the memory ID management setting unit 43 includes the display device 100 connected to the communication interface 20 and the memory card MC inserted into the MC-I / F 104 of the display device 100 connected to the communication interface 20. It is determined that the memory card MC has been detected. The display device 100 is configured to be able to directly communicate with the memory card MC connected to the MC-I / F 104 from the data transfer device 10 via the communication interface 20, and the memory card MC is a data transfer device. 10 is recognized as an external storage.

When the memory card MC is detected (step S30: Yes), the memory ID management setting unit 43 determines whether or not the detected memory card MC is a new memory card (step S31). Specifically, the memory ID management setting unit 43 reads identification information unique to the memory card MC written in the predetermined storage area in the memory card MC detected in step S30 from the memory card MC, and this memory card MC Is set in the memory ID management table 53 stored in the HDD 14. For example, if the memory ID management table 53 is in the state shown in FIG. 9 and the identification information unique to the memory card MC detected by the memory ID management table 53 in step S30 is “memory card D”, the memory ID management table 53 The setting unit 43 determines that the memory card is a new memory card. On the other hand, when the identification information unique to the memory card MC detected in step S30 in the memory ID management table 53 is “memory card A” or “memory card B”, the memory ID management setting unit 43 is not a new memory card. judge.

If it is determined that the detected memory card MC is a new memory card (step S31: Yes), the memory ID management setting unit 43 displays on the LCD 13 that there is a new memory card by the display device management program-UI 42 (step S31). S32). At this time, the memory ID management setting unit 43 also displays on the LCD 13 a registration button for registering a new memory card.

When the process of step S32 is completed, when the memory card MC is not detected (step S30: No), or when the memory card MC is not a new memory card (step S31: No), the memory ID management setting unit 43 performs the process To step S33. In step S33, the memory ID management setting unit 43 determines whether there is a registration operation. Specifically, when the operation of the registration button displayed on the LCD 13 by the display device management program-UI 42 is performed from the input device 15, the memory ID management setting unit 43 determines that the registration operation has been performed.

If it is determined in step S33 that a registration operation has been performed (step S33: Yes), the memory ID management setting unit 43 updates the memory ID management table 53 (step S34). Specifically, the memory ID management setting unit 43 associates the new memory ID that is not set in the memory ID management table 53 with the identification information unique to the new memory card detected in step S32, and sets the memory ID management table. Set to 53. For example, the memory ID management table 53 is in the state shown in FIG. 9, and a new memory ID “0004” is added to the memory ID management table 53 in association with “memory card D”, which is identification information unique to the new memory card. To do.

When the process of step S34 is completed or when it is determined in step S33 that there is no registration operation (step S33: No), the memory ID management setting unit 43 determines whether or not to stop the process (step S35). For example, the memory ID management setting unit 43 determines that the process is to be stopped when an operation for ending the process by the display device management program is performed from the input device 15 (step S35: Yes), and ends the memory ID management process. . On the other hand, if it determines with not stopping a process (step S35: No), the memory ID management setting part 43 will return a process to step S30.

In this way, in the memory ID management process, when a new memory card is detected, the new memory card can be registered in the memory ID management table 53 by an input operation by the user. Card detection is easy. Note that the memory ID management setting unit 43 can automatically register the memory ID management table 53 in the memory ID management table 53 without any input operation by the user when a new memory card is detected.

Next, the flow of image data creation processing will be described with reference to FIG. This image data creation process is a process for creating image data based on a print instruction from the OS, and is performed when the printer driver is executed by the control unit 11.

When the image data creation process is started, the image data creation unit 31 determines whether or not a transfer destination has been designated (step S40). Specifically, when the driver UI is activated by a predetermined operation of the user input device 15 and the memory ID of the transfer destination memory card MC is set, the image data creation unit 31 performs the transfer destination designation. It is determined that has been done. The driver UI displays a transfer destination setting screen as shown in FIG. Specifically, the driver UI reads all the memory IDs registered in the memory ID management table 53, displays a transfer destination setting screen on the LCD 13 based on these memory IDs, and allows the user to input to the input device 15. Wait for input operation. In the transfer destination setting screen, a check box is displayed in association with the memory ID, and the user designates the transfer destination by operating the input device 15 and checking this check box. The subsequent transfer destination designation is performed on the transfer destination setting screen based on the transfer destination table set in step S40. When a memory ID of a new memory card is newly set in the memory ID management table 53, the image data creation unit 31 adds the memory ID of the new memory card to the transfer destination setting screen.

If it is determined that the transfer destination is designated (step S40: Yes), the image data creation unit 31 sets or updates the transfer destination table 54 (step S41). When the transfer destination is designated for the first time in step S40, the image data creation unit 31 creates the transfer destination table 54 and sets (stores) it in the HDD 14. This transfer destination table 54 is set information (whether or not there is “transfer”), or whether or not it is set as a transfer destination in step S40 for each of all the memory IDs registered in the memory ID management table 53. This is a table associated with "no transfer" information). Further, when the transfer destination is designated at the second time or later in step S40, the image data creation unit 31 corresponds to the memory ID of the transfer destination memory card MC added or deleted from the memory IDs set in the transfer destination table 54. The setting information is changed, and the transfer destination table 54 is updated. For example, in the transfer destination table shown in FIG. 10, the image data is transferred to the memory card MC having the memory IDs “0002” and “0003”, and the image data is transferred to the memory card MC having the memory ID “0001”. Is set not to be transferred.

In step S40, when it is determined that the transfer destination is not specified (step S40: No), or when the process of step S41 is completed, the image data creation unit 31 determines whether or not there is a print instruction (step S40). Step S42). As described above, when the user makes a print request for arbitrary file data stored in the HDD 14 to the OS, the OS accepts the print request, and print data of the file data specified by the user in the print request A request is made to APP corresponding to the file format of this file data. Upon receiving a print request from the OS, the APP outputs the file data requested for printing to a drawing processing unit (data conversion program) of the OS as data (vector data) in a predetermined format. The drawing processing unit of the OS converts the data output from the application program from vector data to raster data, and outputs the data to the printer driver. The image data creation unit 31 determines that there is a print instruction when the raster data is input from the OS as described above.

If it is determined that there is a print instruction (step S42: Yes), the image data creation unit 31 creates image data (step S43). Specifically, when the raster data is input from the drawing processing unit of the OS and a print instruction is received, the image data creation unit 31 converts the raster data into image data in a unique format of the display device 100.

Next, the image data creation unit 31 acquires a memory ID to be transferred (step S44). Specifically, the image data creation unit 31 reads the memory ID of the transfer destination memory card MC from the transfer destination table 54 of the HDD 14. For example, when the transfer destination table 54 is set as shown in FIG. 10, the image data creation unit 31 reads out the memory IDs “0002” and “0003”, and the memory ID of the memory card MC as the transfer destination. To get.

Next, the image data creation unit 31 creates storage data (step S45). Specifically, the image data creation unit 31 creates storage data in which the memory ID acquired in step S44 and the image data created in step S43 are made into one file data. For example, when the transfer destination table 54 is set as shown in FIG. 10, the image data creation unit 31 generates storage data shown in FIG.

After creating the storage data, the image data creation unit 31 stores the storage data created in step S45 in the storage data storage folder of the HDD 14 (step S46). Thereafter, the image data creation unit 31 notifies the image data management unit 41 of the display device management program via the process communication unit 33 of information indicating that the storage data is newly stored in the HDD 14 in step S46 (step S46). S47).

When the process of step S47 is completed, the image data creation unit 31 determines whether or not to stop the process (step S48). For example, the image data creation unit 31 determines that the process is to be stopped when an operation for ending the process by the printer driver is performed from the input device 15 (step S48: Yes), and ends the image data creation process. On the other hand, if it is determined that the process is not stopped (step S48: No), the image data creation unit 31 returns the process to step S40.

Thus, in the image data creation process, image data is created based on a print instruction from the OS, and storage data including the memory ID of the transfer destination memory card MC is created based on the transfer destination table. The data is stored in the HDD 14.

Next, the flow of the image data transfer management process will be described with reference to FIG. The image data transfer management process is a process for transferring image data to the memory card MC, and is performed when the display device management program is executed by the control unit 11.

When the image data transfer management process is started, the image data management unit 41 determines whether or not the memory card MC is detected (step S50). Specifically, the image data management unit 41 is connected to the display device 100 via the communication interface 20, and when the memory card MC is inserted into the MC-I / F 104 of the display device 100. It is determined that there is a memory card that can transfer data. When there are a plurality of communication interfaces 20, the memory card MC is detected for all the communication interfaces 20.

If it is determined that the memory card MC is detected (step S50: Yes), the image data management unit 41 determines whether there is a memory card MC to which image data needs to be transferred based on the memory card management table 52 stored in the HDD 14. It is determined whether or not (step S51). For example, when the memory card management table 52 is in the state shown in FIG. 7, if the memory ID of the memory card MC detected in step S50 is “0001”, the memory card MC needs to transfer image data. It is determined that it is a memory card. When the memory card management table 52 is not generated, the image data management unit 41 generates the memory card management table 52 from the storage data stored in the HDD 14. For example, when there are three stored data as shown on the left side of FIG. 8, the image data management unit 41 generates a memory card management table 52 as shown on the right side of FIG.

If it is determined that the image data detected in step S50 is a memory card MC that needs to be transferred (step S51: Yes), the image data management unit 41 transfers the image data to the memory card MC via the display device 100 ( Step S52). At this time, when there are a plurality of image data that need to be transferred to the memory card MC, the image data management unit 41 transfers all the image data that needs to be transferred to the memory card MC. For example, when the memory card management table 52 is in the state shown in FIG. 7 and the memory ID of the memory card MC detected in step S50 is “0002”, the image data [A] and the image are stored in the memory card MC. Data [C] is transferred via the display device 100. If the memory ID of the memory card MC detected in step S50 is “0001”, the image data [C] is transferred to the memory card MC via the display device 100, and the image data [B] is transferred. Not performed. This is because the image data [B] has already been transferred, and the transferred information is set in the image data [B] corresponding to the memory ID “0001”. When a plurality of memory cards MC that need to transfer image data are detected at the same time, the image data is transferred to all the detected memory cards MC.

When the transfer of the image data is completed, the image data management unit 41 updates the memory card management table 52 (step S53). For example, when the image data [A] and the image data [C] are transferred to the memory card MC whose memory ID is “0002” in step S52 when the memory card management table 52 is in the state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, the data management unit 41 sets the transferred information to the image data [A] and the image data [C] corresponding to the memory ID “0002”. In addition, since the storage data including the image data transferred to the memory card MC of all the memory IDs set as the transfer destination does not need to be stored in the HDD 14, the image data management unit 41 can The storage data is deleted (deleted) from the HDD 14. In this way, it is possible to prevent unnecessary data from remaining in the HDD 14. It is possible to prevent such storage data from being erased (deleted) from the HDD 14 by setting from the input device 15.

When the processing of step S53 is completed, when the memory card MC is not detected (step S50: No), or when the memory card that needs to transfer image data is not detected (step S51: No), the image data management unit 41 Then, the process proceeds to step S54. In step S54, the image data management unit 41 determines whether or not the transfer destination has been changed. Specifically, when the display device management program-UI 42 is activated by an input operation to the input device 15 by the user and the memory ID of the transfer destination memory card MC is added or deleted, the image data creation unit 31 determines that the transfer destination has been changed.

The display device management program-UI 42 displays a data transfer setting screen as shown in FIG. 15 on the LCD 13 based on the transfer destination table 54 and waits for an operation on the input device 15 by the user. In the data transfer setting screen, list boxes and check boxes are displayed at places that can be changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, columns of image data for memory IDs “0001” to “0003” are displayed. The user operates the “▼” mark with the input device 15 so that image data to be transferred can be added, and a list of image data that can be transferred is displayed in the list box. The display device management program-UI 42 extracts the image data information contained in the storage data stored in the HDD 14, removes the already set image data information, and displays it in the list box, so that the memory Image data to be transferred can be added for each ID. For the image data that has already been set to be transferred, the display device management program-UI 42 checks the check box so that the transfer can be stopped only if the transfer state is “transfer not yet”. Is displayed. The user can select “Cancel transfer” by unchecking the check box by operating the input device 15.

If it is determined in step S54 that the transfer destination has been changed, the image data management unit 41 updates the memory card management table (step S55). For example, when the memory card management table 52 is in the state shown in FIG. 7 and the image data [C] is additionally set to the memory card MC with the memory ID “0003”, the image data management unit 41 Then, the memory card management table 52 is set to the state shown in FIG.

When the process of step S57 is completed, the image data management unit 41 determines whether or not to stop the process (step S58). For example, the image data management unit 41 determines that the process is stopped when an operation for ending the process by the display device management program is performed from the input device 15 (step S58: Yes), and ends the image data transfer management process. . On the other hand, if it is determined that the process is not stopped (step S58: No), the image data management unit 41 returns the process to step S50.

Thus, the data transfer device 10 detects the memory card MC that can transfer data via the communication interface 20. In the data transfer device 10, when the memory ID that matches the memory ID of the memory card MC detected in this way is set in the transfer destination table stored in the HDD 14, the image data associated with this memory ID is displayed. Read from the HDD 14. The data transfer device 10 transfers the read image data to the detected memory card MC via the communication interface 20. Therefore, the user can transfer the same image data to a plurality of memory cards MC without performing a printing operation corresponding to each of the transfer destination memory cards MC. In addition, when a user performs a printing operation, data can be transferred via the communication interface 20 even if the data cannot be transferred to the transfer destination memory card MC via the communication interface 20. The image data can be transferred to the memory card MC.

Further, since the user can add or delete the memory ID of the memory card MC to which the image data is transferred by operating the input device 15, the image data can be quickly transferred without performing the printing operation again. Transfer is possible. Even if the transfer destination is set by mistake, the transfer destination can be easily deleted by operating the input device 15.

Further, by setting the transfer target of the image data to the memory card MC instead of the display device 100, the user can transfer the image data redundantly even when using a plurality of display devices 100. It becomes possible to prevent this.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described in detail based on drawing, these are illustrations and can implement this invention with the other form which gave various deformation | transformation and improvement based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Is possible.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the transfer target of the image data is the memory card MC, but the transfer target may be the display device 100. In this case, image data is transferred based on identification information unique to the display device 100 instead of the memory ID of the memory card MC.

In the above-described embodiment, when the transfer of image data to the memory cards MC of all the memory IDs set as the transfer destination is completed, the storage data including the image data is deleted (deleted) from the HDD 14. However, the user may be able to select image data to be deleted (deleted). Accordingly, it is possible to prevent storage data including image data that is no longer necessary from being transferred to the plurality of display devices 100 and remaining in the HDD 14. In this case, for example, in order to prevent an erroneous selection by the user, the image data determined to be unnecessary by the user can be selected from among the image data in which “Not transferred” is displayed, and the selected image is selected. It is recommended that the user confirm the deletion before deleting the data.

Although the present invention has been described through the embodiments described above, according to the data transfer apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be expected. Note that a data transfer apparatus having each means for executing the following steps can be provided instead of the program.

(1) A printer driver and a display device management program in a data transfer program for causing the data transfer device 10 which is a computer to execute processing for transferring image data to a memory card MC (external device) as a transfer destination via the communication interface 20 (Application program). The printer driver includes a setting step for setting the memory ID (identification information) of the transfer destination memory card MC, a reception step for receiving a print instruction (see step S14 in FIG. 3 and step S42 in FIG. 12), and a print instruction. A creation step (see step S15 in FIG. 3 and step S43 in FIG. 12) for creating image data based on this, and a storage for storing the image data in the HDD 14 (storage means) in association with the identification information of the destination memory card MC Processing steps (see step S17 in FIG. 3 and step S46 in FIG. 12) are executed by the computer. The display device management program detects the memory card MC that can transfer data via the communication interface 20 (see step S18 in FIG. 3 and step S50 in FIG. 13) and the detection step. A determination step (see step S19 in FIG. 3, see step S51 in FIG. 3) for determining whether or not the identification information of the memory card MC matches the identification information stored in the HDD 14, and the determination step determines that they match. A transfer step (see step S20 in FIG. 3 and step S52 in FIG. 13) of reading out the image data associated with the memory ID from the HDD 14 and transferring it to the memory card MC detected in the detection step via the communication interface 20; , Execute on the computer. In this way, the same image data can be transferred to a plurality of memory cards MC without the user performing a printing operation on each of the transfer destination memory cards MC. In addition, when a user performs a printing operation, data can be transferred via the communication interface 20 even if the data cannot be transferred to the destination memory card MC via the communication interface 20. In addition, the image data can be transferred to the memory card MC.

(2) The printer driver can set a plurality of memory IDs of the transfer destination memory card MC in the setting step. In this way, the same image data can be transferred to a plurality of memory cards MC without the user performing a printing operation on each memory card MC at the transfer destination.

(3) When a new memory card MC is detected by the detection step, the display device management program assigns an identification information to the memory card MC (see step S33 in FIG. 11), and assigns the identification information. The computer executes an identification information storage processing step (see step S34 in FIG. 11) for storing the memory ID of the memory card MC allocated in the allocation step in the HDD 14 (identification information storage means). By doing so, it is not necessary for the user to manually assign memory IDs one by one, and the memory ID assignment operation becomes easy.

(4) The memory card MC, which is an external device, is detachably attached to the display device 100 that can display image data. In the transfer step, the image is transferred from the communication interface 20 to the memory card MC via the display device 100. Send data. By doing in this way, even when the user uses a plurality of display devices 100, it is possible to prevent the image data from being transferred redundantly.

(5) The display device management program stores the image data stored in the HDD 14 (storage means) in the HDD 14 when the image data is transferred to all the memory cards MC associated with the image data by the transfer step. Causes the computer to execute an erasing step for erasing the image data. Since the storage data including the image data transferred to the memory card MC of all the memory IDs set as the transfer destination does not need to be stored in the HDD 14, such storage data is deleted from the HDD 14. Thus, it is possible to prevent unnecessary data from remaining in the HDD 14.

(6) An instruction step (see step S54 in FIG. 12) for instructing addition or deletion of the identification information of the memory card MC to which the image data is transferred, and the image data stored in the HDD 14 based on the instruction by the instruction step The memory ID is deleted, or a change step (see step S55 of FIG. 12) for adding and associating a new memory ID to the image data stored in the HDD 14 is executed by the computer. In this way, image data can be quickly transferred without performing a printing operation again. Even if the transfer destination is set by mistake, the transfer destination can be easily deleted by operating the input device 15.

10 Data Transfer Device 11 Control Unit 13 LCD
14 HDD
15 Input device 20 Communication interface 100 Display device MC Memory card (external device)

Claims

In a data transfer program for causing a computer to execute a process of transferring image data to a transfer destination external device via a communication interface.
The data transfer program includes a printer driver and an application program,
The printer driver is
A setting step for setting identification information of a transfer destination external device;
A reception step for receiving a print instruction;
A creation step of creating image data based on the print instruction;
Storing the image data in a storage unit in association with identification information of the external device of the transfer destination, and causing the computer to execute,
The application program is
A detection step of detecting an external device capable of transferring data via the communication interface;
A determination step of determining whether or not the identification information of the external device detected by the detection step matches the identification information stored in the storage unit;
Causing the computer to execute a transfer step of reading the image data associated with the identification information determined to match in the determination step from the storage unit and transferring the image data to the external device detected in the detection step via the communication interface. A data transfer program characterized by that.
The printer driver is
2. The data transfer program according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of identification information of transfer destination external devices can be set in the setting step.
The application program is
An identification information assignment step for assigning identification information to the external device when a new external device is detected by the detection step;
The data transfer program according to claim 1, wherein the computer executes an identification information storage processing step of storing identification information of the external device allocated in the identification information allocation step in an identification information storage means.
The external device is a memory card that is detachably attached to a display device that can display the image data,
The data transfer program according to claim 1, wherein, in the transfer step, image data is transmitted from the communication interface to the external device via the display device.
The application program is
An erasing step of erasing the image data stored in the storage means when the image data stored in the storage means is transferred to all external devices associated with identification information associated with the image data by the transfer step. The data transfer program according to claim 1, wherein the data transfer program is executed.
An instruction step for instructing addition or deletion of identification information of an external device to which the image data is transferred;
A step of deleting the identification information associated with the image data stored in the storage means based on the instruction by the instruction step, or adding a new identification information to the image data stored in the storage means for association. The data transfer program according to claim 1, which is executed by the computer.
In a data transfer device that transfers image data to a transfer destination external device via a communication interface,
Setting means for setting identification information of the external device of the transfer destination;
A receiving means for receiving a print instruction;
Creating means for creating image data based on the print instruction;
A storage processing unit for storing the image data in a storage unit in association with identification information of the transfer destination external device;
Detecting means for detecting an external device capable of transferring data via the communication interface;
Determination means for determining whether or not the identification information of the external device detected by the detection means matches the identification information stored in the storage means;
Transfer means for reading image data associated with the identification information determined to be coincident by the determination means from the storage means and transferring the image data to an external device detected by the detection means via the communication interface. A data transfer device.
8. The data transfer apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the setting unit can set a plurality of identification information of transfer destination external apparatuses.
When a new external device is detected by the detection means, identification information assigning means for assigning identification information to the external device;
8. The data transfer apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising identification information storage means for storing identification information of the external apparatus assigned by the identification information assignment means.
The external device is a memory card that is detachably attached to a display device that can display the image data.
8. The data transfer device according to claim 7, wherein the transfer unit transmits image data from the communication interface to the external device via the display device.
An erasing unit for erasing the image data stored in the storage unit when the image data stored in the storage unit is transferred by the transfer unit to all external devices associated with identification information associated with the image data; 8. The data transfer apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
Instruction means for instructing addition or deletion of identification information of an external device to which the image data is transferred;
A change unit that deletes identification information associated with image data stored in the storage unit or adds new identification information to the image data stored in the storage unit based on an instruction by the instruction unit; 8. The data transfer device according to claim 7, further comprising:
A setting step for setting identification information of a transfer destination external device;
A reception step for receiving a print instruction;
A creation step of creating image data based on the print instruction;
A printer driver that causes the computer to execute a storage processing step of storing the image data in a storage unit in association with identification information of the external device that is the transfer destination.
A detection step of detecting an external device capable of transferring data via a communication interface;
A determination step for determining whether or not the identification information of the external device detected by the detection step matches the identification information stored in association with the image data in the storage unit by the printer driver;
Causing the computer to execute a transfer step of reading the image data associated with the identification information determined to match in the determination step from the storage unit and transferring the image data to the external device detected in the detection step via the communication interface. An application program characterized by that.