JP6975402B2 - Programs and information processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a program for notifying a function and an information processing device.

Conventionally, a plurality of programs are installed in an information processing apparatus. The user downloads a program from a server on the Internet and installs the program in the information processing device. Among the programs installed in the information processing apparatus, there are programs that provide convenient functions for the user at a predetermined time. As an example, there is a New Year's card program that creates a New Year's card communication surface image data and sends a print instruction of the created image data to a printer to provide a New Year's card creation function.

In the server system disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a new application (an example of a program) is registered in the server, a message screen for notifying the user of the function provided by the application is displayed on the device on which the application can be installed. Display on the display. The user determines whether or not to install the application on the device based on the message screen.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-117238

However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is a program that provides a function that is convenient for the user at a predetermined time, but if the program is registered in the server, the program does not consider the current time. Is notified. Therefore, even when the function of the program is not convenient for the user, the function may be notified, so that there is a problem that the user feels that the notification is troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for notifying a user of the existence of a function that is convenient for the user at an appropriate time.

The program disclosed in the present specification is a program executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus including a display unit, a storage unit, and an operation unit, and is a first image processing operation in the image processing device. When the designated operation for designating the first function to execute is received via the operation unit, and the designated operation is received in the designated operation reception process via the operation unit, the current state of the art is received. The date information acquisition process for acquiring date information indicating a date, the date determination process for determining whether or not the date indicated by the date information acquired in the date information acquisition process is included in the first period, and the date determination. When it is determined in the processing that the date indicated by the date information is included in the first period, the second function of causing the image processing apparatus to execute a second image processing operation different from the first image processing operation is performed. It is characterized in that the computer is made to execute a display control process for displaying the display corresponding to the identification information stored in the storage unit on the display unit, which is the identification information for identification.

According to the above configuration, when a designated operation for designating the first function is received from the user, if the current date is the first period in which the user wants to notify about the second function different from the first function, the identification for identifying the second function is performed. The display corresponding to the information is displayed on the display unit. Therefore, this program can notify the user of the existence of the second function, which is convenient for the user, at an appropriate time.

The information processing device disclosed in the present specification is an information processing device including a display unit, a storage unit, and an operation unit, and is a first information processing device that causes an image processing device to execute a first image processing operation. Designated operation receiving means that accepts a designated operation that specifies a function via the operation unit, and date information indicating the current date when the designated operation is received by the designated operation receiving means via the operation unit. The date information acquisition means for acquiring the information, the date determination means for determining whether or not the date indicated by the date information acquired by the date information acquisition means is included in the first period, and the date information in the date determination means. With identification information that identifies a second function that causes the image processing apparatus to perform a second image processing operation different from the first image processing operation when it is determined that the date indicated by is included in the first period. It is characterized by comprising a display control means for displaying the display corresponding to the identification information stored in the storage unit on the display unit.

It is a figure which shows the block diagram of the communication system 1 which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the program record stored in the storage part 14. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the main process. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the print setting process. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the device selection process. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the function notification determination processing. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the function notification process. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the function activation processing. In the display example of the display unit 30 according to this embodiment, (a) is a diagram showing a usage selection screen, and (b) is a diagram showing a print data selection screen. In the display example of the display unit 30 according to the present embodiment, (a) is a diagram showing a preview screen, (b) is a diagram showing a print setting screen, and (c) is a diagram showing a function notification screen. It is a display example of the display part 30 which concerns on the modification, and is the figure which shows an example of the function selection screen.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. It is needless to say that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the embodiments of the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately modified without changing the gist of the present invention. For example, the execution order of each process described later can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system 1 exemplified as an embodiment according to the present invention. The system 1 includes a mobile terminal 10, an MFP 40, an app store server 45, and a base station 50. The access point 55 is a known relay device. The app store server 45 can communicate with the mobile terminal 10 via the Internet 60 and the base station 50. Further, the MFP 40 can communicate with the mobile terminal 10 via the access point 55.

Although the system 1 has one mobile terminal 10 and one MFP 40, it may have a plurality of each.

[Configuration of MFP40]
The MFP 40 mainly includes a CPU 21, an operation unit 23, a display unit 25, a scanner 27, a printer 29, a wireless communication interface (wireless communication IF) 31, and a storage unit 33, and constitutes the MFP 40. The components are interconnected. In this specification, the interface is referred to as "IF".

The CPU 21 executes control of the MFP 40 according to the control program 35 stored in the storage unit 33, various information output from the operation unit 23, various information acquired from the communication device through the wireless communication IF 31, and the like.

The operation unit 23 includes a plurality of operation buttons operated by the user, and transmits a signal corresponding to the user's pressing operation to the CPU 21. The user can input a desired instruction by operating the operation unit 23. The operation unit 23 may be integrally configured with the display unit 25 as a touch panel. The display unit 25 includes a display such as an LCD. The display unit 25 displays various information on the display according to the instruction from the CPU 21.

The scanner 27 is hardware that performs a scanning operation that reads an image recorded on a document and generates image data. The printer 29 is hardware that executes a printing operation (including a normal printing operation and an address side printing operation described later) for recording an image represented by image data on a recording medium. In the present embodiment, an example of an inkjet printer 29 that ejects ink to record an image will be described, but the recording method of the printer 29 may be an electrophotographic method or the like. The print operation and the scan operation are examples of image processing operations.

The printer 29 executes a normal printing operation, which is a printing operation according to a predetermined execution condition. The execution condition of the normal printing operation is specified by a plurality of parameters corresponding to each of the plurality of items (for example, "paper size", "paper type", and "color"). The item "paper size" indicates the size of the paper on which the image is recorded (for example, "A4", "B5", "postcard", etc.). The item "paper type" indicates the type of paper on which the image is recorded (for example, "plain paper", "glossy paper", etc.). The item "color" indicates the color of the image to be recorded on the paper (for example, "color", "monochrome", etc.).

The wireless communication IF 31 is, for example, an IF (that is, an IC chip, a communication circuit) for executing wireless communication (hereinafter referred to as "Wi-Fi communication") according to the Wi-Fi method defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance. ). The wireless communication IF 31 can communicate with the wireless communication IF 26 of the mobile terminal 10 via the wireless communication 70 and the wireless communication 90 in the infrastructure mode.

The storage unit 33 is composed of a flash memory or the like, and has a control program 35. The control program 35 may be provided, for example, in a form stored in the storage unit 33 before shipment, or in a form recorded on a CD-ROM or the like.

[Configuration of mobile terminal 10]
The mobile terminal 10 is, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like. The mobile terminal 10 mainly includes a CPU 12, a storage unit 14, a mobile terminal IF 24, a wireless communication IF 26, an operation unit 28, and a display unit 30. The components constituting the mobile terminal 10 are connected to each other. Since the configuration of the wireless communication IF26 is the same as the configuration of the wireless communication IF31 described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

The CPU 12 is in accordance with the main application program (main application) 16 stored in the storage unit 14, the external application program (external application) 18, and various signals transmitted and received via the mobile terminal IF24, the wireless communication IF26, and the like. Control functions. The CPU 12 functions as various means by reading the main application 16.

As an example, the storage unit 14 is composed of a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an HDD, and the like. The storage unit 14 stores the main application 16, the external application 18, the OS 20, and the installer 22.

Further, the MIB (abbreviation of Management Information Base) of the storage unit 14 stores device information. The device information includes a device ID that identifies the MFP 40. The "device ID" is a text format, a binary format, etc., if the MFP 40 can be uniquely identified among the plurality of MFPs when a plurality of MFPs exist on the network formed by the access point 55. The format of is not limited.

The main application 16 and the external application 18 may be installed on the mobile terminal 10 from the app store server 45 on the Internet 60, or may be installed on the mobile terminal 10 from the media shipped together with the MFP 40.

The OS 20 may be, for example, an Android® OS. The OS 20 is a program having a function of displaying various images on the display unit 30 and a basic function used in an application program. The OS 20 is also a program that provides an API (an abbreviation for Application Programming Interface) for an application to instruct various hardware. Further, the OS 20 can execute a plurality of programs installed in the mobile terminal 10 in parallel. The OS 20 executes one of a plurality of programs executed in parallel in the foreground, and executes the other programs in the background. The mobile terminal 10 can display only the screen displayed by the execution of the program executed in the foreground among the plurality of programs executed in parallel on the display unit 30.

The installer 22 is a program for installing the main application 16 and the external application 18 on the mobile terminal 10. For example, the installer 22 downloads the executable file of the designated external application 18 from the app store server 45 on the Internet 60, and stores the downloaded effective file in a predetermined area of the storage unit 14. Since the installer 22 is already well known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The mobile communication IF 24 performs wireless communication 80 with the base station 50. The wireless communication 80 may be a cellular wireless communication such as 3G or 4G.

The operation unit 28 is a key for executing each function of the mobile terminal 10, and is a device for transmitting a signal corresponding to the user's operation to the CPU 12. The user can input a desired instruction by operating the operation unit 28. The operation unit 28 may be integrally configured with the display unit 30 as a touch panel.

The display unit 30 displays various functional information of the mobile terminal 10. The display unit 30 displays various information on a display (not shown) according to the instruction from the CPU 12.

[App store server 45]
The app store server 45 is a server installed on the Internet 60 and capable of delivering the uploaded application program to the terminal. Since the app store server 45 is already well known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[Main application 16 / External application 18]
The main application 16 is an application having a first function capable of causing the MFP 40 connected via the wireless communication IF 26 to execute a part of the image processing operation that can be executed by the MFP 40. In the present embodiment, an example of the normal print function will be described as a specific example of the first function. The normal print function is a function that causes the printer 29 to execute a normal print operation that is a part of the print operation. More specifically, the normal print operation is a print operation of the content specified by the operation specific information (for example, designated device information, designated data ID, designated condition information, which will be described later) designated by the user. However, the first function is not limited to this specific example, and may be any function as long as it can cause the MFP 40 to execute a predetermined image processing operation.

The external application 18 is a program having a second function of causing the MFP 40 to execute an image processing operation different from the image processing operation executed by the MFP 40 by the first function of the main application 16. In this embodiment, as an example, the external application 18 has a second function. The external application 18 is an application program that operates on the same mobile terminal 10 as the main application 16, and is an application program that is separate from the main application 16 and can be executed independently. That is, the external application 18 is different from the subroutine of the main application 16. The external application 18 activated by the main application 16 may execute a predetermined operation and pass the execution result to the main application 16 as a return value of the activation API, or the execution result of the operation may not be passed to the main application 16. The process may be completed.

In this embodiment, as a specific example of the external application 18 having the second function, an example of the New Year's card application having the address side printing function will be described. However, the specific example of the second function is not limited to this. The second function is a function of causing the MFP 40 to execute an image processing operation different from the image processing operation to be executed by the MFP 40 by the first function of the main application 16. The second function is, for example, a function that can easily realize an image processing operation to be executed by the MFP 40 by the first function, a function that can easily realize an image processing operation to be executed by the MFP 40 by the first function, and the like.

The main application 16 can start an application program installed on the mobile terminal 10. As an example, the main application 16 of the present embodiment can start the application program installed in the mobile terminal 10 by using the intent provided by the OS 20. More specifically, the API provided by the OS 20 is executed by designating the application ID 92 of the application program as an argument. The OS 20 starts the application program identified by the application ID 92 specified as an argument according to the execution of the API.

The New Year's card application edits the image recorded on the address side of a postcard (typically a New Year's card) (hereinafter referred to as "address side image") according to the user's instructions, and the edited address side image is the address of the postcard. It is an external application 18 having an address side print function specialized in causing the MFP 40 to execute an image processing operation (hereinafter referred to as an address side print operation) for recording on a surface via wireless communication IF26. The New Year's card application has more variations of instructions for printing the address side image (for example, the sender information and the destination information are combined with the template image) than the main application 16.

In the main application 16 according to the present embodiment, the normal print operation can be executed by the MFP 40, and the address side print operation cannot be executed by the MFP 40.

[Program record]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a program record stored in the storage unit 14. The program record includes the application ID 92 of the external application 18, the function ID 94 of the second function of the external application 18, and the message information 96. As an example, when the New Year's card application is installed on the mobile terminal 10, the program record is stored in the storage unit 14.

The function ID 94 and the message information 96 are, for example, information predetermined by the developer of the main application 16. On the other hand, the application ID 92 is information predetermined by the developer of the external application 18.

The application ID 92 is information that identifies the external application 18 that can be activated by the main application 16. The New Year's card application is identified by the application ID 92 "New Year's card".

The function ID 94 indicates a second function possessed by the external application 18 identified by the application ID 92. The function ID94 of the New Year's card application indicates the address side printing function.

The message information 96 is a text indicating a reason for notifying the function of the application program identified by the application ID 92.

[Characteristics of this embodiment]
The present embodiment has a feature that if the date when the normal print function of the main application 16 is specified is a predetermined period, the user is notified of the address side print function of the external application 18. The address side printing function is a convenient function for the user during the period for printing a New Year's card. It is expected that users will be more likely to print New Year's cards as the current time approaches the year-end and New Year holidays. Therefore, in this embodiment, the period during which the New Year's card may be printed is "November 1st to December 15th", "December 16th to December 31st", and "January 1st to January 1st". It is divided into four periods, "5th" and "November 1st to other than January 5th", and the address side printing function is notified depending on which period includes the date when the normal print function is specified. Change the method of judging whether or not. As a result, it is possible to notify a function that is convenient for the user at an appropriate timing.

[Notes on description in this specification]
Hereinafter, the description "CPU 12 is" may mean "the CPU 12 that executes the main application 16 on the mobile terminal 10". Further, the description that "a user operation for selecting an icon or a button has been accepted via the operation unit 28" means that the operation unit 28 indicates a user operation for the position of the icon or the button displayed on the display unit 30. It may also mean "accepted through".

[Communication system operation]
Next, the operation of the system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8.

(Main processing)
FIG. 3 is an example of a diagram showing a flowchart of the main process.

The menu screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 30 by the CPU 12 that executes the OS 20 after the mobile terminal 10 is started includes icons corresponding to each of the application programs installed in the mobile terminal 10. The CPU 12 that executes the OS 20 waits for an icon designation operation, which is an operation for designating an icon corresponding to the main application 16 included in the menu screen, until it is accepted via the operation unit 28 (S100: No). When the CPU 12 that executes the OS 20 receives the icon designation operation via the operation unit 28, the CPU 12 activates the main application 16 (S102). In this embodiment, the main application 16 has only a normal print function. That is, the icon designation operation can be regarded as an operation for designating the normal print function of the main application 16 corresponding to the icon.

When the main application 16 is started by the CPU 12 that executes the OS 20, the CPU 12 that executes the main application 16 acquires date information indicating the current date from the system clock (not shown) of the mobile terminal 10 (S105). It is assumed that the designated device information and the history information are not stored in the storage unit 14 at the time of starting S105 in FIG. Further, it is assumed that the New Year's card application has not yet been installed on the mobile terminal 10.

The CPU 12 determines whether or not the date indicated by the date information acquired in S105 corresponds to "January 1st to January 5th" (S110). When the affirmative determination is made in S110 (S110: Yes), the CPU 12 executes the function notification process of S660 (described later). On the other hand, when a negative determination is made in S110 (S110: No), the CPU 12 causes the display unit 30 to display the application selection screen G1 shown in FIG. 9A (S120). The application selection screen G1 includes application buttons H1, H2, and H3, and is a screen for selecting an application for printing. Next, the CPU 12 accepts a user operation for selecting a button on the application selection screen G1 via the operation unit 28 (S125).
When the user operation for selecting the application button H3 indicating Web printing is accepted via the operation unit 28 (S130: Web printing), the CPU 12 performs Web printing processing (S150) and ends the main processing. In the Web printing process, the browser possessed by the CPU 12 is started to acquire a Web page, a designated data ID for designating the acquired Web page is stored in the storage unit 10 as operation specific information, and other operation specific information (from the user). For example, it is a process of accepting the designation of designated device information (designated condition information) and causing the printer 18 to execute a print operation (that is, a normal print operation) of the contents specified by the received operation specific information.

When the CPU 12 receives a user operation for selecting the use button H1 indicating photo printing or the use button H2 indicating document printing via the operation unit 28 (S130: document printing or photo printing), FIG. 9B shows. The print data selection screen G2 to be shown is displayed on the display unit (S160).

When the use button H2 indicating document printing is selected in S130, the print data selection screen G2 corresponds to the data ID of each document data stored in the storage unit 14 in the data format of the document data such as an Office file or a PDF file. Data icon H4 to be included. On the other hand, when the use button H2 indicating photo printing is selected in S130, the print data selection screen G2 displays each image data stored in the storage unit 14 in the data format of image data such as PEG, Bitmap, and GIF. Includes the data icon H4 corresponding to the data ID of. The data icon H4 may be a thumbnail image based on the document data or image data stored in the storage unit 14.

The CPU 12 waits for a user operation for selecting the data icon H4 included in the print data selection screen G2 until it is accepted via the operation unit 28 (S170: No). When the CPU 12 receives the user operation for selecting the data icon H4 on the print data selection screen G2 via the operation unit 28 (S170: Yes), the CPU 12 specifies the data ID associated with the selected data icon. It is stored in the storage unit 14 as an ID, and the preview screen G3 shown in FIG. 10A is displayed on the display unit 30. The preview screen G3 includes a device icon H5, a print button H6, a setting icon H7, and a preview image J1. The CPU 12 accepts a user operation for selecting either the device icon H5, the print button H6, or the setting icon H7 via the operation unit 28 (S185).

When the CPU 12 accepts the user operation for selecting the setting icon H7 (S190: setting), the CPU 12 proceeds to the print setting process (S200), and when the print setting process is completed, the CPU 12 returns to S180. When the CPU 12 accepts the user operation for selecting the device icon H5 (S190: device), the CPU 12 proceeds to the device selection process (S210), and when the device selection process is completed, the CPU 12 returns to S180. When the CPU 12 accepts the user operation for selecting the print button H6 (S190: print), the process proceeds to the function notification determination process (S220), and when the function notification determination process is completed, the CPU 12 ends the main process.

(Print setting process)
FIG. 4 is an example of a diagram showing a flowchart of the print setting process.

The CPU 12 causes the display unit 30 to display the print setting screen G4 shown in FIG. 10B in S400. The print setting screen G4 includes pull-down menus K1, K2, and K3, and an OK button H8 corresponding to an instruction for determining an execution condition.

The pull-down menus K1 to K3 correspond to each of a plurality of items "size", "paper type", and "color" constituting the execution conditions of the print operation. The pull-down menus K1 to K3 are in a state in which one of a plurality of parameters that can be specified for the corresponding item is specified. Then, the designated parameters "A4", "plain paper", and "color" are displayed in the pull-down menus K1 to K3. On the print setting screen G3 when the setting icon H7 is selected, the parameters included in the designated condition information are displayed in the pull-down menus K1 to K3.

The pull-down menu K1 corresponding to the item "size" has four options corresponding to the parameter candidates "A4", "B5", "L version", and "postcard". The pull-down menu K2 corresponding to the item "paper type" has two options corresponding to the parameter candidates "plain paper" and "glossy paper". The pull-down menu K3 corresponding to the item "color" has two options corresponding to the parameter candidates "color" and "monochrome".

The CPU 12 accepts a user operation for the print setting screen G3 via the operation unit 28 (S405). The CPU 12 causes, for example, display the changed parameters in the corresponding pull-down menus K1 to K3 in response to receiving the user operation for changing the parameters specified in the pull-down menus K1 to K3 via the operation unit 28. ..

Then, the CPU 12 stores the user operation for selecting the OK button H8 in the storage unit 14 with the parameters displayed in the pull-down menus K1 to K3 in response to the reception through the operation unit 28 (S410: Yes). Overwrites the parameters included in the print operation specification condition information, and ends the print setting process. Then, the CPU 12 returns to the main process.

(Device selection process)
FIG. 5 is an example of a diagram showing a flowchart of a device selection process for selecting a device to execute a print operation (normal print operation) of the content specified by the operation specific information.

The CPU 12 searches for a device capable of communicating via the wireless communication IF 26 (S500). Specifically, the CPU 12 broadcasts request information requesting a response to the devices in the LAN formed by the access point 55 via the wireless communication IF26. Next, the device information transmitted by the MFP 40 as a response to the transmission request information is received via the wireless communication IF 26. That is, the MFP 40 that has transmitted the device information is specified as a communicable device. The method of searching for a communicable MFP 40 may be another well-known method.

The CPU 12 causes the display unit 30 to display a designated device selection screen (not shown) for selecting a designated device for printing print data from the communicable devices searched in S500 (S510). The CPU 12 waits for processing until the designated device is selected via the operation unit 28 on the designated device selection screen (S520: No). When the designated device is selected via the operation unit 28 on the designated device selection screen (S520: Yes), the CPU 12 stores the device information of the designated device in the storage unit 14 as the designated device information (S530). Then, the device selection process is terminated.

(Function notification judgment processing)
FIG. 6 is an example of a diagram showing a flowchart of a function notification determination process for determining whether or not to notify the user of the address side print function of the New Year's card application. In the function notification determination process, when it can be predicted that the user is trying to print the data on the communication side of the New Year's card, the address side print function of the New Year's card application is notified.

First, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the date indicated by the date information acquired in S105 corresponds to "November 1st to December 31st" (S600). When making an affirmative determination in S600 (S600: Yes), the CPU 12 determines whether or not the printing application selected in S130 is photographic printing (S610). Then, when the affirmative judgment is made in S610 (S610: Yes), the CPU 12 determines whether or not the information indicating the paper size included in the print setting information received in S410 indicates a "postcard" (S620).

Next, when the CPU 12 makes an affirmative judgment in S620 (S620: Yes), the date indicated by the date information acquired in S105 is "December 16 to December 31" or "November 1 to December 15". It is determined which of the days corresponds to (S630). When the CPU 12 determines that the date indicated by the date information acquired in S105 in S630 indicates "November 1st to December 15th" (S630: "November 1st to December 15th"), S170. It is determined whether or not the EXIF information is attached to the print data whose selection has been accepted in (S640).

The EXIF information is information attached to the image data when the image data is photographic data, and is information related to the shooting conditions of the photograph. As an example, Exif information includes shooting date and time, manufacturer name of shooting equipment, model name of shooting equipment, resolution of photo data, shooting direction, shutter speed, aperture value, sensitivity, presence / absence of flash, focal length, and position information at the time of shooting. And so on.

When the CPU 12 makes a negative determination in S640 (S640: No), is the calendar of the date indicated by the date information acquired in S105 based on the calendar information stored in advance in the storage unit 14 a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday (holiday)? It is determined whether or not (S650).

When the CPU 12 makes a negative judgment in S610 or S620 (S610: No, S620: No), or when makes a positive judgment in S640 or makes a negative judgment in S650 (S640: Yes, S650: No), select in S170. A print instruction including the received print data and the print setting information received in S410 is transmitted to the MFP 40 (S670), and the function notification determination process is terminated.

On the other hand, when the CPU 12 determines that the date indicated by the date information acquired in S105 indicates "December 16th to December 31st" (S630: "December 16th to December 31st"), Alternatively, when affirmative judgment is made in S650 (S650: Yes), it is presumed that "the user is trying to print the communication surface data of the New Year's card", and the CPU 12 proceeds to the function notification process for notifying the address side print function (S660). , Ends the function notification judgment process.

Here, the intention of the processing in S600 to S650 described above will be described. In S610 and S620, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the user intends to print the image data on the postcard. During the period "December 16th to December 31st" when the printing frequency of New Year's cards is high, it is highly likely that "you are trying to print the communication surface data of New Year's cards" if the conditions of S610 and S620 are satisfied. Will be done. On the other hand, if the printing frequency of the New Year's card is low "November 1st to December 15th", there is a possibility that "you are trying to print the communication side data of the New Year's card" even if the conditions of S610 and S620 are satisfied. Is estimated to be low. Therefore, when the current date is "November 1st to December 16th", it is further determined whether or not the conditions of S640 and S650 are satisfied in addition to the conditions of S610 and S620. In S640 and S650, the CPU 12 determines whether or not the user intends to print image data other than photographs on a postcard on a holiday. The reason for making this decision is that on holidays, the user is more likely to print the New Year's card, and if he is trying to print image data that is not photographic data, "the user is trying to print the communication side data of the New Year's card." This is because the possibility is high. From the above, the CPU 12 that executes the CPU 12 further determines whether or not the conditions of S610 and S620 are satisfied even during the period "November 1st to December 15th" when the printing frequency of the New Year's card is relatively low. It is possible to accurately predict that "the user is trying to print the communication surface data of the New Year's card".

(Function notification processing)
FIG. 7 is an example of a diagram showing a flowchart of a function notification process for notifying the user of the address side print function.

The CPU 12 causes the display unit 30 to display the function notification screen G5 shown in FIG. 10 (c) (S700). The function notification screen G5 stores the icon J2 of the New Year's card application having a mailing address side print function, the message J3 based on the message information 96 stored in the program record stored in the storage unit 14, and the storage unit 14. It includes a message J4 which is a message based on the function ID 94 stored in the program record, an installation icon H9 of the New Year's card application, and a cancel icon H10.

The CPU 12 accepts a user operation for selecting an icon on the function notification screen G5 via the operation unit 28 (S705). When the CPU 12 receives a user operation for selecting the cancel icon H10 via the operation unit (S710: cancel), the CPU 12 executes the same process as in S670 and ends the function notification process.

On the other hand, when the CPU 12 accepts the installation icon selection operation (S710: installation), which is a user operation for selecting the installation icon H9 via the operation unit, the CPU 12 is a mobile terminal 10 for a New Year's card application having an address side printing function. It is determined whether or not it has been installed in (S720). More specifically, the CPU 12 passes the URI scheme that is the application ID 92 included in the program record stored in the storage unit 18 and specifies the application ID 92 that specifies the New Year's card application to the API of the OS 20. The CPU 12 that executes the API of the OS 20 determines whether or not the New Year's card application specified by the application ID 92 included in the received URI scheme is already installed in the mobile terminal 10, and returns the determination result to the main application 16. Here, the URI scheme indicates a character string indicating the location of an information resource and its attributes, and is described in the format of, for example, "xxx: // aaa". The "xxx" part of this description "xxx: // aaa" means the category of the application, and the "aaa" part means the name of the application.

When the CPU 12 makes a negative determination in S720 (S720: No), the CPU 12 downloads the New Year's card application from the app store server 45 via the wireless communication IF26 and installs it in the mobile terminal 10 (S722). Specifically, when the determination result received from the API of the OS 20 indicates that the New Year's card application is not installed on the mobile terminal 10, the application ID 92 stored in the storage unit 18 is specified via the wireless communication IF26. The display unit 30 displays a screen on which the installation of the New Year's card application can be instructed from the app store server 45 indicated by the URI scheme. Then, when the user receives the installation instruction of the New Year's card application via the operation unit 28, the CPU 12 downloads the New Year's card application and installs it on the mobile terminal 10.

On the other hand, when the CPU 12 makes an affirmative judgment in S720 (S720: Yes), more specifically, when the judgment result received from the API of the OS 20 indicates that the New Year's card application is installed in the mobile terminal 10. The process of S725 is executed without executing the process of S722.

The CPU 12 determines whether or not the operation specific information is stored in the storage unit 14 (S725). When the CPU 12 makes a negative determination in S725 (S725: No), the CPU 12 executes the function activation process (S760). When the affirmative determination is made in S725 (S725: Yes), the CPU 12 stores the operation specific information in the specific area of the storage unit 14 (S740), and executes the function activation process (S760). That is, the specific area is the area of the storage unit 14 accessed by the New Year's card application, and the main application 16 passes the operation specific information to the New Year's card application through the specific area. At this time, the print data included in the operation specific information may be converted into a data format suitable for processing by the New Year's card application and then stored.

(Function activation process)
FIG. 8 is an example of a diagram showing a flowchart of the function activation process.

The CPU 12 activates a New Year's card application having an address side printing function (S800). More specifically, in the CPU 12 of the present embodiment, as an example, the CPU 12 that calls the API of the OS 20 by designating the application ID 92 indicating the New Year's card application stored in the storage unit 14 as an argument and executes the API of the OS 20. , Launch the New Year's card app specified by the app ID 92.

The CPU 12 that executes the New Year's card application determines whether or not the operation specific information is stored in the specific area (S810). When the CPU 12 that executes the New Year's card application makes an affirmative judgment in S810 (S810: Yes), it transmits a print instruction including the operation specific information stored in the specific area to the MFP 40 via the wireless communication IF26 (S830). Then, the normal process for realizing the address side printing function of the New Year's card application is executed. (S840).

On the other hand, when the CPU 12 that executes the external application 18 makes a negative determination in S810 (S810: No), the CPU 12 executes a normal process for realizing the address side printing function of the New Year's card application (S840).

[Effect of this embodiment]
According to the above embodiment, when it is determined that the current date is included in "December 16th to December 31st" (S630: December 16th to December 31st), the user during the period. The address side printing function, which is a convenient function for the user, is notified to the user through the function notification screen G5 (S700). Therefore, the CPU 12 that executes the main application 16 can make the user recognize the existence of a function convenient for the user at an appropriate time.

More specifically, the address side print function for causing the MFP 40 to execute an image processing operation different from the normal print function of the main application 16 is notified to the user through the function notification screen G5. This makes it possible for the user to recognize the existence of a function suitable for instructing the designated device designated by the user to perform an image processing operation. That is, it is possible to propose to the user a new usage method of the designated device.

Further, according to the above embodiment, it is determined that the current date is included in "December 16th to December 31st" (S630: December 16th to December 31st), and further, the storage unit. When it is determined that the operation specific information stored in 14 satisfies the first condition (for example, the use is photographic printing or the paper type is "postcard") (S610: Yes, or , S620: Yes), the address side printing function is notified to the user through the function notification screen G5 (S700). Therefore, this program can more accurately predict that the user needs the address side printing function by considering the usage mode of the normal printing function in addition to the current date.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the frequency of use of the New Year's card application having the address side printing function is currently "November 1st to December 15th", which is lower than "December 16th to December 31st". It is determined that the date of (S630: November 1st to December 15th) is included, and it is determined that the operation specific information received from the user satisfies the above first condition (S610: Yes or S620: Yes. ), Further, when it is determined that the second condition (for example, the attachment of EXIF information or the calendar of the date is a holiday) is satisfied, the user is notified of the address side printing function through the function notification screen G5. Therefore, this program can more accurately predict that the user needs the address side printing function by considering the second condition in addition to the usage mode of the normal printing function.

Further, according to the above embodiment, when the New Year's card application having the address side printing function is not installed on the mobile terminal 10 (S720: No), the New Year's card application is downloaded from the app store server 45 via the wireless communication IF26. It is installed on the mobile terminal 10 (S722), and the New Year's card application is activated (S800). Therefore, even if the New Year's card application is not installed on the information processing terminal, this program can start the New Year's card application.

Further, according to the above embodiment, when it is determined that the current date is included in "January 1st to January 5th" after the function button designation operation for designating the first function is accepted. (S110: January 1st to January 5th), the address side printing function is notified to the user through the function notification screen G5 without determining whether or not the above first condition and the second condition are satisfied. (S700). Therefore, when the address side print function is used most frequently, the user can be made aware of the existence of a function that is convenient for the user simply by specifying the normal print function, so that the image processing operation desired by the user can be performed. It can be efficiently executed by the designated device.

[Modification example]
In the above embodiment, as an example, when the second function of the external application 18 is the address side print function, the period during which the address side print function may be used is "November 1 to December 15". , "December 16th-December 31st", "January 1st-January 5th", "November 1st-other than January 5th", divided into four periods, the first of the main app 16. The existence of the address side print function was notified to the user according to the period corresponding to the date when one function was specified (S100). However, the period for introducing the second function is not limited to the above four periods, and may be any continuous period. For example, when the second function is the communication surface print function that prints the communication surface data of the summer greeting, the period during which the communication surface print function may be used is "July 15 to August 15". If the date when the normal print function of the main application 16 is specified is included in "July 15th to August 15th", divided into two periods, "July 15th to August 15th". It may be in the form of notifying the communication surface print function.

In the above embodiment, if the date when the normal print function of the main application 16 is specified (S100) is "December 16 to December 31" (S630), and if the conditions of S610 and S620 are satisfied, the address is addressed. The existence of the surface printing function has been notified to the user, but at least for a predetermined period of time, the user may be notified of the existence of the address surface printing function. If the date when the normal print function of the main application 16 is specified is "December 16 to December 31", the address side print function is satisfied when at least one of S610 and S620 is satisfied. It may be in the form of notifying the existing user.

In the above embodiment, the main application 16 has a first function (as an example, a normal function) of causing the MFP 40 to execute a part of the image processing operation (as an example, a normal print operation) that can be executed by the MFP 40. The external application 18 has a function (as an example, an address side print function) for executing an image processing operation (as an example, an address side print operation) different from the first function. Then, the second function of the external application 18 is notified according to the usage time and the usage mode of the first function of the main application 16. However, the main application 16 may have a first function and a second function, and may be in a form of notifying the second function depending on the usage time and usage mode of the first function. More specifically, for example, it may have the following form. When the main application 16 is started by the OS 20, the CPU 12 that executes the main application 16 causes the function selection screen G6 shown in FIG. 11 to be displayed on the display unit. The function selection screen G6 includes a function button M1 corresponding to the normal print function and a function button M2 corresponding to the address side print function. Then, when the CPU 12 receives the function button designation operation, which is the operation for designating the function button M1 from the user, the CPU 12 executes the processes after S105 shown in FIG. At this time, the main application 16 has a normal print function and an address side print function. That is, the function button designation operation can be regarded as an operation for designating the normal print function corresponding to the function button M1.

Further, in the above embodiment, the normal print function is given as an example of the first function, and the address side print function is given as an example of the second function. However, even if the first function and the second function are combined as follows. good. The first function is a normal scan function that causes the scanner 27 to execute a part of the scan operation that can be executed by the scanner 27 (hereinafter referred to as a normal scan operation), and the second function is a "postcard scan function". be. The "postcard scan function" causes the scanner 27 to perform a scanning operation (postcard scanning operation) for reading an image recorded on the address side of a postcard (typically a New Year's card) according to a user's instruction (postcard scanning operation) via wireless communication IF26. It is an external function that specializes in that. In the postcard scanning operation, for example, there are more variations of instructions for scanning the address side image (for example, reading only the sender information) than in the "normal scanning function".

Further, in the above embodiment, when a part or all of the functions of the present invention are realized by a computer program, the program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium (for example, a non-temporary recording medium). Can be provided in the form of a computer. The program may be used while being stored in the same or different recording medium (computer-readable recording medium) as it was provided. The "computer-readable recording medium" is not limited to a portable recording medium such as a memory card or a CD-ROM, but is connected to an internal storage device in the computer such as various ROMs or a computer such as a hard disk drive. It also includes an external storage device.

Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments and modifications, the above-described embodiments of the invention are for facilitating the understanding of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. The present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit and claims, and the present invention includes an equivalent thereof.

[Correspondence with claims]
The process of S100 is an example of the designated operation acceptance process. The process of S105 is an example of the date information acquisition process. The process of S630 is an example of the date determination process. The processing of S700 is an example of display control processing. The processing of S170 and S405 is an example of the operation specific information reception processing. The processing of S610 and S620 is an example of the first condition determination processing. The processing of S640 and S650 is an example of the second condition determination processing. The process of S710 is an example of the start operation acceptance process. The process of S720 is an example of the installation determination process. The process of S722 is an example of the installation process. The process of S800 is an example of the start process.

The icon designation operation and the function button designation operation are examples of the designation operation. The installation icon selection operation is an example of a startup operation. The icons J2, message J3, and message J4 are examples of identification information. "December 16th-December 31st" is an example of the first period. "November 1st-December 15th" is an example of the second period. The app store server 45 is an example of a download server.

10 Mobile terminal 40 MFP
12 CPU
16 Main app 18 External app

Claims (11)

A program executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus including a display unit, a storage unit, and an operation unit.
Designated operation acceptance processing for accepting a designated operation for designating a first function for causing an image processing device to execute a first image processing operation via the operation unit, and
When the designated operation is received via the operation unit in the designated operation reception process, the date information acquisition process for acquiring the date information indicating the current date and the date information acquisition process.
A date determination process for determining whether or not the date indicated by the date information acquired in the date information acquisition process is included in the first period, and a date determination process.
When it is determined in the date determination process that the date indicated by the date information is included in the first period, the image processing apparatus is made to execute a second image processing operation different from the first image processing operation. The display control process for displaying the display corresponding to the identification information stored in the storage unit on the display unit, which is the identification information for identifying the two functions.
The operation specific information reception process for receiving the operation specific information for specifying the content of the first image processing operation via the operation unit, and the operation specific information reception process.
In the operation specific information reception process, the first condition determination process for determining whether or not the operation specific information received via the operation unit satisfies the first condition, and the first condition determination process.
To the computer to execute
The display control process determines that the date indicated by the date information in the date determination process is included in the first period, and the operation specific information satisfies the first condition in the first condition determination process. A program characterized by displaying a display corresponding to the identification information on the display unit when the determination is made. The date determination process further determines whether or not the date indicated by the date information is included in the second period continuous with the first period.
The program
When it is determined in the date determination process that the date indicated by the date information is included in the second period, the computer is further made to execute the second condition determination process for determining whether or not the second condition is satisfied.
The display control process determines that the date indicated by the date information is included in the second period in the date determination process, and determines that the operation specific information satisfies the first condition in the first condition determination process. The program according to claim 1 , wherein when the second condition determination process determines that the second condition is satisfied, the display corresponding to the identification information is displayed on the display unit. The operation-specific information receiving process receives the operation-specific information that specifies the print target data that is the target of the first image processing operation via the operation unit.
The program according to claim 2, wherein the second condition is a condition in which Exif information is not attached to the print target data specified by the operation specific information. The program according to claim 2, wherein the second condition is a condition based on a calendar related to the date information acquired in the date information acquisition process. The operation-specific information receiving process receives the operation-specific information that specifies the print target data that is the target of the first image processing operation via the operation unit.
The program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first condition is a condition that the data format of the print target data specified by the operation specific information is a predetermined data format. The operation-specific information receiving process receives the operation-specific information that specifies parameters corresponding to each of the plurality of operation conditions for the first image processing operation via the operation unit.
The first condition is characterized in that, of the plurality of operating conditions for the first image processing operation specified by the operation specifying information, the parameter corresponding to the specific operating condition is a specific parameter. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The program of claim 6, wherein the particular parameter is a postcard. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the second function is provided by an external program different from the program. The information processing device further includes a communication unit.
When the display corresponding to the identification information is displayed on the display unit in the display control process, the program activates the external program having the second function identified by the identification information. Start operation acceptance processing that is accepted via the operation unit, and
When the start operation is received via the operation unit in the start operation reception process, an installation determination process for determining whether or not the external program is installed in the information processing device, and an installation determination process for determining whether or not the external program is installed in the information processing device.
When it is determined in the installation determination process that the external program is not installed in the information processing device, the external program is downloaded from the download server via the communication unit, and the external program is installed in the information processing device. Installation process and
When it is determined in the installation determination process that the external program is installed in the information processing apparatus, or when the external program is installed in the information processing apparatus in the installation process, the external program is started. Processing and
8. The program according to claim 8 , wherein the computer is further executed. An information processing device including a display unit, a storage unit, and an operation unit.
A designated operation receiving means for accepting a designated operation for designating a first function for causing an image processing device to execute a first image processing operation via the operation unit, and a designated operation receiving means.
A date information acquisition means for acquiring date information indicating the current date when the designated operation is received by the designated operation receiving means via the operation unit.
A date determining means for determining whether or not the date indicated by the date information acquired by the date information acquiring means is included in the first period, and a date determining means.
When the date determining means determines that the date indicated by the date information is included in the first period, the image processing apparatus is made to execute a second image processing operation different from the first image processing operation. The display control means for displaying the display corresponding to the identification information stored in the storage unit on the display unit, which is the identification information for identifying the two functions.
An operation-specific information receiving means for receiving operation-specific information for specifying the content of the first image processing operation via the operation unit, and an operation-specific information receiving means.
The operation specifying information receiving means includes a first condition determining means for determining whether or not the operation specifying information received via the operation unit satisfies the first condition.
The display control means determines that the date indicated by the date information is included in the first period in the date determination means, and the operation specifying information satisfies the first condition in the first condition determination means. An information processing device characterized in that a display corresponding to the identification information is displayed on the display unit when it is determined that the information processing information is to be displayed. A program executed by a computer of an information processing device including a display unit, a storage unit, an operation unit, and a communication unit.
Designated operation acceptance processing for accepting a designated operation for designating a first function for causing an image processing device to execute a first image processing operation via the operation unit, and
When the designated operation is received via the operation unit in the designated operation reception process, the date information acquisition process for acquiring the date information indicating the current date and the date information acquisition process.
A date determination process for determining whether or not the date indicated by the date information acquired in the date information acquisition process is included in the first period, and a date determination process.
When it is determined in the date determination process that the date indicated by the date information is included in the first period, the image processing apparatus is made to execute a second image processing operation different from the first image processing operation. The identification information for identifying the two functions, which is a display control process for displaying the display corresponding to the identification information stored in the storage unit on the display unit, wherein the second function is the program. Display control processing and display control processing provided by different external programs
When the display corresponding to the identification information is displayed on the display unit in the display control process, the operation unit performs an activation operation for activating the external program having the second function identified by the identification information. Start operation acceptance processing to be accepted via
When the start operation is received via the operation unit in the start operation reception process, an installation determination process for determining whether or not the external program is installed in the information processing device, and an installation determination process for determining whether or not the external program is installed in the information processing device.
When it is determined in the installation determination process that the external program is not installed in the information processing device, the external program is downloaded from the download server via the communication unit, and the external program is installed in the information processing device. Installation process and
When it is determined in the installation determination process that the external program is installed in the information processing apparatus, or when the external program is installed in the information processing apparatus in the installation process, the external program is started. Processing and
A program characterized by causing the computer to execute the above.

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