Information processing device, information processing device control method, and program

Abstract

To improve the operability of an application by determining an operation guide displayed according to a template type.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes: reception means that receives selection of a template which is an editing processing object; acquisition means that acquires operation history information indicating the history of an editing operation in the editing processing ; and display control means that displays on display means an operation guide associated with the template whose selection is received, based on the operation history information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to techniques for performing editing operations using templates. [Background technology]

[0002] There are editing applications for creating cards and the like by arranging images or text on a page. Since editing applications have a variety of functions, techniques are known for displaying operation guides corresponding to user operations. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for quickly displaying help for another operation desired by the user that is inferred when the user redoes an operation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-171517 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose a method for determining the help display to be displayed according to the type of template used for editing operations. For example, there are blank templates in which the user can freely determine the positions and number of images or texts to be placed. In the case of such templates, the editing operations are complicated, and there is a problem that the user cannot perform the desired operations.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to improve the operability of an application by determining an operation guide to be displayed depending on the type (category) of a template. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The information processing device according to the present disclosure is characterized by comprising: a receiving means for receiving a selection of a template to be subjected to an editing process; an acquiring means for acquiring operation history information indicating a history of editing operations in the editing process; and a display control means for displaying, on a display means, an operation guide linked to the template whose selection has been accepted, based on the operation history information. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the technology of the present disclosure, it is possible to determine the operation guide to be displayed depending on the type of template, thereby improving the operability of the application. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information processing device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the printing apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a server. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the information processing device. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a home screen of the information processing device. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 illustrates a top screen of a printing application. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 illustrates a template selection screen. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a paper size selection screen. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an image selection screen. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an editing screen (in which no text has been entered). [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an editing screen (text input state). [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a print setting screen. [Figure 14]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an editing screen (with an operation guide displayed); [Figure 15] 13 is a flowchart showing a process for displaying an edit screen. [Figure 16] 13 is a flowchart showing a process for displaying an edit screen. [Figure 17] 13 is a flowchart showing a process for displaying an edit screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present disclosure, and not all of the combinations of features described in the present embodiments are necessarily essential to the solutions of the present disclosure. Note that the same configurations are described with the same reference numerals. Also, each process (step) in the flow chart is indicated by a reference numeral beginning with "S."

[0010] In the following embodiment, a smartphone is taken as an example of an information processing device, but the type of information processing device is not limited to this. For example, various devices such as mobile terminals other than smartphones, notebook personal computers (PCs), desktop PCs, tablet terminals, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), digital cameras, etc. can be applied. In addition, as a printing device, if it is a printer, an inkjet printer, a laser beam printer, etc. can be used. In addition, a multifunction device having not only a printing function but also a scanning function for reading a document, a copying function, and a facsimile function may be used.

[0011] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system according to the present embodiment. The present system includes an information processing device 120 and a printing device 130. The information processing device 120 communicates with the printing device 130 via a network established by the access point 100, and causes the printing device 130 to execute printing. The information processing device 120 stores a program such as a print application program (hereinafter referred to as a "printing app") described later. Thus, print data created using this printing app is transmitted from the information processing device 120 to the printing device 130 via the network. Note that the printing app is, for example, downloaded and installed in the information processing device 120 via the network. Also, the printing app may be installed from a recording medium attached to the information processing device 120, for example. Also, since the access point 100 of the present embodiment functions as a wireless LAN router, the information processing device 120 is connected to the Internet via this wireless LAN router. Also, the present disclosure includes a case where the information processing device 120 is connected to the Internet by another method such as a wired LAN. Thus, the information processing device 120 can communicate with the template management server 101 and the image management server 102 via the Internet. Although only one printing device 130 is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of printing devices 130 can be connected to the access point 100.

[0012] The template management server 101 is a server that manages templates (format information) used by a print application. The image management server 102 is a server that can store image data captured by a user with a camera. Each of the above-mentioned servers is a server system, and may be configured with one server PC or multiple server PCs. In other words, the processes executed by each of the above-mentioned servers may not be executed by only one server PC, but may be executed by multiple server PCs working together. A template is area information in which content (objects) such as images and text are arranged.

[0013] 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the information processing device 120 of this embodiment. The information processing device 120 includes a main board 210 that controls the entire device, a wireless LAN unit 202, an NFC unit 201, a line connection unit 203, and a touch panel display 204 that displays printer function operations and printer information. Here, the NFC unit 201, the wireless LAN unit 202, and the line connection unit 203 are capable of communication using NFC communication, a wireless LAN, and a mobile phone line network, respectively.

[0014] A microprocessor-type CPU 211 arranged on the main board 210 operates according to a control program stored in a ROM-type program memory 213 connected via an internal bus 212 and the contents of a RAM-type data memory 214. The program memory 213 can store an embedded operating system (OS) and programs such as the print application of this embodiment. In this embodiment, each application program stored in the program memory 213 is subjected to software execution control under the management of the OS. Specifically, this is realized by the CPU 211 reading out the application program stored in the program memory 213 into the RAM-type data memory 214 and executing it.

[0015] The CPU 211 communicates with other devices via wireless LAN by controlling the wireless LAN unit 202 via the wireless LAN control circuit 215. Note that the wireless LAN unit 202 is capable of data (packet) communication using a communication method conforming to, for example, the IEEE 802.11 series (IEEE 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ax, etc.).

[0016] Moreover, the CPU 211 can detect an NFC connection with another NFC terminal and transmit and receive data to and from the other NFC terminal by controlling the NFC unit 201 via the NFC control circuit 216. Furthermore, the CPU 211 can connect to a mobile phone network and perform calls and data transmission and reception by controlling the line connection unit 203 via the line control circuit 217. Also, a unit for performing a Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLE) communication method may be provided.

[0017] The CPU 211 controls the operation unit control circuit 218 to display on the touch panel display 204 and to accept operations from the user. The CPU 211 controls the camera unit 219 to capture an image, and stores the captured image in the image memory 220 in the data memory 214. In addition to the captured image, the CPU 211 can also store an image acquired from the outside via a mobile phone line network, a wireless LAN, or NFC in the image memory 220, or transmit the image to the outside. The non-volatile memory 221 is composed of a memory such as a flash memory, and stores data that is to be saved even after the power is turned off. For example, telephone directory data, various communication connection information, information on previously connected devices, image data, etc. are stored. Application program management information managed by the print application of this embodiment is also stored in the non-volatile memory 221.

[0018] 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the printing device 130 of this embodiment. The printing device 130 includes a main board 310 that controls the entire device, a wireless LAN unit 308, an NFC unit 306, and an operation panel 305. Here, the wireless LAN unit 308 and the NFC unit 306 function as a communication unit of the printing device 300.

[0019] The CPU 311 in the form of a microprocessor arranged on the main board 310 operates according to a control program stored in a program memory 313 in the form of a ROM connected via an internal bus 312 and the contents of a data memory 314 in the form of a RAM. The CPU 311 controls a scanner unit 315 to read an original and store the original in an image memory 316 in the data memory 314. The CPU 311 can also control a printing unit 317 to print an image in the image memory 316 in the data memory 314 on a recording medium. The CPU 311 can also transmit scanned image data to the information processing device 200 via a wireless LAN unit 308 controlled by a wireless LAN control circuit 318. In this embodiment, the printing unit 317 performs printing by an inkjet method, but is not limited to this form. It may also perform printing by other methods such as an electrophotographic method or a thermal dye sublimation method.

[0020] The CPU 311 controls the wireless LAN unit 308 through the wireless LAN control circuit 318 to communicate with other devices via wireless LAN. The wireless LAN unit 308 is capable of data (packet) communication using a communication method conforming to the IEEE802.11 series (IEEE 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ax, etc.). The CPU 311 controls the NFC unit 306 through the NFC control circuit 319 to detect an NFC connection with another NFC terminal and transmit and receive data to and from the other NFC terminal. The communication method of communication that the printing device 130 can execute is not limited to the above. For example, communication using Bluetooth Classic, Bluetooth Low Energy, or another communication method may be possible.

[0021] The CPU 311 controls the operation display unit control circuit 320 to display the status of the printing device 300 and a function selection menu on the operation panel 305, and can accept operations from the user. The printing device 130 of this embodiment can receive and print a print job including data in a JPEG file format to which a printer control command has been added.

[0022] 4 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the template management server 101 and image management server 102 of this embodiment. Each server includes a main board 410 that controls the entire device, a wireless LAN unit 418, and a line connection unit 417. Here, the wireless LAN unit 418 and the line connection unit 417 are capable of communication using a wireless LAN and a mobile phone network, respectively.

[0023] A microprocessor-type CPU 411 arranged on the main board 410 operates according to a control program stored in a ROM-type program memory 412 connected via an internal bus 419 and the contents of a RAM-type data memory 413. The program memory 412 can store programs such as an embedded operating system (OS). In this embodiment, each application program stored in the program memory 412 is subjected to software execution control under the management of the OS. Specifically, this is realized by the CPU 411 reading out the application program stored in the program memory 412 into the RAM-type data memory 413 and executing it.

[0024] The CPU 411 controls the wireless LAN unit 418 via the wireless LAN control circuit 416 to communicate with other devices via wireless LAN. The wireless LAN unit 418 is capable of data (packet) communication using a communication method conforming to the IEEE802.11 series (IEEE 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ax, etc.). Furthermore, the CPU 411 controls the line connection unit 417 via the line control circuit 415 to connect to a mobile phone line network and make a call or transmit and receive data.

[0025] The non-volatile memory 414 is composed of memory such as a flash memory, and stores data that needs to be saved even after the power is turned off. For example, in the case of the template management server 101, templates are stored, and in the case of the image management server 102, image data is stored. Note that the configurations of the template management server 101 and the image management server 102 do not need to be completely identical to each other.

[0026] 5 is a diagram showing an example of a software configuration which is a function of the information processing device 120. The software configuration of the information processing device 120 includes a template selection unit 501, a template type determination unit 502, a screen display control unit 503, an operation history information acquisition unit 504, an editing operation acceptance unit 505, and an operation history information storage unit 506. Each of these functional units is realized by the CPU 211 reading out an application program stored in the program memory 213 into the data memory 214 in the form of a RAM and executing it.

[0027] The template selection unit 501 performs a process of accepting the selection of a template to be used for editing and printing. The template type determination unit 502 determines the type of the template selected by the template selection unit 501. The operation history information acquisition unit 504 acquires the operation history information stored in the operation history information storage unit 506. The screen display control unit 503 displays a template on the touch panel display 204 based on the template information selected by the template selection unit 501. The screen display control unit 503 also displays an operation guide based on the result determined by the template type determination unit 502 and the operation history information acquired from the operation history information storage unit 506. Displaying an operation guide means displaying an area including information indicating an operation method for performing a predetermined process. The editing operation acceptance unit 505 accepts an editing operation of the template displayed by the screen display control unit 503 on the touch panel display 204. The screen display control unit 503 processes the editing result accepted by the editing operation acceptance unit 505, and the display on the touch panel display 204 is updated. The operation history information storage unit 506 stores the operation history accepted by the editing operation acceptance unit 505 in the non-volatile memory 221 .

[0028] Next, the display screen and its operation of the print application of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 6 to 17. The display screens shown in Figs. 6 to 14 are displayed on the touch panel display 204 by the CPU 211 executing the print application stored in the program memory 213. Each process executed while the screen is displayed by the print application shown below is realized by the CPU 211 reading the program of the print application stored in the program memory 213 or the like into the data memory 214, which is a RAM, and executing it. Note that not all of the processes shown below are necessarily executed sequentially on one process. For example, there may be a case where the subject of the process is once shifted to the OS side, the print application is called from the OS again, and the subsequent process is executed by the print application. Note that in this embodiment, it is assumed that a setting is made not to display the operation guide of the print application when the print application is started for the second or subsequent times.

[0029] 6 is a diagram showing a home screen of the information processing device 120 in this embodiment. The home screen is a screen on which icons 601 corresponding to application programs installed in the information processing device 120 are displayed by the OS or the like. The home screen may be, for example, a screen that is displayed only when the information processing device 120 is started up. Also, the home screen may be a screen that is displayed only when a lock screen (not shown) of the information processing device 120 is unlocked. When each icon is selected, an application program corresponding to the selected icon is started up.

[0030] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a top screen of the print application. In the screen shown in Fig. 7, a printer registration button 700, a menu button 701, a main display area 702, a new creation button 703, a work display button 704, a favorites display button 705, and a notice display button 706 are displayed. When any of the new creation button 703, the work display button 704, the favorites display button 705, and the notice display button 706 is tapped, the content according to the tapped button is displayed in the main display area 702. Fig. 7 shows an example of the display of the main display area 702 when the print application is started or when the new creation button 703 for creating new print data is tapped.

[0031] When the printer registration button 700 is tapped, a printer registration screen (not shown) is displayed. A printer to which a print job is to be sent is selected and registered by a registration process via the printer registration screen. When the menu button 701 is tapped, version information, license information, and various information related to the print application are displayed.

[0032] In the top screen shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of category selection buttons 707 are displayed in the main display area 702. The category selection buttons 707 correspond to the categories of works that can be printed by the print application of this embodiment. In FIG. 7, the category selection buttons 707 display text such as "Calendar" and "Card". An icon corresponding to each category may be displayed together with this text. When any of the category selection buttons 707 is tapped, the display object of the touch panel display 204 transitions to a screen for printing a template (content) of the category corresponding to the tapped category selection button 707. Specifically, for example, when the category selection button 707 showing "Collage" is tapped, the display transitions to a screen for creating a collage. Similarly, when the category selection button 707 showing "Calendar" is tapped, the display transitions to a screen for creating a calendar. The template includes design data such as a calendar or card, information specifying the location and size of an image, print paper size information, and template name. In this embodiment, the template is acquired from the template management server 101, but the print application may have templates stored in advance. Also, depending on the category selection button 707 tapped by the user, the availability of templates that can be used for printing and editing functions such as inserting an image or text into a template will differ.

[0033] When the work display button 704 shown in FIG. 7 is tapped, a list of thumbnails of works saved by the user is displayed in the main display area 702 in the form of icons. A work saved by the user is image data to be printed that is created by the user by selecting one of the category selection buttons 707. Note that in this list display, thumbnails may be displayed with the works distinguished for each category corresponding to the category selection buttons 707. When the favorites display button 705 is tapped, a screen showing a list of templates registered as favorites by the user is displayed in the main display area 702. When the notice display button 706 is tapped, notice information such as a notice of template updates is displayed in the main display area 702.

[0034] Next, a display example when category selection button 707 is tapped will be described. When any of category selection buttons 707 is tapped, transition is made to a template selection screen displaying a list of templates corresponding to the selected category. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a template selection screen corresponding to "photo layout." The template selection screen includes a back button 800 and a template information display area 801. When back button 800 is tapped, the display target by touch panel display 204 transitions to the screen prior to transition to this screen (the screen in FIG. 7).

[0035] A plurality of pieces of template information 802 are displayed in a template information display area 801. The template information 802 includes a template thumbnail 803 corresponding to each category, a template name 804, and a favorites button 805. When the favorites button 805 is tapped, the corresponding template is registered as a favorite. Templates registered as favorites are displayed on a screen that is displayed when the favorites button 805 is tapped. When a desired template is tapped by the user in the template information 802, the screen transitions to a paper size selection screen. The following describes an example in which "bordered half-side" is selected in the template information 802.

[0036] 9 is a diagram showing a paper size selection screen. The paper size selection screen includes a paper size list 900, a cancel button 901, and an OK button 902. The paper size to print on can be specified from the paper sizes displayed in the paper size list 900. When the cancel button 901 is tapped, the display on the touch panel display 204 transitions to the screen before transitioning to this screen (the screen in FIG. 8). When the OK button 902 is tapped, transitions to an editing screen or an image selection screen depending on the selected template.

[0037] In this embodiment, if the template selected on the template selection screen is a template stored in the template management server 101, the print application downloads the template based on the tapping of the OK button 902. The template downloaded here may include print setting information optimal for printing. If the downloaded template does not have an image area, the print application displays an edit screen corresponding to the template. If the downloaded template has an image area, the print application displays an image selection screen. When an image is selected on the image selection screen, the print application displays an edit screen in which the selected image is incorporated into the template. Note that the embodiment is not limited to the above. The print application may download the template based on the selection of the template on the template selection screen before or while the paper size selection screen is displayed.

[0038] Furthermore, if the template selected on the template selection screen is a template that the print application has stored in advance, the print application performs the following operations without downloading from an external server. If the stored template does not have an image area, the print application displays an editing screen corresponding to the template. If the downloaded template has an image area, the print application displays an image selection screen. When an image is selected on the image selection screen, the print application displays an editing screen in which the selected image is incorporated into the template.

[0039] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image selection screen. The image selection screen includes a back button 1000, an image thumbnail display area 1001, and a next button 1004. When the back button 1000 is tapped, the screen displayed on the touch panel display 204 transitions to the template selection screen shown in FIG. 8. In the image thumbnail display area 1001, images held by the information processing device 120 and images held by the image management server 102 are displayed as thumbnails 1002. By selecting one or more thumbnails 1002, it is possible to combine them with the template selected on the template selection screen shown in FIG. 8. The selected thumbnail 1002 displays a selection status icon 1003 so that the selection status can be discerned. When the next button 1004 is tapped, the screen transitions to an editing screen shown in FIG. 11.

[0040] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an editing screen. The editing screen includes a back button 1100, a page editing area 1101, an image area 1102, a text area 1103, a text button 1104, an image button 1105, a save button 1106, and a next button 1107. When the back button 1100 is tapped, the screen displayed on the touch panel display 204 transitions to the template selection screen shown in FIG. 8. The page editing area 1101 shows a work generated based on the content and image selected by the user. The image area 1102 is displayed with the image selected in FIG. 10 inserted. In the text area 1103, in order to prompt the user to insert text, if no text has been entered, "Please enter text." is displayed. When the text area 1103 is tapped, a screen for entering text (not shown) is displayed. The text entered on this screen is placed in the text area 1103. FIG. 12 shows an example after text has been entered in the text area 1201.

[0041] When the text button 1104 is tapped, history information based on operation information indicating that the text button 1104 has been operated is stored in the non-volatile memory 221, and a screen for inputting text (not shown) is displayed. The text input on this screen is placed on the page as an additional text area for the layout defined in the template. The position where the text is placed, as well as the size and color of the text, may be arbitrarily set by the user. When the image button 1105 is tapped, history information based on operation information indicating that the image button 1105 has been operated is stored in the non-volatile memory 221, and a screen for selecting an image (not shown) is displayed. On this screen, for example, images held by the information processing device 120 and images held by the image management server 102 are available for selection. When an image held by the image management server 102 is selected, the print application acquires the selected image from the image management server 102. The image selected on this screen is placed on the page as an additional image area for the layout defined in the template. The position and size where the image is placed may be arbitrarily set by the user. The edited content is reflected in the page edit area 1101 as appropriate. When the save button 1106 is tapped, the content corresponding to the currently displayed page editing area 1101 is saved. When the next button 1107 is tapped, the screen transitions to a print setting confirmation screen shown in Fig. 13. In the above example, the text button 1104 and the image button 1105 are used for explanation, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is also applicable to a case where various buttons are arranged on the screen as in Fig. 7. In other words, an operation guide may be displayed for buttons arranged on the screen that are not being operated.

[0042] 13 is a diagram showing a print setting confirmation screen. The print setting screen includes a back button 1300, a preview display area 1301, a registered printer information area 1302, a print setting display area 1303, a print setting button 1304, and a print button 1305. When the back button 1300 is tapped, the screen displayed on the touch panel display 204 transitions to the screen before transitioning to this screen (the screen in FIG. 12). The preview display area 1301 has the same display content as the page editing area 1101, and displays a print preview based on the template selected by the user and the editing results of that template.

[0043] When the print setting button 1304 is tapped, a print detail setting screen (not shown) for changing the printer to which the print job is to be sent and the print settings is displayed. In the print detail setting screen, for example, the printer to which the print job is to be sent, the number of copies to be printed, the type of paper to be used for printing, and the size of the paper to be used for printing can be set and changed. The registered printer information area 1302 displays information on the printer currently set as the target to which the print job is to be sent. The print setting display area 1303 displays the currently set print settings. If the selected template includes print setting information, the print settings are updated using the print setting information and displayed in the print setting display area 1303. Note that when the printer to which the print job is to be sent or the print settings are changed in the print detail setting screen and the print setting screen shown in FIG. 13 is displayed again, the changed contents are displayed in the registered printer information area 1302 and the print setting display area 1303. In addition, the contents displayed in the registered printer information area 1302 and the print setting display area 1303 are stored in the program memory 213 or the non-volatile memory 221. Therefore, if the print app is restarted after the print app is closed, the same contents are displayed again in the registered printer information area 1302 and the print setting display area 1303. Note that if the print setting confirmation screen is displayed for the first time after the print app is installed in the information processing device 120 and if the selected template does not contain print setting information, the following contents are displayed. That is, the default settings determined by the print app are displayed in the registered printer information area 1302 and the print setting display area 1303.

[0044] When the print button 1305 is tapped, a print job for printing the template (content) selected and edited by the user in FIG. 8 to FIG. 12 is transmitted to the printing device 130 based on the set print settings. Specifically, first, the CPU 211 performs rendering on the template (content) selected and edited by the user, and converts it into JPEG data. Furthermore, the CPU 211 adds a print control command including print setting information and the like to the generated JPEG data, and generates a print job. The print job thus generated is transmitted to the printing device 130. Note that while the print job is transmitted and printing based on the print job is being performed in the printing device 130, the display target of the touch panel display 204 transitions to a printing in progress screen (not shown). On the printing in progress screen, the degree of progress of printing based on the print job, the contents of the print settings of the transmitted print job, an area for canceling printing based on the print job, and the like are displayed.

[0045] Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an editing screen in a state where operation guides are displayed when a blank template is selected on the template selection screen shown in Fig. 8. Operation guides 1401 and 1402 display explanations of text button 1104 and image button 1105, which are targets of editing operations required for the blank template. Operation guides 1401 and 1402 can be closed by tapping the OK button in the explanation.

[0046] Next, the processing flow of this embodiment will be described. The flowchart shown in Fig. 15 is realized by CPU 211 reading out the print application program stored in program memory 213, non-volatile memory 221, etc., into data memory 214, which is RAM, and executing it. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing processing for displaying an edit screen in this embodiment. The processing of the flowchart shown in Fig. 15 is started in response to displaying a template selection screen (Fig. 8) by the user pressing any of category selection buttons 707 on the top screen (Fig. 7) of the print application.

[0047] In S1501, the CPU 211 accepts the selection of a template to be used for editing and printing on the template selection screen shown in FIG. 8 via the template selection unit 501. When the selection of the template is accepted, the process proceeds to S1502. In S1502, the CPU 211 acquires printable paper size information included in the template designated in S1501, displays the paper size selection screen shown in FIG. 9, and accepts the selection of the paper size. When the selection of the paper size is accepted, the process proceeds to S1503. In S1503, the CPU 211 judges the type of the template selected in S1501 via the template type judgment unit 502. The template may include all or any of background area information, text area information, and image area information. Information on an editable area such as text area information and image area information (edit area information) is called an edit item. Here, the editable area refers to an area according to the type of object to be edited. Regardless of the type of the template whose selection has been accepted, an operation button according to the object is displayed on the touch panel display 204.

[0048] There are also specific templates in which an editable area is not pre-arranged. One example is a blank template, which is a template in which the background area information is white and an editable area is not pre-arranged. A solid image template, which is a template in which the background area information is a solid image such as light gray and an editable area is not pre-arranged, also falls under this category. A template in which an editable area is not pre-arranged and the background area information is a painting or the like also falls under this category. If the CPU 211 determines that the type of the selected template is a template in which an editable area is not pre-arranged, the process proceeds to S1504. If the CPU 211 determines that the type of the selected template is a template in which an editable area is pre-arranged, the process proceeds to S1508.

[0049] In S1504, the CPU 211 displays an edit screen according to the paper size information specified in S1502 via the screen display control unit 503, and the process proceeds to S1505. In S1505, the CPU 211 acquires operation history information based on operation information for the text button 1104 and the image button 1105 stored in the non-volatile memory 221 via the operation history information storage unit 506 and the operation history information acquisition unit 504. Specifically, the operation history information is information on whether or not buttons such as the text button 1104 and the image button 1105 have been tapped before. In addition, when multiple users log in to the information processing device 120, operation history information is generated for each user. When the operation history information is acquired, the process proceeds to S1506. In S1506, the CPU 211 determines the operation history for the text button 1104 and the image button 1105 based on the acquired operation history information. If the operation history for the text button 1104 or the image button 1105 exists, the process proceeds to S1511. If there is no operation history for the text button 1104 and the image button 1105, the process proceeds to S1507. In S1507, the CPU 211 displays an operation guide (operation procedure) for the text button 1104 or the image button 1105 via the screen display control unit 503, and the process proceeds to S1511. The operation guide (operation procedure) for the blank template shown in Fig. 14 is one example.

[0050] In S1508, the CPU 211 determines whether the selected template includes image area information. If the selected template includes image area information, the process proceeds to S1509. If the selected template does not include image area information, the process proceeds to S1510. In S1509, the CPU 211 displays the image selection screen shown in FIG. 10 via the screen display control unit 503, accepts the selection of an image to be inserted, and the process proceeds to S1510. In S1510, the CPU 211 displays the editing screen shown in FIG. 11 via the screen display control unit 503, and the process proceeds to S1511. In S1511, the CPU 211 accepts an editing operation on the displayed editing screen via the screen display control unit 503 and the editing operation acceptance unit 505. When the editing operation is accepted, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 15 ends.

[0051] In this embodiment, in the case of a template in which an editable region is not arranged in advance, an operation guide for a necessary editing operation can be displayed based on operation history information. That is, when a user needs to add an image or text depending on the type of template, an appropriate operation guide is presented to the user, so that the user can easily perform the editing operation. However, this is not limited to this. As described above, this is also applicable to the case where various buttons are arranged on the screen as in FIG. 7. That is, an operation guide may be displayed for a button arranged on the screen that is not being operated. Therefore, it is possible to determine the operation guide to be displayed depending on the type of template and improve the operability of the application.

[0052] In this embodiment, the display of the operation guide of the print application has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The method of displaying the operation guide can also be executed in other applications for editing and manipulating templates. That is, the operation guide to be displayed is determined according to the application and the selected template, and the operation guide is displayed as described in this embodiment, thereby improving the operability of the application for editing and manipulating the template.

[0053] [Second embodiment] In the first embodiment, a mode in which an operation guide is displayed when a template in which an editable area is not previously arranged is selected is described. In the present embodiment, a mode in which an operation guide is displayed when a template including an editable area is selected is described. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a process of displaying an edit screen in this embodiment. The process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 16 is started in response to a template selection screen (FIG. 8) being displayed by a user pressing any of the category selection buttons 707 on the top screen (FIG. 7) of the print application. The process from S1601 to S1602 is the same as the process from S1501 to S1502. The text button 1104 and the image button 1105 are also referred to as operation buttons.

[0054] In S1603, the CPU 211 determines the type of the template selected in S1601 via the template type determination unit 502. If the CPU 211 determines that the selected template is a template in which an editable region is not previously arranged, that is, a template that does not include text region information and image region information, the process proceeds to S1604. If the CPU 211 determines that the selected template is a template that includes text region information and does not include image region information, the process proceeds to S1606. If the CPU 211 determines that the selected template is a template that does not include a text region and includes image region information, the process proceeds to S1608. If the CPU 211 determines that the selected template is a template that includes both text region information and image region information, the process proceeds to S1611.

[0055] In S1604, CPU 211 displays an edit screen according to the paper size information specified in S1602 via screen display control unit 503, and the process proceeds to S1605. In S1605, CPU 211 acquires operation history information based on operation information for text button 1104 and image button 1105 (operation button) stored in non-volatile memory 221 via operation history information storage unit 506 and operation history information acquisition unit 504. When the operation history information is acquired, the process proceeds to S1613. In S1606, CPU 211 displays an edit screen according to the paper size information specified in S1602 via screen display control unit 503, and the process proceeds to S1607. In S1607, CPU 211 acquires operation history information for image button 1105 via operation history information storage unit 506 and operation history information acquisition unit 504, and the process proceeds to S1613.

[0056] In S1608, CPU 211 displays the image selection screen shown in Fig. 10 via screen display control unit 503, accepts the selection of an image to be inserted via editing operation acceptance unit 505, and the process proceeds to S1609. In S1609, CPU 211 displays the editing screen according to the paper size information specified in S1602 via screen display control unit 503, and the process proceeds to S1610. In S1610, CPU 211 acquires operation history information for text button 1104 via operation history information storage unit 506 and operation history information acquisition unit 504, and the process proceeds to S1613. In S1611, CPU 211 displays the image selection screen shown in Fig. 10 via screen display control unit 503, accepts the selection of an image to be inserted via editing operation acceptance unit 505, and the process proceeds to S1612. In S1612, the CPU 211 displays the edit screen in accordance with the paper size information specified in S1602 via the screen display control unit 503, and the process proceeds to S1615.

[0057] In S1613, the CPU 211 determines the operation history of the acquired target button. Specifically, it determines whether or not the operation history of the image button 1105 exists based on the operation history information for the image button 1105 acquired in S1607. If the CPU 211 determines that the operation history of the target button does not exist, the process proceeds to S1614. If the CPU 211 determines that the operation history of the target button exists, the process proceeds to S1615. In S1614, the CPU 211 displays an operation guide (operation procedure) for the target button via the screen display control unit 503, and the process proceeds to S1615. In S1615, the CPU 211 accepts an editing operation on the displayed editing screen via the screen display control unit 503 and the editing operation acceptance unit 505. When the editing operation is accepted, the process flow of the flowchart shown in FIG. 16 ends.

[0058] In the example of FIG. 16, the target buttons are text buttons and image buttons, but are not limited thereto. The selected template may include other areas not shown, and operation guides may also be displayed for operation buttons corresponding to the other areas. As described above, in this embodiment, by displaying an operation guide for an editing operation according to information included in the template, it is possible to display the operation guide only when an operation is performed on an editing element not included in the template. Therefore, it is possible to display the guide required by the user at an appropriate timing and with an appropriate amount of information.

[0059] [Third embodiment] In the first embodiment, a form in which an operation guide is displayed in a template in which an editable area is not arranged in advance has been described. In the second embodiment, a form in which an operation guide is displayed when a template including an editable area is selected and there is no operation history of a button corresponding to the editable area has been described. In this embodiment, a form in which a template including an editable area is selected and an operation guide is displayed based on the elapsed time from the previous operation on the button corresponding to the editable area will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a process of displaying an edit screen in this embodiment. The process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 17 is started in response to the display of a template selection screen (FIG. 8) by pressing any of the category selection buttons 707 by the user on the top screen (FIG. 7) of the print application. The processes from S1701 to S1712 and the processes from S1714 to S1715 are the same as the processes from S1601 to S1612 and the processes from S1614 to S1615. In S1713, the CPU 211 calculates the elapsed time from the previous operation on the target button and determines whether the elapsed time is a predetermined time (predefined value T1). If the elapsed time is a predetermined time (predefined value T1), the process proceeds to S1714, and the CPU 211 displays an operation guide (operation procedure) for the target button. If the elapsed time is not a predetermined time (predefined value T1), the process proceeds to S1715.

[0060] In this embodiment, by considering the time elapsed since the last operation as a condition for displaying the operation guide according to the information included in the template, it is possible to display the operation guide even to a user who has forgotten how to perform an editing operation using the target button. Therefore, the user can easily perform an editing operation by referring to the displayed operation guide.

[0061] [Fourth embodiment] In the first embodiment, a form in which an operation guide is displayed in a template in which an editable area is not pre-arranged has been described. In the second embodiment, a form in which an operation guide is displayed when there is no operation history for the target button has been described. In the third embodiment, a form in which a template including an editable area is selected, and an operation guide is displayed based on the elapsed time since the previous operation of the button corresponding to the editable area has been described. In this embodiment, a form in which an operation guide is displayed when a template in which an editable area is not pre-arranged has been selected, and a predetermined time has elapsed since the editing screen (template) was displayed will be described.

[0062] When a template in which an editable area is not pre-arranged is selected, and an editing operation using the target button is not performed even after a predetermined time (predefined value T2) has elapsed since the editing screen (template) was displayed, an operation guide for the target button is displayed. In addition, the screen transition destination from the editing screen shown in FIG. 11 is a print setting screen to which the user transitions by tapping the next button 1107 when the editing work is completed, and a template selection screen to which the user transitions by tapping the back button 1100 when the template is reselected. When a template in which an editable area is not pre-arranged is selected, and an attempt is made to transition to a different screen without performing any editing operation using the target button, an operation guide (operation procedure) for the target button is displayed before transitioning to the different screen. That is, if the target button is operated before transitioning to the different screen, the operation of the target button is accepted without transitioning to the different screen. This makes it possible for a user who does not know how to operate the target button to execute editing processing by operating the target button.

[0063] In this embodiment, when a template in which an editable area is not pre-arranged is selected and a predetermined time has elapsed since the editing screen (template) was displayed, the operation guide can be displayed. The operation guide can also be displayed when a template in which an editable area is not pre-arranged is selected and the screen transition occurs without any user operation after the editing screen is displayed. Therefore, the user can easily perform editing operations by referring to the displayed operation guide.

[0064] [Other embodiments] The present disclosure can also be achieved by supplying a recording medium on which a software program code for implementing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or device, and having a computer in the system or device execute the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium will implement the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium on which the program code is stored constitutes the present disclosure.

[0065] Examples of storage media for supplying the program code include flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, ROMs, and DVDs.

[0066] The disclosure of the above-described embodiment includes the following configurations.

[0067] (Configuration 1) An information processing device comprising: a receiving means for receiving a selection of a template to be subjected to an editing process; an acquisition means for acquiring operation history information indicating a history of editing operations in the editing process; and a display control means for displaying, on a display means, an operation guide linked to the template whose selection has been accepted, based on the operation history information.

[0068] (Configuration 2) The information processing device according to configuration 1, characterized in that in the editing process, an editable area is an area corresponding to the type of object to be edited, and the display control means places an operation button corresponding to the object on the display means regardless of the type of the template whose selection has been accepted.

[0069] (Configuration 3) The information processing device according to configuration 2, wherein when the type of the template selected is a specific template in which the editable area is not pre-arranged, the acquisition means acquires, as the operation history information, information indicating whether the operation button arranged on the display means has been operated.

[0070] (Configuration 4) The information processing device according to configuration 3, characterized in that when the operation history information indicates that no operation has been performed on the first operation button, the display control means displays an operation guide for the first operation button.

[0071] (Configuration 5) The information processing device according to configuration 3, characterized in that when the operation history information indicates that an operation is being performed on a second operation button, the display control means does not display an operation guide for the second operation button.

[0072] (Configuration 6) The information processing device according to configuration 2, wherein when the type of the template whose selection has been accepted is a specific template in which the editable area is not pre-arranged, the acquiring means acquires, as the operation history information, information indicating whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the template whose selection has been accepted was displayed on the display means without any operation being performed on the operation button.

[0073] (Configuration 7) The information processing device according to configuration 6, characterized in that when the operation history information indicates that the predetermined time has elapsed without any operation being performed on the first operation button, the display control means displays an operation guide for the first operation button.

[0074] (Configuration 8) The information processing device according to configuration 6, characterized in that when the operation history information indicates that the specified time has not elapsed without any operation being performed on the second operation button, the display control means does not display an operation guide for the second operation button.

[0075] (Configuration 9) The information processing device according to configuration 2, wherein when the type of the template selected is a specific template in which the editable area is not pre-arranged, and when transitioning to a different screen occurs without operating the operation button arranged on the display means, the display control means displays an operation guide for the operation button before transitioning to the different screen.

[0076] (Configuration 10) The information processing device according to configuration 2, wherein the acquiring means acquires, as the operation history information, information indicating whether an operation has been performed on the operation button of an object corresponding to the editable area that is not pre-placed in the template that has accepted the selection.

[0077] (Configuration 11) The information processing device according to configuration 10, characterized in that when the operation history information indicates that no operation has been performed on the first operation button, the display control means displays an operation guide for the first operation button.

[0078] (Configuration 12) The information processing device described in configuration 10, characterized in that when the operation history information indicates that an operation is being performed on a second operation button, the display control means does not display an operation guide for the second operation button.

[0079] (Configuration 13) The information processing device according to configuration 2, wherein the acquiring means acquires, as the operation history information, information indicating whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous operation on the operation button of the object corresponding to the editable area that is not pre-positioned in the template that has accepted the selection.

[0080] (Configuration 14) The information processing device described in Configuration 13, characterized in that when the operation history information indicates that the predetermined time has elapsed since the last operation of the first operation button, the display control means displays an operation guide for the first operation button.

[0081] (Configuration 15) The information processing device described in configuration 13, characterized in that when the operation history information indicates that the specified time has not elapsed since the last operation of the second operation button, the display control means does not display an operation guide for the second operation button.

[0082] (Configuration 16) A method for controlling an information processing device, comprising the steps of: accepting a selection of a template to be edited; acquiring operation history information indicating a history of editing operations in the edit process; and displaying, on a display means, an operation guide linked to the template whose selection has been accepted, based on the operation history information.

[0083] (Configuration 17) A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 15.

Claims

1. A receiving means for receiving a selection of a template to be edited; An acquisition means for acquiring operation history information indicating a history of editing operations in the editing process; a display control means for displaying, on a display means, an operation guide associated with the template whose selection has been accepted, based on the operation history information; An information processing device comprising:

2. In the editing process, the editable area is an area according to the type of the object to be edited, 2 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display control means arranges, on the display means, an operation button corresponding to an object, regardless of the type of the template the selection of which has been accepted.

3. 3. The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein when the type of the template whose selection has been accepted is a specific template in which the editable area is not pre-arranged, the acquisition means acquires, as the operation history information, information indicating whether the operation button arranged on the display means has been operated.

4. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when the operation history information indicates that no operation has been performed on the first operation button, the display control means displays an operation guide for the first operation button.

5. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when the operation history information indicates that an operation has been performed on a second operation button, the display control means does not display an operation guide for the second operation button.

6. 3. The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein, when the type of the template whose selection has been accepted is a specific template in which the editable area is not pre-arranged, the acquiring means acquires, as the operation history information, information indicating whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the template whose selection has been accepted was displayed on the display means without any operation being performed on the operation button.

7. The information processing device according to claim 6, characterized in that, when the operation history information indicates that the predetermined time has elapsed without any operation being performed on the first operation button, the display control means displays an operation guide for the first operation button.

8. The information processing device according to claim 6, characterized in that when the operation history information indicates that the specified time has not elapsed without any operation being performed on the second operation button, the display control means does not display an operation guide for the second operation button.

9. 3. The information processing device according to claim 2, wherein when the type of the template whose selection has been accepted is a specific template in which the editable area is not pre-arranged, and when transition to a different screen occurs without performing an operation on the operation button arranged on the display means, the display control means displays an operation guide for the operation button before transition to the different screen.

10. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the acquiring means acquires, as the operation history information, information indicating whether an operation has been performed on the operation button of an object corresponding to the editable area that is not pre-arranged in the template whose selection has been accepted.

11. 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, when the operation history information indicates that no operation has been performed on the first operation button, the display control means displays an operation guide for the first operation button.

12. 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, when the operation history information indicates that an operation has been performed on a second operation button, the display control means does not display an operation guide for the second operation button.

13. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the acquiring means acquires, as the operation history information, information indicating whether a predetermined time has elapsed since a previous operation on the operation button of an object corresponding to the editable area that is not pre-arranged in the template whose selection has been accepted.

14. 14. The information processing device according to claim 13, characterized in that, when the operation history information indicates that the predetermined time has elapsed since the previous operation of the first operation button, the display control means displays an operation guide for the first operation button.

15. The information processing device according to claim 13, characterized in that, when the operation history information indicates that the predetermined time has not elapsed since the previous operation of the second operation button, the display control means does not display an operation guide for the second operation button.

16. accepting a selection of a template to be edited; acquiring operation history information indicating a history of editing operations in the editing process; displaying, on a display means, an operation guide associated with the template whose selection has been accepted based on the operation history information; 13. A method for controlling an information processing device, comprising:

17. A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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