Application program, information processing device and control method thereof

Abstract

To solve a problem that conventionally, operability is problematic when stopping a job of an image forming device executed from a mobile terminal, and there is a case of not stopping swiftly.SOLUTION: In an application 401 which transmits an execution instruction (job execution request) of a job to an image processing device 104, executed in a data processing device 101 as a mobile terminal, a user interface (stop buttons 932, 942, notification 1302 of notification center) which receives stop operation for transmitting a stop instruction (job stop request) for stopping execution of the job in the image processing device 104 based on the execution instruction to the image processing device 104 is displayed independently from a screen for the execution instruction by the application 401 and the screen (911, 921, 931, 941) after the execution instruction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9A

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a program, an information processing device, an image processing device, and a control method thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, with the spread of high-performance mobile terminals called smartphones, applications that allow the use of image forming devices (also called image processing devices) from the mobile terminals have been provided. For example, a technology has been proposed in which job settings for functions of an image forming device (copy, scan, fax, etc.) are made on a mobile terminal, and the job settings are sent to the image forming device, thereby executing the job on the image forming device (Patent Document 1). Using this technology, it becomes possible to start a job for the image forming device from a mobile terminal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6226807 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional technologies have issues with operability when canceling a job executed from a mobile terminal. There are many situations in which it is necessary to cancel a job urgently. For example, when you realize that the destination address is incorrect while scanning, or that the desired output has not been output while printing, there is a need to cancel the job as soon as possible.

[0005] However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, once the mobile terminal transmits the job settings, it does not communicate with the image forming device thereafter, so to cancel the job in progress, it is necessary to operate the main body operation unit of the image forming device. A user who executes a job from a mobile terminal may not be accustomed to operating the main body of the image forming device, or may not want to touch the main body of the image forming device that is touched by many people. In such cases, the user may be confused or hesitant to operate the main body of the image forming device, and as a result, may not be able to quickly cancel the job in progress.

[0006] It is conceivable that after transmitting the job settings, the mobile terminal communicates with the image forming device, the job execution status is displayed on the mobile terminal screen, and the job can be canceled from that screen. However, in such a mechanism, the screen of the mobile terminal is occupied until the job is completed, which reduces usability. Also, if the screen showing the job execution status displayed on the mobile terminal is closed, it becomes impossible to cancel the job from the mobile terminal. In this case, it becomes necessary to operate the image forming device body in order to cancel the job.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a mechanism for improving usability by making it easier to instruct the cancellation of a job executed from a mobile terminal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention is characterized in that it is a program for causing an information processing device to function as a transmitting means for transmitting a job execution instruction to an image processing device, and for causing the information processing device to function as a control means for controlling a user interface that accepts a cancel operation for sending a cancel instruction to the image processing device to cancel the execution of a job in the image processing device based on the execution instruction to be displayed independently from a screen for the execution instruction by the program and a screen after the execution instruction. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, usability can be improved by making it easier to instruct the cancellation of a job executed from a mobile terminal. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the data processing device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the data processing device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing communication between the data processing device and the image forming device in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 5 is a flowchart showing a job execution instruction process performed by the data processing device in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a job cancel instruction process performed by the data processing apparatus in the first embodiment. [Figure 9A] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a screen of the data processing device in the first embodiment. [Figure 9B] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a screen of the data processing device in the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 5 is a flowchart showing a process of the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing a job execution instruction process performed by a data processing device in the second embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a job cancel instruction process performed by a data processing apparatus in the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen of a data processing device in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the components described in the embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0012] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a data processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The data processing system 100 includes a data processing device 101, a wireless LAN terminal 102, and an image forming device 104, which are communicatively connected via a network 103.

[0013] The data processing device 101 is an information processing device capable of communicating with the image forming device 104, and is a client terminal for a user to operate the image forming device 104. In this embodiment, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone will be described as an example, but a personal computer (PC) or the like may also be used. The data processing device 101 is connected to a network 103 via a wireless LAN terminal 102. The wireless LAN terminal 102 is a wireless LAN base station having a general network router function, and provides wireless LAN via Wi-Fi within a home, an office, etc.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 104 is an image processing apparatus called a digital multifunction peripheral that has various job execution functions such as a printer function, a copy function, a scanner function, a fax transmission function, etc. A user can instruct the image forming apparatus 104 to execute a job and execute various functions of the image forming apparatus 104 by operating the data processing apparatus 101. Furthermore, the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 are capable of short-distance wireless communication via wireless signals such as Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

[0015] The data processing system 100 is a system capable of executing jobs by cooperation between the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 as described above.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the data processing device 101 according to this embodiment. The data processing device 101 has a controller unit 201. The controller unit 201 controls various communication units such as an NFC communication unit 210, a BLE communication unit 211, and a wireless LAN communication unit 212, a microphone / speaker 213, various UI units such as a display 214 and a touch panel 215, a camera 216, and a motion sensor 217. The motion sensor 217 has a detection function capable of detecting at least one of the tilt and shaking of the data processing device 101.

[0017] The controller unit 201 includes a CPU 202 , a ROM 203 , a RAM 204 , a network I / F 205 , an audio control unit 206 , a display control unit 207 , an input control unit 208 , and a storage device 209 , which are connected by a system bus 226 .

[0018] The CPU 202 controls the entire system of the data processing device 101 . The ROM 203 stores an operating system (OS) of the data processing device 101 and application programs for controlling telephone calls and data communications, and the CPU 202 executes various programs. Hereinafter, application programs are referred to as "applications." The RAM 204 is a memory for the CPU 202 to execute various programs, and is a work memory area in which applications execute programs.

[0019] The storage device 209 is a non-volatile storage device, and records various operation mode settings and operation logs that need to be retained even after rebooting the data processing device 101. Note that the storage device 209 may also store programs. The network I / F 205 is connected to an NFC communication unit 210 , a BLE communication unit 211 , and a wireless LAN communication unit 212 , and controls various wireless communications with the image forming apparatus 104 .

[0020] The audio control unit 206 controls the input and output of audio data via a microphone / speaker 213. The display control unit 207 controls the output of image data to be displayed on a display 214. The input control unit 208 controls the input of information designated by the user via a button or touch panel 215, the input of image data via a camera 216, and the input of main body operations (at least one of tilt and shaking) via a motion sensor 217. Using the audio control unit 206, display control unit 207, and input control unit 208, a UI for various applications executed in the data processing device 101 is provided to the user.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 104 according to this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 104 has a controller unit 301, which controls various communication units, such as an NFC communication unit 310, a BLE communication unit 311, and a wireless LAN communication unit 312, an operation unit 307, a scanner 313, and a printer 314. When a user uses a copy function, the controller unit 301 controls the scanner 313 to acquire image data of an original, and controls the printer 314 to print and output an image on paper. When a user uses a scan function, the controller unit 301 controls the scanner 313 to acquire image data of an original, converts it into code data, and transmits it to the data processing apparatus 101 via the network 103. When a user uses a print function, the controller unit 301 receives print data from the data processing apparatus 101 via the network 103. Furthermore, the controller unit 301 converts the received print data into image data, transmits it to the printer 314, and prints and outputs an image based on the image data on paper. The image forming apparatus 104 also has a fax receiving function for receiving data from ISDN etc. and printing it, and a fax sending function for sending scanned data to ISDN etc. An instruction to execute a process for each of these functions is called a job, and the image forming apparatus 104 executes a predetermined process according to the job corresponding to each function.

[0022] The controller unit 301 includes a CPU 302 , a RAM 303 , a ROM 304 , a HDD 305 , an operation unit I / F 306 , a network I / F 308 , and a device I / F 309 , which are connected by a system bus 322 .

[0023] The CPU 302 controls the entire system of the image forming apparatus 104. The RAM 303 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 302, and is an image memory for temporarily storing image data. The RAM 303 also stores programs and data such as an operating system, system software, and application software. The RAM 303 also stores scan image data read by the scanner 313, and stores print data received from the data processing apparatus 101 via the network 103. The ROM 304 stores a boot program for the system. The hard disk drive (HDD) 305 stores the operating system, system software, application software, print data, setting data, and the like. Note that the configuration may include another storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) instead of or in combination with the HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

[0024] The operation unit I / F 306 is an interface with the operation unit 307, and outputs information to be displayed on the operation unit 307 to the operation unit 307. The operation unit I / F 306 also receives information input from the operation unit 307 by the user.

[0025] The network I / F 308 is connected to an NFC communication unit 310, a BLE communication unit 311, and a wireless LAN communication unit 312, and controls various wireless communications with the data processing device 101. The wireless LAN communication unit 312 forms a wireless LAN with the data processing device 101 via the network 103. The NFC communication unit 310 and the BLE communication unit 311 form short-range wireless communications with the data processing device 101 via wireless signals. The image forming device 104 performs data communication with the data processing device 101 via the network I / F 308, and executes jobs by receiving execution commands for various functions of the image forming device 104.

[0026] A device I / F 309 connects the controller unit 301 to a scanner 313 and a printer 314 that read and print image data, and inputs and outputs image data.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the data processing device 101 according to this embodiment. The application 401 is software executed by the CPU 202 of the data processing device 101, and is installed in the data processing device 101. The application 401 is read from the ROM 203 and stored in the RAM 204. The application 401 is a program for causing the data processing device 101 to function as a user interface (UI) control unit 402 and an MFP control unit 403.

[0028] A user interface (UI) control unit 402 receives job setting information and connection information for the image forming apparatus 104 input by the user via the touch panel 215, and transmits them to the MFP control unit 403. The UI control unit 402 also receives a response from the MFP control unit 403, and outputs it to the display 214 via the display control unit 207.

[0029] The MFP control unit 403 sends requests to and receives responses from the image forming apparatus 104. The MFP control unit 403 generates job execution instruction information from the job settings accepted by the UI control unit 402, and transmits a job execution request to the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103. The MFP control unit 403 also acquires the job execution status from the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103, and transmits it to the UI control unit 402.

[0030] The notification center control unit 410 is part of the system software of the data processing device 101, and controls the notification center. The notification center is a function (notification function) in the data processing device 101 that collects and displays notifications from each application in one place. The notification center control unit 410 displays messages in the notification center in response to instructions from the application 401, and calls up applications corresponding to messages in the notification center. The notification center control unit 410 is read out from the ROM 203 and stored in the RAM 204, and is executed by the CPU 202 to cause the data processing device 101 to realize the functions of the notification center control unit 410.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 104 according to this embodiment. The system software 501 is software executed by the CPU 302 of the image forming apparatus 104, and is read from the HDD 305 and stored in the RAM 303. The system software 501 causes the image forming apparatus 104 to function as a UI control unit 502, a request control unit 503, and a job control unit 504.

[0032] The UI control unit 502 receives information input by the user via the operation unit 307, and controls the screen. The request control unit 503 controls requests received from the data processing device 101. Specifically, the request control unit 503 performs processing corresponding to the received request and transmits the processing result to the data processing device 101 as a response.

[0033] The job control unit 504 controls each processing unit, i.e., a scan processing unit 511, a copy processing unit 512, a print processing unit 513, and a fax processing unit 514, in accordance with job settings to execute various jobs. Furthermore, the job control unit 504 receives an instruction to cancel job execution from the UI control unit 502 or the request control unit 503, and cancels the job being executed.

[0034] 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining the communication between the data processing device 101 and the image forming device 104 in the first embodiment. In the diagram, "S" indicates a step. In step S601, the data processing apparatus 101 transmits to the image forming apparatus 104 a job execution request including job setting values ​​input by the user. In step S602 , the image forming apparatus 104 starts executing a job based on the job execution request received from the data processing apparatus 101 . Next, in step S603, the image forming apparatus 104 transmits a response to the job execution request (hereinafter, “job execution response”) to the data processing apparatus 101. Furthermore, in S604, the data processing apparatus 101 displays on the display 214 a button for instructing the user to stop the execution of the job (hereinafter, the "stop button").

[0035] Steps S605 to S607 correspond to repeated processing by the data processing device 101 to monitor the job execution status (hereinafter referred to as "job status") of the image forming device 104, and the data processing device 101 queries the image forming device 104 about the job status at regular intervals. On the other hand, steps S610 to S612 correspond to the processing that is performed when it is detected that the user has pressed the stop button, and are executed asynchronously between the repeated processing steps S605 to S607.

[0036] S605 to S607 will be explained in detail below. First, in step S605, the data processing apparatus 101 transmits a job status acquisition request to the image forming apparatus 104 to inquire about the job status. In S606, in response to the job status acquisition request received from the data processing apparatus 101, the image forming apparatus 104 acquires the job status and transmits it to the data processing apparatus 101 as a job status acquisition response.

[0037] In S607, the data processing apparatus 101 determines whether or not the job requested in S601 is being executed based on the job status received from the image forming apparatus 104. If the job status is not completed, the data processing apparatus 101 determines that the job is being executed (YES in S607) and returns the process to S605. On the other hand, if the job status is "end of execution," the data processing apparatus 101 determines that the job is not being executed (NO in S607), and advances the process to S608. In S608, the data processing device 101 makes the stop button displayed on the display 214 in S604 invisible.

[0038] Next, steps S610 to S612 will be described in detail. When the data processing apparatus 101 detects that the user has pressed the stop button during the processing of S605 to S607, the data processing apparatus 101 transmits a job stop request to the image forming apparatus 104 to instruct the image forming apparatus 104 to stop executing the job (S610). In S611, the image forming apparatus 104 stops execution of the job based on the job stop request, and in S612, the image forming apparatus 104 transmits a response to the job stop request (hereinafter, “job stop response”) to the data processing apparatus 101.

[0039] Hereinafter, the processing executed by the data processing device 101 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0040] Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a job execution instruction process performed by the data processing device 101 in the first embodiment. The flowchart in Fig. 7 corresponds to the process performed by the data processing device 101 in S601 to S608 in the sequence diagram in Fig. 6. The flowchart in Fig. 7 is realized by the CPU 202 of the data processing device 101 reading into the RAM 204 a program for implementing each control module stored in the ROM 203 or the storage device 209 and executing the program. In the diagram, "S" indicates a step. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the application 401 of the data processing device 101 in the first embodiment.

[0041] In S701, the UI control unit 402 receives information (such as an IP address) for connecting to the image forming apparatus 104 that will execute the job, through a user's operation on the screen of the application 401. Note that the information for connecting to the image forming apparatus 104 may not be input by the user, but may be obtained by searching for an image forming apparatus connected to the network 103 using the wireless LAN communication unit 212. If authentication is required to use the image forming apparatus 104, information required for authentication (such as a user ID and password; hereinafter, "authentication information") is also received at the same time. In the subsequent steps, communication with the image forming apparatus 104 is performed using the information received in S701.

[0042] Next, in step S702, the UI control unit 402 accepts job setting information from the user's operation on the job setting screen. An example of a job setting screen is shown in FIG. In the example of the job setting screen 911 in FIG. 9A, a job setting can be made for sending an image obtained by scanning a paper document with the image forming apparatus 104 by email. Title 912 displays the title and provides a button for canceling the settings and returning to the previous screen. In email address setting area 913, the email address of the destination can be entered using a soft keyboard. Pressing address book launch button 914 launches the address book of data processing device 101. When the user selects an email address in the address book, the selected email address is displayed in email address setting area 913. Multiple email addresses can be set. Pressing open button 915 switches to a screen display where CC, BCC, subject, body, and file name can be set, and input for each item becomes possible.

[0043] In the scan setting area 916, buttons for scan settings such as color settings and resolution when the image forming apparatus 104 scans are arranged, and job settings can be changed by pressing each button. When the UI control unit 402 detects that the job execution button 917 is pressed, it accepts the information set on the job setting screen 911 as job setting information.

[0044] Next, in step S703, the MFP control unit 403 transmits to the image forming apparatus 104 a job execution request including the job setting information received in step S702. Next, in step S704, the UI control unit 402 displays on the display 214 a screen indicating that the job settings are being transmitted to the image forming apparatus 104 (hereinafter, "job transmitting screen"). An example of the job sending screen is shown in FIG. A message area 921 is an area for displaying a message that the job settings are being transmitted to the image forming apparatus 104 .

[0045] Next, in S705, the MFP control unit 403 receives a job execution response as a response to S703 from the image forming apparatus 104. The job execution response includes information such as whether the job execution request was successful and a job ID that is an identifier for identifying the job.

[0046] Next, in S706, the MFP control unit 403 determines the contents of the job execution response. If the contents of the job execution response do not indicate success (NO in S706), the MFP control unit 403 advances the process to S720. In S720, the UI control unit 402 displays on the display 214 a message indicating that the job execution instruction has resulted in an error, and ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0047] On the other hand, if the content of the job execution response indicates success (YES in S706), the MFP control unit 403 advances the process to S707. In S707, the MFP control unit 403 stores in the RAM 204 or the storage device 209, as job execution information, connection information of the image forming apparatus 104 that sent the job execution request, the job ID received in the job execution response, and the like.

[0048] In S708, the UI control unit 402 displays on the display 214 a screen indicating that the job execution request has been successful (hereinafter, the “job transmission completion screen”). Furthermore, in S709, the UI control unit 402 displays a stop button on the display 214. The stop button is a button that is displayed independently of screen transitions within the application, and is always displayed when the application is displayed on the display 214 unless a non-display process is performed in S714, which will be described later.

[0049] Examples of the stop button are shown in Figures 9(c) and 9(d). FIG. 9C is an example of a job transmission completion screen. A message area 931 is an area for displaying the fact that the job execution request has been successful. A button 932 is a stop button, and is displayed in front of the message area 931. A button 933 is a button for closing the job transmission completion screen. When it is detected that the user has pressed the button 933, the UI control unit 402 displays a function list screen shown in FIG. 9(d) on the display 214.

[0050] FIG. 9(d) is an example of a function list screen. List area 941 is an area for displaying a list of functions that an application has. Button 942 is a stop button (corresponding to button 932), and is displayed even after the screen transition from Fig. 9(c) to Fig. 9(d). Also, button 942 is displayed in front of list area 941.

[0051] Next, in step S710, the MFP control unit 403 transmits a job status acquisition request to the image forming apparatus 104. Next, in step S711, the MFP control unit 403 receives a job status acquisition response as a response to step S710 from the image forming apparatus 104. The job status acquisition response includes information as to whether the job corresponding to the job execution request transmitted in step S703 is being executed by the image forming apparatus 104.

[0052] Next, in S712, the MFP control unit 403 determines whether or not the job execution has ended based on the information included in the job status acquisition response. If the job execution has not ended (NO in S712), the MFP control unit 403 transitions the process to S710.

[0053] On the other hand, if the job execution has ended (YES in S712), the MFP control unit 403 advances the process to S713. In S713, the MFP control unit 403 deletes the job execution information saved in S707 from the RAM 204 or the storage device 209. Furthermore, in step S714, the UI control unit 402 hides the stop button and ends the process of this flowchart. That is, the stop button is hidden at a timing corresponding to the end of the job.

[0054] Note that the configuration may be such that the stop button is always displayed after a job is executed without performing S714. In that case, the configuration may be such that the stop button is not displayed when the stop button is pressed (described later in S820 of FIG. 8). In this case, the stop button is not displayed if there is no job to be stopped at the timing in response to the instruction of the stop button.

[0055] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a job cancellation instruction process performed by the data processing device 101 in the first embodiment. The flowchart in Fig. 8 corresponds to the process performed by the data processing device 101 in S610 to S612 in the sequence diagram in Fig. 6. The flowchart in Fig. 8 is realized by the CPU 202 of the data processing device 101 reading into the RAM 204 a program for implementing each control module stored in the ROM 203 or the storage device 209 and executing the program. In the diagram, "S" indicates a step.

[0056] In S801, the UI control unit 402 detects that the user has pressed the stop button (job cancellation operation). Note that a main body operation using the motion sensor 217 may be substituted for pressing the stop button. For example, if the data processing device 101 is a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, shaking of the mobile terminal back and forth may be detected to proceed to the subsequent steps.

[0057] In response to the detection in S801 above, in S802, the MFP control unit 403 retrieves the job execution information (the job execution information saved in S707 in FIG. 7) from the RAM 204 or the storage device 209. Next, in S803, the MFP control unit 403 determines whether or not the job execution information was extracted in the above S802. If the job execution information was not extracted (NO in S803), the MFP control unit 403 advances the process to S820. In S820, the UI control unit 402 hides the stop button and ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0058] On the other hand, if the job execution information has been extracted (YES in S803), the MFP control unit 403 advances the process to S804. In S804, the MFP control unit 403 extracts connection information of the image forming apparatus 104 from the job execution information, and transmits a job cancellation request to the image forming apparatus 104. This job cancellation request includes the job ID and authentication information.

[0059] Next, in step S805, the MFP control unit 403 receives a job cancellation response as a response to step S804 from the image forming apparatus 104. The job cancellation response includes information on whether the job cancellation request was successful or not.

[0060] Next, in S806, the MFP control unit 403 determines whether or not the job cancel request has been successful based on the job cancel response. If the job cancel request has not been successful (NO in S806), the MFP control unit 403 advances the process to S810. In step S810, the UI control unit 402 displays on the display 214 a message indicating that the job cancel request has resulted in an error, and ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0061] On the other hand, if the job cancellation request has been successful (YES in S806), the MFP control unit 403 advances the process to S807. In step S807, the UI control unit 402 displays a screen indicating that a job cancel request has been sent (hereinafter, "job cancel screen") on the display 214, and ends the processing of this flowchart. An example of the job cancellation screen is shown in FIG. A message area 951 is an area for displaying the fact that a job cancel request has been sent.

[0062] Hereinafter, the process executed by the image forming apparatus 104 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by the image forming apparatus 104. The flowchart in Fig. 10 corresponds to processing performed by the image forming apparatus 104 in the sequence diagram in Fig. 6. The flowchart in Fig. 10 is realized by the CPU 302 of the image forming apparatus 104 reading into the RAM 303 a program for implementing each control module stored in the ROM 304 or HDD 305 and executing the program. In the diagram, "S" indicates a step.

[0063] In S1001, the request control unit 503 receives various requests transmitted from the data processing device 101 via the network 103. This is, for example, information transmitted in S703, S710, and S804.

[0064] Next, in S1002, the request control unit 503 extracts information related to the processing of the request (hereinafter, "request processing information") from the RAM 303 or the HDD 305. The request processing information is information saved in S1012 (described later), and includes the IP address of the data processing device 101 that has made the request, authentication information, the job ID of the job being executed upon receiving the request, and the like.

[0065] Next, in S1003, the request control unit 503 determines the type of the request received in S1001. If the request type is a "job execution request", the request control unit 503 advances the process to S1010. If the request type is a "job status acquisition request", the request control unit 503 advances the process to S1020. If the request type is a "job cancellation request", the request control unit 503 advances the process to S1030.

[0066] First, a case where the type of request is a "job execution request" will be described. In S1010, the request control unit 503 determines whether or not a job is being executed in the image forming apparatus 104. If a job is being executed (YES in S1010), the request control unit 503 advances the process to S1040. In S1040, the request control unit 503 transmits an error response to the data processing device 101, notifying the data processing device 101 that the request received in S1001 above has resulted in an error, and ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0067] On the other hand, if the job is not being executed (NO in S1010), the request control unit 503 advances the process to S1011. In S1011, the job control unit 504 starts execution of the job according to the job settings included in the job execution request received in S1001, and issues a job ID.

[0068] Next, in S1012, the request control unit 503 stores in the RAM 303 or HDD 305 the request processing information including the job ID issued in S1001, the IP address of the data processing device 101 that has made the request, authentication information, and the like. In S1013, the request control unit 503 transmits a job execution response to the job execution request received in S1001 to the data processing apparatus 101, and ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0069] Next, a case where the type of request in S1003 above is a "job status acquisition request" will be described. In S1020, the request control unit 503 acquires, from the job control unit 504, the job status of the job corresponding to the job ID included in the request processing information extracted in S1002. Next, in S1021, the request control unit 503 transmits a job status acquisition response including the job status acquired in S1020 to the data processing apparatus 101 in response to the job status acquisition request received in S1001, and ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0070] Next, a case where the type of request in S1003 above is a "job cancellation request" will be described. In S1030, the request control unit 503 determines whether or not a job is being executed in the image forming apparatus 104. If a job is not being executed (NO in S1030), the request control unit 503 advances the process to S1040, transmits an error response to the data processing apparatus 101, and ends the process of this flowchart.

[0071] On the other hand, if the job is being executed (YES in S1030), the request control unit 503 advances the process to S1031. In S1031, if there is any information missing in the job cancellation request received in S1001, the request control unit 503 uses the request processing information to complement it. For example, if the request does not include a job ID, the job ID included in the request processing information is used. Also, if the request does not include authentication information, the authentication information included in the request processing information is used. Note that conditions may be set for whether or not to complement the job cancellation request. For example, the request may be complemented only when the source IP address of the job cancellation request is the same as the IP address included in the request processing information (i.e., the request is made from the same data processing device 101). Also, the request may be complemented only when the authentication information included in the job cancellation request is the same as the authentication information included in the request processing information (i.e., the request is made from the same user).

[0072] Next, in S1032, the request control unit 503 verifies whether the job cancellation request received in S1001 above is valid. For example, if the job ID included in the request is different from the ID of the currently executed job, the request is invalid. Also, if the authentication information included in the request is different from the authentication information included in the request processing information (i.e., the job cancellation request is made by a user other than the user who instructed the execution), the request is invalid.

[0073] Next, in S1033, the request control unit 503 branches the process depending on the verification result in S1032. If the job cancellation request is invalid (NO in S1033), the request control unit 503 advances the process to S1040, transmits an error response to the data processing device 101, and ends the process of this flowchart.

[0074] On the other hand, if the job cancellation request is valid (YES in S1033), the request control unit 503 advances the process to S1034. In S1034, the job control unit 504 cancels the execution of the job corresponding to the job ID included in the job cancel request or the job ID complemented in S1031.

[0075] Next, in S1033 , the request control unit 503 deletes the request processing information stored in the RAM 303 or the HDD 305 . Furthermore, in step S1033, the request control unit 503 transmits a job cancellation response to the data processing apparatus 101, and ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0076] In the above description, if a job is being executed in S1010, the job execution request is processed as an error. However, even if a job is being executed, the job execution request may not be processed as an error, and the job based on the job execution request may be held as a job waiting to be processed, and execution may start after the preceding job is completed. In this case, when a job cancellation request is received, the job to be cancelled is identified from the jobs being executed and the jobs waiting to be processed based on the job ID etc. included in the job cancellation request, and the execution of the job is cancelled.

[0077] As described above, when a job setting is transmitted from the data processing device 101 to the image forming device 104, a means (a stop button) for instructing the data processing device 101 to stop the job is displayed independently of the screen transition within the application. This allows the data processing device 101 to be released after the job is transmitted (it is not occupied until the job is completed), and it is possible to suppress a decrease in usability. Even if the screen of the application displayed on the data processing device 101 is closed, it is possible to stop the job from the data processing device 101 using the stop button. Therefore, it is possible to stop the job without operating the image forming device itself. As described above, it becomes easier for the user to instruct the data processing device 101 to stop the job, and it is possible to significantly improve usability.

[0078] Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, when a job execution request is transmitted from the data processing device 101 to the image forming device 104, a stop button (a button-shaped user interface) for instructing to stop the job is displayed on the screen of the application 401. In the second embodiment, an embodiment configured so that the job can be instructed to be stopped from outside the application 401 will be described. Note that the second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, and therefore only the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0079] Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a job execution instruction process performed by the data processing device 101 in the second embodiment. The flowchart in Fig. 11 is a modified version of Fig. 7. That is, the flowchart in Fig. 11 is realized by the CPU 202 of the data processing device 101 reading into the RAM 204 a program for implementing each control module stored in the ROM 203 or storage device 209 and executing the program. In the figure, "S" indicates a step. Note that the same steps as in Fig. 7 are assigned the same step numbers. Only the differences from Fig. 7 will be explained below.

[0080] In the job execution instruction processing according to the second embodiment, instead of displaying a stop button, a message for canceling the job execution is notified to the notification center. That is, after the processing of S708, in S1101, the UI control unit 402 instructs the notification center control unit 410 to notify the notification center of a message for canceling the job execution (hereinafter, "job cancellation notification"). At this time, a stop instruction is added as a parameter in case the application 401 is called from the job cancellation notification. The notification center control unit 410 displays the job cancellation notification in the notification center in accordance with the instruction from the UI control unit 402.

[0081] FIG. 13(a) is an example of a notification center screen. A notification center area 1301 is an area for displaying various notifications sent to the notification center. A notification 1302 is a job cancellation notification. When the notification center control unit 410 detects that the user has pressed the notification 1302, it performs the process of the flowchart in FIG. 12, which will be described later.

[0082] Furthermore, in the job execution instruction processing according to the second embodiment, instead of hiding the stop button, the job cancellation notification is erased from the notification center. That is, after the processing of S713, in S1110, the UI control unit 402 instructs the notification center control unit 410 to erase the job cancellation notification from the notification center. The notification center control unit 410 erases the job cancellation notification from the notification center in accordance with the instruction from the UI control unit 402.

[0083] Note that the job cancellation notification may be configured to be always displayed after a job is executed without performing S1110. In that case, the job cancellation notification may be configured to be hidden when the job cancellation notification button is pressed (described later in S1210 of FIG. 12).

[0084] Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the job cancellation instruction processing performed by the data processing device 101 in the second embodiment. The flowchart in Fig. 12 is a modified version of Fig. 8. That is, the flowchart in Fig. 12 is realized by the CPU 202 of the data processing device 101 reading into the RAM 204 a program for implementing each control module stored in the ROM 203 or storage device 209 and executing it. In the figure, "S" indicates a step. Note that the same steps as in Fig. 8 are assigned the same step numbers. Only the differences from Fig. 8 will be explained below.

[0085] In S1201, the notification center control unit 410 detects pressing of the job stop notification button (job stop operation). In response to the detection in S1201, in S1202, the notification center control unit 410 calls the application 401 and switches the screen to the application 401. At this time, the notification center control unit 410 gives a stop instruction as a calling parameter of the application 401.

[0086] Next, in S1203, the UI control unit 402 determines whether or not a stop instruction is added to the calling parameter of the application 401. If a stop instruction is added (YES in S1203), the UI control unit 402 advances the process to S802.

[0087] On the other hand, if the stop instruction is not given (NO in S1203), the UI control unit 402 If so, proceed to S1210. In step S1210, the UI control unit 402 issues an instruction to the notification center control unit 410 to erase the job cancellation notification from the notification center, and ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0088] FIG. 13B shows an example of a screen that appears when a job cancellation instruction is given via the notification center. A screen 1311 displays the application 401. A message area 1312 is an area for displaying a message that a job cancel request has been sent.

[0089] As explained above, the data processing device 101 is released after a job is sent (it is not occupied until the job is completed), and deterioration of usability can be suppressed. Even if the screen of an application displayed on the data processing device 101 is closed, the job can be canceled from the data processing device 101 using a notification from the notification center. Therefore, the job can be canceled without operating the main body of the image forming device. As described above, the user can instruct the cancellation of a job from the notification center of the data processing device 101, and usability can be improved significantly.

[0090] According to each of the above-described embodiments, a user interface for instructing to stop a job of an image forming apparatus started by an instruction from a mobile terminal can be displayed independently of screen transitions within an application. As a result, a job of an image forming apparatus started from a mobile terminal can be easily and quickly stopped from the mobile terminal. In this way, by making it easier to instruct to stop a job executed from a mobile terminal, usability can be improved significantly.

[0091] It goes without saying that the configurations and contents of the various data described above are not limited to those described above, and the data may have various configurations and contents depending on the application and purpose. Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention can be embodied, for example, as a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, a storage medium, etc. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of multiple devices, or may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device. Furthermore, any combination of the above-described embodiments is also included in the present invention.

[0092] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions. Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to a system made up of a plurality of devices, or to an apparatus made up of a single device. The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes all configurations that combine the above-mentioned embodiments and their modifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 101 Data processing device 102 Wireless LAN Terminal 103 Network 104 Image forming device

Claims

1. An application program for executing a control method for an information processing device capable of communicating with an image processing device, a first transmission step of transmitting an instruction to execute a job of a first function to the image processing device; a first display control step of displaying a predetermined object together with a first screen capable of accepting an instruction relating to a second function different from the first function; a second transmission step of transmitting, to the information processing device, an instruction to stop the job to be executed based on the execution instruction, based on reception of a user operation on the predetermined object; An application program that causes the information processing device to execute the above.

2. a second display control step of displaying a second screen related to the first function and the predetermined object based on the completion of transmission of the job, 2. The application program according to claim 1, wherein the second screen is a screen that is displayed before the first screen.

3. 3. The application program according to claim 2, wherein the first display control step displays the predetermined object even when a screen transitions from the second screen to the first screen.

4. 3. The application program according to claim 2, wherein the second screen is a screen indicating that transmission of the job has been completed.

5. 2. The application program according to claim 1, wherein the first screen is a function selection screen for selecting a function to be used from a plurality of functions including the first function and the second function.

6. a receiving step of receiving information indicating a status of a job to be executed based on the execution instruction from the image processing device; The application program according to claim 1, further comprising a third display control process for terminating the display of the specified object based on the received information indicating the status indicating that the job to be executed based on the execution instruction has been completed.

7. another receiving step of receiving a response to the stop instruction; 2. The application program according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth display control step of displaying an image based on the received response.

8. 3. The application program according to claim 2, wherein in the second display control step, the predetermined object is displayed without receiving a user operation for displaying the predetermined object.

9. 2. The application program according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined object is displayed in front of other objects.

10. An application program for executing a control method for an information processing device capable of communicating with an image processing device, a first transmission step of transmitting an instruction to execute a job of a first function to the image processing device; a first display control step of displaying a predetermined object in a notification area that displays notifications received from a plurality of application programs including the application program; a second transmission step of transmitting, to the information processing device, an instruction to stop the job to be executed based on the execution instruction, based on reception of a user operation on the predetermined object; An application program that causes the information processing device to execute the above.

11. 11. The application program according to claim 10, wherein the notification area is a notification area that also notifies information about an application program other than the application program.

12. the application program is started based on receipt of a user operation on the predetermined object, 11. The application program according to claim 10, wherein the started application program transmits to the image processing apparatus an instruction to stop a job that is being executed based on the execution instruction.

13. a receiving step of receiving information indicating a status of the job from the image processing device; 11. The application program according to claim 10, further comprising a second display control step of ending the display of the specified object based on receiving a notification indicating that the job has been completed in the receiving step.

14. 11. The application program according to claim 10, wherein the notification area is a screen displayed by a function of system software different from the application program.

15. A method for controlling an information processing device capable of communicating with an image processing device, comprising: a first transmission step of transmitting an instruction to execute a job of a first function to the image processing device; a first display control step of displaying a predetermined object together with a first screen capable of accepting an instruction relating to a second function different from the first function; a second transmission step of transmitting, to the information processing device, an instruction to stop the job to be executed based on the execution instruction, based on reception of a user operation on the predetermined object; A control method comprising:

16. A method for controlling an information processing device capable of communicating with an image processing device, comprising: a first transmission step of transmitting an instruction to execute a job of a first function to the image processing device based on an instruction from an application program; a first display control step of displaying a predetermined object in a notification area that displays notifications received from a plurality of application programs including the application program; a second transmission step of transmitting, to the information processing device, an instruction to stop the job to be executed based on the execution instruction, based on reception of a user operation on the predetermined object; A control method comprising:

17. An information processing device capable of communicating with an image processing device, a transmission means for transmitting an instruction to execute a job of a first function to the image processing device; a display control means for displaying a predetermined object together with a first screen capable of accepting an instruction relating to a second function different from the first function, The information processing apparatus is characterized in that the transmission means transmits, to the information processing apparatus, an instruction to stop the job that is being executed based on the execution instruction, based on receipt of a user operation on the predetermined object.

18. An information processing device capable of communicating with an image processing device, a transmission means for transmitting an instruction to execute a job of a first function to the image processing device based on an instruction from an application program; a display control means for displaying a predetermined object in a notification area that displays notifications received from a plurality of application programs including the application program; The information processing apparatus is characterized in that the transmission means transmits, to the information processing apparatus, an instruction to stop the job that is being executed based on the execution instruction, based on receipt of a user operation on the predetermined object.

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