Control program, information processing device, and control method

Abstract

To provide an information processing device that displays a Web page on a display at timings in which any sense of discomfort is not given to a user, and a computer-readable control program provided in the information processing device.SOLUTION: A CPU 12 displays a specific page representing a Web page corresponding to obtained identification information, on a display 13 by a Web browser 22. The CPU 12 determines whether or not a specific condition is established, which is a condition for displaying the specific page on the display, and specifies a generated display URL to start up the Web browser 22 when after an execution instruction is received and further establishment of the specific condition is determined.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for displaying a Web page on an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a web server that stores data for displaying a web page on an information processing device. The information processing device can display the web page on a display by starting a web browser and receiving data from the web server connected via a network. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-173850 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a web browser is started in an information processing device, a web page corresponding to a specified URL is displayed on the display. For this reason, if a web page is displayed on the display at a timing when a user is performing various operations on the operation screen of the information processing device, the user's operation is interrupted, which may cause the user to feel uncomfortable.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an information processing device that displays a web page on a display at a timing that does not cause the user to feel uncomfortable, and a control program that can be read by a computer equipped in the information processing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention relates to a computer-readable control program for an information processing device that includes an operation unit, a display, and a communication unit and is connectable to a network through the communication unit. The control program causes the computer to execute a selection reception process for selecting a target device to execute a predetermined data processing based on an operation received by the operation unit, an instruction reception process for receiving an execution instruction from a user to cause the selected target device to execute the data processing, an acquisition process for acquiring identification information of the target device, a URL generation process for generating a display URL for displaying a specific page, which is a Web page corresponding to the acquired identification information, on the display by a Web browser, a condition determination process for determining whether a specific condition, which is a condition for displaying the specific page on the display, is satisfied, and a start process for specifying the generated display URL and starting the Web browser when the execution instruction is accepted and it is determined that the specific condition is satisfied.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention relates to an information processing device that includes an operation unit, a display, and a communication unit and can be connected to a network via the communication unit. The information processing device includes a selection receiving unit that selects a target device to execute a predetermined data processing based on an operation received by the operation unit, an instruction receiving unit that receives an execution instruction from a user to cause the target device to execute the predetermined data processing, an acquisition unit that acquires identification information of the target device, a URL generating unit that generates a display URL for displaying a specific page, which is a Web page corresponding to the acquired identification information, on the display by a Web browser, a condition determining unit that determines whether a specific condition, which is a condition for displaying the specific page on the display, is satisfied, and a display control unit that controls the display control unit to display the generated display URL when the execution instruction is received and it is determined that the specific condition is satisfied. and a launching unit that launches a web browser by specifying a URL for the application. Effect of the Invention

[0008] With the above configuration, the timing for starting the web browser to display the specific page on the display is after the data processing execution instruction from the user is received and after the specific condition is satisfied. As a result, the specific page is displayed on the display when the user completes an operation for data processing, etc., so that the specific page can be displayed on the display at a timing that does not cause the user to feel uncomfortable. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] A diagram showing an information page. [Figure 6] 4 is a timing chart showing the procedure of a printing process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for starting a browser. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a browser startup procedure according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a screen transition diagram according to the third embodiment. [Figure 10] 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for starting a browser. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a screen transition diagram according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] 4 is a timing chart showing the procedure of a printing process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] First Embodiment A printing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The printing system is an example of a control system.

[0011] The printing system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes an information processing device 10, printers 30, 31, and 32, which are examples of devices, and a server 40. The information processing device 10, the printers 30 to 32, and the server 40 are connected to a network 200. In this embodiment, the network 200 may be the Internet, a local area network (LAN), or a combination of a LAN and the Internet. The network 200 may be wired, wireless, or a combination of wired and wireless. Specifically, the information processing device 10 and the printers 30 to 32 are wirelessly connected to a router (not shown) that constitutes a part of the network.

[0012] Printers 30-32 print images by ejecting ink onto paper, which is a print medium. Of printers 30-32, printer 31 is a multifunction device equipped with a reading unit that reads images. Printer 32 is equipped with an interface that complies with the NFC (Near Field Communication) standard, and can perform wireless communication with information processing device 10 in accordance with the NFC standard. Hereinafter, the printer model of printer 30 will be referred to as "printer A," the printer model of printer 31 will be referred to as "printer B," and the printer model of printer 32 will be referred to as "printer C."

[0013] The information processing device 10 is a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The information processing device 10 includes a bus 11, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12, a display 13, a touch panel 14, a network IF 15, a memory 16, and an NFCIF 17. These components are capable of communicating with each other via the bus 11.

[0014] The display 13 has a display surface that displays a screen. The touch panel 14 has a touch sensor and is arranged to cover the display surface of the display 13. The touch panel 14 detects the approach or contact of a user's finger, a touch pen, or the like to the touch panel 14, and outputs an electrical signal in response to the detection. Hereinafter, the operation of the touch panel 14 by the user is also referred to as a user operation. In this embodiment, the touch panel 14 corresponds to an operation unit. The information processing device 10 may have physically provided operation keys as the operation unit.

[0015] The network IF 15 is capable of performing wireless communication of the Wi-Fi® (registered trademark) system based on the IEEE 802.11 standard or a standard equivalent thereto. The network IF 15 may also perform short-distance wireless communication with the printers 30 to 32 using Bluetooth (registered trademark) or the like.

[0016] The NFCIF 17 is capable of performing wireless communication based on the NFC standard. Therefore, the information processing device 10 can perform wireless communication with the printer 32 through the NFCIF 17 in accordance with the NFC standard.

[0017] The memory 16 is configured, for example, by combining a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and a flash memory. The memory 16 may also be a computer-readable storage medium. Examples of computer-readable storage media include recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs.

[0018] The memory 16 stores a client-side OS (Operating System) (not shown), as well as a control application 20, a label application 21, and a Web browser 22. Under the execution of the client-side OS, the CPU 12 executes the control application 20 to communicate with the printers 30 to 32 and the server 40. A data storage area of ​​the memory 16 stores various data referenced by the CPU 12 when executing the control application 20. In this embodiment, the control application 20 corresponds to a control program.

[0019] Under the execution of the control application 20, the CPU 12 executes the label application 21 to create a label image to be used in the printing process. Specifically, when a function for creating a label image is selected while the control application 20 is being executed, the CPU 12 starts up the label application 21. For example, the label image is an image to be printed on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. The label application 21 causes the target device to print the created label image.

[0020] Under execution of the client-side OS, the CPU 12 executes the Web browser 22, thereby downloading data stored in the server 40 and displaying the Web page on the display 13. The function of the Web browser 22 will be described later.

[0021] Under execution of the client-side OS, the CPU 12 executes an update process for updating the control application 20. For ease of explanation, in Fig. 1, the pre-update control application 20 is illustrated as a pre-update program 23. For example, the pre-update program 23 may be modified or a new function may be added to the pre-update program 23 through the update process to become the post-update control application 20.

[0022] In this embodiment, the processing of the CPU 12 according to the instructions written in the program is mainly shown. That is, the processing of "judging", "extracting", "selecting", "calculating", "deciding", "specifying", "obtaining", "receiving", "controlling" and the like in the following description represent the processing of the CPU 12. The processing by the CPU 12 also includes hardware control via the client-side OS. Note that "obtaining" is used as a concept that does not necessarily require a request. In other words, the process of the CPU 12 receiving data without making a request is also included in the concept of "the CPU 12 obtaining data." Furthermore, "data" in this specification is represented as a bit string that can be read by a computer. Data that has the same substantial meaning but different formats is treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in this specification.

[0023] The server 40 can communicate various data with the information processing device 10 through the network 200. The server 40 includes a bus 41, a network IF 42, a CPU 43, and a memory 44.

[0024] The data storage area of ​​the memory 44 stores display data 45a and 45b for displaying a Web page on the information processing device 10. The display data 45a and 45b include text data constituting text to be displayed on the screen, image data constituting images to be embedded on the screen, and layout data defining various layouts of the screen. In this embodiment, the text data is written in a markup language such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). The text data also contains a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating the location of linked data. The image data is generated in a format such as PNG, JPG, SVG, and GIF. The layout data is written in, for example, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).

[0025] In addition to a server-side OS (not shown), the memory 44 stores a management program 46 which is a program executable by the CPU 43. The CPU 43 executes the management program 46 under the execution of the server-side OS, thereby enabling the selection and reading of the display data 45a, 45b stored in the data storage area using a URL designated by the information processing device 10.

[0026] Next, the printing process executed by the printing system 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0027] First, the user operates the touch panel 14 to start the control application 20, and a function selection screen 70 shown in Fig. 2 is displayed on the display 13. In this embodiment, the function selection screen 70 is a screen for allowing the user to select each function of postcard printing, and tiles 71, 72, 73, and 74 are displayed for selecting each function of "Create communication page," "Create address page," "Register sender," and "Postcard album."

[0028] When a user selects a tile 71 on the function selection screen 70 by user operation, a communication side editing screen 75 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed. The communication side editing screen 75 includes a communication side editing area 76, a printer selection field 77, a paper type selection field 78, a number of copies field 79, and a print execution button 80. The communication side editing area 76 is an area for accepting editing of objects such as text and images to be printed on the communication side of a postcard. The printer selection field 77 is a field for accepting selection of a printer for printing the communication side. The paper type selection field 78 is a field for accepting the type of postcard. The number of copies field 79 is a field for accepting the number of postcards on which the address side is to be printed. When the printer selection field 77 is selected by user operation, the screen transitions to a printer selection screen, where the user can select a printer for printing the communication side.

[0029] When the print execution button 80 is selected by a user operation, the CPU 12 transmits a print instruction to the printer selected in the printer selection field 77 to print the communication side displayed in the communication side editing area 76. In this embodiment, when the print execution button 80 is selected by a user operation, a progress screen 81 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. This progress screen 81 includes text 82 notifying that the printing process is currently being performed, a progress bar 83 visually indicating the progress of the printing process, and a cancel button 84 for terminating the printing process. The CPU 12 generates a print job corresponding to the communication side displayed in the communication side editing area 76 and transmits it to the printer. When the progress bar 83 reaches 100% on the progress screen 81, the printing process of the communication side by the printer is completed.

[0030] Furthermore, when the "Create address side" tile 72 is operated by a user operation on the function selection screen 70, the CPU 12 displays an address side editing screen (not shown) on the display 13. The address editing screen includes an address side editing area, a printer selection field, a paper type selection field, and a print execution button. When the print execution button is selected on the address side editing screen by a user operation, the CPU 12 displays a progress screen 81 shown in FIG. 4. When a progress bar 83 on this progress screen 81 reaches 100%, the printing process is completed by the printer.

[0031] In the printing system 100 configured as above, a specific Web page may be displayed on the display 13 of the information processing device 10 depending on the printer that performs the printing process. For example, when the CPU 12 designates a URL of a link destination and starts the Web browser 22, the server 40 reads out from the memory 44 the display data 45 corresponding to the URL designated by the CPU 12 and transmits it to the information processing device 10. The CPU 12 uses the display data 45 transmitted from the server 40 to display an information page 85 shown in FIG. 5. Note that "designating a URL" means that the CPU 12 receives an IP address corresponding to the URL from a DNS (Domain Name System) server and designates data to the server 40 using the received IP address.

[0032] 5 includes a text display area 86 that displays the contents of the page, and tiles 87, 88, and 89 for "Product Support," "Software Download," and "Consumables and Options." For example, when the "Product Support" tile 87 is operated by a user, the CPU 12 that executes the Web browser 22 specifies the URL of the Web page to which the tile 87 is linked to the server 40. The server 40 reads out the display data 45 corresponding to the URL specified by the CPU 12 from the memory 44, and transmits it to the information processing device 10.

[0033] In the printing system 100 configured as above, if the information page 85 is displayed on the display 13 at a timing when the user is performing various operations related to the printing process on the screen displayed on the display 13, the user's operation will be interrupted, and there is a concern that the user will feel uncomfortable. In this embodiment, the CPU 12 executing the control application 20 specifies a URL and starts the Web browser 22 after accepting an instruction from the user to execute a printing process or the like on the printer and when it is determined that a specific condition is met.

[0034] Next, the process executed among the user, the CPU 12 executing the control application 20, the printer 30, and the server 40 when the printer 30 executes the print process will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows the process until the information page 85 shown in Fig. 5 is displayed on the information processing device 10.

[0035] In step S11, the user selects the printer to print postcards as "Printer A" by operating the printer selection field 77 on the communication page editing screen 75 shown in Fig. 3. In step S12, the CPU 12 executing the control application 20 selects "Printer A" as the target device for printing in response to the operation in step S11.

[0036] In step S13, for example, the user operates the print execution button 80 on the communication page editing screen 75 to instruct the information processing device 10 to execute the print process. In step S14, when the CPU 12 executing the control application 20 accepts the execution operation in step S13, it creates a print job corresponding to the communication page in step S15 and transmits the created print job to the printer 30. In step S16, the printer 30 executes the print process using the print job transmitted from the information processing device 10.

[0037] After transmitting the print job to the printer 30 in step S15, the CPU 12 starts the Web browser 22 in step S20 to display an information page 85 corresponding to the printer 30 ("Printer A"). Specifically, the CPU 12 uses the function of the Web browser 22 to specify to the server 40 a URL for displaying the information page 85. The detailed process in step S20 will be described later.

[0038] When the server 40 receives the display URL specified by the information processing device 10, in step S17, it reads out the display data 45 specified by the display URL and transmits the display data 45 to the information processing device 10. In step S18, the CPU 12 uses the function of the Web browser to cause the display 13 to display an information page 85 using the display data 45 received from the server 40.

[0039] Next, the details of the process executed in step S20 in Fig. 6 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The process shown in Fig. 7 is executed by the CPU 12 that executes the control application 20. Therefore, in the following, a description of the entity that executes each step will be omitted.

[0040] In step S21, it is determined whether or not the print process has failed for the printer 30. If a command to execute the print process has been normally sent as a print job to the printer 30 in step S15 of Fig. 6, or if the sending of the print job has been cancelled by the user's operation of the cancel button 84, a negative judgment is made in step S21. If a negative judgment is made in step S21, the process proceeds to step S22. On the other hand, if the print job has not been normally sent and the print process has failed due to, for example, the disconnection of communication between the information processing device 10 and the printer 30, a positive judgment is made in step S21, and the process in Fig. 7 is temporarily terminated.

[0041] In step S22, the serial number of the printer selected in step S12 as the target device for performing the print process is obtained from the printer 30. In this embodiment, the serial number is obtained as the identification information, but other than this, the printer name or model name may also be obtained as the identification information.

[0042] In step S23, the history information stored in the history table 90 in the memory 16 is referenced. In the history table 90, the serial number of the printer acquired in step S22, the display URL, and the start time of the web browser when the information page 85 was displayed in the past are stored in association with each other as history information. For example, in the history table 90, the serial number "123xx" is associated with the display URL "http: / / aaa..." and the start time "2018:10:05". This indicates that in the past, when a printing process was performed on the printer with the serial number "123xx", the web browser 22 was started on the time "October 5, 2019" and the information page 85 at the URL "http: / / aaa..." was displayed.

[0043] The history table 90 includes history information stored by the CPU 12 through execution of the pre-update control application (pre-update program 23) and history information stored by the CPU 12 through execution of the updated control application 20. In this embodiment, the history information stored by the CPU 12 through execution of the pre-update control application is the serial number "910□〇", the display URL "http: / / ccc..." associated with this serial number, and the start time "2018:01:01". In other words, the CPU 12 can accumulate in the history table 90 the history information stored before and after the update of the control application 20.

[0044] 7, in step S24, it is determined whether or not a specific condition for starting the Web browser 22 is met. In this embodiment, it is determined that the specific condition is met when all of the following four conditions are met. On the progress screen 81 (Figure 4), the progress bar 83 has reached 100%. The cancel button 84 on the progress screen 81 has not been operated. The serial number obtained in step S22 has not already been stored in the history table 90. The information processing device 10 is connected to a network 200 .

[0045] If it is determined in step S24 that the specific condition is not met, the process shown in Fig. 7 is temporarily terminated. That is, the process is terminated without starting the Web browser 22. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S24 that the specific condition is met, the process proceeds to step S25, and a display URL corresponding to the acquired serial number is generated. In this embodiment, a different display URL may be generated depending on the type of control application 20 and the process (printing process, scanning process) executed by the printer.

[0046] In step S26, the display URL generated in step S25 is specified to launch the Web browser 22. The server 40 reads out the display data 45 corresponding to the specified display URL and transmits it to the information processing device 10. As a result, an information page 85 is displayed on the display 13 by the function of the Web browser 22.

[0047] In step S27, the history table 90 is updated. Specifically, the URL generated in step S25 and the start-up time when the Web browser 22 was started in step S26 are stored in association with the serial number acquired in step S22.

[0048] In Fig. 6, step S12 is an example of a selection receiving process and a selection receiving unit, and step S14 is an example of an instruction receiving process and an instruction receiving unit. In Fig. 7, step S22 is an example of an acquisition process and an acquisition unit, and step S24 is an example of a condition determination process and a condition determination unit. Step S25 is an example of a URL generation process and a URL generation unit, and step S26 is an example of a startup process and a startup unit. Step S27 is an example of an identification information storage process and a URL storage process.

[0049] The first embodiment described above has the following advantages. The CPU 12 acquires the serial number of the printer that executes the print process, and generates a display URL for displaying the information page 85, which is a Web page corresponding to the acquired serial number. After the CPU 12 receives an execution instruction from the user and determines that a specific condition is met, the CPU 12 designates the generated display URL and starts the Web browser 22. This causes the Web browser 22 to start after the CPU 12 receives an execution instruction from the user and after the specific condition is met. As a result, the Web browser 22 starts when the user completes an operation for the print process, and the information page 85 can be displayed on the display 13 at a timing that does not cause the user to feel uncomfortable.

[0050] In response to receiving an instruction to execute a print process from a user, the CPU 12 sends a print instruction to the printer 30 and then starts the Web browser 22. This prevents the printer's print process from being interrupted by starting the Web browser, and allows the printer to reliably execute the print process.

[0051] Each time the Web browser 22 is started, the CPU 12 stores the acquired serial number in the history table 90. In the current process, the CPU 12 sets as at least one of the specific conditions that the acquired serial number has not already been stored in the history table 90. As a result, if the information processing device 10 has displayed an information page 85 in a past print process, the information page 85 is not displayed in the print process using the same printer. As a result, it is possible to prevent the same information page 85 from being displayed unnecessarily.

[0052] The CPU 12 executes an update process to update the control application 20. After executing the update process, the CPU 12 determines whether or not a display URL is stored in the history table 90 based on all display URLs including the display URL stored before the update process. In the above configuration, after the pre-update program 23 is updated to the control application 20, it is determined whether or not a specific condition is satisfied by all display URLs including the display URL stored before the control program is updated. This allows the CPU 12 to determine whether or not an information page 85 has been displayed on the display 13 in the past, regardless of whether the control application 20 has been updated.

[0053] The CPU 12 generates a display URL based on at least one of the type of the control program and the type of the data processing, and specifies the generated display URL to display the information page 85. This allows the information processing device 10 to display a Web page corresponding to the processing executed by the control application 20 or the printers 30 to 32.

[0054] <Modification 1 of the First Embodiment> In step S24, the CPU 12 may determine that the specific condition is met if all of the following four conditions are met. - On the progress screen 81, the progress bar 83 has reached 100%. The cancel button 84 on the progress screen 81 has not been operated. The serial number obtained in step S22 is not stored in the history table 90. The serial number acquired in step S22 has already been stored in history table 90, and the start-up time associated with the stored serial number is now a first period or more from the time at which CPU 12 determines in step S24 whether or not the specific condition is satisfied.

[0055] That is, in this embodiment, even if the serial number acquired in step S22 has already been stored in the history table 90, if the first predetermined time has elapsed since the time the Web browser 22 was started, the CPU 12 determines in step S24 that the specific condition is met. For example, the first predetermined time can be one year.

[0056] In the present embodiment described above, the CPU 12 sets as one of the specific conditions that the currently acquired serial number has already been stored in the history table 90, and that the time at which it is determined whether the current specific condition is met has passed a first predetermined time from the start-up time related to the already stored serial number. As a result, even if the information page 85 is displayed on the display 13, if the first predetermined time has passed since the information page 85 was displayed, the information page 85 is redisplayed on the display 13. As a result, the contents of the information page can be made known to the user.

[0057] <Modification 2 of the First Embodiment> The CPU 12 may set the execution of the control application 20 in the foreground as one of the specific conditions. Specifically, the CPU 12 executes the control application 20 in the foreground, thereby displaying, for example, a communication side editing screen or an address side editing screen in the foreground of the display 13. This allows the CPU 12 to accept an instruction to execute a print process by a user operation on the displayed communication side editing screen or address side editing screen. On the other hand, the CPU 12 executes the control application 20 in the background, thereby evacuating, for example, the communication side editing screen or the address side editing screen from the display 13. Specifically, when the touch panel 14 or physical keys of the information processing device 10 are operated and the control application 20 is executed in the background, the CPU 12 makes each screen displayed on the display 13 invisible.

[0058] In step S24, if the CPU 12 determines that the control application 20 is being executed in the background, it determines that the specific condition is not met and temporarily ends the process in FIG. 7. On the other hand, in step S24, if the CPU 12 determines that the control application 20 is being executed in the foreground, it determines that the specific condition is met and proceeds to step S25 to generate a display URL. In this embodiment, the first state is a state in which the CPU 12 executes the control application 20 in the foreground to display each screen. The second state is a state in which the CPU 12 executes the control application 20 in the background to display each screen.

[0059] In the present embodiment described above, the CPU 12 sets as one of the specific conditions that the control application 20 is executed in the background and each screen is not hidden after receiving an instruction to execute a print process on the screen while the control application 20 is executed in the foreground. This makes it possible to prevent, for example, the information page 85 from being displayed while the information processing device 10 is running a program other than the control application 20.

[0060] <Modification 3 of the First Embodiment> The CPU 12 may set the fact that the serial number has been acquired in step S22 as one of the conditions for satisfying the specific condition in step S24. This prevents the information page 85 from being displayed on the display 13 for devices that cannot be identified by their serial numbers, thereby preventing the information processing device 10 from displaying an erroneous information page 85 that is not compatible with the printer.

[0061] In step S22, the CPU 12 may not require that the information processing device 10 be connected to the network 200 as a specific condition. In this case, for example, the information processing device 10 may be connected to the network 200 by controlling the network IF 15 together with starting the Web browser 22 in step S26.

[0062] <Second embodiment> In the second embodiment, the configuration different from the first embodiment will be mainly described. In the first and second embodiments, the same reference characters denote the same parts, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0063] In this embodiment, the CPU 12 sets one of the specific conditions as being that the generated display URL has not already been stored in the history table 90. In this embodiment, a detailed procedure of the process executed in step S20 of Fig. 6 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The process shown in Fig. 8 is executed by the CPU 12 when the control application 20 is started.

[0064] When the serial number is acquired in step S22, the process proceeds to step S30. In step S30, a display URL corresponding to the serial number acquired in step S22 is generated.

[0065] In step S31, the display URL stored in the history table 90 is referenced. In step S32, it is determined whether or not a specific condition is met. In this embodiment, it is determined that the specific condition is met when all of the following three conditions are met. - On the progress screen 81, the progress bar 83 has reached 100%. The cancel button 84 on the progress screen 81 has not been operated. The display URL generated in step S30 is not stored in the history table 90.

[0066] If it is determined in step S32 that the specific condition is met, the process passes through step S26 and goes to step S27 to launch the Web browser. On the other hand, if a negative decision is made in step S32, the process in FIG.

[0067] In the present embodiment described above, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be achieved.

[0068] <Modification 1 of the second embodiment> In the second embodiment, the following condition may be added to the specific conditions determined in step S32. The display URL generated in step S30 has already been stored in history table 90, and the start time associated with the stored display URL is equal to or greater than the second period from the time at which CPU 12 determines whether the specific condition is met in step S32. For example, the second predetermined time may be one year.

[0069] In the embodiment described above, even if the information page 85 is displayed on the display 13, if the second predetermined time has elapsed since the information page 85 was displayed, the information page 85 is redisplayed on the display 13. As a result, the contents of the information page can be made known to the user.

[0070] <Modification 2 of the second embodiment> The CPU 12 may display the information page 85 by executing the label application 21 in addition to executing the control application 20. In this case, the label application 21 can execute the processes of Figures 6 and 8, similar to the control application 20. As a result, in step S27, the first URL, which is a display URL generated by the CPU 12 while executing the control application 20, and the second URL, which is a display URL generated by the CPU 12 while executing the label application 21, are stored in the history table 90.

[0071] In the next processing shown in FIG. 7, in step S32, the CPU 12 refers to the first URL and the second URL stored in the history table 90 and determines whether the display URL generated in step S22 has already been stored in the history table 90.

[0072] In the present embodiment described above, when the information processing device 10 causes the information page 85 to be displayed on the display 13 by executing either of the applications 20 and 21, the information page 85 is not displayed thereafter. This makes it possible to prevent the information page 85 from being unnecessarily displayed even when the CPU 12 is configured to be able to display the information page 85 using different applications.

[0073] <Third embodiment> In the third embodiment, the configuration different from the first embodiment will be mainly described. The same reference characters in the first and third embodiments denote the same parts, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0074] In this embodiment, the start of the Web browser 22 will be described by taking as an example a case where the printer 31, which is a multifunction peripheral, is selected as the target device. Fig. 9 shows the transition of screens displayed on the information processing device 10 when the printer 31 is made to execute a scan process.

[0075] When a scan process is selected as a function of the printer 31 on a function selection screen (not shown), the CPU 12 causes the display 13 to display a scan setting screen 170 shown in Fig. 9. The scan setting screen 170 includes a document size field 170a, a scan image quality field 170b, and a scan execution button 170c. By operating the document size field 170a, the user can change the size of the document to be read by the image reading unit of the printer 31. In addition, by operating the scan image quality field 170b, the user can change the document reading method (color or monochrome) and the reading resolution.

[0076] When the scan execution button 170c is operated by a user operation, the CPU 12 displays a progress screen (not shown) on the display 13. The progress screen displays the content in which the character string "Print" in FIG. 4 is replaced with "Scan". When the progress bar displayed on the progress screen changes to 100%, the CPU 12 displays a re-operation acceptance screen 171 on the display 13. This re-operation acceptance screen 171 includes a completion button 171a for instructing the printer 31 to end the scan process, and a rescan button 171b for re-executing the scan process on the document. When the rescan button 171b is operated by a user operation, the CPU 12 causes the printer 31 to resume reading the document. On the other hand, when the completion button 171a is operated by a user operation, the CPU 12 displays a preview screen 172 on the display 13.

[0077] The preview screen 172 includes a display area 172a in which the manuscript data transmitted from the printer 31 to the information processing device 10 is displayed, and a save button 172b for receiving an instruction as to whether or not to save the manuscript data displayed in the display area 172a. When the save button 172b is operated by a user operation, the CPU 12 executes a save process for saving the manuscript data.

[0078] When the save button 172b is operated by the user to execute a save process on the document data, the CPU 12 displays the information page 173. That is, in this embodiment, after an instruction to execute a scan process by the user is accepted, the save button 172b is operated on the preview screen 172, and specific conditions are met, the information page 173 is displayed on the display 13.

[0079] Next, details of the process executed in step S20 of FIG. 6 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0080] In step S41, it is determined whether the scan process has failed for the printer 31. Specifically, if the completion button 171a on the re-operation reception screen 171 is operated, that is, if the command to execute the scan process for the printer 31 and the reception of the scanned document data are normally completed, or if the user operates the cancel button displayed on the progress screen (not shown) to cancel the scan process, a negative judgment is made in step S41. If a negative judgment is made in step S41, the process proceeds to step S42. On the other hand, if the scan process has failed because the command to execute the scan process or the document data has not been normally transmitted due to a disconnection of communication between the information processing device 10 and the printer 31, a positive judgment is made in step S41, and the process in FIG. 10 is temporarily terminated.

[0081] In step S42, it is determined whether the save process has been completed. Specifically, when the save button 172b is operated by the user and the document data is then completely saved in the memory 16, the save process is completed. If an affirmative decision is made in step S42, the process proceeds to step S22. On the other hand, if a negative decision is made in step S42, the process in FIG. 10 is temporarily terminated.

[0082] In step S22, the serial number of the printer 31 that executed the scan process is obtained. After step S23, if it is determined in step S24 that the specific condition for starting the Web browser 22 is met, a display URL is generated in step S25. In step S26, the display URL is specified and the Web browser 22 is started. As a result, an information page 173 (FIG. 9) is displayed on the display 13.

[0083] The above-described embodiment can achieve the following effects. The printer 31 executes a scan process to acquire document data and transmit it to the information processing device 10, and the CPU 12 executes a save process to save the document data transmitted by the scan process. The CPU 12 accepts an instruction to execute a scan process by a user operation, and after transmitting an execution command for the scan process to the printer 31 in response to the instruction to execute the scan process, the CPU 12 starts the Web browser 22 when it is determined that the save process is completed and a specific condition is met. This prevents the display of the information page 85 from interrupting the saving of the document data acquired by the scan process, and ensures that the document data is saved.

[0084] <Modification of the third embodiment> The information processing device 10 may execute a transmission process as the second process, which transmits the document data to another device connected to the network 200. In this case, if the transmission process is completed in step S42 of Fig. 10, the process may proceed to step S22. The present embodiment described above can also achieve the same effects as the third embodiment.

[0085] <Fourth embodiment> In the fourth embodiment, the configuration different from the first embodiment will be mainly described. The same reference characters in the first and fourth embodiments denote the same parts, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0086] In this embodiment, the start-up of the Web browser 22 will be described by taking as an example a case where the NFC-compatible printer 32 is selected as the target device. Fig. 11 shows the transition of screens displayed on the information processing device 10 when the information processing device 10 transmits a print job to the printer 32 via NFC. Fig. 12 is a sequence diagram explaining the processing executed among the user, the CPU 12, the printer 32, and the server 40 in this embodiment.

[0087] 12, the user instructs the printer 32 to execute a print process. In this embodiment, a print function via NFC is selected by a user operation on a function selection screen (not shown), and when the user holds the information processing device 10 over the antenna section (communication area) of the printer 32, the CPU 12 displays a communication start screen 180 shown in FIG.

[0088] In step S41, a connection conforming to the NFC standard is established between the NFCIF 17 of the information processing device 10 and the printer 32. In step S41, as the connection establishment, processing such as pairing and authentication is performed between the information processing device 10 and the printer 32. In this embodiment, when the user operates the touch panel 14 while the communication start screen 180 is displayed on the display 13, the CPU 12 starts the connection establishment with the printer 32.

[0089] In step S42, the CPU 12 generates a print job and transmits the generated print job to the printer 32 via the wireless communication established in step S41. In step S16, the printer 32 executes print processing using the print job transmitted from the information processing device 10. At this time, the CPU 12 displays on the display 13 a progress screen 182 indicating the progress until the print processing by the printer 32 is completed. The progress screen 182 displays a progress bar 182a that visually indicates the degree of completion of the print processing by the printer 32.

[0090] In step S20, the CPU 12 starts the Web browser 22 and displays the information page 183 on the display 13. In this embodiment, when the information processing device 10 is held over the antenna part of the printer 32 and the completion of the printing process is displayed on the progress screen 182, the CPU 12 displays the information page 183 as the specific page. Therefore, in step S40, the act of the user holding the information processing device 10 over the antenna part of the printer 32 or the act of the user operating the touch panel 14 on the communication start screen 180 corresponds to an instruction to execute the printing process.

[0091] In the present embodiment described above, even in a configuration in which the information processing device 10 and the printer 32 transmit a print job via NFC, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be achieved.

[0092] <Other embodiments> The CPU 12 may display a Web page other than an information page as the specific page. In this case, the CPU 12 generates an individual display URL based on at least one of the type of the control program and the type of data processing executed by the printers 30 to 32.

[0093] The CPU 12 may set the specific condition that neither the acquired serial number nor the generated display URL is stored in the history table 90. In addition, the CPU 12 may not store the start time of the Web browser 22 in the history table 90.

[0094] The control application 20 may be related to specific data processing performed by a device, and is not limited to postcard printing performed by a printer. In this case, the CPU 12 starts the control application 20 to execute the label application 21. The CPU 12 may then cause the printer to print a label image created by executing the label application 21 by executing the control application 20. The target device may be any device capable of communicating with the information processing device 10, and may be a scanner device instead of a printer or multifunction device.

[0095] The server 40 may be composed of multiple devices. In this case, the functions of the server 40 described in the present embodiment may be realized by a server having a function of communicating with the information processing device 10 and a server having a function of managing display data.

[0096] The computer is not limited to a CPU, but may be realized by an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) or other logic integrated circuit, or may be realized by a CPU, an ASIC, and other logic integrated circuits working together. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 10...information processing device, 12...CPU, 13...display, 14...touch panel, 20...control application, 30, 31, 32...printers.

Claims

1. A control program readable by a computer of an information processing device that is equipped with an operation unit, a display, and a communication unit and is connectable to a network via the communication unit, The computer includes: a selection reception process for selecting a target device for executing a predetermined data processing based on an operation received by the operation unit; an instruction receiving process for receiving an execution instruction from a user for causing the selected target device to execute the data processing; An acquisition process for acquiring identification information of the target device; a URL generation process for generating a display URL for displaying a specific page, which is a Web page corresponding to the acquired identification information, on the display by a Web browser; a condition determination process for determining whether or not a specific condition, which is a condition for displaying the specific page on the display, is satisfied; A control program that executes a startup process for starting the Web browser by specifying the generated display URL after the execution instruction is accepted and when it is determined that the specific condition is satisfied.

2. the target device executes an output process for outputting data as the data processing; 2 . The control program according to claim 1 , wherein the startup process starts the Web browser after transmitting an execution command for the output process to the target device in response to the execution instruction.

3. the target device executes a first process of acquiring predetermined data as the data processing and transmitting the data to the information processing device; causing the computer to execute a second process of storing or outputting the predetermined data transmitted in the first process; In the instruction reception process, a first instruction for executing the first process is received as the execution instruction; The control program according to claim 1, wherein the startup process starts the Web browser after sending an instruction to execute the first process to the target device in response to receiving the first instruction, after executing the second process, and when it is determined by the condition judgment process that the specific condition is met.

4. the information processing device receives display data for displaying the specific page from a server connected via the network; 4. The control program according to claim 1, wherein in the condition determination process, at least one of the specific conditions is that the information processing device is connected to the network.

5. causing the computer to execute an identification information storage process for storing the acquired identification information each time the startup process is executed; A control program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the condition judgment process defines as at least one of the specific conditions that the identification information acquired by the current acquisition process has not already been stored by the identification information storage process.

6. In the identification information storage process, a start-up time when the start-up process is executed is stored in association with the identification information; In the condition determination process, the currently acquired identification information has already been stored in the identification information storage process, and the time to determine whether or not the specific condition is satisfied is set to the time when the currently acquired identification information has already been stored in the identification information storage process.

6. The control program according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the specific conditions is that a first predetermined time has elapsed from the start-up time associated with the identification information already stored in a storage process.

7. causing the computer to execute a URL storage process for storing the display URL designated in the startup process; A control program according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein in the condition judgment process, at least one of the specific conditions is that the display URL generated by the URL generation process has not already been stored by the URL storage process.

8. the information processing device includes a memory that stores a pre-update program, and the computer executes an update process to update the pre-update program to the control program; A control program as described in claim 7, wherein, in the condition judgment process, after the computer executes the update process, it is determined whether or not the display URL has already been stored by the URL storage process based on all of the display URLs including the display URL stored before the update process is executed.

9. In the URL storage process, a start-up time when the start-up process is executed is stored in association with the stored display URL, A control program as described in claim 7 or 8, in which, in the condition judgment process, the display URL is stored by the URL storage process, and the time at which it is determined whether the specific condition is met this time is a second predetermined time that has elapsed from the start-up time associated with the display URL stored by the URL storage process, and at least one of the specific conditions is that.

10. The control program includes a first program and a second program, In the URL storage process, a first URL stored by the URL storage process associated with the execution of the first program by the computer and a second URL stored by the URL storage process associated with the execution of the second program by the computer are stored; A control program according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the condition judgment process judges whether or not the generated display URL has already been stored by the URL storage process based on the first URL and the second URL.

11. the computer is capable of switching between a first state in which a screen displayed by the control program is displayed on the foreground of the display and a second state in which the screen is removed from the display; In the instruction receiving process, the execution instruction is received when the device is in the first state; A control program according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the condition determination process defines as at least one of the specific conditions that switching from the first state to the second state has not occurred after the execution instruction is received in the first state.

12. 12. The control program according to claim 1, wherein in the condition determination process, at least one of the specific conditions is that the identification information has been acquired by the acquisition process.

13. 13. The control program according to claim 1, wherein in the URL generation process, the display URL is generated based on at least one of a type of the control program and a type of the data processing.

14. An information processing device including an operation unit, a display, and a communication unit, and connectable to a network via the communication unit, a selection receiving unit that selects a target device to execute a predetermined data processing based on an operation received by the operation unit; an instruction receiving unit that receives an execution instruction from a user for causing the target device to execute the predetermined data processing; An acquisition unit that acquires identification information of the target device; a URL generating unit that generates a display URL for displaying a specific page, which is a Web page corresponding to the acquired identification information, on the display by a Web browser; a condition determination unit that determines whether or not a specific condition that is a condition for displaying the specific page on the display is satisfied; and a launch unit that, after receiving the execution instruction and when it is determined that the specific condition is satisfied, launches the Web browser by specifying the generated display URL.

Images