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

Abstract

To solve the problem in which settings for a default printer cannot be configured since setup information cannot be transmitted to a portal application due to a sandboxed setup application for a printer.SOLUTION: A setup application of a PC 100 transmits (S402 in FIG. 4), when setup of a printer 100 is completed, PC identification information to the printer as setup information, and the printer 110 stores the setup information (S702 in FIG. 7). A portal application acquires (S303) the setup information from the connected printer, and sets (S304, S305), if coincident PC identification exists, a printer having made a response with the setup information, as a default printer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system, a group of programs, a program, an information processing device, a method for controlling a system, and a method for controlling an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] To use a purchased printer from an information terminal, setup work is required, such as connecting the information terminal and the printer using a setup application. After setup, when a user issues a print command to the printer from the information terminal, a portal application is often used. A portal application is an application that has a variety of functions related to printer use, such as the printer's print and scan functions, and a function that introduces recommended ways to use the printer.

[0003] To improve user convenience, there is a technology where the setup application sends information about the printer that was set up to the portal application. The portal application changes the default printer that is displayed on the top page as a printable printer to the printer that was set up based on the information received from the setup application. This makes it possible to encourage the user to use the printer immediately after it is set up.

[0004] In recent years, there has been a movement to recommend sandboxing of applications as a way to strengthen the security of information terminals. A sandbox is a mechanism that allows applications to run only in a protected area of ​​an information terminal. By sandboxing an application, even if the application is malicious, the area in which it can run is restricted, so the adverse effect on the information terminal can be minimized. In other words, sandboxing an application has the advantage that users can use the application with peace of mind. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-60248 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, sandboxing also has disadvantages. For example, one of the restrictions imposed to reduce the impact of an application on an information terminal is that it is no longer possible for the application to send data to other applications. Therefore, in the case of a specification in which a printer portal application and a setup application cooperate as described above, if the setup application is sandboxed, it will no longer be possible to send information about the set up printer to the portal application. In other words, in the conventional technology, if a setup application is sandboxed, if the user wants to set the set up printer as the default printer for a portal application, the user has to manually configure the settings, which is cumbersome.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for improving the usability when setting up an image processing device such as a printer using an information processing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention is a system including an information processing device and an image processing device, wherein the information processing device has a setup means for performing a setup process to connect to an image processing device and make it usable, a first program for causing the information processing device to function as a transmission means for transmitting identification information for identifying the information processing device as setup information to the image processing device that has been set up, and a setting means for setting an image processing device that holds the identification information of the information processing device as the setup information, among one or more image processing devices connected to the information processing device, as the image processing device to be selected by default, and the image processing device has a holding means for holding the setup information received from the information processing device, and a response means for responding with the setup information held in the holding means in response to a request from the information processing device. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the usability when setting up an image processing device such as a printer using an information processing device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the configuration of a printer. [Diagram 3] 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing of a portal application according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing of a setup application according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] Flowchart of a portal application according to the second embodiment [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a portal application according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart for explaining a process of the printer according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention.

[0012] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in the system of this embodiment, a personal computer (PC) 100 and a printer 110 are communicably connected via a network such as a LAN 152.

[0013] The PC 100 is an information processing device having a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, a display device 104, an input interface (I / F) 105, a USB I / F 106, and a network I / F 107. However, the present invention is applicable to the PC 100 as long as it has either the USB I / F 106 or the network I / F 107. Also, instead of the USB I / F 106, another communication I / F may be provided.

[0014] The ROM 102 is, for example, a flash ROM, and stores programs 108 such as a printer driver, a portal application, and a setup application, which will be described later, and PC identification information 109 that enables individual identification of the PC 100. Note that other storage devices such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) or an eMMC (embedded MultiMediaCard) may be provided instead of or in combination with an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and the programs 108 and the PC identification information 109 may be stored in these storage devices.

[0015] The portal application described above is an application having various functions related to printer use, such as functions for printing and scanning, and a function for introducing recommended ways to use a printer. The setup application described above is an application having a function for connecting the PC 100 and the printer 110. These applications display an application screen on the display device 104 when started up, and operate by accepting instructions from the user via the input I / F 105.

[0016] The PC 100 can communicate with the printer 110 via a USB cable 150. The PC 100 can also be connected to a LAN 152 via a network connection 151 using an Ethernet (registered trademark) cable or Wi-Fi, and can communicate with the printer 110 in the same LAN 152 environment. If the PC 100 is equipped with multiple USB I / Fs 106 or if a USB HUB (not shown) is used, it is also possible to connect multiple printers at the same time. The PC 100 can also be connected to multiple printers at the same time via the LAN 152. In this way, the PC 100 can be connected to and communicate with multiple printers.

[0017] The printer 110 is an image processing device having a CPU 111, a ROM 112, a RAM 113, a display device 114, an input I / F 115, a printing unit 116, a USB I / F 117, and a network I / F 118. The printer 110 is capable of connecting to and communicating with the PC 100 via a USB cable 150 connected to the USB I / F 117. The printer 110 can also be connected to a LAN 152 via a network connection 153 using an Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi, so that the printer 110 can be used by multiple personal computers.

[0018] 1, as an example, the PC 100 and the printer 110 are provided with both a USB I / F and a network I / F as connection I / Fs, but either one may be used. Also, although USB and a network are exemplified as connection I / Fs connectable to the printer 110, Centronics, Bluetooth (registered trademark), and IrDA may also be used.

[0019] FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing an example of the printer 110. As shown in FIG. The printer 110 includes a power button 201, a start button 202, a paper feed tray 203, a paper output tray 204, an access cover 205, and an opening 206. The opening 206 appears when the access cover 205 is opened.

[0020] FIG. 2(b) is a diagram illustrating the inside of the opening 206 in FIG. 2(a). An ink holder 210 that holds the ink cartridges moves left and right along a shaft 211 to perform printing. Paper is sent out by a paper feed roller 212. A fixing member 221 for the ink holder 210 is a member that fixes the ink holder 210 to prevent it from being damaged by moving left and right on the shaft 211 during transportation of the printer 110.

[0021] FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating the printer 110 after it has been removed from the packaging box. Packaging tape 220 is applied to prevent access cover 205 from opening and being damaged during transportation of printer 110.

[0022] The processing of the portal application and the setup application in the first embodiment will be described below. Fig. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the portal application in the first embodiment. The portal application is stored as a program in the ROM 112 or the like, and functions by the CPU 101 executing the program. The processing of the portal application shown in Fig. 3 starts when the user presses a setup start button (not shown) on the portal application screen via the input I / F 105 to instruct the start of setup.

[0023] First, the portal application downloads a setup application from a server (not shown) and starts it (S301). If the setup application is already stored in ROM 102 or RAM 103, the setup application may be started without downloading. The operation of the setup application after the start will be described later.

[0024] Next, the portal application checks whether the setup by the setup application started in S301 above has ended (completed) (S302). If the setup has not ended (No in S302), the portal application returns the process to S302 again after a certain period of time.

[0025] On the other hand, if the setup is completed (Yes in S302), the portal application proceeds to S303. There are several possible methods for the portal application to check the completion of the setup. It is possible to obtain information on running processes managed by the Operating System (hereinafter referred to as "OS") and check whether the setup is completed by checking whether the setup application is included in the process. Alternatively, it is possible to obtain printer queue information managed by the OS and check whether the printer queue has been created. When checking by the printer queue, it is necessary for the portal application to obtain the printer queue information once at or before S301 and store it in ROM 102 or RAM 103. The printer queue is a system that manages print jobs, and is created for each printer. Since it is created during the setup described later, it can be used to determine whether the setup is completed.

[0026] In S303, the portal application communicates with all printers connected via USB I / F 106 and network I / F 107 to check whether they possess (hold) PC identification information (setup information) for PC 100, and requests that they return the PC identification information they possess. The process in which the printer saves the PC identification information will be described later. Upon receiving this communication, printer 110 checks ROM 112 and RAM 113, and returns to PC 100 the PC identification information it possesses. The aforementioned PC identification information may be any information that can identify an individual PC, such as a Mac address, serial number, or device identifier.

[0027] Next, the portal application checks whether the PC identification information received from each printer in response to the request in S303 above includes information that matches the PC identification information 109 of the PC 100 (S304). If there is no matching PC identification information (No in S304), the portal application ends the series of processes in this flowchart.

[0028] On the other hand, if there is matching PC identification information (Yes in S304), the portal application advances the process to S305. In S305, the portal application determines that the printer that returned the matching PC identification information in S304 above is the printer that was set up by the setup application, and sets it as the default printer. In the case of this embodiment, since the PC identification information returned by printer 110 matches, the portal application sets printer 110 as the default printer. In other words, the portal application sets the printer that holds the identification information of PC 100, out of one or more printers connected to PC 100, as the printer to be selected by default.

[0029] Finally, the portal application instructs the printer with matching PC identification information to delete the PC identification information (S306). The printer that receives the instruction deletes its own PC identification information. By deleting the PC identification information, if another printer is set up later, that printer will be the default printer because it is the only printer that has the PC identification information. After S306 ends, the portal application ends the series of processes in this flowchart.

[0030] Next, the operation of the setup application in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Fig. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the process that starts when the portal application starts the setup application in S301 in Fig. 3. The setup application is stored as a program in the ROM 112 or the RAM 103, and functions when the CPU 101 executes the program.

[0031] First, the setup application executes the printer setup (S401). Here, a specific setup flow will be described. The setup application searches for printers using the USB I / F 106 and network I / F 107, has the user select the printer and connection interface they want to set up from the printers found in the search, and connects the printer to the PC 100 according to the selection. After the PC 100 and the printer are connected, the setup application installs the software required to use the printer. As part of this, the setup application creates a printer queue that manages print jobs and saves it in the ROM 102 or RAM 103.

[0032] After the printer setup is completed, the setup application transmits the PC identification information of the PC 100 to the printer that has been set up as the setup information (S402). The printer that has received the PC identification information stores the PC identification information in its own recording area. In the case of the printer 110, the PC identification information is stored in the ROM 112 or the RAM 113. After S402 ends, the setup application ends the series of processes shown in the flowchart.

[0033] Next, the operation of the printer 110 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the process that starts when the power of the printer 110 is turned on. The process of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 11 executing a program stored in the ROM 112 or the like.

[0034] First, the CPU 11 of the printer 110 checks whether or not PC identification information has been received from the PC 100 via the USB I / F 117 and the network I / F 118 (S701). If PC identification information has been received (Yes in S701), the CPU 11 advances the process to S702. In S702, the CPU 11 stores the PC identification information, the reception of which has been confirmed in S701, in the ROM 112 or the RAM 113, and advances the process to S703. On the other hand, if the PC identification information has not been received (No in S701), the CPU 11 skips S702 and advances the process to S703.

[0035] In S703, the CPU 111 checks whether or not a confirmation of possession of the PC identification information has been received from the PC 100. If a confirmation of possession of the PC identification information has been received (Yes in S704), the CPU 111 advances the process to S704. In S704, the CPU 111 returns the PC identification information to the PC 100, and the process proceeds to S705. On the other hand, if confirmation of possession of the PC identification information has not been received (No in S704), the CPU 111 skips S704 and advances the process to S705.

[0036] In S705, the CPU 111 checks whether or not an instruction to erase the PC identification information has been received from the PC 100. If an instruction to erase the PC identification information has been received (Yes in S705), the CPU 111 advances the process to S706. In S706, the CPU 111 erases the PC identification information stored in the ROM 112 or the RAM 113, and advances the process to S707. On the other hand, if the instruction to erase the PC identification information has not been received (No in S705), the CPU 111 skips S706 and advances the process to S707.

[0037] In S707, the CPU 111 checks whether or not a power-off instruction has been issued by the user pressing the power button 201. If it is checked here that a power-off instruction has not been issued (No in S707), the CPU 111 returns the process to S701. On the other hand, if it is confirmed that a power shut-off instruction has been issued (Yes in S707), the CPU 111 ends the series of processes in this flowchart.

[0038] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the setup application does not directly send information to the portal application, but instead passes information about the printer that has been set up to the portal application. Therefore, even if the setup application is sandboxed, the portal application can set the printer that has been set up as the default printer.

[0039] Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, only the PC identification information at the time of setup is used as the setup information. In the second embodiment, a form in which the setup completion date and time are also treated as the setup information in addition to the PC identification information will be described. Also, a description of the parts performing the same processing as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0040] The process of the setup application in this embodiment is the same as that in Fig. 4. However, in S402, the setup application sends the setup completion date and time to the printer in addition to the PC identification information as setup information. Here, the printer 110 that receives this information stores the setup completion date and time in its own memory area in addition to the PC identification information.

[0041] Similarly, the processing of the printer 110 in this embodiment is also the same as that in Fig. 7. However, in steps S701 to S706, the printer 110 performs processing for saving, replying, and deleting the setup completion date and time in addition to the PC identification information as setup information.

[0042] Fig. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the portal application in the second embodiment. The portal application is stored as a program in the ROM 112 or the like, and functions by the CPU 101 executing the program. The processing of the portal application shown in Fig. 5 starts when the user presses a setup start button (not shown) on the portal application screen via the input I / F 105 to instruct the start of setup.

[0043] First, S501 and S502 are the same as S301 and S302 in the first embodiment, and therefore the description will be omitted. If it is confirmed in S502 that the setup is completed (Yes in S502), the portal application advances the process to S503. In S503, the portal application communicates with all printers connected via the USB I / F 106 and the network I / F 107 to check whether they have the PC identification information and setup completion date and time of the PC 100, and requests that they return the information they have.

[0044] Next, in S504, the portal application checks whether the PC identification information received from each printer in response to the request in S503 above includes any information that matches the PC identification information 109 of the PC 100. If there is any matching PC identification information (Yes in S504), the portal application proceeds to S505. On the other hand, if there is no matching PC identification information (No in S504), the portal application ends the series of processes in this flowchart.

[0045] In S505, the portal application checks whether there are multiple printers that have returned the matching PC identification information. If there is only one printer that has returned the matching PC identification information (No in S505), the portal application proceeds to S508. In S508, the portal application sets the printer that returned the matching PC identification information as the default printer, and advances the process to S507.

[0046] On the other hand, if there are multiple printers that have returned matching PC identification information (Yes in S505), the portal application advances the process to S506. In S506, the portal application checks the setup completion date and time of each of the multiple printers that have returned the matching PC identification information, sets the printer that has returned the most recent setup completion date and time as the default printer, and proceeds to S507.

[0047] Here, a supplementary explanation will be given regarding the default printer set in S506 and S508 above. The default printer set in the OS and the default printer set in the portal application do not necessarily have to match. Therefore, it is acceptable to set only the default printer in the portal application without setting the default printer in the OS. The OS default printer referred to here is the printer that is selected first when the OS's print function is used. The portal application default printer is the printer displayed on the portal application's top page, or the printer that is selected first when the portal application's print function is used. The portal application's top page will be explained later in Figure 6.

[0048] Returning now to the explanation of the flowchart in FIG. In S507, the portal application issues an instruction to erase the PC identification information to all printers for which the PC identification information matches, and ends the series of processes in this flowchart.

[0049] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of the top page of a portal application. The portal application is an application program that provides a PC with functions related to the use of a printer. The portal application includes, for example, a top page screen 600 on which a photo print button 601, a document print button 602, a scan button 603, and a default printer image 604 are displayed.

[0050] When the photo print button 601 is pressed, the portal application transitions to a screen for performing photo printing. Similarly, when the document print button 602 is pressed, the portal application transitions to a screen for performing document printing. Also, when the scan button 603 is pressed, the portal application transitions to a screen for performing scanning.

[0051] The default printer image 604 is an image that displays the printer that the portal application uses as the default. The default printer is a printer that can perform printer functions such as printing and scanning. This default printer is the one that is selected first when printing or scanning is performed with the portal application.

[0052] In the process of S506 above, when there are multiple printers that have returned matching PC identification information, the setup completion date and time of each printer is checked, and the printer that has returned the most recent setup completion date and time is set as the default printer. However, this is not limited to this. For example, if the setup completion date and time is within a predetermined period (e.g., within 10 minutes) from the current time, the printer that has returned the oldest setup completion date and time may be set as the default printer, or a user selection from among these printers may be accepted, and the printer selected by the user may be set as the default printer.

[0053] In the second embodiment, the setup completion date and time is transmitted from the setup application to printer 110 and stored in printer 110, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when printer 110 receives PC identification information, the reception date and time may be stored together with the PC identification information, and when a confirmation request for the PC identification information is received from PC 100, the reception date and time may be returned to PC 100 together with the PC identification information. PC 100 may use the setup completion date and time to determine the printer to be set as the default printer.

[0054] In the above explanation, the setup information includes the PC identification information and the setup completion date and time. However, the last print date and time may be used instead of the setup completion date and time. As with the setup completion date and time, the more recent the date and time information is, the higher the priority is for setting it as the default printer. If multiple PC identification information matches, the same process can be used to narrow down the default printer to one. Also, the printer that has been printed the most within a predetermined period (for example, within one week) from the current time may be set as the default printer.

[0055] The only difference between the processing of the setup application in the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that in S402, after the setup is completed, the setup completion date and time is sent to the printer that was set up, in addition to the PC identification information of the PC 100.

[0056] As described above, in the second embodiment, a method has been shown in which a plurality of printers are set up collectively, and even when a plurality of pieces of PC identification information match, a default printer is set by using the setup completion date and time.

[0057] In each of the above embodiments, the setup application is started from the portal application (for example, S301 in the first embodiment, S501 in the second embodiment). The portal application may be started in response to the setup application sending the setup information to the printer in S402. In this case, the portal application starts processing from S303 in the first embodiment, and from S503 in the second embodiment.

[0058] In the above embodiments, the portal application transmits an instruction to the printer to delete the setup information after the default printer is set. The printer 110 may automatically delete the setup information saved in S702 after a predetermined time (e.g., one hour).

[0059] In each of the above embodiments, when the setup start button on the portal application screen is instructed, the default printer is set. Note that, even when the user instructs the setting of the default printer from the application screen of the portal application, the portal application may execute the process from S303 in the first embodiment, or from S503 onwards in the second embodiment.

[0060] According to each embodiment described above, even if the setup application is sandboxed, the portal application can set the printer set up by the setup application as the default printer. This allows the user to use the set up printer in a natural flow from the portal application. This improves usability when setting up an image processing device such as a printer on an information processing device such as a PC.

[0061] 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.

[0062] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-mentioned embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. Examples of storage media for supplying the program code include flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, ROMs, and DVDs. Furthermore, it goes without saying that not only are the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments realized by the computer executing the program code it has read, but also cases are included in which the OS running on the computer performs some or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code, and the functions of the above-mentioned examples are realized through that processing. Furthermore, it goes without saying that this also includes cases where the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, and then a CPU provided on the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code, thereby realizing the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments. It may also be realized by a circuit (eg, ASIC) that realizes one or more 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.

[0063] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configurations and methods. (Configuration 1) A system including an information processing device and an image processing device, The information processing device includes: a setup unit for performing a setup process for connecting to the image processing device and enabling the image processing device to be used; a transmission means for transmitting, as setup information, identification information for identifying the image processing device to which the setup process has been performed; a setting unit for setting an image processing device, which holds identification information of the information processing device as the setup information, among one or more image processing devices connected to the information processing device, as a default image processing device to be selected; The image processing device includes: A storage means for storing the setup information received from the information processing device; a response means for responding to a request from the information processing device with the setup information stored in the storage means, A system characterized by: (Configuration 2) a first program that functions as a transmission means for transmitting, when a setup process is performed for connecting an information processing device to an image processing device so as to make the information processing device usable, identification information for identifying the information processing device as setup information to the image processing device that has been set up; a second program that causes the information processing device to function as a setting means for setting an image processing device that holds identification information of the information processing device as the setup information, among one or more image processing devices connected to the information processing device, as an image processing device to be selected by default; A group of programs including: (Configuration 3) the first program provides an information processing device with a function for performing the setup process; The second program provides an information processing device with a function related to the use of an image processing device. 3. The program group according to configuration 2. (Configuration 4) The group of programs described in configuration 2 or 3, wherein the second program further causes the information processing device to function as a deletion means for instructing an image processing device, which holds the identification information of the information processing device, to delete the identification information of the information processing device after the setting means has performed the setting. (Configuration 5) the transmission means transmits information on a date and time related to the setup process in addition to the identification information of the information processing device; The group of programs described in configuration 2 or 3, characterized in that when there are multiple image processing devices that hold the identification information of the information processing device, the setting means determines the image processing device to be set as the image processing device selected by default based on the date and time information related to the setup process held by these image processing devices. (Configuration 6) The group of programs described in configuration 2 or 3, characterized in that, when there are multiple image processing devices that hold the identification information of the information processing device, the setting means checks information on the date and time when these image processing devices last printed, and determines the image processing device to be set as the image processing device selected by default based on the checked information. (Configuration 7) The group of programs described in configuration 2 or 3, characterized in that, when there are multiple image processing devices that hold the identification information of the information processing device, the setting means accepts a user operation to select one of these image processing devices, and sets the selected image processing device as the image processing device selected by default. (Configuration 8) The group of programs described in any one of configurations 2 to 7, characterized in that the setting means sets an image processing device selected by default in the second program, and does not set an image processing device selected by default in an operating system running on the information processing device. (Configuration 9) The program group according to any one of configurations 2 to 8, wherein the second program starts the first program, and performs the setting in response to the completion of processing by the first program. (Configuration 10) 10. A program, which is the first program according to any one of configurations 2 to 9. (Configuration 11) 10. A program, which is the second program according to any one of configurations 2 to 9. (Configuration 12) 10. An information processing device comprising: an information processing apparatus that holds at least one of the first program and the second program according to any one of configurations 2 to 9 in an executable manner. (Method 1) A method for controlling a system including an information processing device and an image processing device, comprising: Executed by the information processing device, a setup process for performing a setup process for connecting to the image processing device and enabling the image processing device to be used; a transmission step of transmitting, as setup information, identification information for identifying the image processing device to which the setup process has been performed; a setting step of setting an image processing device, which holds identification information of the information processing device as the setup information, among one or more image processing devices connected to the information processing device, as an image processing device to be selected by default; Executed by the image processing device, a storing step of storing the setup information received from the information processing device in a storage device; a response step of responding with the setup information stored in the storage means in response to a request from the information processing device; 13. A method for controlling a system comprising: (Method 2) A method for controlling an information processing device, comprising: a setup process for performing a setup process for connecting to the image processing device and enabling the image processing device to be used; a transmission step of transmitting, as setup information, identification information for identifying the image processing device to which the setup process has been performed; a setting step of setting an image processing device, which holds identification information of the information processing device as the setup information, among one or more image processing devices connected to the information processing device, as an image processing device to be selected by default; 13. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus comprising the steps of: [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 100 pcs 110 Printer

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus capable of executing a first program and a second program, A setup means that executes the setup process of the image processing device by executing the first program, A transmission means that, by executing the first program, transmits identification information of the information processing device as setup information to the image processing device that is the target of the setup process, By executing the second program, a request means is provided to request setup information held by each image processing device from one or more image processing devices connected to the information processing device, By executing the second program, a receiving means for receiving the setup information from the one or more image processing devices, Setting means to set the image processing device that has transmitted setup information including identification information matching the identification information held by the information processing device to the information processing device by executing the second program as the image processing device selected by default in the second program, An information processing device characterized by having the following features.

2. The first program is a setup application that provides the information processing device with a function to perform the setup process, The second program is an application that provides the information processing device with functions related to the use of the image processing device. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

3. The first program is executed in a sandboxed environment. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

4. The second program starts the first program and, in response to the completion of processing by the first program, executes processing by the request means, the receiving means and the setting means. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

5. The first program starts the second program in response to the transmission means transmitting the setup information to the image processing device which is the target of the setup process. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

6. After performing the setting by the setting means by executing the second program, the system further has an instruction means for instructing an image processing device that holds identification information matching the identification information held by the information processing device to delete the identification information, The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

7. The transmission means transmits the setup information, which includes, in addition to the identification information of the information processing device, information on the date and time relating to the setup process, to the image processing device that is the target of the setup process. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

8. When there are multiple image processing devices that have transmitted setup information including identification information matching the identification information held by the information processing device to the information processing device, the setting means sets the image processing device with the most recent setup processing date and time held by the multiple image processing devices to be the image processing device selected by default in the second program, based on the date and time information relating to the setup processing held by the multiple image processing devices. The information processing apparatus according to feature 7.

9. If there are multiple image processing devices that have transmitted setup information including identification information matching the identification information of the information processing device to the information processing device, the setting means determines which image processing device is selected by default in the second program based on the date and time information of the last print made by the multiple image processing devices. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

10. The setting means, when there are multiple image processing devices that have transmitted setup information including identification information matching the identification information of the information processing device to the information processing device, accepts a user operation to select one of the multiple image processing devices, and sets the image processing device selected by the user operation as the image processing device selected by default in the second program. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

11. The setting means sets the image processing device to be selected by default in the second program, and does not set the image processing device to be selected by default in the operating system running on the information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

12. A control method for an information processing device capable of executing a first program and a second program, The first program is executed to perform a setup process for the image processing device, and A transmission step which involves executing the first program to transmit identification information of the information processing device as setup information to the image processing device which is the target of the setup process, The execution of the second program includes a request step of requesting setup information held by each image processing device from one or more image processing devices connected to the information processing device, The process of receiving the setup information from the one or more image processing devices by executing the second program, A setting step in which the image processing device that has sent setup information including identification information matching the identification information held by the information processing device to the information processing device by executing the second program is set as the image processing device selected by default in the second program, A control method characterized by having the following features.

13. A group of programs including a first program and a second program that can be executed by the computer of an information processing device, The first program controls the computer, A setup means for performing the setup process of an image processing device, A transmission means that transmits identification information of the information processing device as setup information to the image processing device that is the target of the setup process, To make it function as, The second program controls the computer, A request means for requesting setup information held by each image processing device from one or more image processing devices connected to the information processing device, Receiving means for receiving the setup information from the one or more image processing devices, A setting means for setting an image processing device that has transmitted setup information including identification information matching the identification information possessed by the information processing device to the information processing device to be the image processing device selected by default in the second program, To make it function as A group of programs characterized by the following:

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