Electronic device

Abstract

To easily copy the layout of arranged operation buttons from one electronic device to another, where each electronic device has a display unit equipped with a touch sensor and configured to display multiple operation buttons.SOLUTION: A label printing device 1 includes a touch panel 5A equipped with a touch sensor, and a CPU 212. The touch panel 5A is capable of displaying multiple operation buttons. The CPU 212 acquires first encoded information, in which first layout information relating to the arrangement of the multiple operation buttons on the touch panel 5A is encoded into a barcode. The CPU decodes the acquired first encoded information to generate the first layout information, and displays the multiple operation buttons on the touch panel 5A in accordance with the arrangement represented by the generated first layout information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device capable of displaying a plurality of operation buttons on a display unit.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, in Patent Document 1, there is disclosed a facsimile apparatus that converts telephone directory data or the like into a QR code (registered trademark) and transmits this QR code (registered trademark) as an image of a facsimile, and an image reading unit reads the QR code (registered trademark) image received as an image of a facsimile, and restores the read QR code (registered trademark) to telephone directory data or the like. In the technology of Patent Document 1, data inside a device such as telephone directory data is transmitted between two facsimile apparatuses provided at remote locations from each other.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In an electronic device, a configuration is already known in which a plurality of operation buttons are displayed on a display unit provided with a touch sensor, and when the displayed operation buttons are operated, the corresponding operations are performed by itself or the corresponding operation signals are output to the outside. In the above prior art, data used in a facsimile, such as data of telephone numbers recorded in a telephone directory, can be copied via a QR code (registered trademark), but the arrangement layout of the operation buttons of the telephone directory cannot be copied.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a new technology for enabling the arrangement layout of operation buttons to be easily copied to another electronic device in an electronic device that displays a plurality of operation buttons on a display unit provided with a touch sensor.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the invention of the present application is an electronic device having a display unit provided with a touch sensor and a control unit, and capable of displaying a plurality of operation buttons on the display unit. The control unit executes an information acquisition process of acquiring first encoded information obtained by encoding first layout information related to the arrangement of the plurality of operation buttons on the display unit into a barcode, a decoding process of decoding the first encoded information acquired in the information acquisition process to generate the first layout information, and an operation button display process of displaying the plurality of operation buttons on the display unit along the arrangement represented by the first layout information generated in the decoding process.

[0007] The electronic device of the present application has a display unit capable of displaying a plurality of operation buttons and a control unit, and can display the layout of the operation buttons of other devices. For this purpose, the control unit executes an information acquisition process, a decoding process, and an operation button display process. In the information acquisition process, first encoded information is acquired. The first encoded information is information obtained by encoding first layout information related to the arrangement of a plurality of operation buttons on the display unit into a barcode. By decoding the acquired first encoded information in the decoding process, the first layout information is generated. Along the arrangement represented by the generated first layout information, a plurality of operation buttons are displayed on the display unit in the operation button display process. According to the present invention, in a self-device, the layout of a plurality of operation buttons on the display unit of another device can be easily displayed by receiving the information encoded into a barcode.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, in an electronic device that displays a plurality of operation buttons on a display unit provided with a touch sensor, the layout of the operation buttons can be easily copied to another electronic device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <External Appearance Schematic Configuration> The external configuration of the printing label creating device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the printing label creating device 1 of the present embodiment has a device housing 2 provided with a front panel 6 and an upper cover unit 5. The upper cover unit 5 includes a display unit 5A and an operation button unit 5C. The printing label creating device is an example of a label printer and is also an example of an electronic device.

[0012] In the operation button unit 5C, a power button 7A of the printing label creating device 1, a status button 7B for displaying the operating state of peripheral devices, a feed button 7C, etc. are arranged. The display unit 5A will be described in detail later.

[0013] The front panel 6 is provided with an outlet 6A. Below the front panel 6, a detachable portion 10 is provided where a connection cable 19 to the barcode reader BR is detachably attached.

[0014] <Internal Structure of the Device Housing> The printing label creating device 1 has, inside the device housing 2, a roll storage portion (not shown) in which a roll of a printing tape of a desired width is stored. On the printing tape, label backing papers LP (see FIG. 6 described later) are discretely arranged along the longitudinal direction on a release material layer. The label backing paper LP has an adhesive layer on the back side of a printing layer on which printing is to be formed by a printing head 61 described later, and is detachably adhered to the release material layer by this adhesive layer.

[0015] Inside the device housing 2, there are also provided a platen roller (not shown) and a printing head 61 (see FIG. 2 described later) that performs desired printing on the printing tape conveyed by the platen roller. The platen roller 66 is driven by a platen roller motor 211 (see FIG. 2 described later) to feed out and convey the printing tape from the roll stored in the roll storage portion. The printing head 61 includes a plurality of heating elements, and by energizing the heating elements according to dot pattern data to be printed, characters, images, etc. are printed on the printing tape fed out from the roll. The driving of each heating element provided in the printing head 61 is performed by a printing head control circuit 217 (see FIG. 2 described later).

[0016] That is, when the platen roller 66 is rotationally driven, the printing tape is fed out and conveyed from the roll 3, and the printing head 61 forms desired printing corresponding to the user's operation on the display unit 5A on the conveyed printing tape (details will be described later). The printed label backing paper LP is discharged to the outside of the device housing 2 through the outlet 6A. The discharged label backing paper LP is finally peeled off from the release material layer as a printed label. Hereinafter, the label backing paper LP peeled off as described above after printing formation will also be referred to as "printed label LP" as appropriate.

[0017] <Control system> Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the control system of the printing label creating apparatus 1 will be described. In FIG. 2, the printing label creating apparatus 1 is provided with a CPU 212 that constitutes an arithmetic unit for performing predetermined arithmetic operations. The CPU 212 is an example of a control unit. The CPU 212 is connected to a RAM 213, a ROM 214, and a memory 215. The memory 215 is an example of a storage unit. Further, the CPU 212 is connected to a motor drive circuit 216 that performs drive control of the platen roller motor 211 for driving the platen roller 66, a print head control circuit 217 that performs energization control of the heating element of the print head 61, and the barcode reader BR. The print head 61 is an example of a printing unit. Furthermore, the display unit 5A is connected to the CPU 212.

[0018] The ROM 214 stores a control program for executing control processing (see FIG. 5 described later) and the like. The CPU 212 performs signal processing according to the program stored in advance in the ROM 214 while using the temporary storage function of the RAM 213, thereby controlling the entire printing label creating apparatus 1.

[0019] <Button display on the touch panel> In the printing label creating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the above-described printed label LP on which printing is formed according to a user operation using the display unit 5A can be created. As described above, the display unit 5A is provided on the upper part of the upper cover unit 5. The display unit 5A is configured as a so-called touch panel capable of drawing and displaying a plurality of operation buttons. Hereinafter, the display unit 5A will also be referred to as the "touch panel 5A" as appropriate.

[0020] An example of a state in which a plurality of operation buttons are displayed on the touch panel 5A is shown in Fig. 3(a). In Fig. 3(a), in this example, ten numeric buttons of "1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9", "0" and six symbol buttons of "#", "&", "+", "-", "*", " / " are arranged in a 4×4 grid on the touch panel 5A. Also, above those 16 buttons, near the upper edge of the touch panel 5A, three basic operation buttons, namely an "ESC" button, a "Menu" button, and an "OK" button, are provided.

[0021] For example, in the above example, the arrangement of the total 16 operation buttons including the ten numeric buttons, six symbol buttons, and three basic operation buttons on the touch panel 5A is stored as layout information in the memory 215, for example. The layout information at least includes coordinate information, size information, an identification code (described later), and character string information to be displayed, etc., related to each operation button with respect to the reference coordinates of the touch panel 5A. The CPU 212 reads out the above layout information from the memory 215 each time the power of the printing label creating device 1 is turned on. Then, based on the layout information, the CPU 212 draws and displays each operation button with a character string corresponding to the character string information at a position and size corresponding to the coordinate information and size information on the touch panel 5A.

[0022] At this time, as shown in Fig. 2 described above, the touch panel 5A is provided with a touch sensor 105A, and correspondingly, the CPU 212 is provided with an operation detection unit 212B. Based on the detection signal of the touch sensor 105A, the operation detection unit 212B can identify which part of the touch panel 5A the user has pressed. Fig. 3(b) shows a state where the user touches the "1" button with the fingertip 22.

[0023] <Association between Buttons and Operation Types> At this time, in the printing label creating device 1 of the present embodiment, for each operation button, the corresponding identification code and the operation type of the printing label creating device 1 corresponding to the identification code are individually associated. The correlation of this association is stored in the memory 215 as a table, for example. An example of the table is shown in FIG. 4.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, in this example, for the 16 operation buttons including the 10 numeric buttons "1" to "0" drawn and displayed on the touch panel 5A, the corresponding identification code and the operation type are associated. In the illustrated example, the identification code of the numeric button "1" is "34h66h", and the operation type of the printing label creating device 1 corresponding to this is "label creation using a price tag template". Similarly, the identification code of the numeric button "2" is "2Eh11g", and the operation type of the printing label creating device 1 corresponding to this is "label creation using a spare part template". Also, the identification mode of the numeric button "9" is "11D21e", and the operation type of the printing label creating device 1 corresponding to this is "test printing".

[0025] As described above, the identification code associated with each operation button represents what function each code executes. Note that, like the above two patterns of label creation, a plurality of consecutive operations such as "transport the backing LP and print with the print head 61" may be associated with one identification code, or only a single operation such as "print with the print head 61" may be associated with one identification code. Also, such an association between each identification code and the operation is held as a separate association table for each printing label creating device 1. In the present embodiment, all the printing label creating devices 1 are provided with the same association table. In the present embodiment, although layout information is copied between a plurality of printing label creating devices 1 as described later, the association table is not copied.

[0026] When the user touches an appropriate operation button among the operation buttons displayed on the touch panel 5A from above with a fingertip or the like, the operation detection unit 212B of the CPU 212 detects the contact with the operation button, and the CPU 212 refers to the table in FIG. 4. As a result, the CPU 212 acquires the operation type corresponding to the operation button and controls each part of the printing label creating device 1 to execute the operation type. As a result, the user can operate the printing label creating device 1 with the operation type associated with the operation button that the user has operated.

[0027] <Features of the Embodiment> The feature of the printing label creating device 1 of the present embodiment having the above configuration is that the layout information of the operation buttons drawn and displayed on the touch panel 5A described above can be barcoded and printed and output as a printed label LP. Further, by reading the printed label LP printed in the same manner as described above based on the layout information of another printing label creating device 1 via the barcode reader BR described above, the layout information of the other printing label creating device 1 can also be acquired. Hereinafter, the processing executed by the CPU 212 to realize such a function will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5.

[0028] <Control Flow> First, in S5, it is determined whether or not an instruction to barcode the layout information of the operation buttons has been given by the user. This instruction is given, for example, by operating an instruction button appropriately displayed on the touch panel 5A or by operating a button appropriately provided in the operation button unit 5C.

[0029] If the barcode instruction has been given, S5 is determined to be Yes, and the process proceeds to S7. In S7, the layout information of the operation buttons, which has been stored in the memory 215 in advance, is acquired. As described above, this layout information includes coordinate information, size information, identification codes, character string information to be displayed, etc. with respect to the reference coordinates of the touch panel 5A related to each operation button. The acquired layout information is an example of the second layout information.

[0030] In S10, the layout information obtained in S7 is encoded into a barcode by a known method and barcoded. For example, it may be a two-dimensional barcode or a one-dimensional barcode. This barcoded layout information is an example of the second encoded information, and the process executed in S10 is an example of the encoding process. Hereinafter, the barcoded layout information is appropriately referred to as the "layout barcode".

[0031] In S15, when creating the print label LP using the layout barcode generated in S10, it is determined whether there is any problem in the print label creating apparatus 1 and the preparation for printing out is okay. The above problems include, for example, conveyance jams of the label backing LP, a decrease in battery voltage when the print label creating apparatus 1 is battery-driven, and physical / functional problems inside the print label creating apparatus 1.

[0032] If any problem has occurred, S15 is determined as No and the process proceeds to S20. After a predetermined error display is made on the touch panel 5A, this flow ends.

[0033] If no such problem has occurred in particular, S15 is determined as Yes and the process proceeds to S25. In S25, a print label LP printed with the above layout barcode is created. FIG. 6 shows an example of the printed print label LP.

[0034] In the example shown in FIG. 6, the layout information including a plurality of operation buttons such as a coordinate information "10,10", a size information "15,15", an operation button with an identification code of "00h1Bh", a coordinate information "40,10", a size information of "15,15", an operation button with an identification code of "7Fh31h", etc. is barcoded and printed on the printing label LP. Thus, the barcoded layout information, that is, the layout barcode, can be read by a barcode reader BR or the like of another printing label creating device 1. Instead of the barcode reader BR, an imaging unit such as a camera may be provided in the printing label creating device 1. In that case, the layout barcode is read by the imaging unit.

[0035] Returning to FIG. 5, the process executed in S25 by the CPU 212 is an example of information output processing. In this S25, instead of printing and marking the layout barcode as described above to create the printing label LP, the layout barcode may be displayed on the touch panel 5A or another display unit. The process in this case is also an example of the above information output processing. In this case, the layout barcode displayed on the display unit can be read using the barcode reader BR of another printing label creating device 1 or the above imaging unit. When the process of S25 is completed, this flow ends.

[0036] On the other hand, if the barcode conversion instruction is not given in S5, S5 makes a No determination and the process proceeds to S30. In S30, it is determined whether an instruction to acquire the layout barcode in another printing label creating device 1 has been given. This instruction is also made, for example, by operating an instruction button appropriately displayed on the touch panel 5A, or by operating a button appropriately provided in the operation button unit 5C, etc., as described above.

[0037] If the acquisition instruction for the layout barcode has not been given, S30 determines No and returns to S5 to repeat the same process. If the acquisition instruction for the layout barcode has been given, S30 determines Yes and the process proceeds to S35.

[0038] In S35, image information of the reading result for the object to be read is acquired via the barcode reader BR. That is, for example, when the user uses the barcode reader BR to read the above-mentioned layout barcode created by the other printing label creating device 1, the read layout barcode is acquired by the CPU 212. As described above, the layout barcode may be a two-dimensional barcode or a one-dimensional barcode. Also, instead of the barcode reader BR, the above layout barcode may be read by an imaging unit such as a camera provided in the printing label creating device 1. The layout barcode read at this time, that is, the barcoded layout information, is an example of the first encoded information, and the process executed in S35 is an example of the information acquisition process.

[0039] In S40, the layout barcode acquired in S35 is decoded and analyzed by a known method, and the corresponding layout information of the operation buttons in the other printing label creating device 1 is acquired. The acquired layout information includes the coordinate information, size information, identification code, string information to be displayed, etc. related to each operation button as described above with respect to the reference coordinates of the touch panel 5A. The acquired layout information is an example of the first layout information, and the process executed in S40 is an example of the decoding process.

[0040] In S45, it is determined whether the layout information acquired in S40 includes information that does not conform to the specifications of the touch panel 5A or the like. The case where information that does not conform is included is, for example, the following cases. (a) When any of the operation buttons is outside the detection area of the touch sensor 105A; (b) When the size of any of the operation buttons is larger than the size that can be displayed on the touch panel 5A; (c) When the identification code of any of the operation buttons cannot be used in the printing label creating device 1; (d) When the character string to be indicated on any of the operation buttons is outside the range that can be displayed by the printing label creating device 1;

[0041] The process executed in S45 is an example of a conformity determination process. If the non-conforming information is not included, S45 is determined as No, and the process proceeds to S50.

[0042] In S50, along with the layout information acquired in S40 above, a plurality of operation buttons each having a character string corresponding to the character string information included in the layout information are drawn and displayed on the touch panel 5A at positions and sizes corresponding to the coordinate information and size information. The process executed in S50 is an example of an operation button display process.

[0043] On the other hand, in S45 above, if the non-conforming information is included, it is determined as Yes, and the process proceeds to S55. In S55, it is determined whether to draw only those that conform to the specifications of the touch panel 5A among the plurality of operation buttons to be drawn and displayed. That is, at the execution timing of this S55, the CPU 212 displays a message or the like asking whether to perform the limited drawing on the touch panel 5A, and the determination is made based on whether the execution of the limited drawing is selected by an appropriate operation by the user. Alternatively, if it has been previously set by the user whether to perform the limited drawing or not, in S55, it is determined whether the previous setting is for the execution of the limited drawing.

[0044] When the drawing limited to the operation buttons that match the specifications of the touch panel 5A by the user is selected, S55 is determined to be Yes, and the process proceeds to S50 described above, and the same process is performed. When the drawing limited as described above is not selected by the user, S55 is determined to be No, and the process proceeds to S60. In S60, a predetermined error display is made on the touch panel 5A. The process executed in S60 is an example of an error notification process. After S60, this flow ends.

[0045] <Effect of the Embodiment> As described above, in the present embodiment, the printing label creating device 1 includes a touch panel 5A capable of displaying a plurality of operation buttons and a CPU 212. And the layout of the operation buttons of another printing label creating device 1 (hereinafter appropriately simply referred to as "other device 1") other than the printing label creating device 1 used by the user (hereinafter appropriately simply referred to as "own device 1") can be displayed on the own device 1.

[0046] That is, in S35 executed by the CPU 212, layout information related to the arrangement of a plurality of operation buttons on the touch panel 5A of the other device 1 is obtained as a layout barcode encoded in a barcode. By decoding the obtained layout barcode of the other device 1 in S40, the layout information of the operation buttons of the other device 1 is generated. Along the arrangement represented by the generated layout information of the other device 1, a plurality of operation buttons are displayed on the touch panel 5A of the own device 1 in S50. As a result of the above, according to the present embodiment, the layout of a plurality of operation buttons on the touch panel 5A of the other device 1 can be easily displayed on the own device 1 by receiving it as information encoded in a barcode.

[0047] Further, in this embodiment, in particular, the layout of the operation buttons of the own device 1 can be displayed on another device 1 using a barcode. That is, in S10 executed by the CPU 212, layout information representing the arrangement of a plurality of operation buttons on the touch panel 5A of the own device 1 is encoded into a barcode to generate a layout barcode. The generated layout barcode is printed out as a printed label LP in S25. Thereby, by, for example, reading the layout barcode of the own device 1 indicated on the printed label LP with a camera or scanner of another device 1, the other device 1 can acquire the layout barcode. When the acquired layout barcode is decoded in another device 1 as described above to generate layout information of the corresponding operation buttons, a plurality of operation buttons can be displayed on the touch panel 5A along the arrangement represented by the layout information in the other device 1. According to this embodiment, by outputting the layout of a plurality of operation buttons on the touch panel 5A of the own device 1 as a layout barcode encoded into a barcode, it can be easily copied to another device 1 that has received it.

[0048] Figs. 7(a) to (d) are explanatory diagrams for explaining the above effects. For convenience of explanation, among the two printed label creating devices 1 having the same configuration, the one shown on the left side of each figure is referred to as "printed label creating device 1L", and the one shown on the right side of each figure is referred to as "printed label creating device 1R". As described above, in this embodiment, layout information representing the arrangement of a plurality of operation buttons on the touch panel 5A of the printed label creating device 1L shown in Fig. 7(a) is encoded into a barcode to generate a layout barcode. The generated layout barcode is printed out as a printed label LP in the printed label creating device 1L as shown in Fig. 7(b).

[0049] With respect to the layout barcode of the printing label creating device 1L indicated on the printed label LP, as shown in FIG. 7(c), by reading with the barcode reader BR of the printing label creating device 1R, the printing label creating device 1R can acquire the layout barcode indicated on the printed label LP from the above printing label creating device 1L. The acquired layout barcode is decoded in the printing label creating device 1R as described above to generate the layout information of the corresponding operation buttons. As shown in FIG. 7(d), in the printing label creating device 1R, a plurality of operation buttons can be displayed on the touch panel 5A along the arrangement represented by the layout information.

[0050] In particular, in the present embodiment, the following effects can also be obtained. For example, if one printing label creating device 1 and another printing label creating device 1 are connected by wire or wirelessly to transmit and receive the layout information of the operation buttons by communication, complicated procedures such as the communication settings of both devices and the operation with a terminal interposed between both devices are required. It is not very meaningful to take such trouble for the layout information which originally has a small capacity. By copying as a layout barcode which is information encoded in a barcode as in the present embodiment, the above disadvantages can be avoided. Specifically, it is as follows.

[0051] That is, when trying to transmit the layout information of the operation buttons from one printing label creating device 1 to another printing label creating device 1, for example, when trying to transmit using a wired LAN or a wireless LAN, it is necessary to perform complicated network settings such as setting an IP address for each printing label creating device 1. The more the number of printing label creating devices 1 increases, the more trouble is required for network settings. At this time, when the printing label creating device 1 has a barcode printing function, encoding the layout information representing the operation button arrangement into a barcode and printing it on a label can be easily executed using the existing function. Furthermore, when the printing label creating device 1 has an I / F to which the barcode reader BR can be connected as described above, connecting the barcode reader BR to the printing label creating device 1, reading the barcode, decoding it, and extracting the layout information can be easily executed using existing functions. It is even easier when the label printer is a model equipped with a barcode reader or a camera. Therefore, when it is desired to transmit the above layout information from one printing label creating device 1 to another printing label creating device 1, by transmitting it via the printed barcode, compared to the case of using a wired LAN or a wireless LAN, complicated network settings are not required and it is not troublesome.

[0052] Also, when attempting to copy the layout of the operation buttons from another device 1 to the own device 1 as described above, there may be cases where the layout specifications of the other device 1 do not match the layout specifications of the own device 1 and cannot be applied as they are. In preparation for such cases, in this embodiment, in particular, S45 and S60 are performed by the CPU 212. In S45, it is determined whether there is information in the layout information of the other device 1 acquired from the other device 1 and generated in S40 that does not conform to the arrangement of a plurality of operation buttons on the touch panel 5A of the own device 1. If it is determined that information that does not conform is included, a predetermined error notification is performed in S60. Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the layout specifications of the other device 1 to be copied to the own device 1 do not match the layout specifications of the own device 1, it is possible to notify the user of the own device 1 to that effect and make them aware of it.

[0053] Also, in this embodiment, in particular, in the own device 1, by acquiring and decoding a layout barcode including at least one of coordinate information, size information, identification code, and character string information, a plurality of corresponding operation buttons can be surely displayed on the touch panel 5A of the own device 1. Incidentally, when encoding layout information consisting of coordinate information, size information, and identification codes into a two-dimensional barcode, for example, even if each of the 50 operation buttons has an information amount of 4 bytes for coordinates, 4 bytes for size, and 4 bytes for the code, a total of about 600 bytes is sufficient. Therefore, the corresponding two-dimensional barcode can be sufficiently printed within a printing tape, for example, about several tens of millimeters wide, used for creating the printed label LP.

[0054] Also, particularly in this embodiment, as described above with reference to FIG. 4, in the memory 215, a correlation associating the identification code with the operation type in the print label creating device 1 is stored. Thereby, when an operation button arranged along the layout copied from another device 1 to the own device 1 is operated in the own device 1, the own device 1 can be smoothly operated in the operation type corresponding to the identification code of the operation button.

[0055] Also, particularly in this embodiment, the print label creating device 1 is a so-called label printer, and in S25, a layout barcode, which is an image as the second encoded information of the own device 1, is printed on the print label LP. The print label LP is an example of a printed matter. Information obtained by reading the layout barcode indicated on the print label LP by a camera or a scanner is decoded by another device 1 to generate layout information. In another device 1, a plurality of operation buttons can be displayed on the touch panel 5A along the arrangement represented by the generated layout information. According to this embodiment, by printing the print label LP having a barcode representing the layout of the operation buttons of the own device 1 in the own device 1, the layout can be smoothly and surely copied to another device 1 using the print label LP.

[0056] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and technical idea thereof. That is, the above applies the present invention to the printing label creating device 1 as an electronic device, but is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention may be applied to other types of printing devices such as a portable printer driven by a battery power source, a printer that forms an image or prints characters on a normal printing paper such as A4, A3, B4, B5 sizes, etc. The same effect can be obtained in this case. Further, not limited to the printing device, as long as it is an electronic device that draws and displays a plurality of operation buttons on a display unit such as the touch panel 5A, the present invention can be applied to devices other than the printing device (for example, a digital camera, a personal computer, a measuring device, a clock, an information device, a communication device, etc.), and the same effect can be obtained in this case.

[0057] Also, in the above, the arrow shown in FIG. 2 shows an example of the signal flow and does not limit the signal flow direction.

[0058] Also, the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 does not limit the present invention to the procedure shown in the above flow, and the procedure may be added, deleted, or the order may be changed within the scope not departing from the gist and technical idea of the invention.

[0059] Also, in addition to what has been already described above, the methods according to the above embodiments and each modification may be appropriately combined and used.

[0060] In addition, although not exemplified one by one, the present invention is implemented with various changes within the scope not departing from its gist.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0061] 1 Printing label creating device (an example of a label printer, an electronic device) 5A Touch panel (an example of a display unit) 61 Printing head (an example of a printing unit) 212 CPU (an example of a control unit) 215 Memory (an example of a storage unit)

Claims

1. A display unit equipped with a touch sensor, A control unit, And having, An electronic device capable of displaying a plurality of operation buttons on the display unit, The control unit, An information acquisition process for acquiring first encoded information obtained by encoding first layout information related to the arrangement of the plurality of operation buttons on the display unit into a barcode, A decoding process for decoding the first encoded information acquired in the information acquisition process to generate the first layout information, An electronic device that executes an operation button display process for displaying the plurality of operation buttons on the display unit along the arrangement represented by the first layout information generated in the decoding process.

2. The control unit further, An encoding process for encoding second layout information representing the arrangement of the plurality of operation buttons on the display unit into a barcode to generate second encoded information, An information output process for outputting the second encoded information generated in the encoding process, The electronic device according to claim 1, which executes.

3. The control unit further, A conformity determination process for determining whether the first layout information generated in the decoding process includes information that does not conform to the arrangement of the plurality of operation buttons on the display unit, An error notification process for performing a predetermined error notification when it is determined in the conformity determination process that the non-conforming information is included, The electronic device according to claim 1, which executes.

4. The first layout information, The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, including at least one of coordinate information, size information, identification code, and character string information represented by each of the plurality of operation buttons on the display unit.

5. Further having a storage unit that stores a correlation in which a plurality of the identification codes and a plurality of operation types in the electronic device are individually associated, The control unit, When the operation button displayed in the operation button display process is operated, the electronic device is operated in an operation type corresponding to the identification code of the operation button with reference to the correlation. The electronic device according to claim 4.

6. The electronic device, Is a label printer further having a printing unit for printing a label, The control unit, in the information output process, The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein an image of the second encoded information is printed on the label by the printing unit and output.

Images