Embroidery data generation system, terminal program, and device program

Abstract

To provide an embroidery data generation system which has improved convenience for a user more than before when generating embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern by an embroidery sewing machine, to provide a terminal program, and to provide a device program.SOLUTION: In an embroidery data generation system 4, a terminal device 2 and an embroidery data generation device 1 for generating embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern by an embroidery sewing machine 3 are connected to a network 5 so as to communicate. A CPU 21 acquires a generation condition for embroidery data, transmits the generation condition for the embroidery pattern to the generation device 1, and based on image data transmitted from the generation device 1, a preview image which shows the embroidery finish of the embroidery pattern is displayed on a display part 28. A CPU 11 receives the generation condition transmitted from the terminal device 2, generates embroidery data and image data for displaying the preview image based on the generation condition, and transmits the generated image data to the terminal device 2 which sent the generation condition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an embroidery data generating system, a terminal program, and a device program. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known an embroidery data processing device that allows a user to set a character with a desired character shape as an embroidery pattern (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The embroidery data processing device includes a reading unit, a display unit, and a selection unit. The reading unit reads out a plurality of embroidery data corresponding to an input character code and character code standard. The display unit displays a first embroidery shape image and a second embroidery shape image, which is an embroidery shape different from the first embroidery shape image, on a display screen. A user sets a desired embroidery shape from the plurality of different embroidery shapes displayed on the display screen as an embroidery pattern. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP2014-012065A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The above-mentioned embroidery data processing device requires a dedicated application for generating image data for displaying a preview image and for generating embroidery data.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an embroidery data generation system, a terminal program, and an apparatus program that provide improved user convenience when generating embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with an embroidery machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An embroidery data generation system according to a first aspect of the present invention is an embroidery data generation system in which a terminal device and an embroidery data generation device that generates embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with an embroidery sewing machine are communicatively connected through a network, the terminal device having a terminal communication unit capable of communicating with the embroidery data generation device, an input unit to which information can be input, a display unit to display images, and a terminal control unit capable of controlling the terminal communication unit and the display unit, the terminal control unit performing a condition acquisition process to acquire generation conditions for the embroidery data input via the input unit, a condition transmission process to transmit the acquired generation conditions for the embroidery pattern to the embroidery data generation device via the device communication unit, and a condition transmission process to generate the embroidery data based on image data transmitted from the embroidery data generation device. and a display control process for displaying a preview image representing an embroidery finish of the embroidery pattern on the display unit, the embroidery data generation device having a device communication unit capable of communicating with the terminal device and a device control unit capable of controlling the device communication unit, the device control unit performing a condition receiving process for receiving the generation conditions transmitted from the terminal device via the device communication unit, an embroidery data generation process for generating the embroidery data for sewing the embroidery pattern based on the received generation conditions, an image data generation process for generating the image data for displaying the preview image on the display unit of the terminal device based on the received generation conditions, and an image data transmission process for transmitting the generated image data to the terminal device that transmitted the generation conditions. In the embroidery data generation system of the first aspect, the terminal device does not generate image data for the preview image of the embroidery pattern and generate the embroidery data, so that the terminal device does not need an application for generating image data and embroidery data. By dividing the devices that perform the processes, such as inputting the generation conditions of the embroidery data and checking the preview image on the terminal device and generating the image data and embroidery data on the embroidery data generation device, the processes performed by the applications required for the terminal device can be simplified. The embroidery data generation system can provide greater convenience to a user than ever before when generating embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with an embroidery machine.

[0007] A terminal program according to a second aspect of the present invention is a terminal program executed by a control unit of a terminal device having an input unit, a terminal communication unit, and a display unit, and includes instructions for executing a condition acquisition process to acquire generation conditions for embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with an embroidery machine, the generation conditions being input via the input unit, a condition transmission process to transmit the acquired generation conditions for the embroidery data to an embroidery data generation device via the device communication unit, and a display control process to display a preview image representing an embroidery finish of the embroidery pattern on the display unit based on image data transmitted from the embroidery data generation device. When the terminal program of the second aspect is executed, the terminal device does not generate image data of the preview image of the embroidery pattern or generate embroidery data, so that the terminal device does not need applications for generating image data and embroidery data, and the processes performed by applications required for the terminal device can be simplified. The terminal device can provide a user with improved convenience when generating embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with an embroidery machine compared to conventional methods.

[0008] A device program according to a third aspect of the present invention is a device program executed by a device control unit of an embroidery data generation device having a device communication unit, the device program including instructions for executing a condition receiving process for receiving generation conditions for embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with an embroidery machine, the condition receiving process being transmitted from a terminal device via the device communication unit, an image data generating process for generating image data for displaying a preview image showing an embroidery finish of the embroidery pattern on a display unit of the terminal device based on the received generation conditions, an image data transmitting process for transmitting the generated image data to the terminal device that transmitted the generation conditions, and an embroidery data generating process for generating the embroidery data for sewing the embroidery pattern based on the received generation conditions. When the device program of the third aspect is executed, the embroidery data generation device can separate the devices that perform the processing, such that the terminal device inputs the generation conditions for the embroidery data and checks the preview image, and the embroidery data is generated by the embroidery data generation device, thereby simplifying the processing performed by applications required for the terminal device. The embroidery data generation device can improve the convenience of a user when generating embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with an embroidery machine. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embroidery data generation system 4 including an embroidery data generation device 1, a terminal device 2, and an embroidery sewing machine 3. FIG. [Diagram 2] 11 is a part of a flowchart of a sewing machine process, a terminal process, and a device process executed by the embroidery data generating system 4. [Diagram 3] 2 is an explanatory diagram of an input screen 80 displayed on the display unit 28 of the terminal device 2. FIG. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram of data 78 transmitted from terminal device 2 to generation device 1 in terminal processing, and data 79 stored in memory unit 14 of generation device 1 based on data 78 transmitted from terminal device 2 in device processing. [Diagram 5] 13 is an explanatory diagram of a preview image 88 displayed in a field 84 on an input screen 80. FIG. [Figure 6] 11 is a part of a flowchart of a sewing machine process, a terminal process, and a device process executed by the embroidery data generating system 4. [Figure 7] 13 is an explanatory diagram of a second image 100 displayed on a display unit 28 by a terminal device 2 of a first modified example. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an input screen 90 displayed on the display unit 28 of the terminal device 2 of the second modified example. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a second image 102 displayed on a display unit 28 by a terminal device 2 of a second modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, an embroidery data generation system 4 (hereinafter referred to as "system 4") includes an embroidery data generation device 1 (hereinafter referred to as "generation device 1"), a terminal device 2, and an embroidery sewing machine 3 (hereinafter referred to as "sewing machine 3"). The generation device 1 is a well-known personal computer (PC). The terminal device 2 is a well-known tablet-type terminal device. The sewing machine 3 is a well-known multi-needle sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing. The system 4 is configured to generate embroidery data and a preview image in the generation device 1 based on generation conditions acquired by the terminal device 2, and to display the preview image on the terminal device 2.

[0011] The generating device 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a storage unit 14, and a communication I / F 15. The CPU 11 controls the generating device 1. The CPU 11 is electrically connected to the ROM 12, the RAM 13, the storage unit 14, and the communication I / F 15 via a bus 16. The ROM 12 stores a boot program, a BIOS, and the like. The RAM 13 stores temporary data. The storage unit 14 is a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD or SSD. The storage unit 14 stores various setting values ​​required for executing the generating process described below. The communication I / F 15 is an interface for connecting the generating device 1 to a network 5. The CPU 11 can transmit and receive data to and from other devices (e.g., the terminal device 2 and the sewing machine 3) connected to the network 5 via the communication I / F 15.

[0012] The terminal device 2 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a storage unit 24, a communication I / F 25, and an input / output interface 27. The CPU 21 controls the terminal device 2. The CPU 21 is electrically connected to the ROM 22, the RAM 23, the storage unit 24, the communication I / F 25, and the input / output interface 27 via a bus 26. The ROM 22 stores a boot program, a BIOS, and the like. The RAM 23 stores temporary data. The storage unit 24 is a non-volatile storage device. The storage unit 24 stores various setting values ​​required for executing the terminal processing described below. The communication I / F 25 is an interface for connecting the generating device 1 to the network 5. The CPU 21 can transmit and receive data to and from other devices (e.g., the generating device 1 and the sewing machine 3) connected to the network 5 via the communication I / F 25. The input / output interface 27 is connected to a display unit 28 and an input unit 29. The display unit 28 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The input unit 29 is, for example, a touch panel, and is used to input various instructions.

[0013] The sewing machine 3 includes a main body 31, a needle bar case 32, a main shaft motor 76, a needle bar case motor 77, a plurality of needle bars 33, a needle bar drive mechanism 35, a cylinder bed 36, a needle plate 37, a moving mechanism 38, an operating unit 45, a pair of left and right thread spool stands 49, and a thread path 52. The main body 31 supports the needle bar case 32 so that it can move in the left and right direction. The main shaft motor 76 and the needle bar case motor 77 are housed inside the main body 31. The needle bar case motor 77 can move the needle bar case 32 in the left and right direction. The needle bar case 32 is provided with a plurality of needle bars 33 and a needle bar drive mechanism 35. The sewing machine 3 of this example includes ten needle bars 33. Each of the ten needle bars 33 extends in the up-down direction and is arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction. A sewing needle 34 can be attached to the lower end of the needle bar 33. The needle bar drive mechanism 35 is configured to vertically slide a drive needle bar 33, which will be described later, among the multiple needle bars 33 in response to rotation of the main shaft motor 76. The cylinder bed 36 extends cylindrically in the front-rear direction below the needle bar case 32. A shuttle and a shuttle drive mechanism, not shown, are provided at the tip of the cylinder bed 36. The shuttle drive mechanism rotates and drives the shuttle. The needle plate 37 is a plate that is rectangular in plan view and is provided on the upper surface of the cylinder bed 36, and has a needle hole that penetrates in the vertical direction. Of the multiple needle bars 33, the needle bar 33 that is located at the drive position directly above the needle hole formed in the needle plate 37 is the drive needle bar 33.

[0014] The moving mechanism 38 is provided below the needle bar case 32. The moving mechanism 38 includes a holder 39, an X motor 41, and a Y motor 42. The holder 39 removably supports one of multiple types of embroidery frames including an embroidery frame 44. The embroidery frame 44 removably holds the workpiece. The workpiece is, for example, a workpiece cloth. The moving mechanism 38 uses the X motor 41 and the Y motor 42 as drive sources to move the embroidery frame 44 attached to the holder 39 to a position indicated by a unique XY coordinate system (embroidery coordinate system). The X direction and the Y direction of the embroidery coordinate system correspond to the left-right direction and the front-back direction of the sewing machine 3, respectively.

[0015] The operation unit 45 is provided on the right side of the main body 31. The operation unit 45 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) 46, a touch panel 47, and a start / stop switch 48. The touch panel 47 is provided on the surface of the LCD 46. The start / stop switch 48 is used to instruct the start or stop of sewing.

[0016] A pair of left and right thread spool stands 49 are provided on the rear side of the upper surface of the main body 31. Each thread spool stand 49 is provided with a plurality of spool pins 50. The spool pins 50 support thread spools 51. An upper thread 56 is supplied from the thread spool 51 mounted on the thread spool stand 49. The upper thread 56 is supplied via a thread path 52 to the eye of the sewing needle 34 attached to the lower end of the needle bar 33. The thread path 52 includes a thread guide 53, a thread tensioner 54, and a thread take-up lever 55.

[0017] The control unit 60 of the sewing machine 3 includes a CPU 61, a ROM 62, a RAM 63, a storage unit 64, an input / output interface 66, and a communication I / F 67. The CPU 61 is connected to the ROM 62, the RAM 63, the storage unit 64, the input / output interface 66, and the communication I / F 67 via a bus 65. The input / output interface 66 is connected to the drive circuits 71 to 75, the touch panel 47, and the start / stop switch 48. The storage unit 64 is a non-volatile storage device. The storage unit 64 stores various setting values ​​necessary for executing the sewing machine processing described below.

[0018] A main shaft motor 76 is connected to the drive circuit 71. The drive circuit 71 drives the main shaft motor 76 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 61. As the main shaft motor 76 is driven, the needle bar drive mechanism 35 is driven via the main shaft (not shown) of the sewing machine 3, and the drive needle bar 33 moves up and down. A needle bar case motor 77 is connected to the drive circuit 72. The drive circuit 72 drives the needle bar case motor 77 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 61, and moves the needle bar case 32 in the left-right direction relative to the main body 31. An X motor 41 is connected to the drive circuit 73. A Y motor 42 is connected to the drive circuit 74. The drive circuits 73 and 74 drive the X motor 41 and the Y motor 42, respectively, in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 61. As the X motor 41 and the Y motor 42 are driven, the embroidery frame 44 attached to the movement mechanism 38 moves in the left-right direction (X direction) and the front-back direction (Y direction) by an amount of movement corresponding to the control signal. The drive circuit 75 displays an image on the LCD 46 in accordance with the control signal from the CPU 61. The communication I / F 67 connects the sewing machine 3 to the network 5. The CPU 61 can transmit and receive data to and from other devices connected to the network 5 (e.g., the generation device 1 and the terminal device 2) via the communication I / F 67.

[0019] The operation of the sewing machine 3 will now be briefly described. As the needle bar case 32 moves left and right, one of the ten needle bars 33 is selected as the driven needle bar 33. In the sewing machine 3, the embroidery frame 44 is moved in the X and Y directions by the movement mechanism 38, and the needle bar drive mechanism 35 and the shuttle mechanism are driven. As a result, the sewing needle 34 attached to the drive needle bar 33 sews an embroidery pattern onto the sewing workpiece held by the embroidery frame 44.

[0020] 2 to 6, the process of generating embroidery data by the CPU 11 of the generating device 1 of the system 4, the CPU 21 of the terminal device 2, and the CPU 61 of the sewing machine 3 in cooperation with each other will be described in the order of terminal process, device process, and sewing machine process. The terminal process is a process executed by the CPU 21 of the terminal device 2. The device process is a process executed by the CPU 11 of the generating device 1. The sewing machine process is a process executed by the CPU 61 of the sewing machine 3. The embroidery data includes coordinate data and thread color data. The coordinate data is data indicating the formation position of stitches included in the embroidery pattern, that is, the position of the needle drop point, in the coordinates of the embroidery coordinate system. In other words, the coordinate data includes a data group indicating a plurality of coordinates for each needle drop point. The thread color data indicates the color of the thread for sewing the embroidery pattern. Hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S. As an example, a case will be described in which embroidery data is generated for sewing an embroidery pattern that shows two lines of characters written horizontally and sewn on the chest of a garment such as work clothes.

[0021] The following describes the terminal processing executed by the terminal device 2. After the power is turned on, when the CPU 21 of the terminal device 2 receives an instruction from a user to start the terminal processing, the CPU 21 reads out the terminal program stored in the storage unit 24 into the RAM 23. The CPU 21 executes the terminal processing having the following steps according to the instructions included in the terminal program read out into the RAM 23. Various data obtained in the course of the terminal processing is appropriately stored in the RAM 23.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, in the terminal processing, the CPU 21 transmits a front-end request to the generating device 1 (S11). The front-end of the system 4 refers to the part that directly interacts with the user. The front-end of the system 4 in this example is executed on the terminal device 2. The CPU 21 determines whether it has received a front-end distribution transmitted from the generating device 1 in response to the front-end request (S12). The CPU 21 waits until it receives the front-end distribution (S12: NO). The front-end distribution includes data for executing the front-end on the terminal device 2. If the front-end distribution is received (S21: YES), the CPU 21 displays the input screen 80 shown in FIG. 3 on the display unit 28 based on the received front-end distribution (S13).

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the input screen 80 has columns 81 to 85 and keys 86 and 87. The column 811 displays conditions related to fonts. The column 81 includes columns 811 and 812. The column 811 is a column that displays candidates for font types. The candidates for font types in this example are eight types of fonts, namely fonts F1 to F8, which are selected in advance by the user among forty types of fonts and stored in the generating device 1 as fonts to be displayed on the input screen 80. In the column 811, the selected candidate among the eight types of font type candidates is displayed surrounded by a rectangle 813. The column 812 is a column that displays candidates for font sizes. In this example, the candidates for font sizes are four types, S, M, L, and LL. The notation method for font sizes may be changed as appropriate, and may be expressed by numbers, for example. In the column 812, the selected candidate among the four types of font size candidates is displayed surrounded by a rectangle 814. The column 82 is a column that displays candidates for thread colors. The thread color candidates in this example are displayed as ten colors, including black, white, red, pink, yellow, orange, green, blue, light blue, and purple, that are selected in advance by the user from among twenty-four kinds of thread colors and stored in the generating device 1 as thread colors to be displayed on the input screen 80. The number of thread color candidates in this example is the same as the number of needle bars 33 of the sewing machine 3. The thread color candidates may be the same as the thread colors set in the sewing machine 3, or may be different from each other. In the field 82, the selected candidate among the ten kinds of thread color candidates is displayed surrounded by a circle 821. The field 83 includes fields 831 and 832 for inputting the character string to be embroidered. The field 831 is a field in which the first line of the horizontally written character string is input, and the field 832 is a field in which the second line of the horizontally written character string is input. The fields 831 and 832 may be set to the number of characters that can be input. The key 86 is a key for inputting an instruction to display on the display unit 28 a preview image showing the finished embroidery pattern of the generating conditions input in each field. Key 87 is a key for inputting an instruction to send embroidery data for sewing the embroidery pattern represented in the preview image to the sewing machine 3. Column 84 is a column for displaying the preview image. Column 85 is a column for displaying the size of the embroidery pattern represented in the preview image. The size of the embroidery pattern is represented by the lengths in the X and Y directions of the embroidery coordinate system of the smallest rectangle that contains the embroidery pattern.The user inputs the embroidery data generation conditions by operating the input unit 29. The generation conditions in this example include the font type, font size, thread color, and character string.

[0024] Based on the detection result of the input unit 29, the CPU 21 determines whether an input has been detected in any of the fields 811, 812, 82, 831, or 832 (S14). If an input of a generation condition has been detected (S14: YES), the CPU 21 acquires the generation conditions of the embroidery data that have been input via the input unit 29 (S15). When the generation conditions have been input as shown on the input screen 80 shown in Fig. 3, the CPU 21 acquires font F1 as the font type, font size M, thread color blue, the alphabet "Alice" as the character string for the first line, and alphabet "Bob" as the character string for the second line.

[0025] If the input of the generation conditions is not detected (S14: NO) or after S15, the CPU 21 determines whether pressing of the key 86 is detected based on the detection result of the input unit 29 (S16). If pressing of the key 86 is not detected (S16: NO), the CPU 21 returns the process to S14. If pressing of the key 86 is detected (S16: YES), the CPU 21 transmits the generation conditions of the embroidery pattern acquired in S15 to the generating device 1 via the communication I / F 25 (S17). As shown in data 78 of FIG. 4, the CPU 21 of this example transmits an authentication token 781 and the generation conditions 782 to the generating device 1 in S17. The authentication token 781 is authentication information for authenticating the terminal device 2, and is, for example, an encrypted alphanumeric character string. The CPU 21 of this example transmits the authentication token 781 to the generating device 1 before executing the process of S19. The CPU 21 determines whether or not the image data and ID generated by the generating device 1 in response to the transmission of the authentication token 781 and the generating condition 782 have been received (S18). The CPU 21 waits until the image data and ID are received (S18: NO). Although not shown, if the image data and ID are not received (S18: NO) and an error message transmitted from the generating device 1 is received, the CPU 21 displays an error message on the display unit 28 and then ends the terminal processing.

[0026] When the image data and the ID are received (S18: YES), the CPU 21 displays a preview image 88 on the display unit 28, as shown in FIG. 5, which represents the embroidery finish of the embroidery pattern, based on the image data transmitted from the generating device 1 (S19). In S19 of the system 4 of this example, in addition to the image data and the ID, size information representing the size of the embroidery pattern is also received. As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 21 displays a preview image in a field 84 of the input screen 80 based on the image data, and displays the size of the embroidery pattern in a field 85 based on the size information. In the field 85, the length in the X direction is represented as width, and the length in the Y direction is represented as height. The user checks the preview image and the size of the embroidery pattern based on the fields 84 and 85, and if the user wants to change the generating conditions, changes the desired conditions among the fields 811, 812, 82, 831, and 832. Based on the detection result of the input unit 29, the CPU 21 detects that an input in any of the fields 811, 812, 82, 831, and 832 is detected as a change instruction being input. The CPU 21 judges whether a change instruction has been detected (S20). If a change instruction has been detected (S20: YES), the CPU 21 returns the process to S15 and acquires the changed generation conditions (S15).

[0027] If no change instruction is detected (S20: NO), the CPU 21 determines whether the key 87 has been pressed based on the detection result of the input unit 29 (S21). If no pressing of the key 87 is detected (S21: NO), the CPU 21 returns the process to S20. If pressing of the key 87 is detected (S21: YES), the CPU 21 transmits a public key request to the sewing machine 3, which requests the generation and transmission of a public key for encrypting the embroidery data (S22). The algorithm for generating the public key may be any known algorithm. The algorithm for generating the public key may be any method selected from, for example, RSA, DES (Data Encryption Standard), and ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography). The sewing machine 3 of this example generates a public key using 256-bit elliptic curve cryptography (NIST P-256) defined by NIST.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the public key transmitted from the sewing machine 3 in response to the public key request has been received (S23). In S23 of the system 4 in this example, the signed public key of the sewing machine 3 is received. If the public key has not been received (S23: NO), the CPU 21 waits until the public key is received. If the public key has been received (S23: YES), the CPU 21 transmits a transmission request to the generating device 1 together with the public key received in S23 (S24). The transmission request requests that the terminal device 2 transmit embroidery data for sewing the embroidery pattern represented by the preview image being displayed in the field 84. The transmission request includes the authentication token 781 transmitted in S17, the ID 791 received in S18, and information on the device to which the encrypted embroidery data is to be transmitted. In this example, the destination device is the terminal device 2 or the sewing machine 3. After performing the display control process in S19, the CPU 21 in this example performs a request transmission process to transmit a request to transmit the embroidery data to the generating device 1. CPU 21 determines whether the destination device included in the transmission request is sewing machine 3 (S25). If the destination is sewing machine 3 (S25: YES), CPU 21 then ends the terminal processing.

[0029] If the destination is not the sewing machine 3 (S25: NO), the CPU 21 determines whether or not it has received the embroidery data transmitted from the generating device 1 in response to the transmission request (S26). In S26 of the system 4 of this example, in addition to the encrypted embroidery data, the public key of the generating device 1 and the tampering detection information are received. If the embroidery data has not been received (S26: NO), the CPU 21 waits until it receives the embroidery data. If the embroidery data has been received (S26: YES), the CPU 21 transmits the embroidery data received in S26 to the sewing machine 3 (S27). In this example, the CPU 21 transmits the public key of the generating device 1 and the tampering detection information to the sewing machine 3 in addition to the encrypted embroidery data. The CPU 21 then ends the terminal processing. Although not shown, if the embroidery data has not been received (S26: NO) and an error transmitted from the generating device 1 has been received, the CPU 21 displays an error message on the display unit 28 and then ends the terminal processing.

[0030] Next, the generation process executed by the CPU 11 of the generation device 1 will be described. When the power is turned on, the CPU 11 of the generation device 1 reads out the device program stored in the storage unit 14 into the RAM 13. The CPU 11 executes the device process having the following steps according to instructions included in the device program read out into the RAM 13. Various data obtained in the process of the device process is appropriately stored in the RAM 13.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, in the device processing, the CPU 11 determines whether a front-end request transmitted by the terminal device 2 has been received (S31). If a front-end request has not been received (S31: NO), the CPU 11 waits until a front-end request is received. If a front-end request has been received (S31: YES), the CPU 11 transmits a front-end distribution corresponding to the terminal device 2 (S32). Information contained in the front-end distribution is stored in the storage unit 14 in association with the ID of the terminal device 2. The CPU 21 refers to the storage unit 14 to acquire information corresponding to the terminal device 2, and transmits the front-end distribution to the terminal device 2.

[0032] The CPU 11 judges whether or not data 78 including an authentication token 781 and a generation condition 782 transmitted from the terminal device 2 via the communication I / F 15 has been received (S33). If the data 78 has not been received (S33: NO), the CPU 11 waits until the data 78 is received. If the data 78 has been received (S33: YES), the CPU 11 performs use authentication of the terminal device 2 using the authentication token 781 transmitted from the terminal device 2 (S34). As the authentication method, a known method may be appropriately adopted depending on the type of the authentication token 781. The CPU 11 judges whether or not authentication of the terminal device 2 has been successful in S34 (S35). If the authentication has not been successful (S35: NO), as shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 11 transmits information indicating an authentication error to the terminal device 2 (S48) and then ends the device processing.

[0033] If the authentication is successful (S35: YES), the CPU 11 generates embroidery data for sewing the embroidery pattern based on the generation conditions received in S33 (S36). A known method may be appropriately set as a method for generating embroidery data based on the generation conditions. The CPU 11 specifies the shape and size of the embroidery pattern based on the font type, font size, first line character string, and second line character string included in the generation conditions, and generates coordinate data included in the embroidery data. Based on the thread color included in the generation conditions, the CPU 11 generates image data for displaying a preview image on the display unit 28 of the terminal device 2 based on the generation conditions received in S33 (S37). The CPU 11 in this example generates image data based on the embroidery data generated in S36. For example, the CPU 11 generates image data by connecting points represented by the coordinate data with line segments represented by thread colors in the sewing order. The background of the image data may be appropriately set. For example, the image data may be image data in which the background of the image data is transparent, or may be image data in which the background is an image representing a predetermined color, pattern, or sewing object. As described above, when the CPU 11 of this embodiment is authenticated in the authentication process of S34 (S35: YES), the CPU 11 executes the embroidery data generation process (S36) and the image data generation process (S37).

[0034] The CPU 11 transmits to the terminal device 2 data for displaying a preview image on the display unit 28 based on the image data generated in S37, an ID assigned to the image data, and size information of the embroidery pattern (S38). The data for displaying a preview image on the display unit 28 may be, for example, the image data itself or a URL of the image data. The ID may be any information that can identify the image data, and may be expressed, for example, as alphanumeric characters. When the use authentication is performed in S34, the CPU 11 stores the generation conditions 782 of the embroidery pattern received in the condition receiving process in S33 in association with the authentication token 781 in the storage unit 14 (S39). As shown in data 79 in FIG. 4, the CPU 11 in this example stores the authentication token 781 received in S33, the generation conditions 782, the embroidery data 792 generated in S36, the ID 791, and time information 793 in association with each other in the storage unit 14 (S39). The time information 793 indicates the time when the process in S39 was performed.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 11 judges whether or not it has received a transmission request transmitted from the terminal device 2 and a public key generated by the sewing machine 3 using a private key (S40). If the transmission request and the public key have not been received (S40: NO), the CPU 11 performs the process of S46 described below. If the transmission request and the public key have been received (S40: YES), the CPU 11 verifies the signature of the sewing machine 3 using the public key of the sewing machine 3 (S41). S41 is a process for detecting impersonation. The signature verification method may be a known method appropriately adopted depending on the type of signature. In S41, the CPU 11 may also verify whether the ID 791 and the authentication token 781 included in the data 79 stored in the storage unit 14 in S39 match the ID and the authentication token included in the transmission request. The CPU 11 judges whether or not the verification of the signature of the sewing machine 3 in S41 was successful (S42). If the verification is unsuccessful (S42: NO), an error is sent to the terminal device 2 (S48), and the device processing is then terminated. If the verification is successful (S42: YES), the CPU 11 refers to the storage unit 14 and acquires the embroidery data 792 corresponding to the ID 791 and the authentication token 781 included in the transmission request (S43). The CPU 11 encrypts the embroidery data 792 generated in S36 and acquired in S43 using the public key received in S40 (S44). The CPU 11 in this example generates a common key and an initialization vector (IV) by ECDH using the private key of the generating device 1 and the public key of the sewing machine 3. The CPU 11 encrypts the embroidery data using the generated common key and IV using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)-128. The CPU 11 in this example further generates tampering detection information for detecting tampering of the encrypted embroidery data and the JSON parameter. The tamper detection information may be any known information, such as a GCM authentication tag.

[0036] The CPU 11 transmits the generated embroidery data to the device designated by the terminal device 2 that transmitted the generation conditions (S45). In response to receiving the transmission request transmitted from the terminal device 2, the CPU 11 in this example transmits the embroidery data encrypted in S44, the public key of the generating device 1, and the tampering detection information to the device designated by the terminal device 2 that transmitted the generation conditions. The device designated by the terminal device 2 is the terminal device 2 or the sewing machine 3. The CPU 11 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the time indicated by the time information 793 stored in S39 (S46). The predetermined time may be set in advance, and is, for example, 24 hours. If the predetermined time has not elapsed (S46: NO), the CPU 11 returns the process to S40. If the predetermined time has elapsed (S43: YES), the CPU 11 deletes the data stored in S39 from the storage unit 14 (S47). By the process of S47, the generation device 1 can prevent data 79 from continuing to be stored in the storage unit 14, which may cause a strain on the data capacity of the storage unit 14. The CPU 11 then ends the device process.

[0037] Next, a sewing process executed by the CPU 61 of the sewing machine 3 will be described. When the CPU 61 of the sewing machine 3 receives an instruction from a user to start the sewing process after the power is turned on, the CPU 61 reads out a sewing program stored in the storage unit 64 into the RAM 63. The CPU 61 executes the sewing process having the following steps in accordance with the instructions contained in the sewing program read out into the RAM 63. Various data obtained during the sewing process is appropriately stored in the RAM 63.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 61 of the sewing machine 3 determines whether or not a public key request transmitted from the terminal device 2 has been received (S1). If the public key request has not been received (S1: NO), the CPU 61 waits until the public key request is acquired. If the public key request has not been received (S1: YES), the CPU 61 generates a private key and generates a public key using the generated private key (S2), as shown in FIG. 6. The CPU 61 of this example further generates a signature for the generated public key using a signature key of the sewing machine 3. The signature may be generated by any method, and may be generated by ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm). The signature may represent, for example, the manufacturer of the sewing machine 3, the model number of the sewing machine 3, etc. The CPU 61 transmits the public key with the signature generated in S2 to the terminal device 2 (S3). The CPU 61 stores the private key and the signature in the storage unit 64.

[0039] The CPU 61 determines whether the encrypted embroidery data generated by the generating device 1 and transmitted from the generating device 1 or the terminal device 2 has been received (S4). If the encrypted embroidery data has not been received (S4: NO), the CPU 61 waits until the encrypted embroidery data is received. If the encrypted embroidery data has been received (S4: YES), the CPU 61 uses the public key received in S4 to verify the signature of the public key received in S4, and determines whether the signature verification has been successful (S5). If the signature verification has not been successful (S5: NO), the CPU 61 invalidates the encrypted embroidery data (S9), displays an error message on the LCD 46, and ends the sewing machine process. The process of invalidating the embroidery data is, for example, a process of deleting the encrypted embroidery data. The process of invalidating the embroidery data may be a process of not sewing based on the embroidery data, displays an error message, and ends the sewing machine process. If the signature verification has been successful (S5: YES), the CPU 61 executes a decryption process of decrypting the acquired encrypted embroidery data using a private key (S6). In this example, the CPU 61 generates a common key and an IV by ECDH using the public key of the generation device 1 and the private key of the sewing machine 3. The CPU 61 decrypts the encrypted embroidery data by AES128GCM using the generated common key and IV. After generating the common key, the CPU 61 discards the private key and signature of the sewing machine 3 stored in the memory unit 64.

[0040] The CPU 61 determines whether the decrypted embroidery data satisfies a predetermined use condition (S7). The use condition may be appropriately determined, and may be, for example, a condition under which the verification result using the GCM authentication tag is successful. If the verification result using the GCM authentication tag is successful, this indicates that the JSON parameter associated with the embroidery data has not been tampered with. For this reason, the CPU 61 in this example determines that the embroidery data has not been tampered with if the verification result using the GCM authentication tag is successful. If the embroidery data does not satisfy the predetermined use condition (S7: NO), the CPU 61 executes an invalidation process to invalidate the embroidery data (S9), and ends the sewing machine process after displaying an error message on the LCD 46. The invalidation process is, for example, a process to delete the decrypted embroidery data. If the use condition is satisfied (S7: YES), the CPU 61 executes a sewing process to sew an embroidery pattern based on the decrypted embroidery data (S8). By moving the needle bar case 32 left and right, the CPU 61 selects, of the ten needle bars 33, one needle bar 33 that corresponds to the thread spool 51 of the thread color indicated by the thread color data as the driving needle bar 33. The CPU 61 drives the movement mechanism 38, the needle bar driving mechanism 35 and the shuttle mechanism in accordance with the coordinate data, and sews an embroidery pattern onto the sewing workpiece held in the embroidery frame 44 with the sewing needle 34 attached to the driving needle bar 33. After S8 or S9, the CPU 61 then ends the sewing machine processing.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the system 4, the generating device 1, the terminal device 2, the sewing machine 3, and the network 5 are examples of the embroidery data generating system, the embroidery data generating device, the terminal device, the embroidery machine, and the network of the present invention, respectively. The CPU 11, the memory unit 14, and the communication I / F 15 are examples of the device control unit, the memory unit, and the device communication unit of the present invention, respectively. The CPU 21, the communication I / F 25, the display unit 28, and the input unit 29 are examples of the terminal control unit, the terminal communication unit, the display unit, and the input unit of the present invention, respectively. The CPU 61 is an example of the sewing machine control unit. The process of S15 is an example of the condition acquisition process of the present invention. The process of S17 is an example of the condition transmission process of the present invention. The process of S19 is an example of the display control process of the present invention. The process of S33 is an example of the condition reception process of the present invention. The process of S36 is an example of the embroidery data generating process of the present invention. The process of S37 is an example of the image data generating process of the present invention. The process of S38 is an example of the image data transmission process of the present invention. The process of S45 is an example of the embroidery data transmission process of the present invention. The processing of S24 is an example of a request sending process of the present invention. The processing of S39 is an example of a storage control process of the present invention. The processing of S17 is an example of a token sending process of the present invention. The processing of S34 is an example of an authentication process of the present invention. The processing of S39 is an example of a storage control process of the present invention. The processing of S40 is an example of a key receiving process of the present invention. The processing of S44 is an example of an encryption process of the present invention. The processing of S6 is an example of a decryption process of the present invention. The processing of S9 is an example of an invalidation process of the present invention.

[0042] In the system 4 of the embodiment, the terminal device 2 and the generating device 1 that generates embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with a sewing machine 3 are connected to a network 5 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The terminal device 2 includes a communication I / F 25, an input unit 29, and a CPU 21. The communication I / F 25 is capable of communicating with the generating device 1. The input unit 29 is capable of inputting information. The display unit 28 is capable of displaying images. The CPU 21 is capable of controlling the communication I / F 25 and the display unit 28. The CPU 21 executes a condition acquisition process (S15), a condition transmission process (S17), and a display control process (S19). In the process of S15, the CPU 21 acquires the generation conditions of the embroidery data input via the input unit 29. In the process of S17, the CPU 21 transmits the acquired generation conditions of the embroidery pattern to the generating device 1 via the communication I / F 25. In the process of S19, the CPU 21 displays a preview image representing the embroidery finish of the embroidery pattern on the display unit 28 based on the image data transmitted from the generating device 1. The embroidery data generation device 1 includes a communication I / F 15 and a CPU 11. The communication I / F 15 is capable of communicating with the terminal device 2. The CPU 11 is capable of controlling the communication I / F 15. The CPU 11 executes a condition receiving process (S33), an embroidery data generation process (S36), an image data generation process (S37), and an image data transmission process (S38). In the process of S33, the CPU 11 receives the generation conditions transmitted from the terminal device 2 via the communication I / F 15. In S36, the CPU 11 generates embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern based on the received generation conditions. In the process of S37, the CPU 11 generates image data for displaying a preview image on the display unit 28 of the terminal device 2 based on the received generation conditions. In the process of S38, the CPU 11 transmits the generated image data to the terminal device 2 that transmitted the generation conditions.

[0043] In system 4, the terminal device 2 does not generate image data of the preview image of the embroidery pattern and does not generate embroidery data, so the terminal device 2 does not need an application for generating image data and embroidery data. By separating the devices that perform the processing, such as inputting the embroidery data generation conditions and checking the preview image by the terminal device 2 and generating image data and embroidery data by the generating device 1, the processing performed by the applications required for the terminal device 2 can be simplified. System 4 can improve user convenience when generating embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with the sewing machine 3 compared to the conventional system. Furthermore, in system 4, the terminal device 2 displays the input screen 80 based on the front-end layout transmitted from the generating device 1, so no application for generating data for displaying the input screen 80 is required.

[0044] The CPU 11 of the creation device 1 executes an embroidery data transmission process to transmit the created embroidery data to a device specified by the terminal device 2 that transmitted the creation conditions (S45). Therefore, the system 4 can transmit the embroidery data to the device specified by the terminal device 2.

[0045] After executing the display control process (S19), the CPU 21 of the terminal device 2 executes a request transmission process to transmit a request to transmit embroidery data to the generating device 1 (S24). The CPU 11 of the generating device 1 executes the embroidery data transmission process in response to receiving the transmission request transmitted from the terminal device 2. Therefore, the system 4 can transmit the embroidery data to the device specified by the terminal device 2 only when a transmission request is transmitted from the terminal device 2. The system 4 can avoid transmitting the embroidery data when it is not necessary to transmit the embroidery data to the device specified by the terminal device 2, such as when it is desired to modify the generation conditions.

[0046] The generation device 1 includes a storage unit 14. Before executing the display control process, the CPU 21 executes a token transmission process for transmitting an authentication token 781 to the generation device 1 (S17). The CPU 11 executes an authentication process (S34) and a storage control process (S39). In the process of S34, the CPU 11 performs use authentication of the terminal device 2 using the authentication token 781 transmitted from the terminal device 2. In the process of S39, if the use authentication is granted in the process of S34 (S35: YES), the CPU 11 stores the generation conditions 782 of the embroidery pattern received in the condition receiving process in the storage unit 14 in association with the authentication token 781. In the process of S34, if the use authentication is granted in the process of S34 (S35: YES), the CPU 11 executes an image data generation process (S37). In the embroidery data generation process, the CPU 11 generates embroidery data based on the generation conditions stored in the storage unit 14 in response to the use authentication being granted in the authentication process and the reception of a transmission request. Therefore, the system 4 can use authentication processing to restrict devices other than the terminal device 2 that transmitted the generation conditions from illegally accessing the generation device 1 and using the image data and embroidery data generated based on the generation conditions.

[0047] The system 4 includes a sewing machine 3. A CPU 11 of the generating device 1 executes a key receiving process (S40) and an encryption process (S44). In the process of S40, the CPU 11 receives a public key generated by the sewing machine 3 using a private key. In the process of S44, the CPU 11 encrypts the embroidery data generated in the embroidery data generating process using the received public key. In the process of S45, the CPU 11 transmits the encrypted embroidery data to a device specified by the terminal device 2 that transmitted the generating conditions. The sewing machine 3 includes a CPU 61. The CPU 61 acquires the encrypted embroidery data generated by the generating device 1 (S4), and executes a decryption process to decrypt the acquired encrypted embroidery data using a private key (S6). In the system 4, the encrypted embroidery data can be decrypted only by the sewing machine 3 that generated the public key, so that the embroidery data can be prevented from being copied or stolen.

[0048] If the embroidery data does not satisfy the predetermined usage conditions (S7: NO), the CPU 61 of the sewing machine 3 executes a nullifying process to nullify the embroidery data (S9). The system 4 can prevent the sewing machine 3 from sewing an embroidery pattern based on the embroidery data that does not satisfy the usage conditions.

[0049] The embroidery data generation system, the terminal program, and the device program of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the following modifications may be made as appropriate.

[0050] The present invention can be implemented in various aspects, and may be realized in the form of, for example, a computer-readable medium storing a terminal program, a computer-readable medium storing a device program, an embroidery data generating method executed by a device control unit of an embroidery data generating device, an embroidery data generating method executed by a terminal control unit of an embroidery data terminal device, etc. The embroidery data generating device 1 may be a sewing machine 3. In this case, the system 4 can omit processes such as encrypting the embroidery data and transmitting the embroidery data while utilizing an application that generates the embroidery data that the sewing machine 3 has.

[0051] (A) The configuration of the sewing machine 3 may be changed as appropriate. The sewing machine 3 may be an industrial sewing machine or a household embroidery machine as long as it is capable of embroidery sewing. If the sewing machine 3 is a multi-needle sewing machine, the number of needle bars 33 may be changed as appropriate. The configuration of the terminal device 2 may be changed as appropriate, and may be, for example, a PC, a smartphone, etc. The display unit 28 of the terminal device 2 may be, for example, an organic EL display, a plasma display, a plasma tube array display, an electronic paper display using electrophoresis, etc. as long as it is capable of displaying images. The input unit 29 of the terminal device 2 may be a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, etc.

[0052] (B) Programs including instructions for executing the processes of Figures 2 and 6 may be stored in the storage devices of the respective devices before each of the CPUs 11, 21, and 61 of the system 4 executes the corresponding program. Therefore, the method and route of acquiring the program and the device storing the program may be changed as appropriate. The program executed by each device may be received from another device via a cable or wireless communication and stored in a storage device such as a memory unit. The other device may include, for example, a PC and a server connected via a network.

[0053] (C) Each step of the device processing is not limited to being executed by CPU 11, and may be executed in part or in whole by other electronic devices (e.g., ASIC). Similarly, each step of the terminal processing is not limited to being executed by CPU 21, and may be executed in part or in whole by other electronic devices. Each step of the sewing machine processing is not limited to being executed by CPU 61, and may be executed in part or in whole by other electronic devices. Each step of the device processing, terminal processing, and sewing machine processing may be distributed and processed by multiple electronic devices (e.g., multiple CPUs). The order of each step of the device processing, terminal processing, and sewing machine processing may be changed, steps may be omitted, and steps may be added, as necessary. The following modifications may be made to the device processing, terminal processing, and sewing machine processing as appropriate.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 7, the preview image displayed based on the image data may be changed as appropriate. As shown in FIG. 7, in the system 4 of the first modification, the CPU 21 of the terminal device 2 displays on the display unit 28 a second image 100 in which a preview image 88 is arranged in an embroidery area set for a sewing object, of a first image 89 representing a sewing object on which an embroidery pattern is sewn by the sewing machine 3, in the display control process of S19. The first image 89 is, for example, a work jacket. In a first method of the first modification, the CPU 11 generates image data representing a second image 100 based on the image data representing the first image 89 stored in the storage unit 14, the arrangement information representing the arrangement of the embroidery area in the first image 89, and the preview image 88 (S37), and transmits the image data to the terminal device 2 (S38). The CPU 21 displays the second image 100 on the display unit 28 based on the image data transmitted from the generation device 1 (S19). In the second method of the first modified example, CPU 11 generates image data representing preview image 88 with the background transparent (S37) and transmits it to terminal device 2 (S38). CPU 21 generates image data representing second image 100 based on the image data transmitted from generation device 1 and the image data and arrangement information representing first image 89 stored in storage unit 24, and displays second image 100 on display unit 28 based on the generated image data (S19). System 4 of the first modified example allows the user to check the arrangement of the embroidery pattern on the sewing object, in addition to an image of the finished embroidery, based on second image 100 displayed on display unit 28.

[0055] The generation conditions may be changed as appropriate in terms of type, number, input method, etc., depending on the type of the embroidery pattern. The embroidery pattern may be a graphic pattern, or may be a pattern representing a photograph, illustration, etc. The generation conditions when the embroidery pattern is a character pattern may be any number of conditions selected from the group of character string, thread color, font, character size, character spacing, line spacing, inclination, alignment conditions, vertical / horizontal writing, and thread density. Examples of the alignment conditions include left alignment, right alignment, horizontal center alignment, top alignment, bottom alignment, and vertical center alignment. The horizontal direction and vertical direction in this case correspond to the X direction and Y direction of the embroidery coordinate system, respectively. The generation conditions when the embroidery pattern is a graphic pattern may be any number of conditions selected from the group of thread color, stitch type, and thread density. Examples of the stitch type include tatami stitch and satin stitch.

[0056] As in the second modified example shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 21 of the terminal device 2 may display an input screen 90 on the display unit 28 in S13, and may acquire generation conditions for each of a plurality of embroiderable areas set on the sewing object in the condition acquisition process in S15. As shown in FIG. 8, the input screen 90 has columns 91 to 98 and a key 99. The column 91 is a column for displaying candidates for thread colors. The column 92 is a column for displaying candidates for font types. The column 93 is a column for displaying a first image 89 representing the sewing object. The column 94 is a column for displaying the product name and color of the sewing object. The columns 95 to 98 are columns for inputting generation conditions for each of a plurality of embroiderable areas set on the sewing object displayed in the column 93. The columns 95 to 98 each include columns 911 to 916 and a check box 917. The column 911 indicates the position of the embroiderable area relative to the sewing object. The column 911 in column 95 is the left chest, the column 911 in column 96 is the right chest, the column 911 in column 97 is the left shoulder, and the column 911 in column 96 is the right shoulder. The column 912 is a column for selecting whether or not a "name" is to be embroidered with a character pattern. The column 913 is a column for selecting whether or not a "logo" is to be embroidered with a figure pattern. Only one of the columns 912 and 913 may be selectable, or both may be selectable. The column 914 is a column for selecting an angle with respect to a reference. The reference is, for example, the line of the top of a pocket or a zipper of the sewing object. The reference is, for example, the line of the bottom of a sleeve. The reference may differ depending on the embroidery area. In the column 914, either horizontal or parallel to the reference is selected. The column 915 is a column for inputting the character string of the first line. The column 916 is a column for inputting the character string of the second line. The check box 917 is selected when switching from a setting mode in which the second line of the character string is a common character string for a plurality of sewing objects to a setting mode in which the second line of the character string is set to an individual character string for each of the plurality of sewing objects. When the check box 917 is selected, a field 916 is displayed for each of the plurality of sewing objects. The key 99 is a key for instructing the display unit 28 to display a preview image.

[0057] The generating device 1 of the second modified example may, for example, store in the storage unit 14 information on the embroidery area for each of the plurality of sewing objects, an image representing the sewing object, and information on the sewing object in association with each other. Information on the embroidery area includes, for example, the arrangement in the sewing object, the size, and the inclination with respect to a reference. In this case, the generating device 1 may transmit, in S32, a front-end distribution for displaying, on the input screen 90, information on the embroidery area of ​​the sewing object designated by the terminal device 2 among the plurality of sewing objects. The CPU 21 of the terminal device 2 may display the input screen 90 based on the front-end distribution transmitted from the generating device 1 (S13). The CPU 21 of the second modified example transmits, to the generating device 1 via the communication I / F 25, the plurality of generation conditions for the embroidery pattern acquired in S15 (S17). In the image data generation process of S37, the CPU 11 of the generation device 1 generates image data for displaying on the display unit 28 a second image 102 in which preview images 88, 103 are arranged in an embroidery area set for the sewn material, of a first image 89 represented by the image data stored in the storage unit 14, based on each of the multiple generation conditions received in S33 (S37). The system 4 of the second modified example sets generation conditions for each of the multiple embroidery areas, thereby improving user convenience when generating embroidery data according to the multiple generation conditions. When generation conditions are set for each of the multiple embroidery areas or when generation conditions are set for multiple sewn materials, the multiple generation conditions may be input to the terminal device 2 in CSV format.

[0058] System 4 may omit or modify some or all of the processes for encrypting the embroidery data and the processes for improving security (S22 to S24, S1 to S3, S41, S42, S44, S5, S6). For example, terminal device 2 may perform a process for acquiring a public key from sewing machine 3 before transmitting the generation conditions, and transmit the public key acquired from sewing machine 3 to generating device 1 together with the generation conditions (S17). In this case, generating device 1 may encrypt the generated embroidery data using the public key received from terminal device 2 without receiving a transmission request.

[0059] The use condition of S7 may not be set or may be changed as appropriate. The use condition may be the number of times an embroidery pattern has been sewn based on the embroidery data, or the period of time since the embroidery data was decoded. The number of times may be set to any number equal to or greater than one. The use condition may be set by the generating device 1 in response to a request from the terminal device 2 and the embroidery data. The use condition may be the same regardless of the request from the terminal device 2 and the embroidery data. The use condition may be set by the terminal device 2 or the sewing machine 3. The invalidation process may be changed as appropriate depending on the use condition. For example, if the use condition specifies an upper limit on the number of times of use, the sewing machine 3 may execute a sewing process based on the embroidery data, and then execute a process of incrementing the number of times of use, with the initial value set to 0, and a process of determining whether the number of times of use exceeds the upper limit, and may execute the invalidation process by deleting the embroidery data if the number of times of use exceeds the upper limit. The use condition may be changed depending on condition data transmitted together with the embroidery data. The condition data is, for example, a flag, and when the flag is TRUE, the CPU 61 of the sewing machine 3 invalidates the embroidery data by deleting the embroidery data after the sewing process, and when the flag is FALSE, the CPU 61 may not delete the embroidery data after the sewing process but may store the embroidery data in the storage unit 64 of the sewing machine 3. In this case, when the flag is TRUE, the number of sewing times based on the embroidery data is limited to one time, and when the flag is FALSE, the number of sewing times is unlimited.

[0060] The terminal device 2 may omit the process of sending a transmission request to the generating device 1. In this case, the generating device 1 may not receive a transmission request, and may transmit the generated embroidery data to a device specified by the terminal device 2 when transmitting the image data. The terminal device 2 may omit the process of sending the authentication token 781. In this case, the generating device 1 may omit the processes of S34 and S35. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1: Generation device, 2: Terminal device, 3: Sewing machine, 4: System, 5: Network, 11, 21, 61: CPU, 14: Storage unit, 15, 25, 65: Communication I / F, 28: Display unit, 29: Input unit

Claims

1. An embroidery data generation system in which a terminal device, an embroidery machine, and an embroidery data generation device that generates embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with the embroidery machine are communicatively connected through a network, The terminal device a terminal communication unit capable of communicating with the embroidery data generation device; An input unit capable of inputting information; A display unit capable of displaying an image; a terminal control unit capable of controlling the terminal communication unit and the display unit; having The terminal control unit A condition acquisition process for acquiring a generation condition of the embroidery data inputted via the input unit; a condition transmission process of transmitting the acquired generation conditions of the embroidery pattern to the embroidery data generation device via the terminal communication unit; a display control process for displaying, on the display unit, a preview image representing an embroidery finish of the embroidery pattern based on the image data transmitted from the embroidery data generating device; Run The embroidery data generating device includes: A device communication unit capable of communicating with the terminal device; a device control unit capable of controlling the device communication unit; having The device control unit a condition receiving process for receiving the generation condition transmitted from the terminal device via the device communication unit; an embroidery data generation process for generating the embroidery data for sewing the embroidery pattern based on the received generation conditions; an image data generation process for generating the image data for displaying the preview image on the display unit of the terminal device based on the received generation conditions; an image data transmission process of transmitting the generated image data to the terminal device that transmitted the generation conditions; a key receiving process in which the embroidery machine receives a public key generated using the private key; an encryption process of encrypting the embroidery data generated in the embroidery data generation process using the received public key; an embroidery data transmission process in which the terminal device that transmitted the generation conditions transmits the encrypted embroidery data to a device designated from the terminal device and the embroidery machine; Run The embroidery machine includes a sewing machine control unit, The sewing machine control unit includes: an embroidery data generation system, characterized in that the encrypted embroidery data generated by the embroidery data generation device and transmitted from the embroidery data generation device or the terminal device is acquired, and a decryption process is performed to decrypt the acquired encrypted embroidery data using the private key.

2. The terminal control unit a request transmission process for transmitting a request for transmitting the embroidery data to the embroidery data generating device after the display control process is executed; The device control unit 2. The embroidery data generating system according to claim 1, wherein the embroidery data transmission process is executed in response to receiving the transmission request transmitted from the terminal device.

3. The embroidery data generating device further includes a storage unit. The terminal control unit a token transmission process for transmitting an authentication token to the embroidery data generating device before the display control process is executed; Further execute, The device control unit an authentication process for authenticating the use of the terminal device using the authentication token transmitted from the terminal device; a storage control process for storing, in the storage unit, the creation conditions for the embroidery pattern received in the condition receiving process in association with the authentication token when the use is authenticated in the authentication process; Further execute the image data generation process is executed when the use is authenticated in the authentication process, 3. The embroidery data generation system according to claim 2, wherein in the embroidery data generation process, the device control unit generates the embroidery data based on the generation conditions stored in the memory unit in response to being authenticated for use in the authentication process and receiving the transmission request.

4. The sewing machine control unit includes: The embroidery data generating system according to claim 1 , wherein, if the embroidery data does not satisfy a predetermined use condition, an invalidation process is executed to invalidate the embroidery data.

5. The embroidery data generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, in the display control process, the terminal control unit displays on the display unit a second image of a first image representing a sewn workpiece on which the embroidery pattern is sewn by the embroidery machine, in which the preview image is arranged in an embroidery area set for the sewn workpiece.

6. The terminal control unit In the condition acquisition process, the generation conditions are acquired for each of the plurality of embroiderable areas set on the sewing workpiece, the condition transmission process transmits the acquired plurality of creation conditions for the embroidery pattern to the embroidery data creation device via the terminal communication unit; The device control unit The embroidery data generation system according to claim 5, characterized in that in the image data generation process, the image data is generated for displaying on the display unit the second image of the first image, in which the preview image is arranged in the embroidery area set for the sewn material, based on each of the received generation conditions.

7. A terminal program executed by a control unit of a terminal device including an input unit, a terminal communication unit, and a display unit, a condition acquisition process for acquiring conditions for generating embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with an embroidery machine, the conditions being input via the input unit; a condition transmission process of transmitting the acquired generation conditions of the embroidery data to an embroidery data generation device via the terminal communication unit; a key receiving process in which the embroidery machine receives a public key generated using the private key; a key transmission process for transmitting the public key to the embroidery data generation device; a display control process for displaying, on the display unit, a preview image representing an embroidery finish of the embroidery pattern based on the image data transmitted from the embroidery data generating device; a request transmission process for transmitting a transmission request including information designating the terminal device as a transmission destination device of the embroidery data to the embroidery data generating device after the display control process is executed; an embroidery data receiving process for receiving the embroidery data encrypted using the public key, the embroidery data being transmitted from the embroidery data generating device after the request transmitting process is executed; an embroidery data transmission process for transmitting the embroidery data encrypted using the public key to the embroidery machine; 23. A terminal program comprising instructions for executing:

8. The method further includes an instruction to execute a token transmission process to transmit an authentication token to the embroidery data generation device before the display control process is executed, 8. The terminal program according to claim 7, wherein the transmission request includes the authentication token.

9. A device program executed by a device control unit of an embroidery data generation device including a device communication unit, a condition receiving process for receiving conditions for generating embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with an embroidery machine, the conditions being transmitted from the terminal device via the device communication unit; an image data generation process for generating image data for displaying a preview image showing an embroidery finish of the embroidery pattern on a display unit of the terminal device based on the received generation conditions; an image data transmission process of transmitting the generated image data to the terminal device that transmitted the generation conditions; an embroidery data generation process for generating the embroidery data for sewing the embroidery pattern based on the received generation conditions; a key receiving process in which the embroidery machine receives a public key generated using the private key; an encryption process of encrypting the embroidery data generated in the embroidery data generation process using the received public key; 23. A device program comprising instructions for executing the steps of:

10. 10. The device program according to claim 9, further comprising instructions for executing an embroidery data transmission process in which the terminal device that transmitted the generation conditions transmits the encrypted embroidery data to a device specified from among the terminal device and the embroidery machine.

11. 11. The program according to claim 10, wherein the embroidery data transmission process is executed in response to receiving a transmission request transmitted from the terminal device.

12. an authentication process for authenticating the use of the terminal device using an authentication token transmitted from the terminal device; a storage control process for storing the creation conditions of the embroidery pattern received in the condition receiving process in a storage unit of the embroidery data creation device in association with the authentication token when the use is authenticated in the authentication process; and further comprising instructions for executing the image data generation process is executed when the use is authenticated in the authentication process, The device program according to claim 11, characterized in that the embroidery data generation process generates the embroidery data based on the generation conditions stored in the memory unit in response to being authenticated for use in the authentication process and receiving the transmission request.

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