Recording device

Abstract

To appropriately encourage a user to perform an operation to display a code.SOLUTION: An image recording device 101 displaying a two-dimensional code comprises: a display 201; a two-dimensional code key 205 that receives an operation from a user; and an LED 206 that is provided separately from the display 201, and when the display 201 displays a predetermined screen, performs a predetermined notification separately from the display of the predetermined screen. When the two-dimensional code key 205 receives the operation from the user, if the display 201 displays the predetermined screen and the LED 206 performs the predetermined notification, a CPU 301 displays the two-dimensional code, and when the two-dimensional code key 205 receives the operation from the user, if the display 201 displays a screen different from the predetermined screen and the LED 206 does not perform the predetermined notification, the CPU does not display the two-dimensional code.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technique for controlling a notification unit in accordance with content displayed on a display. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, the displays installed in printers are small and often have limited display capabilities, so if a question arises, users have to refer to a paper or electronic manual to resolve the issue.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a technology in which, by pressing the QR key of an electronic device, a two-dimensional code indicating the URL of an explanatory page of a manual corresponding to the content of a command being displayed on the electronic device is displayed on the display of the electronic device. It also describes that, by reading this two-dimensional code with a mobile device equipped with a camera, the explanatory page of the manual stored at the link destination of the URL is displayed on the browser of the mobile device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-99800 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the technology related to code display as described in Patent Document 1, the degree of necessity for displaying the code varies depending on various conditions such as the state of the device, etc. In this case, it is conceivable that the user may not notice that the need to display the code is high, or that the user may perform an operation to display the code when the need to display the code is low.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology that can appropriately prompt a user to perform an operation to display a code. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A recording device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a recording device having a light-emitting means and a recording means for recording an image on paper, wherein when a consumable item of the recording device goes from a normal state to an error state, the display means displays a first screen for identifying the consumable item in the error state, the light-emitting means changes from a lit state to a flashing state, and the display means, upon receiving an instruction from a user to display a predetermined code, displays a second screen different from the first screen and including the predetermined code, and the predetermined code is a code for displaying information from the manual of the recording device on the external terminal by being photographed by a camera of the external terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately prompt the user to perform an operation to display the code. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration and a schematic external configuration. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of an operation panel. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the image recording apparatus. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for controlling generation of a two-dimensional code. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing details of a two-dimensional code generation process. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a two-dimensional code correspondence table. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an operation example 1. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second example of operation. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an operation example 3. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an operation example 4. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an operation example 5. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a process for checking whether a link to a manual exists. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present disclosure, and not all of the combinations of features described in the present embodiments are necessarily essential. Note that the same components will be described with the same reference numerals.

[0011] <<Embodiment 1>> In this embodiment, when a manual corresponding to a screen displayed on the display unit of an image recording device exists, an example will be described in which a notification unit (e.g., an LED) is used to notify the user of the existence of the manual. In this way, in this embodiment, the notification unit is provided separately from the display unit, and notification is made by the notification unit separately from the display of the screen on the display unit. The user recognizes the event (e.g., the existence of a manual page) indicated by the notification from the notification unit (e.g., the lighting of an LED). Then, if the user confirms that the LED is lit and wants to check the manual for the screen displayed on the display unit, the user performs a predetermined operation on the image recording device. Upon receiving the predetermined operation, the image recording device displays a two-dimensional code indicating the location of the manual page on the display unit. The user can check the corresponding manual on the mobile device by reading the two-dimensional code displayed on the display unit with the camera of the mobile device.

[0012] <System configuration> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration and a schematic external configuration of an information processing system according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system according to this embodiment includes an image recording device 101, a mobile terminal 105, and a manual server 106. In this embodiment, the image recording device 101 is described as a multi-function printer (MFP), but it may also be a single-function printer (SFP). The image recording device 101 includes an operation panel 102, a paper feed unit 103, and a paper output tray 104. Paper sheets loaded in the paper feed unit 103 are transported one sheet at a time to a printing unit (not shown in FIG. 1), where they are printed and output from the paper output tray 104. The operation panel 102 is a reception unit (input unit) that receives setting value inputs or process execution commands from the user, and is provided on the exterior of the image recording device 101.

[0013] 1 shows an example in which a two-dimensional code displayed on an operation panel 102 of an image recording device 101 is read by a mobile terminal 105 such as a smartphone or tablet. In this example, the two-dimensional code indicates a URL corresponding to a predetermined address of a manual server 106. The browser of the mobile terminal 105 accesses the address corresponding to the read URL, and the manual page of the manual server 106 is displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 105.

[0014] <Explanation of the operation panel> 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of the operation panel 102, which is an operation unit. As shown in Fig. 2, the operation panel 102 includes a display 201, up and down keys 204, an OK key 202, a back key 203, a two-dimensional code key 205, and an LED 206 (notification unit).

[0015] The up and down keys 204, the OK key 202, the back key 203, and the two-dimensional code key 205 are included in a group of hard keys 319 (see FIG. 3), which will be described later. The display 201 is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the display 201 in this embodiment is smaller than the display screen of the mobile terminal 105. Therefore, the amount of information that the display 201 can display is smaller than that of the mobile terminal 105. The up and down keys 204, the OK key 202, and the back key 203 are keys (buttons) that are used when selecting or setting a function, etc.

[0016] The two-dimensional code key 205 is a key used to receive a command to generate a two-dimensional code from a user. An example of a two-dimensional code is a QR code (registered trademark). In FIG. 2, "QR" is written on the two-dimensional code key 205 to indicate that it is a two-dimensional code. In the example of FIG. 2, when the two-dimensional code key 205 is pressed, a two-dimensional code corresponding to the display content on the display 201 at that time is generated. The generated two-dimensional code is displayed on the display 201. Note that the code in this embodiment is not limited to a two-dimensional code, and may be a barcode or the like. Also, depending on the display content on the display 201, a predetermined message may be displayed instead of a two-dimensional code. These details will be described later.

[0017] The LED 206 is a notification unit that indicates whether the two-dimensional code key 205 is valid. In this embodiment, the LED 206 lights up when the two-dimensional code key 205 is valid, and turns off when it is invalid. The two-dimensional code key 205 being valid means that when the two-dimensional code key 205 is pressed, the corresponding two-dimensional code can be displayed. When the two-dimensional code key 205 is pressed while the LED 206 is lit, a two-dimensional code corresponding to the content displayed on the display 201 at that time is generated.

[0018] <Functional configuration of image recording device> 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the image recording device 101 according to this embodiment. The image recording device 101 includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a printing unit 304, a scanner unit 305, an interface unit 306, and an operation panel 102.

[0019] The CPU 301 controls the entire image recording device 101 via a system bus. The ROM 302 stores the program code, initial value data, and various tables of the main body. The RAM 303 is an image buffer that temporarily stores image data read by the scanner unit 305 and print image data sent via the interface unit 306.

[0020] The printing unit 304 is equipped with an inkjet printing engine and prints images stored in the RAM 303 onto printing paper. The scanner unit 305 uses a contact image sensor to perform photoelectric conversion, converting optically read images into electrical image signals. The interface unit 306 performs wireless or wired network communication and is used to send and receive information or commands to and from external devices.

[0021] The operation panel 102 has a display 201, a group of hard keys 319, and an LED 206. The display 201 displays the status of the image recording device 101, various menu screens, main body information of the image recording device 101, etc. The display 201 also displays two-dimensional codes. The CPU 301 controls the operation panel 102 provided on the outer surface of the image recording device 101. The CPU 301 can display desired information on the display 201 arranged on the operation panel 102, and can monitor user operations on the group of hard keys 319 on the operation panel 102.

[0022] In addition to the various data described above, the ROM 302 of this embodiment stores a "program for controlling the generation of two-dimensional codes," a "two-dimensional code correspondence table," and "product information."

[0023] The "program for controlling the generation of two-dimensional codes" is a program for causing the CPU 301 to execute the two-dimensional code generation control process (see FIG. 4) described later. The "two-dimensional code correspondence table" (see FIG. 5) is information that is referred to in the process of lighting the LED 206. Also, the "two-dimensional code correspondence table" is information that is also referred to in the two-dimensional code generation process.

[0024] The "two-dimensional code correspondence table" stores a "category" indicating the URL of the link destination corresponding to the screen ID that identifies the display screen displayed on the display. Also, an "error code" is stored in the two-dimensional code correspondence table. The "category" included in the two-dimensional code correspondence table indicates the name of the operation explanation page in the manual of the link destination. The "error code" included in the two-dimensional code correspondence table indicates the error number of the error handling method explanation page in the manual of the link destination. The details of the contents of the two-dimensional code correspondence table will be described later using FIG. 5.

[0025] "Product information" is information including a "product code" and a "destination". Product information is used as a component of the URL indicating the link destination when generating a two-dimensional code. The "product code" is a number for identifying the model of the image recording apparatus 101. The "destination" is a number for identifying the region to which the product is shipped.

[0026] <Processing of Image Recording Apparatus> In the image recording apparatus 101, various processes are performed. Hereinafter, the description will be centered on the two-dimensional code generation control process. The two-dimensional code generation control process includes the control process of lighting and extinguishing the LED 206, the process in response to the pressing of the two-dimensional code key 205, and the URL generation process.

[0027] <Processing in Response to LED Lighting / Extinguishing Control and Pressing of Two-Dimensional Code Key> Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the generation control process of a two-dimensional code in this embodiment. Fig. 4 includes a process for controlling the turning on and off of the LED 206 and a process in response to pressing the two-dimensional code key 205. The series of processes shown in the flowchart in Fig. 4 are performed by the CPU 301 loading program code stored in the ROM 302 into the RAM 303 and executing it. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the steps in Fig. 4 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC or electronic circuit. Note that the symbol "S" in the explanation of each process indicates a step in the flowchart.

[0028] In S401, the image recording device 101 is powered on and the process starts. When the power is on, the CPU 301 of the image recording device 101 repeatedly performs the processes from S402 onwards.

[0029] In S402, CPU 301 displays a predetermined screen on display 201 in response to a user operation via operation panel 102. In this example, a screen is displayed on display 201 in response to a user operation via operation panel 102, but a screen may also be displayed on display 201 in response to reception of a print job from an external host device (not shown), for example.

[0030] In S403, CPU 301 determines whether there is a link to a manual corresponding to the screen displayed on display 201 by referring to the two-dimensional code correspondence table shown in Fig. 5. If there is a link to a manual, the process proceeds to S404; if not, the process proceeds to S405.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a two-dimensional code correspondence table 500. In this embodiment, each screen displayed on the display 201 is assigned a screen ID that identifies the screen. The two-dimensional code correspondence table 500 stores screen IDs, error codes, and categories in association with each other. The categories included in the two-dimensional code correspondence table 500 indicate the names of operation explanation pages in the linked manual. In FIG. 5, a screen ID (ID_1000) that does not have a corresponding category does not have a corresponding manual page (link destination). On the other hand, a screen ID that has a corresponding category does have a corresponding manual page. A category contains a character string that corresponds to a manual page in the manual server 106.

[0032] In S403, CPU 301 refers to two-dimensional code correspondence table 500, and if there is a category corresponding to the screen ID, determines that there is a link destination in the manual. The categories in two-dimensional code correspondence table 500 include an "ERR" category, which indicates an error. When the category is "ERR," an "error code" is associated and stored. The "error code" is an error number corresponding to a page in the linked manual that explains how to deal with the error.

[0033] Returning to FIG. 4, the explanation will continue. If there is a link to the manual, CPU 301 turns on LED 206 (also called a two-dimensional code lamp) in S404. On the other hand, if there is no link to the manual, CPU 301 turns off LED 206 in S405. Note that if LED 206 is already on when S404 is reached, CPU 301 does not need to control the turning on of LED 206 in S404. Similarly, if LED 206 is already off when S405 is reached, CPU 301 does not need to control the turning off of LED 206 in S405. When S404 ends, the process proceeds to S406. When S405 ends, the process proceeds to S409.

[0034] After turning on the LED 206 in S404, the CPU 301 determines in S406 whether the automatic guide display flag stored in the ROM 302 is ON. The automatic guide display flag is a flag that indicates whether a guide screen is to be automatically displayed, and is initially set to ON. If the automatic guide display flag is ON, the process proceeds to S407, where the CPU 301 displays the guide screen. The guide screen is a screen that explains operation guide for the LED 206 and the two-dimensional code key 205. The guide screen is, for example, a screen that explains that "when the two-dimensional code key 205 is pressed while the LED 206 is lit, a two-dimensional code for manual display is displayed" (see FIG. 9). Details of the guide screen will be described later. After displaying the guide screen in S407, the CPU 301 sets the automatic guide display flag to OFF in S408. Then, the process proceeds to S409. On the other hand, if it is determined in S406 that the automatic guide display flag is not ON, the process proceeds to S409.

[0035] As described above, the guide automatic display flag is initially set to ON. For example, when the LED 206 lights up for the first time after the user purchases the image recording device 101, a guide screen is displayed. This allows the user to be provided with a functional explanation and operation instructions for the two-dimensional code key 205 and LED 206 when operating the image recording device 101 for the first time. However, displaying the guide screen every time is cumbersome and reduces user operability. By turning the guide automatic display flag OFF after the guide screen is displayed for the first time, user operability can be improved.

[0036] In S409, the CPU 301 determines whether the two-dimensional code key 205 has been pressed. If the two-dimensional code key 205 has been pressed, the process proceeds to S410. If not, the process proceeds to S414. In S410, the CPU 301 determines whether the LED 206 (two-dimensional code lamp) is lit. If the LED 206 is lit, the process proceeds to S411, and if the LED 206 is not lit, the process proceeds to S413.

[0037] If LED 206 is lit, CPU 301 performs two-dimensional code generation processing in S411. The generated two-dimensional code is a code representing a URL for accessing a manual page corresponding to the screen displayed on display 201. Details of the two-dimensional code generation processing will be described later. Thereafter, in S412, CPU 301 displays the generated two-dimensional code on display 201. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to S414. The user will use mobile terminal 105 to view the manual page corresponding to the URL indicated by the two-dimensional code.

[0038] On the other hand, if the two-dimensional code lamp (LED 206) is not lit when the two-dimensional code key 205 is pressed in S409, the process proceeds to S413, where the CPU 301 displays a guide screen similar to that of S407. The user is expected to understand the functional and operational instructions of the LED 206 and the two-dimensional code key 205, but may have forgotten these. In other words, even if the user presses the two-dimensional code key 205 when the LED 206 is not lit, the two-dimensional code will not be displayed on the display 201 because there is no corresponding manual page. To notify the user of such operational instructions again for confirmation, a guide screen is displayed on the display 201 in S413. The process then proceeds to S414.

[0039] In S414, CPU 301 determines whether a screen transition will occur. If a screen transition will occur, the process returns to S402; if a screen transition will not occur, the process proceeds to S414. For example, after a two-dimensional code is displayed in S412, if the user who has finished checking the manual page operates hard keys 319, the screen transitions from the screen displaying the two-dimensional code to the screen before the two-dimensional code was displayed. If the user operates hard keys 319 while a guide screen is displayed in S413, the screen transitions to the screen before the guide screen was displayed. In addition, a screen transition may occur in response to an operation of hard keys 319, or may occur when a predetermined event or the like is triggered. If the power is not turned off in S414, CPU 301 returns to S409 and repeats the process; if the power is turned off, the process of this flowchart ends.

[0040] This completes the description of the two-dimensional code generation control process. Note that, in the process of S410, the CPU 301 determines whether the LED 206 is lit or not, but the CPU 301 may refer to the two-dimensional code correspondence table 500 to determine whether there is a link to a manual.

[0041] In this way, the display 201 can switch between a plurality of screens as a predetermined screen containing a manual. When the two-dimensional code key 205 receives an operation from the user, the CPU 301 displays the code corresponding to the screen being displayed on the display 201, out of the two-dimensional codes corresponding to each of the plurality of screens.

[0042] <2D code generation process> Fig. 6 is a diagram showing details of the two-dimensional code generation process in S411 of Fig. 4. In S601, CPU 301 acquires a category corresponding to the screen ID of the screen displayed on display 201 from two-dimensional code correspondence table 500 shown in Fig. 5. In S602, CPU 301 references product information stored in ROM 302 and acquires destination information. In S603, CPU 301 references product information stored in ROM 302 and acquires a product code.

[0043] In S604, CPU 301 determines whether the category acquired in S601 is ERR, which indicates an error. If the category indicates an error, the process proceeds to S605, where CPU 301 acquires the corresponding error code from two-dimensional code correspondence table 500. The error code is used as a parameter when manual server 106 searches for a page corresponding to the error. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S606. Note that if the category is not ERR, which indicates an error, in S604, the process of S605 is skipped.

[0044] In S606, CPU 301 generates a URL by linking the acquired destination information, product code, category, and error code (only if the category is ERR) to a base URL indicating manual server 106. In S607, CPU 301 generates a two-dimensional code by converting the URL generated in S606 into a two-dimensional code.

[0045] <Specific operation example 1> Next, specific operational examples will be described with reference to the drawings. Operational example 1 is an example in which a screen in which the two-dimensional code key 205 is valid is displayed on the display 201. Specifically, this is an example of a situation in which a user is about to perform maintenance on the image recording device 101.

[0046] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a first operational example. When a user presses a button of the hard key group 319 to perform maintenance on the image recording device 101, a maintenance menu screen such as that shown in FIG. 7(a) is displayed on the display 201. The screen ID of the screen shown in FIG. 7(a) is assumed to be "ID_1002." In the two-dimensional code correspondence table 500 of FIG. 5, the category corresponding to the screen ID "ID_1002" is "MAINTE." That is, in this example, there is a category corresponding to the screen ID of the screen displayed on the display 201. Therefore, the LED 206 lights up immediately after the screen of FIG. 7(a) is displayed on the display 201. Note that the timing of lighting the LED 206 does not have to be immediately after a predetermined screen is displayed; it may be simultaneously with the display of the predetermined screen or immediately before switching to the predetermined screen.

[0047] The user checks the lighting state of LED 206 and presses two-dimensional code key 205. Then, as shown in Fig. 7(b), a two-dimensional code including the product code and the URL of the maintenance function explanation page in manual server 106 corresponding to the destination language is displayed on display 201.

[0048] After the two-dimensional code shown in Fig. 7(b) is displayed on display 201, the user captures the two-dimensional code with the camera of mobile terminal 105 and reads the two-dimensional code. Then, when the browser of mobile terminal 105 accesses manual server 106 indicated by the URL represented by the two-dimensional code, an explanation page of the manual is displayed on the screen of mobile terminal 105, as shown in Fig. 7(c). The explanation page shown in Fig. 7(c) corresponds to the explanation page of the maintenance function menu screen shown in Fig. 7(a).

[0049] In this way, by checking the lighting state of the LED 206, the user can determine whether the screen currently displayed on the display 201 corresponds to the two-dimensional code key 205. Then, by taking an image of the two-dimensional code displayed in response to pressing the two-dimensional code key 205 with the camera of the mobile terminal 105, the user can view the explanatory page of the manual corresponding to the displayed screen.

[0050] <Specific operation example 2> FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a second operational example. In the second operational example, the two-dimensional code key 205 is pressed when the two-dimensional code key 205 is invalid. In FIG. 8(a), a screen showing product information is displayed on the display 201. The two-dimensional code correspondence table 500 does not contain a category corresponding to the screen ID of the screen shown in FIG. 8(a). Therefore, when the screen of FIG. 8(a) is displayed on the display 201, the LED 206 is not lit. When the user presses the two-dimensional code key 205 in this state, the guide screen shown in FIG. 8(b) is displayed on the display 201. Note that, for ease of explanation, FIG. 8(b) shows the content when the display 201 is fully scrolled. On the display 201 in FIG. 8(b), a message is displayed indicating that pressing the two-dimensional code key 205 while the LED 206 is lit will display a two-dimensional code for manual display.

[0051] In this way, the guide screen is displayed, allowing the user to confirm the roles of the LED 206 and the two-dimensional code key. Note that the guide screen shown in Fig. 8(b) shows an example of a message in a configuration in which the LED 206 is arranged on the two-dimensional code key 205. If the two-dimensional code key 205 and the LED 206 are arranged at positions apart from each other, a guide screen may be displayed that shows the positional relationship between the two-dimensional code key 205 and the LED 206 and their roles.

[0052] <Specific operation example 3> FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation example 3. In the operation example 3, a guide screen is automatically displayed. A user who purchases the image recording device 101 for the first time does not know what function the LED 206 has. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9(a), when the LED 206 lights up for the first time, the guide screen shown in FIG. 9(b) is automatically displayed on the display 201 without any operation by the user. When the user presses any key in the hard key group 319, the screen returns to the original screen. This is also included in the text on the guide display screen shown in FIG. 9(b). By automatically displaying the guide screen when the LED 206 lights up for the first time, the user can learn the functions of the two-dimensional code key 205 and the LED 206 without reading the manual.

[0053] In the above examples, the LED 206 is turned on when a page corresponding to the screen displayed on the display 201 exists, and turned off when the page does not exist. However, the reverse may also be true. That is, the LED 206 may be turned off when a page corresponding to the screen displayed on the display 201 exists, and turned on when the page does not exist. The color of the light may be changed. Furthermore, the control is not limited to turning on and off the LED 206, and any of blinking, turning on, and turning off of the LED 206 may be used. Furthermore, although the LED 206 has been used as an example, other components may be used as an indicator light. Furthermore, any notification unit (indicator) other than the LED 206 may be used as long as it can notify the user that the two-dimensional code key 205 is valid.

[0054] <Specific operation example 4> FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fourth operational example. In the fourth operational example, a buzzer (an alarm sound output device) provided separately from the display unit is used as a notification unit instead of the LED 206 to notify the user that the two-dimensional code key 205 is valid. When a buzzer is used, the LED 206 does not have to be provided on the operation panel 102, or the LED 206 may be provided on the operation panel 102, and the lighting of the LED 206 may be controlled together with the control of the buzzer sound output. The buzzer sound may be output for only a predetermined time. After the buzzer sound is output, when the user presses the two-dimensional code key 205, the two-dimensional code is displayed on the display 201.

[0055] <Specific operation example 5> FIG. 11 illustrates a fifth operational example. In this fifth operational example, a pop-up screen is displayed on the display 201 as a notification unit instead of the LED 206. In other words, in this case, the display unit and the notification unit are integrated. In this example, as shown in FIG. 11(a), when a screen transitions to one in which the two-dimensional code key 205 is valid, a pop-up message 1101 is displayed as shown in FIG. 11(b) after a predetermined time (two seconds in this example) has elapsed. The pop-up message 1101 (pop-up screen) pops up from the bottom of the screen displayed on the display 201. This pop-up message 1101 explains the function of the two-dimensional code key 205, such as "Press the two-dimensional code key to view the manual." This allows the user to recognize that the two-dimensional code key is valid. When the user then presses the two-dimensional code key 205, a two-dimensional code is displayed on the display 201 as shown in FIG. 11(c). By reading the two-dimensional code with the camera of the mobile terminal 105, a predetermined manual page is displayed on the mobile terminal 105. The display 201 may be a touch panel display, and a two-dimensional code may be displayed when the pop-up message 1101 is pressed.

[0056] As described above, according to this embodiment, the user can determine whether the two-dimensional code key 205 is valid based on the notification by the notification unit (e.g., the lit state of the LED) without actually pressing the two-dimensional code key 205. Therefore, for example, when there is no corresponding explanation page in the manual, that is, when the two-dimensional code key 205 is invalid, the user can be prevented from pressing the two-dimensional code key 205. Furthermore, even a user operating the device for the first time or a user who is not accustomed to using the device can understand the product specifications, for example, that when the LED 206 is lit, the two-dimensional code key 205 is valid. In this way, according to this embodiment, the user can be appropriately prompted to perform an operation to display the code.

[0057] In addition, when the two-dimensional code displayed on the display 201 is read by the mobile terminal 105 and the manual page is displayed in the browser of the mobile terminal 105, the user can also print the contents of the manual page using the image recording device 101.

[0058] Furthermore, in S411 of Fig. 4 (Fig. 6), the process of generating a two-dimensional code has been described, but this is not limiting, and image data of a two-dimensional code stored in advance in ROM 302 or the like may be read out in S411. In this case, for example, the "screen ID" shown in Fig. 5 and the file path of the image of the two-dimensional code are associated and stored in ROM 302 or the like. Then, the image of the two-dimensional code is read out using the file path corresponding to the screen ID of the currently displayed screen, and is displayed in S412.

[0059] <<Embodiment 2>> In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the two-dimensional code correspondence table 500 is stored in the ROM 302 of the image recording device 101. In this case, for example, if the URL of the link destination of the manual changes after the image recording device 101 is sold, it is necessary to rewrite the two-dimensional code correspondence table 500 stored in the ROM 302 of the image recording device 101. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which a separate redirect server is provided in addition to the manual server 106. An example will also be described in which information on the URL of the link destination of the manual server 106 is stored in the redirect server.

[0060] <Confirmation of the link URL of the manual> FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the processing performed in the process of checking whether a link to a manual exists in S403 of FIG. 4 in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the image recording device 101, the manual server 106, and the redirect server 120 are interconnected via a network. Note that the image recording device 101 only needs to be able to communicate with the redirect server 120, and the redirect server 120 only needs to be able to communicate with the image recording device 101 and the manual server 106. In other words, the image recording device 101 does not need to be able to communicate with the manual server 106. The series of processing in this embodiment is basically the same as in the first embodiment, and differences will be mainly described below. The differences from the first embodiment correspond to the processing in S403 of FIG. 4. Furthermore, the image recording device 101 of this embodiment does not have a two-dimensional code correspondence table 500. Instead, the redirect server 120 has information equivalent to the two-dimensional code correspondence table 500 (hereinafter referred to as a management table).

[0061] 12, in S1201, the image recording device 101 performs a screen transition in response to receiving a key operation from the user (corresponding to S402 in FIG. 4). After the screen transition, in S1202, the image recording device 101 transmits the screen ID of the screen displayed on the display 201 to the redirect server 120.

[0062] Upon receiving the screen ID, in S1203 the redirect server 120 refers to the management table it manages and searches for a URL to link to the manual corresponding to the screen ID. The product code and destination information may be sent separately from the image recording device 101 to the redirect server 120, or may be sent from the image recording device 101 together with the screen ID. The redirect server 120 generates a URL to link to based on the product code, destination, and category information.

[0063] In S1204, the redirect server 120 accesses the link destination indicated by the generated URL and checks whether the link destination is accessible. In S1205, the redirect server 120 receives a response result from the manual server 106 and determines whether the link destination is accessible. If it is accessible, the redirect server 120 transmits the URL generated in S1206 to the image recording device 101. As a result of the processing in S403, the image recording device 101 can determine that there is a link destination for the manual, and so in S1207, it turns on the LED 206 (two-dimensional code lamp) (corresponding to S404 in FIG. 4).

[0064] 4, a two-dimensional code including the URL received by the image recording device 101 in S1206 is generated. Specifically, the process in S607 in FIG. 6 is executed using the URL received in S1206.

[0065] 12 shows the processing when there is a link destination. If the redirect server 120 does not receive a response when accessing the manual server 106, it sends a message to the image recording device 101 indicating that it was unable to access the manual. In response to this, the image recording device 101 determines that there is no manual at the link destination, proceeds to S405 in FIG. 4, and turns off the LED 206.

[0066] If the redirect server 120 cannot get a response from the manual server 106, it is assumed that the URL of the linked page has been changed. Therefore, if the redirect server 120 cannot get a response from the manual server 106, a system administrator or the like can separately update the management table managed by the redirect server 120 to include an appropriate URL.

[0067] As described above, according to this embodiment, even if the URL of the explanation page of the manual is changed, there is no need to rewrite the ROM 302 of the image recording device 101. Therefore, even if a manual is added after the image recording device 101 is released for sale, the lighting of the LED 206 can be appropriately controlled.

[0068] <<Other embodiments>> In the above-described embodiments, examples have been described in which the two-dimensional code is used to access a link destination on manual server 106, but this is not limiting. If content corresponding to the screen displayed on display 201 exists on an external server, a two-dimensional code representing a URL for accessing that content may be used.

[0069] In the above-described embodiments, an example has been described in which a two-dimensional code is displayed on the display 201 when the two-dimensional code key 205 is pressed by the user, but the trigger for displaying the two-dimensional code is not limited to this example. For example, the image recording device 101 may have a voice input device, and when the LED 206 is lit, the user may input a predetermined voice operation into the voice input device, thereby displaying the two-dimensional code on the display 201. Any other accepting unit may be used as long as it is capable of accepting input of a predetermined user operation.

[0070] In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the image recording device 101 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. A control device having a display unit, but with a small display unit or a display unit with limited display capabilities, may also be used.

[0071] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 101 Image recording device 201 Display 205 2D code key 206 LED 301 CPU

Claims

1. A display means; Light emitting means; a recording means for recording an image on a sheet of paper, when a consumable item of the recording device goes from a normal state to an error state, the display means displays a first screen for identifying the consumable item in the error state, and the light emitting means changes from a lit state to a flashing state; the display means displays a second screen that is different from the first screen and includes the predetermined code, based on receiving an instruction to display the predetermined code from a user; The recording device is characterized in that the predetermined code is a code for displaying information in a manual for the recording device on the external terminal by taking an image of the recording device with a camera of the external terminal.

2. A display means; Light emitting means; a recording means for recording an image on a sheet of paper, when a consumable item of the recording device goes from a normal state to an error state, the display means displays a first screen for identifying the consumable item in the error state, and the light emitting means changes from a lit state to a flashing state; the display means displays a second screen that is different from the first screen and includes the predetermined code, based on receiving an instruction to display the predetermined code from a user; The recording device is characterized in that the predetermined code is a code that is photographed by a camera of an external terminal and causes information explaining a maintenance function of the recording device to be displayed on the external terminal.

3. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light emitting means is in said blinking state, and said display means displays said second screen.

4. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction from the user is given via a receiving unit provided integrally with the light emitting unit.

5. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the consumables are in a normal state, the display means displays a third screen different from the first and second screens.

6. 5. The recording device according to claim 4, wherein when the light-emitting means is in the lit state, the display means displays a fourth screen different from the first, second, and third screens based on an instruction received from a user.

7. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the fourth screen is a screen for informing the user to give an instruction when the light emitting means is in the flashing state.

8. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the error state occurs when the consumable item runs out.

9. 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the consumable item is paper.

10. 10. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting means is an LED.

11. 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the left and right ends of the light emitting means is longer than the distance between the top and bottom ends.

12. 12. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means records an image on a sheet by an inkjet method.

13. 13. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means is a liquid crystal display.

14. 13. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means is an organic EL display.

15. 15. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined code is a QR code or a barcode.

16. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the manual is stored in an external server.

17. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined code includes information about a URL to which the manual is linked.

18. 18. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting means is provided on a predetermined surface of the recording apparatus.

19. 19. The recording apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the predetermined surface is a surface onto which a sheet of paper on which recording has been performed by the recording means is ejected.

20. 20. The recording device according to claim 18, wherein the upper edge of the display means is located above the upper edge of the light emitting means on the predetermined surface.

21. 21. The recording device according to claim 18, wherein a lower edge of the display means is located lower than a lower edge of the light emitting means on the predetermined surface.

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