JP2001159939A - Device control device, user interface display method, and recording medium recording computer program for displaying user interface - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a user interface that is easy to use for a user when data is to be transferred between arbitrary devices. When a device icon of a target device is selected (S102),
The function matching conditions of the target device are acquired (S108), and sequentially compared with the function information of the device belonging to the target category acquired separately (S116). If the function of the device belonging to the target category does not meet the function matching condition of the target device, the device information is added with grayout information of the device icon (S118), and when the display is updated (S122), the device is updated. Device icons are grayed out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for displaying a user interface for operating a device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a Windows 95 or Windows NT operating system manufactured by Microsoft Corporation, when an icon of a printer folder is displayed on a screen of a monitor connected to a computer, a user operates a mouse. Place the mouse cursor on the icon of the printer folder and double-click the mouse button to open a new window for the printer folder on the screen and open the window for the computer directly or via the network. It is possible to display icons representing a plurality of accessible printers that are connected to the printer. Then, the user uses the mouse to
Move the mouse cursor to the image data icon that is displayed separately on the screen, drag the icon,
When the icon is dropped on the icon of a desired printer among the displayed icons of the plurality of printers, the computer can be instructed to start printing the image data by the printer.

[0003]

However, in the prior art, since the user interface as described above is scarcely provided for devices other than printers, for example, a user can transfer data between arbitrary devices. This was very inconvenient, for example, the user had to go through application software for processing data.

[0004] Further, when a printer folder window is opened on the screen to display a plurality of printer icons, only accessible printer icons are displayed in a row. It was not easy to use.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to provide a user interface which is easy to use for a user when trying to transfer data between arbitrary devices to the user. An object of the present invention is to provide a device control device, a user interface display method, and a recording medium that can be provided.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve at least a part of the above object, a first device and one or more second devices belonging to a specific category are controlled. Device control device, comprising: a display unit having a screen; an input unit for inputting an external instruction; and a device corresponding to the first device or data held in the first device. Displaying a first symbol on the screen of the display means;
User interface display control means for displaying second symbols respectively corresponding to the respective second devices belonging to the specific category in a predetermined area on the screen, wherein the user interface display control means When an instruction to select the displayed first symbol is input via the input means, for each of the second devices, the second device is connected to the first device, and It is determined whether or not they are functionally consistent in transferring data between them. Based on the result of the determination, the second symbol determined to be incompatible among the displayed second symbols is determined. The second symbol corresponding to the device is erased from the predetermined area on the screen, or the second symbol corresponding to the second device determined to be consistent A second symbol corresponding to the second device is determined not to be consistent with the second symbol is summarized in that to display so as to identify.

In a first user interface display method according to the present invention, a user interface for operating a first device and one or more second devices belonging to a specific category is displayed on a screen of a display means. A user interface display method for displaying, comprising: (a)
A first symbol corresponding to the first device or data held in the first device is displayed on a screen of the display unit, and a first symbol corresponding to each second device belonging to the specific category is displayed. Displaying a second symbol to be displayed in a predetermined area on the screen; (b)
When there is an instruction to select the displayed first symbol, for each of the second devices, the second device exchanges data with the first device. Determining whether they are functionally consistent above, and (c) based on the determination result,
Of the displayed second symbols, a second symbol corresponding to a second device determined to be unmatched is deleted from the predetermined area on the screen or matched. Displaying the second symbol corresponding to the second device corresponding to the second device determined not to match with the second symbol corresponding to the second device determined to be inconsistent. And

As described above, according to the first device control apparatus or the user interface display method, when an instruction to select the first device or the first symbol corresponding to the data held in the first device is issued, For each second device, the second device is the first device
It is determined whether the device is functionally consistent with the data transfer between the two devices. Based on the determination result, the second device corresponding to the second device determined to be incompatible is determined. The second symbol is erased from a predetermined area on the screen, or the second symbol corresponding to the second device determined not to match the second symbol determined to be consistent is determined. The second symbol is displayed so as to be distinguishable.

Therefore, according to the first device control apparatus or the user interface display method, for example, the user exchanges data between the first device and the second device belonging to a specific category. In this case, as described above, by simply selecting the first device or the symbol of the data held in the screen on the screen, the symbol of the second device displayed separately is changed to the first device. Second functionally consistent with
Users are narrowed down to the device symbols
From among the second devices belonging to a specific category, only the device that can properly transmit and receive data can be immediately grasped, and the second device to which data should be transmitted.
This makes it easier to select the device and makes it very easy to use.

In this specification, a device includes not only a physical device such as a digital camera and a printer, but also some of the functions of the physical device and functions equivalent to the physical device by software. (For example, e-mail and image processing).
In addition, the symbols corresponding to the devices, data, and categories described later include icons representing designs corresponding to the devices, data, and categories, as well as corresponding characters, figures, symbols, signs, symbols, colors, and the like. , Which can be displayed on the screen and can be identified by the user.

A second device control device according to the present invention comprises:
A device control device capable of controlling one device and one or more second devices belonging to a specific category, comprising: display means having a screen; and input means for inputting an external instruction. , A first device corresponding to the first device or data held in the first device.
And a user interface display control means for displaying a second symbol corresponding to the specific category on the screen of the display means, wherein the user interface display control means externally controls the input means. When an instruction to associate the displayed first symbol with the second symbol is input through the second device, the second device is connected to the first device for each of the second devices. It is determined whether the device and the device are functionally consistent in transferring data between the device and the third device corresponding to the second device determined to be consistent based on the determination result. Is displayed in a predetermined area on the screen, or the symbol is matched with the third symbol corresponding to the second device determined to be matched. Be displayed in the third of the predetermined region so as to identify the symbol corresponding to the second device is determined to not be summarized as.

According to a second user interface display method of the present invention, a user interface for operating a first device and one or more second devices belonging to a specific category is displayed on a screen of a display means. A user interface display method for displaying, comprising: (a)
Displaying a first symbol corresponding to the first device or data held in the first device, and a second symbol corresponding to the specific category on a screen of the display unit; , (B) the first displayed
When there is an instruction to associate the second symbol with the second symbol, for each second device, the second device is connected to the first device,
A step of determining whether or not the two devices are functionally consistent in data transfer between the two devices; and (c) corresponding to the second device determined to be consistent based on the determination result Only the third symbol is displayed in a predetermined area on the screen, or the second symbol determined not to match the third symbol corresponding to the second device determined to match Displaying the third symbol corresponding to the device in the predetermined area so that the third symbol can be identified.

As described above, according to the second device control apparatus or the user interface display method, the first symbol corresponding to the first device or the data held in the first device and the second symbol corresponding to the specific category are displayed. When there is an instruction to perform the association, the second device is connected to the first device for each second device.
It is determined whether or not the device is functionally consistent in transferring data between the device and the second device corresponding to the second device determined to be consistent based on the determination result. Only the third symbol is displayed in a predetermined area on the screen, or corresponds to the second device determined not to match the third symbol corresponding to the second device determined to match. The third symbol is displayed in a predetermined area so as to be distinguished from the third symbol.

Therefore, according to the second device control apparatus or the user interface display method, for example, the user exchanges data between the first device and the second device belonging to a specific category. In this case, as described above, simply associating the first category or the symbol of the data held therein with the symbol of the specific category on the screen, the first area is displayed in the predetermined area on the screen. Since the symbols of the second devices that are functionally consistent with the devices are narrowed down and displayed, the user can properly transfer data among the second devices belonging to a specific category. Can be grasped immediately, and it is very convenient to select a second device to transmit data. That.

In the first or second device control device of the present invention, when the symbol to be displayed as the first symbol is a symbol corresponding to the first device, the user interface display control means When the instruction is input from outside, it is determined whether or not data is held in the first device. If the data is held, a symbol corresponding to the data is displayed on the screen. Is preferably displayed.

With this configuration, when data is held in the first device, symbols of the second device that are functionally matched with the first device are narrowed down on the screen. Not only are displayed
Since the symbol of the data held in the first device is also displayed, the user can immediately know what data is held in the first device and want to transfer the data from the data. The data can be selected to immediately indicate the transfer to the desired second device.

In the first or second device control apparatus according to the present invention, one of the first and second devices is an input device capable of inputting at least information, and the other is at least outputting information. Preferably, the output device is capable of performing the following operations.

This is because data transmission is performed from the input device to the output device. In this specification, a device capable of inputting at least information is referred to as an input device, and a device capable of outputting at least information is referred to as an output device. Therefore, for example, even a device that performs intermediate processing such as intermediate processing can be regarded as an input device if at least information can be input, and if it can at least output information. , Can be regarded as an output device, so even such a device can be either an input device or an output device.

According to the first recording medium of the present invention, a user interface for operating the first device and one or more second devices belonging to a specific category can be controlled by the device. A computer-readable recording medium that records a computer program for displaying on a screen of a display unit connected to a computer, the recording medium corresponding to the first device or data held in the first device. A function of displaying a first symbol on the screen of the display means and displaying a second symbol corresponding to each of the second devices belonging to the specific category in a predetermined area on the screen, When an instruction to select the displayed first symbol is input to the computer,
A function of determining, for each second device, whether the second device is functionally consistent with the first device in transferring data between the two devices, and a result of the determination Based on the second displayed
Among the symbols, the second symbol corresponding to the second device determined to be unmatched is deleted from the predetermined area on the screen, or the second symbol determined to be matched is A second symbol corresponding to a second device determined not to match the second symbol corresponding to the device
And a function of displaying the symbols so as to be distinguished from each other, and a computer program for causing the computer to realize the functions.

When the computer program recorded on such a recording medium is executed by a computer,
Since an operation equivalent to that of the user interface display control means in the above-described first device control device occurs, the same effect as in the above-described first device control device can be obtained.

According to the second recording medium of the present invention, a user interface for operating the first device and one or more second devices belonging to a specific category can be controlled by the device. A computer-readable recording medium that records a computer program for displaying on a screen of a display unit connected to a computer, the recording medium corresponding to the first device or data held in the first device. A function of displaying a first symbol and a second symbol corresponding to the specific category on a screen of the display means; and displaying the first symbol and the second symbol displayed on the computer from outside. When an instruction to associate with a symbol is input, for each of the second devices, the second device A first device and a function of determining whether or not the two devices are functionally compatible in transferring data between the first device and a second device that determines that the devices are consistent based on the determination result. Only the third symbol corresponding to the device is displayed in a predetermined area on the screen, or is determined not to match the third symbol corresponding to the second device determined to match The gist is that a computer program for causing the computer to realize the function of displaying the third symbol corresponding to the second device in the predetermined area so that the third symbol can be identified is recorded.

When a computer program recorded on such a recording medium is executed by a computer,
Since an action equivalent to that of the user interface display control means in the above-mentioned second device control device is produced, the same effect as the above-mentioned second device control device can be obtained.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on examples. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a device control apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a computer 200 connected to a digital camera A serving as an input device is connected to a computer 100 serving as a device control device of this embodiment.
For example, a computer 300 to which a printer A as an output device is connected, a server 400 including a shared database unit 410, and the like are connected via a network 500. The computer includes various computers such as a personal computer, a mobile computer, an information processing terminal device, and a workstation. In addition, peripheral devices such as copiers and printers having substantially computer functions, and computers similarly. Set Top Box with functions
x; for example, a form of information terminal typified by a Web TV receiving terminal). As the network 500, various networks such as the Internet, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), and a wide area network (WAN) can be applied.

As shown in FIG.
Includes a CPU 110 for performing various processes and controls according to a computer program, a memory 120 for storing the computer program and temporarily storing data obtained during the process, and various peripheral devices. I / O for exchanging data etc. with
An O unit 130, a hard disk device 140 for storing various data, a communication device 150 for communicating with other devices via a network, including a modem, a terminal adapter, and a network card;
The system includes a ROM drive device 160, a mouse 170 for inputting instructions from a user, and the like, and a monitor 180 including a CRT, a liquid crystal display, and the like, and capable of displaying various images such as a user interface.

The CPU 11 in the computer 100
0 functions as the application unit 112 by reading and executing a desired computer program stored in the memory 120.

In the present embodiment, the computer program stored in the memory 120 is a CD-ROM which is a recording medium.
Provided in the form recorded in the ROM 162, the CD-RO
The data is read into the computer 100 by being read by the M drive device 160. The fetched computer program is stored in the hard disk drive 14
0, and then transferred to the memory 120 at the time of activation or the like. Alternatively, the read computer program may be directly transferred to the memory 120 without passing through the hard disk device 140.

As described above, in this embodiment, the CD-ROM is used as a "recording medium" for recording a computer program in a computer-readable manner. However, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, an IC Card, ROM cartridge, punch card,
Various computer-readable media such as printed matter on which codes such as barcodes are printed, internal storage devices (memory such as RAM and ROM) and external storage devices of the computer can be used.

In addition to providing the computer program in a form recorded on such a recording medium, the computer program accesses a program server (not shown) for supplying the computer program via the network 500, and You may make it take in in the computer 100.

A part of the computer program may be constituted by an operating system program.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the application section 112 is realized by software, but it may be realized by hardware.

On the other hand, information about a large number of devices (for example, digital camera A, printer A, etc.) existing on the network 500 is registered in the shared database 410 in the server 400. Specifically, the name of each device, the name of the category to which each device belongs (that is, the device class), the function of each device, the function matching condition of each device with other devices, etc.
Information necessary for using each device via the network 500 is registered. The function matching condition will be described later in detail.

When each device is connected to each computer on the network 500, these pieces of information are registered in the shared database unit 410 in the server 400 by the connected computer according to a predetermined format. You.

The server 400 includes a shared database unit 41
All the information on the devices registered in “0” is disclosed on the network 500. As a result, any computer including the computer 100 on the network 500 can freely acquire and use the information on the registered device. However, it is possible to restrict access to this information so that it can be accessed only from a specific computer on the network 500, for example.

In order to publish information on the network 500 so that it can be accessed from any computer existing on the network 500, for example, Windows N which is a network OS manufactured by Microsoft Corporation is used.
This can be realized by using a directory service used in T or the like. That is, when the server 400 functions as a domain controller, the information stored in the shared database unit 410 can be referred to from any computer on the network 500 by the directory service.

Further, in the present embodiment, the information on the device is registered in the server 400 which is a specific computer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the disclosure of the information on the network 500 If it is possible, the information may be registered in the computers 100, 200, and 300 existing on the network 500 and other computers. Also, the computer 100 itself, which is a device control device, is used for the purpose of improving the operation speed or temporarily narrowing down devices.
All or part of the device information may be copied from the shared database unit 410 of the server 400 to its own hard disk device 140 or the like in advance or each time, and may be referred to.

Next, the first user interface display processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. For example, consider a case in which a user of the computer 100 is now transmitting image data from a desired digital camera existing on the network 500 to a desired printer also existing on the network 500. .

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the first user interface display processing by the application section 112 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows the monitor 180 before and after the first user interface display processing is performed. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display.

Now, the application unit 1 of the CPU 110
Reference numeral 12 denotes a digital camera category window 802 corresponding to the digital camera category and a printer category window corresponding to the printer category on the screen 182 of the monitor 180 via the I / O unit 130, as shown in FIG. 804 respectively. The digital camera category window 802 displays device icons 806 and 808 of the digital cameras A and B existing on the network 500 as devices belonging to the digital camera category, and the printer category window 804 displays the printer category. Device icons 810 to 81 of the printers A to E which also exist on the network 500 as devices belonging to
8 is displayed.

That is, the application unit 112 accesses the server 400 connected to the network 500 via the I / O unit 130 and the communication device 150 in advance, and the device registered in the shared database unit 410 in the server 400. The names of the digital camera and the printer existing on the network 500 are acquired from the information on the network 500, and are stored in the hard disk device 140 via the I / O unit 130. A device icon as shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the screen 182 of 180. The data of the icon itself may be stored in the hard disk device 140 of the computer 100 in advance, or when the server 400 is accessed, the shared database 41
It may be obtained from 0.

Therefore, the user of the computer 100
As shown in FIG. 3B, the user operates the mouse 170 to select a digital camera A as a desired digital camera from the digital cameras existing on the network 500. When the mouse cursor 820 is placed on the device icon 806 of the digital camera A displayed in the category window 802, the application unit 112 which has been in a standby state in advance
Detects that the device icon 806 of the digital camera A has been selected via the I / O unit 130 (step S102). Then, the application unit 112
Recognizes the digital camera A corresponding to the selected device icon 806 as a target device, and sets a printer category which does not belong to the target device (digital camera A) among the two categories in which the window is opened. The hard disk drive 1 recognizes the target category as the target category and identifies the target device name (“digital camera A”) and the target category name (“printer”).
40 (step S1).
04).

Next, the application unit 112
Network 5 via the O unit 130 and the communication device 150
00 shared database unit 4 of server 400 connected to
10 (step S106), and acquires the function matching condition of the digital camera A as the target device from the information on the device in the shared database unit 410 based on the name of the target device (“digital camera A”). (Step S108), the data is stored in the hard disk device 140 via the I / O unit 130.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of information on devices stored in the shared database unit 410 of FIG. As described above, the shared database unit 410
Stores information on each device existing on the network 500, for example, in a tree structure as shown in FIG. In the first layer of the tree structure, information such as the name of the category (that is, device class) to which each device belongs is stored. Specifically, assuming that the category of each device existing on the network 500 is a digital camera, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile, or the like, those names are respectively stored. In the second layer, information such as names of individual devices existing on the network 500 is stored. Specifically, as described above, when there are individual devices called digital camera A, digital camera B, printer A, printer B,... On the network 500, their names are stored. Become.

The third layer stores information such as the function of each device and the function matching condition of each device with other devices. First, regarding the functions, specifically, for example, the digital camera A
However, when the digital camera B is “black and white only”, the function information thereof is stored as shown in FIG. Printer A is "text only", "color compatible", "A3 compatible", printer B is "image compatible", "color compatible", "A4 exclusive", printer C is "image compatible", “Black and white only” and “A3 compatible”, and the printer D has “Image compatible”, “Color compatible”,
If the printer E is "image compatible", "color compatible", or "only for A3", the respective function information is stored in the same manner.

On the other hand, the function matching condition is a condition for judging whether the device is functionally consistent in transferring data to and from another device, in other words, the device matching condition Is a condition of a function required of a partner device in order to transfer appropriate data to and from another device. In other words, if the function of the partner device meets the conditions, it can be determined that the device and the partner device are functionally consistent, and proper data can be exchanged between the device and the partner device. Delivery becomes possible. Specifically, for example, since the digital camera A handles images and is “color compatible” as described above, the function of the partner device may be image compatible and color compatible. Desired. Therefore, as the function matching condition of the digital camera A, the conditions of “corresponding to image” and “corresponding to color” are stored. Further, since the digital camera B is “black and white only” as described above, the function of the partner device only needs to be compatible with images and at least support black and white. The matching conditions are "image-compatible" and "black and white only",
Alternatively, the condition “image correspondence” and “color correspondence” is stored.

Therefore, in step S108 described above,
The application unit 112 acquires the above-described conditions of “correspondence to image” and “correspondence to color” from the information of the third layer stored in the shared database unit 410 as the function matching conditions of the digital camera A as the target device. Will be.

Subsequently, based on the name of the target category (“printer”), the application unit 112 extracts function information of all devices belonging to the printer category, which is the target category, from information on the devices in the shared database unit 410. Acquisition (step S110), I / O unit 1
30 and stored in the hard disk device 140. Specifically, the application unit 112 determines whether the printer A belongs to the printer category (that is, the printer class).
To the function information of the shared database unit 41, respectively.
It is obtained from the information of the third layer stored in “0”.

After obtaining the function matching conditions of the target device and the function information of all the devices belonging to the target category, the application unit 112 next obtains the devices (printers A to E) belonging to the target category (printer category). From among them, one device to be determined is extracted (step S112), and the function information of the device is
It is obtained from the information stored in the hard disk device 140 (step S114). For example, if printer A is extracted as a device to be determined,
As shown in FIG. 4, information "text-only", "color-compatible", and "A3-compatible" is acquired as the function information.

Subsequently, the application section 112 reads out the function matching condition of the target device from the hard disk device 140 which has previously stored the function, and determines whether or not the extracted function of the device matches the function matching condition of the target device (see FIG. 4). Step S116). As a result of the determination, if they match, the application unit 112 proceeds to the determination processing of step S120 without doing anything. If not, the application unit 112 stores the data in the hard disk device 140.
The grayout information of the device icon is added to the extracted device information (step S118). For example,
As described above, if the extracted device is the printer A, its functions are “text only”, “color compatible”, and “A3 compatible”, whereas the functions of the digital camera A as the target device are The matching condition is “image correspondence” and “color correspondence”. Therefore, since the “text only” portion does not match the “image correspondence” portion, the application section 112 determines that the function of the printer A does not meet the function matching condition of the digital camera A, and The grayout information is added to the information of the printer A in the printer.

Next, the application section 112 checks whether or not the determination in step S116 has been performed for all devices belonging to the target category (printer category).
Returning to step S112, one device to be determined next is extracted, and the same processing is repeated thereafter. Therefore, among the remaining devices (printers), printers B, D, E
As is clear from FIG. 4, the functions include “correspondence to image” and “correspondence to color”. Therefore, the application unit 112 determines that the functions of the printers B, D, and E correspond to the function matching conditions of the digital camera A. And does nothing as it is, but for printer C,
Since the “black and white only” portion does not match the “image correspondence” portion, the application section 112 determines that the function of the printer C does not meet the function matching condition of the digital camera A, and The grayout information is added to the information of the printer C.

Thus, step S116 is performed for all devices belonging to the target category (printer category).
Is determined, the application unit 112 determines the window of the target category on the screen 182 of the monitor 180 (that is, the printer category window 804) based on the information of the devices belonging to the target category stored in the hard disk device 140. The display of the device icon in the device is updated (step S122). Specifically, the application unit 112 determines whether the printers A to A displayed in the printer category window 804
Of the device icons 810 to 818 of E, the device icons 810 and 814 of the printers A and C are
Based on the gray-out information added to the information on the printers A and C in step S118, as shown in FIG.
The D and E device icons 812, 816 and 818 are left as they are. Accordingly, as a result, in the printer category window 804, the device icons of the printers that are functionally consistent in transferring data to and from the digital camera A, which is the target device, are displayed as they are. The device icons of the printers that have not been displayed are grayed out, meaning that only the printers that are functionally compatible with the digital camera A are narrowed down and displayed.

Therefore, the user of the computer 100
From a plurality of printers belonging to the printer category, only printers that can properly transfer data to and from the digital camera A can be immediately visually grasped, and a desired printer to which data is to be transmitted is selected. Since it becomes easier, the usability of the user can be improved.

In the present embodiment, among the printer device icons displayed in the digital camera category window 802, the printer device icons that are not functionally compatible with the target device, digital camera A, are: Although the gray-out display is used, the device icon itself of the printer that is not functionally matched may be deleted instead of the gray-out display. In this case, in step S118, the application unit 112 adds the erasure information of the device icon to the device information, and proceeds to step S1.
At 22, the device icon may be deleted based on the deletion information.

Instead of graying out the device icons of the printers that are not functionally compatible with the digital camera A, the device icons of the printers that are functionally compatible with the digital camera A are highlighted. , May be displayed blinking. That is, a device icon of a functionally consistent printer and a device icon of a functionally incompatible printer are
Any display form may be used on the screen 182 of the monitor 180 as long as the display can be visually identified by the user.

The above can be applied not only to the first user interface display processing but also to the second user interface display processing described below.

Next, the second user interface display processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the second user interface display processing by the application unit 112 in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 shows the screen display of the monitor 180 before and after the second user interface display processing. FIG.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6A, the application unit 112
A digital camera category window 802 corresponding to the digital camera category is opened on the left side of FIG. 3A in the same way as in the case of FIG. The digital camera category window 802 displays the network 50 as a device belonging to the digital camera category.
0, the device icons 806 and 808 of the digital cameras A and B present on the digital camera A and B are displayed. On the desktop 822, a category icon 824 corresponding to the printer category and a category icon 826 corresponding to the A3 printer category , A category icon 828 corresponding to the A4 printer category, and a category icon 830 corresponding to the facsimile category. Among them, the printer category and the facsimile category are categories including all the printers existing on the network 500 or all the facsimile, respectively. A3 printer category and A4
The printer category is a category including printers that can print on A3 paper size or A4 paper size among printers existing on the network 500, respectively. For the A3 printer category and the A4 printer category, the application unit 112 preliminarily sets the names of those categories together with
Each category condition (for example, for the A3 printer category, a condition such as “A3 compatible or A3 dedicated printer”) is stored in the hard disk device 140.

Therefore, the user of the computer 100
In order to select, for example, the digital camera A as a desired digital camera, and among printers existing on the network 500, for example, from among printers capable of printing on a paper size of A3, a desired digital camera is selected. Do the following to find the printer: That is,
By operating the mouse 170, as shown in FIG. 6A, first, the mouse cursor 820 is moved to the device icon 806 of the digital camera A in the digital camera category window 802, and then, while pressing the button of the mouse 170, , Device icon 806 of digital camera A
As indicated by the dashed-dotted arrow on the desktop 822.
Drag and drop to the category icon 826 corresponding to the above A3 printer category. Then, the application unit 112 that was in the standby state in advance,
It is detected via the O unit 130 that the device icon 806 of the digital camera A has been dragged and dropped on the category icon 826 of the A3 printer category (step S202). Then, the application unit 112 transmits the digital camera A corresponding to the device icon 806 targeted for drag and drop.
Is recognized as a target device, and the category icon 8 which is also the target of drag and drop
The A3 printer category corresponding to H.26 is recognized as a target category, and the name of the target device (“Digital camera A”) and the category condition of the target category (A3 printer category) (“A3 compatible or A3 dedicated printer”) Is obtained from the information stored in the hard disk device 140 (step S204).

Next, the application unit 112
Network 5 via the O unit 130 and the communication device 150
00 shared database unit 4 of server 400 connected to
10 (step S206), and based on the category conditions (“A3 compatible or A3 dedicated printer”) of the target category (A3 printer category), the target category database is re-created from the information on the devices in the shared database unit 410. Build (Step S20)
8). Specifically, a reference table of devices satisfying the above category conditions is created and stored in the hard disk device 140 via the I / O unit 130. That is, since the category condition of the A3 printer category, which is the target category, is “A3 compatible or A3 dedicated printer” as described above, it belongs to the printer class in the device information in the shared database unit 410 shown in FIG. From the printers A to E, printers storing the function information “A3 compatible” or “A3 only” are obtained by searching, and a reference table for these printers is created.
As is apparent from FIG. 4, since the corresponding printers are the printers A, C to D, finally the printers A, C to D
A reference table including the name and function information is created.

Next, based on the name of the target device (“digital camera A”), the application unit 112
The function matching condition of the digital camera A, which is the target device, is acquired from the information on the device in the shared database unit 410 (step S210), and stored in the hard disk device 140 via the I / O unit 130. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the conditions “corresponding to image” and “corresponding to color” are acquired as the function matching conditions of the digital camera A.

Next, the application unit 112 acquires function information of a device belonging to the target category from the reference table stored in the hard disk device 140 in step S208 (step S214). In particular,
The names and function information of the printers A and C to D are obtained.

When the function matching condition of the target device (digital camera A) and the function information of all the devices belonging to the target category (A3 printer category) are obtained in this way, the application unit 1 is executed based on the information.
12 performs the processing of steps S216 to S224.
Note that the processing contents of steps S216 to S224 are described in FIG.
Are the same as the processing contents of steps S112 to S120 shown in FIG.

As described above, the function matching condition of the digital camera A as the target device is “corresponding to image” and “corresponding to color”, while the printers A, C to E belonging to the A3 printer category as the target category. Of these, the printers D and E include "image support" and "color support" as functions, as is clear from FIG.
12 judges that the functions of the printers D and E match the function matching condition of the digital camera A, and does nothing as it is.
Does not match the "color compatible" part, and for printer C, the "black and white only" part is "image compatible".
Does not match the part, the application unit 11
2 judges that the functions of the printers A and C do not meet the function matching conditions of the digital camera A, and in step S222, the printers A and C in the hard disk device 140
Grey-out information is added to the information of.

In this way, all devices (printers A, C to C) belonging to the target category (A3 printer category)
After making the determination in step S220 for E), the application unit 112 newly opens the window of the target category, and based on the information of the device belonging to the target category stored in the hard disk device 140, the application unit 112 Display a device icon (step S226). Specifically, the application unit 112, as shown in FIG.
A new window 805 of the A3 printer category, which is the target category, is opened on the right side of the screen 182 on the right side of the screen 182.
16, 818 are displayed. Among them, the device icons 810 and 814 of the printers A and C are displayed.
Based on the gray-out information added to the information on the printers A and C in step S222, the display is displayed in gray-out, and the device icons 81 of the other printers D and E are displayed.
6,818 are displayed as usual. Therefore, as a result, in the newly opened A3 printer category window 805, only the device icons of the printers belonging to the A3 printer category are displayed.
The device icons of the printers that are functionally consistent in transferring data to and from the digital camera A, which is the target device, are normally displayed, but the device icons of the printers that are not consistent are grayed out. Therefore, only printers that are functionally matched are narrowed down and displayed.

Therefore, the user of the computer 100
From multiple printers that can print on A3 paper size,
Only printers that can properly transfer data to and from the digital camera A can be visually and immediately grasped, and it becomes easy to select a desired printer to which data is to be transmitted, thereby improving user-friendliness. Can be.

In the above example, the target category is A
Since the three printer categories were set, the application unit 112 sets the category based on the category condition of the target category.
Although the device belonging to the target category is searched from the information about the device shown in FIG. 4, for example, if the target category is simply a printer category, the printer class is included in the information about the device shown in FIG. It is only necessary to extract all the printers belonging to.

In the above example, as a method of reconstructing the target category database based on the category conditions of the target category, a reference table of devices satisfying the category conditions is created. All the device information that satisfies the category condition is copied from the information on the devices in the database unit 410, and reconstructed in the same row as a new target category database (digital camera, printer, scanner, facsimile, etc.) or on the hard disk device 140. You may do it.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the device icon 806 of the desired digital camera (digital camera A) displayed in the digital camera category window 802 is dragged and dropped. Instead of a device icon, a shortcut device icon may be dragged and dropped.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how a shortcut device icon is dragged and dropped. For example, as shown in FIG.
12 displays the desktop 8 on the screen 182 of the monitor 180.
22 is displayed, and a printer category icon 824, an A3 printer category icon 826, and an A4 printer category icon 828 are displayed on the desktop 822.
And a facsimile category icon 830, and a shortcut device icon 832 of the digital camera A is displayed. Digital camera A
The device icon 806 is originally displayed in the digital camera category window 802 as shown in FIG. 6, but in the display state shown in FIG. 7, the shortcut device icon 832 which is an alternation of the device icon 806 is displayed. It is displayed on the desktop 822.

In such a display state, the user of the computer 100 operates the mouse 170 to
2 with the mouse cursor 820 displayed on the shortcut device icon 832 of the digital camera A. While pressing the button of the mouse 170, the A3 printer category icon 826 is displayed as indicated by the dashed-dotted arrow. Drag and drop to the application section 1
12 detects that the drag-and-drop operation has been performed, recognizes the digital camera A corresponding to the shortcut device icon 832 subjected to the drag-and-drop operation as a target device, and proceeds to step S204 in FIG. The processing of is performed.

As described above, the same display processing can be performed by using the shortcut device icon which is the alter ego instead of the device icon. This can be similarly applied to the category icons described above and the data icons described later.

Next, a modified example of the above-described first or second user interface display processing will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a data icon display process added in a modification of the user interface display process.

First, a modification of the first user interface display process will be described. In this modification, FIG.
The data icon display process shown in FIG. 8 is added between steps S120 and S122 in the first user interface display process shown in FIG.

That is, the application section 112 starts the data icon display processing shown in FIG. 8 after making the determination in step S116 for all devices belonging to the target category (printer category), and firstly, the I / O section 130 , Via the communication device 150, the network 500
The digital camera A, which is the target device existing above, is accessed (step S302), and it is determined whether data is held in the digital camera A (step S304). If the data is held, the data is read from the digital camera A and received (step S306), and stored in the hard disk device 140.

Here, a procedure when the application section 112 accesses the digital camera A, which is a device, and acquires data will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration when the application unit 112 in FIG. 1 accesses a device via the network 500 and acquires data.

As described above, when the user selects the device icon 806 of the digital camera A, the interface unit 114 corresponding to the digital camera A is first generated in the computer 100, and the digital camera A A proxy (Proxy) 116 corresponding to A is generated. Thereby, a stub (Stub) 202 is generated in the computer 200 connected to the digital camera A corresponding to the proxy 116.

The CPU 110 of the computer 100
Is connected to the computer 200 via the network 500.
, The device control unit 2 corresponding to the digital camera A
04 is generated. Thereby, the device control unit 204 corresponding to the digital camera A is generated in the computer 200.

The computer 200 stores in advance
When the digital camera A is connected to the computer 200, the device driver 20 corresponding to the digital camera A
6 has been generated.

In this embodiment, the interface unit 114, the device control unit 204, the proxy 116,
The stub 202 is realized using the technology of COM.

Here, COM (Compornent Object Mode)
l) is an infrastructure that works with objects promoted and promoted by Microsoft,
It defines a method for constructing dynamically interchangeable components, and is a specification that defines standards for component architecture.

In COM, each service provided by software is implemented as a COM object. Each COM object has 1
Implements more than one interface. In the present embodiment, the interface unit 114 and the device control unit 2
04 is configured as a COM object.

On the other hand, the proxy 116 and the stub 202
Is constructed by a COM / DCOM (DistributedCOM) mechanism. COM / DCOM is a mechanism that is standardly supported on Windows platforms and the like.

Note that the interface implemented by the COM object is usually composed of several methods having some relation. Each interface is identified by an interface ID. A method is a function call for executing a specific function, and in order to call a method included in a specific interface, a pointer to the interface is required. The interface pointer is the interface ID that identifies the interface
By specifying a class ID or the like for identifying a COM object that implements the interface and calling the service of the COM library, it can be obtained.

As described above, when the interface unit 114 and the proxy 116 are created in the computer 100 and the stub 202 and the device control unit 204 are created in the computer 200 to which the digital camera A is connected, It is started automatically. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 9, the application unit 112, the interface unit 114, and the proxy 1 in the computer 100.
16, the network 500, the stub 202 in the computer 200, the device control unit 204, the device driver 206, and the digital camera A coupled to the computer 200 are connected to each other, and are devices from the application unit 112 via the network 500. A communication path to the digital camera A is established, and the application unit 112 can control the digital camera A via the network 500 and use it freely.

At this time, the proxy 116 and the stub 202
When the application unit 112 exchanges various control information and data with the digital camera A over the network 500, the application unit 112 and the interface unit 114, which are located at a higher level, communicate with the computer 100. Abstraction of a communication path connecting between the 200 via the network 500 is performed. On the other hand, the device control unit 204 absorbs the difference in device class (device type) of the corresponding device (in this case, digital camera A),
Performs device abstraction (hardware abstraction).

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing data icons and device icons displayed on the screen of the monitor 180 in FIG. 1 by a modification of the first user interface display processing.

As described above, the application unit 1
12 obtains the data held in the digital camera A via the network 500 and stores it in the hard disk device 140. Next, the application unit 1
12 reads out the stored data, performs a thinning process and the like, creates data of a thumbnail image,
As shown in FIG. 10, a device window 834 of the digital camera A, which is a target device, is newly opened on the left side of the screen 182 of the monitor 180, and in the window,
Based on the created thumbnail image data, the data icons of all the data held in the digital camera A are displayed (step S308).

On the other hand, if no data is held in the digital camera A as the target device in step S304, the application section 112 does nothing and ends the data icon display processing.

When the data icon display process shown in FIG. 8 is completed, the process returns to the display process shown in FIG.
The display of the device icon of the printer displayed in the category window 804 of the printer category which is the target category is updated. As a result, the screen 182 of the monitor 180
The above display is as shown in FIG.

As described above, the device window 834 of the digital camera A is opened, and the data icons of all the data held in the digital camera A are displayed therein. Whether such image data is held can be grasped at a glance, and the image data to be transmitted to the printer can be immediately selected.

Next, a modification of the second user interface display processing will be described. In this modification, FIG.
The data icon display process shown in FIG. 8 is added between steps S224 and S226 in the second user interface display process shown in FIG. The processing procedure is
Since it is almost the same as the above-described modification, only the display result will be described.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing data icons and device icons displayed on the screen of the monitor 180 in FIG. 1 by a modification of the second user interface display processing. As shown in FIG. 11, the application unit 112 displays the device window 8 of the digital camera A as the target device on the left side of the screen 182 of the monitor 180.
34, a category window 805 of the A3 printer category as a target category is newly opened on the right side, and data icons of all data held in the digital camera A are displayed in the device window 834. A window 805 displays device icons of printers belonging to the A3 printer category. By displaying the data icon in this manner, the same effect as that of the above-described modification can be obtained.

In the first user interface display process described above, as shown in FIG.
On the left side of the screen 182 of the monitor 180, a digital camera category window 8 corresponding to the digital camera category is displayed.
02 and open the digital camera category window 8
02, device icons 806 and 808 of digital cameras existing on the network 500 are displayed, and the user of the computer 100 selects a desired device icon of the digital camera from among them. However, instead of the digital camera category window, open the device window of the desired digital camera in advance, and in the device window,
The data icon of the data held in the digital camera may be displayed, and the user of the computer 100 may select the data icon of the desired data from the data icons. In that case, the above-described first user interface display processing is as follows.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display on the monitor 180 before and after the first user interface display processing is performed when a data icon is displayed. As shown in FIG. 12A, the application unit 112 previously stores a device window 834 of the digital camera A, which is a desired digital camera, and a printer category window 804 corresponding to the printer category on the screen 182 of the monitor 180. , Each open. Then, in the device window 834 of the digital camera A, the 4
A data icon of one image data is displayed, and device icons 810 to 818 similar to those in FIG. 3A are displayed in the printer category window 804.

Therefore, the user of the computer 100
In order to select the desired image data from the image data stored in the digital camera A, which is the desired digital camera, the user operates the mouse 170 and, as shown in FIG. For example, the mouse cursor 8 is placed on the data icon 836 displayed in the
When 20 is added, the application unit 112 that has been in the standby state in advance detects via the I / O unit 130 that the data icon 836 has been selected. Then, the application unit 112 selects the selected data icon 8
The digital camera A holding the image data corresponding to 36 is recognized as the target device. Subsequent processing is the same as the processing shown in FIG. Therefore, finally, the display on the screen 182 of the monitor 180 is as shown in FIG.
The result is as shown in FIG.

As described above, even if the data icon of the data held in the desired device is displayed in advance, and the user selects the data icon of the desired data from among them, the first The same processing as the user interface display processing can be performed, and the same effect can be obtained.

The above can be similarly applied to the second user interface display processing. That is, instead of the digital camera category window shown in FIG. 6A, a device window of a desired digital camera is opened in advance, and data icons of data held in the digital camera are displayed in the device window. Then, the user of the computer 100 may drag and drop a data icon of desired data in the data to a predetermined category icon on the desktop. In that case, the second
The user interface display processing is as follows.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display on the monitor 180 before and after performing the second user interface display processing when displaying a data icon. As shown in FIG. 13A, the application unit 112 previously stores a digital camera A, which is a desired digital camera, on the left side of the screen 182 of the monitor 180.
A device window 834 is opened, and a desktop 822 is displayed on the right side of the screen 182. Then, the data icons of the four image data held in the digital camera A are displayed in the device window 834 of the digital camera A, and the data icons of FIG.
The same category icons 824 to 830 as those in FIG.

Therefore, the user of the computer 100
In order to select desired image data from image data held in the digital camera A, which is a desired digital camera, and to select, for example, an A3 paper size among printers existing on the network 500, The following operation is performed in order to find a desired printer from printers that can print on the printer. That is, mouse 1
13, the data icon 836 displayed in the device window 834 of the digital camera A by the mouse cursor 820 is changed to the A3 printer category on the desktop 822 as shown in FIG. Drag and drop to the category icon 826 to be performed. Then, the application unit 112 that has been in the standby state in advance detects via the I / O unit 130 that the data icon 836 of the image data has been dragged and dropped on the category icon 826 of the A3 printer category. Then, the application unit 112 recognizes the digital camera A holding the image data corresponding to the data icon 836 subjected to the drag and drop as the target device. Subsequent processing is the same as the processing shown in FIG.
Therefore, finally, the display on the screen 182 of the monitor 180 is as shown in FIG.

As described above, the data icons of the data held in the desired device are displayed in advance, and the user drags and drops the data icon of the desired data to a predetermined category icon from among them. In this case, processing equivalent to the above-described second user interface display processing can be performed, and the same effect can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the examples and embodiments described above, but can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the target device is the digital camera as the input device, and the target category is the category of the printer as the output device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As the printer as the output device, the target category may be the category of the digital camera as the input device. Specifically, for example, in the first user interface display processing, the user selects a printer device icon from the printer category window 804 in the printer category window 804.
By selecting the device icon of the desired printer (target device), the device icon of the digital camera that is not functionally matched with the printer as the target device among the digital camera device icons in the digital camera category window 802 is displayed. Make it appear grayed out.

The target device is not limited to a digital camera or a printer, but includes various input devices and output devices such as a scanner and a facsimile.

In the above embodiment, the monitor 180
Has been described in a case where the icons are arranged and displayed in a window on the screen 182, but the icons may be displayed in a tree structure in the window.

Instead of displaying icons, characters such as category names, device names, and data names may be displayed, and corresponding figures, symbols, signs, colors, and the like may be displayed. You may do it.

In the above-described embodiment, the interface unit 114, the device control unit 204, the proxy 116, and the stub 202 are realized by using the COM technology. However, similar distributed objects are constructed in addition to COM. There are JAVA and CORBA as environment,
These may be used to realize a similar mechanism.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a device control apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a first user interface display processing by an application unit 112 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing screen displays on a monitor 180 before and after a first user interface display process is performed.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of information about a device stored in a shared database unit 410 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a second user interface display processing by an application unit 112 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing screen displays on a monitor 180 before and after a second user interface display process is performed.

FIG. 7 Drag the shortcut device icon
It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that it performs and drop.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a data icon display process added in a modification of the user interface display process.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration when an application unit 112 in FIG. 1 accesses a device via a network 500 to acquire data.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing data icons and device icons displayed on the screen of the monitor 180 in FIG. 1 by a modification of the first user interface display processing.

11 is an explanatory diagram showing data icons and device icons displayed on the screen of the monitor 180 in FIG. 1 by a modification of the second user interface display processing.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display on the monitor 180 before and after performing a first user interface display process when a data icon is displayed.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing screen displays on the monitor 180 before and after performing a second user interface display process when a data icon is displayed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Computer 110 ... CPU 112 ... Application part 114 ... Interface part 116 ... Proxy 120 ... Memory 130 ... I / O part 140 ... Hard disk drive 150 ... Communication device 160 ... CD-ROM drive device 162 ... CD-ROM 170 ... Mouse 180 ... Monitor 182 ... Screen 200 ... Computer 202 ... Stub 204 ... Device control unit 206 ... Device driver 300 ... Computer 400 ... Server 410 ... Shared database unit 500 ... Network 802 ... Digital camera category window 804 ... Printer category window 805 ... A3 printer category Category window 820 ... Mouse cursor 822 ... Desktop 834 ... Digital camera A device window

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Suji Katada 3-5-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano F-term in Seiko Epson Corporation (reference) 5E501 AA02 AA06 AC25 BA03 BA05 BA09 CA02 CB09 DA15 EA05 EA08 EA11 EB01 EB05 FA04 FA23 FA46 FB28 FB43

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A device control device capable of controlling a first device and one or more second devices belonging to a specific category, comprising: display means having a screen; Input means for inputting, and displaying the first device or a first symbol corresponding to data held in the first device on a screen of the display means, and belonging to the specific category. User interface display control means for displaying a second symbol corresponding to each of the second devices in a predetermined area on the screen, wherein the user interface display control means externally receives the second symbol through the input means, When an instruction to select the displayed first symbol is input, the second device is assigned to each of the second devices. The first
It is determined whether or not the device is functionally compatible with the data transfer between the two devices. Based on the determination result, among the displayed second symbols, the device does not match. The second symbol corresponding to the second device determined to be erased from the predetermined area on the screen, or the second symbol corresponding to the second device determined to match A device control device for displaying a second symbol corresponding to a second device determined to be unmatched so as to be identified. 2. A device control device capable of controlling a first device and one or more second devices belonging to a specific category, comprising: display means having a screen; An input unit for inputting, a display unit displaying a first symbol corresponding to the first device or data held in the first device, and a second symbol corresponding to the specific category. User interface display control means for displaying the first symbol and the second symbol displayed from outside via the input means. When an instruction to perform is input, for each second device, the second device is connected to the first device by the first device. It is determined whether or not it is functionally consistent in the transfer of the device. Based on the determination result, only the third symbol corresponding to the second device determined to be consistent is displayed on the screen. A third symbol corresponding to the second device determined not to match the third symbol corresponding to the second device determined to match or to be displayed in the predetermined area; A device control device, wherein the device is displayed in the predetermined area so that the device can be identified. 3. The device control device according to claim 1, wherein, when the symbol to be displayed as the first symbol is a symbol corresponding to the first device, the user interface display control means. Determines whether data is held in the first device when the instruction is input from the outside, and, if data is held, displays a symbol corresponding to the data on the screen. A device control device characterized by being displayed above. 4. The device control device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second devices is capable of inputting information. A device control device, wherein the other device is an output device capable of outputting at least information. 5. A user interface display method for displaying a user interface for operating a first device and one or more second devices belonging to a specific category on a screen of a display means, (A) displaying on the screen of the display means a first symbol corresponding to the first device or data held in the first device, and each second device belonging to the specific category; Displaying a second symbol corresponding to each of the first and second symbols in a predetermined area on the screen; and (b) receiving an instruction to select the displayed first symbol, respectively; Determining whether the second device is functionally consistent with the first device in transferring data between the first device and the second device. (C) a second symbol corresponding to a second device determined to be unmatched among the displayed second symbols based on the determination result, from the predetermined area on the screen; Erasing or identifying a second symbol corresponding to a second device determined to be consistent with a second symbol corresponding to a second device determined to be unmatched A user interface display method, comprising the steps of: 6. A user interface display method for displaying, on a screen of a display means, a user interface for operating a first device and one or more second devices belonging to a specific category, (A) displaying, on the screen of the display means, a first symbol corresponding to the first device or data held in the first device, and a second symbol corresponding to the specific category; (B) when there is an instruction to associate the displayed first symbol with the second symbol, for each second device, the second device A step of determining whether the first device and the first device are functionally consistent in transferring data between the first device and the first device; and (c) performing the matching based on the determination result. Only the third symbol corresponding to the second device determined to be displayed is displayed in a predetermined area on the screen, or the third symbol corresponding to the second device determined to be consistent is displayed. Displaying in the predetermined area so as to be able to identify a third symbol corresponding to the second device determined not to match the symbol. 7. A user interface for operating a first device and one or more second devices belonging to a specific category is provided by a display unit connected to a computer capable of controlling said device. A computer-readable recording medium recording a computer program to be displayed on a screen, wherein the first device or a first symbol corresponding to data held in the first device is displayed by the display unit. A function of displaying a second symbol corresponding to each of the second devices belonging to the specific category in a predetermined area on the screen, and a function of displaying the second symbol externally on the computer. When an instruction to select the first symbol is input, each second symbol is selected.
A function of determining whether the second device is functionally consistent with the first device in transferring data between the first device and the second device, based on the determination result. Deleting, from the predetermined area on the screen, the second symbol corresponding to the second device determined to be unmatched among the displayed second symbols, or And displaying the second symbol corresponding to the second device corresponding to the second device determined to be inconsistent with the second symbol corresponding to the second device determined to be inconsistent with the computer. A recording medium on which a computer program for realizing the recording is recorded. 8. A user interface for operating a first device and one or more second devices belonging to a specific category is provided by a display means connected to a computer capable of controlling the device. A computer-readable recording medium recording a computer program to be displayed on a screen, wherein the first device or a first symbol corresponding to data held in the first device, A function of displaying a second symbol corresponding to the category on the screen of the display means, and a function of associating the displayed first symbol with the second symbol from the outside to the computer. When an instruction is input, for each second device, the second device is connected to the first device;
A function of determining whether or not the data are functionally consistent in data transfer between the two; and a second function of determining that the data is consistent based on the determination result.
If only the third symbol corresponding to the device is displayed in a predetermined area on the screen, or if the symbol is not matched with the third symbol corresponding to the second device determined to be matched A recording medium storing a computer program for causing the computer to realize: a function of displaying the third symbol corresponding to the determined second device in the predetermined area so that the third symbol can be identified.