JP2008234118A - User interface providing apparatus, user interface generation method, and program. - Google Patents

Abstract

In an apparatus for providing a user interface for a plurality of devices, usability of a user is improved.
A user interface providing apparatus for providing a user interface for a plurality of devices, a user interface generation information acquiring unit for acquiring user interface generation information used for generating user interfaces for a plurality of devices, and user interface generation User interface generation means for generating a user interface for each corresponding device in one tool that provides the user interface using the user interface generation information of a plurality of devices acquired by the information acquisition means.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for providing a user interface of a device such as a printer or a scanner.

Peripheral devices such as printers and scanners (hereinafter simply referred to as “devices”) are controlled according to instructions from a user received via a user interface such as a GUI (Graphical User Interface) of the host computer. Such user interfaces are typically
Different for each device. Accordingly, each device has information for generating a user interface (referred to as “user interface generation information”), and transmits this information to the host computer. Then, the tool for generating the user interface of the host computer generates a user interface for each device based on the user interface generation information and provides it to the user. That is, a tool that provides a user interface exists for each device.

JP-A-3-233628

However, if there is a user interface tool for each device, the usability becomes worse as the number of devices increases. Users can configure multiple different devices
You have to open several different tools one by one.

An object of the present invention is to improve user convenience in an apparatus that provides user interfaces of a plurality of devices.

In order to achieve the above object, for example, the present invention provides a user interface providing apparatus that provides user interfaces of a plurality of devices, and a user who acquires user interface generation information used for generating user interfaces of the plurality of devices. A user interface for each corresponding device using the interface generation information acquisition unit and the user interface generation information of the plurality of devices acquired by the user interface generation information acquisition unit, in one tool that provides the user interface User interface generation means for generating.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a UI providing system that provides a user interface according to the first embodiment of this invention.

The UI providing system is configured by connecting a UI providing apparatus 10 and a plurality of devices (basic device 20 and optional device 30). The UI providing apparatus 10 and the basic device 20 or the basic device 20 and the optional device 30 may be connected via a network.

The UI providing apparatus 10 is an information processing apparatus that provides a user interface such as a GUI to a user, and functions as a host computer for the devices 20 and 30. Therefore, the UI providing apparatus 10 includes a UI tool 11 including a UI generating unit 12 that performs user interface generation processing and a UI providing unit 13 that provides a user interface. The UI providing apparatus 10 receives instructions (various settings) from the user to the devices 20 and 30 via the user interface provided by the UI providing unit 13. Then, the devices 20 and 30 are controlled by sending the received instructions to the corresponding devices 20 and 30.

The basic device 20 is an information processing apparatus that manages the state of the option device 30 and controls its operation. For example, it may function as a print server. The basic device 20 collects user interface generation information (UI generation information) of the option device 30 and combines the user interface generation information, and then sends it to the UI providing apparatus 10. Therefore, the basic device 20 includes a UI generation information collection unit 21 that performs processing for collecting UI generation information, and a UI generation information combination unit 22 that performs processing for combining (combining) UI generation information of the same service group into one. It has. The basic device 20 may include an identification information storage unit 23 that stores its own device ID (information for identifying the device) and a UI generation information storage unit 24 that stores its own UI generation information. Good.

The option device 30 is a device that executes specific processing in accordance with an instruction from the UI providing device 10 that is a host computer. The option device 30 is managed by the basic device 20 and responds to information acquisition requests and setting requests from the basic device 20. The option device 30 is a so-called peripheral device such as a printer or a scanner, for example.

The option device 30 is information for specifying an identification information storage unit 31 that stores its own device ID, a UI generation information storage unit 32 that stores its own UI generation information, and devices belonging to the same service group. And a service group information storage unit 33 for storing service group information. Some option devices 30 do not hold service group information.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the UI generation information 400. As shown, UI generation information 4
00 includes information (UI generation information ID) 401 for identifying the UI generation information 400, a caption name 402, the number of control information 403, and a control information group 404. The control information group 404 includes information (control information ID) 405 for identifying control information, control type 406, and control image information (icons, images, etc.) 407 for each control information 403 of control information. When,
A caption name 408, a layout position (XY coordinate position) 409, a layout size (width, height) 410, and a setting item group 411 are included. The setting item group 411 includes, for each setting item, information (setting item information ID) 412 for identifying the setting item, and a setting item type 41.
3, access attribute 414, data name 416, and data attribute (character string, numeric value, flag,
417) and data (character string: display character string, numerical value: initial value or range (maximum, minimum), flag: ON / OFF, candidate: initial candidate or candidate string) 418 according to the data attribute. .

As shown in FIG. 3, the service group information storage unit 33 stores service group information, which is information for specifying devices belonging to the same service group.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of the service group information 330. Service group information 3
30 includes information (service group ID) 331 for identifying a service group;
A service group name 332 is associated with a device ID group 333 that is a device ID of a device belonging to the service group.

Note that the UI providing apparatus 10 and peripheral devices (basic device 20 and optional device 30) include a CPU that is a main control apparatus, a ROM that stores programs and the like, and a RAM that temporarily stores data and the like as a main memory. And a computer including a communication device for communicating with an external device and a bus serving as a communication path between the devices. The UI providing device 10 further includes an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk device, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display device that functions as an output device. Each peripheral device 2
0 and 30 have devices (network connection device, print engine, scanner engine, etc.) for achieving their original functions.

Each configuration and function of each device shown in FIG. 1 is achieved by executing a predetermined program loaded into the memory by the CPU. Therefore, a program for processing each function is stored in the ROM.

  Next, a characteristic operation of the UI providing system configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing (UI generation information collection processing) until UI generation information is collected and transmitted to the UI tool 11 of the UI providing apparatus.

The UI generation information collection unit 21 of the basic device 20 starts this flow when the option device 30 is connected to the basic device 20. Alternatively, the UI providing device 10
You may start on demand.

The UI generation information collection unit 21 of the basic device 20 sends a service group information transmission request,
Broadcast to the connected option device 30 (S101).

In response to this, the service group information storage unit 33 of the option device 30 holding the service group information transmits the stored service group information 330 to the basic device 20 (S102).

The UI generation information collection unit 21 of the basic device 20 receives the received service group information 330
A UI generation information transmission request is transmitted to option devices belonging to the same service group specified by (S103). Specifically, by specifying a plurality of device IDs stored in the device group 333 of the service group information 330, the option device 30 belonging to the service group of the service group ID 331 is specified, and the specified option device 30 is Then, a transmission request for UI generation information is transmitted. Each option device 30 is assumed to have sent its own device ID to the basic device 20 in advance.

The UI generation information storage unit 32 of the option device 30 that has received the transmission request for the UI generation information
In order to answer this request, the stored UI generation information 400 is transmitted to the basic device 20 (S104, S105). Note that the option device 30 transmits the UI generation information when receiving the request for transmission of the UI generation information regardless of whether the option device 30 holds the service group information.

Next, the UI generation information combining unit 22 combines (collectively) the collected UI generation information 400 as the UI generation information of devices belonging to the same service group, and sets the grouped UI generation information. Generate (S106). At this time, when the UI generation information storage unit 23 of the basic device 20 stores the UI generation information of the basic device 20 itself, the UI generation information combining unit 22 also includes the UI generation information of the basic device 20 itself, Grouped UI generation information is generated.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the grouped UI generation information 500. The grouped UI generation information 500 has a configuration similar to the service group information 330, and has a service group ID 50
1, a service group name 502, and a device ID group 503. Device ID
The group 503 stores UI generation information 505 for each device ID 504.

Then, the UI generation information combining unit 22 of the basic device 20 sends the generated grouped UI generation information 500 to the UI providing apparatus 10. Note that the grouped UI generation information 500 may be sent in response to a request from the UI providing apparatus 10.

Upon receiving the grouped UI generation information 500, the tool generation unit 12 of the UI providing apparatus 10 generates a user interface using the received grouped UI generation information 500.
At this time, grouped UI generation information 5 is added to one tool that provides a user interface.
00, user interfaces of a plurality of devices belonging to the same service group are generated.

The tool providing unit 13 provides the generated user interface to the user using a display device or the like. FIG. 6 shows a screen (tool screen) 600 that provides a user interface.
FIG. Note that the tool providing unit 13 displays one icon for receiving a user interface provision request on a display device for one service group, and a corresponding tool screen is displayed by the user selecting the icon. You may make it display (open). That is, activation of one tool is accepted by one operation (one click) from the user, and user interfaces of a plurality of devices belonging to the same service group are provided in the one tool.

In the tool screen 600 of FIG. 6, it belongs to the same service group in one tool.
A user interface 612 such as a printer or a scanner is provided to the user.

The tool providing unit 13 displays a tab 611 provided for each device, and the tab 61
1 is selected from the user via the input device. Then, the user interface 612 of the selected device is displayed on the tool screen 600. In FIG. 6, a reception screen for various setting items 613 is displayed as the user interface 612. And the tool provision part 13 receives the various settings regarding a corresponding device from a user. The tab 611 may display device names such as printers and scanners. In addition, the service group name may be displayed.

  The first embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described.

The second embodiment basically has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment.
The difference is that the service group information is not held by the option device 30 and the basic device 20.

In the second embodiment, the UI providing apparatus 10 and the basic device 20 are connected via a network.
It is connected by a serial interface such as E1394.

A group of devices locally connected around the basic device 20 is defined as one group.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart until UI generation information is collected and transmitted to the UI tool 11 in this embodiment.

The UI generation information collection unit 21 of the basic device 20 starts this flow when the option device 30 is connected to the basic device 20. Alternatively, it may be started in response to a request from the UI providing apparatus 10.

The UI generation information collection unit 21 of the basic device 20 transmits a UI generation information transmission request to the connected option device 30 (S201).

The UI generation information storage unit 32 of the option device 30 that has received the transmission request for the UI generation information
In order to answer this request, the stored UI generation information 400 is transmitted to the basic device 20 (S202).

Next, the UI generation information combining unit 22 of the basic device 20 combines the collected UI generation information 400 into one as a UI group generation information of devices connected to the basic device 20 (collectively), Grouped UI generation information is generated (S203). At this time, when the UI generation information storage unit 23 of the basic device 20 stores the UI generation information of the basic device 20 itself, the UI generation information combining unit 22 also includes the UI generation information of the basic device 20 itself, Grouped UI generation information is generated.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the grouped UI generation information 510. The grouped UI generation information 510 has a configuration similar to the grouped UI generation information 500 shown in FIG. 5, but is a group centered on the basic device 20, so that the basic device ID 511, the basic device name 512, Device ID group 513. The device ID group 513 includes a device I
UI generation information 515 is stored for each D514. The basic device name 512 may be a name defined in advance by a manufacturer, or may be defined by a user and indicate an installation location of the basic device 20.

Then, the UI generation information combining unit 22 of the basic device 20 sends the generated grouped UI generation information 510 to the UI providing apparatus 10 (S204). Note that the grouped UI generation information 500 may be sent in response to a request from the UI providing apparatus 10.

Upon receiving the grouped UI generation information 510, the tool generation unit 12 of the UI providing apparatus 10 generates a user interface using the received grouped UI generation information 510.
At this time, grouped UI generation information 5 is added to one tool that provides a user interface.
10, user interfaces of a plurality of devices belonging to a group centered on the basic device 20 are generated.

The tool providing unit 13 provides the generated user interface to the user using a display device or the like. FIG. 9 shows a screen (tool screen) 600 that provides a user interface.
FIG. The tool providing unit 13 displays one icon for receiving a user interface provision request on the display device for one basic device, and a corresponding tool screen is displayed by the user selecting the icon. You may make it display (open). In other words, the activation of one tool is accepted by one operation (one click) from the user, and user interfaces of a plurality of devices connected to the basic device are provided in the one tool.

The tool screen 600 of FIG. 9 shows that a user interface 622 such as a printer or a scanner connected to the basic device is provided to the user in one tool.

The tool providing unit 13 displays a tab 621 provided for each device, and the tab 62
1 is selected from the user via the input device. Then, the user interface 622 of the selected device is displayed on the tool screen 600. In FIG. 9, a reception screen for various setting items 623 is displayed as the user interface 622. And the tool provision part 13 receives the various settings regarding a corresponding device from a user. The tab 621 may display device names such as printers and scanners. Further, the basic device name may be displayed.

According to the above embodiment, the user interfaces of a plurality of peripheral devices are managed by one tool. Therefore, the user is relieved from the troublesomeness of using the tool for each device. In addition, since the user interface of the device is grouped for each service group, various settings of devices that are related to each other are facilitated.

In addition, this invention is not restrict | limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible within the range of the summary.

For example, in the above embodiment, the basic device that manages the optional device collects the UI generation information, but the present invention is not limited to this. The UI providing apparatus may have a function of collecting UI generation information.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a UI providing system. The figure which shows the structure of UI production | generation information. The block diagram of service group information. The flowchart of UI generation information collection processing. The block diagram of UI production | generation information classified by group. The figure which shows the display screen of UI. The flowchart of UI generation information collection processing. The block diagram of UI production | generation information classified by group. The figure which shows the display screen of UI.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... UI provision apparatus, 11 ... UI tool, 12 ... UI production | generation part, 13 ... UI provision part, 20 ...
Basic device, 21 ... UI generation information collection unit, 22 ... UI generation information combination unit, 23 ... Identification information storage unit, 24 ... UI generation information storage unit, 30 ... Option device, 31 ... Identification information storage unit, 32 ... UI generation Information storage unit 33 ... Service information storage unit

Claims (9)

A user interface providing apparatus that provides user interfaces of a plurality of devices,
User interface generation information acquisition means for acquiring user interface generation information used for generating user interfaces of the plurality of devices;
Using the user interface generation information of the plurality of devices acquired by the user interface generation information acquisition means, a user interface for each corresponding device,
User interface generating means for generating in one tool providing a user interface;
A user interface providing device comprising: The user interface providing device according to claim 1,
The user interface generation information includes group identification information that is information for identifying a group to which the device belongs,
The user interface generation unit generates a user interface of a device corresponding to user interface generation information including the same group identification information in the one tool. The user interface providing device according to claim 2,
The user interface generation unit generates a group icon for each group,
An apparatus for providing a user interface, wherein the tool generated corresponding to group identification information of a corresponding group is activated in response to selection of the group icon. An information processing apparatus,
User interface generation information acquisition means for acquiring user interface generation information used for generating user interfaces for a plurality of devices,
User interface generation information combining means for combining user interface generation information regarding a plurality of devices acquired by the user interface information acquisition means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: means for transmitting user interface generation information related to the plurality of devices combined by the user interface generation information combining means to a user interface providing apparatus that provides a user interface. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4,
The user interface generation information combining unit adds identification information of the information processing apparatus to user interface generation information regarding the plurality of devices. A system comprising a plurality of devices and a user interface providing apparatus that provides a user interface of the plurality of devices,
User interface generation information acquisition means for acquiring user interface generation information used for generating a user interface from the plurality of devices;
Using the user interface generation information of the plurality of devices acquired by the user interface generation information acquisition means, a user interface for each corresponding device,
User interface generating means for generating in one tool providing a user interface;
A system comprising: A system comprising a plurality of devices and a user interface providing apparatus that provides a user interface of the plurality of devices,
Service group information acquisition means for acquiring service group information which is information for specifying devices belonging to the same service group;
User interface generation for identifying devices belonging to the same service group using the service group information acquired by the service group information acquisition means, and acquiring user interface generation information used for generating a user interface from the plurality of specified devices Information acquisition means;
Using the user interface generation information of the plurality of devices acquired by the user interface generation information acquisition means, a user interface for each device belonging to the same service group is generated in one tool that provides the user interface. User interface generation means;
A system comprising: A user interface generation method of a user interface providing apparatus that provides user interfaces of a plurality of devices,
The user interface providing device includes:
A user interface generation information acquisition step for acquiring user interface generation information used for generating user interfaces of the plurality of devices;
A user interface generation step of generating a user interface for each corresponding device in one tool that provides the user interface, using the user interface generation information of the plurality of devices acquired by the user interface generation information acquisition step; ,
A user interface generation method characterized by: A computer program for causing a computer to function as a user interface providing apparatus that provides user interfaces of a plurality of devices,
User interface generation information acquisition means for acquiring user interface generation information used for generating user interfaces of the plurality of devices;
Using the user interface generation information of the plurality of devices acquired by the user interface generation information acquisition means, a user interface for each corresponding device,
As a user interface generation means for generating in one tool that provides a user interface,
A computer program for causing the computer to function.

Images