JP2023031662A - Information processor, information processing system, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

A two-dimensional code image including data of individual parameters of an information processing device is displayed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus for displaying, via a GUI screen, content based on notification information transmitted from an external device, wherein notification type information included in the notification information is displayed. a first GUI screen having an element for displaying a two-dimensional code image generated by the information processing device and a second GUI screen not having the element, based on the individual parameters of the information processing device; An information processing apparatus characterized by having display control means for displaying any one of them. [Selection drawing] Fig. 4

Description

The present disclosure relates to a technique of displaying content based on information on a screen of a printing device when the printing device receives information regarding a notification to a user transmitted by a server.

In recent years, it has become common to display content such as advertisements obtained from a server on the screen of a terminal device. is being displayed.

In Patent Document 1, when the toner runs out, image data of a map of the toner storage location and image data of a QR code (registered trademark) representing the location of the map are received from the server as information about the storage location of the toner. Then, the map image and the QR code image are displayed on the screen of the image processing device.

JP 2019-188767 A

However, in Patent Literature 1, there is a concern that screen display cannot be performed in an optimum layout according to the type of notification. Further, since the image data of the QR code is generated by the server, the data of the individual parameters of the information processing device such as the printing device cannot be included in the QR code.

In view of the above problems, an object of an embodiment of the present invention is to display a two-dimensional code image including individual parameter data of an information processing apparatus.

An embodiment of the present invention is an information processing device that displays, via a GUI screen, content based on notification information transmitted from an external device, based on notification type information included in the notification information, Displaying either a first GUI screen having elements for displaying a two-dimensional code image generated by the information processing apparatus based on the individual parameters of the information processing apparatus, or a second GUI screen having no such elements. The information processing apparatus is characterized in that it has a display control means for controlling the display.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to display a two-dimensional code image including data of individual parameters of an information processing device.

Configuration diagram of information processing system Block diagram of MFP Block diagram of service management server Block diagram of service providing server Sequence diagram of processing for acquiring notification information and displaying a notification screen based on the notification information Response example Flowchart of notification screen display processing Notification screen (“Image display” pattern) Notification screen (“QR code display” pattern) Sequence diagram of processing for acquiring notification information and displaying a notification screen based on the notification information A table that holds the correspondence between the size of the LCD and the number of characters that can be represented by the QR code Flowchart of notification screen display processing A table that holds the relationship between the size of the LCD, the number of characters that can be represented by the QR code, and the character string of the URL for displaying the QR code Sequence diagram of processing for acquiring notification information and displaying a notification screen based on the notification information

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not unnecessarily limit the present disclosure, and not all combinations of features described below are essential as a solution to the present disclosure. Moreover, the same configuration will be described by attaching the same reference numerals.

[First embodiment]
<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an information processing system according to this embodiment. Information processing system 1 includes MFP 100 , service management server 200 , service providing server group 400 , and communication network 300 . The service providing server group 400 is a general term for service providing servers that provide each service. In the example of FIG. 1, the service providing server group 400 has a service A providing server 420 that provides service A, a service B providing server 430 that provides service B, and a service C providing server 440 that provides service C. FIG.

<Overview of the system>
An outline of processing performed in the system of FIG. 1 will be described. First, an example of the services provided by this system will be described. An example of the service is the MFP 100 firmware update service. The firmware update service is a service that updates the firmware of MFP 100 by providing corrected firmware when the firmware of MFP 100 is improved, a countermeasure against a failure, or the like is performed. Another example of the service is a sales service for consumables such as ink for the MFP 100 . A user of MFP 100 can access a server that provides services to order and purchase consumables. Furthermore, another service is a print content providing service. The user of MFP 100 can access the server that provides the service, download the print content, and print it.

Note that the services described above are merely examples, and are not limited to these. Any service related to the MFP 100 may be used.

In this system, processing is performed to display content based on information (hereinafter referred to as "notification information") regarding notifications sent from these service providing servers to the user of MFP 100 on the GUI (graphical user interface) screen of MFP 100. done. In FIG. 1, the MFP 100, the service management server 200, and the service providing server group 400 are connected via the communication network 300, but in the present embodiment, the MFP 100 Receive information. In other words, it should be noted that the present embodiment is not a form in which the MFP 100 directly receives notification information from each service providing server.

In this embodiment, by providing the service management server 200 , for example, notification information to the MFP 100 from various service providing servers can be aggregated in the service management server 200 . Since the service management server 200 exchanges information with the service providing server that provides various services, the MFP 100 does not need to directly exchange information with the service providing server.

Transmission and reception of information between the service management server 200 and each service providing server is performed when the usage conditions of each service are satisfied. As the usage condition, for example, a service usage registration process is performed between the terminal device that reads the QR code and each service providing server. When the service usage conditions are satisfied, each service providing server transmits and receives information to and from the service management server 200 and provides notification information. Each communication is controlled through HTTP, XMPP, or the like. Note that other protocols may be used for the protocol.

<Configuration of MFP>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of the MFP 100 according to this embodiment. The MFP 100 is a type of information processing apparatus to which this embodiment can be applied. Also, MFP 100 is a type of electronic device. The MFP 100 of this embodiment has information processing functions such as generation processing, storage processing, and transmission processing of device information including log information and status information. The MFP 100 also has an image recording function (image forming function) for forming an image on a recording medium by a recording control unit 113 and a recording unit 114, which will be described later.

MFP 100 has CPU 101 , ROM 102 , RAM 103 , image memory 104 , data conversion section 105 , reading control section 106 , reading section 107 , operation display section 108 , LCD 109 , communication control section 110 and resolution conversion section 111 . Further, the MFP 100 has an encoding/decoding section 112 , a recording control section 113 , a recording section 114 , a USB function control section 115 , a USB host control section 116 and a bus 117 .

A CPU 101 is a system control unit and controls the operation of the entire MFP 100 . The ROM 102 is a nonvolatile memory that stores fixed data such as a control program executed by the CPU 101, a data table, and an embedded operating system (hereinafter referred to as “OS”). In this embodiment, software execution control such as scheduling, task switching, and interrupt processing is performed under the control of the built-in OS stored in the ROM 102 based on each control program stored in the ROM 102 . The ROM 102 stores information indicating whether or not to provide the device information to the outside (referred to as “permission approval/rejection information”). The RAM 103 is composed of an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or the like that requires a backup power supply, and power supply to the RAM 103 is guaranteed by a primary battery (not shown) for data backup. The RAM 103 stores program control variables and the like. The image memory 104 is composed of a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or the like, and can accumulate image data. A partial area of the image memory 104 is reserved as a work area for executing software processing. The data conversion unit 105 can analyze data written in a page description language (PDL) and convert image data such as CG (Computer Graphics) development of character data.

A reading unit 107 optically reads a document using a CIS image sensor and converts it into an electrical image signal. The reading control unit 106 outputs high-definition image data by performing various image processing such as binarization processing and halftone processing on the image signal acquired by the reading unit 107 . The method of optically reading the document is divided into a sheet reading control method that reads the document with a fixed CIS image sensor and a book reading control method that reads the document fixed on the platen with a moving CIS image sensor. Any one can be adopted.

The operation display unit 108 is composed of minimum necessary keys such as a numeric input key, a mode setting key, an enter key, and a cancel key, an LED (light emitting diode), a 7-segment display, and the like. The various keys listed here are realized by keys displayed on the LCD 109, so-called soft keys, and can accept operations from the user. When the user does not operate the LCD 109 for a certain period of time, the backlight of the LCD 109 is turned off in order to reduce power consumption.

Communication control unit 110 controls communication between MFP 100 and an external device via communication network 300 . Communicate data. Further, communication control unit 110 can determine the connection status of MFP 100, such as whether MFP 100 is connected to the Internet or only to a LAN. The connection between the communication control unit 110 and the communication network 300 is based on a known method such as HTTP or XMPP. A resolution conversion unit 111 performs resolution conversion processing such as mutual conversion between millimeter-based image data and inch-based image data. Note that the resolution conversion unit 111 can also execute enlargement or reduction processing of image data. The encoding/decoding unit 112 performs encoding processing, decoding processing, enlargement or reduction processing on image data (uncompressed, MH, MR, MMR, JBIG, JPEG, etc.) handled by the MFP 100 . The recording control unit 113 converts the image data to be printed into high-definition image data by applying various image processing such as smoothing processing, recording density correction processing, and color correction to the high-definition image data. The recording data based on this is output to the recording unit 114 . The recording control unit 113 also plays a role of periodically acquiring the state information of the recording unit 114 . The recording unit 114 is configured by a laser beam printer, an inkjet printer, or the like, and records (that is, prints) an image on a recording medium such as paper based on recording data generated by the recording control unit 113 .

The USB function control unit 115 performs protocol control according to the USB communication standard. The USB host control unit 116 is a control unit for performing communication according to the protocol defined by the USB communication standard. This USB communication standard is a standard for two-way high-speed data communication, and according to this USB communication standard, a plurality of hubs or functions (slaves) can be connected to one host (master). is defined. That is, the USB host control unit 116 provides host functions in USB communication. Components other than the reading unit 107 and the LCD 109 are interconnected via a bus 117 .

<Configuration of service management server>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of the service management server 200 in this embodiment. The service management server 200 has a CPU 201 , a ROM 202 , a RAM 203 , an internal storage device 204 , an external storage device 205 , an operation section 207 , a display section 208 and a communication section 209 .

The CPU 201 controls the overall operation of the service management server 200 according to programs read from the ROM 202 , the RAM 203 , the internal storage device 204 , or the external storage medium 206 to the external storage device 205 . The ROM 202 stores a control program for the CPU 201 and the like. Programs and various data are temporarily stored in the RAM 203, and by using the RAM 203, the processing of the service management server 200 can be performed at high speed. The internal storage device 204 stores an operating system, various application programs, various data, and the like. In addition, application software and the like for transmitting and receiving various control commands and data are installed in the internal storage device 204 . The operation unit 207 is an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and receives instruction inputs from the operator of the service management server 200 . A display unit 208 performs various displays for the operator. Communication unit 209 is connected to communication network 300 and performs connection to an Internet service provider and communication of various data with MFP 100 or each service providing server included in service providing server group 400 . The connection to the communication network 300 is assumed to be by a known method such as HTTP or XMPP.

<Configuration of service providing server>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of each service providing server included in the service providing server group 400 in this embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the service A providing server 420, the service B providing server 430, and the service C providing server 440. As shown in FIG. Each service providing server has a CPU 401 , a ROM 402 , a RAM 403 , an internal storage device 404 , an external storage device 405 , an operation section 407 , a display section 408 and a communication section 409 .

Configurations other than the internal storage device 404 and the communication unit 409 are the same as the configuration of the service management server 200 in FIG. 3, so description thereof will be omitted. The internal storage device 404 stores an OS, various application programs, various data, and the like. Also, in the internal storage device 404, application software and the like for transmitting and receiving various control commands and data to and from the service management server 200 are installed. The communication unit 409 is connected to the communication network 300 and performs connection to the Internet service provider and communication of various data with the service management server 200 .

<Processing Performed Between MFP and Service Management Server>
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of processing performed between MFP 100 and service management server 200 .

When there is an opportunity to inquire about the presence or absence of notification to the user (hereinafter referred to as "inquiry opportunity"), the MFP 100 performs processing for inquiring the service management server 200 about the notification information as processing for acquiring the notification information. The opportunity to inquire about the presence/absence of notification occurs at a predetermined timing. For example, the inquiry may be made periodically after a certain period of time has elapsed, or the inquiry may be made when the MFP 100 is activated.

In step S<b>510 , MFP 100 transmits a request to inquire about notification information to service management server 200 . In the following description, "step S~" will be abbreviated as "S~".

In S520, service management server 200 transmits to MFP 100 a response corresponding to the request transmitted in S510. This response contains data on the content to be notified to the user and type information indicating the type of notification.

At S530, the MFP 100 analyzes the response received at S520. Through the response analysis in this step, each data such as the image URL indicating the storage destination where the image data is stored and the QR code display URL is acquired.

In S540, the MFP 100 updates the QR code display URL by adding individual parameters (product serial number, MAC address) of the MFP 100 to the character string of the QR code display URL acquired in S530. The individual parameters of the MFP 100 are information that the MFP 100 stores in advance in the ROM 402 or the like without receiving them from the service management server 200 . Then, the MFP 100 saves the updated QR code display URL. Although the individual parameters of the MFP 100 are added in this embodiment, other information that the MFP 100 stores in advance in the ROM 402 or the like without receiving it from the service management server 200 may be added. The QR code display URL generated here may be transmitted once to the service management server 200 and may be encrypted when transmitted to the service management server 200 . Then, the MFP 100 may receive the encrypted QR code display URL. By adopting such a form, the information acquired by the terminal device by reading the QR code can be encrypted. Decryption of the encrypted information may be performed by the terminal device, or may be performed by a service providing server or the like that receives the encrypted information from the terminal device.

In S<b>550 , MFP 100 transmits a request for image data (referred to as “image acquisition request”) to service management server 200 . The request of this step is made by designating the image URL acquired in S530.

At S<b>560 , service management server 200 that has received the request sent at S<b>550 sends the image data to MFP 100 .

When CPU 101 of MFP 100 determines that it is time to display content based on the notification information, CPU 101 determines content to be displayed using a management table in which display timing and content are associated. Also, the CPU 101 determines the type of notification using the type information of the response, and displays the content via the GUI screen of the pattern corresponding to the determined type. Such processing will be described later.

<Response example>
FIG. 6 shows an example of the response that the service management server 200 transmits to the MFP 100 in S520 of FIG. Since this response is a text file described in JSON format, the format of the response will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6(a) shows a response to the important update notification information of the firmware.

The key "url" indicates the URL of the image file as the content to be notified to the user, and takes the URL character string as its value. In S550 of FIG. 5, a request specifying this URL character string is transmitted.

The key "type" indicates information on the type of notification, and takes either "normal" or "qr" as its value. The example in FIG. 6A shows the "normal" case.

A key "qr_url" indicates a URL for generating a QR code to be displayed on a GUI screen (notification screen to be described later, see FIG. 9), and takes a URL character string as its value. In the example of FIG. 6(a), "qr_url" does not actually contain a URL character string and is empty.

The key "timing" indicates the timing of displaying the content based on the notification information, and takes either "startup" or "jobend" as its value. In the example of FIG. 6A, the value of "timing" is "startup", so MFP 100 displays the content based on the notification information at the timing when activation is completed.

FIG. 6B shows a response to the notification information of the ink purchase site. Keys such as "url" are the same as in FIG. 6(a).

In the example of FIG. 6B, the value of "type" is "qr". “In this case, as illustrated, a URL character string is included in “qr_url”, and in S540 of FIG. 5, an individual parameter of the MFP 100 is added to this URL character string. Serial number "123456789" and MAC address "11-22-33-44-55-66" In this case the URL string is "https://shop.com/ink_sale.html/?mdl=123456789&adr= 11-22-33-44-55-66”.

Also, in the example of FIG. 6B, the value of "timing" is "jobend", so MFP 100 displays the content based on the notification information at the timing when print processing is completed.

<Notification screen display processing>
FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the process executed in MFP 100 when displaying the notification screen in S570 (see FIG. 5) described above.

In S710, the CPU 101 determines whether the notification information indicates a normal image display pattern. A normal image display pattern is a pattern for displaying a notification image that does not have an area for displaying a QR code generated by MFP 100 . If the determination result of this step is true, the process proceeds to S720. On the other hand, if the determination result of this step is false (that is, if the notification information indicates that it is not the normal image display pattern), the process proceeds to S730. Specifically, in this step, the value of the key "type" indicating the notification type information in the response is used, and if the value is "normal", it is determined that the notification information indicates a normal image display pattern. On the other hand, if the value of the key "type" is "qr", it is determined that the notification information indicates the QR code display pattern. A QR code display pattern is a pattern for displaying a notification image having an area for displaying a QR code generated by MFP 100 .

At S720, the CPU 101 functions as display control means and displays a notification screen corresponding to the image display pattern. This notification screen is created based on the image data acquired in S560 of FIG. Note that the notification screen displayed in this step has a close button. Details of the notification screen displayed in this step will be described later with reference to FIG.

At S730, the CPU 101 functions as display control means and displays a notification screen corresponding to the QR code display pattern. This notification screen is created based on the image data acquired in S560 of FIG. Note that the notification screen displayed in this step has a close button and a QR code button. Details of the notification screen displayed in this step will be described later with reference to FIG.

At S740, the CPU 101 detects pressing of the QR code button (see FIG. 9) included in the notification screen displayed at S730.

In S750, the CPU 101 acquires the QR code display URL saved in S540 of FIG. Generate. Note that the timing of generating the QR code is not limited to this timing, and for example, this process may be executed before the pressing of the QR code button is detected.

At S760, the CPU 101 displays a notification screen having the QR code image generated at S750 (see FIG. 9).

In S770, the CPU 101 determines whether the close button of the notification screen has been pressed. If the determination result of this step is true, the process proceeds to S780, while if the determination result is false, the process waits until the close button is pressed.

In S<b>780 , the CPU 101 closes (hides) the notification screen displayed on the LCD 109 .

<Notification screen>
GUI screens for displaying content based on notification information will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. In this specification, a GUI screen that displays content based on notification information is referred to as a "notification screen".

FIG. 8 shows an example of a notification screen displayed on LCD 109 of MFP 100 when YES is determined in S710 of FIG. As illustrated, the notification screen 800 has, as display elements, a notification image 801 acquired from the server and a close button 802 . When the close button 802 is pressed, the notification screen 800 is hidden. Also, when the screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, MFP 100 does not generate a QR code. Further, the screen shown in FIG. 8 does not include the QR code generated by MFP 100 and the button for displaying the QR code. Note that the screen shown in FIG. 8 may include other buttons. Specifically, for example, it is assumed that the screen shown in FIG. 8 is a notification screen for notifying contents related to a web application program (hereinafter referred to as web application) that can be used by MFP 100 . Web applications that can be used by MFP 100 are, for example, Web applications that can provide image content and document content to MFP 100 and cause MFP 100 to print the image content and document content. Further, the content related to the Web applications that can be used by the MFP 100 specifically includes, for example, the content that notifies that the number of Web applications that can be used by the MFP 100 has increased, and the content that prompts the user to use the Web application. . The notification screen may include a button for starting the web application notified by the notification screen.

Screens that do not include the QR code generated by MFP 100 and the button for displaying the QR code are not limited to those described above. For example, even a notification screen for prompting the user to update the firmware of the MFP 100, or a notification screen for advertising the recording material (ink or toner) or recording medium (paper) used for printing (image formation) by the MFP 100. good.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a notification screen displayed on the LCD 109 of the MFP 100 when the determination in S710 of FIG. 7 is NO. As shown, the notification screen 900 has an image 901 acquired from the server, a close button 902, and a QR code button 903 as display elements. When the QR code button 903 is pressed, a transition is made to a notification screen 910 displaying a QR code image 911 . Further, in this embodiment, the notification screen having the QR code button 903 as shown in FIG. 9 is specifically, for example, a screen regarding the print service provided by the service providing server. The printing service is, for example, a service in which the user of the MFP 100 accumulates points that can be used according to the number of sheets printed by the MFP 100 . The service can be used, for example, by executing registration processing for use of the print service between a terminal device such as a smartphone owned by the user and the service providing server. Therefore, for example, the screen related to the print service is a screen prompting the user to use the print service, a screen prompting the user to perform registration processing for using the print service, and the like. In this embodiment, the notification screen 900 does not include the QR code image 911 itself, but may include the QR code image 911 itself without the QR code button 903 .

In this embodiment, an example in which the GUI screen displays the QR code image has been described, but the two-dimensional code image displayed on the GUI screen is not limited to the QR code image. Other two-dimensional code images such as bar code images may be displayed.

In addition, although the button has been described as an example of the element for switching the display of the GUI screen, such an element is not limited to the button. Other elements such as checkboxes and radio buttons may be used to design GUI screens.

After the notification screen 910 is displayed, the QR code is photographed and acquired by a terminal device having a photographing function. Then, the terminal device analyzes the QR code and acquires various information including individual parameters of the MFP 100 . In this embodiment, it is assumed that registration processing for use of the print service is performed between the terminal device and the service providing server, and various information acquired from the QR code is used for the lantern processing. Specifically, the terminal device accesses the service providing server using the URL included in the information obtained from the QR code. The terminal device then transmits its own individual parameter and the individual parameter of MFP 100 to the service providing server. As a result, registration for use of the print service using the MFP 100 is performed. Also, at this time, since the terminal device acquires the individual parameters of MFP 100 by reading the QR code, the individual parameters of MFP 100 can be easily acquired without accepting the input of the individual parameters of MFP 100 from the user. . That is, according to the present embodiment, usability can be improved in registering use of the print service using the MFP 100 . In the above description, the MFP 100 executes the generation of information for generating the QR code and the generation of the QR code. However, depending on the content notified by the notification information, the generation of information for generating the QR code and the generation of the QR code may be executed by a device other than the MFP 100. FIG. For example, a QR code button 903 may be included in a notification screen for advertising recording materials (ink or toner) or recording media (paper) used for printing (image formation) by the MFP 100 . Information acquired by reading the QR code displayed on such a notification screen is used to access the sales page of the advertised recording material or recording medium. In such a case, since the individual parameters of the MFP 100 do not need to be included in the QR code, the generation of information for generating the QR code and the generation of the QR code may be executed by a device other than the MFP 100. In addition, the notification screen displayed in such a case may include the QR code button 903, may include the image 901 including the QR code, or may include the QR code button 903 and the image 901. A QR code may be included as a configuration of

[Second embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the MFP 100 adds an individual parameter to the URL character string for QR code display. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the MFP 100 does not add individual parameters, but the service management server 200 adds individual parameters to the URL character string for QR code display. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same contents as those in the above-described embodiment, and the description is omitted as appropriate, and the contents different from the above-described embodiments are mainly described.

<Processing Performed Between MFP and Service Management Server>
FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of processing performed between MFP 100 and service management server 200 when individual parameters are added by service management server 200 .

When an inquiry opportunity comes, the MFP 100 performs a process of inquiring the service management server 200 about the notification information as a process for acquiring the notification information.

In S<b>1010 , MFP 100 transmits a request to inquire about notification information to service management server 200 . The individual parameters of the MFP 100 (product serial number, MAC address) are added to the inquiry request transmitted in this step. For example, "123456789" is added as the product serial number, and "11-22-33-44-55-66" is added as the MAC address.

In S1020, the service management server 200 that received the inquiry request transmitted in S1010 adds an individual parameter to the URL character string for QR code display. As a result of this step, the URL string becomes "https://shop.com/ink_sale.html/?mdl=123456789&adr=11-22-33-44-55-66".

Thus, in this embodiment, the service management server 200 adds an individual parameter to the URL. As a result, the MFP 100 can store the QR code display URL character string as it is in the recording unit 114 when performing the response analysis in subsequent S530.

[Third Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, when the determination in S710 is NO, the URL character string obtained by adding the individual parameters of the MFP 100 to the URL character string for QR code display acquired from the service management server 200 is converted into a QR code in S750. Was. However, depending on the size of the LCD 109, there are restrictions on the amount of information that can be converted into the QR code, so conversion may not be possible. Therefore, in the present embodiment, processing considering the number of characters that can be converted based on the size of the LCD 109 will be described.

<Relationship between LCD size and number of characters that can be represented by QR code>
FIG. 11 is a table that holds the correspondence between the size of the LCD 109 and the number of characters (binary) that can be represented by the QR code. In the example of FIG. 11, there are two sizes of the LCD 109 of the MFP 100: "160×160" and "QVGA". The number of characters that can be represented is determined according to each type, and is 106 for "160×160" and 251 for "QVGA".

A character string exceeding the number of expressible characters cannot be converted into a QR code. Therefore, in such a case, even if the QR code button 903 is pressed to transition to a screen displaying the QR code, the QR code image 911 as shown in FIG. 9 is not displayed.

<Notification screen display processing>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the display processing of the notification screen according to the present embodiment. Based on this, processing for changing the displayed GUI screen is included.

In S710, the CPU 101 determines whether the notification information indicates a normal image display pattern. If the determination result of this step is true, the process proceeds to S720. On the other hand, if the determination result of this step is false (if the notification information is not a normal image display pattern, that is, indicates a QR code display pattern), the process proceeds to S1210.

In S1210, the CPU 101 determines whether a QR code can be created based on the URL character string for QR code display. If the determination result of this step is true, the process proceeds to S730, and if the determination result is false, the process proceeds to S720.

To explain the determination processing in S1210 in detail, first, the CPU 101 obtains the QR code display URL character string saved in S540, and refers to a table such as that shown in FIG. Get the number of possible characters. Then, the CPU 101 determines whether the length of the URL character string for QR code display is equal to or less than the expressible number of characters corresponding to the size of the LCD 109 . If the length of the URL character string for displaying the QR code is equal to or less than the expressible number of characters corresponding to the size of the LCD 109, the QR code can be created. Code cannot be created.

If the determination result in S1210 is false (that is, if the QR code cannot be created), the CPU 101 displays a notification screen corresponding to the image display pattern in S720, as in the first embodiment. In this case, as a GUI screen for displaying the image acquired from the service management server 200, a notification screen without the QR code button as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed.

If the determination result in S1210 is true (that is, if the QR code can be created), the CPU 101 displays a notification screen corresponding to the QR code display pattern in S730, as in the first embodiment. In this case, a notification screen having an image obtained from the server and a QR code button as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the third embodiment, the MFP 100 performs processing considering the number of representable characters according to the size of the LCD 109 . However, the service management server 200 may determine the number of characters of the URL character string according to the size of the LCD 109 .

<Relationship between LCD size and number of characters that can be represented by QR code>
In this embodiment, in the service management server 200, the number of representable characters corresponding to the size of the LCD 109 and the corresponding URL character string for displaying the QR code are managed in advance using a table as shown in FIG. there is

In the example of FIG. 13, there are two sizes of the LCD 109 of the MFP 100, "160×160" and "QVGA". and are retained. When the size of the LCD 109 is "160×160", the number of expressible characters is 106, and a URL string of 106 characters or less corresponding to the number of characters is used. When the size of the LCD 109 is "QVGA", the number of expressible characters is 251, and a URL character string of 251 characters or less corresponding to the number of characters is used.

<Processing Performed Between MFP and Service Management Server>
FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram of processing performed between MFP 100 and service management server 200 .

In S<b>1410 , MFP 100 transmits to service management server 200 a request to inquire about notification information. The request transmitted in this step includes data of the size of the LCD 109 .

In S1420, the MFP 100 selects the character string of the QR code display URL corresponding to the size of the LCD 109 by referring to the table shown in FIG. For example, if the size of the LCD 109 is "160×160", the number of representable characters is 106, so "https://shop.com/ink_sale.html/" is selected. The URL selected in this step is included in the response sent in subsequent S520. It should be noted that the URL character strings held in the table of FIG. 13 have a character string length corresponding to individual parameters so that even if individual parameters are added, the upper limit of the number of characters that can be expressed is not exceeded. .

The processing after S1420 is the same as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 5).

[Other embodiments]
The present disclosure provides a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by processing to It can also be implemented by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

100 MFPs
101 CPUs
800 Notification screen 900 Notification screen 903 QR code button 911 QR code image

Claims (18)

An information processing device that displays, via a GUI screen, content based on notification information transmitted from an external device,
a first GUI screen having elements for displaying a two-dimensional code image generated by the information processing device based on notification type information included in the notification information, based on individual parameters of the information processing device; having display control means for displaying either a second GUI screen having no elements,
An information processing device characterized by: The two-dimensional code image is a QR code image,
the element is a button;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by: The notification information includes an image URL indicating a storage destination where image data is stored in the external device, a QR code display URL, and the type information.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by: updating means for updating the QR code display URL by adding individual parameters of the information processing device to the QR code display URL;
a storage means for storing the updated QR code display URL;
further comprising
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by: The external device has update means for updating the QR code display URL by adding individual parameters of the information processing device to the QR code display URL,
The notification information includes the QR code display URL updated by the updating means.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by: The individual parameters are a product serial number and a MAC address,
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: sending means for sending a request for an image to the external device;
receiving means for receiving the image data as a response to the request;
further having
the request includes the image URL;
7. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by: further comprising a first determination means for determining whether the type information indicates display of a QR code image;
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, characterized by: further comprising second determination means for determining whether a QR code can be created based on the updated URL for displaying the QR code;
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, characterized by: The second determination means performs determination based on the length of the character string of the updated QR code display URL.
10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, characterized by: The display control means displays the first GUI screen when the type information indicates display of a QR code image, and displays the second GUI screen when the type information does not indicate display of a QR code image.
11. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized by: the first GUI screen has an image based on the image data and the button;
wherein the second GUI screen has an image based on the image data;
12. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized by: further comprising conversion means for converting the updated URL for QR code display into a QR code image when the button is pressed;
The display control means displays the QR code image acquired by the conversion means.
13. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 12, characterized by: further comprising display means for displaying the first GUI screen or the second GUI screen;
The external device has selection means for selecting a QR code display URL based on the size of the display means,
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by: The information processing device is a printer,
15. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by: an information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15;
a service management server for managing each of one or a plurality of service providing servers that provide services as the external device;
the one or more service providing servers;
having
An information processing system characterized by: A control method for an information processing device for displaying, via a GUI screen, content based on notification information transmitted from an external device, comprising:
a first GUI screen having elements for displaying a two-dimensional code image generated by the information processing device based on notification type information included in the notification information, based on individual parameters of the information processing device; displaying either a second GUI screen having no elements;
A control method characterized by: A program for causing a computer to perform the method according to claim 17.

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