Patent Publication Number: US-9432571-B2

Title: Storage medium and control device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-032655, filed on Feb. 21, 2013, the entire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to a technique using a captured image, and more particularly, to a technique which provides information relating to a product to a user by using a captured image. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There has been known a technique which detects a state of display lamps provided in a product by using a captured image. For example, JP-A-2005-242915 discloses a technique where a monitoring device, which is attached to a rack of a server computer (a target product), detects by a monitoring camera a lighting state of an alarm LED which is provided in the server computer and indicates an abnormality. The monitoring device transmits information representing warning details according to the detected lighting state to a management computer. 
     However, in the above-described technique, since the warning details are transmitted to the management computer, it is not possible to allow a user to recognize specific information relating to the display state of the display lamps by outputting the specific information on an imaging terminal. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides a technique to allow a user to recognize information relating to a state of a product represented by a display state of one or more display lamps provided in the product by an imaging terminal. 
     According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon and readable by a computer for an imaging terminal including an imaging unit, the computer program, when executed by the computer, causing the computer to perform operations comprising: acquiring captured image data generated by imaging a specific region on a target product, wherein the image data is captured by the imaging unit, and wherein the specific region includes one or more display lamps representing a state of the target product; specifying a display state of the one or more display lamps in a captured image represented by the captured image data, by analyzing the captured image data; acquiring identification information for identifying state related information according to the specified display state of the one or more display lamps, wherein the state related information is information relating to the state of the target product corresponding to the specified display state of the one or more display lamps; acquiring the state related information based on the acquired identification information; and outputting the acquired state related information on the imaging terminal. 
     According to this configuration, the captured image data generated by imaging the specific region including the display lamps is analyzed, whereby it is possible to output the state related information according to the display state of the display lamps in the captured image by the imaging terminal. As a result, it is possible to allow the user to recognize the state related information relating to the state of the display lamps by the imaging terminal. 
     The present invention can be realized in various forms, and for example, can be realized in the form of a control device for controlling an imaging terminal including an imaging unit, a method of controlling an imaging terminal including an imaging unit, a computer program for realizing the functions of the terminal or the method, a recording medium having the computer program recorded thereon, or the like. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects of the present invention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of illustrative embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system according to a first illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an outer perspective view of a printer  200 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a specific region  100  of the printer  200 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of a URL table DT 1 ; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are diagrams showing an example of a lamp information table; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of an imaging information table DTC; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of a feature point information table DTD; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of information providing processing; 
         FIGS. 9A to 9D  are diagrams showing examples of a UI image which is displayed by an information providing unit  300 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart of automatic recognition processing; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart of captured image correction processing; 
         FIGS. 12A to 12D  are first explanatory views of captured image correction processing; 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  are second explanatory views of captured image correction processing; 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart of display state specifying processing; 
         FIG. 15  shows an example of a display image AI 5  of support information; and 
         FIGS. 16A and 16B  are diagrams illustrating display states of display lamps and imaging conditions according to a modified illustrative embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A. First Illustrative Embodiment 
     A-1. System Configuration 
     An illustrative embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system according to a first illustrative embodiment. This system includes a printer  200 , a server  60  connected to Internet  70 , and a portable terminal  400 . 
     The printer  200  includes a CPU  210 , a non-volatile storage device  220 , such as a hard disk drive or a flash memory, a volatile storage device  230 , such as a RAM, a printing execution unit  240  which is a laser print engine, an operating unit  260  which includes one operation button  30  ( FIG. 3 ) (described below), a display unit  270  which includes a plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  (described below), and a communication unit  280  which includes an interface for performing data communication with an external device, such as a personal computer (not shown). The operating unit  260  of this illustrative embodiment does not include many buttons or a touch panel. The display unit  270  does not include a display panel, such as a liquid crystal display. A complicated operation, such as various settings, is made through a printer driver installed on a personal computer (not shown) or the like. 
     The volatile storage device  230  includes a buffer region  231  which temporarily stores various intermediate data generated when the CPU  210  performs processing. The non-volatile storage device  220  stores a computer program  221  for controlling the printer  200 . 
     The computer program  221  is stored in, for example, the non-volatile storage device  220  in advance upon shipment of the printer  200 . The computer program  221  may be provided in the form recorded in a CD-ROM or the like or in the form to be downloaded from a server. 
     The CPU  210  executes the computer program  221  to control the entire printer  200 . Specifically, the CPU  210  functions as a device control unit  110  and a UI control unit  120 . The device control unit  110  performs control such that the printing execution unit  240  realizes the main function, such as printing processing, of the printer  200 . The UI control unit  120  performs control relating to a user interface using the operating unit  260 , the display unit  270 , or the like, that is, receives operation from the user through the operating unit  260 , provides information associated with the printer  200  to the user through the display unit  270 , or the like. 
       FIG. 2  is an outer perspective view of the printer  200 .  FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a specific region  100  of the printer  200 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the printer  200  includes a housing  10  having a rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the bottom portion of the housing  10 , a paper tray  18  which stores papers is mounted to be drawable from the front lateral surface. In the rear lateral surface of the housing  10 , a cover  19  is openably mounted. For example, the cover  19  is opened/closed when eliminating paper jam or when replacing toner cartridge or the like. In a top surface  10 A of the housing  10 , an opening  16  through which a printed paper is discharged is formed, and a top surface member  17  which functions as a discharge tray for storing the printed paper discharged from the opening  16  is provided. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in a specific region  100  at a corner in the top surface  10 A of the housing  10 , the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  and one operation button  30  are arranged. The plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  are arranged at substantially regular intervals along a lamp arrangement line LL in a Y direction of  FIG. 3 . The plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  are configured by, for example, LEDs, and are used to display a plurality of device states of the printer  200 , for example, a normal state (for example, a print job standby state or a printing state) and an error state (for example, a state of a toner empty or a state of out of paper). 
     Near the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15 , specifically, on the right side (+X direction) of  FIG. 3 , character strings  21  to  25  relating to the corresponding display lamps are marked. The character strings  21  to  25  are colored (for example, black) to have high contrast with respect to the color (for example, white) of the top surface  10 A of the housing  10  from the viewpoint of visibility. For example, the character string  21  corresponding to the display lamp  11  is “Cover”, and represents that the display lamp  11  is used to display the state relating to the cover  19 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in the top surface  10 A, on the right side of a region (hereinafter, referred to as “panel region”) where the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  and the character strings  21  to  25 , and the operation button  30  are arranged, the top surface member  17  is arranged. As a result, a parting line DL appears between the panel region and the top surface member  17 . 
     The server  60  is a known computer, and executes a server program (not shown) to provide a Web service to the portable terminal  400  or a client computer, such as a personal computer (not shown). The Web service is a service which provides support information to the user, and a storage unit  65  of the server  60  stores a support information group  651  for supporting the user of the printer  200  in a format of a Web page. For example, the server  60  is operated by a vendor who sells the printer  200  as a product. 
     The portable terminal  400  is, for example, a multi-function mobile phone, such as a smartphone, owned by the user of the printer  200 . The portable terminal  400  includes a CPU  410 , a non-volatile storage device  420 , such as a flash memory, a volatile storage device  425  including a RAM or the like and used as a buffer region  427 , a wireless IF unit  430 , a telephone IF unit  440 , a voice processing unit  450  which includes a speaker and a microphone and realizes a telephone function or the like, an operating unit  460  which includes a touch panel, operation keys, and the like, a display unit  470  which includes a liquid crystal panel or the like overlapped on the touch panel, and a camera  490  which performs imaging by using an image sensor. 
     The wireless IF unit  430  includes an antenna, and for example, performs wireless communication (wireless communication based on an infrastructure mode) through an access point (not shown). As described below, the wireless IF unit  430  is used when the portable terminal  400  accesses the server  60 , or the like. 
     The telephone IF unit  440  includes an antenna, and performs wireless communication based on a mobile phone communication system (for example, W-CDMA) with a base station (not shown). The telephone IF unit  440  realizes, for example, a telephone, the connection to Internet  70  through the base station (not shown), and the like. Similarly to the wireless IF unit  430 , the telephone IF unit  440  is used when the portable terminal  400  accesses the server  60 , or the like. 
     The camera  490  can generate and acquire image data representing an imaging object (target) using an imaging element, such as a CCD or a CMOS. 
     The non-volatile storage device  420  stores a control program PG 1 , an information providing program PG 2 , a browser program PG 3 , a URL table DT 1  in which a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is described, and a feature information table DT 2  in which feature information relating to the printer  200  is described. 
     The control program PG 1  is a program which realizes a function of an OS (Operating System), a telephone function, a control function of the camera  490 , and a basic function of the portable terminal  400 . The browser program PG 3  is a program which realizes a function as a Web browser for viewing a Web page. For example, the control program PG 1  and the browser program PG 3  are provided by the manufacturer of the portable terminal  400  and stored in advance upon shipment. The information providing program PG 2  is a program which realizes processing for providing information relating to the printer  200  to the user in cooperation with the server  60 . The information providing program PG 2  is a program (also referred to as “application”) which adds a new function to the portable terminal  400 , and is provided by, for example, a provider (for example, the manufacturer of the printer  200 ) different from the manufacturer of the portable terminal  400  in the form to be downloaded from a predetermined server. Incidentally, the information providing program PG 2  may be provided by the manufacturer of the portable terminal  400  or may be stored in advance upon shipment. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of the URL table DT 1 . The URL table DT 1  includes a plurality of tables DT 1   a  to DT 1   c  corresponding to a plurality of types of printers (including the printer  200 ) to be subjected to information providing processing (described below). For example, a plurality of tables DT 1   a  to DT 1   c  record a state (status) of a printer and a URL used for acquiring information corresponding to the state of the printer in association with the display state of a plurality of display lamps. For example, in the table DT 1   a  corresponding to a specific printer model (for example, the printer  200 ), a first state “Toner low” (a state where the toner cartridge is near the end of its expected life and will need to be replaced soon) of a printer and a first URL “http://aa . . . ” are associated with the first display state of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15 . The first display state is a display state in which the display lamp  12  is “yellow blinking”, the display lamp  15  is “green lighting”, and other display lamps  11 ,  13 , and  14  are “off”. In the table DT 1   a , a second state “Paper jam” (a state where a paper jammed in the printing execution unit and printing cannot be executed) of a printer and a second URL “http://bb . . . ” are associated with a second display state of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15 . The second display state is a display state in which the display lamp  11  and the display lamp  14  are “yellow blinking”, the display lamp  15  is “red lighting”, and other display lamps  12  and  13  are “off”. 
     The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is location information which represents the location in the server  60  of a Web page including support information associated with a state of a corresponding printer (also referred to a display state corresponding to a plurality of display lamps). The support information includes, for example, information associated with the error state, specifically, information relating to a solution to error, consumables (toner or photosensitive drum) necessary for solving an error, and the like. The support information is an example of state related information. As will be understood from the situation that a table is prepared for each type (model) of printer, even if the states of the printers are identical, if the models are different, corresponding URLs may be different. This is because the type (part number) of toner or photosensitive drum to be used may differ depending on the model, and the solution to an error may be different. 
     The feature information table DT 2  ( FIG. 1 ) includes an arrangement information table DTA ( FIG. 5A ), a display state information table DTB ( FIG. 5B ), an imaging information table DTC ( FIG. 6 ), and a feature point information table DTD ( FIG. 7 ). 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are diagrams showing an example of a lamp information table.  FIG. 5A  shows the arrangement information table DTA in which the arrangement positions of the lamps are recorded. The arrangement information table DTA includes a plurality of tables DTAa to DTAc corresponding to a plurality of types of printers (for example, the printer  200 ) to be subjected to information providing processing. For example, in the table DTAa corresponding to a specific printer model, arrangement information representing the position and size of each of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  ( FIG. 3 ) is recorded. For example, the arrangement information is represented by an X-Y coordinate system in which a predetermined position of the specific region  100  of the  FIG. 3  is the origin (0, 0). For example, the predetermined position is relatively determined based on feature points, such as the positions of characters in the specific region  100 . The X-Y coordinate system is the same coordinate system as a coordinate system, in which the position of each pixel in a captured image SI ( FIG. 12A ) (described below) is represented by an integer. The arrangement information of the respective display lamps includes the X coordinate and the Y coordinate (for example, X 11  and Y 11  of  FIG. 5A ) of the upper left corner of the display lamp, the width (the length in the X-axis direction, for example, W 11  of  FIG. 5A ), and the height (the length in the Y-axis direction, for example, H 11  of  FIG. 5A ). The table DTAa includes arrangement information, which defines a reference range for calculating threshold values Sth and Vth, in addition to the arrangement information of the display lamps. The threshold values Sth and Vth are used so as to specify the display state of the display lamps (whether or not emit light and emission color) in display state specifying processing ( FIG. 14 ) (described below). The reference range is, for example, a rectangular range RA of  FIG. 3 , and is a portion on the surface of the housing  10  of the printer  200  which is comparatively close to the display lamps  11  to  15  and in which the display lamps  11  to  15  are not arranged. 
     As will be understood from the situation that a table is prepared for each type (model) of printer, the number of display lamps and the position and size of each display lamp may differ depending on the type of printer. For example, the number of display lamps is not limited to five ( FIG. 3 ), and there is a model having four display lamps or a model having three display lamps. However, in this illustrative embodiment, a plurality of display lamps are arranged along one lamp arrangement line (for example, the line LL of  FIG. 3 ) regardless of the model. 
       FIG. 5B  shows the display state information table DTB in which the display state of the lamps is recorded. The display state information table DTB includes a plurality of tables DTBa to DTBc corresponding to a plurality of types of printers to be subjected to information providing processing. For example, in the table DTBa corresponding to a specific printer model, an allowable display state of each of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  ( FIG. 3 ) is recorded. 
     The display state of one display lamp is one of four kinds of “yellow”, “red”, “green”, and “blue” from the viewpoint of color (also referred to as “emission color) upon emission of the display lamp. The display state of one display lamp is one of three kinds of “off”, “lighting”, and “blinking” from the viewpoint of the emission form. The display state “off” is a display state in which the display lamp is maintained in a non-light emission state. The display state “lighting” is a display state in which the display lamp is maintained in a light emission state. The display state “blinking” is a display state in which the light emission state and the non-light emission state of the display lamp are repeated at a predetermined interval. In this illustrative embodiment, there are nine kinds (one kind of “off”, four kinds (four colors) of “lighting”, and four kinds (four colors) of “blinking”) of display states by the combinations of the emission color and the emission form. 
     The display state “off” is an allowable display state of all of the display lamps, and is not recorded in the display state information table DTB of  FIG. 5B . In the display state information table DTB of  FIG. 5B , a circle described corresponding to each emission color represents an allowable display state of “lighting” for a corresponding emission color, and a double circle described corresponding to each emission color represents an allowable display state of “lighting” and “blinking” for a corresponding emission color. A cross described for each emission color represents that neither “lighting” nor “blinking” is performed in a corresponding emission color. As shown in  FIG. 5B , some display lamp may perform “lighting” or “blinking” in a plurality of emission colors (for example, the display lamp  15  of  FIG. 5B ). As will be understood from the situation that a table is prepared for each type (model) of printer, an allowable display state of each display lamp may differ depending on the type of printer. 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of the imaging information table DTC. In the imaging information table DTC, the imaging times and the imaging interval are recorded as imaging information for each of a plurality of types of printers to be subjected to information providing processing. The imaging times and the imaging interval will be described with automatic recognition processing ( FIG. 10 ) (described below). 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of the feature point information table DTD. The feature point information table DTD includes a plurality of tables DTDa to DTDc corresponding to a plurality of types of printers to be subjected to information providing processing. For example, in the table DTDa corresponding to a specific printer model, positional information representing the positions of a plurality of feature points in the specific region  100  ( FIG. 3 ) is recorded ( FIG. 7 ). For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a plurality of feature points include three points P 1  to P 3  ( FIG. 3 ) arranged on the parting line DL. A plurality of feature points include points which define character regions S 1  to S 5  corresponding to a plurality of character strings  21  to  25  ( FIG. 3 ). Specifically, the character regions S 1  to S 5  have a rectangular shape which is circumscribed in the respective character strings  21  to  25 . In this illustrative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 7 , information which defines the rectangular character regions S 1  to S 5  includes the X coordinates and the Y coordinates (for example, X 31  and Y 31  of  FIG. 7 ) of upper left vertexes P 6  to P 10  ( FIG. 3 ) of the respective character regions, the width (the length in the X-axis direction, for example, W 31  of  FIG. 7 ), and the height (the length in the Y-axis direction, for example, H 31  of  FIG. 7 ). A plurality of feature points include points P 4  and P 5  ( FIG. 3 ) at both ends of upper side of the substantially rectangular operation button  30 . These feature points are points which are referred to in captured image correction processing ( FIGS. 11 and 12A to 12D ) (described below), and are thus referred to as “reference points”. 
     As will be understood from the situation that a table is prepared for each type (model) of printer, the positions of these reference points differ depending on the type of printer. However, in this illustrative embodiment, there is a design characteristic line (for example, the parting line DL of  FIG. 3 ) parallel to the lamp arrangement line (for example, the line LL of  FIG. 3 ) regardless of the type of printer. For this reason, in the tables DTDa to DTDc of the respective models, positional information of the three feature points on the design characteristic line is recorded. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the CPU  410  executes the control program PG 1  to function as a main control unit  55  which realizes the basic function of the portable terminal  400 , and executes the browser program PG 3  to function as a Web browser  50 . The CPU  410  executes the information providing program PG 2  to function as an information providing unit  300 . 
     The information providing unit  300  includes an image data acquiring unit  310 , a product information acquiring unit  320 , a feature information acquiring unit  330 , a specifying unit  340 , a receiving unit  350 , an identification information acquiring unit  360 , and a browser control unit  370 . The respective processing will be described below. 
     A-3. Processing of Information Providing Unit  300  of Portable Terminal  400   
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart of information providing processing. The information providing processing is executed by the information providing unit  300  ( FIG. 1 ), for example, when the information providing program PG 2  is started by the user. For example, when the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  are in a display state representing that the printer  200  is in a specific state, the user starts the information providing program PG 2  so as to acquire information associated with the specific state of the printer  200 . Specifically, for example, since the printer  200  is in an error state, such as toner empty, when the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  become a display state representing the error state, the user starts the information providing program PG 2  so as to know a solution to the error state in detail. 
     In Step S 10 , if the information providing unit  300  (information providing program PG 2 ) starts and the information providing unit  300  becomes an operable state, the product information acquiring unit  320  displays a model selection image AI 1  on the display unit  470  (Step S 20 ). 
       FIGS. 9A to 9D  are diagrams showing examples of a UI image which is displayed by the information providing unit  300 .  FIG. 9A  shows an example of the model selection image AI 1 . The model selection image AI 1  includes a list MN of model information (for example, also referred to as “model number” or “product information”) for identifying the model of the printer, which the information providing unit  300  supports, and a plurality of radio buttons RB corresponding to the plurality of model information. The user touches an OK button BT 1  after one radio button RB is ON to select the model (target model) of the printer. 
     In Step S 25 , the product information acquiring unit  320  acquires model information (for example, also referred to as “model number” or “product information”) for identifying the target model based on the selection of the user. Hereinafter, an example in which the printer  200  described referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3  is the target model will be described. 
     In Step S 30 , the information providing unit  300  displays a main image AI 2  according to the target model identified by the acquired model information on the display unit  470 .  FIG. 9B  shows an example of the main image AI 2 . The main image AI 2  includes a partial image PI of the printer  200  of the target model, a plurality of fields DF 1  to DF 5  corresponding to the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15 , a start button BT 2  which receives the start instruction of the Web browser, an imaging button BT 3  which receives the transition instruction to an imaging mode (that is, the transition to automatic recognition processing (described below)), and a model selection button BT 4 . The model selection button BT 4  is a button for receiving the transition instruction to a model selection mode in which the above-described model selection image AI 1  is displayed, and model selection is received from the user, and is pressed when changing the target model. 
     For example, the partial image PI is an image including a portion, in which each of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  is arranged, of the above-described specific region  100  ( FIG. 3 ). A plurality of fields DF 1  to DF 5  are respectively arranged at the positions corresponding to the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  in the partial image PI, that is, on the right side of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15 . The type of partial image to be displayed and the number of fields to be displayed differ depending on the target model, that is, depending on the model information acquired in Step S 25 . 
     The user may input the display state of the respective display lamps to the plurality of fields DF 1  to DF 5 , or may press the imaging button BT 3  to perform the transition to automatic recognition processing (described below). The user may press the model selection button BT 4  to change the target model. That is, these kinds of processing are executed in accordance with the selection of the user. Here, in order to avoid complication, overall processing will be described assuming that the automatic recognition processing is first executed in accordance with operation of the user, and thereafter, the input (the correction of the result of the automatic recognition processing) of the user on the plurality of fields DF 1  to DF 5  is received ( FIG. 8 ). 
     In Step S 35 , the automatic recognition processing is executed in accordance with operation of the user. The automatic recognition processing is processing in which one or a plurality of captured image data generated by imaging the specific region  100  of the printer  200  are analyzed to recognize (specify) the display state of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  in the captured image.  FIG. 10  is a flowchart of automatic recognition processing. 
     In Step S 100  of  FIG. 10 , the image data acquiring unit  310  determines the imaging times and the imaging interval of the target model by referring to the imaging information table DTC ( FIG. 6 ). If there is no display lamp, in which “blinking” is included in the allowable display state, out of a plurality of display lamps of the target model, that is, when the allowable display state is one of “lighting” and “off”, the imaging times is set to one, and the imaging interval is not set (for example, a model B of  FIG. 6 ). If there is a display lamp, in which “blinking” is included in the allowable display state, out of a plurality of display lamps of the target model, the imaging times is set to two, and the imaging interval is set to the same interval as a blinking interval (for example, a model A of  FIG. 6 ). 
     In this illustrative embodiment, the form of “blinking” of the display lamp is one kind, and a light emission state and a non-light emission state are repeated at a regular blinking interval (for example, one second). For this reason, if the display lamp is imaged twice at the same interval as the blinking interval, when the display lamp performs “blinking”, unless a specific case is made, one captured image includes the display lamp in the light emission state, and the other captured image includes the display lamp in the non-light emission state. As a result, it can be determined that the display lamp can perform “blinking” from the two captured images. The specific case refers to a case where imaging is performed twice at the moment of the start of light emission and the moment of the end of light emission. In this case, the display lamp in the light emission state may be included in both captured images, and the display lamp in the non-light emission state may be included in both captured images. However, there is a comparatively low probability that this case occurs. 
     In Step S 150 , the image data acquiring unit  310  starts the camera  490  and the camera  490  becomes an imaging possible state, and also displays an image AI 3  for imaging on the display unit  470 .  FIG. 9C  shows an example of the image AI 3 . The image AI 3  includes, as a guide image, a rectangular frame image BX and a line image LN extending in an upper-lower direction of  FIG. 9C . In a different region NA of the image AI 3 , an image of a subject (for example, the display lamps  11  to  15 ) captured by the camera  490  is displayed. The frame image BX and the line image LN are displayed on the display unit  470  to be overlapped on an imaging target (for example, the specific region  100  including the display lamps  11  to  15 ) captured by the camera  490 . The frame image BX and the line image LN are images which are used to guide the positions, in which the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  as the imaging object should be located, to the user when the user images the specific region  100  ( FIG. 3 ) of the printer  200 . The user images the specific region  100  such that all of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  are located inside the frame image BX, and the lamp arrangement line LL ( FIG. 3 ) of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  coincides with the line image LN. The plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  indicated by a broken line of  FIG. 9C  represent the ideal positions (also referred to as “target position”) of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  at imaging. 
     In Step S 200 , the image data acquiring unit  310  generates and acquires captured image data which is obtained by imaging the specific region  100 . For example, the image data acquiring unit  310  generates captured image data for the imaging times determined in Step S 100  at the determined imaging interval with imaging operation of the user (the pressing of an arbitrary position in the display unit  470 , or the like) as a trigger. The captured image data to be generated is bitmap data having the respective component values of R, G, and B as pixel values. 
     In Step S 300 , the information providing unit  300  selects one captured image data to be subjected to captured image correction processing (S 400 ) and display state specifying processing (S 500 ) (described below) from one or more of generated captured image data. In Step S 400 , the information providing unit  300  executes the captured image correction processing on the selected captured image data. The captured image correction processing is processing for correcting the position of the imaging object (specifically, the display lamps  11  to  15 ) in the captured image using the positional information of the feature points recorded in the feature point information table DTD ( FIG. 7 ).  FIG. 11  is a flowchart of captured image correction processing.  FIGS. 12A to 12D  are first explanatory views of captured image correction processing.  FIGS. 13A and 13B  are second explanatory views of captured image correction processing. 
       FIG. 12A  shows an example of the captured image SI before the captured image correction processing, that is, the captured image SI represented by the captured image data generated in Step S 200 . A center line CL of  FIG. 12A  is a line which passes through the center of the captured image SI in the X direction and extends in the Y direction, and is an ideal line corresponding to the line image LN of the image AI 3 . There is a case where the actual positions of the display lamps  11  to  15  in the captured image SI are different from the target position and the target size ( FIG. 9C ). For example, in the captured image SI of  FIG. 12A , since the lamp arrangement line LL of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  is inclined with respect to the center line CL, the positions of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  are deviated from the target position. Since the size of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  in the captured image SI of  FIG. 12A  is smaller than the target size, the positions of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  are deviated from the target position. The positions of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  are corrected so as to be close to the target position by captured image correction processing (described below). 
     In Step S 410 , the specifying unit  340  executes edge extraction processing on the captured image data to generate edge image data representing an edge image EI. The edge image data is obtained by converting the respective pixel values (RGB values) included in the captured image data to a luminance value Y and applying a known Sobel filter to the luminance value Y. In generating of the edge image data, instead of the Sobel filter, various edge extraction filters, such as a Prewitt filter and a Roberts filter, may be used. 
       FIG. 12B  shows an example of the edge image EI which is represented by edge image data. In the edge image EI, edges  21   e  to  25   e  of the character strings  21  to  25 , an edge DLe of the parting line DL, and an edge  30   e  of a border of the operation button  30  appear comparatively clearly. In the edge image EI, the edges of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  may not appear clearly. For example, the edge of the lighting lamp out of the display lamps  11  to  15  may not appear clearly due to flare (a phenomenon in which light of the lamp spreads to the periphery of the lamp) caused by light of the lamp. Since the color of the off lamp out of the display lamps  11  to  15  has lower contrast to an ambient (background) color than the character strings  21  to  25 , the edge of the off lamp may not appear clearly. 
     In Step S 420 , the specifying unit  340  calculates the coordinates of three feature points Pe 1  to Pe 3  ( FIG. 12B ) on the edge DLe in the edge image EI corresponding to the parting line DL. Specifically, the information providing unit  300  analyzes edge image data to specify the linear edge DLe in the edge image EI. The edge DLe is specified using a known line detection algorithm (for example, Hough transformation or the like). The information providing unit  300  sets three feature points in total by one feature point in each of the upper end portion, the central portion, and the lower end portion of the detected edge DLe, and calculates the coordinates of these feature points. 
     In Step S 430 , the specifying unit  340  calculates a rotation correction amount θ based on the three feature points Pe 1  to Pe 3  calculated on the edge image EI and three corresponding reference points. The three reference points are three corresponding feature points (reference points) P 1  to P 3  ( FIG. 3 ) recorded in the tables ( FIG. 7 ) of the target model in the feature point information table DTD. Specifically, the information providing unit  300  calculates the angle between a line connecting the three feature points P 1  to P 3  and a line connecting the three reference points P 1  to P 3  as the rotation correction amount θ. 
     In Step S 440 , the specifying unit  340  executes rotation correction to rotate the edge image EI in accordance with the rotation correction amount θ calculated in Step S 430 .  FIG. 12C  shows the edge image EI 2  after rotation correction. It is understood that the edge image EI 2  of  FIG. 12C  is corrected such that the edge LDe at which the three feature points Pe 1  to Pe 3  are located is parallel to the Y direction. As a result, the lamp arrangement line LL in the edge image EI 2  becomes parallel to the center line CL. In  FIGS. 12C, 12D, and 13A , a bold rectangular frame FL is the border of the captured image SI before correction and the edge image EI, and is shown for ease of understanding about the movement of the subject by correction. The upper left corner of the bold rectangular frame FL is the origin of the X-Y coordinate system for use in image processing. 
     In Step S 450 , the specifying unit  340  calculates the coordinates of the two feature points Pe 6  and Pe 11  of the character region in the edge image EI 2  after rotation correction. Specifically, the specifying unit  340  specifies a plurality of character regions Se 1  to Se 5  corresponding to the plurality of character strings  21  to  25  in the edge image EI 2 . The character region may be specified by using a known character region detection algorithm. For example, in the character regions, there densely exist edge pixels having an edge amount equal to or greater than a reference value. For this reason, for example, the specifying unit  340  divides the edge image EI 2  into a plurality of blocks having a predetermined size and specifies a plurality of character blocks in which the density of edge pixels is equal to or greater than a reference value. The specifying unit  340  specifies a plurality of adjacent character blocks as one character block region. The specifying unit  340  specifies a region, which is defined by a rectangle circumscribed in an edge pixel group in one specified character block region, as one character region. The specifying unit  340  specifies the upper left vertex of the character region Se 1  at the upper end and the lower right vertex of the character region Se 5  at the lower end out of the plurality of specified character regions Se 1  to Se 5  as two feature points Pe 6  and Pe 11  of the character regions, and calculates the coordinates of these feature points. 
     In Step S 460 , the specifying unit  340  calculates the magnification FP (Dr/Ds) for enlargement/reduction correction based on the distance Ds between the two feature points Pe 6  and Pe 11  of the character regions and the distance Dr between the two corresponding reference points P 6  and P 7  ( FIG. 3 ). The coordinates of the two corresponding reference points P 6  and P 7  are calculated based on information which defines the character regions S 1  and S 5  ( FIG. 3 ) recorded in the tables ( FIG. 7 ) of the target model in the feature point information table DTD. 
     In Step S 470 , the specifying unit  340  executes enlargement/reduction correction to enlarge or reduce the edge image EI 2  in accordance with the magnification FP calculated in Step S 460 . If the magnification FP&gt;1, the edge image EI 2  is enlarged. If the magnification FP&lt;1, the edge image EI 2  is reduced.  FIG. 12D  shows an edge image EI 3  after enlargement/reduction correction. The edge image EI 3  of  FIG. 12D  is corrected such that the distance Ds between the two feature points Pe 6  and Pe 11  before correction becomes equal to the distance Dr between the two corresponding reference points P 6  and P 7 . As a result, it is understood that enlargement is made such that the size of a portion corresponding to each of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  in the edge image EI 3  is close to the target size shown in  FIGS. 9A to 9D . 
     In Step S 480 , the specifying unit  340  calculates a shift amount (a shift amount ΔX in the X direction and a shift amount ΔY in the Y direction) based on a plurality of feature points in the edge image EI 3  after enlargement/reduction correction and a plurality of corresponding reference points. As a plurality of feature points, for example, the upper left vertexes of the respective character regions Se 1  to Se 5  ( FIG. 12D ) and the two vertexes Pe 4  and Pe 5  of the operation button  30  are used. A plurality of reference points are corresponding reference points recorded in the tables ( FIG. 7 ) of the target model in the feature point information table DTD. Specifically, the average value of the difference values between the X coordinates of a plurality of feature points and the X coordinates of the corresponding reference points is calculated as the shift amount ΔX in the X direction. Similarly, the average value of the difference values between the Y coordinates of a plurality of feature points and the Y coordinates of the corresponding reference points is calculated as the shift amount ΔY in the Y direction. 
     In Step S 490 , the specifying unit  340  executes shift correction to move the edge image EI 3  in parallel by the calculated shift amount.  FIG. 13A  shows an edge image EI 4  after shift correction. In  FIG. 13A , the frame image BX of  FIG. 9C  is indicated by a broken line for reference. In the edge image EI 4  of the  FIG. 13A , it is understood that the positions of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  substantially become equal to the target position shown in  FIG. 9C . That is, in the edge image EI 4  of  FIG. 13A , the portions corresponding to the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  are arranged at appropriate intervals along the center line CL. 
       FIG. 13B  shows a captured image SI 2  after correction when correction (rotation correction, enlargement/reduction correction, and shift correction) on the edge image EI is executed on the captured image SI ( FIG. 12A ). The correspondence relationship between the coordinate (X 1 , Y 1 ) of a pixel in the edge image EI before correction and the coordinate (X 2 , Y 2 ) of a pixel in the edge image EI 4  after correction is the same as the correspondence relationship between the coordinate (Xa, Ya) of a pixel in the captured image SI ( FIG. 12A ) before correction and the coordinate (Xb, Yb) of a pixel in the captured image SI 2  after correction. Accordingly, the specifying unit  340  can specify the value (respective component values of RGB) of a pixel corresponding to an arbitrary coordinate (Xa, Xb) in the captured image SI 2  after correction. Although the specifying unit  340  may actually generate image data representing the captured image SI 2  after correction, it may suffice that the value of a pixel within a lamp range for use in display state specifying processing (Step S 500  of  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 14 ) (described below) can be specified, without generating image data representing captured image SI 2  after correction. 
     If the captured image correction processing ends, in Step S 500  of  FIG. 10 , the specifying unit  340  executes display state specifying processing. The display state specifying processing is processing for specifying the display state of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  in the captured image SI represented by captured image data to be processed, specifically, the emission color (yellow, red, blue, and green).  FIG. 14  is a flowchart of display state specifying processing. 
     In Step S 510 , the specifying unit  340  acquires reference range information ( FIG. 5A ) representing the reference range for threshold value calculation from the tables corresponding to the target model in the arrangement information table DTA. 
     In Step S 515 , the specifying unit  340  calculates the average value of the values (RGB values) of a plurality of pixels within the reference range defined by the reference range information in the captured image SI 2  after correction for the respective three components of RGB. 
     In Step S 520 , the specifying unit  340  calculates the threshold value Vth of brightness and the threshold value Sth of saturation based on the average value (Rave, Gave, Bave) of the three components of RGB. Specifically, the specifying unit  340  calculates brightness and saturation of a color represented by the average value (Rave, Gave, Bave) of the three components as the threshold value Vth of brightness and the threshold value Sth of saturation using a conversion expression (1) which transforms the color representing values of a RGB color space to the color representing values of an HSV color space. In the conversion expression (1), MAX represents the maximum value out of the three component values of R, G, and B, and MN represents the minimum value out of the three component values of R, G, and B. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
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     In Step S 525 , the specifying unit  340  selects a lamp to be processed. In the example of the captured image SI 2  of  FIG. 13B , one display lamp is selected as a lamp to be processed from the five display lamps  11  to  15 . 
     In Step S 530 , the specifying unit  340  acquires the arrangement information ( FIG. 5A ) representing the position and size of a display lamp to be processed from the tables corresponding to the target model in the arrangement information table DTA. 
     In Step S 535 , the specifying unit  340  calculates the average value of the values (RGB values) of a plurality of pixels within a range (also referred to as “lamp range”), in which the display lamp to be processed defined by the arrangement information is arranged, in the captured image SI 2  after correction for three components of RGB. 
     In Step S 540 , the specifying unit  340  calculates brightness Va, saturation Sa, and hue Ha of the color of the display lamp to be processed based on the average value (Rave, Gave, Bave) of the three components. Specifically, the specifying unit  340  calculates the brightness Va, saturation Sa, and hue Ha of the color represented by the average value (Rave, Gave, Bave) of the three components using the conversion expression (1). 
     In Step S 545 , the specifying unit  340  determines whether the saturation Sa of the display lamp to be processed is equal to or greater than the threshold value Sth of saturation and the brightness Va of the display lamp to be processed is equal to or greater than the threshold value Vth of brightness. 
     When saturation Sa is smaller than the threshold value Sth or when the brightness Va is smaller than the threshold value Vth (Step S 545 : NO), the specifying unit  340  determines that the display lamp to be processed does not emit light (Step S 555 ). When the saturation Sa is equal to or greater than the threshold value Sth and the brightness Va is equal to or greater than the threshold value Vth (Step S 545 : YES), the specifying unit  340  determines that the display lamp to be processed emits light, and executes Step S 550 . 
     In Step S 550 , the specifying unit  340  determines the emission color of the display lamp to be processed based on the hue Ha of the display lamp to be processed. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the specifying unit  340  determines the emission color referring to the hue range defined for each emission color. If the hue Ha is within a range of 50&lt;Ha≦70, it is determined that the emission color is yellow, and if the hue Ha is within a range of 70&lt;Ha≦200, it is determined that the emission color is green. If the hue Ha is within a range of 200&lt;Ha≦300, it is determined that the emission color is blue, and if the hue Ha is within a range of 300&lt;Ha≦360 or 0&lt;Ha≦50, it is determined that the emission color is red. 
     In Step S 560 , the specifying unit  340  determines whether all display lamps of the target model are processed. If there is an unprocessed display lamp (Step S 560 : NO), the specifying unit  340  returns to Step S 525  and repeats the processing of Steps S 530  to S 555  on the unprocessed display lamp. If all display lamps are processed (Step S 560 : YES), the specifying unit  340  ends the display state specifying processing. 
     If the display state specifying processing ends, in Step S 600  of  FIG. 10 , the specifying unit  340  determines whether all captured images are processed. If there is an unprocessed captured image (Step S 600 : NO), the specifying unit  340  returns to Step S 300  and repeats the processing of Steps S 300  to S 500  on the unprocessed captured image. If all captured images are processed (Step S 600 : YES), the specifying unit  340  proceeds to Step S 700 . 
     In Step S 700 , the specifying unit  340  specifies the final display state of a plurality of display lamps based on the specified result using the captured image. Specifically, if the number of captured images is one, the specifying unit  340  directly utilizes the specified result using one captured image as the final specified result. If the number of captured images is two, the specifying unit  340  determines the final specified result based on the two specified results using the two captured images. For example, as shown in a table of  FIG. 10 , for the target display lamp, if both a specified result using a first captured image (referred to as “image A”) and a specified result using a second captured image (referred to as “image B”) are “light emission”, the display state of the target display lamp is specified to be “lighting”. If both the specified result using the image A and the specified result using the image B are both “non-light emission”, the display state of the target display lamp is specified to be “off”. If the specified result using one of the image A and the image B is “light emission” and the specified result using the other image is “non-light emission”, the display state of the target display lamp is specified to be “blinking”. If the final specified results of all display lamps are determined, the automatic recognition processing ends. 
     If the automatic recognition processing ends, in Step S 40  of  FIG. 8 , the information providing unit  300  displays the display state of the display lamps specified by the automatic recognition processing on the display unit  470 .  FIG. 9D  shows an example of a main image AI 4  after automatic recognition processing. In the example of  FIG. 9D , it is understood that the display state (specified results) of the display lamps is displayed in the plurality of fields DF 1  to DF 5  corresponding to the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15 . In a partial image PI 2  in the main image AI 4 , the images (for example, the images of the display lamps  12  and  15  of  FIG. 9D ) of the display lamps are updated in accordance with the display state (specified results) of the display lamps. 
     In Step S 45 , the receiving unit  350  receives the correction of the display state of the display lamps specified by the automatic recognition processing through the plurality of fields DF 1  to DF 5 . If the user touches a field (for example, the field DF 4 ) corresponding to a display lamp to be corrected out of the plurality of fields DF 1  to DF 5 , as shown in  FIG. 9D , the receiving unit  350  displays a pull-down menu PM. The user selects a desired display state from a display state list displayed in the pull-down menu PM, thereby correcting the display state of the display lamps specified by the automatic recognition processing. Here, an allowable display state of the display lamp to be corrected is displayed in the pull-down menu PM, and a non-allowable display state of the display lamp to be corrected is not displayed. The receiving unit  350  refers to display state information recorded in the tables ( FIG. 5B ) of the target model in the display state information table DTB, and determines the display state (for example, in the example of  FIG. 9D , red lighting and red blinking) which should be displayed in the pull-down menu PM. As a result, the user can smoothly select a desired display state. There are cases where the correction of the display state by the user is input and where the correction of the display state is not input. If the correction of the display state by the user is input, the display state after the correction by the user is given priority over the display state specified by the automatic recognition processing. That is, if the correction of the display state is received from the user, the final display state of the display lamps is specified in accordance with the correction result by the user. 
     If an information display instruction is received (Step S 50 ), that is, if the start button BT 2  in the main image AI 4  is pressed by the user, the identification information acquiring unit  360  acquires a URL as identification information based on the specified display state of the display lamps and the target model (Step S 55 ). Specifically, the identification information acquiring unit  360  refers to the tables ( FIG. 4 ) of the target model in the URL table DT 1 , and acquires a URL associated with the specified display state of the display lamps. For example, if the table DT 1   a  of  FIG. 4  is referred to, and if the specified display state of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  shown in  FIG. 3  is “off”, “yellow blinking”, “off”, “off”, and “green lighting”, respectively, “http://aa . . . ” is acquired as a URL. 
     In Step S 60 , the browser control unit  370  causes the CPU  410  to execute the browser program PG 3  ( FIG. 1 ) so as to start the Web browser  50  ( FIG. 1 ) and passes the URL acquired in Step S 50  to the Web browser  50 . 
     In Step S 65 , the Web browser  50  acquires the support information from the server  60  based on the URL acquired from the browser control unit  370 . For example, if the URL acquired from the browser control unit  370  is the first URL (for example, “http://aa . . . ” of  FIG. 4 ), first support information identified by the first URL is acquired from a first storage region (for example, a storage region corresponding to a specific folder) in the storage unit  65  of the server  60  identified by the first URL. Similarly, for example, if the URL acquired from the browser control unit  370  is a second URL (for example, “http://cc . . . ” of  FIG. 4 ), second support information identified by the second URL is acquired from a second storage region in the storage unit  65  of the server  60  identified by the second URL. In Step S 70 , the Web browser  50  displays the acquired support information on the display unit  470 . In other words, the browser control unit  370  acquires the support information as state related information using the Web browser  50 , and also displays the acquired support information on the display unit  470  using the Web browser  50 . That is, the browser control unit  370  is an example of a state related information acquiring unit and an output control unit. 
       FIG. 15  shows an example of a display image AI 5  of support information. The display image AI 5  is an image of a page including support information corresponding to a specific state of the target model represented by the specified display state of the display lamps out of a plurality of Web pages provided by the server  60 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , this page is a page which is created when the target model becomes the specific state assuming that the user of the target model refers to the page. The page illustrated in  FIG. 15  is a page corresponding to a state in which the amount of residual toner is smaller than a reference value, and includes a message MS including the description of the state and a handling method, such as a toner replacement method or a purchase method. 
     According to the above-described illustrative embodiment, captured image data obtained by imaging one or more display lamps (for example, the five display lamps  11  to  15  ( FIG. 3 )) is analyzed, and the URL of the support information corresponding to the specific state (for example, the error state, such as toner empty) of the printer (for example, the printer  200  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) of the target model represented by the display lamps is acquired. The support information is acquired based on the acquired URL and displayed on the display unit  470  of the portable terminal  400 . As a result, the portable terminal  400  can provide appropriate information according to the state of the printer  200  to the user. 
     For example, if an error occurs in the printer  200 , there is a case where the printer  200  does not easily provide sufficient information associated with the error, which currently occurs in the printer  200 , to the user. In particular, like the printer  200  of this example, in the case of a printer including no liquid crystal display, it is comparatively difficult to provide sufficient information to the user with the printer  200  alone. As a result, there is a possibility that the user needs to perform a bothersome operation to examine the meaning of the display state of the display lamps referring to a manual or the like. 
     It can be considered that necessary information is printed by the printer  200  and information is provided to the user. However, if the printer  200  is in the error state, such as toner empty or paper jam, in which printing is impossible, it is not possible to provide information. Further, it can be considered that error information is transmitted from the printer  200  to a personal computer embedded with a printer driver and the error information is displayed on the personal computer. However, if the personal computer is away from the printer  200 , this causes inconvenience. Further, if communication failure between the printer  200  and the personal computer occurs, it is not possible to provide information. 
     According to this illustrative embodiment, the portable terminal  400  can easily provide appropriate support information according to the state of the printer  200 . That is, it should suffice that the user of the portable terminal  400  just images the specific region ( FIG. 3 ) including the display lamps  11  to  15  of the printer  200 . The portable terminal  400  can provide necessary support information regardless of the type (communication failure with an external apparatus or error, such as paper jam, for which printing is impossible) of error state of the printer  200 . Since the portable terminal  400  is easily carried, it is easy to image a plurality of printers provided at different locations with the single portable terminal  400 . Accordingly, it can be said that an imaging terminal, in particular, a portable imaging terminal is a device appropriate for providing the support information of the printer  200 . 
     If the support information is stored in the non-volatile storage device  220  of the printer  200  or the non-volatile storage device  420  of the portable terminal  400 , there is a possibility that it is difficult to provide sufficient support information from the viewpoint of capacity restriction. In order to update the support information, there is a possibility that a complicated procedure (for example, download of an update file, or the like) may be required or an operation burden imposed on the user with the update may increase. In this illustrative embodiment, since the portable terminal  400  acquires the support information from the server connected through the network (for example, Internet  70 ), it is possible to easily provide sufficient and latest information to the user. 
     Even if the server  60  provides sufficient support information as a Web service, there is a possibility that the support information is not sufficiently utilized by the user. For example, a large burden is imposed on the user when locating desired support information out of the support information group  651  including multiple support information. For example, an operation to search desired support information with the links of a plurality of Web pages classified in a plurality of classes is comparatively bothersome. However, according to this illustrative embodiment, if the display state of the display lamps in the captured image represents that the printer is in the first state, the first URL is acquired, and if the display state of the display lamps in the captured image represents that the printer is in the second state, the second URL is acquired. As a result, by imaging the specific region including the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15 , the user can easily obtain the support information associated with the state of the printer  200  at imaging. 
     Since the support information to be provided is displayed based on the display state of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15 , it is not necessary that the printer  200  stores special information (for example, information, such as a URL or a QR code (Registered Trademark)) for specifying the support information to be provided in advance. As a result, in regard to the support information of the already shipped printer  200  having no special information, it is possible to easily provide appropriate support information based on the display state of the display lamps of the printer. 
     The information providing unit  300  acquires model information (product information) for identifying the type of printer  200 , and acquires a URL in accordance with the analysis result of captured image data and the model information representing the type of printer  200 . Accordingly, it is possible to display appropriate state related information on the portable terminal  400  in accordance with the type of printer  200 . For example, even if the states of the printers are identical, if the models of the printers are different, the support information to be provided may be different. For example, in regard to support information relating to toner empty, the product number of corresponding toner cartridge or the like may differ depending on the model. 
     The information providing unit  300  can receive the correction of the display state of at least a part of the display lamps specified by analyzing captured image data from the user (Step S 50  of  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9D ). If the correction of the display state is received from the user, the display state of the display lamps is finally specified in accordance with the correction result. Accordingly, it is possible to determine the display state of the display lamp with high precision and to display appropriate support information on the portable terminal  400 . 
     If “blinking” is included in the display state of the display lamps, the information providing unit  300  acquires first captured image data and second captured image data imaged at a predetermined time after the first captured image data is imaged. The information providing unit  300  analyzes these captured image data to specify the display state of the display lamps including the blinking state. As a result, it is possible to appropriately specify the display state of the display lamps including “blinking”. As shown in the imaging information table DTC of  FIG. 6 , as the predetermined time (imaging interval), an appropriate time is used depending on the model. That is, if a target printer is a printer of a first type, a first predetermined time is used, and if the target printer is a printer of a second type, a second predetermined time is used. As a result, it is possible to specify the display state of the display lamps with high precision in accordance with the model of the printer. As shown in the imaging information table DTC of  FIG. 6 , an appropriate number of captured image data set for each model are acquired. As a result, it is possible to suppress an analysis load compared to a case where multiple captured image data, such as a motion image, are acquired and analyzed. 
     Since the information providing unit  300  executes the captured image correction processing ( FIG. 11 ) to correct the positions of the display lamp in the captured image, it is possible to specify the display state of the display lamps with high precision in the display state specifying processing ( FIG. 14 ). For example, even if the position and size of each of the display lamps in the captured image SI are deviated from the target position and size due to shaking or the like of the user at imaging, it is possible to specify the display state of the display lamps with high precision. 
     C. Modified Illustrative Embodiment 
     (1) In the information providing processing according the above-described illustrative embodiment, although the identification information acquiring unit  360  acquires the URL from the URL table DT 1  stored in the non-volatile storage device  420  of the portable terminal  400 , alternatively, the URL may be acquired from the server  60 . Specifically, as indicated by a broken line in  FIG. 1 , the identification information acquiring unit  360  may include a state information transmission unit  365 . In the information providing processing of  FIG. 8 , Steps S 52 A to S 56 A may be executed, instead of Step S 55 . In Step S 52 A, the identification information acquiring unit  360  acquires the state of the printer of the target model based on the specified display state of the display lamps and the target model. For example, the identification information acquiring unit  360  refers to the tables ( FIG. 4 ) of the target model in the URL table DT 1 , and acquires the state of the printer associated with the specified display state of the display lamps. For example, if the table DT 1   a  of  FIG. 4  is referred to, and if the specified display state of the plurality of display lamps  11  to  15  shown in  FIG. 3  “off”, “yellow blinking”, “off”, “off”, and “green lighting”, “Residual toner amount: Small” is acquired as the state of the printer. In Step S 54 A, the state information transmission unit  365  of the identification information acquiring unit  360  transmits state information representing the state of the printer and the model information representing the target model to the server  60 . The server  60  replies a URL corresponding to the combination of the received state information and model information to the portable terminal  400 . In Step S 56 A, the identification information acquiring unit  360  acquires (receives) the corresponding URL from the server  60 . In this case, in the server  60 , even if an administrator of the server updates a Web page which provides support information, and the URL is updated, the portable terminal  400  can acquire the support information without problem. A server which becomes a URL acquisition source may be different from a server which becomes a support information acquisition source. 
     (2) In the above-described illustrative embodiment, although the imaging times is one or two, the imaging times other than one or two may be used depending on an allowable display state of the display lamps.  FIGS. 16A and 16B  are diagrams illustrating a display state of display lamps and imaging conditions according to a modified illustrative embodiment. The display lamps in the modified illustrative embodiment may have a plurality of kinds of display states including a plurality of blinking states, specifically, four kinds of display states of “lighting”, “off”, “first blinking”, and “second blinking”. The display state “lighting” and “off” is the same as the display state having the same name in the first illustrative embodiment. The display state “first blinking” is a display state in which a light emission state and a non-light emission state are repeated at a first interval LT 1 . As shown in  FIG. 16A , the display state “second blinking” is a display state in which a light emission state and a non-light emission state are repeated at a second interval LT 2 . The first interval LT 1  is equal to or greater than two times the second interval LT 2 . 
     In this case, in order to determine the four kinds of display states, in particular, in order to appropriately determine two kinds of blinking states, the imaging interval is set to the minimum blinking interval, in the example of  FIGS. 16A and 16B , the second interval LT 2 . The imaging times K is set such that the time K times the imaging interval (=the minimum blinking interval) becomes longer than at least the maximum blinking interval, in the example of  FIGS. 16A and 16B , the first interval LT 1 . In the example of  FIGS. 16A and 16B , since (LT 2 ×3)&gt;LT 1 &gt;(LT 2 ×2), the imaging times is set to at least three.  FIG. 16B  shows a method of determining a final specified result based on a specified result obtained by analyzing three captured images A to C if the imaging interval is set to the second interval LT 2  and the imaging times is set to three. It is assumed that the three captured images A to C are imaged in this order (alphabetical order). 
     Specifically, if all the three captured images A to C are “light emission”, the display state of the target display lamp is specified to be “lighting”. If all the three captured images A to C are “non-light emission”, the display state of the target display lamp is specified to be “off”. If the three captured images A to C include both an image to be “light emission” and an image to be “non-light emission”, the display state of the target display lamp is specified to be either “first blinking” or “second blinking”. That is, if the three captured images A to C are arranged in time series, and if an image to be “light emission” and an image to be “non-light emission” are arranged alternately, the display state of the target display lamp is specified to be “second blinking”. If the three captured images A to C are arranged in time series, and if two images to be “light emission” are arranged continuously or if two images to be “non-light emission” are arranged continuously, the display state of the target display lamp is specified to be “first blinking”. 
     In this way, the imaging times may be set to various values equal to or greater than one in accordance with an allowable display state of a display lamp different between respective models. In general, if the target printer is a printer of a first type, N (where N is an integer equal to or greater than one) pieces of captured image data may be acquired, the display state of the display lamps in the capture image may be specified by the analysis of the N pieces of captured image data. If the target printer is a printer of a second type, M (where M is an integer larger than N) pieces of captured image data may be acquired, and the display state of the display lamps in the captured image may be specified by the analysis of the M pieces of captured image data. 
     (3) In the above-described illustrative embodiment, although a printer is illustrated as a product, alternatively, a different electronic apparatus, for example, a scanner including a print function and a scanner function, a stand-alone scanner, or the like may be used. 
     (4) In the above-described illustrative embodiment, although the model information (product information) for identifying the model of the printer is acquired based on the input by the user, alternatively, the model information (product information) may be acquired based on the analysis result of captured image data. In this case, for example, the non-volatile storage device  420  of the portable terminal  400  stores histogram data representing the color distribution of the specific region  100  of the model of the printer or data of a frequency component as reference data for each model. The product information acquiring unit  320  creates histogram data of captured image data or data of the frequency component as analysis data. The product information acquiring unit  320  calculates similarity of analysis data and reference data, and acquires model information corresponding to reference data having the highest similarity to analysis data. A method of evaluating similarity of analysis data and reference data is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-2001-167118 (a method of comparing coefficients representing frequency components of images) or JP-A-2008-234327 (a method of comparing histogram data obtained by histogramming chromaticity of images on a chromaticity diagram. In the above-described illustrative embodiment, although the model information (product information) for identifying the model of the printer is acquired when the radio button RB corresponding to a desired model is selected by the user, model information, such as a model number, may be acquired by the input of the user through the buttons of the portable terminal  400 . 
     (5) In the above-described illustrative embodiment, although the portable terminal  400  and the server  60  cooperate to provide the support information to the user, the support information may be provided by the portable terminal  400  alone. In this case, the support information of all items of all target models may be stored in the non-volatile storage device  420  of the portable terminal  400 . In this case, it should suffice that the information providing unit  300  of the portable terminal  400  acquires corresponding support information from the non-volatile storage device  420  based on identification information (for example, an error item name or an address in the non-volatile storage device  220 ) corresponding to the display state of the display lamps specified based on captured image data. The support information may be stored in the non-volatile storage device  220  of the printer  200 . In this case, for example, the portable terminal  400  may specify the IP address of the printer, thereby acquiring support information from the printer  200 , instead of the server  60 . 
     (6) In the above-described illustrative embodiment, support information, such as a solution to an error, is illustrated as state related information. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and state related information may be information associated with the normal state of the printer, for example, description of a specific operation method of printing processing or description of each setting item and a specific method of setting a setting item. The state related information is not limited to the form of being displayed on the display unit  470 , and the state related information may be output from the portable terminal  400  in another form. For example, a guide voice of an operation method or the like of the printer  200  may be output as the state related information from (on) the portable terminal  400 . 
     (7) The reception of the correction by the user on the specified result of the display state based on the analysis result of captured image data may be omitted. That is, the specified result of the display state based on the analysis result of captured image data may be always used as the final specified result. The acquisition of the model information may be omitted. That is, the information providing unit  300  may be realized by a dedicated application program (for example, an accompanying program of the product) for one model. 
     (8) In the above described illustrative embodiment, the information ( FIG. 5B ) of the allowable display state of the respective display lamps recorded in the display state information table DTB is used to create the pull-down menu PM ( FIG. 9D ) when receiving the correction by the user on the specified result of the display state. Alternatively or additionally, the display state information may be used to analyze captured image data as a different kind of feature information for each mode. For example, if the display state ( FIG. 5B ) of the display lamps specified by analyzing captured image data is different from the allowable display state represented by the display state information, there is a high possibility that the analysis result is an error. In this case, for example, the information providing unit  300  may request the user to perform imaging again to acquire captured image data again or may notify the user that the specified result is an error and may request the correction by the user. In this way, the feature information for use in analyzing captured image data is not limited to the positional information of the feature points described in the feature point information table DTD, and various kinds of information representing the features of a different display lamp for each model may be used. 
     (9) Various kinds of information used in the above-described information providing processing, a list of model information displayed in the model selection image AI 1  or information recorded in various tables shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7  is stored in the non-volatile storage device  420  in advance. In contrast, these kinds of information may be acquired from the server  60  and temporarily stored in the volatile storage device  425  as necessary. 
     (10) In the above-described illustrative embodiment, a part of the configuration realized by hardware may be substituted with software, and conversely, a part of the configuration realized by software may be substituted with hardware. 
     (11) If a part or all of the functions of the present invention are realized by software, software (computer program) can be provided in the form stored in a computer-readable recording medium. The “computer-readable recording medium” is not limited to a portable recording medium, such as a memory card or a CD-ROM, and includes an internal storage device in the computer, such as various RAMs or ROMs, or an external storage device connected to the computer, such as a hard disk drive. 
     While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain illustrative embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.