JP5914014B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a print medium.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes is known. The operation mode includes a copy mode, a scanner mode, a printer mode, and the like. The user performs an operation of selecting an operation mode when using such an image forming apparatus.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, based on the number of times each operation mode is used in a predetermined period, it is determined that the user's frequently used operation mode is an operation mode desired by the user and a screen corresponding to the operation mode is displayed Thus, an image forming apparatus that improves operability is disclosed.

JP 2004-72563 A

  However, since the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 displays a screen of an operation mode with a high use frequency determined for a predetermined period, the determination result may not be appropriate depending on the use situation. In this case, the user has to perform the operation of selecting the operation mode again, which causes inconvenience.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can improve the convenience of the user regarding selection of an operation mode.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first feature of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is that an authentication unit that authenticates a user and permits login, an image reading unit that reads an image of a document, and a document in the image reading unit A document detection unit that detects that the image has been set, a storage unit that stores usage histories of a plurality of operation modes using the image reading unit for each user, a display unit that displays a mode screen corresponding to the operation mode, When a document is detected by the document detection unit in a state where the operation mode is not selected after login, the prediction mode is changed from the plurality of operation modes using the cumulative number of times of use of the plurality of operation modes by the logged-in user. And a control unit that displays the mode screen corresponding to the prediction mode on the display unit and enables the prediction mode to be executed.

  A second feature of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is that the control unit is a difference that is a difference in the cumulative number of usages between the operation mode having the largest cumulative usage number and the next most frequent operation mode for the logged-in user. When the value is greater than or equal to a threshold value, the operation mode having the largest cumulative number of times of use is determined as the prediction mode, and when the difference value is less than the threshold value, a mode selection screen for allowing the user to select an operation mode is displayed on the display unit It is to be displayed.

  A third feature of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is that the control unit changes the threshold according to the number of times that the operation mode to be executed in accordance with a user instruction is changed from the prediction mode.

  A fourth feature of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is that the control unit is a difference in the cumulative usage count between the operation mode having the highest cumulative usage count and the next highest operation mode for the logged-in user. If one difference value is greater than or equal to a first threshold value, the operation mode with the largest cumulative number of times of use is determined as the prediction mode, the first difference value is less than the first threshold value, and the closest logged-in user When the second difference value, which is the difference in the number of times of use between the operation mode with the largest number of uses in the predetermined period of time and the operation mode with the next largest number of times, is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the operation mode with the largest number of uses in the predetermined period Mode selection screen for allowing the user to select an operation mode when the first difference value is less than the first threshold value and the second difference value is less than the second threshold value. The above There to be displayed on the radical 113.

  A fifth feature of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is that the control unit sets the first threshold value and the second threshold value according to the number of times the operation mode to be executed according to a user instruction is changed from the prediction mode. It is to change.

  A sixth feature of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is that, when the total number of cumulative usages of a plurality of operation modes using the image reading unit in the logged-in user is equal to or less than a lower limit value, the control unit A mode selection screen for selecting an operation mode is displayed on the display unit.

  A seventh feature of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is that the storage unit has a storage area for holding a print job received from the outside, and the control unit is configured to allow the user to log in by the authentication unit. When the user's print job is held in the storage unit, the print job is executed and the mode screen of the printer mode is displayed on the display unit.

  According to the first feature of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the control unit determines the prediction mode using the cumulative number of times of use of a plurality of operation modes using the image reading unit for the logged-in user. As a result, the image forming apparatus can perform an appropriate automatic mode selection according to the use status of each operation mode so far by the user, reduce the user's troubles regarding the selection of the operation mode, and improve the convenience.

  According to the second feature of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit is a difference that is a difference between the accumulated usage counts of the operation mode having the largest cumulative usage count and the next most frequent operation mode for the logged-in user. When the value is less than the threshold value, the mode selection screen is displayed on the display unit. In this way, when the difference value is less than the threshold value, the image forming apparatus does not determine the prediction mode, but allows the user to select an operation mode from the mode selection screen, so that the image forming apparatus operates differently from the user's desired operation. Automatic selection of the mode can be reduced.

  According to the third feature of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the threshold value of the difference value is changed according to the number of times the operation mode to be executed by the user's instruction is changed from the prediction mode. It is possible to reduce the automatic selection of an operation mode different from the above.

  According to the fourth feature of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the control unit sets the operation mode having the highest cumulative number of times of use as the prediction mode when the first difference value for the logged-in user is equal to or greater than the first threshold value. When the first difference value is less than the first threshold value and the second difference value is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the operation mode having the largest number of uses in the predetermined period is determined as the prediction mode. As a result, the image forming apparatus can perform automatic mode selection that reflects the most recent usage status even when the difference between the operation modes is small in the cumulative number of uses. Moreover, a control part displays a mode selection screen on a display part, when a 1st difference value is less than a 1st threshold value and a 2nd difference value is less than a 2nd threshold value. As described above, when the first difference value is less than the first threshold value and the second difference value is less than the second threshold value, the prediction mode is not determined and the user is allowed to select the operation mode from the mode selection screen. By doing so, the image forming apparatus can reduce the automatic selection of an operation mode different from that desired by the user.

  According to the fifth feature of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the first threshold value and the second threshold value are changed according to the number of times that the operation mode to be executed by the user's instruction is changed from the prediction mode. It is possible to reduce the automatic selection of an operation mode different from the desired one.

  According to a sixth feature of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit selects the mode selection screen when the total number of times of use of the plurality of operation modes using the image reading unit by the logged-in user is less than or equal to the lower limit value. Is displayed on the display unit to allow the user to select an operation mode. Thereby, the image forming apparatus can avoid inappropriate automatic mode selection.

  According to a seventh aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the control unit prints a print job if the user's print job is held in the storage unit when the authentication unit permits the user to log in. And a mode screen of the printer mode is displayed on the display unit. As a result, in the image forming apparatus having the printer mode, the printer mode operation is started at the same time as the login, so that it is possible to reduce the user's trouble concerning the selection of the operation mode.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a flowchart of a mode screen determination process. It is a flowchart of a mode screen determination process. It is a figure which shows an example of a printer mode screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a mode selection screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a copy mode screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a scanner mode screen.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an IC card reader 2, an operation panel unit 3, an image reading unit 4, an image forming unit 5, a storage unit 6, and communication processing. A unit 7 and an arithmetic processing unit 8 are provided. The image forming apparatus 1 has a copy function, a scanner function, and a printer function.

  The IC card reader 2 reads user identification information recorded on an IC card (not shown).

  The operation panel unit 3 receives user input operations and displays various screens. The operation panel unit 3 includes an input unit 11 and a display unit 12.

  The input unit 11 receives an input operation by a user and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation. The input unit 11 includes various operation keys, a touch panel, and the like.

  The display unit 12 displays various screens such as a mode screen. The display unit 12 includes a liquid crystal display panel and the like.

  The image reading unit 4 includes a document table, a light receiving element, a light source, a lens, a scanning mechanism, an automatic document feeder (all not shown), etc., and optically reads an image of a document and generates image data. The image reading unit 4 reads a document in the copy mode and the scanner mode. Further, the image reading unit 4 includes a document detection unit 13.

  The document detection unit 13 detects that a document to be read is set in the image reading unit 4 and outputs a detection signal.

  The image forming unit 5 includes a printing mechanism such as an ink jet method, and forms an image on a printing medium such as paper.

  The storage unit 6 stores user information. The user information includes the user name, identification information, password, and the like of the user registered in the image forming apparatus 1. In addition, the storage unit 6 stores, for each user, a use history of a copy mode and a scanner mode that are operation modes using the image reading unit 4. The usage history includes the cumulative usage count Nc of each user in the image forming apparatus 1 and the cumulative usage count Ns of the scanner mode. The accumulated use times Nc and Ns are the total use times since the user was registered in the image forming apparatus 1. Further, the usage history includes the copy mode usage count Ncp and the scanner mode usage count Nsp of each user during the most recent predetermined period (for example, one week). The storage unit 6 stores a lower limit value ThNt, a first threshold value ThD1, and a second threshold value ThD2, which will be described later. The storage unit 6 also has a storage area for temporarily storing a print job received from an external PC. The storage unit 6 includes a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

  The communication processing unit 7 connects the image forming apparatus 1 to a network such as a LAN. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can communicate with an external PC or the like.

  The arithmetic processing unit 8 performs control processing in the image forming apparatus 1. The arithmetic processing unit 8 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and an authentication unit 21 and a control unit 22 are configured when the CPU executes a program.

  The authentication unit 21 performs user authentication at the time of login and permits login.

  The control unit 22 controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 1. In the present embodiment, when login is performed, the control unit 22 performs a mode screen determination process for determining a mode screen to be displayed on the display unit 12.

  Specifically, when the authentication unit 21 permits the user to log in, if the user's print job is held in the storage unit 6, the control unit 22 executes the print job and displays the printer mode screen. Is displayed on the display unit 12. On the other hand, when the authentication unit 21 permits the user to log in, if the user's print job is not held in the storage unit 6, the control unit 22 displays a mode selection screen for allowing the user to select an operation mode. This is displayed on the unit 12. Thereafter, when a document is detected by the document detection unit 13 in a state where the operation mode to be used is not selected, the control unit 22 displays the cumulative use count Nc of the copy mode and the cumulative use count of the scanner mode for the logged-in user. The prediction mode is determined from both modes using Ns. The prediction mode is an operation mode predicted from the usage history as desired by the user. And the control part 22 displays the mode screen according to the determined prediction mode on the display part 12, and enables copy mode or scanner mode which is prediction mode.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is set to require login when the user uses the image forming apparatus 1. When the login is performed, the image forming apparatus 1 performs a mode screen determination process. The mode screen determination process will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  In step S10 of FIG. 2, the authentication unit 21 performs user authentication in response to an operation for login by the user. Specifically, the authentication unit 21 acquires identification information read by the IC card reader 2 from the user's IC card. Then, the authentication unit 21 refers to the user information stored in the storage unit 6, authenticates the user of the identification information acquired from the IC card reader 2, and permits login to the image forming apparatus 1. The authentication unit 21 can also permit login in response to the input of the user name and password to the input unit 11.

  Next, in step S <b> 20, the control unit 22 determines whether the print job of the logged-in user is held in the storage unit 6. When a user logs in to the image forming apparatus 1 after transmitting a print job from the PC to the image forming apparatus 1, the user's print job is held in the storage unit 6.

  When it is determined that the print job of the logged-in user is held in the storage unit 6 (step S20: YES), in step S30, the control unit 22 executes the print job and displays the printer mode screen on the display unit 12. To display. This completes the mode screen determination process. The control unit 22 develops image data from the print job, and causes the image forming unit 5 to form an image on the print medium based on the image data.

  An example of the printer mode screen is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the printer mode screen 30 displays the name of the job being executed, the progress of the job being executed, the name of the waiting job, and the like.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the print job of the logged-in user is not held in the storage unit 6 (step S20: NO), the control unit 22 causes the display unit 12 to display a mode selection screen in step S40.

  The mode selection screen displayed here is a screen for allowing the user to select a copy mode or a scanner mode. An example of this mode selection screen is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, a copy mode selection button 41 and a scanner mode selection button 42 are displayed on the mode selection screen 40. The copy mode selection button 41 is a button for accepting selection using the copy mode. The scanner mode selection button 42 is a button for accepting selection using the scanner mode.

  Next, in step S <b> 50, the control unit 22 determines whether or not a mode is selected by a user operation on the mode selection screen 40. Specifically, the control unit 22 determines whether the copy mode selection button 41 or the scanner mode selection button 42 has been pressed.

  When it is determined that the mode has been selected (step S50: YES), in step S60, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the copy mode has been selected.

  If it is determined that the copy mode has been selected (step S60: YES), in step S70, the control unit 22 causes the display unit 12 to display a copy mode screen so that the copy mode can be executed. This completes the mode screen determination process. When the user selects the copy mode, the user sets a document on the image reading unit 4 and presses a start key (not shown) of the input unit 11 to start the copying operation of the image forming apparatus 1.

  An example of the copy mode screen is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the copy mode screen 50 displays buttons for accepting various setting inputs such as a color mode. When the copy mode screen 50 is displayed and a document is set on the image reading unit 4, when the start key of the input unit 11 is pressed, the control unit 22 executes a copy operation. Specifically, the control unit 22 causes the image reading unit 4 to read an image of a document and generate image data. Then, the control unit 22 causes the image forming unit 5 to form an image on the print medium based on the image data. When the copy operation is executed, the control unit 22 updates the copy mode cumulative use number Nc of the user in the use history of the storage unit 6 and the copy mode use number Ncp in the most recent predetermined period.

  When it is determined that the scanner mode has been selected (step S60: NO), in step S80, the control unit 22 displays a scanner mode screen on the display unit 12 so that the scanner mode can be executed. This completes the mode screen determination process. When the user selects the scanner mode, the user sets a document in the image reading unit 4 and presses the start key of the input unit 11 to start the scanner operation of the image forming apparatus 1.

  An example of the scanner mode screen is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the scanner mode screen 60 displays buttons and the like for receiving various setting inputs such as a storage format of image data obtained by scanning. When the scanner mode screen 60 is displayed and a document is set on the image reading unit 4, when the start key of the input unit 11 is pressed, the control unit 22 executes a scanner operation. Specifically, the control unit 22 causes the image reading unit 4 to read an image of a document and generate image data in a designated storage format. Then, the control unit 22 transmits this image data to the designated storage destination. When the scanner operation is executed, the control unit 22 updates the cumulative use number Ns of the user's scanner mode in the use history of the storage unit 6 and the use number Nsp of the scanner mode in the latest predetermined period.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S50 that the mode is not selected (step S50: NO), in step S90, the control unit 22 determines whether or not a document is set in the image reading unit 4. Specifically, the control unit 22 determines whether or not a document is set in the image reading unit 4 based on whether or not a detection signal is input from the document detection unit 13. If it is determined that no document is set in the image reading unit 4 (step S90: NO), the control unit 22 returns to step S50.

  If it is determined that a document has been set in the image reading unit 4 (step S90: YES), in step S100, the control unit 22 determines whether the total accumulated usage count Nt for the logged-in user is equal to or less than a predetermined lower limit value ThNt. Judge whether or not. The total accumulated use count Nt is the sum of the copy mode accumulated use count Nc and the scanner mode accumulated use count Ns for the logged-in user. The control unit 22 calculates the total accumulated use count Nt from the use history stored in the storage unit 6. Note that the total accumulated use count Nt for each user may be included in the use history of the storage unit 6. Further, the lower limit value ThNt may be changeable by an administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 or the like.

  If it is determined that the total cumulative number of uses Nt is equal to or lower than the lower limit value ThNt (step S100: YES), in step S110, the control unit 22 maintains the display of the mode selection screen 40 of FIG. Thereby, the control part 22 makes a user select an operation mode.

  Next, in step S <b> 120, the control unit 22 determines whether or not a mode is selected by a user operation on the mode selection screen 40. When determining that the mode has been selected (step S120: YES), the control unit 22 proceeds to step S60. When it is determined that the mode is not selected (step S120: NO), the control unit 22 repeats step S120.

  In step S100, when it is determined that the total accumulated use number Nt is larger than the lower limit value ThNt (step S100: NO), in step S130 of FIG. 3, the control unit 22 determines that the first difference value D1 for the logged-in user is It is determined whether or not it is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold ThD1. The first difference value D1 is the magnitude of the difference between the copy mode cumulative use count Nc and the scanner mode cumulative use count Ns for the logged-in user, and is expressed by the following equation (1). The first difference value D1 for each user may be included in the usage history of the storage unit 6. The first threshold ThD1 may be changeable by a user or the like.

D1 = | Nc−Ns | (1)
When it is determined that the first difference value D1 is equal to or greater than the first threshold ThD1 (step S130: YES), in step S140, the control unit 22 determines that the accumulated use count Nc of the logged-in user in the copy mode is the scanner mode. It is determined whether or not the cumulative usage count Ns is greater.

  When it is determined that the cumulative use number Nc of the copy mode is greater than the cumulative use number Ns of the scanner mode (step S140: YES), the control unit 22 determines the copy mode as the prediction mode and proceeds to step S70 in FIG. .

  When it is determined that the cumulative use number Nc of the copy mode is smaller than the cumulative use number Ns of the scanner mode (step S140: NO), the control unit 22 determines the scanner mode as the prediction mode, and proceeds to step S80 of FIG. .

  When it is determined in step S130 that the first difference value D1 is less than the first threshold ThD1 (step S130: NO), in step S150, the control unit 22 determines that the second difference value D2 for the logged-in user is a predetermined value. It is determined whether or not the second threshold ThD2 is greater than or equal to. The second difference value D2 is the magnitude of the difference between the copy mode use count Ncp and the scanner mode use count Nsp in a predetermined period most recently of the logged-in user, and is expressed by the following equation (2). The second difference value D2 for each user may be included in the usage history of the storage unit 6. The second threshold ThD2 may be changeable by a user or the like.

D2 = | Ncp−Nsp | (2)
When it is determined that the second difference value D2 is equal to or greater than the second threshold ThD2 (step S150: YES), in step S160, the control unit 22 determines that the copy mode use count Ncp during the predetermined period of the logged-in user is the scanner mode. It is determined whether or not the number of uses Nsp is greater than Nsp.

  When it is determined that the copy mode use count Ncp in the predetermined period is larger than the scanner mode use count Nsp (step S160: YES), the control unit 22 determines the copy mode as the prediction mode and proceeds to step S70 in FIG. move on.

  When it is determined that the copy mode use count Ncp in the predetermined period is smaller than the scanner mode use count Nsp (step S160: NO), the control unit 22 determines the scanner mode as the prediction mode and proceeds to step S80 in FIG. move on.

  If it is determined in step S150 that the second difference value D2 is less than the second threshold ThD2 (step S150: NO), the control unit 22 proceeds to step S110 in FIG.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1, when an original is set in the image reading unit 4 after the login and the operation mode is not selected, the control unit 22 refers to the use history and copies the copy mode. The prediction mode is determined from the scanner mode. Then, the control unit 22 causes the display unit 12 to display a mode screen corresponding to the copy mode or the scanner mode, which is the prediction mode, so that the prediction mode can be executed. That is, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the user sets a document on the image reading unit 4 without performing a mode selection operation after logging in, automatic mode selection is performed.

  Specifically, when the first difference value D1 for the logged-in user is equal to or greater than the first threshold value ThD1, the control unit 22 determines the copy mode and the scanner mode with the larger cumulative number of times to be used as the prediction mode. When the first difference value D1 is less than the first threshold ThD1, the control unit 22 determines the prediction mode using the number of times of use of the copy mode and the scanner mode in the latest predetermined period. Specifically, when the second difference value D2 is equal to or greater than the second threshold value ThD2, the control unit 22 determines a copy mode or a scanner mode that has a larger number of uses in a predetermined period as a prediction mode. On the other hand, when the second difference value D2 is less than the second threshold ThD2, the control unit 22 causes the user to select an operation mode using the mode selection screen 40.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 automatically determines the prediction mode using the cumulative number of times of use of both the copy mode and the scanner mode, so that an appropriate automatic function corresponding to the use status of both modes so far can be obtained. Mode selection is possible. Further, by using the number of times of use in the most recent predetermined period, automatic mode selection reflecting the latest use state can be performed even when the difference between the two modes is small in the cumulative number of times of use. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can reduce the user's effort related to the selection of the operation mode, and can improve convenience.

  In addition, the control unit 22 allows the user to select the operation mode without determining the prediction mode when the difference between the accumulated use count and the use count for the predetermined period is small between both modes. Reduces the automatic selection of operation modes different from those desired by the user. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can reduce time and effort required for the user to redo the operation mode selection operation.

  Further, the control unit 22 continues to select the mode selection screen when the total accumulated number of use Nt is equal to or lower than the lower limit value ThNt even if a document is set in the image reading unit 4 after the login and the operation mode is not selected. 40 is displayed. When the total accumulated use count Nt is very small, it is difficult to select an effective automatic mode, and thus the control unit 22 causes the user to select an operation mode using the mode selection screen 40. Thereby, the image forming apparatus 1 can avoid inappropriate automatic mode selection.

  When the authentication unit 21 permits the user to log in, if the user's print job is held in the storage unit 6, the control unit executes the print job and displays the printer mode screen 30 on the display unit. To display. Thereby, in the image forming apparatus 1 having the printer mode, the operation of the printer mode is started at the same time as the login, so that it is possible to reduce the user's trouble concerning the selection of the operation mode.

  In addition, when the user wants to change to an operation mode different from the operation mode that is determined as the prediction mode by automatic mode selection and displayed on the display unit 12, the user presses a mode key (not shown) provided on the input unit 11. To do. When the mode key is pressed, the control unit 22 displays the mode selection screen 40 on the display unit 12. Then, the user performs an operation of selecting a desired operation mode from the mode selection screen 40. The control unit 22 stores the number of times that the operation mode executed in accordance with the user's instruction is changed from the prediction mode in the usage history of the storage unit 6 as the mode change count, and stores the number of times according to the mode change count. You may make it change 1 threshold value ThD1 and 2nd threshold value ThD2. Specifically, the control unit 22 increases the first threshold value ThD1 and the second threshold value ThD2 when the number of mode changes after the first threshold value ThD1 and the second threshold value ThD2 become current values reaches a predetermined number. Thereby, the image forming apparatus 1 can reduce the automatic selection of the operation mode different from the user's desire.

  Further, the processing of steps S150 and S160 in FIG. 3 may be omitted. In this case, when the control unit 22 determines in step S130 that the first difference value D1 is greater than or equal to the first threshold ThD1 (step S130: YES), the control unit 22 proceeds to step S110 in FIG. 2 and continues to select the mode selection screen 40. Display. Even in this case, the image forming apparatus 1 can perform an appropriate automatic mode selection according to the use status of both modes so far, from the cumulative use count Nc of the copy mode and the cumulative use count Ns of the scanner mode for the logged-in user. . As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can reduce the user's effort related to the selection of the operation mode, and can improve convenience.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the operation mode using the image reading unit 4 is two modes, ie, the copy mode and the scanner mode, has been described. In this case, the first difference value D <b> 1 is the magnitude of the difference in the cumulative usage count between the operation mode with the largest cumulative usage count for the logged-in user and the operation mode with the next highest usage mode. Further, the second difference value D2 is the magnitude of the difference in the number of times of use between the operation mode in which the number of times of use is the largest in the predetermined period immediately before the logged-in user and the next most frequently used operation mode. Then, when the first difference value D1 for the logged-in user is equal to or greater than the first threshold value ThD1, the control unit 22 determines the operation mode having the largest cumulative use count as the prediction mode. When the first difference value D1 is less than the first threshold value ThD1 and the second difference value D2 is greater than or equal to the second threshold value ThD2, the control unit 22 determines the operation mode with the largest number of uses in a predetermined period as the prediction mode. To do. When the first difference value D1 is less than the first threshold value ThD1 and the second difference value D2 is less than the second threshold value ThD2, the control unit 22 causes the user to select an operation mode on the mode selection screen. If the process using the number of times of use in the most recent predetermined period (the process corresponding to steps S150 and S160 in FIG. 3) is omitted and the first difference value D1 is less than the first threshold ThD1, the mode selection screen displays the user. The operation mode may be selected.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the components without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 IC card reader 3 Operation panel part 4 Image reading part 5 Image forming part 6 Storage part 7 Communication processing part 8 Arithmetic processing part 11 Input part 12 Display part 13 Document detection part 21 Authentication part 22 Control part 30 Printer mode Screen 40 Mode selection screen 50 Copy mode screen 60 Scanner mode screen

Claims (4)

An authenticator that authenticates the user and allows login;
An image reading unit for reading an image of a document;
A document detection unit for detecting that a document is set in the image reading unit;
A storage unit that stores usage histories of a plurality of operation modes using the image reading unit for each user;
A display for displaying a mode screen corresponding to the operation mode;
When a document is detected by the document detection unit in a state where the operation mode is not selected after login, the prediction mode is changed from the plurality of operation modes using the cumulative number of times of use of the plurality of operation modes by the logged-in user. And a control unit that allows the prediction mode to be executed by displaying a mode screen according to the prediction mode on the display unit,
The controller is
When the difference value, which is the difference in the cumulative number of times of use between the operation mode with the highest cumulative use number and the next highest operation mode for the logged-in user, is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the operation mode with the highest cumulative use number is predicted. Decide on the mode,
When the difference value is less than the threshold value, a mode selection screen for causing the user to select an operation mode is displayed on the display unit,
Further, the control unit, depending on the number of times the operation mode for executing an instruction of the user is changed from the prediction mode, images forming device you and changing the threshold value. An authenticator that authenticates the user and allows login;
An image reading unit for reading an image of a document;
A document detection unit for detecting that a document is set in the image reading unit;
A storage unit that stores usage histories of a plurality of operation modes using the image reading unit for each user;
A display for displaying a mode screen corresponding to the operation mode;
When a document is detected by the document detection unit in a state where the operation mode is not selected after login, the prediction mode is changed from the plurality of operation modes using the cumulative number of times of use of the plurality of operation modes by the logged-in user. And a control unit that allows the prediction mode to be executed by displaying a mode screen according to the prediction mode on the display unit,
The controller is
When the first difference value, which is the difference between the number of cumulative use times of the operation mode with the highest cumulative use number and the next highest operation mode for the logged-in user, is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, the operation with the highest cumulative use number Determining the mode as the prediction mode;
A second difference in which the first difference value is less than the first threshold value, and is a difference in the number of times of use between an operation mode having the largest number of use times and a next most frequently used operation mode in a predetermined period immediately before the logged-in user; When the difference value is equal to or greater than the second threshold, the operation mode having the largest number of uses in the predetermined period is determined as the prediction mode,
When the first difference value is less than the first threshold value and the second difference value is less than the second threshold value, a mode selection screen for causing the user to select an operation mode is displayed on the display unit,
Further, the control unit, depending on the number of times the operation mode for executing an instruction of the user is changed from the prediction mode, the images forming apparatus you and changing the first threshold value and the second threshold value . The control unit displays a mode selection screen for allowing the user to select an operation mode when the total number of times of use of the plurality of operation modes using the image reading unit of the logged-in user is equal to or lower than a lower limit value. the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that to be displayed in. The storage unit has a storage area for holding a print job received from the outside,
When the authentication unit permits the user to log in, if the user's print job is held in the storage unit, the control unit executes the print job and displays the mode screen of the printer mode. the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that to display the part.