JP7600442B2 - Information processing device, method for controlling information processing device, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device, a control method for an information processing device, and a program.

Some image processing devices that execute multiple applications and perform various types of data processing have a function for saving setting data corresponding to the applications executed by the user. The following Patent Document 1 describes a user interface that automatically sets default values for each application and a process for customizing the applications.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-292864

The majority of users of image processing apparatuses have only a few settings for the applications they run. Even though the number of settings becomes even fewer when considering each application, the settings still need to be reset each time.
To avoid having to set the settings every time, functions for registering settings (such as changing default settings, custom menus, and mode memory) have been proposed, but users do not take the trouble to register settings.

On the other hand, proposals have been made to eliminate the need for users to register settings for applications and to predict user intentions, as in Patent Document 1, but there is a risk that users will not know what settings have been made to the image processing device.

Furthermore, functions that allow the image processing device to automatically register settings (such as calls) may seem to solve the above issues, but when past settings are automatically recorded, the registration location may change dynamically or the registration itself may be lost, compromising the operability and convenience of the image processing device.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that can display, on the same screen, a first object for calling a first function, a second object for calling a second function, a third object for calling a first type of setting data registered in a storage unit according to the execution of a first type of job, and a fourth object for calling a first type of setting data registered in a storage unit according to the execution of a second type of job.

A printer according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration.
a display control means for displaying on a display unit a screen including a button for instructing execution of a copy function and a button for instructing execution of a second function different from the copy function ;
the display control means is capable of displaying a predetermined button for calling up a function and a setting value of an executed job in a predetermined area of the display unit;
when a button for executing the copy function is operated and the copy function is executed with a first set value, a first button which is the specified button and indicates the executed copy function and the first set value is displayed in the specified area, and when a button for executing the second function is operated and the second function is executed with a second set value, a second button which is the specified button and indicates the executed second function and the second set value is displayed in the specified area where the first button is displayed;
An information processing device characterized in that, when the copy function or the second function is executed when the number of the specified buttons that can be displayed in the specified area has reached an upper limit , the oldest of the specified buttons displayed in the specified area is deleted.

According to the present invention, a first object for calling a first function, a second object for calling a second function, a third object for calling a first type of setting data registered in a storage unit according to the execution of a first type of job, and a fourth object for calling a first type of setting data registered in a storage unit according to the execution of a second type of job can be displayed on the same screen.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing device. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the operation unit shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen displayed on a display unit. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a management table of registered data. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed on a display unit. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an application. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating management data of buttons displayed on the display unit. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the image processing device. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the image processing device. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the image processing device. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the image processing device. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a table for managing registered setting data. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen displayed on a display unit.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<System configuration>
First Embodiment

Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the image processing device is equipped with multiple applications, which are associated with specific functions to perform image processing. The image processing device according to this embodiment is, for example, a multifunction printer (MFP) capable of executing a copy application, a fax application, and an email application. In other words, the specific functions that can be executed by the applications include a print function, a copy function, a fax function, and an email function.

1, a control unit 1 controls the operation of each unit of the MFP 100. The control unit 1 includes a CPU 10, a LAN 11, a communication unit 12, a RAM 13, a HDD 14, and a ROM 15. The CPU 10 controls the entire control unit 1. The LAN 11 indicates a network for exchanging data with an external device, and is connected to the Internet via this LAN 11.
The communication unit 12 transmits and receives data through the LAN 11. The RAM 13 provides a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 10. A hard disk drive (HDD) 14 may be a storage medium such as a magnetic disk, optical media, or flash memory.
The HDD 14 is configured to store document data and setting data associated with each application in a table format, which will be described later. The HDD 14 does not have to be present in the MFP 100. An external server or PC may be used as a storage device via the communication unit 12. The ROM 15 is a boot ROM, and stores a boot program for the system. The CPU 10 uses the boot ROM of the ROM 15 to expand the program installed in the HDD 14 into the RAM 13, and performs various controls based on the program. In addition, a specific area is secured in the HDD 14 for managing a group of buttons (a group of buttons to be automatically registered) displayed in a specific area of a recall portal screen 300, which will be described later, and the specific area is used as a first-in first-out area (FIFO area).
The timer 16 performs time elapse processing according to instructions from the CPU 10, and when the instructed time has elapsed, notifies the CPU 10 by an interrupt or the like.

The operation unit 20 is controlled by the control unit 1 and includes a display unit 21 and an input unit 22. Here, the display unit 21 is a display for displaying information about the multifunction machine to the user. The input unit 22 accepts input from the user through an interface such as a touch panel, a mouse, a camera, a voice input, or a keyboard.
The display unit 21 also displays a user interface (UI) screen, which will be described later, and accepts settings from the user.

The image processing unit 30 is controlled by the control unit 1 and includes an image analysis unit 31, an image generation unit 32, and an image output unit. The image analysis unit 31 analyzes the structure of the document image and extracts necessary information from the analysis result. The image generation unit 32 reads the document (e.g., scans it), digitizes the image of the document, generates image data, and stores it in the HDD 14.
The image generating unit 32 can also generate document image data in a different format using the information analyzed by the image analyzing unit 31. The image output unit 33 outputs image data stored in the HDD 14 or the like. Examples of the output method include printing the image data of the document on paper, transmitting the image data to an external device, server, facsimile machine, or the like connected to the network via the communication unit 12, and storing the image data in a storage medium connected to the MFP 100.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the operation unit 20 shown in FIG.
2, the display unit 21 in this embodiment is configured as a liquid crystal display unit with a touch panel sheet attached onto the liquid crystal panel, which displays an operation screen and soft keys, and when a displayed key is pressed by a user's operation, transmits position information of the key to the CPU 10. Therefore, the display unit 21 in this case also functions as the input unit 22.

Next, various keys and buttons operated by the user will be described.
The start key 201 is used to instruct the start of an original reading operation, etc. At the center of the start key 201 is a two-color LED 202, green and red, which indicates whether the start key 201 is ready to be used or not depending on the color. The stop key 203 serves to stop an operation that is in progress. The numeric keypad 204 is made up of number and letter buttons, and is used to set the number of copies, switch the screen of the display unit 21, etc. The user mode key 205 is pressed when setting up the device.
Next, the recall portal screen according to this embodiment will be described.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen displayed on the display unit 21 shown in Fig. 2. This example is an example of a recall portal screen. In addition, this UI screen is displayed and controlled so that a group of buttons, which will be described later, are arranged in each of the divided areas.
In FIG. 3, a recall portal screen 300 comprises a fixed setting area 301 in which settings are registered by a clear instruction from a user, and a recall setting area 302 in which settings are registered by a recall function (to be described later) when a job is executed.
In this embodiment, the fixed settings are displayed in the fixed setting area 301, and the recall settings are displayed in the recall setting display area 302, so that the user can easily distinguish between the areas. Buttons 303 to 307 are pressed when the user calls up the setting data that is set in advance as a fixed setting on a setting screen according to a user's registration instruction shown in FIG. 7, which will be described later. Buttons 308 to 310 are associated with the setting data that is automatically set by the call portal 401 in this embodiment. In particular, the button 308 is pressed when a specific email address "yoshida@ca..." is to be automatically set as the destination in the setting data associated with the Email application 403. The button 309 is pressed when the user wishes to select the setting data associated with the copy application 402, for example, the number of copies is "15", and double-sided printing, stapling, etc.
The button 310 is pressed when selecting setting data associated with the copy application 402, for example, black and white, 2 in 1, etc. Note that the processing (registration, deletion) of the automatically registered setting data will be described later. In addition, in this embodiment, the UI screen is configured so that the user who operates the UI screen can perform button operations with good visibility by making the displayed areas and the shapes of the displayed buttons different from one another.

When the recall portal screen 300 is started, it first reads the fixed registration data management table 1201 shown in Fig. 4A in order to display the fixed setting area 301. Next, the recall portal screen 300 calls up the entries in order, starting from entry 1202 up to entry 1210. Each time it is called up, the CPU 10 refers to the application ID, and if it is "0", performs control so that the corresponding button is not displayed on the display unit 21. Also, if the application ID is other than "0", the CPU 10 performs control so that the display TXT is displayed on the corresponding button.
Next, the CPU 10 searches for an entry having the same application ID stored in the application icon table 1211 shown in FIG. 4B, and performs control to display the entry at a predetermined position of the icon displayed on the display unit 21.
On the recall portal screen 300, the CPU 10 processes all of the fixed registration data management table 1201 shown in Fig. 4A. Next, the CPU 10 reads the recall data management table 1101 shown in Fig. 5A to display it in the recall setting display area 302.
The recall portal screen 300 sequentially reads entries from the entry 1102. Each time the application is called, the application ID is referenced, and if the ID is "0", the corresponding button is not displayed. If the application ID is other than "0", the CPU 10 controls to display the display TXT on the corresponding button.
Next, the CPU 10 searches the application icon table 1211 shown in FIG. 4B for an entry having the same application ID stored therein, and performs control to display the icon at a predetermined position.
As a result, the CPU 10 can display the UI screen shown in FIG. 3 on the display unit 21 by using the recall data management table 1101 in FIG. 5A and the fixed registration data management table shown in FIG. 4A.

Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, when referring to the entire fixed settings, the fixed settings will be expressed as fixed settings 301S using this fixed setting area 301. Similarly, when referring to the entire recall settings, the recall settings will be expressed as recall settings 302S using this recall setting display area 302.
In this embodiment, the button shape of the fixed setting 301S and the button shape of the recall setting 302S are made different, so that the user can visually distinguish between the respective areas by the button shapes.

For buttons in fixed settings 301S, the icon of the application that will be started when the button is pressed is displayed, and for buttons specified by the user on the user setting registration screen (described later), the name entered by the user is displayed. In addition, unregistered buttons are not displayed.

Meanwhile, the CPU 10 controls the display of the button of the recall setting 302S to display the icon of the application that is started by pressing the button, and the text expressing a summary of the settings that is generated in the display TXT generation (S606) described below. The button of the recall setting 302S is generated and deleted by the recall data registration process executed by the CPU 10 described below.

6 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of applications in the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. This example corresponds to a registration sequence of the applications. Each application is executed by the CPU 10 to perform corresponding data processing.
In FIG. 6, a recall portal 401 is a type of application, and operates in conjunction with other applications, such as a copy application 402, an email application 403, and a fax application 404.

Each application can be identified by an application ID, and holds data shown in a recall data registration configuration diagram and a setting data management table, which will be described later.
When a button displayed on the operation unit 20 is pressed, the recall portal 401 calls up the recall data corresponding to that button and transmits an action ID to that application ID (406). The application specified by the application ID reads out the setting data corresponding to the received action ID and sets it. Of course, this application can be any application as long as it is capable of exchanging the above data.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the display unit 21 shown in Fig. 1. This example shows an example of a user setting registration screen.
7, fixed setting registration screen 501 has fixed setting area 301 of the same configuration as recall portal screen 300. It differs from recall portal screen 300 in that unregistered buttons 502, 503, 504, and 505 are also displayed, and any button in fixed setting area 301 can be selected simply by pressing it.
Clicking the Cancel button 506 cancels the registration, and clicking the Next button 507 displays the next fixed setting registration screen 508.
In the fixed setting registration screen 508 shown in FIG. 7B, the text to be displayed on the button is entered.
The fixed setting registration screen 508 includes an area 509 for confirming the input contents, and an input keyboard (soft keyboard) 510. Pressing a Back button 511 displays the fixed setting registration screen 501 shown in Fig. 7A, and pressing an OK button 512 completes the registration process.
Below, a detailed explanation will be given with reference to Figures 6 to 12, taking as an example a case where the UI screen shown in Figure 3 is displayed on the display unit 21 and then the following new job is executed by the copy application 402 shown in Figure 6.
[Examples of new jobs]
Job settings = {3 copies, color copy, single-sided print, 4 in 1}
1 includes an engine for printing a color image on one side or both sides of a sheet. Furthermore, the image output unit 33 includes an Nin1 function for allocating and printing multiple pages onto one page using the image generation unit 32. Here, N is 2, 4, 6, 9, etc.

In this embodiment, the copy application 402 is used as an example, but of course it can be replaced with any application such as an email application 403 or a fax application (404) that can perform the communication shown in Figure 4.

8 to 11 are flowcharts for explaining a data processing method of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. Fig. 8 shows an example of a job completion process of an application, and Figs. 9 to 11 correspond to the detailed steps of S603, S605, and S607 in Fig. 6.
More specifically, Fig. 9 corresponds to a process for acquiring a list of registered IDs by recall portal 401. Fig. 10 corresponds to a process for storing setting data of an application. Fig. 11 corresponds to a process for registering recall data by recall portal 401. Each step shown in Figs. 8 to 11 is realized by CPU 10 loading and executing a control program stored in HDD 14 or the like.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a setting data management table for applications managed by the HDD 14 shown in FIG.

When the copy application 402 completes the job, the recall portal starts the job completion process (S601). When the recall portal 401 starts the job completion process, the recall portal 401 first acquires an application ID (S602). Here, the recall portal 401 starts the process corresponding to S701 in FIG. 9 in which the recall portal 401 acquires the application ID of the copy application 402.
Specifically, the copy application 402 sends the application ID to the already registered ID list acquisition routine of the recall portal 401 (S703) (407 in FIG. 4), whereby the copy application 402 acquires the action IDs that have already been registered by itself (S603).
9, the recall portal 401 reads the settings for the copy application 402 that has already been registered (S702). Then, the recall portal 401 sends a list of already registered IDs (described in detail later) to the requesting copy application 402 (S703), and ends this process (S704). As a result, the requesting copy application 402 obtains the already registered ID list (S603).
Next, the recall portal 401 reads out the setting data corresponding to the action ID acquired from the copy application 402, and judges whether it is the same as the currently executed setting data by searching the setting data registered in the HDD 14 (S604). If the recall portal 401 judges that it is the same as the currently executed setting data, it does not perform the registration process and ends the job completion process (S608).
In this embodiment, if it is determined that the same setting data does not exist, the setting data storage processing routine (FIG. 10) of the copy application 402 described later is called. Then, the recall portal 401 stores the setting data 1018 shown in FIG. 12 (details are stored in S802 to S805), and obtains an action ID=0005 (S605). Next, the recall portal 401 generates a display message (display TXT) based on the currently executed setting data (S606). This action ID and the generated display TXT are sent to the recall data registration processing (S901 to 904 shown in FIG. 11) of the recall portal 401 described later (S607), and this processing ends.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the recall portal 401 receives a registered ID list acquisition request 407 from the copy application 402, it starts an already registered ID list acquisition routine (S701 to S704).
In obtaining the list of already registered IDs in S701 of FIG. 9, the action IDs of data having the application ID of the requester are collected from the recall data management table 1101 shown in FIG. 5 and the fixed registration data management table 1201 shown in FIG. 4 (S702), and are returned to the copy application 402 that made the request (S703), and the process is terminated (S704).
In this embodiment, the already registered ID list is {0001, 0002, 0003, 0004}.

Next, in the job completion process started in S601, the setting data storage routine (S801 to S806 shown in FIG. 10) is called (S605).
Specifically, when the setting data storage process is started (S801), it is determined whether the recall portal 401 has reached the setting upper limit value, for example, by determining whether or not there is an available entry (S802).
Here, the recall portal 401 determines whether an entry is available by checking whether the first item of the entry is "0." If it is determined that there is no available entry, the process ends without doing anything (S806).
For example, in the case of Fig. 12A, the recall portal 401 determines that the upper limit has not been reached because the entry 1007 is free, and generates the number of that entry as an action ID (S803).Then, the recall portal 401 updates the entry (S804), stores the setting data 1018 as shown in Fig. 12D (S805), and ends this process (S806).

When the job completion processing routine of the copy application 402 issues a call registration request (S607) shown in FIG. 6, the recall portal 401 starts a recall data registration processing routine shown in FIG. 11 (S901).
In the recall data registration process, the recall portal 401 reads the registration data from the recall data management table 1101 shown in Fig. 5 (S902). Specifically, it reads out the application ID=403 and the action ID=0003 from the entry 1102 of the oldest registration registered in the recall data management table 1101 shown in Fig. 5. Then, the recall portal 401 notifies (405) the Email application 403 having the application ID=403 that the registration of the action ID=0003 has been deleted.
Upon receiving this notification, the email application 403 deletes the entry 1012 shown in FIG. 12B that corresponds to the action ID=0003 in the setting data management table 1008.
In the recall data registration process shown in Fig. 11, as shown in Fig. 5, entries are moved in sequence starting from the last deleted entry 1102. Furthermore, the requested application ID = 402, action ID = 0005, and display TXT are registered in the vacant entry 1107 (S903), and this process ends (S904).

Second Embodiment
In this embodiment, an application start button is arranged on the recall portal screen instead of a user setting button.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen displayed on the display unit 21 shown in Fig. 2. This example corresponds to a recall portal screen 1300.
13, a button 1303 for starting the copy application 402, a button 1304 for starting the Email application 403, and a button 1305 for starting the Fax application 404 are arranged in an application button area 1304. Note that buttons 1306 to 1308 are equivalent to buttons 308 to 310 shown in FIG.
According to this embodiment, it becomes possible for a user to freely select and instruct on the recall portal screen 1300 whether to use automatically registered setting data or to execute any application of the user's choice.

Each step of the present invention can also be realized by executing software (programs) acquired via a network or various storage media on a processing device (CPU, processor) such as a personal computer (computer).

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

300 Recall portal screen 301 Fixed setting area 302 Recall setting display area

Claims (9)

a display control means for displaying on a display unit a screen including a button for instructing execution of a copy function and a button for instructing execution of a second function different from the copy function;
the display control means is capable of displaying a predetermined button for calling up a function and a setting value of an executed job in a predetermined area of the display unit;
when a button for executing the copy function is operated and the copy function is executed with a first set value, a first button which is the specified button and indicates the executed copy function and the first set value is displayed in the specified area, and when a button for executing the second function is operated and the second function is executed with a second set value, a second button which is the specified button and indicates the executed second function and the second set value is displayed in the specified area where the first button is displayed;
An information processing device characterized in that, when the copy function or the second function is executed when the number of the specified buttons that can be displayed in the specified area has reached an upper limit, the oldest of the specified buttons displayed in the specified area is deleted. The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the copy function or the second function is executed in a state where the number of the predetermined buttons that can be displayed in the predetermined area has reached an upper limit, the oldest of the predetermined buttons displayed in the predetermined area is deleted, and the copy function or the second function that was executed in a state where the number of the predetermined buttons that can be displayed in the predetermined area has reached an upper limit and the predetermined button indicating the executed setting value are displayed in the predetermined area. the display control means displays, on the display unit, an image showing the copy function corresponding to a button for instructing execution of the copy function, and an image showing the second function corresponding to a button for instructing execution of the second function;
2 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a display unit configured to display, in the predetermined area, an image indicating the copy function corresponding to the first button and an image indicating the second function corresponding to the second button. The information processing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the image indicating the copy function corresponding to the button for instructing execution of the copy function and the image indicating the copy function corresponding to the first button are the same image, and the image indicating the second function corresponding to the button for instructing execution of the second function and the image indicating the second function corresponding to the second button are the same image. the display control means displays the first button on the display unit when a button for instructing execution of the copy function is operated and the copy function is executed once in the information processing device with a first setting value;
The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that when a button for instructing the execution of the second function is operated and the second function is executed once in the information processing device with the second setting value, the second button is displayed in the specified area where the first button is displayed. The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the button for instructing execution of the copy function and the button for instructing execution of the second function have a first shape, and the first button and the second button have a second shape different from the first shape. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second function is at least one of a function of transmitting image data to an external device and a fax function. a display control step of displaying on a display unit a screen including a button for instructing execution of a copy function and a button for instructing execution of a second function different from the copy function;
the display control step can display a predetermined button for calling up a function and a setting value of the executed job in a predetermined area of the display unit,
when a button for executing the copy function is operated and the copy function is executed with a first set value, a first button which is the specified button and indicates the executed copy function and the first set value is displayed in the specified area, and when a button for executing the second function is operated and the second function is executed, a second button which is the specified button and indicates the executed second function and a second set value is displayed in the specified area where the first button is displayed,
A control method for an information processing device, characterized in that when the copy function or the second function is executed when the number of the specified buttons that can be displayed in the specified area has reached an upper limit, the oldest of the specified buttons displayed in the specified area is deleted. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of an information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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