JP2012160129A - Image forming device, editing control method, and editing control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate setting operation in customization of a UI.SOLUTION: The image forming device comprises: editing control means for managing editing information indicating information of UI items in an edited UI screen, for each user; UI information management means for managing common UI information indicating information of common UI items indicating one or more UI items which can be referred to from the UI screens of multiple users; and screen management means for performing display control so that the UI items in the editing information and the UI items of the common UI items can be operated, when the common UI item is included in the editing information.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for customizing a UI screen, an edit control method, and an edit control program.

  In recent years, items that can be customized (edited) by a user on a UI screen of a multifunction peripheral and a user to which the customization is reflected can be dynamically changed according to a user's operating environment. For example, there is already known a technique that enables customization settings for a user who has a change authority and a user to which changes are reflected for each parameter constituting a UI component included in a UI screen.

  According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-323234, items that can be customized on the UI screen for each user and users to which the customization is reflected can be controlled according to the user's operating environment. In Patent Document 1, for each parameter constituting a UI part included in a UI screen, a user who has authority to change the parameter and a user to which the customization is reflected are managed as meta information, and the user is dynamically notified. A configuration for changing the setting is disclosed.

  However, in the conventional technology, users that can be customized in UI component parameter units and users to which the customization is reflected can be set. However, since customization is performed on one screen, management of multiple users is possible. This is very complicated.

  Also, considering the case of generating individual user UI screens from the default UI screen, even if the function is used by many users, changes can be made to the customization screen for each user for customizable items. Need to be added. That is, there is a problem that the setting operation for each user is troublesome.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus, an edit control method, and an edit control program capable of facilitating a setting operation in UI customization.

  The image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention can be referred to for each user from an editing control unit that manages editing information indicating UI item information in an edited UI screen, and a plurality of user UI screens. Alternatively, UI information management means for managing common UI information indicating information on a common UI item representing a plurality of UI items, and when the editing information includes the common UI item, the UI item in the editing information and the common UI Screen management means for controlling the display of the item UI items so as to be operable.

  An editing control method according to another aspect of the present invention is an editing control method in an image forming apparatus, and acquires editing information indicating information of a UI item in an edited UI screen from an editing control unit for each user. A second acquisition step of acquiring, from the UI information management means, common UI information indicating information of a common UI item representing one or a plurality of UI items that can be referred to from a plurality of user UI screens; When the edit information includes the common UI item, there is a display control step of performing display control so that the UI item in the edit information and the UI item of the common UI item can be operated.

  An editing control program according to another aspect of the present invention includes, for each user, a first acquisition step of acquiring editing information indicating information on a UI item in an edited UI screen from an editing control unit; A second acquisition step of acquiring, from the UI information management means, common UI information indicating information on a common UI item representing one or more UI items that can be referred to from the UI screen; and the editing information includes the common UI item. In this case, the computer is caused to execute a display control step of performing display control of the UI item in the editing information and the UI item of the common UI item so as to be operable.

  According to the present invention, a setting operation in UI customization can be facilitated.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of hardware of the MFP according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of functions of the MFP in the embodiment. The figure which shows an example of icon image information. The figure which shows an example of icon arrangement | positioning information. The figure which shows an example of the setting value of a copy application. The figure which shows an example of URL information. The figure which shows an example of common UI information. The figure which shows an example of the UI item information (the 1) registered with respect to each user. The figure which shows an example of the customization (the 1) in an Example. The sequence diagram which shows an example of the customization control process in an Example. The figure which shows an example of the customization (the 2) in an Example. The figure which shows an example of the UI item information (the 2) registered with respect to each user. The sequence diagram which shows an example of the registration process of a common UI item. The sequence diagram which shows an example of the registration process of the customization information using the UI item of a common UI item.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A description will be given using an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) as an example of the image forming apparatus.
[Example]
<Hardware>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of hardware of the MFP according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 1 includes a control unit 11, a main storage unit 12, an auxiliary storage unit 13, an external recording device I / F unit 14, a network I / F unit 15, an operation unit 16, a display unit 17, and an engine unit. 18 is included. These components are connected to each other via a bus so as to be able to transmit and receive data.

  The control unit 11 is a CPU that controls each device, calculates data, and processes in a computer. The control unit 11 is an arithmetic device that executes a program stored in the main storage unit 12 or the auxiliary storage unit 13. The control unit 11 receives data from the input device or the storage device, calculates, and processes the output device or the storage device. Output to the device.

  The main storage unit 12 is a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or the like, and a storage device that stores or temporarily stores programs and data such as an OS and application software that are basic software executed by the control unit 11. It is.

  The auxiliary storage unit 13 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like, and is a storage device that stores data related to application software or the like.

  The external recording device I / F unit 14 is an interface between the MFP 1 and a recording medium 19 (for example, a flash memory or an SD card) connected via a data transmission path such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  Further, a predetermined program is stored in the recording medium 19, the program stored in the recording medium 19 is installed in the MFP 1 via the external recording device I / F unit 14, and the installed predetermined program is executed by the MFP 1. It becomes possible.

  The network I / F unit 15 is a peripheral having a communication function connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) constructed by a data transmission path such as a wired and / or wireless line. This is an interface between the device and the MFP 1.

  The operation unit 16 and the display unit 17 include a key switch (hard key) and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) having a touch panel function (including GUI software keys: Graphical User Interface), and use the functions of the MFP 1 It is a display and / or input device that functions as a UI (User Interface).

  The engine unit 18 serves as an input / output unit for image data and reads a paper document and prints it on a transfer sheet. The engine unit 18 may further include a scanner engine.

<Function>
Next, functions of the MFP 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the MFP 1 in the embodiment. The MFP 1 includes a standard application 20, a setting value storage unit 25, a Web browser 30, a URL storage unit 31, an extended application 40, an extended application control unit 45, and an SDK-IF 46. The MFP 1 includes an application program interface (API) 50, a system management unit 61, a memory management unit 62, an engine management unit 63, a user management unit 64, and a transmission management unit 65. The MFP 1 includes a display unit 70, an input unit 71, a screen management unit 72, a common UI information management unit 73, a user information management unit 74, and a customization control unit 75.

  The standard installed application 20 is an application installed in the MFP 1 as a standard. For example, the copy application 21, the scanner application 22, the printer application 23, and the FAX application 24 are the standard installed applications 20. The standard application 20 can create an operation screen and execute an application job, and registers and calls a setting value to the setting value storage unit 25. This function is called a macro function. The standard application 20 outputs data to the display unit 70 using the API 50.

  The setting value storage means 25 stores setting values registered in advance for each setting item for each standard application.

  The web browser 30 communicates with an http server and displays a web page. The Web browser 30 acquires URL information from the URL storage unit 31 and outputs a Web page with this URL to the display unit 70. The URL storage unit 31 stores a URL to be displayed on the web browser 30. The web browser 30 is not necessarily a function necessary for this embodiment.

  The extended application 40 is an application that can be additionally installed by an SDK (Software Development Kit). The extended application 40 executes screen creation and application jobs. An SDK application developed in C language is classified as TypeC, and an SDK application developed in Java (registered trademark) is classified as TypeJ.

  The SDK copy application 41 is one of SDK applications developed in C language. The SDK copy application 41 is classified as a Type C (created in C language) SDK application.

  The Java SDK development platform 42 is one of SDK applications developed in C language. The Java SDK development platform 42 is classified as a Type C SDK application, and is a Java VM platform for mounting an SDK application developed by Java (registered trademark).

  The SDK simple scanner 43 is one of the SDK applications developed by Java (registered trademark). The SDK easy scanner 43 is classified as a Type J SDK application.

  The SDK document storage 44 is one of the SDK applications developed by Java (registered trademark). The SDK document storage 44 is classified as an SDK application of TypeJ (created with Java (registered trademark)).

  The extended application control unit 45 manages the entire SDK application. The SDK-IF 46 is an interface with an SDK application (such as an SDK simple scanner) for each management unit, input, display means, and the like.

  The extended application control means 45 directly manages TypeC SDK applications. In addition, a TypeJ SDK application called the Java SDK development platform 42 can be installed therein.

  The system management unit 61 manages the state of the entire system. The system management unit 61 issues an operation screen display request to each application. The memory management unit 62 performs memory management and creation of scanned file data. The engine management unit 63 controls reading of a document. The user management unit 64 manages user authentication and scanner transmission destinations. The transmission management unit 65 controls data transmission from the MFP 1 to other devices.

  The display means 70 displays an application list screen. Further, the display unit 70 displays the operation screens of the standard installed application 20 and the extended application 40 and the web page by the web browser 30.

  The input means 71 detects pressing of an icon in the list screen. The icon is one of UI parts and is also called a UI item. The pressing of the icon is accepted by the input means 71 as an operation request for the icon. The input unit 71 accepts input from the operation screens of the standard application 20 and the extended application 40 and input from a web page. Further, the input unit 71 receives a customization operation for the UI item on the UI screen.

  The screen management unit 72 manages the configuration of a plurality of UI screens and controls display of predetermined UI screens. The screen management unit 72 determines the screen display owner from the standard installed application 20, the extended application 40, and the web browser 30 according to the icon of the list screen requested from the input unit 71, and requests the owner to display the screen. Put out.

  The screen management means 72 stores and manages icon images and icon arrangement information (also having the ID of each extended application) to be displayed on the application list screen. Further, the screen management means 72 creates an application list screen based on the icon image and icon arrangement information.

  When the customization information held by the customization control unit 75 includes a common UI item to be described later, the screen management unit 72 controls display of the UI item in the customization information and the UI item of the common UI item. The customization information holds UI item information of a customized UI screen for each user.

  As a difference from the prior art, for example, the extended application control unit 45 has conventionally displayed a screen dedicated to the extended application. However, in this embodiment, the extended application control unit 45 does not display a dedicated screen. In the present embodiment, the screen management unit 72 manages screen transitions to all applications including the extended application 40, the standard installed application 20, and the web browser 30. Thereby, user operability is improved.

  The common UI information management unit 73 manages common UI information indicating information on a common UI item representing one or a plurality of UI items that can be referred to from a plurality of user UI screens. The common UI item is a UI item group in which one or a plurality of UI items used for a plurality of users are collected.

  The user information management means 74 manages registered user information. The user information includes, for example, a user ID, FAX number, mail address, operation authority, and the like.

  The customization control means 75 controls customization related to UI items on the UI screen, and manages customization information indicating information on UI items in the customized UI screen for each user.

  When the common UI item is included in the customization information, the customization control unit 75 acquires the common UI item information (also referred to as common UI information) from the common UI information management unit 73, and the UI item included in the common UI information is The UI screen is expanded (added) so as to be displayed on the same screen as the UI item on the UI screen.

  Further, when the UI item of the common UI item is expanded on the UI screen, the customization control unit 75 determines whether there is the same UI item as the UI item of the common UI item in the UI screen. May not add the UI item of the common UI item.

  The standard application 20, the web browser 30, the extended application 40, the management units 61 to 65, the screen management unit 72, the customization control unit 75, and the extended application control unit 45 are the control unit 11 and the main storage unit as work memory. 12, and can be realized by an auxiliary storage unit 13 that holds various programs. The set value storage unit 25, the URL storage unit 31, the common UI information management unit 73, and the user information management unit 74 can be realized by the main storage unit 12 and / or the auxiliary storage unit 13. The display unit 70 can be realized by the control unit 11 and the display unit 17, for example, and the input unit 71 can be realized by the operation unit 16 or the like.

<Data example>
Next, an example of data stored in each management unit will be described. The screen management means 72 stores icon image information and icon arrangement information. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of icon image information.

  In the icon image information illustrated in FIG. 3, an icon ID and icon image information are associated with each other. The image information of the icon is image information registered in advance or image information added later. When icon image information is added, the icon ID (item ID) is automatically assigned by, for example, the screen management means 72.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of icon arrangement information. The icon arrangement information shown in FIG. 4 has a data structure for holding the coordinates on the list screen, the icon ID corresponding to the icon image, and the display screen owner ID for specifying the owner who displays the screen for the icon arrangement ID. ing. Further, the icon arrangement information has a data structure that holds a setting value number of an application setting value (only if there is one) for the standard-installed application 20 and a URL number for the Web browser 30.

  When the extended application 40 is newly installed, the screen management unit 72 assigns a value obtained by incrementing the maximum value of the used arrangement ID as the arrangement ID. As for the coordinates, the coordinates of a vacant predetermined position are added to the icon arrangement information, and for the display screen owner ID, a new ID held by the extended application 40 from the beginning is added to the icon arrangement information.

  If there is an icon prepared by the extended application 40, the icon ID is assigned by incrementing the maximum value of the icon ID being used, and the icon image information is also updated. If there is no icon, a system default icon ID is assigned.

  If the data structure shown in FIG. 4 is retained, the icons of the standard application 20 and the extended application 40 are displayed on the same list screen. For example, the scanner application 22 of the standard installation application 20 with the arrangement ID “4” and the SDK copy application 41 of the extended application 40 with the arrangement ID “5” are displayed on the same list screen. Further, even if the same copy application 21 is used, different icons are displayed if the setting value of the macro function is different. For example, the copy application 21 whose arrangement ID is “7” and the copy application 21 whose arrangement ID is “8” are different icons.

  Next, the setting value of the macro function of the standard application 20 stored in the setting value storage unit 25 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting values for the copy application 21.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the set value information, the user registers in advance a registration name and a set value for each set value number. The set value number is associated with icon arrangement information (see FIG. 4) on the list screen.

  For example, in the macro function of the setting value number “1”, the registered name is “collective printing”, and the setting value is “full color”, the paper tray “A4 landscape”, the document type “photo”, and the set direction “readable direction”. ”, Density“ normal ”, double-sided aggregate division“ aggregation ”, scaling“ 71% ”, and finishing“ sort ”.

  Next, URL information stored in the URL storage unit 31 will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of URL information. As shown in FIG. 6, the user registers a registered name and URL in advance for the URL number. The URL number is associated with the icon arrangement information on the list screen (see FIG. 4).

  For example, the URL number “1” is associated with the registered name “AAA homepage” and the URL “http://www.AAA.co.jp/”.

  Next, the common UI information stored in the common UI information management unit 73 will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of common UI information. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the common UI information includes a common UI ID for identifying a common UI item, a common UI name that is a name of the common UI item registered by the user, and a UI item (registration) registered in the common UI item. Information).

  The common UI information can be arbitrarily created by a user or an administrator. As a specific usage method of the common UI item, it is assumed that frequently used copy functions are collected or shortcuts used in a specific job are collected.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the “convenient copy function” as a common UI item includes a copy application, a copy program 1, a copy program 2, and a copy program 5. These UI items are registered as one common UI item by a user or the like. The copy programs 1, 2, and 5 represent copy macro functions.

  Next, UI item information (customization (editing) information) stored in the customization control means 75 will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of UI item information (part 1) registered for each user.

  In the example shown in FIG. 8, “registration number” represents the display position of the item. “Item ID” is an ID for identifying an item. “Registered item name” and “registered item type” are associated with “item ID”. “Registered item name” is a name displayed on the UI. “Registered item type” represents an item attribute such as an application, a program, or a common UI. The customization control means 75 can determine whether or not a common UI item is included in the customization screen by referring to the customization information. The customized screen refers to a UI screen customized by the user.

<Customization 1>
Next, a customization example including a common UI item will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of customization (part 1) in the embodiment. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, a common UI item is added to the home screen of the user 1, and the UI item in the common UI item is expanded in the home screen.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the home screen d11 of the user 1 includes a copy icon, a printer icon, a document box icon, and a 2 in 1 copy icon. The home screen d11 is customized to add the common UI item “convenient copy function” and “document creation work for company A”.

  The customization control means 75 expands the UI item in the “convenient copy function” a11 and the UI item in the “document creation work for company A” a12 in the home screen d11. At this time, the customization control unit 75 determines whether there is the same UI item in the home screen d11 among the UI items of the common UI item. The item ID may be used to determine whether or not they are the same.

  If the customization control unit 75 determines that there is the same item, the customization control unit 75 does not develop (add) the UI item of the common UI item in the home screen d11. This is to prevent the same icon from being displayed in duplicate on the UI screen.

  In addition, when there are a plurality of common UI items to be added, the customization control unit 75 may add common UI items in order and determine whether or not there is the same UI item as described above for each common UI item. . Thereby, even when the same UI item is included in a plurality of common UI items to be added, the UI item is not duplicated in the UI screen.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the customization control unit 75 determines that the copy icon and the 2 in 1 copy icon among the UI items of the common UI item “convenient copy function” a11 already exist on the home screen d11. Therefore, the “convenient copy function” a11 copy icon and 2 in 1 copy icon are not added to the home screen d11.

  Further, the customization control means 75 determines whether or not the same UI item already exists on the home screen when adding the UI item of “document creation work for company A” a12 to the home screen d11. In this case, since the 4-in-1 double-sided copy of the “convenient copy function” a11 has already been added to the home screen, the customization control unit 75 does not add the 4-in-1 double-sided copy of the “document creation work for company A” a12 to the home screen.

  The home screen d12 shows a screen example of a result of adding UI items of “convenient copy function” of common UI items and “document creation work for company A”. The customization control unit 75 adds the UI items of the common UI item to the UI screen so that the UI items do not overlap.

  Thereby, the UI item originally on the home screen and the UI item included in the common UI item to be added can be displayed on the same screen.

  Next, a customization control process when adding a UI item of a common UI item will be described. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the customization control process in the embodiment.

  In step S <b> 101, the input unit 71 issues a screen acquisition request to the screen management unit 72 when a user operation indicating a request to display a customization screen is received.

  In step S <b> 102, the screen management unit 72 sends a request to the customization control unit 75 to acquire customization information on the customization screen of the user who has requested the screen acquisition. The customization information is information indicating which item is present on the customization screen and where the item is placed (see FIG. 8).

  In step S103, the customization control unit 75 determines whether or not a common UI item is included in the customization information of the user. In this case, it is assumed that a common UI item is included.

  In step S <b> 104, the customization control unit 75 inquires of the common UI information management unit 73 about the ID of the common UI item.

  In step S <b> 105, the common UI information management unit 73 outputs a UI item list of the corresponding common UI item to the customization control unit 75 for the ID of the received common UI item.

  In step S106, the customization control unit 75 adds the UI item of the common UI item to the customization information. At this time, the customization control unit 75 compares the UI item included in the user customization information with the UI item of the common UI item, and determines whether there is the same UI item. If there is the same UI item, the customization control unit 75 does not add the UI item of the common UI item to the customization information.

  In step S <b> 107, the screen management unit 72 acquires customization information to which the common UI item is added from the customization control unit 75.

  In step S108, the screen management unit 72 generates a customized UI screen based on the acquired customization information.

  In step S109, the screen management unit 72 outputs the generated UI screen information to the display unit 70. Thereby, the display means 70 can display-control the customization screen in which the items of the common UI item are expanded. Therefore, the user can use the UI item of the common UI item in the same screen as the UI item customized by the user.

<Customize 2>
Next, a customization screen different from customization 1 will be described. In the customization 1, the example in which the UI items of the common UI items are integrated on the user customization screen and the UI items are displayed as a list has been described. In customization 2, a case will be described in which a common UI item is displayed on a screen different from the UI item list customized by the user.

  For example, it is assumed that the user has a copy program 1 and a copy program 3 as UI items customized by the user. In the customization screen, when the business of company A is executed, there is a case where it is desired to display a list of items used in the business in a lump together with the customized UI item list.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of customization (part 2) in the embodiment. In FIG. 11, the common UI item registered in the user's customization information is displayed as it is, and when the common UI item is selected, the list of items registered in the common UI item is a screen different from the home screen. The displayed UI structure is shown.

  A21 shown in FIG. 11 is a common UI item “convenient copy function”. On the home screen d21 of the user 2, common UI items a21 are arranged in the same manner as UI items customized by the user 2.

  The convenient copy function screen d22 is a screen displayed when the convenient copy function icon is selected. A screen on which only the UI items of the common UI item are displayed is referred to as a common UI screen. The convenient copy function screen d22 is a common UI screen.

  On the convenient copy function screen d22, a UI item of the common UI item “convenient copy function” is displayed. When the return button on the convenient copy function screen d22 is selected, the screen returns to the home screen d21. This screen switching is controlled by the screen management means 72.

  In the case of customization 2, the customization control unit 75 does not determine whether or not the UI item expanded on the common UI screen exists in the UI item list customized by the user. The screen management unit 72 expands and displays all the UI items included in the common UI item on the common UI screen.

  According to the customization 2, the UI item list screen included in the common UI item can be displayed separately from the customized UI item list screen.

<Hide UI items>
Next, a case where the UI item of the common UI item is not displayed will be described. Some users want to share a UI using a common UI item, but the UI item in the common UI item may include an unnecessary UI item. In this case, a UI item to be hidden can be specified for each user among the common UI items.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of UI item information (part 2) registered for each user. In the UI item information shown in FIG. 12, a non-display item item is added as compared to the UI item information shown in FIG.

  This non-display item item holds the item ID of the UI item to be hidden when the type of the registered item is “common UI”. The item of the non-display item is set by specifying an item ID or the like by the user.

  In the example shown in FIG. 12, for example, among the common UI items of “convenient functions”, the copy program 3 (item ID = 1004) and the copy program 6 (item ID = 1007) are hidden (see FIG. 7).

  Thereby, since item information as shown in FIG. 12 is held for each user, it is possible to realize the non-display of the UI item on the customization screen for each user without affecting the common UI item. it can. The screen that hides the UI item is either the screen in which the UI item included in the common UI item shown in customization 1 is expanded (d12 in FIG. 9) or the common UI screen shown in customization 2 (d22 in FIG. 11). But you can.

<Register common UI items>
Next, registration of a common UI item will be described. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a common UI item registration process. In step S <b> 201 shown in FIG. 13, the input unit 71 outputs a common UI name input from the user and a list of UI items registered in the common UI item to the screen management unit 72.

  In step S <b> 202, the screen management unit 72 issues a request to acquire registration information of each UI item from the customization control unit 75. The UI item registration information includes an item ID, an item name, and the like.

  In step S <b> 203, the customization control unit 75 outputs the requested UI item registration information to the screen management unit 72.

  In step S204, the screen management unit 72 requests the user information management unit 74 to acquire user information.

  In step S <b> 205, the user information management unit 74 outputs the requested user information to the screen management unit 72. The user information includes the execution authority of each application, the belonging group, the fax number, and the like.

  In step S206, the screen management unit 72 registers the new UI item in the common UI information management unit 73 based on the registration information of each UI item acquired in step S203.

  In step S207, when the predetermined information in the user information is input from the input unit 71, the screen management unit 72 specifies the user having the predetermined information from the user information, and adds the new information to the specified user customization information. Register common UI items.

  As a result, for example, it is possible to register in customization information of a user who has the authority to execute the “copy function”, and customization of a user who has registered a fax number or a user who belongs to a specific address book group You can register for information.

  The predetermined information in the user information associated with the new common UI item is input by the user when registering the new common UI item. The screen management unit 72 may acquire the user identification information having the predetermined information from the user information management unit 74. Thereby, the screen management means 72 can register a new common UI item in the customization information of the target user.

  In addition to the method of arbitrarily setting and registering a UI item to be a new common UI item, there are the following methods. For example, there is a method of registering all or part of UI items displayed on the user's UI screen (or customization screen) as a new common UI item.

  In this method, if the screen management unit 72 acquires each UI item designated by the user from the input unit 71 using the UI screen and performs the same processing as steps S202, 203, and 206 shown in FIG. A common UI item can be registered.

  As a result, the UI items in the UI screens of a plurality of users are registered as common UI items, and the UI screen that integrates the UI screens of the plurality of users is created by registering this common UI item as its own UI item. It becomes possible.

<Registering user customization information>
Next, a case where the UI item of the common UI item is registered in the user customization information will be described. This is effective, for example, when a user wants to use a common UI item but wants to customize the UI item of the common UI item.

  FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of customization information registration processing using a UI item of a common UI item. In step S301 illustrated in FIG. 14, the input unit 71 receives an instruction from the user and instructs the screen management unit 72 to copy the common UI item.

  In step S <b> 302, the screen management unit 72 requests the customization control unit 75 to acquire customization information of the user who has instructed copying.

  In step S <b> 303, the customization control unit 75 outputs the requested customization information to the screen management unit 72.

  In step S304, the screen management unit 72 requests the common UI information management unit 73 to acquire the common UI information of the common UI item included in the customization information. The screen management unit 72 makes an acquisition request using the ID of the common UI item.

  In step S <b> 305, the common UI information management unit 73 outputs the requested common UI information to the screen management unit 72.

  In step S306, the screen management unit 72 generates new customization information by combining the UI item included in the customization information and the UI item included in the common UI item. When combining UI items, the screen management unit 72 does not add a UI item of a common UI item if there is the same UI item.

  In step S307, the screen management unit 72 registers the modified customization information in the customization control unit 75.

  As a result, there are no duplicate UI items in the modified customization information. Further, the UI item included in the common UI item can be customized using the modified customization information. Note that the screen management unit 72 may sort by UI item name when combining UI items.

  As described above, according to the embodiment, it is possible to facilitate the setting operation in UI customization while improving user operability.

[Modification]
A program executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment is an installable or executable file and is read by a computer such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). It is provided by being recorded on a possible recording medium.

  The program executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Further, the program executed by the image forming apparatus of the embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  Further, the program executed by the image forming apparatus of the embodiment may be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

  The program executed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment has a module configuration including the above-described units. As actual hardware, the control unit 11 (processor) reads the program from the auxiliary storage unit 13 and executes it. As a result, one or more of the above means are loaded onto the main storage unit 12 and one or more of the means are generated on the main storage unit 12.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example as it is, A component can be deform | transformed and embodied in the range which does not deviate from the summary in an implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiments.

1 MFP
11 Control Unit 12 Main Storage Unit 13 Auxiliary Storage Unit 14 External Storage Device I / F Unit 15 Network I / F Unit 16 Input Unit 17 Display Unit 18 Engine Unit 20 Standard Installed Application 25 Setting Value Storage Unit 30 Web Browser 31 URL Storage Unit 40 extended application 45 extended application control means 70 display means 71 input means 72 screen management means 73 common UI information management means 74 user information management means 75 customization control means

JP 2007-323234 A

Claims (9)

Editing control means for managing editing information indicating information of UI items in the edited UI screen for each user;
UI information management means for managing common UI information indicating information of a common UI item representing one or more UI items that can be referred to from a plurality of user UI screens;
When the editing information includes the common UI item, a screen management unit that displays and controls the UI item in the editing information and the UI item of the common UI item;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The editing control means includes
When the editing information includes the common UI item, the common UI item is acquired from the UI information management unit, and the UI item included in the common UI item is displayed on the same screen as the UI item of the UI screen. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is added to the UI screen. The editing control means includes
When adding the UI item of the common UI item to the UI screen, it is determined whether there is a UI item that is the same as the UI item of the common UI item in the UI screen, and if there is the same UI item, the common UI The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a UI item of an item is not added to the UI screen. The screen management means includes
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein display control of the UI screen and a screen for displaying a UI item of the common UI item included in the UI screen are performed on different screens. The screen management means includes
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when all or a part of the UI items in the UI screen is designated by a user, the designated UI item is registered as a new common UI item. A user information management means for managing user information;
The screen management means includes
When the new common UI item and the first information included in the user information are registered in association with each other, the user having the first information is identified from the user information management means, and the edited information of the identified user is included in the new user information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a common UI item is set. The screen management means includes
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a UI item of the common UI item is registered as a UI item in the UI screen. An editing control method in an image forming apparatus,
A first acquisition step for acquiring, from the editing control means, editing information indicating information on UI items in the edited UI screen for each user;
A second acquisition step of acquiring, from the UI information management means, common UI information indicating information of a common UI item representing one or a plurality of UI items that can be referred to from a plurality of user UI screens;
When the edit information includes the common UI item, a display control step for controlling the UI item in the edit information and the UI item of the common UI item so as to be operable;
An editing control method. A first acquisition step for acquiring, from the editing control means, editing information indicating information on UI items in the edited UI screen for each user;
A second acquisition step of acquiring, from the UI information management means, common UI information indicating information of a common UI item representing one or a plurality of UI items that can be referred to from a plurality of user UI screens;
When the edit information includes the common UI item, a display control step for controlling the UI item in the edit information and the UI item of the common UI item so as to be operable;
Edit control program for causing a computer to execute.

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