JP2013071315A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing burdens on formation of a setting screen more than in the conventional manner, even when individual setting is allowed for each image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An MFP 40, one of a plurality of MFPs which are accessible to a setting screen database wherein a plurality of setting screens are controlled by respective pieces of identification information of the MFP includes: a display part 44 to display the setting screen; an operation part 43 for input of a setting operation of the setting screen; specification information reading unit 41a to read pieces of screen specification information 42c and 50a being information wherein at least one setting screen scheduled to be displayed on the display unit 44 is specified on the basis of the identification information; a setting screen acquiring unit 41b to acquire the setting screen corresponding to the identification information in the screen specification information 42c and 50a, which have been read by the specification information reading unit 41a, from the setting screen database; and a display controller 41c to display the setting screen, which has been acquired by the setting screen acquiring unit 41b, on the display unit 44.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that displays a setting screen.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that displays a setting screen is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-262654 A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when different types of setting items are used for each image forming apparatus, it is necessary to create a unique setting screen for each image forming apparatus. For this reason, there is a problem that the burden of creating the setting screen is large.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can reduce the burden of creating a setting screen as compared with the conventional case even when individual settings are performed for each image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that manages a plurality of setting screens with respective identification information and can access a setting screen database accessible from the plurality of image forming apparatuses. Information specifying a display unit to be displayed, an operation unit to which an operation for executing settings on the setting screen is input, and at least one setting screen to be displayed on the display unit by the identification information Designation information reading means for reading the screen designation information, and setting screen acquisition means for obtaining the setting screen corresponding to the identification information in the screen designation information read by the designation information reading means from the setting screen database; Display control means for displaying the setting screen acquired by the setting screen acquisition means on the display unit. And butterflies.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can specify the setting screen to be displayed on the display unit among the setting screens in the setting screen database by the screen specifying information. Individual settings can be made for each. In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the setting screen in the setting screen database can be used in common by a plurality of image forming apparatuses, all the setting screens are uniquely created for each image forming apparatus. Compared with, the burden of creating the setting screen can be reduced. Therefore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can reduce the burden of creating the setting screen compared to the conventional case even when individual settings are made for each image forming apparatus.

  The display control unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention may include the identification information in the screen designation information when the screen designation information read by the designation information reading unit includes a plurality of the identification information. According to the order, the setting screens corresponding to the identification information in the screen designation information may be displayed in order on the display unit.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can display a plurality of setting screens in order on the display unit in accordance with the screen designation information, so that not only the type of setting items but also the setting item setting order. It can be different for each image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention also includes a screen designation information storage unit that stores the screen designation information read by the designation information reading unit and the screen designation information storage unit that receives the screen designation information received from an external device. You may provide the screen designation | designated information writing means to write.

  With this configuration, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a setting screen to be displayed on the display unit can be designated from an external device.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention further includes a timing designation information storage unit that stores timing designation information that is information for designating a timing when the designation information reading unit reads the screen designation information, and the designation information reading unit May read the screen designation information at a time designated by the time designation information stored in the time designation information storage unit.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can vary the time for displaying the setting screen on the display unit for each image forming apparatus according to the time designation information.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention may further include a timing designation information writing unit that writes the timing designation information received from an external device in the timing designation information storage unit.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can specify from the external device when the setting screen is displayed on the display unit.

  The setting screen display program of the present invention is a display that manages a plurality of setting screens with respective identification information and is accessible to a setting screen database accessible from a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and displays the setting screen And a setting screen display program executed by an image forming apparatus provided with an operation unit to which an operation for executing setting on the setting screen is input, and is at least scheduled to be displayed on the display unit A designation information reading step of reading screen designation information which is information designating one of the setting screens by the identification information, and the identification information in the screen designation information read by the designation information reading step The setting screen acquisition step for acquiring the setting screen from the setting screen database, and the setting screen acquisition step And a display control step of displaying on the display unit of the setting screen is acquired I, characterized in that to be executed by the image forming apparatus.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus that executes the setting screen display program of the present invention can specify the setting screen to be displayed on the display unit among the setting screens in the setting screen database by the screen specifying information. Individual settings can be made for each image forming apparatus in accordance with the information. Further, in the image forming apparatus that executes the setting screen display program of the present invention, since the setting screen in the setting screen database can be used in common by a plurality of image forming apparatuses, all the setting screens are set for each image forming apparatus. Compared with the configuration created independently, the burden of creating the setting screen can be reduced. Therefore, the image forming apparatus that executes the setting screen display program of the present invention can reduce the burden of creating the setting screen as compared with the conventional case even when individual settings are performed for each image forming apparatus.

  The image forming system of the present invention manages a plurality of setting screens with respective identification information and stores a setting screen database accessible from a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and is stored in the server. An image forming apparatus capable of accessing the setting screen database, the image forming apparatus including a display unit for displaying the setting screen and an operation unit for inputting an operation for executing the setting on the setting screen. And designation information reading means for reading screen designation information which is information designating at least one of the setting screens scheduled to be displayed on the display unit by the identification information, and the designation information reading means read the designation information reading means Setting screen acquisition means for acquiring the setting screen corresponding to the identification information in the screen designation information from the setting screen database; Characterized in that it comprises a display control means for displayed the setting screen acquired by the setting screen acquisition unit on the display unit.

  With this configuration, the image forming system according to the present invention can designate the setting screen to be displayed on the display unit among the setting screens in the setting screen database by the screen designation information. Individual settings can be made for each. In the image forming system of the present invention, since the setting screen in the setting screen database can be used in common by a plurality of image forming apparatuses, all the setting screens are uniquely created for each image forming apparatus. Compared with, the burden of creating the setting screen can be reduced. Therefore, the image forming system of the present invention can reduce the burden of creating a setting screen compared to the conventional case even when individual settings are made for each image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention can alleviate the burden of creating a setting screen even when individual settings are made for each image forming apparatus.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the server shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen database shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen designation | designated information shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the time designation | designated information shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when determining whether to start a setting screen display process. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when executing a setting screen display process.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the image forming system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 10 includes a server 20, a PC (Personal Computer) 30 as an external apparatus of the present invention, and a plurality of MFPs including an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 40. Each of the plurality of MFPs constitutes an image forming apparatus of the present invention. The server 20, the PC 30, and the plurality of MFPs are connected to be communicable with each other via a network 11 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  The configuration and operation of MFPs other than the MFP 40 among the plurality of MFPs of the image forming system 10 are the same as the configuration and operation of the MFP 40. Therefore, in the following, description of the configuration and operation of MFPs other than the MFP 40 among the plurality of MFPs of the image forming system 10 will be omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the server 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the server 20 includes a control unit 21 that controls the entire server 20, a storage unit 22 that is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various data, and a user Communication is performed via the network 11 with an operation unit 23 which is an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting various operations, and a display unit 24 which is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying various information. And a network communication unit 25 which is a network communication device to perform.

  The control unit 21 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. ing. The CPU is configured to execute a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 22.

  The storage unit 22 stores a setting screen database 22a that manages a plurality of setting screens with respective identification information and is accessible from a plurality of MFPs.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the setting screen database 22a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the setting screen database 22a manages a plurality of setting screens by identification information such as IDs and names. It is desirable that the name of the setting screen in the setting screen database 22a can be specified in any language that the MFP can handle.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the MFP 40.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the MFP 40 includes a control unit 41 that controls the entire MFP 40, a storage unit 42 that is a storage device such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and HDD that stores various types of data, An operation unit 43 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations by the user, a display unit 44 that is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying various information, and printing on paper A printer 45 that is a printing device, a scanner 46 that is a reading device that reads an image from a document, a fax communication unit 47 that is a fax device that performs fax communication via a communication line such as a public telephone line, a network A network communication unit 48 that is a network communication device that performs communication via the network 11 and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory 50 that is an external storage medium that stores various information can be electrically connected. And a connector 49.

  The control unit 41 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM that is used as a work area for the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 42.

  The storage unit 42 stores a setting screen display program 42a, which is a program for the MFP 40, and an initial flag 42b that is deleted when the MFP 40 is activated for the first time. The storage unit 42 also includes screen designation information 42c that is information for designating at least one setting screen scheduled to be displayed on the display unit 44 by identification information, and information that designates when the screen designation information 42c is read. It is possible to store the time designation information 42d. That is, the memory | storage part 42 comprises the screen designation | designated information storage part and time designation | designated information storage part of this invention. The USB memory 50 stores screen designation information 50a that is information designating at least one setting screen to be displayed on the display unit 44 by identification information, and the screen designation information storage unit of the present invention. Is configured.

  The setting screen display program 42a may be installed in the MFP 40 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 40, or may be added to the MFP 40 from a storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disk) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or from the network 11. May be installed.

  The control unit 41 executes the setting screen display program 42a stored in the storage unit 42, thereby specifying the screen designation information 42c and 50a for reading the screen designation information 42c and the screen designation information read by the designation information reading unit 41a. 42c, setting screen acquisition unit 41b for acquiring a setting screen corresponding to the identification information in 50a from the setting screen database 22a, display control unit 41c for displaying the setting screen acquired by the setting screen acquisition unit 41b on the display unit 44, PC 30 The screen designation information writing means 41d for writing the screen designation information received from the storage unit 42 and the USB memory 50, and the time designation information writing means 41e for writing the time designation information received from the PC 30 to the storage unit 42.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the screen designation information 42c.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the screen designation information 42c is information that designates a setting screen by identification information such as an ID and a name. The same applies to the screen designation information 50a.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the time designation information 42d.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the time designation information 42d is information in which the type of device is associated with the time when the screen designation information is read.

  Times that can be specified in the time specification information 42d include, for example, “at the first activation”, “at the next activation”, “at the time of manual reading”, and “at the time of automatic reading”. The first activation is when the MFP 40 is activated for the first time. For example, the setting at the time of the first activation is assumed to be performed by the manufacturer of the MFP 40 at the factory in accordance with the situation of the delivery destination of the MFP 40 before shipping the MFP 40. The next start time is when the MFP 40 is restarted after being specified in the time specification information 42d. As the setting at the next startup, for example, it is assumed that the administrator of the MFP 40 first performs the setting at the delivery destination of the MFP 40 according to the situation of the delivery destination of the MFP 40 when the MFP 40 is delivered. The manual reading is, for example, when the user of the MFP 40 designates, via the operation unit 43, an apparatus from which the screen designation information is read out of the storage unit 42 and the USB memory 50. The time of automatic reading is when the USB memory 50 storing the screen designation information 50 a and information for instructing to automatically read the screen designation information 50 a is connected to the USB connector 49.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 40 will be described.

  When activated, the MFP 40 starts the processing shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 40 when it is determined whether or not to start a setting screen display process that is a process for displaying a setting screen.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 41 of the MFP 40 determines whether or not the initial flag 42b exists in the storage unit 42 (S101).

  When determining in S101 that the initial flag 42b exists in the storage unit 42, the control unit 41 deletes the initial flag 42b stored in the storage unit 42 (S102).

  Next, the control unit 41 determines whether or not the time designation information 42d designating “at the first activation” is stored in the storage unit 42 (S103).

  When the control unit 41 determines in S103 that the time designation information 42d designating “at the first activation” is stored in the storage unit 42, the control unit 41 starts the setting screen display process shown in FIG. 8 (S104).

  When the control unit 41 determines in S101 that the initial flag 42b does not exist in the storage unit 42, the control unit 41 determines whether or not the timing designation information 42d designating "next activation" is stored in the storage unit 42 ( S105).

  When the control unit 41 determines in S105 that the time designation information 42d designating “next activation” is stored in the storage unit 42, the control unit 41 uses the “next activation” in the timing designation information 42d stored in the storage unit 42. The part designating “hour” is deleted (S106).

  Next, the control unit 41 starts the setting screen display process shown in FIG. 8 (S104).

  The control unit 41 determines in S103 that the time designation information 42d designating “at the first activation” is not stored in the storage unit 42, ends the processing of S104, or designates “at the next activation”. If it is determined in S105 that the designated time designation information 42d is not stored in the storage unit 42, it is determined whether or not the timing designation information 42d designating "manual reading" is stored in the storage unit 42. (S107).

  When the control unit 41 determines in S107 that the time designation information 42d designating “at the time of manual reading” is stored in the storage unit 42, the device from which the screen designation information is read is designated via the operation unit 43. It is determined whether or not (S108).

  If the control unit 41 determines in S108 that the device from which the screen designation information is read is designated via the operation unit 43, the control unit 41 starts the setting screen display process shown in FIG. 8 (S104).

  The control unit 41 determines in S107 that the timing designation information 42d designating “manual reading” is not stored in the storage unit 42, or designates the device from which the screen designation information is read via the operation unit 43. If it is determined in S108 that it has not been performed, it is determined whether or not the time designation information 42d designating "at the time of automatic reading" is stored in the storage unit 42 (S109).

  When the control unit 41 determines in S109 that the time designation information 42d designating “at the time of automatic reading” is not stored in the storage unit 42, the control unit 41 returns to the process of S107 again.

  When the control unit 41 determines in S109 that the time designation information 42d designating “at the time of automatic reading” is stored in the storage unit 42, the control unit 41 determines whether or not the USB memory 50 satisfying a predetermined condition is connected. (S110). Here, the predetermined condition is that the USB memory 50 stores the screen designation information 50a and information that instructs to automatically read the screen designation information 50a.

  When the control unit 41 determines in S110 that the USB memory 50 satisfying the predetermined condition is connected, the control unit 41 starts the setting screen display process shown in FIG. 8 (S104).

  On the other hand, when the control unit 41 determines in S110 that the USB memory 50 satisfying the predetermined condition is not connected, the control unit 41 returns to the process of S107 again.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 40 when executing the setting screen display process.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the designation information reading unit 41a of the control unit 41 of the MFP 40 specifies a device from which screen designation information is read (S121). Here, when the current setting screen display process is started as the “first activation” process, the designation information reading unit 41a displays the device associated with “at the first activation” in the time designation information 42d. Identifies the device from which the specified information is read. When there are a plurality of devices associated with “at the first activation” in the timing designation information 42d, the designation information reading means 41a has a plurality of devices associated with “at the first activation” in the timing designation information 42d. Among the devices, the device having the highest priority set in advance is specified as the device from which the screen designation information is read. Although “at first activation” has been described, the same applies to “at next activation”, “manual reading”, and “automatic reading”.

  Next, the designation information reading unit 41a reads screen designation information from the device specified in S121 onto the RAM (S122).

  Next, the setting screen acquisition unit 41b of the control unit 41 targets the first identification information in the screen designation information read in S122 (S123). For example, when the screen designation information read in S122 is the screen designation information 42c shown in FIG. 5, the setting screen acquisition unit 41b targets the ID “003” as the first identification information.

  Next, the setting screen acquisition unit 41b acquires a setting screen corresponding to the identification information targeted in S123 from the setting screen database 22a stored in the storage unit 22 of the server 20 (S124). For example, when the setting screen database 22a is as shown in FIG. 3 and the identification information targeted in S123 is the ID “003”, the setting screen acquisition means 41b has the ID “003” in FIG. A setting screen associated with the name “Ryo Men Set” is acquired.

  Next, the display control means 41c of the control unit 41 constructs the setting screen acquired in S124 for the display unit 44, and causes the display unit 44 to display the constructed setting screen (S125).

  Next, the control unit 41 executes the setting on the setting screen displayed in S125 according to the operation input from the operation unit 43 (S126).

  When the setting in S126 is completed, the control unit 41 determines whether or not the screen designation information read into the RAM in S122 includes identification information subsequent to the identification information that is currently targeted (S127).

  When the setting screen acquisition unit 41b of the control unit 41 determines in S127 that there is subsequent identification information, in the screen designation information read into the RAM in S122, the setting screen acquisition unit 41b obtains the first identification information subsequent to the identification information that is currently targeted. As an object (S128), the process returns to S124.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 41 determines in S127 that there is no subsequent identification information, that is, all the identification information of the screen designation information read into the RAM in S122, the process shown in FIG. The process proceeds to S107 shown in FIG.

  The control unit 41 can also call the setting screen from the normal menu screen to the display unit 44 by an operation via the operation unit 43. The control unit 41 obtains the setting screen from the setting screen database 22a stored in the storage unit 22 of the server 20 even when the setting screen is called from the normal menu screen to the display unit 44 by an operation via the operation unit 43. In order to do this, identification information corresponding to the setting screen is used.

  When screen designation information and an instruction to write the screen designation information to the storage unit 42 are input via the operation unit 43, the screen designation information writing unit 41d of the control unit 41 receives the input screen designation information. Is written in the storage unit 42 as the screen designation information 42c. Similarly, when screen designation information and an instruction to write the screen designation information to the USB memory 50 are input via the operation unit 43, the screen designation information writing unit 41d displays the input screen designation information. The screen designation information 50 a is written into the USB memory 50 via the USB connector 49. As for the input of the screen designation information via the operation unit 43, the identification information may be directly input. However, after the setting screen is actually called from the normal menu screen to the display unit 44 by the operation via the operation unit 43. The identification information corresponding to the setting screen displayed on the display unit 44 is added to the screen designation information 42c or the screen designation information 50a by a predetermined operation on the operation unit 43 such as pressing the “Register” button. May be.

  Further, the screen designation information writing means 41d is connected to the USB connector 49 with the USB memory 50 in which the screen designation information is stored, and an instruction to write the screen designation information to the storage unit 42 is given via the operation unit 43. When input, screen designation information is acquired from the USB memory 50 via the USB connector 49, and the acquired screen designation information is written in the storage unit 42 as screen designation information 42c.

  When the screen designation information and the instruction to write the screen designation information to the storage unit 42 are transmitted from the PC 30, the screen designation information writing unit 41 d receives the screen designation information from the PC 30 via the network communication unit 48. The screen designation information is written in the storage unit 42 as the screen designation information 42c. Similarly, when the screen designation information and the instruction for writing the screen designation information to the USB memory 50 are transmitted from the PC 30, the screen designation information writing unit 41 d receives the screen designation information from the PC 30 via the network communication unit 48. The screen designation information thus written is written as screen designation information 50 a into the USB memory 50 via the USB connector 49.

  The timing designation information writing means 41e of the control unit 41 receives the timing designation information and an instruction to write the timing designation information in the storage unit 42 via the operation unit 43. The designation information is written in the storage unit 42 as the timing designation information 42d.

  The time designation information writing unit 41e is connected to the USB connector 49 in which the USB memory 50 storing the time designation information is connected, and an instruction to write the time designation information to the storage unit 42 is given via the operation unit 43. When input, the timing designation information is acquired from the USB memory 50 via the USB connector 49, and the acquired timing designation information is written in the storage unit 42 as the timing designation information 42d.

  Further, the time designation information writing means 41e receives the time designation information and the instruction to write the time designation information in the storage unit 42 from the PC 30 via the network communication unit 48 when it is transmitted from the PC 30. The time designation information is written in the storage unit 42 as the time designation information 42d.

  As described above, the MFP 40 can designate the setting screen to be displayed on the display unit 44 among the setting screens in the setting screen database 22a by the screen designation information 42c and 50a, and thus the screen designation information 42c and 50a. Accordingly, individual settings can be made for each MFP. For example, the MFP 40 is not only a general setting performed in other MFPs such as setting the time of a built-in clock or setting the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the network communication unit 48, but also an optional device such as a finisher. It is possible to correspond to the unique settings of the MFP 40 such as the settings of.

  For example, since the service person usually handles many types of image forming apparatuses, when setting the MFP 40 at the delivery destination of the MFP 40, not all operations of the MFP 40 are fully known. Therefore, when a service person calls a setting screen for a setting he / she wants to perform on the MFP 40 from the normal menu screen to the display unit 44, the service person has difficulty in calling the setting screen to the display unit 44 by referring to a manual. There are things to do. However, if the service person inputs screen designation information for designating a setting screen for the setting he / she wants to perform, for example, from the USB memory 50 to the MFP 40, the setting screen for the setting he / she wants to perform can be easily displayed on the display unit 44. Can be displayed.

  In addition, since the setting screen in the setting screen database 22a can be used in common by a plurality of MFPs, the MFP 40 has a setting screen compared to a configuration in which all setting screens are created independently for each MFP. The burden of creation can be reduced. Therefore, even when individual settings are made for each MFP, the MFP 40 can reduce the burden of creating the setting screen as compared with the conventional case.

  Further, the display control unit 41c of the MFP 40, when the screen designation information 42c and 50a read by the designation information reading unit 41a includes a plurality of identification information (YES in S127), the identification in the screen designation information 42c and 50a. According to the order of information (S128), the setting screen corresponding to the identification information in the screen designation information 42c, 50a is displayed on the display unit 44 in order (S125). Therefore, since the MFP 40 can display a plurality of setting screens in order on the display unit 44 in accordance with the screen designation information 42c and 50a, not only the type of the setting item but also the setting item setting order for each MFP. Can be different.

  Further, in the MFP 40, the designation information reading unit 41a reads the screen designation information 42c and 50a at the time designated by the time designation information 42d stored in the storage unit 42 (YES in S103, YES in S105, YES in S107). , YES in S109, S122), the timing for displaying the setting screen on the display unit 44 can be made different for each MFP according to the timing designation information 42d.

  In addition, since the MFP 40 includes screen designation information writing means 41 d for writing the screen designation information received from the PC 30 on the network 11 to the storage unit 42, the scheduled setting screen displayed on the display unit 44 is displayed on the network 11. The PC 30 can be specified.

  In addition, since the MFP 40 includes the time designation information writing unit 41e that writes the time designation information received from the PC 30 on the network 11 to the storage unit 42, the time when the setting screen is displayed on the display unit 44 is the same as that on the network 11. The PC 30 can be specified.

  Further, in the image forming system 10, since the setting screen database 22a manages a plurality of setting screens with respective identification information, the setting screen database 22a causes the MFP to handle the setting screens in the setting screen database 22a without depending on the type of MFP. be able to.

  In order to prevent the screen designation information from being erroneously read at the time of activation other than “at the first activation” from the device associated with “at the first activation” in the timing designation information 42d, the MFP 40 “ ”Is deleted (YES in S101, S102). Here, the method for preventing the screen designation information from being erroneously read at the time of activation other than “at the first activation” from the device associated with “at the first activation” in the time designation information 42d is other than this method. Also good. For example, the MFP 40 deletes the portion that specifies “at the first activation” in the time designation information 42d after the process of S103, or the screen from the device associated with “at the first activation” in the timing designation information 42d. It is possible to employ a method of deleting the designation information after the processing of S122 of “at the first activation”.

  In addition, the MFP 40 prevents the time designation information 42d from reading screen designation information by mistake at the time of activation other than “next activation” from the device associated with “next activation” in the timing designation information 42d. In FIG. 5, the part designated as “next startup” is deleted after the process of S105 (S106). Here, the method for preventing the screen designation information from being erroneously read at the time of activation other than “at the next activation” from the device associated with “at the next activation” in the time designation information 42d is other than this method. Also good. For example, the MFP 40 creates a dedicated flag when “next start-up” information is set in the time designation information 42 d and deletes this flag at “next start-up”, or “ It is possible to employ a method of deleting the screen designation information from the device associated with “next startup” after the processing of S122 of “next startup”.

  In the above, the setting via the operation unit 43 in the setting screen displayed on the display unit 44 has been described. However, the MFP 40 can execute not only the setting according to the operation input to the operation unit 43 but also the setting directly instructed from the PC 30 via the network communication unit 48. As such a setting, for example, there is a time setting of a clock built in the MFP 40. The PC 30 can also directly instruct the same setting to a plurality of MFPs at once. When the PC 30 directly instructs the MFP 40 to set, the PC 30 transmits to the MFP 40 at least one of screen designation information and time designation information and an instruction to write the information to the storage unit 42 or the USB memory 50 together with the instruction. It may be like this.

  The setting screen database of the present invention is stored in the server 20, but may be stored in any device as long as it can be accessed from a plurality of MFPs. For example, the setting screen database may be stored in the storage unit 42 or the USB memory 50 of the MFP 40 as a shared file that can be accessed from other MFPs.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a printer dedicated machine, a fax dedicated machine, and a copy dedicated machine.

  The external device of the present invention is a PC in the present embodiment, but may be a device other than a PC.

10 image forming system 20 server 22a setting screen database 30 PC (external device)
40 MFP (image forming apparatus)
41a designation information reading means 41b setting screen acquisition means 41c display control means 41d screen designation information writing means 41e time designation information writing means 42 storage unit (screen designation information storage unit, time designation information storage unit)
42a setting screen display program 42c screen designation information 42d time designation information 43 operation unit 44 display unit 50 USB memory (screen designation information storage unit)
50a Screen designation information

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus that manages a plurality of setting screens with respective identification information and can access a setting screen database accessible from a plurality of image forming apparatuses,
A display unit for displaying the setting screen, an operation unit for inputting an operation for executing the setting on the setting screen, and at least one setting screen to be displayed on the display unit is designated by the identification information Setting information reading means for reading screen designation information, which is the information being performed, and setting for acquiring the setting screen corresponding to the identification information in the screen designation information read by the designation information reading means from the setting screen database An image forming apparatus comprising: a screen acquisition unit; and a display control unit that displays the setting screen acquired by the setting screen acquisition unit on the display unit.   The display control means includes a plurality of pieces of identification information included in the screen designation information read by the designation information reading means, according to the order of the identification information in the screen designation information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting screen corresponding to the identification information is sequentially displayed on the display unit.   A screen designation information storage unit for storing the screen designation information read by the designation information reading unit; and a screen designation information writing unit for writing the screen designation information received from an external device to the screen designation information storage unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. A timing designation information storage unit for storing timing designation information which is information for designating a timing when the designation information reading means reads the screen designation information;
The said designation | designated information reading means reads the said screen designation | designated information at the time designated by the said time designation information memorize | stored in the said time designation information storage part. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a timing designation information writing unit that writes the timing designation information received from an external device into the timing designation information storage unit. A plurality of setting screens are managed by their respective identification information and can be accessed from a setting screen database accessible from a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a display unit for displaying the setting screens, and setting of the setting screens A setting screen display program executed by an image forming apparatus including an operation unit to which an operation for execution is input,
A designation information reading step of reading screen designation information, which is information designating at least one of the setting screens scheduled to be displayed on the display unit, by the identification information; and the screen designation read by the designation information reading step A setting screen acquisition step for acquiring the setting screen corresponding to the identification information in the information from the setting screen database; and a display control step for causing the display unit to display the setting screen acquired by the setting screen acquisition step. A setting screen display program executed by the image forming apparatus. A server that stores a setting screen database that is managed by a plurality of setting screens and that can be accessed from a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and that can access the setting screen database stored in the server An image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes a display unit that displays the setting screen, an operation unit that receives an operation for executing settings on the setting screen, and at least one setting screen that is scheduled to be displayed on the display unit. The designation information reading means for reading the screen designation information which is information designated by the identification information, and the setting screen corresponding to the identification information in the screen designation information read by the designation information reading means An image forming system comprising: a setting screen acquisition unit that acquires from a screen database; and a display control unit that displays the setting screen acquired by the setting screen acquisition unit on the display unit.

Images