JP5059535B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an image input / output function, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a consumable ordering function.

Patent Document 1 below predicts the number of days until the remaining amount of toner becomes zero based on the past toner consumption speed, sets a threshold value for the number of days in consideration of stock, and if the predicted number of days falls below the threshold value, To that effect or to automatically order a cartridge.
JP 2006-313226 A

  However, since the number of days until the remaining amount of toner becomes zero is predicted based on the past toner consumption speed, if the toner consumption increases or decreases rapidly thereafter, an erroneous report is made to the user or automatic ordering is performed. The time is no longer appropriate.

  In order to avoid this, if the user places an order for the cartridge, there is a possibility that it takes time, and there is a possibility that multiple orders are made when multiple people manage the cartridge.

  In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of ordering consumables appropriately and easily even when the consumption of consumables increases or decreases rapidly.

According to a first aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a processor, a storage unit storing a program and data, an operation panel, a communication interface, and a detecting unit that detects a consumption state of the consumable item. In the device
An icon for ordering consumables is displayed on the operation panel or on the remote console via the communication interface, and the data includes source information, consumables supplier information, and consumables type information,
The program causes the processor to display the consumption state detected by the detection means on the operation panel, and in response to turning on the icon, to the destination indicated by the consumable supply order information via the communication interface. The consumable item ordering information including the transmission source information and the consumable item type information is transmitted.

  In a second aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in the first aspect, the program further causes the processor to operate at least a part of a message received from the destination via the communication interface in response to the order. It is displayed on the panel or the remote console.

  In a third aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the data further includes a consumable management state, and the program further detects the first consumable state detected by the detection means for the processor. In response to indicating that the consumables management state is valid, and when the consumables management state is valid, the detection by the detecting means responds that the second consumable state is indicated. The icon is displayed on the operation panel or the remote console, the consumable management state is invalidated in response to turning on the icon, and the icon is not displayed when the consumable management state is invalid. Let

  According to a fourth aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, an electronic tag reader coupled to the processor is further included, and the program further includes the electronic tag reader for the processor. Then, information including the type of the toner cartridge is read from an electronic tag provided in the toner cartridge as the consumable, and the type is stored in the storage means as one of the data.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect, when the user turns on the icon according to the consumption state displayed on the operation panel means and the use state of the consumable item, the consumable item ordering information is sent to the ordering party via the communication interface. Since it is transmitted, it is possible to order consumables appropriately and easily even when the consumption of consumables increases or decreases rapidly.

  According to the structure of the said 2nd aspect, since at least one part of the received message according to ordering is displayed on an operation panel means, there exists an effect that a duplicate order can be prevented.

  According to the configuration of the third aspect, since the consumable ordering icon is displayed only from the first consumption state to the second consumption state, it is possible to prevent erroneous ordering and to improve operability. .

  According to the structure of the said 4th aspect, there exists an effect that the model of consumables is read automatically and used as order information.

  Other objects, configurations and effects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention.

  In this image forming apparatus 10, the MPU 11 is connected to the PROM 13, DRAM 14, operation panel 15, printer 16, scanner 17, NIC 18, FAX modem 19, USB port 20, toner remaining amount detector 21, IC card reader 22 via the interface 12. The electronic tag reader 23 and the timer TM are coupled. In FIG. 8, a plurality of interfaces are shown as one block for simplification.

  The PROM 13 is, for example, a flash memory, and stores an operating system (OS), various programs that operate on the upper layer of the OS, and various setting values. The various programs are for causing the image forming apparatus 10 to function as a multifunction peripheral. The functions include copying, scanning, printing, facsimile transmission / reception, electronic mail transmission / reception, and HTTP communication. The DRAM 14 is for a work area.

  The operation panel 15 includes a display unit and a key input unit, and is used for inputting setting information or instructions to display a selection screen, a setting screen, or the like. The printer 16 includes a print engine, a fixing device, a paper feed unit, a conveyance unit, and a paper discharge unit, and forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum of the print engine based on bitmap data supplied as print data. Then, this is developed with toner, transferred onto paper, fixed, and discharged. The scanner 17 is for image input in copying and facsimile transmission. The NIC 18 is coupled to a host computer and a server on the network and used for ordering print jobs and consumables. The FAX modem 19 is for facsimile transmission / reception.

  The toner remaining amount detector 21 detects the remaining amount of toner stored in the toner cartridge for the printer 16 and outputs a signal thereof. The IC card reader 22 transmits and receives signals to and from the IC card existing within a predetermined range, reads the user ID and password information, and outputs these as authentication information for the image forming apparatus 10. The electronic tag reader 23 reads out and outputs the ID from the electronic tag fixed to the toner cartridge. This ID includes the type and serial number of the toner cartridge.

  Outputs from the toner remaining amount detector 21 and the electronic tag reader 23 are read by the MPU 11 periodically and when the toner cartridge is mounted in accordance with a program, and stored in the DRAM 14 as Toner.Level and Toner.RFID, respectively, as shown in FIG. .

  The USB memory 24A connected to the port 20 includes, for example, a flash memory chip.

  The host computer 25 has its NIC coupled to the NIC 18 via a hub and to the Internet 26 via a router (not shown). A Web server machine 27 is coupled to the Internet 26 via a router (not shown). On the other hand, the FAX modem 19 of the image forming apparatus 10 and the FAX modem of the Web server machine 27 are coupled via a public line network 28.

  The timer TM is for detecting the current time and for interrupting the timer to the MPU 11.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a software hierarchical structure of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The OS 30 includes a device driver 31 corresponding to each of various types of hardware in its kernel, for example, Linux.

  A basic service program 33 as middleware is provided in the upper layer of the OS 30 via an API 32 for using various functions in the OS 30. The basic service program 33 includes an operation panel control module 330, a scan module 331 as an image input module, a data processing module for processing input data, and a print module 332 as an image output module for outputting processed image data. And an input / output module.

  The operation panel control module 330 is for displaying an operation button on the operation panel 15 and detecting pressing thereof. The input / output modules include a FAX transmission / reception module 333, an electronic mail transmission / reception module 334, and an HTTP processing module 339. The data processing module includes an IC card control module 335, an RFID control module 336, a format conversion module 337 for converting the format of image data, an unillustrated aggregation processing module, a pagination module, and the like. The basic service program 33 further includes an address book module 338 used as a utility module for specifying facsimile and electronic mail destinations.

  An application 35 is provided in the upper layer of the basic service program 33 via an external API 34. The application 35 is a program created using the module of the basic service program 33 via the external API 34. The application 35 includes a copy module 350, a print module 351, a FAX module 352, an e-mail module 353, a job management module 354, and an operation panel module 355. For example, the copy module 350 is configured by combining a scan module 331 and a print module 332. The FAX module 352 is configured by combining a FAX transmission / reception module 333 and an address book module 338.

  The software of the image forming apparatus 10 further includes a simple text language processing program 38 that is an interpreter for the user application 37. This simple text language processing program 38 interprets a command sentence of the user application 37 and uses functions included in the basic service program 33, the application 35, or the OS 30 via the external API 34, the external API 36, or the API 32, respectively. Thus, the user application 37 is executed.

  The user application 37 is created, for example, by the host computer 25, subjected to grammar check, copied into the USB memory 24A, and read into the DRAM 14 via the port 20. The user application 37 assigns a line number to each line by preprocessing. 5A to 5C and FIGS. 6A to 6C show specific examples of the user application 37. FIG.

  Here, a main menu screen as shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the operation panel 15, and when the “USER APPLICATION” button on this screen is touched (pressed), the “of FIG. 3B” is displayed. A display other than “USER APPLICATION” and processing related thereto are performed according to the flow shown in FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart showing processing of the simple text language processing program 38 for the user application 37.

  This process is started, for example, every 20 msec by a timer interrupt. Hereinafter, the numbers in parentheses are step identification numbers in the figure.

  (S0) A counter LC indicating the next processing target row number of the user application 37 is initialized to 0.

  (S1) The line indicated by the counter LC is read from the user application 37, the value of LC is assigned to the current counter CLC, and the line number of the statement next to the statement indicated by the current counter CLC is assigned to the next line counter LC. . The statement delimiter is a semicolon ";" or a closing parenthesis "}" as in the C language. In the case of FIG. 5A, LC = 1 follows LC = 0, and then LC = 7 if the conditional statement is not satisfied, and LC = 2 in step S10 described later if the conditional statement is not satisfied.

  (S2) If there is no line to be read in step S1, the process is terminated, and if it exists, the process proceeds to step S3.

  (S3) If the statement is a ResetEnd statement, go to step S4, otherwise go to step S7.

  (S4) If the end flag EF indicating the end of consumable management is “0”, the process returns to step S1, and if it is “1”, the process proceeds to step S5.

  (S5) The success or failure of the conditional expression (REC) described in parentheses of the ResetEnd statement is determined. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S6, and if not, the process of FIG.

  (S6) The end flag EF is reset, an after-order display described later on the operation panel 15 is cleared, and the process returns to step S1.

  (S7) If the CLC line is a conditional phrase, the process proceeds to step S8; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S11.

  In the case of FIG. 5A, LC = 1 row “If Toner.Level <Level.Low1 {” and LC = 2 row “Button (120, 80, 60, 30, cartridge order & CrLf & remaining & Toner. Level.ToPages & sheets) {"is a conditional phrase.

  The latter is an abbreviation of the condition phrase (button phrase) “If Button (120, 80, 60, 30, Cartridge Order & CrLf & Remaining & Toner.Level.ToPages & Sheets) is pushed {”. With this abbreviated description, the nested structure of conditional statements is apparently concealed, so that the user application 37 can be easily viewed and the user application 37 can be easily created.

  (S8) If the line of the current number CLC is a button phrase, button display data is created based on the argument, and displayed on the operation panel 15 as, for example, the button 40 in FIG.

  In the case of the button phrase of LC = 2, among the arguments (120, 80, 60, 30, cartridge order & CrLf & remaining & Toner.Level.ToPages & sheets), (120, 80) are buttons on the operation panel 15 The XY coordinates of the upper left vertex of the button, (60, 30) are the width and height of the button, and “cartridge order & CrLf & remaining & Toner.Level.ToPages & sheets” is the text on the button. Here, & is a character concatenation operator, CrLf indicates a carriage return control code, and Toner.Level.ToPages indicates the above-described toner remaining amount detection value converted into an average number of printed sheets. Button display data creation processing and display processing are performed using functions included in the operation panel control module 330 and the operation panel module 355.

  After this display process, an internal flag F is set, and if this flag F is set in step S8 from the next time, this button display data creation process is omitted.

  (S9) The success or failure of the conditional expression in the conditional phrase is determined, and if satisfied, the process proceeds to step S10, and if not, the process returns to step S1.

  (S10) The content of the next line counter LC is changed to the line number when the condition is satisfied. That is, LC = CLC + 1. Next, the process returns to step S1.

  (S11) If the line of the current number CLC is an End statement, the process proceeds to step S13, and if not, the process proceeds to step S12.

  (S12) Process the contents of the line with the current number CLC, and return to step S1.

  (S13) The end sentence End is executed, and the process of FIG. That is, the button on the operation panel 15 displayed in step S8 is cleared, the internal flag F is reset, and the end flag EF is set.

  Next, a specific example of the processing in FIG. 1 will be described in the case where the user application 37 is as shown in FIG. The end flag EF is initially set to “1”.

  (1) Due to the timer interrupt, LC = 0 is first set at step S0. In step S1, a line ResetEnd (Toner.Level> Level.High) with LC = 0 is read, and CLC = 0 and LC = 1. The conditional expression “Toner.Level> Level.High” of the ResetEnd statement is determined in step S5 through steps S2, S3, and S4. Immediately after cartridge replacement, this conditional expression “Toner.Level> Level.High” is satisfied, and EF = 0 in step S6. Here, the threshold Level.High is stored in advance in the PROM 13 as shown in FIG. 2 together with thresholds Level.Low1, Level.Low2,.

  Returning to step S1, the row “If Toner.Level <Level.Low1 {” of LC = 1 is read, and CLC = 1 and LC = 7. The conditional expression “Toner.Level <Level.Low1” is determined to be negative in step S9 through steps S2, S3, S7, and S8, and the process returns to step S1. In step S1, a line with LC = 7 is read out, and since this is Null, an affirmative determination is made in step S2 and the process ends.

  (2) At the next timer interrupt, first, LC = 0 in step S0. In step S1, a line “ResetEnd (Toner.Level> Level.High)” with LC = 0 is read, and CLC = 0 and LC = 1. An affirmative determination is made in step S4 through steps S2 and S3, and the process returns to step S1. In step S1, the row “If Toner.Level <Level.Low1 {” of LC = 1 is read, and CLC = 1 and LC = 7. The conditional expression “Toner.Level <Level.Low1” is determined to be negative in step S9 through steps S2, S3, S7, and S8, and the process returns to step S1. Since the LC = 7 row is read and this is Null, an affirmative determination is made in step S2 and the processing ends.

  Thereafter, if a negative determination is made in step S9, such processing (2) is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the toner remaining amount Toner.Level decreases with time and becomes less than a preset threshold Level.Low1, the condition “Toner.Level <Level.Low1” is satisfied.

  (3) Due to the timer interrupt, LC = 0 is first set at step S0. In step S1, a line “ResetEnd (Toner.Level> Level.High)” with LC = 0 is read, and CLC = 0 and LC = 1. An affirmative determination is made in step S4 through steps S2 and S3, and the process returns to step S1. In step S1, the row “If Toner.Level <Level.Low1 {” of LC = 1 is read, and CLC = 1 and LC = 7. The conditional expression “Toner.Level <Level.Low1” is affirmed in step S9 through steps S2, S3, S7, and S8, and the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, LC = 2, and the process returns to step S1.

In step S1, LC = 2 row "Button (120, 80, 60, 30, cartridge order & CrLf & remaining & Toner.Level.ToPages & sheets) {"
Is obtained, CLC = 2, LC = 7 (next line in case of sentence delimiter), and the display data of the button 40 is created as described above in step S8 through steps S2, S3 and S7. This is displayed on the operation panel 15 and the internal flag F is set. Since the display range (120, 80, 60, 30) of the button 40 has not yet been touched (pressed), a negative determination is made in step S9, and the process returns to step S1.

  In step S1, a row Null with LC = 7 is extracted, and the process ends through step S2.

  Thereafter, if the button 40 is not pressed, such processing (3) is performed.

  (4) When the button 40 is pressed, an affirmative determination is made in step S9, LC = 3 in step S10, and the process returns to step S1.

In step S1, a line “Order (Toner.RFID To DefaultDealer)” with LC = 3 is extracted, and CLC = 3 and LC = 4. Through steps S2, S3, S7 and S11, the row with CLC = 3 is processed in step S12. That is, an HTTP request message including the toner cartridge type included in Toner.RFID and the hidden user ID in Order is generated, and the destination DefaultDealer (for example, http: shown in FIG. 2) is transmitted via the NIC 18 and the Internet 26. //km.com:80) to the Web server machine 27. The request line for this message is, for example:
GET /cgi-bin/order.cgi?UserID=21035&Type=KM102 HTTP / 1.0
It is. Here, UserID = 21035 is stored in advance in the PROM 13 as shown in FIG. Type = KM102 is a toner cartridge type that is a part of the contents of Toner.RFID. Transmission / reception of HTTP messages is performed using the HTTP processing module 339 and the OS 30.

  In response to the HTTP request message, the Web server machine 27 starts the CGI program of the path name / cgi-bin / order.cgi included in the message with the query string UserID = 21035 & Type = KM102 included in the HTTP request message as an argument. . As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the received date / time is set as the order date / time, and the toner cartridge type, customer ID, and estimated shipping date are entered in the table TBL1. The customer ID is the same as the above UserID. The scheduled shipping date is determined based on the inventory status obtained as a result of searching the inventory database 29 using the model as a key. The completion flag in the table TBL1 is reset at the time of ordering and is set at the time of shipment.

  This table TBL1 is linked to a customer information table TBL2 including fields such as customer ID, company name, address, person in charge, department name, department number, telephone number, facsimile number, etc., and a relational database is configured.

  The Web server machine 27 uses the order date and time as the order date and time, generates an HTTP response message including the type of toner cartridge and the scheduled shipping date based on the template file, and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 10.

  In response to this, the image forming apparatus 10 displays the content of the received message on the operation panel 15 as shown in FIG.

  When the processing of such a line of CLC = 3 is completed, the process returns to step S1, the line End of LC = 4 is extracted, and CLC = 4 and LC = 7. Through steps S2, S3, S7, and S11, the line End of CLC = 4 is processed in step S13. That is, the display of the button 40 on the operation panel 15 is cleared, the internal flag F is reset, and the end flag EF is set.

  Thus, even if the processing of FIG. 1 is started by the timer interruption until the toner cartridge is replaced, a negative determination is made in both steps S4 and S5, and as shown in FIG. It is not displayed on the operation panel 15 and the display of the ordered order is maintained.

  After such a process (4), when the toner cartridge is replaced as shown in FIG. 4, the condition of the ResetEnd statement is satisfied, the above process (1) is performed, the process proceeds from step S5 to step S6, and EF = 0, and the displayed order on the operation panel 15 is cleared.

  When it is not necessary to place an order for a toner cartridge because the toner cartridge is in stock, the output of the electronic tag reader 23 is read by the MPU 11 according to a program different from that shown in FIG. Is stored in the DRAM 14 as Toner.RFID shown in FIG. At this time, the same process as step S13 in FIG. 1 is performed by the program. Thus, the toner cartridge ordering button 40 is not displayed on the operation panel 15 until Toner.Level <Level.Low1 is satisfied.

  According to the first embodiment, a conditional reset end instruction ResetEnd is used in accordance with the simple text language processing program 38 using a user application in which a set of a conditional reset end instruction ResetEnd and an attribute of the button 40 and an Order instruction is described. The user who changes the user interface according to the condition even if the conditional statement is substantially nested, because the order command is executed in response to the detection of the on-state. There is an effect that the structure of the application is simplified.

  Further, even if the conditional statement is further nested by the If statement, there is an effect that the structure of the user application that changes the user interface according to the condition becomes simple.

  Also, the attribute of the button 40 as an icon (120, 80, 60, 30, cartridge order & CrLf & remaining & Toner.Level.ToPages & sheets) and consumable ordering order Order (Toner.RFID To DefaultDealer) The button 40 is displayed on the operation panel 15 based on the attribute of the simple user application described as follows, and in response to the detection of the ON, the consumable item ordering information is sent to the destination via the NIC 18 based on the consumable item ordering command. Therefore, it is possible to easily order the consumables by the description of the simple user application, and to cope with this even if the consumable consumption rate suddenly increases or decreases unexpectedly.

  The attribute of the button 40 includes a description of the consumption state “Remaining & Toner.Level.ToPages & sheets”, and the detected consumption state is displayed on the operation panel 15 based on this description. The effect is that consumables can be ordered at the right time.

  Furthermore, since the consumption state is displayed in the display area (120, 80, 60, 30) of the button 40, the user operability is improved.

  Further, since step S4 is arranged before step S5, once the end flag EF is reset, the conditional expression of the reset end command ResetEnd is not determined, and the toner remaining amount detection value fluctuates due to mechanical vibration. In addition, there is an effect that it is possible to continuously detect the ON state of the button 40 without complicating the user application.

  In addition, since the fact that consumables have been ordered is displayed on the operation panel 15 after the consumables ordering information is transmitted, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent multiple consumables from being ordered by a plurality of users.

  Furthermore, since the display of the button 40 on the operation panel 15 is deleted after the consumables ordering information is transmitted, the operability is improved, and it is possible to prevent erroneous operations and repeated ordering of consumables by a plurality of users. .

  In addition, since the deletion is performed based on the end command End included in the user application, it is possible to select whether or not to perform the deletion with a simple description.

  In addition, the toner cartridge type is automatically read from the electronic tag and used as ordering information.

  5B and 5C show user applications that differ from FIG. 5A only in the ordering form.

In the case of FIG. 5B, as the cartridge ordering process,
"Fax cartridgeOrderFile.pdf to address book (dealer1, fax)" is executed using the FAX module 352 in step S12 of FIG. This statement sends the contents of the file cartridgeOrderFile.pdf to the destination. This destination is a return value of the address book (dealer1, fax) which is a function. In the address book, a facsimile number and an e-mail address are entered for each destination, and the argument fax indicates that the facsimile number of the record indicated by the argument dealer1 is the return value of this function.

  In the case of FIG. 5C, “Email cartridgeOrderFile.pdf to address book (dealer1, email)” is executed using the electronic mail module 353 in step S12 of FIG. This statement sends the contents of the file cartridgeOrderFile.pdf to the destination. This destination is a return value of the address book (dealer1, email) which is a function. The argument email indicates that the email address of the record indicated by the argument dealer1 is the return value of this function.

  The process of FIG. 1 can also be applied to a user application unrelated to consumables ordering, and specific examples are shown in FIGS.

  Next, the processing of FIG. 1 for the user application shown in FIG.

  (5) Due to the timer interrupt, LC = 0 is first set at step S0. In step S1, LC = 0 row “Button (20, 30, 60, 30, slip transmission) {” is read, and CLC = 0 and LC = 5. Through steps S2, S3, and S7, a button 41 as shown in FIG. 3B is displayed in step S8, and an internal flag F is set. Since the display range (20, 30, 60, 30) of the button 41 has not been pressed yet, a negative determination is made in step S9, and the process returns to step S1. In step S1, a row Null with LC = 5 is extracted, and the process ends through step S2.

  Thereafter, if the button 41 is not pressed, such processing (5) is performed.

  (6) When the user places a document on the document table of the image forming apparatus 10 and presses the button 41, an affirmative determination is made in step S9, LC = 1 in step S10, and the process returns to step S1.

  In step S1, a line “file.pdf = Scan” with LC = 1 is extracted, and CLC = 1 and LC = 2. Through steps S2, S3, S7 and S11, the row with CLC = 1 is processed in step S12. That is, the scanner 17 operates to read a document image, and the data is converted into a pdf format and converted to file.pdf.

  Returning to step S1, the line “Fax file.pdf to address book (head office accounting department, fax)” with LC = 2 is read, and CLC = 2 and LC = 3. Through steps S2, S3, S7 and S11, the row with CLC = 2 is processed in step S12. That is, the contents of the file file.pdf are transmitted to the destination that is the return value of the address book (head office accounting department, fax).

  Returning to step S1, the line “Email file.pdf to address book (Taro Sasaki, email)” with LC = 3 is read, and CLC = 3 and LC = 5. Through steps S2, S3, S7 and S11, the row with CLC = 3 is processed in step S12. That is, the file file.pdf is e-mailed to the destination which is the return value of the address book (Taro Sasaki, email). For example, a copy of the facsimile transmission content is transmitted to the user.

  Returning to step S1, a null row with LC = 5 is read, and the process of FIG. 1 is terminated through step S2. The button 41 remains displayed on the operation panel 15.

  In the case of FIG. 6B, the same processing as described above is performed, and after sending the e-mail, the End statement is further processed, the display of the button 41 on the operation panel 15 is cleared in step S13, and the internal flag F is reset. At the same time, the end flag EF is set.

  In the case of FIG. 6C, the line “ResetEnd (ICcardID = KM01)” with CLC = 1 is processed in step S12 before the process of FIG. 6B. That is, the encrypted user ID and password stored in the user's IC card 24B are read by the IC card reader 22 via radio waves. Then, the user ID registered in the PROM 13 and the password encrypted twice, for example, are read, the latter is decrypted once, and both are verified. If both of them match and the user ID matches KM01 of “ICcardID = KM01”, that is, if the user authentication with the ID of KM01 succeeds, the condition of the ResetEnd statement is satisfied, and step S5 Is affirmative, and EF = 0 in step S6. Thereafter, the same processing as in FIG. 6B is performed.

  If the user authentication has failed, a negative determination is made in step S5, the processing of FIG. 1 ends, and the button 41 is not displayed on the operation panel 15.

  Therefore, the button 41 is displayed on the operation panel 15 each time only for a specific user, the above-described sequence processing is performed, and the button 41 disappears from the operation panel 15 when the processing is completed. In other words, the user interface can be configured for each user with a simple user application.

  Note that the present invention includes various other modifications.

  For example, by describing a plurality of application programs or by describing a plurality of combinations of conditional phrases and processing statements in one application program, three or more buttons are displayed on the display screen of FIG. Thus, daily operations may be processed using only this menu.

  Further, the shape of the icon displayed on the operation panel 15 is not limited to the button, and icons having various shapes may be used.

  Further, instead of the operation panel 15, an interactive input / output device of a computer system coupled via a communication interface of the image forming apparatus, that is, a remote console may be used. In this case, the icon is turned on by clicking the mouse, for example.

It is a schematic flowchart which shows the process of the simple text language processing program with respect to a user application stored in the image forming apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. 4 is a partial explanatory diagram of data stored in a PROM and a DRAM of the image forming apparatus. FIG. (A) is a diagram showing a main menu screen on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, and (B) is a diagram showing a menu screen displayed when the “USER APPLICATION” button of (A) is pressed. (C) is a figure which shows the screen after pressing the button 40 of (B). FIG. 2 is a process explanatory diagram of FIG. 1 showing a graph of the remaining amount of toner over time. (A) to (C) are diagrams showing specific examples of user applications relating to toner cartridge ordering. (A)-(C) is a figure which shows the specific example of the user application regarding the scan of a slip, fax transmission, and electronic mail transmission. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a software hierarchical structure of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image forming apparatus 11 MPU
12 Interface 13 PROM
14 DRAM
15 Operation panel 16 Printer 17 Scanner 18 NIC
19 FAX modem 20 Port 21 Remaining toner detector 22 IC card reader 23 Electronic tag reader 24 USB memory 25 Host computer 26 Internet 27 Web server machine 28 Public line network 30 OS
31 Device driver 32 API
33 Basic service program 330 Operation panel control module 331 Scan module 332 Print module 333 FAX transmission / reception module 334 E-mail transmission / reception module 335 IC card data processing module 336 RFID data processing module 337 Format conversion module 338 Address book module 339 HTTP processing module 34, 36 External API
35 Application 350 Copy module 351 Print module 352 FAX module 353 E-mail module 354 Job management module 355 Operation panel module 37 User application 38 Simple text language processing program 40, 41 button TBL1, TBL2 table

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus having a processor, a storage unit storing a program and data, an operation panel, a communication interface, and a detection unit for detecting a toner remaining amount,
The data includes source information, consumable supplier information, consumable type information, and consumable management status.
Display the remaining amount of toner detected by the detecting means on the operation panel;
Detection by said detection means, the first possible response to indicate a small second remaining toner from the toner remaining amount, the manipulation panel or the consumable ordered remote console via said communication interface Display the icon,
In response to turning on the icon, the consumables ordering information including the transmission source information and the consumables type information is transmitted to the destination indicated by the consumables ordering party information via the communication interface. In response to receiving the information indicating that the order has been received, the icon is hidden and information indicating that the order has been placed on the operation panel or the remote console is displayed.
In response to the detection by the detection means indicating the first toner remaining amount, information indicating that the order has been made is hidden.
An image forming apparatus. The information indicating that the order has been received includes the order date and time,
The information indicating that the order has been placed includes the order date and time,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The information indicating that the order has been received further includes the type of the toner cartridge and the scheduled shipping date.
The information indicating that the order has been completed further includes the type of the toner cartridge and the scheduled shipping date.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. An electronic tag reader coupled to the processor;
The program further causes the processor to read, via the electronic tag reader, information including the type of the toner cartridge from an electronic tag provided in the toner cartridge as a consumable, and use the type as one of the data. Storing in the storage means;
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that.

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