JP5459177B2 - Image forming apparatus and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that displays an operation screen and a computer program executed in the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a printer, a copier, and an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral).

  Recent multifunctional image forming apparatuses include a touch panel as a man-machine interface for operation. The touch panel here is an operation input device that combines a display capable of screen display and a touch-type pointing device. The front surface of the touch panel serves as both a display surface and a touch input surface. On the touch panel, a plurality of operation screens prepared for enabling various operation settings are selectively displayed according to the operation by the user.

  Generally, a plurality of operation screens are hierarchized, and the operation keys arranged on each operation screen and the hierarchical order of each operation screen are selected so that the user can use them easily. Operation setting items are systematically classified, for example, large, medium, and small, and operation screens for selecting and specifying large items are arranged at the top of the hierarchy, and operation screens for selecting and specifying smaller items are more Arranged in the lower order. Then, the display of the operation screen is switched from the upper level to the lower level. The user can display a desired lower operation screen by appropriately operating on the upper operation screen.

  Regarding the display control of the operation screen, there is a technique for dynamically changing the relationship between the operation key and the operation screen. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that the use frequency of a function is managed for each user identified by user authentication, and operation keys for functions with a high use frequency are arranged on the upper layer screen.

On the other hand, there is known a GUI (Graphical User Interface) that scrolls and displays a large number of operation keys that cannot be displayed all at once due to display size restrictions. In the portable game device described in Patent Document 2, a scroll region 48 that is elongated in the left-right direction for displaying an icon row corresponding to a plurality of selectable programs is provided in the screen. The user of this game apparatus can scroll the icon row by touching an arbitrary point in the scroll area 48 and then shifting the touch position in the horizontal direction.
JP 2008-083559 A JP 2009-271902 A

  When there are a large number of setting items (for example, large items of large, medium, and small hierarchies) that are higher in the operation procedure for performing detailed settings in order, scroll display is useful. Compared with a general screen switching display that displays a predetermined number of operation keys corresponding to a large number of setting items, scroll display is superior in terms of ease of finding a desired operation key from the viewpoint of the user. However, not all of the operation keys to be displayed need to be scrolled.

  It can be considered that a large number of setting items are classified into a first group that excludes scrolling operation keys and a second group that scrolls. For example, setting items frequently set by the user are set as the first group, and other setting items are set as the second group. There is a limit on the number of items determined by the display size for the first group, but there is no limit on the number of items due to the display size for the second group that may not be displayed at a time. The grouping of setting items contributes to reducing unnecessary operations that cause the user to display even operation keys that do not need to be displayed when the user makes a desired setting.

  When an operation screen having a scroll area is displayed by switching from another screen, if the scroll position is fixed at a specific position, for example, one end of the scroll range, the operation key that the user wants to operate may not be displayed. Arise. In this case, the user must perform a scroll operation to display a desired operation key.

  In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a new user interface that can reduce a user's trouble of scrolling.

  An apparatus for achieving the above object is an image forming apparatus having an operation panel for displaying a screen, and has a plurality of first item keys respectively corresponding to a plurality of first setting items classified into a first group. The first item selection screen is selected in response to an operation for selecting one of the plurality of first item keys and a first display processing unit for displaying the first item selection screen on the operation panel instead of the currently displayed screen. A setting operation screen for setting the first setting item corresponding to the first item key is classified into a second display processing unit that displays on the operation panel instead of the first item selection screen, and a second group. A second item selection screen having a part of a key arrangement in which a plurality of second item keys respectively corresponding to the plurality of second setting items are arranged in a row is displayed on the operation panel instead of the currently displayed screen. Scrolling operation In response, a scroll display processing unit for changing a display portion in the key arrangement, and the second item selection screen while the setting operation screen is displayed and an operation for changing the setting is not performed on the setting operation screen. In the key arrangement so as to include a second item key that is associated with the setting operation screen by the first information that defines the relationship between the first setting item and the second setting item when an operation for displaying is performed. A scroll instruction unit that causes the scroll display processing unit to execute a process of setting a portion to be displayed and displaying the second item selection screen on the operation panel.

  According to the present invention, when an operation for displaying the second item selection screen having the scroll area is performed without performing an operation for changing the setting on the setting operation screen for setting the first setting item. The scroll position is automatically set so that the second item key corresponding to the second setting item associated with the first setting item is displayed, thereby reducing the user's trouble of scrolling operation.

2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an appearance of an MFP. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an MFP. FIG. It is a figure which shows the screen layout of the operation screen regarding a copy operation. It is a figure which shows the example of the item selection screen for selecting the setting item of the basic group which is a 1st group. It is a figure which shows the example of the item selection screen for selecting the setting item of the application group which is a 2nd group. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to screen display of a control circuit provided in the MFP. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the related table in connection with the screen display control of Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition which concerns on Example 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of screen display control according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the related table in connection with the screen display control of Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition which concerns on Example 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of screen display control according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition which concerns on Example 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition which concerns on Example 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition which concerns on Example 4. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition which concerns on Example 5. FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of a screen transition.

  An MFP is given as an example of an image forming apparatus including an operation panel that displays an operation screen. The MFP is an information device having many functions such as image input (scanning), facsimile communication, e-mail transmission / reception, and document storage, in addition to copying and network printing, which are functions as an image forming apparatus.

  A user of the MFP 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 can select functions and set operations using the operation panel 10 provided on the upper part of the MFP 1. The operation panel 10 includes a touch panel 101 that displays various operation screens, a plurality of fixed keys including numeric keys, and a biometric authentication device.

  The hardware configuration of the MFP 1 is shown in FIG.

  The touch panel 101 of the operation panel 10 includes a display 101A that displays an operation screen and a translucent touch input device 101B that is in close contact with the display surface. The front surface of the touch panel 101 serves as both a display surface and a touch operation surface. The biometric authentication device 102 is a fingerprint sensor, for example. You may make it authenticate by other biological information, such as a vein, an iris, and a voiceprint.

  A control circuit 11 responsible for overall control of the MFP 1 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112 for storing a control program, a CPU (central processing unit) 113 as a computer for executing the control program and application, and a program execution work area. S-RAM (Static Random Access Memory) 115, battery-backed NV-RAM (nonvolatile memory) 116 for storing various settings, and a clock IC (Integrated Circuit) 118 for measuring system time.

  The image scanner 13 optically reads image information recorded on a document sheet set at a reading position. The printer controller 14 is responsible for various control processes for printing. A RIP (Raster Image Processor) circuit 141 provided in the printer controller 14 analyzes PDL (Page Description Language) data received from an external device, and develops print target data on a bitmap memory. The printer engine 15 prints a monochrome or color image on one or both sides of the paper supplied from the multi-stage paper stocker 16. The finisher 17 is used for a finishing process in which the printed paper is folded in two or stapled. The network interface 18 connects the MFP 1 to the network 4 and enables LAN communication and facsimile communication between the MFP 1 and the outside. The storage 19 is a mass storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD). The storage 19 is provided with a memory area (so-called box) for storing various document files as well as a memory area for storing control data including image information for displaying an operation screen.

  The user who operates such MFP 1 is provided with the following graphical user interface (GUI) by screen display control.

  FIG. 3 shows a screen layout of the operation screen Q related to the copy operation. The operation screen Q is an image covering almost the entire display surface DS of the display. Almost the upper half of the operation screen Q is assigned to the variable display area 30 that dynamically changes the display contents according to the operation. Item group keys 35, 36, and 37 for selecting a group of setting items are arranged in the lower left portion of the operation screen Q, and a start key 31 for starting a copy operation is arranged in the lower right portion of the operation screen Q. .

  In the MFP 1, setting items related to the copy operation are roughly divided into a basic group as a first group and an application group as a second group. The basic group is a group of basic items related to many of various copying operations, and items classified into the basic group (hereinafter referred to as “basic items”) are items whose setting change frequency is relatively high. It is. In this example, the basic group is further subdivided into two subgroups of “basic 1” and “basic 2”. In the following, when it is necessary to distinguish between items belonging to the basic 1 subgroup and items belonging to the basic 2 subgroup among the basic items, the former is referred to as “basic 1 item” and the latter is referred to as “basic 2 item”. That's it. An application group is a group to which items other than basic items (hereinafter referred to as “application items”) belong. The item group key 35 corresponds to the basic 1 subgroup, the item group key 36 corresponds to the basic 2 subgroup, and the item group key 37 corresponds to the application group. Regarding grouping, the application group may be subdivided into a plurality of subgroups, and a key for selecting each subgroup may be provided. The user may be able to customize which setting items are basic items and the rest are application items.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of an item selection screen for selecting basic items. The item selection screen Q35 in FIG. 4 is an initial screen in the copy operation mode, and when user authentication is completed, when a standby state is entered in an operation in which user authentication is omitted, or a touch operation for pressing the item group key 35 is performed. It is displayed when there is. In the item selection screen Q35, in the variable display area 30, five item keys 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 corresponding to one basic item are arranged in a horizontal row. Then, the item group key 35 corresponding to the selected basic one subgroup among the three item group keys 35, 36 and 37 is emphasized so as to be distinguished from the other two. In the figure, it is emphasized by black and white inversion.

  Each item key 51 to 55 is an icon called a function badge on which a symbol graphic representing a corresponding setting item is drawn. One basic item in the example is “original image quality”, “color”, “density”, “paper”, and “magnification”. Under each item key 51-55, a character string indicating the corresponding item name is displayed. When the user selects any of the item keys 51 to 55 by a touch operation, an operation screen for setting the selected basic item is displayed instead of the item selection screen Q35 as will be described later.

  It should be noted that since the setting for the basic 1 item is not directly related to the screen display control, the description of the setting content of the basic 1 item is omitted. The same applies to other setting items.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of an item selection screen for selecting setting items of application groups. The item selection screen Q37 in FIG. 5 is displayed when, for example, a touch operation for pressing the item group key 37 is performed. In order to indicate that the application group is selected, the item group key 37 of the three item group keys 35, 36, and 37 is emphasized so as to distinguish it from the other two.

  In the item selection screen Q37, the variable display area 30 is a scroll display area. In the variable display area 30, a part of the key arrangement 50 in which a plurality of item keys 61, 62, 63, 64, 66,... 86 corresponding to the setting items classified into the application group are arranged in a row is displayed. The The displayed portion of the key array 50 has a length corresponding to five item keys. On the item selection screen Q37, five item keys 61 to 65 corresponding to the left end portion in the key arrangement 50 are displayed. The left end portion of the key arrangement 50 is a portion determined as an initial value of a portion to be displayed.

  As elements for the scroll operation, a scroll bar 95 and a slider (also called a cursor) 96 are displayed at the lower end of the variable display area 30. The slider 96 moves left and right along the scroll bar 95. The ratio of the lengths of the scroll bar 95 and the slider 96 is substantially equal to the ratio of the lengths of the key layout 50 extending over the item selection screen Q37 and the displayed portion of the key layout 50. The scroll bar 95 and the slider 96 indicate which part of the key arrangement 50 is displayed.

  The user can display a desired portion of the key array 50 by touching the slider 96 and dragging it to the right or left. If the slider 96 is dragged to the right, the key array 50 moves to the left, and if the slider 96 is dragged to the left, the key array 50 moves to the right. However, since the state of the illustrated item selection screen Q37 is a state in which the key arrangement 50 has moved to the left, the key arrangement 50 can be moved only to the right on the item selection screen Q37.

  In the present embodiment, the key array 50 itself can be moved by dragging or sliding (fast and short dragging and releasing operation). In the scroll operation in which the key arrangement 50 is touched, the key arrangement 50 moves in the same direction as the drag direction, unlike the operation using the slider 96.

  FIG. 6 shows a functional configuration related to screen display in the control circuit 11. The control circuit 11 includes an input processing unit 201, a screen display unit 202, a scroll instruction unit 203, a recording unit 204, and an information management unit 205. These elements are functional elements realized by the CPU 113 executing a predetermined control computer program.

  Based on the touch input signal output from the touch input device 101B, the input processing unit 201 analyzes the content of the operation performed on the touch panel 101 and transmits the content of the operation to other predetermined functional elements. In the analysis, touch the display surface with a finger (you may use a touch pen or a similar tool), release the touch to release the pressed finger from the display surface, and move the finger to trace the display surface while pressing A drag is determined.

  The screen display unit 202 switches the operation screen displayed on the display 101 </ b> A according to the operation analyzed by the input processing unit 201. Image data D10 for displaying various operation screens is included in display data (not shown) stored in the ROM 112, the NV-RAM 116, or the storage 19. The screen display unit 202 has six components (denoted by reference numerals 221 to 226), each of which is responsible for display processing of a predetermined operation screen.

  The first display processing unit 221 that is the first component of the screen display unit 202 is responsible for display processing of an item selection screen for selecting basic items classified into the basic group that is the first group. Specifically, the first display processing unit 221 displays the above-described item selection screen Q35 on the display 101A instead of the currently displayed screen in response to, for example, the operation of the item group key 35. Further, the first display processing unit 221 displays an item selection screen Q36 (see FIG. 9B) having five item keys respectively corresponding to one basic item in response to an operation of the item group key 36, for example. Instead of the currently displayed screen, the display 101A is displayed.

  The second display processing unit 222 which is the second component of the screen display unit 202 performs display processing of a setting operation screen for setting a total of 10 basic items including the basic 1 item and the basic 2 item. Take charge. Specifically, the second display processing unit 222 displays a setting operation screen corresponding to the selected item key in response to an operation of selecting any of the five item keys on the item selection screen Q35 or the item selection screen Q36. Instead of the item selection screen Q35 or the item selection screen Q36 being displayed, it is displayed on the display 101A.

  The scroll display processing unit 223, which is the third component of the screen display unit 202, is responsible for display processing of an item selection screen for selecting application items classified into application groups that are the second group. Specifically, the scroll display processing unit 223, for example, in response to an operation of the item group key 37, an item selection screen having a scroll area for displaying a part of the above-described key arrangement 50 (one of which is the above-described item selection screen). The screen Q37) is displayed on the display 101A instead of the currently displayed screen. In addition, the scroll display processing unit 223 changes the portion to be displayed in the key array 50 in response to a scroll operation for dragging the slider 96, for example. That is, the key arrangement 50 is scrolled.

  The message display unit 224, which is the fourth component of the screen display unit 202, is responsible for message screen display processing. Specifically, the message display unit 224 displays the setting operation screen related to the basic group from the setting operation screen to the item selection screen for the basic item without performing an operation for changing the setting on the setting operation screen. When the return operation is performed, a message screen Q56b (see FIG. 17B) is displayed on the display 101A asking the user whether other setting items related to the basic item corresponding to the setting operation screen are being searched. .

The guidance display unit 225, which is the fifth component of the screen display unit 202, is responsible for displaying the operation guidance screen. Specifically, the guidance display unit 225 indicates that the setting operation is prohibited when an operation for selecting an item key corresponding to the application item for which the combination setting with the basic item setting is prohibited is performed. An operation guidance screen Q37e (see FIG. 14B) is displayed on the display 101A. The other display unit 226, which is the sixth component of the screen display unit 202, is not shown for setting application items. Responsible for display processing of setting operation screens and other screens. When an item key is selected on the item selection screen displayed by the scroll display processing unit 223, the other display unit 226 displays the setting operation screen corresponding to the selected item key on the display 101A instead of the currently displayed screen. Display.

  An instruction regarding scrolling is given to the screen display unit 202 from the scroll instruction unit 202. The scroll instruction unit 202 is an item for an application item having a scroll area while the setting operation screen related to the basic group is displayed by the second display processing unit 222 and the operation for changing the setting is not performed on the setting operation screen. When an operation for displaying the selection screen is performed, the scroll display processing unit 223 is caused to execute display processing for assisting the user. The display process is to set the display part in the key arrangement 50 so as to include the item key associated with the setting operation screen being displayed by the related information D30 that determines the application item related to each basic item. This is a process for displaying an item selection screen for application items. That is, the scroll instruction unit 202 estimates an application item that the user wants to set based on the related information D30, and displays a screen display so that an item key for selecting the desired application item is automatically displayed. Control. As a result, the user can select the item key without scrolling regardless of where the desired item key is located in the key array 50.

  The related information D30 is updated at any time by the information management unit 205 so as to indicate a more preferable association for the user. The information management unit 205 refers to the history of operations recorded by the recording unit 204, and preferentially associates application items having a greater number of times set in combination with each basic item. When the MFP 1 is shared by a plurality of users as in a general company office, the related information D30 may be created for each user identified by user authentication, or created for each department to which the user belongs. May be. If there is no significant difference in usage tendency among users, the related information D30 may be applied to all users in common without distinguishing the users. The cycle, timing, and related application item selection algorithm for updating the related information D30 can be selected according to the use environment of the MFP 1.

  Hereinafter, a specific example of screen display control of the MFP 1 will be described assuming a copy operation.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the contents of the relation table T1 related to the screen display control of the first embodiment. The related table T1 is stored by the NV-RAM 116 or the storage 19 as the above-described related information D30. In the association table T1, one or two application items are associated with each of a plurality of basic items. In the example, a maximum of two application items are associated with one basic item, but if there are three or more related application items, all of them may be associated. Priorities are determined in association. For example, in the association with the basic item “original image quality”, the priority of the application item “character expression” is first, and the priority of the application item “glossy copy” is second. In the display process instructed by the scroll instruction unit 203 described above, the scroll position is determined so that the item key corresponding to the application item having the first priority is displayed. However, the priority order may be changed by updating the association table T1 performed by the information management unit 205.

  In the association table T1 in the example of FIG. 7, application items are associated with 8 out of a total of 10 basic items, and application items are not associated with the remaining 2 basic items. In other words, there are no application items related to the two basic items. However, in the present embodiment, if the related application item is not in the related table T1, the initial position is automatically selected when the scroll position is automatically determined. Therefore, the initial position of the two basic items is substantially determined. Application items are related.

  8A to 8C and FIGS. 9A to 9C show examples of screen transitions. Here, as an example of the situation, a situation is assumed in which the user wants to copy all pages of a document sheet with the date added, and intends to make settings for it. Since the additional information is not printed in the initial setting (default), the user first searches for a setting item for setting the additional information to be printed. For example, assume that the search starts with the item selection screen Q35 shown in FIG. The item selection screen Q35 in FIG. 8A is a copy initial screen described with reference to FIG.

  On the item selection screen Q35 in FIG. 8A, the user who has determined that none of the item keys (function badges) 51 to 55 of the basic one item are likely to correspond to the date printing is displayed by the item group key 36. When selected (the broken line ellipse in the figure represents the target of the touch operation), the display is switched from the item selection screen Q35 in FIG. 8A to the item selection screen Q36 in FIG. 8B. The item selection screen Q36 has five item keys 56-60 for selecting two basic items.

  In the item selection screen Q36 of FIG. 8B, when the user who has determined that one “stamp” of the basic two items corresponds to printing additional information selects the item key 56 corresponding to the basic two item “stamp”, The display is switched from the item selection screen Q36 in FIG. 8B to the setting operation screen Q56 in FIG. However, the example setting operation screen Q56 is a screen for setting a format for printing page numbers, and is not a screen for setting a date format. The user who understands this presses the “return” key 561 arranged in the variable display area 30 in order to end the display of the setting operation screen Q56.

  FIG. 9A shows the same display state as FIG. When the user presses the “return” key 561, the display is switched from the setting operation screen Q56 in FIG. 9A to the item selection screen Q36 in FIG. 9B. That is, the display state before displaying the setting operation screen Q56 is restored.

  On the item selection screen Q36 in FIG. 9B, the user who wants to continue searching for setting items selects the item group key 37 to display the item selection screen for application items. Then, in response to this operation, the above-described display processing in which the scroll instruction unit 203 and the scroll display processing unit 223 cooperate is performed. That is, referring to the management table T1 in FIG. 7, among the application items associated with the basic item “stamp” corresponding to the setting operation screen Q56 displayed without changing the setting, the “date” having the highest priority is displayed. "Is noted. Then, the scroll position is automatically set so that the item key corresponding to the application item “date” is displayed. As a result, instead of the item selection screen Q36 of FIG. 9B, the item selection screen Q37b of the application item of FIG. 9C is displayed. The item selection screen Q37b has an item key 80 corresponding to the application item “date”.

  As shown in FIG. 9C, a total of five item keys 80 to 84 displayed on the item selection screen Q37b correspond to portions near the right end of the key arrangement 50. On the other hand, the left end portion of the key arrangement 50 is displayed on the item selection screen Q37b of FIG. Here, if the scroll position is always determined as the initial position when the display is switched in response to the operation of the item group key 37, the display is switched to the item selection screen Q37b of FIG. 5 instead of the item selection screen Q37b. Then, in order to display the item key 80 corresponding to the desired application item “date”, the user has to perform a scroll operation of moving the displayed portion in the key arrangement 50 from the left end portion to the portion near the right end. According to the first embodiment, such a scrolling operation can be eliminated.

  The flowchart of FIG. 10 shows the flow of screen display control of the first embodiment. The first display processing unit 221 displays basic item item selection screens Q35 and Q36 on the display 101A (S10). If any of the basic items is selected by touching the item keys 51 to 55 on the item selection screen Q35 or touching the item keys 56 to 60 on the item selection screen Q36 (YES in S12), the selected basic item The setting operation screen for setting is displayed on the display 101A by the second display processing unit 222 (S14). When an operation for changing the setting is performed on the displayed setting operation screen (YES in S16), the input processing unit 201 holds the changed setting as an effective setting for reflecting the job execution (S18). Settings can be changed by switching various specifications such as original image quality (text, photos) and paper size, adjusting control variables such as density and color balance, and selecting whether or not to print stamps. Includes ON / OFF switching of operation.

  When the item group key 37 for selecting the application group is operated after the setting for the basic item is changed (YES in S20), the scroll display processing unit 223 sets the scroll position to the initial position and the item of the application item. The selection screen Q37 is displayed on the display 101A (S22, S24).

  On the other hand, when the basic item setting operation screen is displayed in step S14, the scroll instructing unit 203 starts monitoring the operation, and application items for the basic items corresponding to the displayed setting operation screen are displayed by the related table T1. It is checked whether they are associated (S26). If there is no application item related to the basic item of interest, the scroll position is set to the initial position, and the flow proceeds to step S20. If there is an application item related to the basic item of interest and the item group key 37 for selecting an application group is operated without changing the setting for the basic item (YES in S26 and S28), the flow proceeds to step S30. . In step S30, the scroll display processing unit 223 that has received the instruction from the scroll instruction unit 203 automatically sets the scroll position so that the item key corresponding to the application item related to the basic item of interest is displayed. Then, the scroll display processing unit 223 displays an item selection screen for application items on the display 101A (S32). When the application item corresponding to the initial position is associated in the related table T1, the item selection screen Q37 in which the scroll position is the initial position is displayed in step S32 as in step S24.

  In the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the scroll position is automatically set by referring to the related table T1, and the scroll position is set based on the related table that associates each basic item and the application item separately from the related table T1. Set automatically.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of the contents of the relation table T2 related to the screen display control of the second embodiment. In the association table T2, application items that must be set or are often set subsequent to the setting for each basic item are shown. The automatic setting of the scroll position based on the association table T2 is performed to assist the user who makes a series of settings related to both basic items and application items.

  The association table T2 is stored in the NV-RAM 116 or the storage 19 as the association information D30 together with the association table T1 described above. In the association table T2, one or two application items are associated with each of a plurality of basic items. In the example, a maximum of two application items are associated with one basic item, but if there are three or more related application items, all of them may be associated. Priorities are determined in association. For example, in the association with the basic item “stamp”, the priority of the application item “watermark” is first, and the priority of the application item “header footer” is second. In the display process instructed by the scroll instruction unit 203 described above, the scroll position is determined so that the item key corresponding to the application item having the first priority is displayed. However, the priority order may be changed by updating the association table T2 performed by the information management unit 205.

  12A and 12B show an example of screen transition of the second embodiment. Here, as an example of the situation, the user wants to create a booklet by copying multiple manuscript sheets printed with text composed of multiple chapters, and then insert an intersheet for each chapter. Assume a situation where you are trying to set up.

  After making a desired setting such as selecting the binding direction on the setting operation screen (not shown) for the booklet, the user who has returned the display from the setting operation screen to the item selection screen Q36 in FIG. 12A displays the application item “Intersheet”. An application group is selected by the item group key 37 for setting. Then, the scroll display processing unit 223 displays the item key corresponding to the “cover sheet” having the highest priority among the application items associated with the basic item “booklet” with reference to the related table T2 of FIG. The scroll position is set automatically. At this time, “cover sheet”, “insert page”, “inter sheet”, and “chapter division” belong to the same group in the category of application items according to the attribute information of the item, so items corresponding to these four application items The scroll position where the keys are displayed simultaneously is set. As a result, in place of the item selection screen Q36 in FIG. 12A, the application item item selection screen Q37c in FIG. 12B is displayed. On the item selection screen Q37c, five item keys 76 to 80 including an item key 78 corresponding to “inter sheet” are arranged in the variable display area 30 as a scroll area.

  The flowchart of FIG. 13 shows the flow of screen display control of the second embodiment. The flow of FIG. 13 includes step S19 that is not in the flow of the first embodiment of FIG. Except for this point, the flow of FIG. 13 is basically the same as the flow of FIG.

  Also in the second embodiment, the first display processing unit 221 displays basic item item selection screens Q35 and Q36 on the display 101A (S10). If any of the basic items is selected by touching the item keys 51 to 55 on the item selection screen Q35 or touching the item keys 56 to 60 on the item selection screen Q36 (YES in S12), the selected basic item The setting operation screen for setting is displayed on the display 101A by the second display processing unit 222 (S14). When an operation for changing the setting is performed on the displayed setting operation screen (YES in S16), the input processing unit 201 holds the changed setting as an effective setting for reflecting the job execution (S18). While the setting operation screen is displayed, the scroll instruction unit 203 checks whether or not the application item is associated with the basic item corresponding to the setting operation screen by the association table T2 (S19). If there is no application item related to the basic item of interest, the scroll position is set to the initial position, and the flow proceeds to step S20. If there is an application item related to the basic item of interest, the scroll position is set to the initial position, and the flow proceeds to step S28.

  In step S20, when the item group key 37 for selecting an application group is operated (YES in S20), the scroll display processing unit 223 sets the scroll position to the initial position and displays the application item item selection screen Q37 on the display 101A. (S22, S24).

  On the other hand, when the basic item setting operation screen is displayed in step S14, the scroll instructing unit 203 starts monitoring the operation, and application items for the basic items corresponding to the displayed setting operation screen are displayed by the related table T1. It is checked whether they are associated (S26). If there is no application item related to the basic item of interest, the scroll position is set to the initial position, and the flow proceeds to step S20. If there is an application item related to the basic item of interest and the item group key 37 for selecting the application group is operated without changing the setting for the basic item (YES in S26 and S28), the flow proceeds to step S30b. . In step S30b, the scroll display processing unit 223 that has received the instruction from the scroll instruction unit 203 displays the item key corresponding to the application item related to the basic item of interest in the related table T1 or the related table T2. Is set automatically. At this time, if the check in step S16 is YES, the related table T1 is referred to. If the check in step S16 is NO, the related table T2 is referred to. Then, the scroll display processing unit 223 displays an item selection screen for application items on the display 101A (S32).

  In the third embodiment, in addition to the automatic setting of the scroll position based on the related information D30, control is performed to automatically display item keys of application items that the user wants to display based on the operation history information D40. .

  FIGS. 14A and 14B and FIGS. 15A to 15C show examples of screen transitions. Here, it is assumed that a user wants to make a copy of a mixture of chapters for color printing and chapters for monochrome printing as a single job, and make settings for that. In the initial setting (default), the grouping for each page is “Yes”.

  For example, the user first displays the item selection screen Q37d having the item key 86 of the application item “program job” shown in FIG. 14A, and performs a touch operation to select the item key 86. Then, in MFP 1, the grouping for each page and the combination setting of the program job are prohibited, so that guidance display unit 225 replaces item selection screen Q 37 d in FIG. 14A with operation guidance in FIG. 14B. The screen Q37e is displayed on the display. The operation guidance screen Q37e has a window W86 for displaying a message text indicating that a program job setting operation is prohibited. The operation guidance screen Q37e corresponds to a screen in which the window W86 is pop-up displayed on the item selection screen Q37d.

  FIG. 15A shows the same display state as FIG. The user who sees the message text in the window W86 instructs the switching of the screen to change the grouping setting in order to perform an operation for canceling the prohibited state. Then, in order to set “program job” again, for example, the item group key 37 of the application group is selected on the item selection screen Q36 of FIG. Then, the scroll instruction unit 203 instructs the scroll display processing unit 223 to automatically set the scroll position. The scroll display processing unit 223 automatically sets the scroll position so as to include the item key 86 corresponding to the “program job” for which the combination setting is prohibited, and displays the item selection screen Q37d of FIG. 15C on the display. . On the item selection screen Q37d, five item keys 82 to 86 including an item key 86 corresponding to “program job” are arranged in the variable display area 30 as a scroll area.

  In the fourth embodiment, scroll display is performed when the scroll display processing unit 223 receives an instruction from the scroll instruction unit 203 and displays an item selection screen for application items.

  FIGS. 16A to 16C show examples of screen transitions. 9B and 9C, the display is immediately switched from the item selection screen Q36 for basic items to the item selection screen Q37b for application items. On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, the display is switched from the item selection screen Q36 for the basic items to the item selection screen Q37 with the scroll position as the initial position, and then automatic scrolling starts immediately, and the item selection from the item selection screen Q37. A scrolling display is performed in which the display changes to the screen Q37b.

  In the fifth embodiment, when an operation for returning the display from the setting operation screen to the basic item selection screen is performed without performing an operation for changing the setting on the basic item setting operation screen, other setting items are displayed. A message display unit 224 that asks the user whether or not it is looking for displays a message screen.

  17A to 17C show an example of screen transition. In the example of FIGS. 9A and 9B described above, when the “return” key 561 is operated on the basic item setting operation screen Q56, the display is immediately returned to the item selection screen Q36 according to the instruction. In the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the message screen Q56b is displayed in response to the operation of the “return” key 561. The message screen Q56b has a window W561 that displays a message sentence asking the user whether or not other setting items related to the basic item “stamp” corresponding to the setting operation screen Q56 are being searched. Message screen Q56b corresponds to a screen in which window W561 is pop-up displayed on setting operation screen Q56.

  When the user operates the “No” key 5612 arranged in the window W561, the display is returned to the item selection screen Q36 according to the instruction by the operation of the previous “Return” key 561.

  On the other hand, when the user operates the “Yes” key 5610 arranged in the window W561 as an operation indicating that another setting item is being searched, the management table T1 in FIG. 7 is referred to, and the setting is displayed without being changed. Of the application items associated with the basic item “stamp” corresponding to the setting operation screen Q56 for which “No” has been completed, “date” having the highest priority is noted. Then, the scroll position is automatically set so as to display the item key corresponding to the application item “date”, and instead of the message screen Q56b of FIG. 17B, the item selection screen Q37b of the application item of FIG. Is displayed.

  In addition to the fifth embodiment, there is a screen display control for changing the screen as shown in FIG. 18 as a modification of the first embodiment. When, for example, the item key 56 is selected on the item selection screen Q36 for the basic items in FIG. 18A, the setting operation screen Q56 in FIG. 18B is displayed. This screen transition is the same as the transition of FIGS. 8B and 8C. When the operation for returning the display from the setting operation screen Q36 to the item selection screen Q36 of the basic item is performed without performing the operation for changing the setting on the setting operation screen Q56, unlike the first embodiment in FIG. The display is not returned to the item selection screen Q36, and unlike the embodiment 5 of FIG. 17, the message screen Q56b is not displayed, and in the example of FIG. 18, the item selection screen Q37b of the application item is displayed. The item selection screen Q37b is a screen in which the scroll position is automatically set so as to have the “date” item key 80 associated with the setting operation screen Q56 by the related table T1 as in the first embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the setting operation screen of the item selected on the item selection screen of the application item is about to be set in which the combination setting is prohibited, and the user sees the message display indicating the prohibited state. When the operation to cancel the prohibition of setting is performed, the display of the item selection screen of the application item is omitted, and the display to the setting operation screen of the original application item for which the previously prohibited setting was attempted is automatically displayed. Can be returned to.

  In the above-described embodiment, the key arrangement order of the key arrangement 50 can be selected as appropriate. For example, items that are often set in combination can be grouped together, and the groups can be arranged, for example, from left to right in order of frequency of setting. In this case, by setting the left end as the scroll initial position, item keys having a high selection frequency are easily displayed.

  The contents of the association tables T1 and T2 can be appropriately selected according to the type of function installed in the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus other than the MFP 1 given as an example. In addition, the present invention can be applied to UIs of various information devices that display a scroll display screen in response to pressing of an operation key. The operation means for designating the position in the display surface is not limited to the touch panel, and may be a combination of a display that displays a cursor and a mouse or other pointing device that moves the cursor.

1 MFP (image forming device)
51-60 Item key for basic item (first item key)
Q35, Q36 First item selection screen 10 Operation panel 221 First display processing unit Q56 Setting operation screen 222 Second display processing unit 61-66, 75-86 Application item item key (second item key)
50 Key arrangement Q37, Q37b to d Second item selection screen 223 Scroll display processing unit T1 related table (first information)
T2 related table (second information)
203 Scroll instruction section 224 Message display section Q56b Message screen Q37e 225 Guidance display section Q37e Operation guidance screen 204 Recording section 205 Information management section

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus having an operation panel for displaying a screen,
A first display for displaying a first item selection screen having a plurality of first item keys respectively corresponding to a plurality of first setting items classified in the first group on the operation panel instead of the screen being displayed. A processing unit;
In response to an operation for selecting one of the plurality of first item keys, a setting operation screen for setting a first setting item corresponding to the selected first item key is displayed on the first item selection screen. A second display processing unit to be displayed on the operation panel instead of,
A second item selection screen having a part of a key arrangement in which a plurality of second item keys respectively corresponding to a plurality of second setting items classified into the second group are arranged in a row is replaced with a screen being displayed. A scroll display processing unit for displaying on the operation panel and changing a display part in the key arrangement in response to a scroll operation;
When the operation for displaying the second item selection screen is performed without performing the operation for changing the setting on the setting operation screen while the setting operation screen is displayed, the first setting item and the second setting The portion to be displayed in the key arrangement is set so as to include the second item key associated with the setting operation screen by the first information that defines the relationship with the item, and the second item selection screen is displayed on the operation panel. An image forming apparatus comprising: a scroll instruction unit that causes the scroll display processing unit to execute a process to be displayed. When the operation for returning the display from the setting operation screen to the first item selection screen is performed while the setting operation screen is displayed and the operation for changing the setting is not performed on the setting operation screen, the selection is performed. A message display unit for displaying on the operation panel a message screen asking the user whether or not another setting item related to the first setting item corresponding to the first item key is searched;
The scroll instruction unit is associated with the setting operation screen by the first information when an operation indicating that the other setting item is being searched for is performed while the message screen is displayed. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the scroll display processing unit is configured to execute a process of setting a display part in the key arrangement so as to include a two-item key and displaying the second item selection screen on the operation panel. apparatus. When the setting operation screen is displayed and an operation for changing the setting is performed on the setting operation screen, and then an operation for displaying the second item selection screen is performed, the scroll instruction unit A portion to be displayed in the key arrangement so as to include a second item key associated with the setting operation screen by the second information separately defining the relationship between the first setting item and the second setting item. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scroll display processing unit is configured to execute a process of displaying the second item selection screen on the operation panel. In response to an instruction from the scroll instruction unit, the scroll display processing unit displays a portion defined as an initial value of a portion to be displayed in the key arrangement, and then the setting operation screen according to the first information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the key arrangement is scrolled until a second item key associated with is displayed. An operation guidance screen indicating that the setting operation is prohibited when an operation for selecting the second item key corresponding to the second setting item for which the combination setting with the setting of the first setting item is prohibited is performed. Is further provided with a guidance display unit for displaying on the operation panel,
After the operation guidance screen is displayed, the scroll instruction unit performs an operation of changing a setting state of the first setting item so that the prohibition of the setting operation is canceled, and then the second item. When an operation for displaying a selection screen is performed, a portion to be displayed in the key arrangement is set so as to include a second item key corresponding to the second setting item for which combination setting is prohibited. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scroll display processing unit is configured to execute a process of displaying the item selection screen on the operation panel. 6. A recording unit for recording an operation history;
Information for updating the first information so as to preferentially associate the second setting item having a high frequency of operation with respect to the first setting item in which a plurality of second setting items are options for association based on the recorded history. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a management unit. A recording unit for recording an operation history;
Based on the recorded history, the first information and the second information are preferentially associated with the second setting item having a high operation frequency for the first setting item in which the plurality of second setting items are options for association. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an information management unit that updates information. An image forming apparatus having an operation panel for displaying a screen,
A first display for displaying a first item selection screen having a plurality of first item keys respectively corresponding to a plurality of first setting items classified in the first group on the operation panel instead of the screen being displayed. A processing unit;
In response to an operation for selecting one of the plurality of first item keys, a setting operation screen for setting a first setting item corresponding to the selected first item key is displayed on the first item selection screen. A second display processing unit to be displayed on the operation panel instead of,
A second item selection screen having a part of a key arrangement in which a plurality of second item keys respectively corresponding to a plurality of second setting items classified into the second group are arranged in a row is replaced with a screen being displayed. A scroll display processing unit for displaying on the operation panel and changing a display part in the key arrangement in response to a scroll operation;
When the operation for returning the display from the setting operation screen to the first item selection screen is performed while the setting operation screen is displayed and the operation for changing the setting is not performed on the setting operation screen, the selection is performed. A message display unit for displaying on the operation panel a message screen asking the user whether or not another setting item related to the first setting item corresponding to the first item key is searched;
When the operation indicating that the other setting item is being searched for is performed while the message screen is displayed, the setting operation is performed based on the first information that defines the relationship between the first setting item and the second setting item. Setting the portion to be displayed in the key arrangement so as to include the second item key associated with the screen and causing the scroll display processing unit to execute processing for displaying the second item selection screen on the operation panel An image forming apparatus comprising: a scroll instruction unit. A computer program executed in an image forming apparatus having an operation panel for displaying a screen,
When executed by a computer included in the image forming apparatus,
A first display for displaying a first item selection screen having a plurality of first item keys respectively corresponding to a plurality of first setting items classified in the first group on the operation panel instead of the screen being displayed. A processing unit;
In response to an operation for selecting one of the plurality of first item keys, a setting operation screen for setting a first setting item corresponding to the selected first item key is displayed on the first item selection screen. A second display processing unit to be displayed on the operation panel instead of,
A second item selection screen having a part of a key arrangement in which a plurality of second item keys respectively corresponding to a plurality of second setting items classified into the second group are arranged in a row is replaced with a screen being displayed. A scroll display processing unit for displaying on the operation panel and changing a display part in the key arrangement in response to a scroll operation;
When the operation for displaying the second item selection screen is performed without performing the operation for changing the setting on the setting operation screen while the setting operation screen is displayed, the first setting item and the second setting The portion to be displayed in the key arrangement is set so as to include the second item key associated with the setting operation screen by the first information that defines the relationship with the item, and the second item selection screen is displayed on the operation panel. A computer program that causes the computer to realize a scroll instruction unit that causes the scroll display processing unit to execute processing to be displayed.

Images