JP2006139006A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that can be used even when a plurality of users share it by easily talking items concerning to the image forming apparatus and image forming processing to the users. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus performs a step of inputting items relating to MEP which a user talks to another user as a message, setting the display form, and setting a link of sound data at need and related processing operation. The message, display form information, sound data information and link information are stored to a memory region for the message of a storing part 2 to register the message input by the user. A control unit 1 displays the registered message on a panel display unit 5 in a set display form, and if the sound data are set, a notification part 6 is controlled to generate music or the like. In addition, when the user selects the message set by the link, processing operation is executed as designated by the link destination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having display means.

  Many image forming apparatuses are provided with display means such as an LCD panel for displaying processing settings and operation states. The display content of such display means is determined at the time of manufacture in accordance with the function of the image forming apparatus, etc., and is generally uniform content predetermined for each model. In general, the display mode showing the on-screen is a uniform mode by a predetermined screen display.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for changing the display of each item on the display screen according to the user's setting for the operation display device of the image forming apparatus. In this technology, the items whose display mode is set by the user are associated with the items in the initial setting screen stored in the memory in advance, and only the display mode is changed without changing the display content displayed on the screen. Thus, the screen display of the operation display device can be changed to a mode suitable for the user's request.

On the other hand, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, information that is unrelated to the image forming apparatus and the image forming process is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus, and the apparatus is provided when the display unit is not used. The display means is effectively used by providing information to the user by the operator or the device owner. This technology is information irrelevant to information relating to the image forming apparatus and image forming processing stored in the storage means as information other than the predetermined uniform display contents, and the apparatus provider or Meaningful information provided by the apparatus owner to any apparatus user is displayed on the display means of the image forming apparatus. And as such a meaningful matter, notification, a message, and a commercial are illustrated by patent document 2. FIG.
JP 2001-282408 A (paragraphs 0012 to 0014 and paragraphs 0017 to 0024 and FIGS. 1 and 2) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-261609 (paragraph 0120 to paragraph 0185 and FIGS. 1 and 19 to 47)

  By the way, in an image forming apparatus shared by a plurality of users, matters related to the image forming apparatus and image forming processing may be mainly communicated between users. For example, a user who notices a malfunction of a certain function notifies the other user of that, or a certain user reports other settings such as settings related to output processing of specific data to other users. In such a case, the matters relating to the image forming apparatus and the image forming processing cannot be communicated to other users by general display means in which the display contents are uniform. The current situation is that it is explained or is attached to the image forming apparatus, which is troublesome and troublesome for the user.

  In contrast to the current situation, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not change the display content itself on the operation display device of the image forming apparatus. Can not. In addition, since the technology disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 provides information that is irrelevant to the image forming apparatus or the image forming process by the apparatus provider or the apparatus owner, a certain user can It is not suitable for transferring information related to the image forming apparatus or image forming processing to other users, and in that case, it cannot be a means for improving the current situation that the user has been troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and allows the user to easily convey matters related to the image forming apparatus and image forming processing, and can be used smoothly even when shared by a plurality of users. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing the above.

  In order to achieve such an object, a first image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a display unit, and includes a message message regarding the image forming apparatus input by a user and a display form designated by the user. Storage means for storing information, and control means for causing the display means to display the message message stored in the storage means in accordance with the display form information stored in the storage means.

  The second image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a display unit, and the image corresponding to the message message related to the image forming apparatus input by the user and the message message specified by the user. Storage means for storing information on the processing operation of the forming apparatus; and displaying the message message stored in the storage means on the display means, and when the user selects the displayed message message, Control means for causing the image forming apparatus to execute the processing operation based on the processing operation information stored in the storage unit.

  Here, in the second image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the storage unit further stores information on a display form designated by the user, and the control unit stores the message message in the storage unit. You may make it display on the said display means according to the information of the displayed form. The processing operation may be printing of print data by the image forming apparatus.

  Further, any of the image forming apparatuses described above further includes a generating unit that generates a sound, the storage unit further stores information on a sound designated by the user, and the control unit stores the information in the storage unit. The sound may be generated by the generating means based on the sound information.

  According to the present invention, since the message message relating to the image forming apparatus input by the user is displayed on the display means according to the information on the display form designated by the user, the display on the display means causes the image to be displayed to the user. Matters relating to the forming apparatus and the image forming process can be easily communicated, and the image forming apparatus can be used smoothly even when shared by a plurality of users.

  Further, according to the present invention, a message message related to the image forming apparatus input by the user and information on processing operations of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the message message specified by the user are stored, and the message message is displayed in the display When the user selects the displayed message message, the processing operation is executed by the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the user simply selects the displayed message message. A processing operation corresponding to the message message is executed in the image forming apparatus. Thereby, in addition to being able to inform the user of matters relating to the image forming apparatus and the image forming process, it is possible to easily and smoothly perform processing operations in the image forming apparatus related thereto. For example, if the processing operation is printing of print data by the image forming apparatus, the user who sees the message message can print the image or document of the corresponding print data simply by selecting the message message.

<Configuration>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an MFP (Multi-Function Printer) that is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The MFP includes a control unit 1, a storage unit 2, a scanner unit 3, an image forming unit 4, a panel display unit 5, a notification unit 6, a facsimile transmission / reception unit 7 and a network communication unit 8, as shown in the figure. It is a multi-function machine having the functions of a printer, a scanner and a facsimile transmitter / receiver, and has a function as a server for another computer (not shown) connected to the network.

  The control unit 1 includes a calculation unit such as a CPU that executes calculation processes related to various information processing, a non-volatile memory such as a ROM that stores system information necessary for starting the MFP, and a working storage area of the calculation unit As a control means having a semiconductor memory such as a cache memory or a RAM that stores information in an updatable manner, and controls information processing in the MFP, operation control of each unit, information exchange with the outside, and the like. The functions of the MFP as a copier, printer, scanner, and facsimile transmitter / receiver (hereinafter referred to as “copy function”, “printer function”, “scanner function”, and “facsimile function”) are the control unit 1 as a main component. It is realized by the operation described above, and a plurality of users can share these functions.

  The memory | storage part 2 is a memory | storage means comprised with non-volatile memories, such as EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) and a hard disk. The storage unit 2 stores program files such as a control program and an information processing program executed by the control unit 1 in advance, and data such as image data related to image forming processing when each function of the MFP operates.・ Files are also stored at any time.

  Here, the program file stored in the storage unit 2 includes a message message program file that defines processing related to the message message unique to the MFP, and the control unit 1 stores the message message program. By executing, the processing described in the description of the operation described later is performed. The storage unit 2 is provided with a message message memory area that stores and holds information related to the message message, and the prepared memory area (hereinafter referred to as “message message memory area”) is a message. It is used at any time in processing related to messages.

  The scanner unit 3 is a document reading unit that performs copying, scanning, or facsimile transmission. The scanner unit 3 reads a document set on a document table (not shown) under the control of the control unit 1 and reads the data of the read document. To supply. The scanner unit 3 is equipped with an automatic document feeder or the like that sequentially conveys a plurality of documents to the document table as required.

  The image forming unit 4 includes a sheet feeding unit that feeds a sheet material that is printing paper, a transfer unit that transfers a toner image to the fed sheet material, and a fixing unit that performs a fixing process of the toner image transferred to the sheet material , And a sheet discharge unit that discharges the sheet material after toner image fixing, and performs a series of processes related to image formation under the control of the control unit 1. For example, when the copy function is activated, the scanner unit 3 reads a document set on the document table, and the control unit 1 supplies the read document data to the image forming unit 4 as image data. The image forming process based on the supplied image data is performed. Note that the sheet material used for image formation includes a plurality of paper feed stages for setting cut sheets to be printed, and the paper feed unit is fed from a selected paper feed stage. Yes.

  The panel display unit 5 is a display unit having a touch panel constituted by a CRT display panel, an LCD panel, or the like, and includes an operation unit 5a and a display unit 5b. The operation unit 5a is an input unit for inputting operation commands, operation settings, and the like for the MFP. The operation unit 5a includes various operation keys arranged on the touch panel and hardware keys provided as necessary. The input by the operation is received and supplied to the control unit 1. The display unit 5b is a part that functions as a display unit in the panel display unit 5, and includes a CRT display, an LCD, or the like of the touch panel. The display unit 5b as a display means in the panel display unit 5 displays settings and operation states related to the processing operation of the MFP under the control of the control unit 1, and as described in the operation description to be described later. The message message of the user is displayed by processing related to the message message unique to the MFP.

  The notification unit 6 is a sound generating means that is driven and controlled by the control unit 1, and generates a notification sound (buzzer sound, melody sound, etc.) for notifying abnormality and the like, in addition to a message message unique to this MFP. A sound based on the set sound data is generated. The generation of sound based on the sound data here will be clarified in the description of the operation described later.

  The facsimile transmission / reception unit 7 is a facsimile transmission / reception unit having a communication interface connected to a facsimile line and functioning as a FAX modem of the MFP. The facsimile transmission / reception unit 7 receives a facsimile image signal transmitted from the MFP from the control unit 1. The image signal is transmitted to the facsimile line, and the image signal transmitted from the facsimile line is received and supplied to the control unit 1.

  The network communication unit 8 has a communication interface connected to a network such as a LAN, and is responsible for information communication between the MFP and another computer such as a personal computer (not shown) connected to the network. The MFP can function as a server (shared by a plurality of users) for a plurality of computers by the control unit 1 exchanging information with other computers via the network communication unit 8. Yes.

  Although not shown, the MFP includes a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the waste toner conveyance path, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the fixing unit, a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity in the apparatus, and the like. Various sensors are also provided.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the MFP configured as described above will be described. The MFP functions as a copier, printer, scanner, and facsimile transmitter / receiver that can be shared by a plurality of users, and functions as a server for a network-connected computer. These functions are the same as those of a normal shared MFP having a server function, but the MFP performs processing related to a message message unique to the MFP by a message message program stored in the storage unit 2. The processing related to the message message also has an aspect of organically acting with a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and a server function, and gives an operation mode specific to this MFP to these functions. Therefore, in the following, the description of the operation of each function itself that is the same as that of a normal shared MFP will be omitted, and the processing operation relating to the message message unique to this MFP will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of two display screens developed in response to input in the panel display unit 5. In FIG. 2, the upper part shows an example of the screen of the display unit 5b (hereinafter referred to as “Ready state screen”) on which the Ready state, which is a print standby state in the printer function, is displayed. The portions indicated by circles or the like are the operation keys of the touch panel of the operation unit 5b. When the user selects and operates the “Printer Menu” key on this Ready state screen, the display screen on the panel display unit 5 is switched to the lower screen in FIG.

  Here, the user's key operation is performed by pressing an operation key such as a touch panel on the screen shown on the panel display unit 5 (or touching the operation key), but may be performed on a computer connected to the MFP and the network. Good. That is, a computer connected to the MFP via a network can exchange information with the control unit 1 via the network communication unit 8 and can input to the MFP as a terminal having the MFP as a server. A screen similar to that shown on panel display unit 5 is displayed on a display device of a computer (hereinafter referred to as “terminal computer”) as a terminal connected to the MFP and networked, and the user inputs an input device of the terminal computer. Key operation may be performed by operating.

  For example, when the input device of the terminal computer is composed of a keyboard and a mouse, the “printer menu” key is clicked with the mouse on the Ready state screen in the upper part of FIG. Select by. Thus, when the user performs key operations from the terminal computer, the input device of the terminal computer serves as the input means of the MFP instead of the operation unit 5a, and the display device of the terminal computer replaces the display unit 5b. The display unit of the MFP (hereinafter, the input by the user's key operation includes both the input by the key operation at the operation unit 5a of the panel display unit 5 and the input operation by the input device of the terminal computer) Therefore, the operation keys are simply referred to as “operation” or “selection”).

  The lower screen in FIG. 2 is an example of a printer menu screen on which operation keys for performing settings related to the printer function are shown as menu items. In this printer menu screen, a “message message” key in the menu item is an operation key for starting setting of a message message including registration of a message message.

  In the processing related to the message message unique to this MFP, the items related to this MFP that the user wants to convey to other users (items related to the status, settings, operations, execution of processing in this MFP, etc.) are registered as message messages. By displaying the registered message message on the display unit 5b on the panel display unit 5, a function of transmitting the message message registered by the user to another user is realized. The “message message” key corresponds to an operation key for starting registration of a message message for the purpose. When the user selects this, the display screen on the panel display unit 5 is an operation key for setting a message message. Switch to the message message setting screen where is displayed.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of two display screens developed in response to input in the panel display unit 5, and the upper part shows an example of a message message setting screen. In this message message setting screen, the “New” key is an operation key for registering a message message. Since the message message has not yet been registered in the MFP, if the user operates the “New” key, the display screen on the panel display unit 5 will display the “message message message” shown in the lower part of FIG. The MFP switches to an “input” screen, and the MFP starts a message message registration process.

(1) Message Message Registration Process FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a message message registration process performed by the MFP according to a user key operation. In the message message registration process, first, a message message input process performed by the user is performed (step S1).

  That is, when the MFP receives the operation input of the “New” key and displays the “Message Message Input” screen in the lower part of FIG. 3, the “Message Message Title” in the “Message Message Input” screen is displayed. The cursor is displayed on the screen and the input from the user is awaited (the vertical line in the figure is the cursor). As a result, the user inputs, as a message message, matters relating to the MFP that the user wants to convey to other users. The message message is input by the user by a predetermined character input operation at the operation unit 5b, a keyboard operation at the terminal computer, or the like, and “detailed message message information” is input after “message message title”. When the user operates the “decision” key in the “message message input” screen, the control unit 1 temporarily stores the message message of the user including the input message message title and the detailed message message information in the RAM or the like. Then, the message message input process is completed.

  Since this MFP conveys the user's message message to other users by displaying it on the panel display unit 5, after the message message input process is completed, a process for setting a display form for displaying the message message (Step S2). The display mode is set by displaying the “message message option setting” screen shown in FIG. 5 after the user operates the “enter” key in the “message message input” screen. This is performed by operating a “display type” key shown as one item of setting options on the screen.

  When the user operates the “display form” key in the “message message option setting” screen, the “message message display form” screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the panel display unit 5. In this embodiment, normal display that is always displayed on the panel display unit 5, display at every set time (display / non-display at every set time) display, and display unless a predetermined operation is performed. There are three display modes that are not displayed (switching between display and non-display by input by a predetermined key operation). “Normal display” key, “Display every hour” key, “ The “non-display” key is displayed in the “message message display form” screen. The user selects a display form for displaying his / her message message from among these display forms, selects a key of the selected display form, and then operates the “OK” key to set the display form. Here, in the case of setting the display form of the hourly display, a time interval for switching between display and non-display is also set. In FIG. 6, “20-second intervals” is displayed under the “display every hour” key, and when the display form of the hourly display is set in this state, the display / non-display time interval is set to 20 seconds. However, the display / non-display time interval may be arbitrarily set by operating the “display every hour” key or the like.

  When the user sets the display form in this way, information indicating the display form (hereinafter referred to as “display form information”) is temporarily stored in the RAM or the like by the control unit 1 to complete the display form setting process, and the panel The display on the display unit 5 returns to the “message message option setting” screen of FIG. On the “Message message option setting” screen, the “music” key and “link” key are shown as other setting option items. It is an optional item when setting data.

  In the MFP, when sound data is set for a registered message message, the control unit 1 controls the driving of the notification unit 6 based on the sound data, for alerting the message message, etc. A sound such as music is generated, and the “music” key is operated by the user when setting sound data such as music. If the user operates this “music” key (the determination result in step S3 of FIG. 4 is “YES”), the “message message music setting” screen of FIG. Then, sound data setting processing is performed (step S4 in FIG. 4).

  In the present embodiment, as shown in the “message message music setting” screen of FIG. 7, three music pieces of “music data 1”, “music data 2”, and “music data 3” are prepared. “Sound data name 1”, “Sound data name 2”, and “Sound data name 3” for reproducing each music are stored in advance in the ROM or the storage unit 2 of the control unit 1 (“music data 1”). "Music data 2" and "Music data 3" are names of music, melody or buzzer, respectively. "Sound data name 1", "Sound data name 2", "Sound data name 3" This is the file name of the sound data stored in advance.) The user selects sound data to be set for his / her message message from these sound data, selects the selected sound data with the up and down direction keys indicated by the black triangle on the right side, and operates the “OK” key. To set the sound data. In the illustrated example, the left circle represents the sound data to be selected. When the “OK” key is operated in this state, the sound data “music data 2: sound data name 2” is set.

  When the user sets the sound data in this way, information indicating the sound data (hereinafter referred to as “sound data information”) is temporarily stored in the RAM or the like by the control unit 1, and the sound data setting process is completed. The display on the display unit 5 returns to the “message message option setting” screen of FIG. The “link” key not yet selected in the “message message option setting” screen is an option item for setting a link corresponding to a message message.

  When a link corresponding to a registered message message is set, when the user selects the message message, the MFP executes a processing operation specified by the link destination of the set link. ing. That is, the link in the MFP is a setting option for associating the message message with the processing operation of the MFP, and the “link” key is operated by the user when setting the link. If the user operates this “link” key (the determination result in step S 5 in FIG. 4 is “YES”), the “message message link setting” screen in FIG. 8 is displayed on the panel display unit 5. Then, a link setting process is performed (step S6 in FIG. 4).

  The “message message link setting” screen is the same screen as the Ready state screen except for the screen title as shown in FIG. When the user operates the “printer menu” key on this “message message link setting” screen, the display items are expanded to a screen similar to the above-described printer menu screen without changing the screen title shown in the figure (in conjunction with FIG. 8). (See also FIG. 2). That is, in the link setting process, the screen with the first display item shown below the screen title of “Message message link setting” is displayed, and the display item below the screen title is displayed from the screen according to the user's key operation. Expands as in operation. As a result, the user performs key operations up to the display item indicating the processing operation desired to be executed by the MFP in response to his / her message message, and operates the link destination determination key after selecting the display item. To do. Note that the link destination determination key may be arbitrarily determined in advance, but in the example of FIG. 8, the “start” key is set so that “(link destination is determined by start)” follows the screen title. It is a decision key for the link destination.

  In this way, the user sets the link by determining the key operation up to the processing operation in the MFP corresponding to the message message of confidence. Then, the control unit 1 temporarily stores in the RAM or the like information on a link having the processing operation designated by the key operation as a link destination (information designating the processing operation as a link destination; hereinafter referred to as “link information”). The link setting process is completed, and the display on the panel display unit 5 returns to the “message message option setting” screen of FIG.

  The user who has finished inputting the message message, setting the display form, setting the sound data, and setting the link operates the “determine” key in the “message message option setting” screen. Then, the MFP writes the message message, display form information, sound data information, and link information temporarily stored in the RAM or the like by the control unit 1 in the message message memory area of the storage unit 2, and stores the message message input by the user. A setting registration process for holding the message as a registered message is performed (step S7 in FIG. 4). By this setting registration processing, the message message is stored and held in the message message memory area, and the display form information, the sound data information, and the link information are stored as corresponding to the message message. The message message registration process ends.

  In the message message registration process described above, the user sets both the sound data and the link. However, these are optional setting options, and only one of them may be set, or (If no sound data is set, the determination result in step S3 is “NO”, and the process proceeds to the determination in step S5. If no link is set, the determination result in step S5 is determined. Becomes “NO” and the process proceeds to step S7). The display form is preferably set by the user at all times in order to determine the handling of the message message. However, the display form setting is one item of the setting option as shown in the “message message option setting” screen of FIG. In the case of showing, the default of the display form set when the user does not perform the key operation for setting the display form may be prepared in advance. Alternatively, in the “message message option setting” screen of FIG. 5, if the user always sets the display form, the “determine” key operation may not be accepted unless the display form is set. Good.

  Further, in the “message message option setting” screen of FIG. 5, the display mode setting, sound data setting, and link setting are the same setting options, so the order of these settings may be reversed. Absent. Further, a “cancel” key shown in each screen is an operation key for returning to the previous screen, and is operated when the user changes, deletes, or interrupts input or setting. Although the flowchart and the specific operation explanation are complicated and will be omitted, in this MFP, the order of each setting process may change in accordance with the user's key operation.

(2) Message Message Display Processing The message message registered by the message message registration processing is displayed according to the display form set in the panel display unit 5. However, as described above, this MFP also has the same functions as those of a normal shared MFP. When these functions are operating, the panel display unit 5 may display information related to the processing operation of the functions. Many. For this reason, this MFP displays the registered message message according to the set display form when the Ready state screen is normally displayed without displaying the processing operation.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the message message display process. In the message message display process, first, the control unit 1 refers to the message message memory area of the storage unit 2 to determine whether or not a message message is registered (step S10). At this time, if there is a message message stored in the message message memory area, the control unit 1 determines that the message message is registered (the determination result in step S10 is “YES”), and the message message. The display form set with reference to the display form information stored corresponding to is determined (step S11).

  And according to the set display form, the registered message message is displayed on the panel display unit 5. That is, if the referenced display form information indicates normal display, the message message stored in the control unit 1 is always displayed on the display unit 5b (step S12), and the referenced display form information is the time. In the case of indicating every display, the message message stored in the control unit 1 is displayed at every time interval set in the display unit 5b (step S13), and the displayed display form information is not displayed. Is not displayed, the stored message message is not displayed, and the control unit 1 displays the Ready state screen on the display unit 5b (step S14).

  Thereby, the message message of the user can be displayed on the panel display unit 5 in the display form designated by the user, and when the display by time is set as the display form, the message message is displayed at the timing intended by the user. Can be made. Therefore, according to the MFP, a user's message message regarding the MFP can be easily transmitted to other users without requiring verbal explanations or stickers.

  Here, when displaying a message message, in addition to displaying the title of the message message and detailed information of the message message, when the control unit 1 refers to the message message memory area, the sound data information corresponding to the message message is displayed. By referring to the presence / absence and the presence / absence of link information, whether or not sound data is set and whether or not a link is set are also displayed. For example, the sound data information corresponding to the message message when the control unit 1 refers to the message message memory area is determined in advance as the display indicating the setting / non-setting of the sound data and the display indicating the setting / non-setting of the link. Depending on the presence / absence of the link information and the presence / absence of the link information, the predetermined display is also performed.

  In the message message display process, it is determined whether or not sound data is set for the registered message message (step S15), and the set sound data is reproduced (step S16). ). That is, the control unit 1 determines that sound data is set when there is sound data information corresponding to the message message when referring to the message message memory area (the determination result in step S15 is “ YES ”), and drive control of the notification unit 6 is performed based on the sound data indicated by the sound data information (step S16). As a result, a sound such as music set by the user who registered the message message in association with his / her message message is generated, and other users can be alerted to the registered message message. For message messages for which sound data is set, if the display format is normal display, the sound data is played continuously while the message message is displayed, or the display format is hourly display The sound data may be reproduced at set time intervals. However, since the reproduction time varies depending on the sound data, the reproduction mode is appropriately set according to the sound data stored in advance. You may decide.

  The MFP performs the process of reproducing the sound data in this way, and ends the message message display process. When there is no sound data information corresponding to the message message memory area, the control unit 1 determines that no sound data is set (the determination result in step S15 is “NO”), and the message message is displayed as it is. The process ends. If no message message is stored in the message message memory area, the control unit 1 determines that the message message is not registered (the determination result in step S10 is “NO”), and the display unit The Ready state screen is displayed in 5b (step S17), and the message message display process is terminated.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which the message message is displayed on the panel display unit 5 by the message message display process described above. This message message uses the title of the message message “Meeting Material A May 31, 10:00 in Conference Room A by Shirai”
The detailed information of the message is “Conference Material A:
Design review, progress report, how to proceed in the future ”
As a display form, the normal display is set and registered. In addition, the display of “♪” following the title of the message message indicates that sound data has been set for this message message. The display of “with link” indicates that a link has been set for this message message. It represents that.

  Here, “message message 3” in the screen title indicates that this message message is registered third. That is, in this MFP, a message message registration process is repeated, and each message message, display form information, sound data information and link information are stored in the message message memory area, thereby registering a plurality of message messages. can do. Accordingly, there are cases where a plurality of message messages whose display form is set to normal display may be registered. As an example of handling in such a case, in this MFP, unless the user performs a key operation or the like, a new message registered later is registered. The message message display is enabled.

  Message messages other than “message message 3” in FIG. 10 are displayed on the message message setting screen. For example, when the user operates the “printer” key on the left side of the displayed “message message 3”, the printer menu screen is displayed, and then when the user operates the “message message” key in the menu item, the message message is displayed. The setting screen is displayed.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of two display screens that are expanded in response to input in the panel display unit 5. The upper part switches the display from the “message message 3” screen of FIG. 10 to change the message message setting screen. The screen when it is displayed is shown. As shown in this screen, when multiple message messages are registered, the message message title and sound data setting / not set (“♪” display on the message message setting screen) Presence / absence) and link setting / non-setting (presence / absence of “with link” display) are displayed following the registration number (“message 1”, “message 2”, “message 3”). In the screen shown in the figure, the message message that was registered first with the message message title “Copy function failure” and the message message title “Network status page printing shortcut”, the sound data set, and the second The message message registered in "3" and the "message message 3" registered third are displayed, and a circle is displayed to the left of the registration number of "message message 3" for which the display was valid ing.

  This circle indicates the message message that is selected for display, editing, etc. on the message message setting screen, and moves up and down by the user operating the up / down direction key indicated by the black triangle on the right side. Can be made. In the state shown in the figure, since “message message 3” is selected, when the user operates the determination key such as the “start” key, the “message message 3” screen similar to FIG. 10 is displayed as shown in the lower row. Will be. That is, on the message message setting screen, a list of registration numbers of each registered message message, message message title, sound data setting / not setting and link setting / not setting (hereinafter referred to as “registered message messages”). "List") is displayed, and the message message arbitrarily selected by the user from the list of registered message messages can be displayed. Thereby, the user can display and refer to all registered message messages, and can also select a message message to be displayed on the panel display unit 5.

  The “edit” key on the message message setting screen is an operation key for editing a registered message message, and is operated after the user selects a message message to be edited with the up and down keys. Then, based on the message message stored in the message message memory area, the corresponding display form information, sound data information, and link information, the registered content is displayed and the “message” is awaited. The “message input” screen, “message message display form” screen, and the like are expanded in the same manner as the message message registration process. Thereby, the user can change the contents of the message message or change the settings of the sound data and the link as necessary.

(3) Message Message Link Processing By the way, a link is set for “message message 3”. When the user selects a message message with a link set in this way, the MFP executes a processing operation designated by the link destination of the link set as described above.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of message message link processing for executing the processing operation. The message message link processing differs depending on whether or not the message message is displayed on the panel display unit 5 (step S20). When the message message is displayed (result of determination in step S20) Is “YES”), and a standby state is waited for the user to select the message message (step S21). The state where “message message 3” in FIG. 10 is displayed is an example of this standby state.

  Here, the user selects the displayed message message by operating the displayed message message itself (by touching the message message part on the screen or in the terminal message message part of the display device). Or the user operates a decision key such as a “start” key while the message message is displayed. When the message message displayed in this way is selected (the determination result in step S21 is “YES”), the MFP determines whether or not a link is set for the message message (step S21). S22).

  That is, when the link information corresponding to the displayed message message is in the message message memory area, the control unit 1 determines that the link is set (the determination result in step S22 is “YES”). The MFP executes the processing operation of the link destination designated by the link information (step S23). As the link destination processing operation, it is possible to execute any processing operation by the MFP, such as printing by the printer function or copy function of the MFP, or moving to a route for displaying a predetermined screen on the panel display unit 5. Yes, it is possible to arbitrarily specify the processing operation that the user wants the MFP to execute by setting the link described above. Thereby, in addition to displaying the message message, the MFP can easily and smoothly carry out processing related to the message message. When the processing operation of the link destination is executed, the message message link processing is thereby ended.

  When a message message is displayed (when the determination result in step S20 is “YES”), the displayed message message is not selected, and the message message that the user displays from the list of registered message messages. Is selected (the determination result in step S21 is "NO", the process proceeds to step S24, and the determination result in step S24 is "YES"), the MFP displays the message message selected by the user on the panel display section. 5 and waits for the user to select the displayed message message (step S25). The lower state in FIG. 11 where “message message 3” is displayed from the message message setting screen by the user's key operation is an example of this standby state. When the displayed message message is selected (the determination result in step S25 is “YES”), it is determined whether or not a link is set (step S22), and the link is set. If so, the link destination processing operation is executed (step S23). If the message message to be displayed is not selected from the list of already registered message messages (the determination result in step S24 is “NO”), the message message link processing ends. Even if the message message to be displayed is selected (the determination result in step S24 is “YES”), the user does not select the displayed message message (the determination result in step S25 is “NO”). In the same manner, the message message linking process ends.

  On the other hand, when the message message is not displayed (the determination result in step S20 is “NO” and the process proceeds to step S24), the user selects a message message to be displayed from the list of registered message messages, When the user selects the message message displayed by (the determination results in steps S24 and S25 are both “YES”), it is determined whether or not the link is set in the same manner as described above (step S22). If set, the link destination processing operation is executed (step S23). If the message message to be displayed is not selected from the list of already registered message messages (the determination result in step S24 is “NO”), the message message link processing ends. Even if the message message to be displayed is selected (the determination result in step S24 is “YES”), the user does not select the displayed message message (the determination result in step S25 is “NO”). In the same manner, the message message linking process ends.

  In this way, the MFP performs message message link processing in accordance with the user's key operation, but does not operate particularly unless a link is set in the message message (unless another operation setting is made). That is, when the displayed message message is selected (when the determination result at step S21 is “YES”), and when the message message displayed from the list of registered message messages is selected (at step S25). If the corresponding link information is not in the message message memory area, the control unit 1 determines that no link is set (the determination result in step S22 is “NO”). The message message linking process ends.

<Link configuration>
As described above, the MFP can easily and smoothly carry out the processing related to the message message by the message message link processing. In the link setting, the user can arbitrarily specify the processing operation that the MFP wants to execute. Therefore, there are various specific link setting modes in the MFP, and there are various types of users. MFP functions can be used effectively in response to requests. Hereinafter, a specific setting form of such a link will be described with some examples.

(1) Link setting for associating a message message with print data Print data such as image data and document data is stored in the storage unit 2, and the title and supplementary explanation of the print data are input as a message message. A message is registered by setting a link as a processing operation of a link destination.

  The print data is saved by reading a document such as an image or a document that the user wants to copy to another user using the scanner function or copy function of the MFP by the scanner unit 3 and storing the read data as print data in the storage unit 2. Remember me. Alternatively, data such as images and documents that the user wants other users to print is transmitted to the MFP using the printer function or server function of the MFP, and stored in the storage unit 2 as print data. Note that the document, image, and the like in this case are not limited to those that the user wants other users to copy or print, but may be those that the user himself / herself intends to copy or print later.

  The message message is input on the “message message input” screen in the lower part of FIG. 3, such as the title of the print data stored in the storage unit 2, the title of the image or document, the title, the title of the document or document name, And supplementary explanations such as the contents of the images and documents, the usage, the distribution target, and the user name of the distribution source in “message message title” and “message message detailed information” in any form according to the user's intention. input.

  Then, a link is set with the print data stored in the storage unit 2 as the link destination. That is, by operating the “link” key on the “message message option setting” screen of FIG. 5 to display the “message message link setting” screen of FIG. 8, the print data stored in the storage unit 2 is displayed. After performing the key operation until printing, the link destination determination key such as the “start” key is operated. In addition, the display form and sound data are arbitrarily set according to the user's intention, and the message message is registered by operating the “decision” key in the “message message option setting” screen. As described above, these link settings and message messages can also be input from the terminal computer, so that the print data can be sent from the terminal computer using the printer function or server function of the MFP. The user who has transmitted to the MFP can also send a message message linked to the printing of the print data as it is on his / her terminal computer without going to the installation location of the MFP.

  As a result, the message message registered by the user is displayed on the panel display unit 5, and information related to the print data held by the MFP is transmitted to other users by the display. Furthermore, when the displayed message message is selected, the print data is immediately printed by the message message link process described above, so that other users who viewed the message message can view images and documents of the print data. Etc., it is possible to obtain a printed image, document, or the like simply by selecting the displayed message message. Here, in this MFP, whether or not a link is set in the message message is also displayed. Therefore, when the message message is selected for the user who has viewed the message message, processing operations such as printing are executed. Can be easily communicated.

  Further, the link setting for associating the message message with the print data as described above can be performed for a plurality of print data stored in the storage unit 2. That is, since the MFP can register a plurality of message messages as described above, a plurality of images and documents are stored in the storage unit 2 as print data in the same manner as described above. For example, a related message message is input, a link is set with the print destination of each print data as a link destination, and the message message is registered. As a result, message messages respectively corresponding to print data such as a plurality of images and documents stored in the storage unit 2 are registered, and the user can display messages displayed from the list of displayed message messages and registered message messages. A desired image or document can be easily obtained by appropriately selecting a message.

(2) Link setting for associating a message message with a print job (print-job) A print job in a print output standby state is held in the storage unit 2 as it is unless an operation such as deletion is performed. A job title, supplementary explanation, and the like are input as a message message, and the message is registered by setting a link as a processing operation of the link destination of the print job. Here, the print job includes information such as settings at the time of print output in addition to the print data, and can be stored in the storage unit 2 mainly by using the printer function. Therefore, when a print job is a link destination, the settings in the information in the print job can be used by performing key operations until the print job is specified. Detailed settings relating to the print data can be made, and the operation procedure in the operation unit 5b of the panel display unit 5 can be simplified when setting the link.

  When a message message linked to a print job is registered in this way, the print job is immediately executed when the user selects the message message. Therefore, when executing a print job stored and held in the storage unit 2, the user's trouble of entering the hierarchy from the menu displayed on the panel display unit 5 and selecting the print job is not required. It is also possible to shorten the time required for printing by.

  For example, by inputting a message message related to a document for a meeting, setting a print job for printing the document as a link corresponding to the message message, and registering the message message, each user can register the message on the panel display unit 5. By looking at the display, it is possible to know at a glance what print data exists in the MFP, and the print data can be printed smoothly. The “message message 3” screen shown in FIG. 10 corresponds to an example in which the message message is registered and displayed. That is, “message message 3” is “conference material A” to be used in the conference room A on May 31 at 10:00, which is held in the MFP, and the contents are “design review, progress report, future “Procedure” and “Linked” display indicates that a link is made to a print job for printing “Conference material A”. As a result, a person related to the meeting held in “Meeting room A on May 31 at 10:00” prints “Meeting material A” simply by touching this “Message message 3”. It can be obtained, and those who participate in the conference can bring it to the conference as it is.

  Further, for print data that is frequently printed by the user, a message message related to the print data may be registered in advance, and a print job for the print data may be linked. By doing so, the print data can be printed smoothly at any time.

  According to the link setting for associating a message message with a print job, information intended by the user regarding the MFP can be smoothly transmitted to other users as described above, and the user wants the MFP to execute the information. The process can be executed smoothly by other users. In particular, a message message or the like linked to the above-described meeting document print job has a very useful function for an MFP shared by a plurality of users.

(3) Link setting with a specific function as a link destination While recent image forming apparatuses such as MFPs have a great variety of functions, some users frequently use only a specific function. In many cases, only specific functions are used. Therefore, in such a case, input the contents of the specific function as a message message, set a link with the processing operation of the specific function as the link destination, and register the message message in advance. Also good. As a result, shortcuts to the specific function are possible, and the user can smoothly use the specific function he / she uses frequently, and the contents of the function to be used can be easily displayed by displaying a message message. Can be confirmed. As described above, according to the link setting in which a specific function is a link destination, it is possible to provide a very useful function that can quickly respond to a user's request in a multifunctional image forming apparatus such as an MFP.

(4) Link setting in which movement to a specific screen route is a link destination The processing operation to be a link destination is not limited to execution of a function such as printing, and a predetermined screen is displayed on the panel display unit 5 as described above. You may move to the route. For example, if a message message is registered by setting a link that uses the frequently used menu screen display as the link destination, the menu screen is displayed just by selecting the message message, and the user frequently uses it. You can easily reach the menu screen.

  In addition, the link setting that links to a specific screen route as described above makes full use of various functions provided by the MFP, or each user uses various functions according to his / her own intention. It is also useful as a convenience method. That is, a user arbitrarily inputs a print mode to be set, a paper instruction, and the like, and sets a link with a display of a mode setting screen for performing the setting as a link destination, and registers a message message. Then, a screen for performing settings instructed by the message message is displayed linked to the message message. Therefore, a user who sees a message message with such a link can easily perform setting according to the instruction of the message message, and can accurately set the necessary functions from among the various functions of the MFP. Can be used.

  As described above, according to the MFP, the message message input by the user, the display form information for specifying how the message message is displayed, the sound data information such as music generated along with the message display, Since the link information, which is access information to functions provided in the MFP, is held in the message message memory area and the message message is displayed on the panel display unit 5 based on the display form information, the user intends An arbitrary message can be freely displayed in an arbitrary display form, and information can be provided to each user at any time using the panel display unit 5 like a message board. The message message to be displayed can be linked to the route to each menu screen in the MFP and each function of the MFP by link information. If the user selects a message message for which a link is set, the link information is displayed. Since the processing operation of the designated link destination is executed, the function intended by the user can be given to the message message.

<Examples of deformation and application>
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the process related to the message message is performed from the Ready state screen which is the print standby state in the printer function, but the process related to the message message is similarly performed from the operation standby state of other functions. May be done. For example, the “message message” key is also displayed on the menu screen displayed from the operation standby state screen of the copy function, scanner function, or facsimile function, and the message message is registered in the same manner as described above from the key operation. Good. Further, normally, the message message registered in the same manner as described above may be displayed when the operation standby state screen of the copy function, the scanner function or the facsimile function is displayed.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, three display forms of normal display, hourly display, and non-display are given as display forms. However, these display forms are merely an example, and other display forms are used as appropriate. The display form may be arbitrarily specified by the user. The sound data listed in the above embodiment is also an example, and other sound data may be adopted as appropriate so that the user can arbitrarily specify the sound data.

(3) In the above embodiment, the message message memory area is prepared in the storage unit 2 composed of an EEPROM, a hard disk, or the like, but other storage means may be used as appropriate (whether it is non-volatile or not). This is based on the specifications of the MFP, the driving situation, the user's request, etc. Any storage means can be used as long as it can hold the registered message message while the user requests it. Cache memory etc. may be used.) Further, in the above embodiment, the writing of the message message or the like to the message message memory area is temporarily stored in the RAM or the like of the control unit 1 and received by the operation input of the “decision” key. It is also possible to write directly into the message message memory area each time the input is made.

(4) Depending on the contents of the print data stored in the MFP, the handling that an arbitrary user can print may not be appropriate. For example, it may not be preferable for print data such as “meeting material A” in the above-mentioned embodiment to be obtained by a person who has nothing to do with the meeting. Therefore, the print data associated with the message message may be limited to those who can print it out.

  For example, when identifying information such as a department code and a user ID is assigned to each user in advance, and the print data is stored in the storage unit 2 and a message message is registered, printing of the print data is linked to And the identification information of the user permitted to print out the print data is also registered (stored in the storage unit 2). When the message message is selected, the identification information of the user who selected the message message is input before printing the print data, and the input identification information matches the registered identification information. By determining whether or not there is a match in the registered identification information, it is determined whether or not the user is a user permitted to print output. If the user is not an authorized user, the print data is not printed.

  In this case, the user who registered the message message may be notified of the user who executed the printing of the print data. For example, by the server function of the MFP, the input identification information (or the corresponding user name), the date and time of print output, etc. are transmitted simultaneously with the execution of printing to the mail address of the user who registered the message message. . As a result, the user who registered the message message can grasp who printed the print data at what time and how many minutes, and can print only to qualified users by deleting the user's identification information once printed. It is also possible to thoroughly allow the user, and to call attention to qualified users who have not yet printed.

  Note that as described here, the execution of the processing operation by the link set in the message message is not limited to printing of print data. With respect to other processing operations, it is possible to similarly limit the users who can be executed as necessary.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an MFP that is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a Ready state screen and a printer menu screen that are expanded in response to input in the panel display unit 5 of the MFP. It is the figure which showed the example of the message message setting screen expand | deployed with the input in the panel display part 5, and the "message message input" screen. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of message message registration processing performed by the MFP in accordance with a user key operation. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a “message message option setting” screen displayed on the panel display unit 5. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a “message message display form” screen displayed on the panel display unit 5. FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a “message message music setting” screen displayed on the panel display unit 5. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a “message message link setting” screen displayed on the panel display unit 5. 5 is a flowchart showing a message message display process procedure for displaying a message message registered by the MFP. It is the figure which showed an example of the screen in which the message message is displayed in the panel display part. It is the figure which showed the example of the message message setting screen developed according to the input in the panel display part 5, and the screen of "message message 3". 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a message message link process for executing a processing operation by a link in which the MFP is set.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 2 Memory | storage part 5 Panel display part 5a Operation part 5b Display part 6 Notification part 8 Network communication part

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus having a display means,
Storage means for storing a message message regarding the image forming apparatus input by the user and information on a display form designated by the user;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that causes the display unit to display the message message stored in the storage unit in accordance with display mode information stored in the storage unit. An image forming apparatus having a display means,
Storage means for storing a message message regarding the image forming apparatus input by the user and information on processing operations of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the message message designated by the user;
The message message stored in the storage means is displayed on the display means, and when the user selects the displayed message message, the processing is performed based on the processing operation information stored in the storage means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that causes the image forming apparatus to execute an operation. The storage means further stores information on a display form designated by the user,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit displays the message message on the display unit in accordance with information on a display form stored in the storage unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing operation is printing of print data by the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A generator for generating sound;
The storage means further stores sound information designated by the user,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the control unit causes the generation unit to generate a sound based on sound information stored in the storage unit.

Images