JP2007001070A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which an operability can be improved by a clear and uniform operational method for setting functions without confusing a user. <P>SOLUTION: In the case where a valid or invalid state of each function and detailed setting items at a time when the valid state is chosen are set, when the validity of a function is chosen, the detailed setting items are displayed to enable its operation and when the invalidity of a function is chosen, the detailed setting items are not displayed to disable its operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that can improve operability without causing confusion by a user by a clear and uniform function setting operation method. It is.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the specifications of image forming apparatuses differ depending on the manufacturer that manufactures the apparatus, and the operation method is often different depending on the model even within the same manufacturer. Furthermore, even in the case of devices of the same model, the operation method may be different for each function setting item.

  In this case, in a certain type of image forming apparatus, for example, even though the same operation is performed for the function A and the function B, the operation results of the respective functions are different, which may cause confusion for the user. .

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 proposes an information input device that can enhance the learning effect on the user's operation by providing guidance for the negative operation when a negative operation such as returning is performed. . This provides guidance so that users can efficiently learn the information input operations they want to perform, and improves operability by providing operations on devices that are currently used and operations that are close to past operation memories. It is going to plan.
JP 2004-110189 A

  However, the above-described invention merely helps the user to learn by displaying an explanation of the operation result as guidance when it can be determined that the operation intention and the operation result of the user are different. It is not a fundamental measure against the cause of the difference between the intention and the operation result.

  Rather, for the above cases, unifying the operation method is the most direct and effective measure.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, when enabling / disabling each function and setting detailed setting items at the time of enabling selection, when function enable is selected, the detailed setting items are displayed and can be operated, and the function is disabled. In such a case, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which detailed setting items are not displayed and the operation is impossible.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a selecting unit that selects validity / invalidity of a function; Setting means for setting detailed setting items, display means for displaying whether function is enabled / disabled, and detailed setting items for functions, and display of detailed setting items when enabled by the selection means. And control means for disabling the operation without displaying the detailed setting item when invalidity is selected by the selection means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, when the setting means is used to set detailed setting items at the time of valid / invalid and valid selection of the function by a single operation, The result of the editing operation on the detailed setting item is discarded when the selection is made by changing the function from valid to invalid, and when the selection is made again by changing the function from invalid to valid, It is characterized by returning to the contents of the detailed setting item.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, when the function is changed from valid to invalid and the selection is made, the result of the editing operation on the detailed setting item is discarded. In this case, the user is notified of the discarding, and the function is in an invalid selection state only when it is confirmed that there is no problem even if the user's intention is confirmed and discarded.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, when the setting is performed in a function invalidity selection state, only the function invalidation setting process is performed. The setting process for the detailed setting item at the time of valid selection is not performed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the detailed setting item that is effective even when the detailed setting item differs depending on the selection content of the setting item for the function. Is displayed and can be operated.

  According to the present invention, when enabling / disabling each function and setting the detailed setting items when selecting the function, if the function is enabled, the detailed setting item is displayed and can be operated, and the function is disabled. In this case, the detailed setting item is not displayed and the operation is impossible, so that the user can clearly recognize that the detailed setting item is effective only when the function is enabled, resulting in confusion for the user. The operability is improved without any problems.

  An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The display unit 1 includes a selection unit 2, a setting unit 3, an input unit 4, and a control unit 5. The display unit 1 is a display unit that displays validity / invalidity of functions and detailed setting items of functions. The selection unit 2 is a selection unit that selects validity / invalidity of a function. The setting unit is a setting unit that sets whether the function is enabled / disabled, and detailed setting items when the function is enabled, and is a unit that determines a so-called selected result. The input unit 4 includes a selection unit and a setting unit, and is a means input by the user. The control unit 5 is a control unit that displays detailed setting items when the function enable is selected and enables the operation, and controls that the operation is impossible without displaying the detailed setting items when the function disable is selected. is there.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. CPU 101, ROM 102, RAM 103, operation display unit 104, image information reading unit 105, image information output unit 106, encoding / decoding unit 107, image information storage unit 108, modem 109, PSTN control unit 110, LAN control unit 111, data The bus 112 is configured.

  The CPU 101 corresponds to the control unit 5 in FIG. 1 and controls each unit using the RAM 103 according to a program written in the ROM 102. The ROM 102 stores a program that is the content of the control of the present embodiment. The RAM 103 stores the setting contents of detailed setting items when the function is enabled / disabled and enabled. The operation display unit 104 corresponds to the input unit 4 including the display unit 1, the selection unit 2, and the setting unit 3 in FIG. 1, and displays operation information and the like for information input. The image information reading unit 105 reads an image to be transmitted. The image information output unit 106 outputs the received image data to a recording sheet. The encoding / decoding 107 performs compression / decompression of image data. The image information storage unit 108 stores an image of a transmission document and an image of a reception document. The modem 109 modulates and demodulates image data and audio signals during transmission / reception. The PSTN control unit 110 controls a communication protocol and the like. The LAN control unit 111 is connected to the LAN and controls data transmission / reception. Each of the above components is connected by a data bus 112.

  Next, a function setting operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is an operation screen flow for switching between valid / invalid of a function A.

  When the function valid is selected in the selection unit 2 serving as the selection unit, the screen is displayed as the screen (1) -1 on the display unit 1 serving as the display unit. On the contrary, when the function invalidity is selected by the selection unit 2, the display unit 1 displays the screen as (1) -2. In the figure, “valid / invalid” is displayed as “ON / OFF”.

  When the function valid is selected, the detailed setting item “100 seconds” associated with the function A is displayed on the display unit 1 under the control of the control unit 5, and the function is activated by the setting unit 3 after editing the detailed setting item. And detailed setting items are set. Conversely, when the “OFF” button is pressed in the state of the screen (1) -1 and the function invalidity is selected by the selection unit 2, the detailed setting items at the time of valid selection are not displayed according to the control of the control unit 5. (Screen (1) -2). Further, the control unit 5 temporarily stores in the RAM 3 the result of setting the function valid and detailed setting items and the result of selecting the function invalid.

  The selection unit 2 also discards the result of an operation such as switching between valid / invalid and selection, such as a “cancel” button. For this reason, the control unit 5 temporarily holds the valid / invalid selection state of the function A in an area different from the area that holds the final setting contents in the RAM 3 that stores the setting contents of the function. Depending on the selected state, display / non-display of detailed setting items is switched on the screen.

  FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are operation screen flows for function enable / disable of a function A and detailed setting edit.

  When the function valid is selected by the selection unit 2, detailed setting items are displayed according to the control unit 5 (screen (2) -1 and screen (3) -1). Note that this time is before the editing operation. When the editing operation of the detailed setting item is performed after the effective selection, the screen changes as shown in screen (2) -2 and screen (3) -2. Screen (2) -3 and screen (3) -3 are when the function disable is selected by the selection unit 2.

  In FIG. 4, in the state where the detailed setting item is 100 seconds (screen (2) -1), the selection unit 2 edits it as 50 seconds (screen (2) -2), and then the function invalidity is selected. (Screen (2) -3). Then, when the function valid is selected again by the selection unit 2, the editing result of the detailed setting content is discarded based on the control of the control unit 5, and the valid selection state before the editing operation as shown in FIG. Become. This is because when the function invalidity is selected, the detailed setting itself is unnecessary for the user, and at the same time, the control unit 5 recognizes and controls that the editing result is also unnecessary. By being destroyed.

  In FIG. 5, after the detailed setting item is edited, the function disabled is selected, and the control unit 5 displays a message screen display for confirming the user's intention on the display unit 1. In other words, the control unit 5 reconfirms the user's intention as to whether or not the editing result of the detailed setting item is discarded when the function invalidity is selected. If received, the process returns to FIG. (3) -2 without discarding the edited result, and if “good” is indicated, the process proceeds to screen (3) -3 to make an invalid selection.

  As described above, the edit result of the detailed setting item may be discarded, and may be also discarded by the “Cancel” button. Therefore, the control unit 5 also sets the final setting for the edit result. It is temporarily held in an area of the RAM 3 different from the area for holding the contents. In addition, the control unit 5 performs control to always initialize the temporary holding area at the time when the function invalidity is selected according to the setting contents at that time. That is, the valid selection state before the editing operation is set.

  FIG. 6 is an operation screen flow for function invalid setting of a certain function A.

  The setting menu screen is displayed on the display unit 1 (screen (4) -1). When function selection is selected in the selection unit 2, detailed setting items are displayed (screen (4) -2). After selecting the function valid, the detailed setting item editing operation is performed (screen (4) -3). After that, when the function invalid is selected by the selection unit 2, the screen changes as shown in screen (4) -4.

  As shown in screen (4) -4, when invalid is selected, the detailed setting items are not displayed. When the setting unit 3 is set to disable the function in that state, the detailed setting items are not set according to the control unit 5 and are set again on the setting menu screen (screen (4) -1) after setting. Even when the function A is selected, the detailed setting items are not displayed (screen (4) -4).

  This is because the control unit 5 refers to the valid / invalid state in the temporary holding area of the RAM 3 at the time when the setting is performed by the setting unit 3 (when the “set” button is pressed on the operation screen). This is because control is performed to skip the detailed setting item setting process when is selected.

  Note that when the selection unit 2 selects invalid, the control unit 5 discards the editing result for the detailed setting item and initializes the setting content before the editing operation. In other words, even if the function enable is selected again after invalidity is set, the contents of the detailed setting items are different from the edited result.

  The same applies to the case where the detailed setting contents to be effective change depending on the selection contents of the setting item instead of the validity / invalidity. Further, the same applies when the number of selections exceeds two.

  According to the above-described embodiment, it can be recognized at a glance that the detailed setting item is valid only when the function is validly selected, and the same operation method is used for the same screen, which causes confusion to the user. The operability is improved. Further, it becomes clearer that the detailed setting items are irrelevant when invalid is selected. Since the user's intention is confirmed when the editing result of the detailed setting item is discarded, the user is kind and easy to use. Furthermore, in the setting in the invalid selection state, the detailed setting item is not set when the function is selected, so that the setting does not change against the user's intention and there is no confusion.

  The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment alone, and various modifications are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Implementation is possible.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the function setting operation in the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the function setting operation in the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the function setting operation in the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the function setting operation in the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display part 2 Selection part 3 Setting part (determination part)
4 Input unit 5 Control unit 101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 104 Operation display part 105 Image information reading part 106 Image information output part 107 Coding / decoding part 108 Image information storage part 109 Modem 110 PSTN control part 111 LAN control part 112 Data bus

Claims (5)

A selection means for selecting whether the function is valid or invalid;
Setting means for setting detailed setting items of the function at the time of valid or invalid selected by the selection means and valid selection;
Display means for displaying the valid and invalid functions and the detailed setting items of the functions;
Control in which detailed setting items are displayed and enabled when valid is selected by the selecting means, and detailed setting items are not displayed when invalid is selected by the selecting means. And an image forming apparatus.   When the setting means sets the detailed setting items when the function is enabled or disabled and enabled by a single operation, the control means displays the result of the editing operation for the detailed setting items before the setting as a function. The information is discarded when the selection is made after changing from valid to invalid, and when the selection is made after changing the function from invalid to valid again, the contents of the detailed setting items before the editing operation are restored. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1.   When the control unit discards the result of the editing operation on the detailed setting item when the function is changed from enabled to disabled, the control unit notifies the user that the function is to be discarded, and further confirms the user's intention. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function is in an invalid selection state only when it is confirmed that there is no problem even if it is discarded.   The setting unit, when performing the setting in a function invalid selection state, performs only a function invalid setting process, and does not perform a setting process for a detailed setting item at the time of valid selection. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 3.   5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein even if the detailed setting item is different depending on the selection content of the setting item for the function, the detailed setting item that is effective can be displayed and operated. 2. The image forming apparatus according to item 1.

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