JP2008249933A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of an advanced print processing desired and intended by a user with an easy and rapid operation. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is equipped with: a first display means for displaying only one group; a first storage means for storing a selection item in association with information showing whether or not a function corresponding to the selection item and a function corresponding to another selection item can be provided simultaneously; a second storage means for storing a control item showing policy of output, the selection item and priority in association with each other; an acquiring means for acquiring another selection item corresponding to the function which can be provided simultaneously with the function corresponding to the selected selection item and belonging to another group; a control item acquiring means for acquiring the control item; an arrangement means for arranging the acquired selection items in the descending order of priority based on the acquired selection item and the priority relevant to the acquired control item; and a second display means for displaying the selection items in the arrangement order. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus capable of realizing an advanced printing process that meets a purpose desired by a user by an easy and quick operation.

  Currently, as the functionality of an image forming apparatus increases, the number of functions that the image forming apparatus can provide to the user is significantly increased. For example, when a finisher (specifically, a sheet post-forming device or a folding device) is attached to an image forming apparatus for higher functionality, functions such as stapling, bookbinding, and folding are newly added. The number of such functions will increase.

  Such various functions that can be provided are displayed as selection items on, for example, a touch panel provided in the image forming apparatus. By selecting the selection item, the user can cause the image forming apparatus to execute a function corresponding to the selection item. In principle, since one selection item is associated with one function that can be provided, when the number of functions that can be provided increases, the number of selection items naturally increases. Since the area of the touch panel is limited, when the number of selection items increases in this way, it becomes difficult to display all the selection items at once. Therefore, the selection items are displayed on the touch panel as follows.

  First, a plurality of selection items are divided into a predetermined number of groups based on the number of selection items that can be displayed on the touch panel at one time as a reference for one group, and the predetermined number of groups are associated with group items for each group. On the touch panel, group items are displayed in a selectable state, and only a plurality of selection items subordinate to one group item are displayed. When another group item is selected from the plurality of group items, the already displayed selection item is hidden, and instead, the selection item subordinate to the selected other group item is displayed. The

  By the way, when there are a plurality of functions that can be provided, a plurality of functions may be provided at the same time. For example, when a post-sheet forming apparatus is attached to an image forming apparatus capable of executing a folding process (a function for folding a sheet), a staple process (a function for binding sheets by a stapler) can be executed in addition to the folding process. Since these two functions can be provided at the same time, the user performs the folding process and the stapling process at the same time by selecting the combination of the selection item corresponding to the folding process and the selection item corresponding to the stapling process. be able to. The selection items that can be selected in combination are displayed in a state that can be selected by the user when one selection item displayed on the touch panel is selected. On the other hand, other selection items that cannot be selected in combination are turned off, that is, displayed in a state where they cannot be pressed.

  The display mode of the selection items described so far will be specifically described based on the display example of FIG. FIG. 21 is a display example when a plurality of selection items subordinate to one group item are displayed on the touch panel. In FIG. 21A, a plurality of selection items (for example, “original size”, “paper selection”, etc.) subordinate to the group item “original / paper” 2101 are displayed. Selection items other than the displayed selection items are not displayed because they are subordinate to other group items. In addition to the displayed selection items, the other group items (for example, “color / image quality”, “layout” 2102 and the like) are displayed. When the “layout” 2102 is pressed, a selection item (for example, “booklet” 2103) subordinate to the “layout” 2102 is displayed instead of the displayed selection item (FIG. 21B).

  When the “booklet” 2103 is pressed, setting items subordinate to the “booklet” 2103 (for example, “Yes” 2104, “No”, etc.) are displayed in place of the displayed selection items (see FIG. 21C). Also, “OK” 2105 and “Cancel” are displayed. When the “Yes” 2104 is pressed, the background color of the “Yes” 2104 is changed from white to black, and it is clearly indicated that the “Yes” 2104 is selected. When the “OK” 2105 is further pressed, an instruction to execute the function corresponding to the “booklet” 2103 is sent to the control circuit of the image forming apparatus, and the setting of the “booklet” 2103 is completed.

  When the above setting is completed, the selection items subordinate to the “layout” 2102 are displayed again instead of the displayed setting items (FIG. 21D). When the selection item subordinate to the “layout” 2102 is displayed again, the “booklet” 2103 has already been set by changing the background color of the “booklet” 2103 from white to black. Is shown to the user. Further, other selection items that can be combined with the “booklet” 2103 are displayed in a state where they can be pressed, for example, “frame erase” 2106. On the other hand, other selection items that cannot be combined with the above-mentioned “booklet” 2103 are displayed in a state where, for example, “double-sided” 2107 is turned off and cannot be pressed.

  In the above display example, the user can easily select the displayed selection items and can easily recognize whether they can be combined, but the selection items that are not displayed are not recognized at all. For this reason, the user presses down a plurality of group items to display other selection items, and confirms what selection items exist and which selection items can be combined. Such a confirmation work not only increases the number of times the touch panel is operated, but also causes an erroneous operation by the user.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 includes an identification unit that identifies whether a selection item that has already been set and a selection item that has been newly set can be provided simultaneously, and a notification unit that notifies the result of the identification unit. An image forming apparatus is shown. When selection items that cannot be provided at the same time are set, it is notified whether the selection item set first is executed or the selection item set later is executed. By the notification, the user can quickly execute the selection item desired by the user.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, one selection item (for example, double-sided printing function) and another selection item (for example, post-processing function) cannot be provided at the same time, and the selection item and the other selection item In this case, an image forming apparatus including a priority selection control unit that preferentially executes one of the two selection items is shown. Since the selection items (for example, post-processing functions) that the user wants to execute in advance are stored in the image forming apparatus in advance, the stored print processing desired by the user can be ensured even if used by another user. Executed.

Patent Document 3 discloses a selection contradiction reason holding unit that holds selection contradiction reason information indicating a reason why combinations of selection items cannot be combined, and a selection contradiction for acquiring the corresponding selection contradiction reason information from the selection contradiction reason holding unit. An image forming apparatus including reason acquisition means and display means for displaying the acquired selection contradiction reason information is shown. When the user selects a plurality of selection items that cannot be combined, the selection contradiction reason information is displayed, so that the user can check whether or not the selected selection items can be combined. Further, when the user sees and understands the selection contradiction reason information, it is possible to learn the types of selection items that can be combined by the user, and to quickly realize advanced printing processing desired by the user.
JP-A-9-179450 JP 2003-11471 A JP 2006-56171 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when advanced printing processing is executed by combining a plurality of selection items, the number of notifications tends to increase. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of useless operations for the user to confirm (cancel) the notification increases, the number of operations increases, and the user erroneously operates.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 2, once a selection item to be executed with priority is stored, the selection item to be executed with priority is always executed. For this reason, when a new selection item to be given priority arises, there is a problem that the user must delete the selection item stored in advance and store the selection item to be given priority again.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 3, the meaning of the selection contradiction reason information is difficult to understand, and the touch panel must be operated for confirmation. On the contrary, the number of operations is increased, and the user is erroneously operated. is there.

  In view of the above, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an image forming apparatus capable of realizing an advanced printing process that meets a purpose desired by a user by an easy and quick operation. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention displays only one group among a plurality of groups each including a plurality of selection items corresponding to functions that can be provided. First storage means for storing one display means, the selection item, and information indicating whether or not a function corresponding to the selection item and a function corresponding to another selection item can be simultaneously provided. And a second storage means for storing the management item indicating the output policy in the device, the selection item, and the priority indicating the priority of the selection item determined based on the output policy in association with each other And other selection items corresponding to the functions that can be provided simultaneously with the function corresponding to the selected selection item, and the selection items subordinate to the other groups not displayed among the plurality of groups are selected. Acquisition means, management item acquisition means for acquiring the selected management item when the selection item is selected, and the priority associated with the acquired selection item and the acquired management item An arrangement means for arranging the acquired selection items in the order of the priority, and a second display for displaying the selection items in the arrangement order in addition to the one group that is displayed. Means.

  Further, the information processing device further comprises user information acquisition means for acquiring information for identifying the user, wherein the second storage means further stores information for identifying the user in association with the information, and the arrangement means is configured to store the acquired selection item. The acquired selection items are arranged in descending order of priority based on the priority associated with the acquired information identifying the user and the acquired management item.

  In addition, this invention can be provided as a program distribute | circulated separately via a telecommunication line etc. In this case, a central processing unit (CPU) not shown implements a control operation in cooperation with each circuit other than the CPU according to the program of the present invention. However, each means realized using the program and the CPU can be configured using dedicated hardware.

  The program may be distributed in a state where it is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Furthermore, it is possible to provide the steps executed by each means as a menu display method.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the selection items of the displayed group remain displayed, and the selection items of the group that is not displayed can be provided simultaneously with the selection items that have already been selected and set. Selection items that are selection items and that are arranged in descending order of priority among the priorities determined based on the management items are configured to be displayed. As a result, the user can subordinate to another group without switching the currently displayed group to another group, and can provide the same at the same time, and the priority in accordance with the management item selected by the user, that is, the output policy. High selection items can be selected and set easily and quickly. As a result, it is possible to realize advanced print processing that meets the purpose desired by the user with few operations and without erroneous operation. In addition, by selecting a management item, the user can easily display a selection item having a high priority in accordance with the output policy indicated by the management item. Advanced print processing can be realized.

  In addition, the user can preferentially display the selection items according to the output policy in the device by setting the management items in advance. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user himself to consider the selection items for realizing the output policy. Furthermore, since the selection item displayed with priority is displayed more easily than the selection item with a low priority, the possibility that the user will select the selection item is increased, and the output in accordance with the policy may be performed. Can be increased.

  Further, in the configuration in which management items can be set for each user, an output policy can be set for each user. Such a setting is effective, for example, when a plurality of users with different policies use the image forming apparatus. In particular, since a selection item for a purpose desired by a specific user is displayed, no matter what user uses the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the selection item for the purpose can be easily selected and set. And the user does not perform any erroneous operation.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. The following two types of embodiments are examples embodying the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, the alphabet “S” added in front of the numbers in the flowcharts means steps.

<< First Embodiment >>
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 in which the post-sheet forming apparatus 123 and the folding apparatus 122 are connected. Specifically, the image forming apparatus 100 corresponds to a digital copying machine, a printer, a multifunction machine, or the like. The post-sheet forming apparatus 123 and the folding apparatus 122 perform processing such as stapling, bookbinding, and folding on the sheet on which the image is formed.

  When the user uses the image forming apparatus 100, the document is placed on the document table 101. When performing automatic continuous reading by placing a plurality of documents, the user places the plurality of documents on the automatic document feeding tray 124. An operation panel, which will be described later, is provided in the vicinity of the document table 101. When the start key provided on the operation panel is pressed, the image forming apparatus 100 starts the printing process.

  In the image reading unit 102, the light emitted from the light source 104 is reflected by the document placed on the document table 101. The reflected light is guided to the image sensor 108 by the mirrors 105, 106, and 107. The guided reflected light is photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 108 to generate image data of the document.

  The drive unit that transfers the image data as a toner image is the image forming unit 103. The image forming unit 103 is provided with a photosensitive drum 109. The photosensitive drum 109 rotates in a predetermined direction at a constant speed, and around the charger drum 110, the exposure unit 111, the developing unit 112, the transfer unit 113, the cleaning unit 114, and the like in that order from the upstream side in the rotation direction. Is arranged.

  The charger 110 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 109. The exposure device 111 irradiates light according to the image data, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 109. The developing unit 112 attaches toner to the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure unit 111 to form a toner image on the photosensitive drum 109. The transfer unit 113 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 109 to a sheet. The cleaning unit 114 removes excess toner attached to the photosensitive drum 109. A series of these processes is executed by rotating the photosensitive drum 109.

  The sheet is conveyed from a plurality of paper feed cassettes 115 provided in the image forming apparatus 100. When the sheet is conveyed, the sheet is pulled out from any one of the sheet feeding cassettes 115 by the pickup roller 116 to the conveying path. Each sheet cassette 115 stores sheets of different paper types, and the sheets are fed based on the setting conditions.

  The sheet pulled out on the conveyance path is fed between the photosensitive drum 109 and the transfer unit 113 by the conveyance roller 117 and the registration roller 118. The toner image is transferred to the sheet by the transfer unit 113 and conveyed to the fixing device 118.

  When the sheet passes between the heating roller 120 and the pressure roller 121 provided in the fixing device 119, heat and pressure are applied to the toner image, and the visible image is fixed to the sheet. The heat amount of the heating roller is optimally set according to the paper type, and the fixing is performed appropriately. When the visible image is fixed and image formation is performed on the sheet, the sheet is conveyed to the folding device 122.

  The conveyed sheet is subjected to folding processing by the folding device 122. For example, when conditions for folding into a Z shape are set, the conveyed sheet passes through the folding device 122 and is folded into a Z shape. The folded sheet is subjected to other post-processing by the sheet post-forming device 123.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of the operation panel 200 provided in the image forming apparatus 100. Using the operation panel 200, the user inputs setting conditions and post-processing setting conditions for image formation as described above, and confirms the input setting conditions. When the setting conditions are input, the touch panel 201 and the operation unit 202 provided in the operation panel 200 are used.

  The touch panel 201 has both a function for inputting setting conditions and a function for displaying the setting conditions. The touch panel 201 displays a predetermined number of selection items 203 and a predetermined number of group items 204 subordinate to one group item. Further, various messages are displayed on the message display unit 205 as necessary.

  The predetermined number of selection items 203 includes “original size”, “paper selection”, “staple”, “punch”, “sort”, and “sort”, which are selection items subordinate to the group item “original / paper”. It is displayed. In the predetermined number of group items 204, “color / image quality”, “layout”, and “application” are displayed in addition to the “original / paper”. The message display unit 205 displays a message notifying the user of whether copying is possible, whether paper supply is necessary, the number of copies, the magnification, the size of the selected paper, and the like.

  The operation unit 202 includes a numeric keypad 206, a start key 207, a clear key 208, a stop key 209, a reset key 210, and a power key 211. The numeric keypad 206 is used when setting the number of copies and the magnification. For example, when setting the number of copies, if the user presses “3” as the numeric keypad 206, the number of copies is set to three, and a message such as “three copies” is displayed on the message display portion 205. .

  The start key 207 is used when starting image formation. The clear key 208 is used to return the already set state to the initial state. For example, when the clear key 208 is pressed in a state where “3 parts” is set as described above, the setting of “3 parts” is canceled and the initial state is restored. Whether or not the setting has been made can be determined by referring to the message display unit 205. If the setting is unnecessary, the clear key 208 may be pressed.

  The stop key 209 is used when interrupting image formation or the like being executed by the image forming apparatus 100. The reset key 210 is used to return the state set using the touch panel 201 to the initial state. The power key 211 is used when supplying power to the image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of control system hardware in the image forming apparatus. The control circuit 301 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 receives the above settings and instructions and operates the image forming apparatus. The control circuit 301 is connected to respective circuits such as an operation panel circuit 302 and a sheet feeding device.

  The control circuit 301 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 303 and a bus 304. Connected to the bus 304 are a ROM (Read Only Memory) 305, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 306, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 307, a driver 308 corresponding to each drive unit, and an internal interface 309. The ROM 305 and the HDD 307 store control programs, various tables (described later), and other data.

  The CPU 303 uses the RAM 306 as a work area, for example, and executes a program stored in the ROM 305, the HDD 307, and the like. The CPU 303 exchanges data and instructions with the driver based on the execution result, and controls the operation of each driving unit shown in FIG. Also, each means (shown in FIG. 4) described later other than the above-described driving unit is realized by the CPU 303 executing the program.

  An internal interface 309 is also connected to the bus 304. The internal interface 309 connects the operation panel circuit 302 and other circuits to the control circuit 301. The CPU 303 receives a signal from the operation panel circuit 302 or the like through the internal interface 309 or transmits a signal to the operation panel circuit 302 or the like.

  The operation panel circuit 302 includes a CPU 312, a display 313, and an internal interface 314 in addition to the touch panel 201 and the operation keys 202 on the bus 311. When the user operates the touch panel 201 or the operation key 202, the CPU 312 transmits a signal based on the operation to the control circuit 301 through the internal interface 314.

  Specifically, when the setting by the “staple” or the setting by the number of copies is set by the touch panel 201 or the operation key 202, a signal based on the operation is transmitted to the control circuit 301. The control circuit 301 controls the image reading unit 202, the image forming unit 203, and the like according to a signal based on the operation.

  Next, the processing procedure of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example when the management items in the first embodiment are displayed on the touch panel. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example when the window in the first embodiment is displayed on the touch panel. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display example when the selection item of the window in the first embodiment is selected. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the item table 900 stored in the first embodiment (some setting items that are not used in the description are partially omitted). FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the combinable table 1000 related to the “booklet” stored in the first storage unit 402 of the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the management table 1100 stored in the second storage unit 405 of the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the selection items in the first embodiment are arranged in order of priority.

<Management item settings>
First, when the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on, the management item acquisition unit 408 receives management items (“cost reduction” 601, “productivity priority”) from the management table 1100 shown in FIG. ) To get. The management table 1100 is a table that stores a management item indicating an output policy in the own device, a selection item, and a priority in association with each other. The output policy is a purpose desired by the reference user when the image forming apparatus displays selection items or outputs a sheet or the like processed by the image forming apparatus to the user. For example, if the purpose desired by the user is to reduce the cost of the image forming apparatus (for example, ink amount, paper amount, etc.) and execute the printing process, the standard output policy is “cost. “Reduction” 601 corresponds, and “Cost reduction” 601 is indicated in the management item. Other output policies include "Productivity priority" (execute printing process as fast as possible), "Energy saving measure" (execute printing process while suppressing power consumption etc. in image forming device), “Recycling emphasis” (execution of a printing process in which a part used in the image forming apparatus can be replaced with a recycled product).

  The priority is a value indicating the priority order of selection items determined based on the output policy. Specifically, a high priority value is assigned to a selection item that conforms to the output policy shown in the above management item, and a low priority value is assigned to a selection item that is not in line or unrelated. . For example, when “cost reduction” 601 is indicated in the management item, the selection item (for example, “density” 607) corresponding to the function that does not cost when executing the printing process has a high priority (for example, “8”). ")" And a low priority (for example, "1") is given to a selection item (for example, "color selection") corresponding to a function that is costly.

  The acquired management item is sent to the first display unit 401 by the management item acquisition unit 408, and is displayed on the touch panel by the first display unit 401 (FIG. 5: S101, FIG. 6A).

  When the user presses the “cost reduction” 601 that is the displayed management item, the first display unit 401 detects that the “cost reduction” 601 has been pressed, and the background color of the “cost reduction” 601 is changed. Changed from white to black. When the “OK” 602 is further pressed, the management item acquisition unit 408 detects from the first display unit 401 that the “cost reduction” 601 has been pressed, and the arrangement unit 404 Send to. Thereafter, the arrangement unit 404 is controlled to refer to the priority associated with the “cost reduction” 601 and the management item is set. If a management item is set in advance, the management item acquisition unit 408 acquires the set management item, sends the set management item to the array unit 404, and the setting of the management item is completed. .

<Initial display>
Subsequently, the first display means 401 reads a plurality of group items (here, “original / paper” 603, “color / image quality”, “layout”, “application”) from the pre-stored item table 900. And a plurality of selection items 901 (for example, “original size”, “paper selection”, “staple”, etc.) subordinate to one group item (here, “original / paper” 603, for example)) To get. The item table 900 is a table that stores group items, selection items, and setting items in association with each other. The first display unit 401 displays the set “cost reduction” 601 and the acquired group item and selection item 901 on the touch panel (FIG. 5: S102, FIG. 6B). The background color of the “original / paper” 603 is displayed in black, and other group items are displayed on the touch panel in a depressible state, while the “cost reduction” 601 is displayed as it is.

<Display specific group>
For example, when “layout” 604, which is another group item, is pressed by the user, the first display unit 401 selects selection items 902 subordinate to the “layout” 604 (for example, “binding”, “page”). "Collection", "booklet" 605, etc.) are acquired from the item table 900, the already displayed selection item 901 is deleted, and the selection item 902 is displayed (FIG. 5: S103, FIG. 6C). The first display unit 401 converts the background color of the “document / paper” 603 to white and the background color of the “layout” 604 to black. The “cost reduction” 601 It is displayed as it is.

<Setting of setting item corresponding to selection item>
For example, when the user wants the image forming apparatus 100 to execute the “booklet” 605, the user presses the “booklet” 605. The first display unit 401 obtains the setting items 905 (“Yes” 606, “No”) subordinate to the “booklet” 605 from the item table 900 and selects the already displayed selection item 902 (“Booklet”). 605) and the like, and the setting item 905, “OK” 602, and “Cancel” are displayed (FIG. 7D).

  When “YES” 606 is pressed, the first display unit 401 changes the background color of the “YES” 606 to black. When the “OK” 602 is further pressed, the first display unit 401 instructs the function corresponding to the “booklet” 605 (specifically, the sheet on which the image forming apparatus has formed an image). An instruction to collect the booklet) is sent to the image formation control means 407. The setting of the function corresponding to the “booklet” 605 is completed by the procedure as described above (FIG. 5: S104).

<Acquiring selection items that can be provided simultaneously>
When the setting of the “booklet” 605 is completed, the first display unit 401 sends an instruction to the acquisition unit 403 to refer to the combinable table. Upon receiving the instruction, the acquisition unit 403 sequentially refers to other selection items 1001 that are not displayed and information associated with the other selection items from the combinable table 1000 related to the “booklet” 605 (FIG. 5). 5: S105). The combinable table 1000 related to the “booklet” 605 includes selection items other than the “booklet” 605 (for example, “original size”, “staple”, etc.), “booklet” 605, and other selection items. It is a table stored in association with information indicating whether or not it can be provided simultaneously (for example, “O”, “x”, etc., referred to as simultaneously usable information).

  For example, the acquisition unit 403 refers to the “original size” as another selection item 1001 that is not displayed. Subsequently, the acquisition unit 403 refers to the simultaneously available information 1003 (here, “x”) associated with the referred “document size” (FIG. 5: S106). The “x” indicates that the “booklet” 605 and the “original size” cannot be provided simultaneously. Therefore, the referred “original size” is not acquired by the acquisition unit 403 (FIG. 5: S106 NO → S108).

  When the acquisition unit 403 refers to the “staple”, the acquisition unit 403 refers to the “◯” associated with the “staple”. The “◯” indicates that the “booklet” 605 and the “staple” can be provided simultaneously. Therefore, the “staple” is acquired by the acquisition unit 403 (FIG. 5: S106 YES → S107). By sequentially repeating these processes, the acquisition unit 403 can simultaneously select selection items (for example, “staple”, “punch”, “density”, “background color adjustment”, etc.) that can be provided simultaneously with the “booklet” 605. All of the available selection items are acquired (FIG. 5: S108 YES).

<Array of acquired items that can be used simultaneously>
The simultaneously available selection items acquired in this way are sent to the array unit 404 by the acquisition unit 403. Based on the management table 1100 stored in the second storage unit 405, the arrangement unit 404 sets the priority associated with the simultaneously available selection item and “cost reduction” 601, for example, “staple”. , “3”, “punch”, “3”, “density”, “8”, “ground color adjustment”, “2” (FIG. 12). Subsequently, the arrangement unit 404 arranges the simultaneously available selection items 1201 in descending order of priority based on the read priority (FIG. 5: 109). For example, the arrangement unit 404 arranges the read priorities in the order of “8”, “3”, “3”, “2” in descending order, and sets the selection items associated with the arranged priorities to “density”. , “Staple”, “punch”, and “ground color adjustment”. When the read priorities are the same as in the above “staple” and “punch”, the arrangement unit 404 arranges the reading order, that is, “staple” and “punch”. The selection items arranged in this way are selection items that can be provided at the same time that are not displayed, and the selection items 1203 arranged in descending order of priority associated with the management items (first priority selection) Item).

  The arrangement unit 404 sends the first priority selection item 1203 to the second display unit 406. The first display unit 401 displays the selection item 902 subordinate to the “layout” 604 again, and the second display unit 406 displays the first priority order selection item 1203 (FIG. 5: S110, FIG. 5). 7E). The first priority order selection item 1203 is displayed so as not to overlap the selection item 902 subordinate to the “layout” 604. For example, as shown in FIG. 7E, the first priority order selection items 1203 are displayed in the order of higher priority in the window 608 on the right side of the selection item 902 subordinate to the displayed “layout” 604. .

  When the number of the first priority order selection items 1203 is large, a scroll bar 609 is provided on the right side of the window 608. The user can confirm all the first priority order selection items 1203 by operating the scroll bar 609. FIG. 7F shows a state in which the scroll bar 609 is operated to display selection items that are not displayed in the window 608 in FIG. 7E.

  In addition to the window 608, a “frame erase” 610 and a “double-sided” 611 subordinate to the “layout” 604 are displayed as usual. That is, the “frame erase” 610 is displayed in a pressable state, and the “both sides” 611 is displayed in a non-pressable state.

<Setting of the setting item subordinate to the selection item of the window>
In the window 608, the first priority order selection item 1203 is displayed. Of the priorities determined based on the “cost reduction” 601, the selection item having the highest priority, for example, “density” is displayed. ”607 is displayed at the top of the window 608. When the “density” 607 is pressed, the second display unit 406 detects that the “density” 607 is pressed, and sends the fact to the first display unit 401. The first display means 401 acquires the setting item 903 (“light” 612, “automatic”, “high”) subordinate to the pressed “density” 607 from the item table 900 and displays it (FIG. 8G). ). By using the “light” 612 and the “light”, the degree of density to be printed is adjusted. For example, as shown in FIG. 8G, the degree of the adjusted density is clearly indicated by displaying a plurality of marks in black between the maximum strength and the maximum lightness. When the degree of the density is adjusted and the “OK” 602 is further pressed, the first display unit 401 instructs to execute the function corresponding to the “density” 607 (specifically, the adjustment is performed). Further, the “booklet” 605 and the “density” 607 are set in the image forming apparatus 100 (FIG. 5: S111).

  As described above, the selection items of the displayed group remain displayed, and the selection items of the group that is not displayed are selection items that can be provided simultaneously with the selection items that have already been selected and set, In addition, the selection items arranged in the order of higher priority among the priorities determined based on the management items are displayed. As a result, the user can subordinate to another group without switching the currently displayed group to another group, and can provide the same at the same time, and the priority in accordance with the management item selected by the user, that is, the output policy. High selection items can be selected and set easily and quickly. As a result, it is possible to realize advanced print processing that meets the purpose desired by the user with few operations and without erroneous operation. In addition, by selecting a management item, the user can easily display a selection item having a high priority in accordance with the output policy indicated by the management item. Advanced print processing can be realized.

  In addition, the user can preferentially display the selection items according to the output policy in the device by setting the management items in advance. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user himself to consider the selection items for realizing the output policy. Furthermore, since the selection item displayed with priority is displayed more easily than the selection item with a low priority, the possibility that the user will select the selection item is increased, and the output in accordance with the policy may be performed. Can be increased.

<< Second Embodiment >>
Next, a processing procedure according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a user information acquisition unit and a password storage unit (described later) are provided. That is, in the present embodiment, the priority related to the management item is stored for each user to be used, and the first priority order selection item (second priority order selection item corresponding to each user is used. Yes) is displayed. Since the other points are the same as in the first embodiment, the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawing (for example, FIG. 9) used in the description of the first embodiment as appropriate. Further, in the second embodiment, the portions from FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment are overlapped, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display example when a display for acquiring user information in the second embodiment is performed. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a display example when management items and selection items are displayed according to the second embodiment. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a display example when a second priority order selection item (described later) in the second embodiment is displayed. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user ID table 1800 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user ID management table 1900 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a plurality of selection items in the second embodiment are arranged in descending order of priority depending on management items.

<User ID and password acquisition>
First, when the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on, the user information acquisition unit 409 performs “user ID” 1501, user ID input unit 1502, “password” 1503, password input unit 1504, alphabet key as shown in FIG. 15A. 1505, special key 1506, “OK” 602, and “cancel” are displayed. Here, the user ID is information for recognizing the user. When the “user ID” 1501 is pressed, the user ID input unit 1502 can enter characters and the like. In order to clearly indicate that the user ID input unit 1502 is ready for input, the background color of the “user ID” 1501 is changed from white to black. The alphabet key 1505 and the special key 1506 are used when inputting characters or the like in the user ID input unit 1502. When the “password” 1503 is pressed, characters and the like can be input to the password input unit 1504, and the background color of the “password” 1503 is changed from white to black, and the “user ID” is changed. The background color of 1501 is changed from black to white.

  The “OK” 602 is an item used when sending characters and the like input to the user ID input unit and the password input unit to the user information acquisition unit 409. The “cancel” is an item used when deleting characters and the like input to the user ID input unit 1502 and the password input unit 1504.

  When a specific user (here, a user who owns the user ID “A0002” 1507) presses the “user ID” 1501 displayed on the touch panel, the user information acquisition unit 409 causes the “user ID” to be displayed. "1501" is detected, and the user ID input unit 1502 can enter characters and the like using the alphabet keys 1505 and the like. The specific user inputs “A0002” 1507 to the user ID input unit 1502 by using the alphabet key 1505 or the like. The user information acquisition unit 409 detects an input character or the like and displays the character or the like on the user ID input unit 1502.

  Next, when a specific user presses the “password” 1503, the user information acquisition unit 409 detects that the “password” 1503 has been pressed, and the password input unit 1504 uses the alphabet key 1505 or the like for characters or the like. Is ready for input. The specific user inputs “DCFV08” 1508 to the user ID input unit 1502 by using the alphabet key 1505 or the like. The user information acquisition unit 409 detects an input character or the like and displays the character or the like on the password input unit 1504. As shown in FIG. 15B, when “DCFV08” 1508 is input and “OK” 602 is pressed, the user information acquisition unit 409 acquires “A0002” 1507 and “DCFV08” 1508 that are input characters and the like. (FIG. 14: S201).

  Subsequently, the user information acquisition unit 409 refers to the user ID table 1800 stored in the password storage unit 410. The user ID table 1800 is a table that stores a user ID 1801 that is information for identifying a user and a password 1802 in association with each other. Based on the user ID table 1800, the user information acquisition unit 409 determines whether the acquired “A0002” 1507 and “DCFV08” 1508 match the user ID 1801 and the password 1802 (FIG. 14: S202). . When the user information acquisition unit 409 is executing the discrimination process, the message display unit 205 displays “User information is being acquired.” (FIG. 15C).

Specifically, based on “A0002” 1507 acquired by the user information acquisition unit 409, the user ID 1801 is searched for “A0002” 1507. If “A0002” 1507 is found as a result of the search, the user information acquisition unit 409 reads the password associated with “A0002” 1507 in the password 1802. If the read password matches the acquired “DCFV08” 1508, the user is authenticated, and the user information acquisition unit 409 sends an instruction to acquire the management item to the management item acquisition unit 408 (FIG. 14: S202 YES). )
On the other hand, if the acquired “A0002” 1507 and “DCFV08” 1508 do not match the user ID 1801 and the password 1802 or no character or the like is input to the user ID input unit 1502 or the password input unit 1504, the above user The information acquisition unit 409 displays the “user ID” 1501 again (FIG. 14: S202 NO → S201, FIG. 15A). In this way, the user information acquisition unit 409 identifies a specific user.

<Management item settings>
When the management item acquisition unit 408 receives the above instruction from the user information acquisition unit 409, the management item subordinate to “A0002” 1507 from the user ID management table 1900 shown in FIG. ”613). When there is one management item subordinate to the “A0002” 1507, the management item acquisition unit 408 sends the “A0002” 1507 and the “productivity priority” 613 to the arrangement unit 404. Thereafter, the arrangement unit 404 is controlled to refer to the priorities associated with the “A0002” 1507 and the “productivity priority” 613, and the management items are set (FIG. 5: S203).

  On the other hand, when there are two or more management items subordinate to the user ID, the management item acquisition unit 408 acquires a plurality of management items and sends the acquired management items to the first display unit 401. The first display unit 401 displays the management items sent together with the user ID on the touch panel. For example, in the user ID management table 1900 illustrated in FIG. 19, two management items (“cost reduction” and “productivity priority”) are subordinate to the user ID “A0003”. Therefore, the management item acquisition unit 408 acquires the two management items, and the first display unit 401 displays the “A0003”, the “cost reduction”, and the “productivity priority” as shown in FIG. 16D. Is displayed. When one management item (for example, “cost reduction”) is selected from the two displayed management items, and “OK” 602 is further pressed, the management item acquisition unit 408 is selected. The item (“cost reduction”) and the user ID “A0003” are sent to the array unit 404, and the management item is set.

<Initial display>
Subsequently, the first display unit 401 displays a plurality of group items (“original / paper” 603, “color / image quality”, “layout” 604, “application”) from the item table 900 (shown in FIG. 9). , A selection item 901 (“original size”, “paper selection”, “staple”, etc.) subordinate to one group item (“original / paper” 603) is acquired, and the above-mentioned “A0002” 1507 is set. It is displayed together with “Productivity priority” 613 (FIG. 16E).

<Display specific group>
When a specific user presses “layout” 604, the first display unit 401 displays selection items 902 subordinate to the “layout” 604 (for example, “binding margin”, “page aggregation”, “booklet” 605, etc.). Displayed (FIG. 14: S204, FIG. 16F). The “A0002” 1507 and the “productivity priority” 613 are displayed as they are.

<Setting of setting item corresponding to selection item>
For example, when a specific user wants the image forming apparatus 100 to execute the “booklet” 605, the “booklet” 605, “Yes” 606, and “OK” 602 are set by the specific user as described above. Is pressed, the setting of the function corresponding to the “booklet” 605 is completed (FIG. 14: S205, FIG. 17G).

<Acquiring selection items that can be provided simultaneously>
When the setting of the “booklet” 605 is completed, the first display unit 401 sends an instruction to refer to the combinable table to the acquisition unit 403 as described above. Further, the acquisition unit 403 refers to the combinable table 1000 related to the “booklet” 605 and is a selection item that is another selection item that is not displayed and can be provided simultaneously with the “booklet” 605. For example, “Staple”, “Punch”, “Density”, “Base color adjustment” and other simultaneously usable selection items) are acquired (FIG. 14: S206).

<Array of acquired items that can be used simultaneously>
The simultaneously available selection items are sent to the array unit 404 by the acquisition unit 403. Based on the user ID management table 1900, the arrangement unit 404 sets the priorities associated with the simultaneously available selection item, “A0002” 1507, and “productivity priority” 613, for example, “staple”, “3”. "," Punch "," 4 "," density "," 1 "," ground color adjustment "," 4 "(FIG. 20). The arrangement unit 404 arranges the simultaneous available selection items 2001 in the order of higher priority based on the read priority (FIG. 14: 207, FIG. 20). The arranged selection items are selection items that can be provided at the same time that are not displayed, and are arranged in descending order of priority associated with a specific user and a management item (second priority) Order selection item).

  The arrangement unit 404 sends the second priority order selection item 2003 to the second display unit 406. The first display unit 401 displays the selection item 902 subordinate to the “layout” 604 again, and the second display unit 406 displays the second priority order selection item 2003 (FIG. 14: S208, FIG. 17H). Of course, the second priority order selection item 2003 is displayed in the window 608. Further, as in the past, the “frame erase” 610 is displayed in a pressable state, and the “both sides” 611 is displayed in a non-pressable state.

<Setting of the setting item subordinate to the selection item of the window>
In the window 608, the second priority order selection item is displayed. The selection item having the highest priority based on the specific user “A0002” 1507 and the “productivity priority” 613, for example, “Original image quality” 614 is displayed at the top of the window 608. When the specific user depresses the “original image quality” 614, the second display unit 404 sends to the first display unit 401 that the “original image quality” 614 has been depressed. In response to this, the first display means 401 displays the setting items 904 (“character”, “photo” 615, “character + photo”, “for OCR”) subordinate to the “original image quality” 614. (FIG. 17I). When the “photo” 615 is pressed, the first display unit 401 changes the background color of the “photo” 615 from white to black. When “OK” 602 is further pressed, the first display unit 401 instructs the image reading unit to execute a function corresponding to the “document image quality” 614 (specifically, the image reading unit has high image quality). A document reading instruction) is sent to the image forming control unit 407, and the “booklet” 605 and the “document image quality” 614 are both set in the image forming apparatus 100 (FIG. 14: S209).

  As described above, in a configuration in which management items can be set for each user, an output policy can be set for each user. Such a setting is effective, for example, when a plurality of users with different policies use the image forming apparatus. In particular, since a selection item suitable for a purpose desired by a specific user is displayed, any user who uses the image forming apparatus of the present invention can easily select a selection item suitable for the purpose. -It can be set and the user does not make any mistakes.

  In addition, the display method by the image forming apparatus can be provided as a driver program installed in a personal computer (PC), for example. When the PC and the image forming apparatus are connected, the selected item of the displayed group is still displayed by the driver program, and the selected item of the group that is not displayed is already selected / selected. Menu items provided on the PC, which are selection items that can be provided at the same time as the set selection items and are arranged in order of priority among the priorities determined based on the management items Even if displayed, the effect of the present invention is achieved.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is useful for a facsimile machine, a printer, a copying machine, a multi-function machine, and the like, and has an advanced printing process that meets the purpose desired by the user through an easy and quick operation. Is effective as an image forming apparatus capable of realizing the above.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the external appearance of an operation panel. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of control system hardware in the image forming apparatus. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in case the management item in 1st embodiment is displayed. It is a figure which shows the example of a display when the window in 1st embodiment is displayed. It is a figure which shows the example of a display when the selection item of the window in 1st embodiment is selected. It is a figure which shows an example of the item table 900 memorize | stored in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the combination possible table 1000 in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the management table 1100 in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example in which the selection item in 1st embodiment is arranged in order with a high priority. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in case the display which acquires the user information in 2nd embodiment is performed. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in case the management item and selection item in 2nd embodiment are displayed. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in case the 2nd priority order selection item in 2nd embodiment is displayed. It is a figure which shows an example of the user ID table 1800 in 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the user ID management table 1900 in 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example in which the selection item in 2nd embodiment is arranged in order with the high priority depending on a management item. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in case the selection item in a prior art is displayed on the touch panel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 200 Operation panel 201 Touch panel 202 Operation part 301 Control circuit 302 Operation panel circuit 401 First display means 402 First storage means 403 Acquisition means 404 Arrangement means 405 Second storage means 406 Second display means 407 Image formation control means 408 Management item acquisition means 409 User information acquisition means 410 Password storage means

Claims (4)

First display means for displaying only one group among a plurality of groups each having a plurality of selection items corresponding to functions that can be provided;
First storage means for associating and storing the selection item and information indicating whether or not a function corresponding to the selection item and a function corresponding to another selection item can be provided simultaneously;
A second storage means for storing a management item indicating an output policy in the own apparatus, the selection item, and a priority indicating a priority order of the selection item determined based on the output policy;
Acquisition means for acquiring a selection item that is another selection item corresponding to a function that can be provided simultaneously with a function corresponding to the selected selection item and that is subordinate to another group that is not displayed among the plurality of groups. When,
Management item acquisition means for acquiring the management item set in advance in the device;
Based on the priority associated with the acquired selection item and the acquired management item, arrangement means for arranging the acquired selection items in order of priority,
In addition to the one displayed group, a second display means for displaying the selection items in the arranged order;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Furthermore, a user information acquisition means for acquiring information for identifying the user is provided,
The second storage means further stores information for identifying the user in association with each other,
The arrangement means arranges the acquired selection items in order of priority based on the priority associated with the acquired selection item and the management item determined by the information for identifying the acquired user. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is arranged in an array. A step in which the first display means displays only one group among a plurality of groups each having a plurality of selection items corresponding to functions that can be provided;
Based on the information indicating whether the function corresponding to the selection item and the function corresponding to the other selection item can be provided simultaneously, the acquisition means can be provided at the same time as the function corresponding to the selected selection item. Obtaining a selection item that is a corresponding other selection item and that is subordinate to another group that is not displayed among the plurality of groups;
A management item acquisition means for acquiring a management item indicating an output policy in the own device, which is preset in the own device;
The arrangement means acquires the acquisition based on the priority indicating the priority of the selection item determined based on the policy of the output, which is associated with the acquired selection item and the acquired management item. Arranging the selected items in the order of the priority,
A second display means displaying the selection items in the arranged order in addition to the one group being displayed;
Menu display method for an image forming apparatus comprising: On the computer,
Displaying only one of a plurality of groups each having a plurality of selection items corresponding to functions that can be provided;
Based on the information indicating whether the function corresponding to the selected item and the function corresponding to the other selected item can be provided at the same time, other functions corresponding to the function that can be provided simultaneously with the function corresponding to the selected selected item Obtaining a selection item that is a selection item and is subordinate to another group that is not displayed among the plurality of groups;
A step of acquiring a management item indicating an output policy in the own device, which is set in advance in the own device;
Based on the priority indicating the priority of the selection item determined based on the policy of the output, which is associated with the acquired selection item and the acquired management item, the acquired selection item is Arranging in order of priority,
In addition to the one displayed group, the step of displaying the selection items in the arranged order;
A program that executes

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