JP2008276693A - Image forming device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display items sequentially from the highest priority of item for a user, when displaying a screen as to an image forming device on a mobile terminal. <P>SOLUTION: In this image forming device, a screen size of a display screen in the mobile terminal 3 is acquired when receiving a communication request from the mobile terminal 3, and a device situation of own device is determined therein. A priority order of each item included in the screen of a display object to the mobile terminal is determined based on determination results of the device situation, and a display data is generated by a web server function, based on the determined display priority order and the screen size of the mobile terminal 3, to be transmitted to the mobile terminal 3 via a communication part 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a display system in which an image forming apparatus, an information terminal apparatus, and a server apparatus cooperate with each other has been proposed so that a setting operation for the image forming apparatus can be performed from the screen of an information terminal apparatus such as a portable terminal. For example, in Patent Document 1, the display size of the information terminal device is registered in the server device, and the setting screen for setting the printer in the information terminal device in the server device according to the display size of the information terminal device. A system for determining data and transmitting it to an information terminal device is described.
JP 2003-11463 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, since a server device is required, there is a problem that the system configuration is complicated.

  In addition, since the display unit of the information terminal device is smaller than the display unit on the image forming apparatus side, it is impossible to display all items displayed on one screen on the image forming apparatus on the screen of the information terminal device. In Patent Document 1, the server device determines items that can be set in the information terminal device during screen transmission to the information terminal device, and transmits the setting screen data for all or only one item uniformly. Therefore, in the information terminal device, items that can be set cannot be displayed in descending order of importance for the user. Furthermore, there has been a problem that setting screen data to be displayed on the information terminal device by the server device must be prepared.

  An object of the present invention is to enable display from an item having a high priority for a user when a screen about an image forming apparatus is displayed on a portable terminal.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention provides:
A communication unit for connecting and communicating with an external mobile terminal;
A display unit;
A storage unit for storing display data for displaying a screen on the display unit;
Determine the status of the device itself and obtain the display area size of the display screen of the mobile terminal through the communication unit,
Based on the determined device status, determine the priority when displaying each item included in the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal,
Based on the determined priority order and the acquired display area size, generate display data to be displayed on the mobile terminal from display data of the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal,
A control unit that transmits the generated display data to the mobile terminal via the communication unit, and displays each item of the screen to be displayed in the determined priority;
Is provided.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1,
An information storage unit that stores the terminal identification information of the mobile terminal in association with the display area size of the mobile terminal;
When acquiring the display area size of the display screen of the mobile terminal, the control unit reads the display area size stored in association with the terminal identification information of the mobile terminal from the information storage unit, thereby To get.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1,
The control unit acquires the display area size information from the mobile terminal via the communication unit when acquiring the display area size of the mobile terminal.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A usage history storage unit that stores usage history of items included in the screen displayed on the display unit in association with user identification information;
The control unit acquires user identification information of a user who operates from the mobile terminal, and for each item included in the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal as the status of the own device. The usage frequency of the user is determined based on the usage history stored in the usage history storage unit, and the priority order is determined based on the determined usage frequency of each item.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The control unit determines an abnormal status of the own device as the status of the own device, and determines the priority based on the determined abnormal status.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A screen information storage unit that stores position information of an image area of each item included in the screen in display data for displaying the screen on the display unit;
The control unit refers to the screen information storage unit, specifies the position of the image region of each item in the display data of the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal, and the data of the specified image region Is displayed on the basis of the priority and the display area size of the portable terminal, and display data to be displayed on the portable terminal is generated by reducing or changing the aspect ratio.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The control unit further switches display data to be displayed on the display screen of the portable terminal in accordance with instruction information transmitted from the portable terminal via the communication unit.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The control unit further transmits voice guidance information corresponding to display data to be displayed on the portable terminal to the portable terminal via the communication unit.

The program of the invention according to claim 9 is:
A computer used in an image forming apparatus, comprising: a communication unit for connecting to an external portable terminal and performing communication; a display unit; and a storage unit for storing display data for displaying a screen on the display unit. The
Determine the status of the device itself and obtain the display area size of the display screen of the mobile terminal through the communication unit,
Based on the determined device status, determine the priority when displaying each item included in the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal,
Based on the determined priority order and the acquired display area size, generate display data to be displayed on the mobile terminal from display data of the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal,
A control unit that transmits the generated display data to the mobile terminal via the communication unit, and displays each item of the screen to be displayed in the determined priority order;
To function as.

The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claim 9,
When acquiring the display area size of the display screen of the mobile terminal, the control unit reads the display area size stored in advance in the information storage unit in association with the terminal identification information of the mobile terminal from the information storage unit To obtain the display area size.

The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claim 9,
The control unit acquires the display area size information from the mobile terminal via the communication unit when acquiring the display area size of the mobile terminal.

The invention according to claim 12 is the invention according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
The control unit acquires user identification information of a user who operates from the mobile terminal, and for each item included in the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal as the status of the own device. The usage frequency of the user is determined based on the usage history stored in the usage history storage unit, and the priority order is determined based on the determined usage frequency of each item.

The invention according to claim 13 is the invention according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
The control unit determines an abnormal state of the own device as the state of the own device, and determines the priority based on the determined abnormal state.

The invention according to claim 14 is the invention according to any one of claims 9 to 13,
The control unit refers to a screen information storage unit that stores in advance position information of an image area of each item included in the screen in display data for displaying the screen on the display unit, and is to be displayed on the mobile terminal. The position of the image area of each item in the display data of the display unit screen is identified, and the data of the identified image area is read out based on the priority and the display area size of the mobile terminal to reduce or reduce the aspect ratio The display data to be displayed on the portable terminal is generated by changing.

The invention according to claim 15 is the invention according to any one of claims 9 to 14,
The control unit further switches display data to be displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal in accordance with instruction information transmitted from the mobile terminal via the communication unit.

The invention according to claim 16 is the invention according to any one of claims 9 to 15,
The control unit further transmits voice guidance information corresponding to display data to be displayed on the portable terminal to the portable terminal via the communication unit.

  According to the present invention, when a screen about an image forming apparatus is displayed on a portable terminal, it is possible to display items from items with high priority for the user according to the status of the apparatus.

  In addition, as a determination of the status of the own device, the frequency of use of the mobile terminal operating user for each item included in the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal is determined, and each of the determined items is determined. By adopting a configuration that determines the order of priority when displaying on a mobile terminal based on the frequency of use, it can be displayed on the mobile terminal with a priority according to the frequency of use of the user operating the mobile terminal. The operability and convenience of the terminal can be improved.

  In addition, as a determination of the status of the own device, it occurred by determining the abnormality of the own device and determining the priority order of each item of the screen displayed on the mobile terminal based on the determined result Display on the mobile terminal can be performed in an optimal order according to the abnormal situation, and convenience in the mobile terminal can be improved.

  Further, the position information of the image area of each item included in the screen in the display data for displaying the screen on the display unit is stored in the screen information storage unit, and the screen information storage unit is referred to The position of the image area of each item in the display data on the screen of the display unit to be displayed is specified, and the data of the specified image area is read out based on the priority order and the display area size of the mobile terminal and reduced or the aspect ratio is changed. Thus, the display data to be displayed on the mobile terminal is generated, so that the display data to be displayed on the display unit and the display data to be displayed on the mobile terminal need not be stored separately.

  In addition, the screen corresponding to the operation of the mobile terminal can be displayed by switching the display data to be displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal according to the instruction information transmitted from the mobile terminal via the communication unit. Is possible.

  In addition, since the voice guidance information corresponding to the display data to be displayed on the mobile terminal is transmitted to the mobile terminal, the voice guidance corresponding to the screen displayed on the mobile terminal can be output, and the convenience is further improved. It becomes possible to improve.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of an image forming system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 100 is configured by connecting an image forming apparatus 1 and a PC (Personal Computer) 2 via a communication network N such as a LAN (Local Area Network) so that data can be transmitted and received. The image forming apparatus 1 and the portable terminal 3 are configured to be able to transmit and receive data by wireless LAN communication via an access point AP connected to the communication network N. Furthermore, a router R is connected to the communication network N, and each device connected to the communication network N is configured to be connectable to a public line PN such as the Internet or a mobile communication network via the router R. Note that the number of the image forming apparatus 1, the PC 2, and the mobile terminal 3 is not particularly limited.

Hereinafter, configurations of the image forming apparatus 1, the PC 2, and the mobile terminal 3 will be described.
FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration example of the image forming apparatus 1. As the image forming apparatus 1, a copying machine, a printer, a FAX, a multifunction machine, or the like can be applied. In this embodiment, a case where a multifunction machine using an electrophotographic process is applied will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, a display unit 13, an image reading unit 14, an image memory 15, a storage unit 16, a printing unit 17, a communication unit 18, and a FAX control unit 19. Etc., and each part is connected by a bus 20.

  The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The CPU of the control unit 11 reads out the system program, various processing programs, and application programs stored in the ROM in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 12 and develops them in the RAM, and in accordance with the developed programs, the image forming apparatus 1 Centralized control of the operation of each part.

  That is, the CPU of the control unit 11 responds to an image forming operation instruction (copy instruction, print instruction, FAX transmission instruction, FAX reception instruction, etc.) input from the operation unit 12, the communication unit 18, or the FAX control unit 19. A copy process program, a print process program, a FAX transmission process, or a FAX reception process program stored in the ROM is read, and a copy process, a print process, a FAX transmission process, a FAX reception process, or the like is executed.

  For example, in the copying process, the image reading unit 14 reads the images of the documents placed on the document tray T0 (see FIG. 9) one by one to generate image data, and the operation unit 12 and the communication unit 18 are used. The image processing is performed on the generated image data based on the setting information related to the image forming conditions input via the print unit 17 and an image is formed on the recording medium by the print unit 17. In the printing process, an image is formed on a recording medium by the printing unit 17 based on setting information and image data regarding image forming conditions input from the PC 2 via the communication network N. In the FAX reception process, an image is formed on the recording medium by the printing unit 17 based on the image data received via the FAX control unit 19. In the fax transmission process, the image reading unit 14 reads the images of the documents placed on the document tray T0 one by one to generate image data, and the generated image data is operated by the operation unit 12 by the FAX control unit 19. The fax is transmitted to the destination instructed by.

  Further, when there is a communication request from the portable terminal 3 via the communication unit 18, the CPU of the control unit 11 reads a remote setting processing program stored in the ROM and executes a remote setting process described later. When the CPU of the control unit 11 detects an abnormality in the image forming apparatus 1, the CPU 11 reads an abnormality notification display processing program stored in the ROM and executes an abnormality notification display process described later.

  The ROM of the control unit 11 stores a Web server program for causing the CPU to execute a function as a Web server. The CPU 11 of the control unit 11 generates various display data (hereinafter referred to as Web data) to be displayed on the screen of the display unit of the mobile terminal 3 according to the Web server program stored in the ROM, and transmits it to the mobile terminal 3. To do.

  The ROM of the control unit 11 serves as a storage unit for various operation screens (image formation condition setting screen, user registration screen, user registration) for the user to perform various operation inputs such as setting of image formation conditions, user registration, and user authentication. Various display data for displaying various screens such as an authentication screen, etc., and a state display screen (abnormality notification screen, etc.) displayed when an abnormal state such as occurrence of a jam is detected is stored.

The operation unit 12 includes a touch panel and hard keys.
The touch panel is a pressure-sensitive (resistive film pressure type) touch panel in which transparent electrodes are arranged in a grid pattern so as to cover the upper surface of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) of the display unit 13, and XY of the power point pressed with a finger or a touch pen The coordinates are detected by a voltage value, and the detected position signal is output to the control unit 11 as an operation signal. Note that the touch panel is not limited to a pressure-sensitive type, and may be another electrostatic type, an optical type, or the like.
The hard key includes various operation buttons such as a numeric button and a start button (not shown) for inputting a copy instruction, and outputs an operation signal generated by the button operation to the control unit 11.

  The display unit 13 is configured by an LCD or the like, and displays various operation screens, device status display, operation status of each function, and the like on the display screen in accordance with an instruction of a display signal input from the control unit 11.

The operation screen displayed on the display unit 13 includes, for example, an image formation condition setting screen for the user to set image formation conditions during copy processing, a user registration screen for the user to perform user registration, and user authentication A user authentication screen that is sometimes displayed is included.
FIG. 3 shows an example of the initial screen 131 of the image forming condition setting screen displayed on the display unit 13. The image forming condition setting screen displayed on the display unit 13 has a hierarchical structure in which the initial screen 131 shown in FIG. In the initial screen 131, tabs 131a to 131d for selecting the type of screen (display target) to be displayed on the initial screen 131 are displayed. The tab 131a is used to select and input to display the basic setting screen on the initial screen 131. When the tab 131a is pressed, the basic setting screen is displayed on the initial screen 131. The tab 131b is used to select and input to display the document setting screen on the initial screen 131. When the tab 131b is pressed, the document setting screen is displayed on the initial screen 131. The tab 131c is used to select and input to display the image quality / density setting screen on the initial screen 131. When the tab 131c is pressed, the image quality / density setting screen is displayed on the initial screen 131. The tab 131d is used to select and input to display the application setting screen on the initial screen 131. When the tab 131d is pressed, the application setting screen is displayed on the initial screen 131. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the basic setting screen is displayed on the initial screen 131. In each screen displayed on the initial screen 131, items of image forming conditions that can be set on the screen are displayed (for example, in the basic setting screen shown in FIG. 3, “color”, “paper”, “magnification”). When each item of “screen / page aggregation” is pressed, a detailed setting screen for setting the pressed item which is a lower layer of the initial screen 131 is displayed.

  The state display screen displayed on the display unit 13 includes an abnormality notification screen for notifying the user of an abnormal state in the image forming apparatus 1 such as occurrence of a jam. The error notification screen displays “overall display” that indicates where the abnormality is in the entire device (abnormal position), “abnormal part detail display” that displays details of the abnormal part, and procedures for canceling the abnormality. This is a screen that displays four items of “guide display” for displaying sequentially and “help display” for displaying help according to instructions of the operation unit 12. In the display unit 13, when an abnormality is detected, first, “entire display” is displayed, and then “overall display” → “abnormal part detail display” in accordance with a switching display instruction input by the operation unit 12. → Displayed in the order of “Guide Display” → “Help Display”.

  The image reading unit 14 includes an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), a scanner, an A / D converter, and the like. The ADF automatically feeds the documents placed on the document tray T0 one by one onto the platen glass of the scanner. The scanner is composed of a light source, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), etc., and forms an image of the reflected light of the light scanned from the light source to the original and photoelectrically converts it to read the image of the original. The image data is converted into digital image data by a converter and output to the control unit 11. Here, the image includes not only image data such as graphics and photographs but also text data such as characters and symbols.

  The image memory 15 temporarily stores image data read by the image reading unit 14 and image data input from the PC 2 via the communication unit 18.

The storage unit 16 is configured by a nonvolatile semiconductor memory or the like, and stores various data. For example, the storage unit 16 stores a user authentication information file 16a, a usage history information file 16b, an abnormal situation determination reference file 16c, a setting screen display table file 16d, and an abnormality notification screen display table file 16e. It functions as a usage history storage unit and a screen information storage unit.
FIG. 4 shows a data storage example of the user authentication information file 16a. The user authentication information file 16 a is a file that stores user authentication information input by the operation unit 12 from the user registration screen displayed on the display unit 13. On the user registration screen, at least the user ID that is the identification information of the user who is performing the registration operation, and the transmission destination of the data of the image formation condition setting screen and abnormality notification screen owned by the user and the remote setting operation described later Terminal identification information (MAC address, telephone number, etc.) of the mobile terminal 3 and the display area size of the display screen of the mobile terminal 3 owned by the user (vertical pixel number × horizontal pixel number; hereinafter referred to as screen size) .) Is registered. As shown in FIG. 4, the user authentication information file 16a has a “user ID” field, a “terminal identification information” field, a “screen size” field, etc., and user authentication information (user ID) registered from the user registration screen. , Terminal identification information, screen size information, etc. of the portable terminal 3 owned by the user.

  FIG. 5 shows a data storage example of the usage history information file 16b. As shown in FIG. 5, the usage history information file 16 b has a “use date and time” field, a “screen name” field, an “item name” field, a “user ID” field, and the like, and is an image displayed on the display unit 13. On the forming condition setting screen (the basic setting screen, the document setting screen, the image quality / density setting screen, the application setting screen, and the detailed setting screen displayed by selecting an item on these screens), the operation unit 12 sets the item. Is selected, that is, when an item to be used is selected, the date and time of selection (use date and time), the displayed screen name, the selected item name, the user ID that performed the operation, etc. This file stores information as usage history data.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the abnormal situation determination reference file 16c. As shown in FIG. 6, the abnormal condition determination reference file 16c has an “abnormality type” field and a “difficulty flag” field, and indicates the type of abnormality and whether or not it is difficult to cancel the abnormality. This is a file that stores a difficulty flag (ON when it is difficult to release, OFF when it is easy to release) in association with each other.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the setting screen display table file 16d. As shown in FIG. 7, the setting screen display table file 16d has a “screen name” field, an “item name” field, a “coordinates” field, and the like, and is an image forming condition setting screen (described above). Display the screen in association with each screen name of the basic setting screen, document setting screen, image quality / density setting screen, application setting screen, and detailed setting screen displayed by selecting an item on these screens. Coordinate information indicating the position of the image area of each item in the data (upper left coordinate position: lower right coordinate position. For example, in the case of the “color” item in the basic setting screen shown in FIG. 3, (x1, y1; x2, y2)).

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the abnormality notification screen display table file 16e. The abnormality notification screen display table file 16e is a priority (display priority) when displaying the four items of the above-described abnormality notification screen, "Overall display", "Abnormal part detail display", "Guide display", and "Help display". Are stored separately for cases where release is difficult and cases where release is difficult, and the coordinates of the display area on the mobile terminal 3 in the display data of the screen displaying each item (the upper left coordinate position: the lower right coordinate position) Is a file to store.

  In addition, the storage unit 16 stores voice guidance voice data to be output when the abnormality notification screen is displayed on the mobile terminal 3, and initial screen display data (Web data) to be displayed on the mobile terminal 3. .

  It should be noted that files and data stored in advance, such as an abnormal situation determination reference file 16c, a setting screen display table file 16d, an abnormality notification screen display table file 16e, and audio data, may be stored in the ROM of the control unit 11. .

The printing unit 17 includes a writing unit 17a, a charging unit 17b, a photosensitive drum 17c, a developing unit 17d, a transfer unit 17e, a plurality of paper feeding tray units 17f (here, paper feeding trays T1 to T3), a fixing unit, and a fixing unit illustrated in FIG. Part 17g, paper discharge tray 17h, transport part 17i for transporting the recording medium (transport rollers R1, R2, double-sided path R3, transport path switching plate 171, double-sided transport unit 172, various rollers including paper discharge roller 173, etc.) The image forming apparatus includes a cleaning unit 17j and the like, and drives each unit in accordance with control from the control unit 11, forms an image on a recording medium by an electrophotographic method, and outputs the image to a paper discharge tray 17h.
That is, according to the control from the control unit 11, the printing unit 17 feeds the recording medium having the size and orientation instructed from the control unit 11 from any one of the paper feed trays T1 to T3, and feeds it by the transport unit 17i. At the same time, the writing unit 17a generates a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal based on the input image data. Based on the generated PWM signal, a laser beam is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 17c charged by the charging unit 17b. To form an electrostatic latent image. Further, the printing unit 17 causes the developing unit 17d to attach toner to an area including the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 17c, and transfers the toner to the recording medium conveyed from the paper feed tray by the transfer unit 17e. Is fixed by the fixing unit 17g, and then output to the paper discharge tray 17h by the paper discharge roller 173. The toner not transferred on the photosensitive drum 17c is removed by the cleaning unit 17j.

  When performing duplex printing, the recording medium on which one side is formed is fed to the duplex path R3 by the conveyance path switching plate 171, and the surface of the recording medium is reversed by the duplex conveyance unit 172, so that the side on which no image is formed (back side) ) Toward the photosensitive drum 17c and conveyed to the transfer unit 17e. The recording medium on which both sides are printed and toner is fixed is output to the paper discharge tray 17h by the paper discharge roller 173.

  Although not shown, a plurality of sensors are arranged on the recording medium conveyance path of the printing unit 17. Each of these sensors is connected to the control unit 11. When the passage of the recording medium is detected, a detection signal (recording medium detection signal) is generated and output to the control unit 11. Based on the recording medium detection signals output from these sensors, the control unit 11 manages the conveyance status in the printing unit 17 and detects abnormalities such as the occurrence of a jam.

  For example, the recording medium detection signal from the sensor on the conveyance path through which the recording medium should pass next by a predetermined timing even though the front end of the recording medium passes through a certain sensor and the recording medium detection signal is output. Is not output, the control unit 11 detects that a jam has occurred between the two sensors. Further, when the recording medium detection signal is output from one sensor for a predetermined time or more, the control unit 11 detects that a jam has occurred near the sensor.

  An opening / closing detection sensor (not shown) that detects opening / closing of doors (not shown) that covers the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1 is provided on the front surface of the printing unit 17. The open / close detection sensor is connected to the control unit 11, generates a detection signal (door open detection signal) when the door is opened, and outputs the detection signal to the control unit 11. The controller 11 detects an abnormality when the door is opened based on the presence / absence of a door opening detection signal from the open / close detection sensor.

  Further, although not shown, each of the paper feed trays T1 to T3 of the printing unit 17 is provided with a paper-out detection sensor that detects a paper-out state. The no-paper detection sensor is connected to the control unit 11 and generates a detection signal (no-paper detection signal) when there is no recording medium in the paper feed tray and outputs the detection signal to the control unit 11. The control unit 11 detects a paper out condition based on the presence or absence of a paper out detection signal from the paper out detection sensor.

  The communication unit 18 is configured by a communication control card such as a LAN card, for example, and transmits and receives various data to and from an external device such as the PC 2 connected to the communication network N via a communication line such as a LAN cable. The communication unit 18 is connected to a wireless LAN access point AP via the communication network N, and is connected to the mobile terminal 3 having the wireless LAN function via the access point AP to display various data including display data. Send and receive data.

  The FAX control unit 19 is configured by a FAX modem or the like, and transmits / receives FAX image data to / from a facsimile machine (not shown) connected to a telephone line.

  The PC 2 includes a CPU, a ROM storing programs, a control unit configured by a RAM, an input unit configured by a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit configured by an LCD, and the like, for connecting the PC 2 to the communication network N. A communication unit, a storage unit storing image data, and the like are provided. When an image, image forming condition setting, or the like is input via the input unit, the PC 2 adds the setting condition as setting information to the image data, and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit together with a print instruction.

  The mobile terminal 3 includes a CPU, a ROM storing various programs such as a web browser program, a control unit configured by a RAM, an input unit configured by a cross key, a numeric keypad, a PWR key, and the like, an LCD, and the like. Display unit, communication unit for performing wireless communication by wireless LAN, audio output unit for outputting audio data after being converted into an analog audio signal, device identification information (for example, image) The information terminal device includes a storage unit that stores various data including the MAC address of the forming apparatus 1. That is, the mobile terminal 3 is an information terminal device having a wireless LAN function and a Web browser function. As the mobile terminal 3, for example, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), a mobile phone, a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), a mobile PC (Personal Computer), or the like is applicable.

Next, the operation in this embodiment will be described.
First, in response to a request from the mobile terminal 3, the image forming apparatus 1 displays an image forming condition setting screen on the display unit of the mobile terminal 3 via the communication unit 18, and image formation is performed according to the operation of the mobile terminal 3. The operation for setting conditions (remote setting operation) will be described.

(Remote setting operation)
FIG. 10 shows remote setting processing executed by the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 1. The process is a process executed when a communication request from the mobile terminal 3 is received via the communication unit 18. In the portable terminal 3, when setting of image forming conditions of the image forming apparatus 1 by remote operation is instructed by a predetermined operation of the input unit, the control unit of the portable terminal 3 causes the device identification information of the image forming apparatus 1 to be set. Is read, and a communication request is made to the image forming apparatus 1 via the wireless LAN.

  When a communication request from the mobile terminal 3 is received via the communication unit 18, terminal identification information of the mobile terminal 3 that is the transmission source of the communication request is acquired, and user authentication is performed based on the terminal identification information of the mobile terminal 3 that is the transmission source. Processing is executed (step S1). In the user authentication process, when the user authentication information file 16a in the storage unit 16 is referred to and information that matches the terminal identification information of the transmission source mobile terminal 3 is stored, it is determined that the user authentication is successful, If no matching information is stored, it is determined that user authentication has failed. If it is determined that the user authentication has failed (step S2: NO), this process ends.

  If it is determined that the user authentication is successful (step S2: YES), the user ID of the authenticated user and the terminal identification information of the portable terminal 3 are stored in the RAM (step S3). Next, the user authentication information file 16a is referred to, and the screen size stored in association with the authenticated terminal identification information, that is, the screen size information of the transmission source mobile terminal 3 is read and acquired (step). S4). In the present embodiment, the screen size information of each mobile terminal 3 is registered in advance in the user authentication information file 16a. However, in step S4, the source mobile terminal via the communication unit 18 is used. The screen size information may be obtained directly from the portable terminal 3 by inquiring the screen size information to 3.

  Next, the terminal that has been enlarged / reduced or changed in aspect ratio according to the screen size obtained by reading the Web data to display the initial screen from the storage unit 16 on the portable terminal 3 and authenticated via the communication unit 18 The Web data is transmitted to the mobile terminal 3 using the identification information as a transmission destination (step S5). The Web data of the initial screen transmitted here corresponds to the initial screen 131 shown in FIG. 3 and is a screen for selecting the type of screen (display target screen) to be displayed on the mobile terminal 3. In the initial screen displayed on the mobile terminal 3, any one of “basic setting screen, document setting screen, image quality / density screen, and application setting screen” can be selected here. When the web data of the initial screen is received by the mobile terminal 3, the initial screen is displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal 3, and one of the screen types is selected on the received initial screen (for example, When the cursor is moved with the up and down keys and the selection operation is performed by pressing the enter key, information on the type of the selected display target screen is returned to the image forming apparatus 1.

When information about the type of display target screen is received from the portable terminal 3 (step S6: YES), the status of the image forming apparatus 1 is determined (step S7). Here, the status determination of the image forming apparatus 1 is a determination of the usage status of each item on the selected display target screen of the image forming apparatus 1, and is performed by, for example, the following processes (1) to (2). be able to.
(1) Determination of usage frequency of all users In the usage history information file 16b, usage history data for each item in the type of screen selected as the display target screen by the mobile terminal 3 is extracted, and the use of each extracted item The history data count is divided by the usage history data count for each screen (the result of adding the usage history data count for each item) to calculate the usage frequency (%) for each item on the screen and display it on the screen The frequency of use for each item to be used (frequency of use of all users) is determined.
For example, when “basic setting screen” is selected as the display target screen, each of the “color” item, “paper” item, “magnification” item, and “screen / page aggregation” item is used in the usage history information file 16b. History data is extracted, and the number of usage history data items for each extracted item is (number of “color” items + number of “paper” items + number of “magnification” items + number of “screen / page aggregation” items) The frequency of use (%) of each of the “color” item, “paper” item, “magnification” item, and “screen / page aggregation” item on the basic setting screen is calculated.
(2) Determination of Usage Frequency of Operating User (Authenticated User) Use in the usage history information file 16b associated with the user ID authenticated in step S1 for each item on the type of screen selected by the mobile terminal 3 The history data is extracted, the usage history data number of each extracted item is the usage history data number for the screen associated with the user ID (the number of usage history data items associated with the user ID of each item) The frequency of use (%) for each item on the screen is calculated, and the usage frequency of the authenticated user is determined for each item displayed on the screen.

Next, based on the determination result in step S7, the priority order (display priority order) when displaying each item included in the screen to be displayed on the mobile terminal 3 of the authenticated user, that is, the mobile terminal 3 of the transmission source. Is determined (step S8). The display priority of each item on the screen to be displayed is determined by, for example, the following (3) to (5).
(3) Determination of priority order of each item based on usage frequency of all users Priorities are assigned in ascending order from items with high usage frequency in (1) above, and the priority order of each item is determined based on the usage frequency of all users. Is done.
(4) Determining the priority order of each item based on the usage frequency of the authenticated user A priority is assigned in ascending order from the high-usage item of (2) above, and the priority order of each item based on the usage frequency of the authenticated user is determined. Is done.
(5) Based on the results of (1) to (4) above, the display priority order of each item on the screen displayed on the mobile terminal 3 is determined this time. Each item is in the reverse order of the priority order determined in (4) above ( Multiplying each item by the numerical value indicating the order when the items are arranged (in order from the lowest priority) and the frequency of use (%) of each item obtained in (2), and each item above (3 ) In the reverse order of the priority order determined in (in descending order of priority), the numerical value indicating the order and the usage frequency (%) value of each item acquired in (1) are classified by item. The multiplied items are added for each item, and the display priority of each item finally displayed on the screen is determined in descending order of the calculated addition result.

  Next, display data for displaying the display target screen on the display unit 13 stored in the ROM is read out to the RAM, and the screen size information of the portable terminal 3 acquired in step S4 and the status of the image forming apparatus 1 are displayed. Display for displaying the display target screen on the portable terminal 3 from the display data for displaying the display target screen on the display unit 13 by the Web server function based on the display priority order of each item determined based on the determination Data (Web data) is generated (step S9).

For example, when the screen size of the mobile terminal 3 specified by the screen size information of the mobile terminal 3 is less than a predetermined reference size (m1 (vertical pixel number) × n1 (horizontal pixel number)), one Only items are determined as items displayed on the mobile terminal 3. Next, the setting screen display table file 16d is referred to, the position of the image area (coordinates) of the item of the display priority 1 on the display target screen is specified, and the display priority in the display data of the display target screen read from the ROM. The data of the image area of the item 1 is extracted, and the Web data to be displayed on the portable terminal 3 is generated by being reduced or changed in aspect ratio based on the screen size information of the portable terminal 3.
When the screen size of the mobile terminal 3 is a predetermined reference size (m1 × n1) or more and less than (m2 × n2), two items are determined as items displayed on the mobile terminal 3, and Web data for displaying the items of the display priorities 1 and 2 on the portable terminal 3 is generated by the same processing.
When the screen size of the mobile terminal 3 is a predetermined reference size (m2 × n2) or more and less than (m3 × n3), three items are determined as items to be displayed on the mobile terminal 3, and the same as above Web data for displaying the items of the display priorities 1 to 3 on the mobile terminal 3 is generated by the processing.
When the screen size of the portable terminal 3 is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference size (m3 × n3), four items are determined as items to be displayed on the portable terminal 3, and display priority levels 1 to 1 are obtained by the same processing as described above. Web data for displaying the item 4 on the mobile terminal 3 is generated (m1 <m2 <m3, n1 <n2 <n3).

  When the Web data to be displayed on the mobile terminal 3 that is the transmission source is generated, the Web data generated using the terminal identification information of the mobile terminal 3 as the transmission destination is transmitted by the communication unit 18 (step S10).

  When a screen switching instruction or a confirmation instruction is received from the portable terminal 3 by the communication unit 18 (step S11: YES), Web data is generated according to the received instruction and transmitted to the portable terminal 3 via the communication unit 18. Or image forming conditions are set according to the instruction (step S12). When a communication end instruction is received via the communication unit 18 (step S13: YES), this process ends.

  FIG. 11 shows a basic setting screen and detailed settings of lower layers that are displayed according to the operation of the input unit of the mobile terminal 3 when the screen size of the mobile terminal 3 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined reference size (m1 × n1). It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition of a screen. FIG. 11 shows a case where the display priority is determined as “1: paper”, “2: magnification”, “3: screen / page aggregation”, “4: color”. Further, the lower level detailed setting screen shows a detailed setting screen of the “paper” item as an example. As shown in FIG. 11, in the mobile terminal 3, items displayed on one screen in the display unit 13 are displayed over a plurality of pages according to the display priority order.

  When the right arrow key of the portable terminal 3 is pressed while the screen based on the Web data is displayed on the display unit of the portable terminal 3, the image forming apparatus 1 is instructed to switch the screen to the next display priority item. It is supposed to be sent. When the left arrow key of the portable terminal 3 is pressed, a display switching instruction to the previous item displayed on the image forming apparatus 1 is transmitted. When a confirmation key (a key positioned at the center of the cross key or a return key) of the portable terminal 3 is pressed, a screen on one lower layer (details) for making detailed settings for displayed items on the image forming apparatus 1 A display switching instruction to the setting screen) is transmitted. When the up arrow key of the portable terminal 3 is pressed while the lower layer screen is displayed, a display switching instruction to the upper layer is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1. When the confirmation key of the portable terminal 3 is pressed in a state where the lower layer screen is displayed, the setting confirmation by the item currently displayed on the image forming apparatus 1 and the display switching instruction to the upper layer are transmitted. It is like that.

In the image forming apparatus 1, when a screen switching instruction or a confirmation instruction is received from the mobile terminal 3 by the communication unit 18, processing according to the instruction is executed by the control unit 11.
For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the screen size of the mobile terminal 3 is equal to or smaller than the reference size (m1 × n1), the right side of the mobile terminal 3 is displayed on the screen on which the “paper” item with the display priority 1 is displayed. When the arrow key is pressed and a display switching instruction to the next display priority item is received by the communication unit 18, the setting screen display table file 16d is referred to, and the display priority order 2 item on the display target screen is displayed. The position (coordinates) of the image area is specified, and the image area data of the item of display priority 2 in the read display data of the display target screen is reduced based on the screen size (vertical x horizontal) of the portable terminal 3 Alternatively, the Web data is generated with the aspect ratio changed and transmitted to the mobile terminal 3 via the communication unit 18. In the mobile terminal 3, when Web data is received from the image forming apparatus 1, the next display priority item “magnification” is displayed on the display unit as shown in FIG. 11.
Further, for example, when a confirmation key is pressed on the mobile terminal 3 on the screen on which the “paper” item with the display priority of 1 is displayed and a confirmation instruction is received by the communication unit 18, one item for the confirmed item is displayed. For the detailed setting screen which is the screen of the lower hierarchy, the processing of the above-described steps S7 to S10 is executed, and among the items of the lower hierarchy of the confirmed items, the item with the highest display priority, for example, “A4” Is displayed.
Further, for example, the confirmation key is pressed on the portable terminal 3 on the screen on which the “A4” item with the display priority of 1 on the detailed setting screen of the “paper” item is displayed, and the confirmation instruction is received by the communication unit 18. Then, “paper: A4” is set as the image forming condition in the control unit 11 (stored in association with the user ID of the RAM). In addition, the “paper” item on the basic setting screen, which is a screen in the upper hierarchy, is displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal 3.

  FIG. 12 shows basic settings displayed according to the operation of the input unit of the mobile terminal 3 when the screen size of the mobile terminal 3 is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference size (m1 × n1) to less than (m2 × n2). It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition of a screen and the detailed setting screen of a lower hierarchy. 12 also shows a case where the display priority is determined as “1: paper”, “2: magnification”, “3: screen / page aggregation”, “4: color”, as in FIG. Further, the lower level detailed setting screen shows a detailed setting screen of the “paper” item as an example.

  The operations of the mobile terminal 3 and the image forming apparatus 1 when each key of the mobile terminal 3 is pressed in a state where the screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the display unit of the mobile terminal 3 based on the Web data are basically 11 is the same as that described with reference to FIG. 11, but in FIG. 12, two items can be displayed on the upper layer on the screen of the mobile terminal 3, and therefore, the left item is shaded (selected). When the right arrow key is pressed once in a state where the selected item is shaded, that is, the selection target item is moved to the right. When the right arrow key is pressed once while the right item is shaded, a display switching instruction is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1. Further, when the left arrow key is pressed once while the right item is shaded, the shaded display, that is, the selection target item is moved to the left by one. When the screen size is large and the number of items that can be displayed increases, the shaded display moves each time the right arrow key is pressed, and the rightmost item is shaded and displayed further. When the right arrow key is pressed, a display switching instruction is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1. The same applies to the left arrow key. In the lower hierarchy, an example is shown in which Web data is generated in the image forming apparatus 1 so that three items fit within the screen size.

  In addition, when the up arrow key is pressed while the item with the highest display priority on the display target screen (that is, the screen of the upper hierarchy) is displayed on the mobile terminal 3, an instruction to switch to the initial screen is input. . In the image forming apparatus 1, the Web data of the initial screen with selection items such as the type of screen displayed on the initial screen and the end of communication is read and transmitted to the mobile terminal 3. When display of another screen is selected by the operation of the input unit of the mobile terminal 3 and a display instruction for another screen is received by the communication unit 18, the processing from step S7 onward is executed for another display target screen. The When “communication end” is selected in the mobile terminal 3 and a communication end instruction is received via the communication unit 18, the process ends.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1, when the image forming condition setting screen is used, the used screen and the items used on the screen are stored as a history. The display priority is determined based on the user's usage history of the requested screen for the display target screen requested from 3, so that when there are items that are displayed redundantly on two or more different screens Thus, it is possible to preferentially display on the mobile terminal 3 from items frequently used for each screen. For example, the items “Color (Color Balance Adjustment), Paper, Magnification, Duplex / Page Aggregation” are displayed on the basic setting screen, and the above “Color (Color Balance Adjustment), Paper, Magnification, “Double-sided / Page aggregation” + α is displayed. On the basic setting screen, the frequency of use of the “magnification” item is relatively high, but is rarely used on the application setting screen. In such a case, since the display priority order of the items is determined for each display target screen, the “magnification” item is preferentially displayed on the basic setting screen, and the “magnification” item is another item on the application screen. Is displayed after. In this way, it is possible to display an easy-to-use screen on the mobile terminal 3 according to the usage status of the display target screen by the user.

  Note that a screen for instructing execution of image formation under the image forming conditions set from the mobile terminal 3 can be read out on the display unit 13 by a predetermined operation of the operation unit 12. The screen is provided with an input field for inputting device identification information of the mobile terminal 3. The terminal identification information is input from the screen by the operation unit 12, the document is placed on the document tray, and the start button is pressed. Then, the copy processing is executed based on the setting information stored in the RAM in association with the input terminal identification information in the control unit 11. The input terminal identification information and setting information are held in the RAM until the image forming operation is completed. After the series of image forming operations, the terminal identification information and the setting information are deleted from the RAM and the image forming conditions are returned to the default settings.

(Error notification display operation)
Next, when an abnormality occurs in the print unit 17 during the image forming operation based on the image forming conditions set by the mobile terminal 3 by the above-described remote setting process, and the image forming operation is interrupted, the mobile terminal 3 is notified of the abnormality. The operation for displaying the screen will be described.

  FIG. 13 shows an abnormality notification display process executed by the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 1. This processing is executed when an abnormality is detected from the printing unit 17 by the control unit 11 during an image forming operation based on the set image forming conditions displayed by the above-described remote setting processing.

  First, the terminal identification information of the portable terminal 3 which becomes an abnormality notification destination is specified (step S21). That is, the RAM is referred to, and the terminal identification information input at the time of executing the image forming operation is specified as the terminal identification information to be notified of the abnormality.

  Next, the user authentication information file 16a is referred to, and the screen size information stored in association with the terminal identification information of the abnormality notification destination is acquired (step S22). In the present embodiment, the screen size of each portable terminal 3 permitted to access the image forming apparatus 1 is registered in advance in the user authentication information file 16a. The screen size information may be obtained by inquiring the screen size information to the portable terminal 3 that is the notification destination of the abnormality via the unit 18.

  Next, the status of the image forming apparatus 1 is determined (step S23). Here, the status determination of the image forming apparatus 1 is a determination of an abnormal status of the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the abnormal situation determination reference file 16c is referred to, and whether or not the occurrence of the abnormality is easy or difficult depending on the type of abnormality specified from the output of each sensor of the print unit 17 is determined. Determined. For example, a paper out abnormality that there is no recording medium in the paper feed tray can be easily canceled by the user pulling out the paper feed tray and resetting the recording medium. It is classified. Further, for example, the jam of the fixing unit requires a complicated jam processing operation such as opening the fixing unit and rotating the fixing roller, and is classified as difficult to remove in the abnormal situation determination reference file 16c.

  Next, the display priority of each item to be displayed on the mobile terminal 3 is determined based on the determination result in step S23, that is, whether the abnormality is in a situation where it is easy to cancel or is difficult to cancel ( Step S24). Specifically, the abnormality notification screen display table file 16e is referred to, and the display priority of each item on the abnormality notification screen is determined according to whether or not the determined situation is easy to cancel. In the situation where it is easy to remove the abnormality, the user can easily remove the abnormality if the abnormality is located. Therefore, the display priority of the “Overall Display” item that displays the abnormality part in the entire device Is set high. However, if it is difficult to remove the abnormality, even if the abnormality is shown as a whole, the user does not know how to deal with it, so the display priority of the “abnormal part detail display” item that displays the details of the abnormal part is high. Is set.

  Next, the display data of the abnormality notification screen corresponding to the abnormality that has occurred, stored in the ROM, is read out to the RAM, and the screen size information of the portable terminal 3 acquired in step S22 and the situation determination of the image forming apparatus 1 are performed. On the basis of the display priority order of the items determined based on the display priority of the item, the abnormality notification screen is displayed on the portable terminal 3 from the display data read from the ROM by the Web server function, that is, for displaying the abnormality notification screen on the display unit 13. Display data (Web data) for displaying is generated (step S25). As described above, the abnormality notification screen on the display unit 13 includes, for example, four items of “overall display”, “abnormal part detail display”, “guide display”, and “help display”, and is input by the operation unit 12. The contents of each item are switched and displayed according to the switching display instruction. In step S25, for example, based on the screen size of the mobile terminal 3 specified by the screen size information of the mobile terminal 3, the display data of the abnormality notification screen corresponding to the item of display priority 1 is reduced, and the mobile terminal 3 Web data to be displayed on the screen is generated. In addition, the voice data of the voice guidance corresponding to the item displayed on the portable terminal 3 is read from the storage unit 16 (step S26).

  When the Web data to be displayed on the mobile terminal 3 of the transmission source is generated, the generated Web data and the read audio are transmitted using the terminal identification information of the mobile terminal 3 as a transmission destination via the communication unit 18. Data is transmitted (step S27).

  When a screen switching instruction is received from the portable terminal 3 via the communication unit 18 (step S28: YES), Web data is generated according to the received instruction and transmitted to the portable terminal 3 via the communication unit 18. (Step S29). When the communication end instruction is received by the communication unit 18 (step S30: YES), this process ends.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of screen transition of the abnormality notification screen displayed in accordance with the operation of the input unit of the mobile terminal 3. FIG. 14 shows a case where the type of abnormality is jam and the display priority is determined as “1: overall display”, “2: guide display”, “3: abnormal part detail display”, “4: help display”. ing. As shown in FIG. 14, when the right arrow key is pressed in the state where the abnormality notification screen is displayed on the mobile terminal 3, a screen switching instruction to the next display priority item is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1. It is like that. When the left arrow key of the portable terminal 3 is pressed, a display switching instruction to the previous item displayed on the image forming apparatus 1 is transmitted. When the PWR key (or Esc key) of the portable terminal 3 is pressed, a communication end instruction is transmitted. In "4: Help display", the shaded display can be moved by pressing the up arrow key or the down arrow key, and the down arrow key is further moved from the state where the bottom menu item is shaded. When is pressed, a screen switching display to the next screen is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 so that menu items that are not displayed can be viewed. In addition, when the confirmation key is pressed in the help display, an instruction to switch to the help screen for the menu that is shaded at that time is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1. Note that the guide display indicates the abnormality release procedure as a moving image.

  When the abnormality notification screen based on the Web data is displayed on the mobile terminal 3, the voice guidance is output based on the voice data transmitted together with the Web data. For example, in “1: Whole display”, a voice guidance such as “Paper jam. Please remove paper according to the guide” is output. In “2: guide display”, voice guidance corresponding to the displayed abnormality canceling procedure is output. In “3: Abnormal location detail display”, voice guidance such as “Open the right door (3) of the main body and remove the jammed paper” is output. In “4: Help display”, voice guidance such as “Help main menu. Please select the appropriate mode” is output.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1, when a communication request is received from the mobile terminal 3, the screen size of the display screen of the mobile terminal 3 is acquired and the apparatus status of the own apparatus is determined. Based on the determination result of the situation, the display priority of each item included in the screen to be displayed on the mobile terminal is determined. Based on the determined display priority and the screen size of the mobile terminal 3, the Web server function Thus, display data for displaying on the portable terminal 3 is generated from display data for displaying the display target screen on the display unit 13, and transmitted to the portable terminal 3 via the communication unit 18.

  Therefore, when the image forming condition setting screen for the image forming apparatus 1 is displayed on the portable terminal 3, it is possible to display items from items with high priority for the user according to the state of the apparatus. Further, it is not necessary to provide a server device for displaying the image forming condition setting screen on the portable terminal 3, and it is possible to realize with a simple configuration.

  In the user authentication information file 16a of the storage unit 16, since the terminal identification information of the mobile terminal 3 registered in advance is stored in association with the screen size of the mobile terminal, the screen size of the mobile terminal 3 is The screen size stored in association with the terminal identification information of the terminal can be obtained by reading from the user authentication information file 16a. The screen size of the mobile terminal 3 may be acquired by making an inquiry about the screen size to the mobile terminal 3 via the communication unit 18 instead of registering in advance.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, at the time of remote setting, the usage frequency of the operation user for each item included in the screen of the display unit 13 to be displayed on the mobile terminal 3 is determined as the status of the own apparatus. Then, the display priority order of each item in the case of displaying on the portable terminal 3 is determined based on the determined use frequency of each item. Therefore, each item of the display target screen can be displayed on the mobile terminal 3 in the display priority order according to the usage frequency of the user who operates the mobile terminal 3, and the operability and convenience in the mobile terminal 3 are improved. It becomes possible.

  Also, in the image forming apparatus 1, when an abnormality occurs, the abnormal state of the own apparatus is determined as the state of the own apparatus, and each item of the abnormality notification screen displayed on the mobile terminal 3 is determined based on the determined result. Determine the display priority. Therefore, each item of the abnormality notification screen can be displayed on the mobile terminal 3 in an optimal display order according to the abnormal situation, and convenience in the mobile terminal 3 can be improved.

  Further, when generating display data to be displayed on the portable terminal 3, the setting screen display table file 16d or the abnormality notification screen display table file 16e is referred to according to the display target screen, and the display unit 13 becomes a display target. The position of the image area of each item in the display data for displaying the screen is specified, and the data of the specified image area is generated by reducing or changing the aspect ratio based on the display priority and the screen size of the mobile terminal 3 Therefore, there is no need to store display data for display on the portable terminal 3 in the storage unit 16 or the ROM of the image forming apparatus 1.

  In addition, since display data to be displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal 3 is switched in accordance with instruction information transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 via the communication unit 18, a screen corresponding to the operation of the mobile terminal 3 is displayed. Is possible.

  Moreover, since the voice guidance information according to the display data displayed on the portable terminal 3 is transmitted to the portable terminal 3, the voice guidance according to the screen displayed on the portable terminal 3 can be output, and the convenience is further improved. It becomes possible to make it.

  The description content in the above embodiment is a preferred example of the image forming apparatus 1 and is not limited to this.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where display data and the like are transmitted and received between the image forming apparatus 1 and the mobile terminal 3 via a wireless LAN has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the mobile phone is a mobile phone, the mobile phone number may be connected to the image forming apparatus 1 via the mobile communication network of the mobile phone and the Internet using the mobile phone number as terminal identification information, and display data may be transmitted and received. Further, the portable terminal 3 and the image forming apparatus 1 may be configured to have an infrared communication function, and display data and the like may be transmitted and received by infrared communication.

  In the above embodiment, the voice guidance voice data is transmitted when the abnormality notification screen is transmitted to the mobile terminal 3, but the voice guidance voice data is also transmitted in the remote setting. It is good. For example, when transmitting display data of items on a lower layer screen (for example, when transmitting display data of items such as A4, B4, A3, etc.), voice data (for example, voice guidance for an item selected on an upper layer) , “Voice data for voice guidance such as“ Please select a paper size ”” may be transmitted to the portable terminal 3.

  In the above embodiment, the storage unit 16 stores the user authentication information file 16a, the use history information file 16b, the abnormal situation determination reference file 16c, the setting screen display table file 16d, and the abnormality notification screen display table file 16e. However, these files may be physically stored in one storage device, or may be stored in separate storage devices.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the screen is switched or the image forming condition is set in response to pressing of the left / right / up / down arrow keys or the confirmation key of the mobile terminal 3 has been described as an example. The screen may be switched or the image forming conditions may be set in response to pressing of a predetermined number.

  Alternatively, the user may set and input in advance the display priority of items included in each screen that can be displayed on the display unit 13 as another mobile phone via the operation unit 12. Information on the display priority order of items included in each screen is stored in the storage unit 16 for each screen, and when the display data to be displayed on the portable terminal 3 is generated in the control unit 11, the storage unit Display data may be generated and transmitted based on the display priority stored in FIG.

  In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each apparatus constituting the image forming apparatus 1 can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial screen of an image forming condition setting screen displayed on the display unit of FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the example of data storage of the user authentication information file of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of data storage of the usage log information file of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of data storage of the abnormal condition determination reference | standard file of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of data storage of the setting screen display table file of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of data storage of the abnormality notification screen display table file of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the remote setting process performed by the control part of FIG. When the screen size of the mobile terminal in FIG. 1 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined reference size (m1 × n1), the basic setting screen and the lower-level detailed setting screen displayed according to the operation of the input unit of the mobile terminal It is a figure which shows an example of a transition. When the screen size of the mobile terminal in FIG. 1 is a predetermined reference size (m1 × n1) to (m2 × n2), the basic setting screen and lower-level hierarchy displayed according to the operation of the input unit of the mobile terminal It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition of a detailed setting screen. It is a flowchart which shows the abnormality notification display process performed by the control part of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen transition of the abnormality notification screen displayed according to operation of the input part of the portable terminal of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming system 1 Image forming apparatus 11 Control part 12 Operation part 13 Display part 14 Image reading part 15 Image memory 16 Storage part 16a User authentication information file 16b Usage history information file 16c Abnormal situation determination reference file 16d Setting screen display table file 16e Abnormality notification screen display table file 17 Print unit 18 Communication unit 19 FAX control unit 20 Bus 2 PC
3 Mobile devices

Claims (16)

A communication unit for connecting and communicating with an external mobile terminal;
A display unit;
A storage unit for storing display data for displaying a screen on the display unit;
Determine the status of the device itself and obtain the display area size of the display screen of the mobile terminal through the communication unit,
Based on the determined device status, determine the priority when displaying each item included in the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal,
Based on the determined priority order and the acquired display area size, generate display data to be displayed on the mobile terminal from display data of the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal,
A control unit that transmits the generated display data to the mobile terminal via the communication unit, and displays each item of the screen to be displayed in the determined priority;
An image forming apparatus comprising: An information storage unit that stores the terminal identification information of the mobile terminal in association with the display area size of the mobile terminal;
When acquiring the display area size of the display screen of the mobile terminal, the control unit reads the display area size stored in association with the terminal identification information of the mobile terminal from the information storage unit, thereby The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit acquires the display area size information from the mobile terminal via the communication unit when acquiring the display area size of the mobile terminal. A usage history storage unit that stores usage history of items included in the screen displayed on the display unit in association with user identification information;
The control unit acquires user identification information of a user who operates from the mobile terminal, and for each item included in the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal as the status of the own device. The use frequency of the user is determined based on the use history stored in the use history storage unit, and the priority order is determined based on the determined use frequency of each item. The image forming apparatus described in the item.   The said control part discriminate | determines the abnormal condition of an own apparatus as the condition of the said own apparatus, and determines the said priority based on the determined abnormal condition, The Claim 1 WHEREIN: Image forming apparatus. A screen information storage unit that stores position information of an image area of each item included in the screen in display data for displaying the screen on the display unit;
The control unit refers to the screen information storage unit, specifies the position of the image region of each item in the display data of the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal, and the data of the specified image region 6 is generated based on the priority and the display area size of the mobile terminal, and the display data to be displayed on the mobile terminal is generated by reducing or changing the aspect ratio. Image forming apparatus.   The said control part further switches the display data displayed on the display screen of the said portable terminal according to the instruction information transmitted from the said portable terminal via the said communication part. The image forming apparatus described in the item.   The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further transmits voice guidance information corresponding to display data to be displayed on the portable terminal to the portable terminal via the communication unit. apparatus. A computer used in an image forming apparatus, comprising: a communication unit for connecting to an external portable terminal and performing communication; a display unit; and a storage unit for storing display data for displaying a screen on the display unit. The
Determine the status of the device itself and obtain the display area size of the display screen of the mobile terminal through the communication unit,
Based on the determined device status, determine the priority when displaying each item included in the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal,
Based on the determined priority order and the acquired display area size, generate display data to be displayed on the mobile terminal from display data of the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal,
A control unit that transmits the generated display data to the mobile terminal via the communication unit, and displays each item of the screen to be displayed in the determined priority order;
Program to function as.   When acquiring the display area size of the display screen of the mobile terminal, the control unit reads the display area size stored in advance in the information storage unit in association with the terminal identification information of the mobile terminal from the information storage unit The program according to claim 9, wherein the display area size is acquired by:   The said control part is a program of Claim 9 which acquires the said display area size information from the said portable terminal via the said communication part, when acquiring the display area size of the said portable terminal.   The control unit acquires user identification information of a user who operates from the mobile terminal, and for each item included in the screen of the display unit to be displayed on the mobile terminal as the status of the own device. The usage frequency of the user is determined based on a usage history stored in a usage history storage unit, and the priority order is determined based on the determined usage frequency of each item. The program described in.   The said control part discriminate | determines the abnormal condition of an own apparatus as the condition of the said own apparatus, and determines the said priority based on the determined abnormal condition. Program.   The control unit refers to a screen information storage unit that stores in advance position information of an image area of each item included in the screen in display data for displaying the screen on the display unit, and is to be displayed on the mobile terminal. The position of the image area of each item in the display data of the display unit screen is identified, and the data of the identified image area is read out based on the priority and the display area size of the mobile terminal and reduced or aspect ratio The program as described in any one of Claims 9-13 which produces | generates the display data displayed on the said portable terminal by changing.   The control unit further switches display data to be displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal according to instruction information transmitted from the mobile terminal via the communication unit. The program described in the section.   The said control part is a program as described in any one of Claims 9-15 which further transmits the audio | voice guidance information according to the display data displayed on the said portable terminal to the said portable terminal via the said communication part.

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