JP2010081235A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control a plurality of user interfaces to improve user's convenience. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 includes: a means of executing one or more applications on an input/output processing of an image; a storage means for storing a first user interface, a second user interface, first attribute information on the attributes of the first user interface and the second user interface, and second attribute information on the attributes of the one or more applications; and a control means for determining, based on the first attribute information and the second attribute information, a user interface used for the applications to be executed and controlling the first and second user interfaces in accordance with the determination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus (such as a copier, a FAX transmission apparatus, a scanner, or a device having these functions) has information (a screen for displaying an image data operation menu and the like, buttons and keys for inputting instructions, etc. A plurality of user interfaces (UIs) are provided (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-14244 A

  It is an object of the present invention to control a plurality of user interfaces in order to improve user convenience.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, means for executing one or more applications related to image input / output processing, a first user interface, a second user interface, the first user interface, and the second user interface Based on first attribute information related to user interface attributes and second attribute information related to attributes of the one or more applications, based on the first attribute information and the second attribute information, The image forming apparatus includes a control unit that determines a user interface to be used by the application to be executed and controls the first and second user interfaces according to the determination.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the control unit uses the first user interface and the second user interface, and determines a mode of the use. It is characterized by doing.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the control means uses the first user interface as an input means for inputting an instruction to the application to be executed. The second user interface functions as output means for outputting the output result of the application to be executed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the storage unit further includes user-defined information, and the control unit is further based on the user-defined information. The determination is performed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the storage unit further includes usage restriction information of the image forming apparatus, and the control unit further includes the usage. The determination is performed based on restriction information.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the control unit causes the first user interface or the second user interface to display a condition used when executing the determination. And receiving an instruction to rewrite the user-defined information.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the first attribute information and the second attribute information are composed of a plurality of items, and the storage unit Further stores the priority of each item, and the control means executes the determination based on the priority.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the image forming apparatus further includes a specifying unit that specifies a user, and the storage unit has user-defined information for each user. The control means performs the determination using user definition information of the user specified by the specifying means.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the second attribute information includes display language information relating to a language used by an application for display processing. The attribute information of 1 includes display capability information regarding display capability of each user interface, and the control unit executes the determination based on the display language information and the display capability information.

  The invention according to claim 10 is a first user interface, a second user interface, a reception unit that receives an instruction to switch between the first user interface and the second user interface, and the reception An image forming apparatus having control means for controlling the first user interface and the second user interface according to the instruction content accepted by the means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the convenience of the user who uses the image forming apparatus having a plurality of user interfaces is improved.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, two UIs are used for one application.
According to the invention described in claim 3, the display function is assigned to the first UI, and the input function is assigned to the second UI.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, information specified by the user is taken into account when determining the UI.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the usage restriction information of the image forming apparatus is taken into account when determining the UI.
According to the invention described in claim 6, the user can rewrite the contents of the user-defined DB.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the UI priority is taken into account when determining the UI.
According to invention of Claim 8, user definition information can be varied according to a user.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the UI is determined according to the language used by the application.
According to the invention described in claim 10, the convenience of the user who uses the image forming apparatus having a plurality of user interfaces is improved.

<Example 1>
<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a printing function (printer), a copying function (scanner), a FAX transmission / reception function, a data communication function, and other functions related to image input / output. The image forming apparatus 1 further includes two user interfaces (hereinafter referred to as UI). The first UI 41 is disposed at the front center of the main body B of the image forming apparatus 1, and the second UI 42 is fixed to the main body B via the flexible cable T.

Here, the UI is during execution of various applications (a program for realizing a copy function, a program for realizing a FAX function, a program for realizing a print function, etc.) executed by the image forming apparatus 1. An apparatus having at least one of an input function and an output function that presents information such as an execution result of an application to a user and receives an instruction from the user to the application.
In the following embodiments, the first UI 41 includes an input button and a liquid crystal display unit. The second UI 42 has a liquid crystal display unit having a touch panel type input mechanism. For example, when a scanner application is executed, a predetermined setting screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the first UI 41, and the user uses a touch panel or a button on the liquid crystal display unit of the first UI 41 to perform predetermined instructions (start of scanning, copy target). Information on the size and number of documents, information on printing conditions such as color / monochrome, and information on the output destination of the obtained image data). The scanner application executes scanner processing according to the input information. The execution result of the scanner application (for example, a message such as a preview display of the scan result or a notification of the end of processing) is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit of the first UI 41.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 20, an image forming unit 31, a scanner unit 32, a communication unit 33, a UI control unit 40, a first UI 41, and a second UI 42.

The control unit 10 is an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit).
The image forming unit 31 forms an image by electrophotography based on the image data read by the scanner unit 32 and the image data received by the communication unit 33 from another apparatus via a communication network. Specifically, the image forming unit 31 includes a conveyance device that conveys a recording medium such as paper, a photoconductor that forms a latent image corresponding to image data transmitted under the control of the control unit 10, and a latent image. Recording, such as a developer supply device that supplies a developer for developing the toner to the photosensitive member, a transfer device that transfers the developed image to the recording medium, and a fixing device that fixes the image transferred to the surface of the recording medium. A configuration for forming an image on a medium (paper) is provided.
The scanner unit 32 is an image reading unit that optically reads a document and generates image data representing an image of the document. The scanner unit 32 includes an optical system member (not shown) configured by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like, reads an image of a placed document by the optical system member, and reads image data representing the read image. Generate.
The communication unit 33 is a communication means for exchanging data with an external device. For example, various modems, wireless communication circuits compliant with IMT-2000, serial interfaces compliant with USB (Universal Serial Bus) standards, , IrDA (Infrared Data Association), a wireless interface conforming to Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the like. The image forming apparatus 1 functions as a facsimile by acquiring image data from an external device through the communication unit 33 and forming an image corresponding to the acquired image data on a recording material or the like in the image forming unit 31. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 functions as a scanner by acquiring image data by the scanner unit 32.

The UI control unit 40 stores information necessary for controlling the UI, such as information related to button assignments and touch panel position information, for each of the control processor, the VRAM that stores image data, and the first UI 41 and the second UI 42. It has a table (both not shown), and controls the first UI 41 and the second UI 42 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 10.
Specifically, based on a signal from the control unit 10 executing the application, a display instruction for information including contents (data) to be displayed is generated for at least one of the first UI 41 and the second UI 42. To the corresponding UI (drawing process). As a result, it is displayed on the UI used by the application in accordance with the drawing command of the application. In addition, when a signal is received from each UI based on an instruction from the control unit 10, the content of the signal is interpreted, it is determined whether or not the signal is supplied to the control unit 10, and the signal is transmitted as necessary. Output to the control unit 10. Thereby, the content of the instruction input via the UI used in the application is delivered to the application (input processing). Details of UI control contents will be described later.

  The first UI 41 and the second UI 42 include a driving circuit for driving a liquid crystal display, a transparent pressure-sensitive touch panel (display mechanism) provided on the front side of the liquid crystal display display area, operation buttons for inputting various instructions, An input key (input mechanism) is provided. When receiving a signal from the UI control unit 40, the first UI 41 and the second UI 42 perform drawing processing based on the signal. Further, when pressing of the touch panel by the user's finger or pressing of a button or key is detected, the acquired position information on the touch panel and a signal corresponding to the button are supplied to the UI control unit 40.

  The storage unit 20 is a storage device such as a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk, and the like, and implements various functions (scanner, copying, FAX, data communication, etc.) of the image forming apparatus 1. Various application programs (hereinafter referred to as applications) are stored. The control unit 10 implements these various functions by reading and executing a program stored in the storage unit 20 based on an instruction from the user.

  The storage unit 20 further stores the following database (DB). That is, the setting condition DB 21, the UI attribute DB 22, the application attribute DB 23, the user definition DB 24, and the restriction information DB 25.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the UI attribute DB 22. As shown in the figure, the UI attribute DB 22 stores attribute information of the UI for each of the first UI 41 and the second UI 42. Specifically, this attribute information is composed of content information of items indicated by IA1 to IA10.

  Information relating to the size of the display screen of the display unit is stored in the item “size”. Information relating to the aspect ratio of the display screen is stored in the item “shape”. “Resolution” stores, for example, an upper limit value of resolution at which the UI can be displayed. “Monochrome / Color” stores information indicating whether only monochrome display is possible but color display is also possible. The “touch panel” stores information indicating whether or not an input mechanism using a touch panel is provided. The “keyboard” stores information indicating whether or not the user interface has a terminal for connecting an external keyboard and has a function of accepting input processing from the keyboard. In the “attached state”, the user can freely change the relative position and orientation of the UI with respect to the image forming apparatus main body using a flexible cable or the like, whether the UI is fixed to the main body B of the image forming apparatus 1. Information about the attachment state such as whether it is attached is stored. The “energy saving operation” stores information about whether or not the UI is compatible with an operation that reduces power consumption. For example, the image forming apparatus 1 has a power saving mode. In this mode, even when a signal for displaying power consumption from the UI control unit 40 is received from the UI control unit, power consumption corresponding to this signal is reduced. This is information as to whether or not it has a function to operate as a drop. The “time limit” stores information about whether or not the user supports an operation for regulating the continuous use time of the image forming apparatus 1. For example, it is information on whether to have a function of measuring the total usage time of the UI and not accepting an operation from the user when a predetermined time is exceeded. “Function restriction” stores information about whether or not the image forming apparatus 1 is compatible with an operation for security measures. For example, of the functions that can be realized by the application, whether or not it has a function of not accepting a predetermined operation (for example, inputting an instruction for transferring image data to an external device) Information about.

  Note that the configuration and item contents of the DB shown in FIG. 3 are merely examples, and the contents and number of items other than this may be adopted.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the application attribute DB 23. Store application attributes for each application. Specifically, as shown in the figure, items of “display amount” (IB1), “content” (IB2), “color / monochrome” (IB3), “touch panel” (IB4), and “keyboard” (IB5) including.

The “display amount” includes an upper limit value of the amount of information to be displayed by the UI by executing the application (for example, when displaying a menu screen necessary for the user to input setting information or the like in the case of a copy application) (Maximum value of content information to be displayed on the menu screen) is stored.
“Content” is information indicating whether the content displayed on the UI display screen by execution of the application is a character or an image. For example, in the case of a copying application that displays a menu screen relating to copying, information indicating that only characters can be displayed on the UI when the application is executed is stored so that the user can preview the scanned image. If the scan application has a function of displaying on the display, it is stored that characters or images may be displayed on the UI when the application is executed.
“Color / monochrome” is information indicating whether a color image can be handled by the application or whether color display is recommended.
The “touch panel” is information indicating whether or not it is requested (or recommended) to use the touch panel when the user inputs an instruction via the UI during application execution.
“Keyboard” is information indicating whether or not it is requested (or recommended) to use an external keyboard when the user inputs an instruction or the like during execution of an application.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the user definition DB 24. What is stored in the user definition DB 24 is information that is not related to the type of application or the attribute of the UI, and is information regarding the user interface user's desires and preferences regarding the user interface.

  For example, “character size” (IC1) is information relating to the size (readability) of the display information desired by the user. For example, it is stored that a character is desired to be displayed at a minimum of 10 pt. . Description of other items (IC2 to IC4) is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the restriction information DB 25. As shown in the figure, for each operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1, information related to the operation and function restrictions of the image forming apparatus 1 is stored. Specifically, information related to an operation mode related to power consumption (ID1), information related to usage time limitation (ID2), and information related to function limitation (ID3) are stored.
Here, the image forming apparatus 1 has a plurality of operation modes (for example, a normal operation mode and a power saving mode), and the operation mode is set by the control unit 10. When referring to the DB 25, the control unit 10 reads information corresponding to the field of the current operation mode.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the setting condition DB 21.
The setting condition DB 21 is roughly composed of items of “use DB” (IE1), “valid item” (IE2), and “decision algorithm” (IE3) and content information thereof.

The “use DB” is information indicating which DB of the application attribute DB 23, the UI attribute DB 22, the user definition DB 24, and the restriction information DB 25 is used when determining a UI to be used by an application. In the example shown in the figure, information indicating that the application attribute DB 23 and the UI attribute DB 22 are used is stored.
The “valid item” is information indicating which item information is used in each DB selected in the use DB when determining the UI to be used by the application. In the example shown in the figure, information that items IB1, IB2, and IB3 in the application attribute DB 23 are used is stored.
The “determination algorithm” is information indicating how to use the valid item information to determine the UI. Specifically, it includes information on “reference order”, “item correspondence”, “evaluation method”, and “UI priority”.

Although details will be described later, in this embodiment, each UI item is compared to determine which UI is suitable for the target application. The “reference order” is an item in this comparison process. Represents the order of contrast.
“Item correspondence” represents which item is to be compared with which item, and a standard for comparison. For example, in the example of FIGS. 3 and 4, the comparison standard is a case where the content information “3 inches” of IA1 (size) and the information “50 characters” of “display amount” (IB1) are compared. The information is “the number of displayable characters per inch is 20 characters”. In this case, since 3 inches corresponds to 60 characters, when the application 1 compares which UI satisfies the condition from the viewpoint of the display amount, the result is that the first UI 41 satisfies the condition (the second UI 42 naturally satisfies). Will be obtained.
“Evaluation method” represents an output method of an evaluation result. For example, it is information indicating whether the evaluation result is output as a binary value (a condition is satisfied / not satisfied) or whether a condition conformance is calculated and output.
The “UI priority” is information related to a guideline for making UI determination, such as which of the first UI 41 and the second UI 42 is preferentially adopted or which UI is given incentive.
For example, as a result of the comparison of each item, the first UI 41 and the second UI 42 are information indicating how to perform processing when it is determined that the attribute condition of the application is met.

<Operation>
An example of the operation for determining the UI will be described with reference to FIG.
First, for example, the user operates the first UI 41 to select a desired function (copy, FAX, scanner, etc.) and inputs an execution instruction to the image forming apparatus 1. When this input is supplied to the control unit 10 via the UI control unit 40, the control unit 10 recognizes that the corresponding application (copy application, FAX application, scanner application, etc.) should be executed (S101).
The control unit 10 proceeds to a process of determining a UI to be used for the application. Hereinafter, a case where the information shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 is stored in each DB will be described as an example. It is assumed that the application is application 1. First, the setting condition DB 21 is referred to. From the contents described in the setting condition DB 21, it is determined that the application attribute DB 23 and the UI attribute DB 22 should be used and the items IB1, IB2, and IB3 should be used. Subsequently, a determination method is determined from each item of the determination algorithm. Thereby, for example, a flow of determination processing represented by S102 to S106 in FIG. 8 is generated.

That is, first, a determination step is performed in which IB1 is compared with IA1, the fitness is output as YES / NO, and U2 is prioritized (S102). For example, if the selected application is the application 1, the display amount of the application 1 is an attribute of “50 characters” or less, an attribute of “3 inches” of the first UI 41, and a condition of “10 inches” of the second UI 42. If only the second UI 42 meets this condition (Y) as a result of the comparison (Y), the process proceeds to S106, and it is determined that the application 1 is to use the second UI 42. If only the first U41 meets this condition (cannot be under the content information illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 7), or if both the first UI41 and the second UI42 meet (N), the process proceeds to S103.
In S103, the contents (resolution information) of IA3 of the first UI 41 and the second UI 42 are compared for IB2 (content type) of the selected application, and the comparison result is output. For example, when the selected application is the application 1 and it is determined that the resolution needs to be “high” when displaying “character” content (Y), the process proceeds to S106. , It is determined to use the second UI 42. On the other hand, when displaying the content of “character”, if the resolution may be “low” (N), the process proceeds to S104.
In S104, the IB3 of the selected application (information about whether the application requests color or monochrome) is compared with the attribute of information indicating whether the UI can display color or monochrome, and only the second UI 42 is applied. In the case (for example, when the selected application is the application 2, that is, when the selected application requests color display), the process proceeds to S106, and the second UI 42 is selected. On the other hand, when the selected application does not request color support (for example, when the selected application is the application 1), the process proceeds to S105 and determines to use the first UI 41.

When it is determined that one of the first UI 41 and the second UI 42 is to be used, the control unit 10 transmits a predetermined control signal to the UI control unit 40. This signal includes information for identifying a UI (one or both of the first UI 41 and the second UI 42; in other words, a UI to be activated for the application) used for the currently executed application. . When receiving the control signal from the control unit 10, the UI control unit 40 controls the first UI 41 and the second UI 42 according to the contents.
For example, when a control signal including that the first UI 41 should be validated is received from 10, the UI control unit 40 transmits a drawing command to the first UI 41 under the control of the control unit 10, and the user operation from the first UI 41. When a signal supplied according to the content is received, the content is interpreted and output to the control unit 10. On the other hand, no drawing command is issued to the second UI 42 even if a signal is received from the control unit 10 executing the application. Further, even when a signal supplied according to the user operation content is received from the second UI 42, it is not output to the control unit 10. That is, the user cannot input information necessary for the operation of the application or check the output result from the application from the second UI 42. In this way, the user can use the application only through the first UI 41.

  For the second UI 42 that has been invalidated, the UI control unit 40 may not output a drawing command, but may output a power-off command. Alternatively, a drawing command for causing the second UI 42 (or the first UI 41) to display a message indicating that the second UI 42 cannot be used for the application may be output.

<Other Example 1>
FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of the setting condition DB 21A according to the other embodiment 1. The difference between the setting condition DB 21A and the setting condition DB 21 is that the determination algorithm (IE3A) includes information related to the UI linkage operation.

The information related to the linkage operation is information indicating whether a control mode for enabling both of the first UI 41 and the second UI 42 is enabled for one application to be executed instead of a control mode for enabling both, and When the control mode is possible, the information represents details of the control mode.
For example, in the rendering process, when the application executes a process of displaying a character and an image, an output control mode in which only the character is displayed on the first UI 41 and only the image is displayed on the second UI 42 can be considered. . Alternatively, in the case of an application that displays only character information, a control mode is also conceivable in which first the character information is displayed on the first UI 41 and the portion that cannot be displayed is displayed on the second UI 42. That is, the control is performed so that both UIs operate as one virtual drawing apparatus as a whole.
Also, regarding input processing, whether to allow an input control mode to receive input from only one of the UIs, to allow a control mode to receive input from either UI, or to input the entire input unit of both UIs The information regarding whether or not to permit the input control mode to perform input control (assignment of both UI touch panels and buttons) so as to constitute one input device is included in the information related to the linkage operation.
Alternatively, one UI (for example, the second UI 42 having a large screen size) is used exclusively for drawing (the touch panel function of the second UI 42 is invalidated), and the first UI 41 having an input key is used exclusively for instruction input (display function of the first UI 41). The first UI 41 and the second UI 42 may be controlled to function as an integrated input / output device.
Information related to the linkage operation is included in the control signal from the control unit 10, and the UI control unit 40 outputs a drawing command to each UI based on the control signal, and interprets input information received from each UI. To the control unit 10.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation according to the present embodiment. From the content of the decision algorithm IE3A, the reference order, that is, the priority of the items is IB1 → IB2 → IB3, the corresponding items are IA1, IA2, and IA4, and the evaluation method is YES / NO type When the information indicating that the UI priority is U2> UI and the linked operation is performed is read, the control unit 10 generates an operation flow for UI determination based on the information. This operation flow is, for example, as shown in FIG. This operation example is essentially different from the operation example of FIG. 8 in that a step (S201) of determining whether or not the linked operation is possible is provided before the comparison step of each item.
When the selected application is incapable of linking operation (S201; N), it is decided to finally validate either one of the UIs (S105, S106) as in FIG. On the other hand, when the selected application can be linked (S201; Y), both the first UI 41 and the second UI 42 are validated. Specifically, the control unit 10 generates a control signal and outputs the control signal to the UI control unit 40 based on the information regarding the allocation mode related to the drawing process and the allocation mode related to the input process stored in the link operation item. To do.

<Other Example 2>
FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1A according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1A is different from the image forming apparatus 1 in that an authentication unit 50 that identifies and authenticates a user who operates the image forming apparatus 1A is provided, and that 24A is used instead of the user definition DB 24. The authentication unit 50 is a device that reads an IC card that stores information for identifying an individual, or a device that reads biometric information of a user. For example, each user first causes the authentication unit 50 to read his / her personal information by a predetermined method before performing an operation. The control unit 10 controls the UI 40 control unit to display a menu screen or the like and accept a user operation only when it is determined that the user is a pre-registered user. Do not accept any input.

  FIG. 12 shows a configuration example of the user definition DB 24A. As shown in the figure, the user definition DB 24A stores information similar to the user definition information DB 24 for each user registered in advance. When the setting condition DB 21 indicates that the user definition information is used when the user is specified, the control unit 10 refers to the user definition DB 24A and reads the information of the corresponding user field. Thus, UI control according to each user is performed by preparing different user definition information for every user.

  The above-described number and type of DBs, data format, number and contents of items, and contents of the setting condition DB (UI determination method) are merely examples, and other aspects can be adopted. For example, the UI used may vary depending on the language used by the application (= language of information displayed on the display unit). Further, the number of UIs included in the image forming apparatus 1 (1A) is not two but may be three or more. In short, any configuration that can determine at least one UI to be used by the application based on the characteristics of each UI and the function of the application (in other words, the operation content of the image forming apparatus) may be used. A plurality of setting condition DBs 21 may be prepared for each application or a plurality of setting conditions DB 21 may be prepared for each user.

<Other Example 3>
FIG. 13 is an external view of an image forming apparatus 1B according to another embodiment 3.
In the above embodiment, the UI control content is determined based on the UI attribute and the application attribute. However, in this embodiment, the first UI 41 and the second UI 42 can be controlled by an instruction from the user regardless of these attributes. It is characterized by switching functions.

  Specifically, the image forming apparatus 1 </ b> B includes a first UI 41 </ b> A instead of the first UI 41. The first UI 41A is provided with a switching button SB for switching the functions of the first UI 41A and the second UI 42. When the switch button SB is pressed by the user, a predetermined signal (referred to as a switch signal) is output to the UI control unit 40. When the switching signal is received, the UI control unit 40 reverses the information on the correspondence relationship between the application and the UI stored in a table (not shown) referred to when controlling the first UI 41A and the second UI 42. Rewrite as you do. For example, when the application 1 is currently using the UI 41A and the application 2 is using the second UI 42, the correspondence relationship “application 1: first UI 41A” and “application 2: second UI 42” is displayed in the table. If it is stored, it is rewritten as “application 2: first UI 41A” and “application 1: second UI 42” 40.

When the switching process is executed by the UI control unit 40, the output destination of the output result of the application and the input source of the instruction to the application are reversed. That is, the user who has operated the application 1 using the UI 41A operates the application using only the second UI 42. Conversely, an application that has been operated using 42 can only be operated using 141A. When one UI is not used by any application, the other UI is not used by any application by pressing the switching button SB.
For example, a user who finds it difficult to confirm a scanned image on the first UI 41A having a small screen size can confirm the image on the second UI 42 having a large outer surface size by pressing SB. Alternatively, if the user feels it is inconvenient to perform a predetermined input operation on the second UI 42 that does not have an input key, and if it is determined that the display visibility is not much different using either screen, the switching button SB By pressing, the input operation can be performed using the UI 41A that facilitates the input operation.

  If one of the UIs is turned off, for example, if the switching process is executed as it is, there is a possibility that the subsequent operation may be hindered, the UI control unit 40 notifies the user of a warning message or the like before performing the switching process. May be displayed, and the switching process may be executed when a user instruction is input.

  Prior to determining the UI control mode and transmitting the control signal to the UI control unit 40, the control unit 10 sends the UI for the application to be executed to the first UI 41 or the second UI 42 via the UI control unit 40. The fact that the control mode has been determined may be displayed, the user may confirm whether or not the control mode can be switched to this control mode, and an instruction input from the user may be waited.

  In any of the above-described embodiments, when the user definition DB 24 is referred to, the control unit 10 determines the UI control mode in consideration of the information stored in the user definition DB 24 (on which screen the application Whether the output is displayed or which UI should be used) may be notified to the user via the UI control unit 40. In addition, whether or not to rewrite the contents of the user-defined DB with respect to the control mode with and without taking into account the contents of the UI attribute DB 22, such as a sample screen assumed when the application is executed, is displayed. You may display a message to ask. If the user does not like this setting, the user may perform a predetermined operation to further change the contents of the user definition DB 24.

  At this time, if some item information in the user definition DB 24 is rewritten by the user, optimum parameters for other items may be presented to the user. Specifically, a control mode determined only from application attributes and UI attributes is quantified using a plurality of parameters according to a predetermined algorithm, and stored in the storage unit 20 as default control contents. Here, the parameter is an amount related to the visibility such as a ratio of the size of the image data to the screen size of the selected UI. And the control part 10 digitizes the degree of deviation | shift from the default control mode of the control mode obtained in consideration of the content of user definition DB24. The control unit 10 displays a message that advises the user to rewrite the content information of the items related to the visibility of the user DB, according to the degree of deviation, via the UI control unit 40. In this way, a setting that does not hinder the operation of the application while reflecting the user's preference regarding the UI setting is realized.

  A configuration in which the switch button SB is provided in the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1A instead of the image forming apparatus 1 may be employed. In this case, even if the UI control unit 40 receives a control signal designating a UI to be used for the application from the control unit 10, when the switch button SB is pressed, a definition table (not shown) that the UI control unit 40 has. Rewriting that forcibly reverses the correspondence of

  The switching button SB may be provided on the second UI 42, or may be a button or icon (soft button) displayed on the touch panel information instead of the hardware button, and the main body is independent of each UI. It may be provided in the part B. In short, it is only necessary that the user's instruction to switch the UI can be received.

  Programs for executing the above-described functions in the image forming apparatuses 1, 1A, 1B are magnetic recording media (magnetic tape, magnetic disk (HDD (Hard Disk Drive), FDD (Flexible Disk Drive)), etc.), optical recording media. (Optical disks (CD (Compact Disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), etc.)), magneto-optical recording media, and computer-readable recording media such as semiconductor memories can be provided. It is also possible to download via a network such as the Internet.

1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the memory content of UI attribute DB22. It is a figure for demonstrating the memory content of application attribute DB23. It is a figure for demonstrating the memory content of user definition DB24. It is a figure for demonstrating the memory content of restriction | limiting information DB25. It is a figure for demonstrating the memory content of setting condition DB21. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the memory content of setting condition DB21A. 6 is a diagram illustrating another operation example of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1A. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the memory content of user definition DB21A. It is an external view of the image forming apparatus 1B.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A, 1B ... Image forming apparatus, 10 ... Control part, 20 ... Memory | storage part, 21, 21A ... Setting condition DB, 22 ... UI attribute DB, 23 ... Application attribute DB, 24, 24A ... user definition DB, 25 ... restriction information DB, 31 ... image forming unit, 32 .. scanner unit, 33 ... communication unit, 40 ... UI control unit, 41 ... 1st UI, 42 ... 2nd UI, 50 ... Authentication part.

Claims (10)

Means for executing one or more applications relating to image input / output processing;
A first user interface;
A second user interface;
Storage means for storing first attribute information relating to attributes of the first user interface and the second user interface, and second attribute information relating to attributes relating to the one or more applications;
Control means for determining a user interface to be used by the application to be executed based on the first attribute information and the second attribute information, and controlling the first and second user interfaces according to the determination; An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit uses the first user interface and the second user interface and determines a mode of the use. The control means functions as an input means for inputting an instruction to the application to be executed using the first user interface, and an output means for outputting an output result of the application to be executed by the second user interface. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: The storage means further includes user-defined information,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further executes the determination based on the user-defined information. The storage means further includes usage restriction information of the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further executes the determination based on the use restriction information. The control means causes the first user interface or the second user interface to display a condition used when executing the determination,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an instruction to rewrite the user-defined information is received. The first attribute information and the second attribute information are composed of a plurality of items,
The storage means further stores the priority of each item,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes the determination based on the priority. And further comprising a specifying means for specifying the user,
The storage means has user-defined information for each user,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs the determination using user-defined information of a user specified by the specifying unit. The second attribute information includes display language information related to a language used by the application for display processing,
The first attribute information includes display capability information regarding display capability of each user interface,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes the determination based on the display language information and the display capability information. A first user interface;
A second user interface;
Receiving means for receiving an instruction to switch between the first user interface and the second user interface;
An image forming apparatus comprising: control means for controlling the first user interface and the second user interface according to the instruction content received by the receiving means.

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