JP2013035282A - Image forming apparatus and display control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that can improve convenience by displaying a screen according to the use of a user.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes a display part, a receiving part, an authentication information acquiring part, and a control part. The receiving part receives a print job of the user. The authentication information acquiring part acquires first information used in user authentication. When the print job of the first user is received by the receiving part and an authentication result based on the first information acquired by the authentication information acquiring part is the first user, the control part switches the display screen of the screen part after the authentication into a screen related to the print job for the control of the screen.

Description

  The embodiment described in this specification relates to a technique for controlling display on a control panel of an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, when a user logs in to an image forming apparatus by personal authentication such as contact / non-contact ID card authentication or biometric authentication, a default screen preset in the apparatus is displayed on the control panel of the image forming apparatus. By selecting a function to be executed, the user displays a setting screen for that function. Thereafter, the user performs various settings for the function and then executes the job.

  When printing with an image forming apparatus that requires user authentication, a user edits a document using an editing application of a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC), and prints a print job from the PC to the image forming apparatus via a printer driver. Issue a (print job). Thereafter, the user goes to the image forming apparatus, performs authentication, and then selects the job transmitted by the user from the control panel. The image forming apparatus executes print processing for the selected job. Such printing means (private printing function) requiring authentication is an effective means when it is not desired for a third party to visually recognize the printed matter discharged to the tray.

  The following techniques are disclosed.

JP 2010-224767 A

  In the case of the prior art, the default screen displayed after user authentication does not necessarily match the function that the user wants to use. If the function you want to use and the default screen displayed after authentication do not match, the user needs to select the function screen you want to use, and certain operations such as pressing a button are required to reach that function screen. Become.

  For example, a user who frequently uses the copy function often sets a copy function screen as a default display screen. In this case, when the private print function is used, the print function screen is displayed after authentication even though print data is received by the image forming apparatus. The job will be executed after switching to.

  The present embodiment has been made to solve the above-described problems, and improves the convenience for the user by controlling the display on the control panel of the image forming apparatus to be a user-desired screen. For the purpose.

  The image forming apparatus according to the embodiment includes a display unit, a reception unit, an authentication information acquisition unit, and a control unit. The receiving unit receives a user's print job. The authentication information acquisition unit acquires first information that is information used in user authentication. The control unit receives a print job of the first user by the receiving unit, and if the authentication result based on the first information acquired by the authentication information acquiring unit is a result of the first user, Is switched to a screen related to a print job.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment. It is an example of a screen image displayed on the control panel, and is a diagram illustrating an example in which a default screen is displayed after login. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen image of a printing function and a scanning function. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen image of a box function and an external transmission function. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of screen transition after authentication when the image forming apparatus of the embodiment has already received a print job. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment (external storage device determination implementation). 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the image processing system according to the first embodiment. The image processing system 500 includes an image forming apparatus 100 and a PC 200 used by a user. The image forming apparatus 100 and the PC 200 are connected by a LAN (Local Area Network) 300 and can communicate with each other.
The image forming apparatus 100 is an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) having a print function, a copy function, a scanner function, a box function, a FAX / email transmission / reception function, and the like. The print function is a function for forming a print job (print job) issued from a PC on a sheet (for example, a paper medium), and the copy function is a function for copying an image of an original sheet onto another sheet. The scanner function is a function that scans a document sheet, converts it into electronic data, and stores it permanently in a storage device.

  The box function is a function for managing a storage area for storing image data for printing and image data for FAX transmission and storing image data obtained by a scan function. In this example, the storage area of the storage device is boxed by partitioning in advance for each user, for example. The user selects data stored in the box using the box function screen, or selects a box to which scan data is output. In addition to logically partitioning the storage device by partition, it may be implemented by giving access rights to files and partitioning them for each user. The FAX / E-mail transmission / reception function is a function for transmitting FAX / E-mail to the outside, and printing FAX / E-mail transmitted from the outside and storing the data permanently, for example, in the box. It is a function.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes an ADF 51 (ADF: auto document feeder) and an image reading unit R. The ADF 51 detects the loading of the sheet document and conveys the loaded sheet documents one by one onto the transmission glass plate of the image reading unit R. The image reading unit R scans and reads images of a sheet document and a book document on the transmission glass plate. The image reading unit R includes a light emitter that irradiates a document placed on a transmissive glass plate, and an image sensor that receives reflected light from the document via a reflection mirror and converts it into electronic data.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a cassette unit C on which sheets are mounted, and forms a document image read by the image reading unit R and image data transmitted from the PC 200 on a sheet supplied from the cassette unit C. An image forming unit P is included. The image forming unit P has a process unit for each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), and can perform monochrome printing and color printing.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a control board 110 that performs overall control of hardware devices in the apparatus. The control board 110 includes a processor 111, a memory 112, a NIC 113 (NIC: Network Interface Card), and an external data transmission / reception unit 114. The processor 111 is an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The memory 112 is a storage unit including a random access memory (RAM) that is a volatile storage device, a read only memory (ROM) that is a nonvolatile storage device, and a hard disk drive (HDD). The NIC 113 controls communication with an external device via the LAN.

  The external data transmission / reception unit 114 transmits / receives a FAX signal via a public communication network, and inputs / outputs data to / from an external storage device. In this example, the external data transmission / reception unit 114 has a FAX board that controls FAX transmission and reception, and is connected to an external storage device such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a USB hard disk drive, and conforms to the USB standard. It has a connection terminal. Depending on the mode, the PC 200 is also connected via the USB connection terminal.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a control panel 120 that accepts setting values and execution instructions from a user and displays processing contents to the user. The control panel 120 includes a keyboard 122 that is a physical button and a touch panel display 121. The keyboard 122 includes at least a print button, a copy button, a scan button, a box button, and a facsimile button, as well as an execution button. By pressing these buttons, screens of functions such as a print function screen and a copy function screen ( For example, a menu screen) is displayed on the touch panel display 121.

  The image forming apparatus 100 also includes an IC (Integrated Circuit) card reader 130. The user holds an ID (Identification) card held in the vicinity of the IC card reader 130. Thereby, an authentication process is performed. In this example, the control board 110 is described as performing authentication processing. However, when there is an authentication server or the like, an implementation in which the authentication server performs authentication processing may be used. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 transmits a reading value from the ID card to the authentication server, and receives an authentication result (permitted or not permitted) from the authentication server. As for authentication, besides contactless ID card authentication, contact type ID card authentication, biometrics authentication, input of a user ID and password, and the like may be used.

  The hardware configuration of the PC 200 is the same as that of an existing PC, and includes a processor 204, a memory 205 (including both volatile and non-volatile storage devices), a NIC 206, and a keyboard 202 and a mouse 203 that receive input from the user. And a monitor 201 for displaying an image to the user. At least a printer driver for the image forming apparatus 100 is installed in the memory 205 in advance. The NIC 113 and the NIC 206 control communication with each other via the LAN 300.

  Next, screen images of each function displayed on the control panel 120 are shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and screen transitions in the case of default settings will be described. Note that control of the screen displayed on the control panel 120 is performed by the processor 111 executing a display control program stored in advance in the memory 112. The memory 112 stores object data including display layout data, display image data, icons, and the like in advance. The control panel 120 displays object data selected according to the control of the processor 111.

  First, the control panel 120 displays an authentication screen (D1) prompting the user to authenticate as a standby screen (upper part of FIG. 2). When the default setting is valid, when a user-specific ID card is held over the IC card reader 130, the control panel 120 displays the copy function screen (D2) as the default screen (lower row in FIG. 2). The screen D2 has various setting items for performing copy processing. The user uses the screen D2 to set an enlargement / reduction ratio, duplex printing setting, whether or not to sort, stapling settings, document type settings such as photos and characters, and the like. It can be performed. Further, using this screen D2, color / monochrome and output density can be set.

  By operating the keyboard 122 after the copy function screen D2 is displayed, the function screens shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are displayed.

  FIG. 3A shows a print function screen (D3) displayed when the print button in the keyboard 122 is pressed. In the example of FIG. 3A, a list of users who have received print jobs is displayed. The user executes print processing of the transmitted job by selecting his / her ID from the list displayed on the screen D3. When a user who performs authentication transmits a plurality of print jobs and a plurality of print jobs are accepted, the control panel 120 selects a user ID on the screen D3 and then displays the print job ID transmitted by the user from the screen D3. The display is switched to a list screen or a document file name list screen (both not shown). Since the user authentication is performed in the previous stage, the image forming apparatus 100 knows the user ID. Therefore, when the print button is pressed, the user ID list screen of the screen D3 is not displayed. Alternatively, a list display screen of print job IDs and document file names of users who have been authenticated may be displayed.

  FIG. 3B is a scan function screen (D4) displayed when the scan button of the keyboard 122 is pressed. On the screen D4, in addition to the scan data color / monochrome settings, resolution, and document type settings, the scan data save destination (box (e-FILING), predetermined folder, USB memory), and destination for sending to others (E-MAIL) can be selected. In addition, when a predetermined driver or the like is installed in a client computer such as the PC 200, scan data can be captured in the client computer (WS SCAN). These settings are made by pressing one button out of the button group B1, and when the button is pressed, a detailed setting screen such as an output file name, output folder setting, e-mail destination address, etc. is displayed. The

  FIG. 4A shows a box function screen (D5). This screen D5 is displayed when the box button in the keyboard 122 is pressed. A similar setting screen is also displayed when the “e-FILING” button is pressed on the screen D4 shown in FIG. The user selects a box using the screen D5 when printing the image data stored in the box or when storing image data such as scan data in the box.

  FIG. 4B shows a setting screen (D6) displayed during FAX transmission or e-mail transmission. This screen D6 is displayed when the facsimile button is pressed, and a similar setting screen is also displayed when the “E-MAIL” button is pressed on the screen D4 shown in FIG. 3B. On the screen D6, the user sets a destination FAX number or e-mail address. If registered in advance, the user selects the destination user from the list to set the FAX destination or e-mail destination.

  In the prior art, as shown in FIG. 2, after user authentication, a default screen set by the user or a default screen set in advance as a system (in this example, a copy function screen D2) is always displayed. However, when a user transmits a print job from the PC 200 to the image forming apparatus 100 and the user completes authentication with the image forming apparatus 100, the function desired by the user is likely to be a print function. Therefore, in this embodiment, when authentication is performed for a user who receives a print job and transmits the print job, the control panel 120 displays a print function screen (D3) instead of the default screen after authentication.

  An example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The control of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is mainly performed by the processor 111 of the control board 110.

  First, the process waits until the ID card is held over the IC card reader 130 (ACT100, No loop). At this time, the control panel 120 displays a standby screen.

  When the ID card is held over and the IC card reader 130 acquires information in the ID card (ACT 100, Yes), the control board 110 refers to the user database (ACT 101). The user database is a group of information in which a user ID is associated with at least a reading value of an ID card possessed by the user, and is stored in the memory 112 of the image forming apparatus 100 in this example.

  The control board 110 determines whether the reading value from the ID card is registered in the user database in advance (ACT 102). When not registered (ACT102, No), the control board 110 displays a message indicating that the authentication result is not permitted on the control panel 120 (the processing returns to ACT100). When the reading value is registered (ACT102, Yes), the control board 110 acquires a user ID corresponding to the reading value from the user database, and determines whether a print job of the user ID has already been received via the NIC 113. (ACT103).

  When the print job of the authenticated user has already been received (ACT 103, Yes), the control panel 120 displays a print function screen according to the instruction of the control board 110 (ACT 104). The display transition of the control panel 120 at this time is shown in FIG. In this example, when a pre-registered user's print job is accepted and the user performs authentication using his / her own ID card, the control board 110 displays a display on the control panel 120 as a standby screen ( Switching control is performed from a screen D1) prompting the user to authenticate to a screen relating to a print job (print function screen D3). The control panel 120 switches the display screen according to an instruction from the control board 110.

  Thereafter, the print processing for the print job selected by the user is executed in the image forming unit P by a user operation using the screen D3 (ACT 106).

  On the other hand, when the print job for the authenticated user has not been received (ACT 103, No), the control panel 120 displays a default screen (in this example, the copy setting screen D2) (ACT 105). That is, when the print job of the authenticated user has not been received, the screen transition is as shown in FIG. Thereafter, an arbitrary operation is performed by the user, and processing other than the print job is performed (ACT 106). When the user presses the logout button on the control panel 120 (ACT 107, Yes), the process returns to ACT 100, and the display on the control panel 120 returns to the standby screen (screen D1).

  In the above example, the default operation of the image forming apparatus 100 is the copy operation and the default screen is the copy function screen. However, a user-specified default operation or default screen may be used. In this case, for each user, there is an area for storing setting information indicating the default operation in the memory 112, and the control board 110 acquires the setting information of the authenticated user defined in advance after the user authentication. The control board 110 controls the image forming apparatus 100 so that the operation according to the acquired setting information becomes the default operation.

  In the above example, when authentication is completed after receiving a print job, the standby screen (D1) is switched to the print function screen (D3). However, other function screens (for example, default screens are set). The screen may be switched to the print function screen (D3).

  The above implementation example is an example in which the print function screen is displayed when the authenticated user matches when the print job has already been received before the user authentication, but in such a specific state, In addition to the above examples, there is a high possibility that a specific function is used. Hereinafter, it illustrates according to pattern.

  (First Pattern) When an external storage device such as a USB memory is inserted in the external data transmission / reception unit 114, the user is likely to use either the scan function or the print function after authentication. Therefore, when the external data transmission / reception unit 114 detects the insertion of the external storage device before user authentication, the control board 110 controls the control panel 120 to display either the scan function or the print function. .

  This operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In ACT 103, the control board 110 determines whether or not the external data transmission / reception unit 114 detects the insertion of the external storage device before authentication. When it has been detected before authentication, as an operation of ACT 104, the control panel 120 displays either the scan function screen D4 or the print function screen D3. The user can set in advance whether to display the scan function screen D4 or the print function screen D3.

  (Second Pattern) When a document is inserted in the ADF 51, after authentication, the user is likely to use any one of a scan function, a copy function, and a FAX (e-mail) transmission function. Therefore, when a document is inserted into the ADF 51 before user authentication, the control board 110 controls the control panel 120 to display any one of the scan function, copy function, and FAX (e-mail) transmission function. To do.

  This operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In ACT 103, the control board 110 determines whether or not insertion of a sheet is detected by the ADF 51 before authentication. When it has been detected before authentication, as an operation of ACT 104, the control panel 120 displays any one of the scan function screen D4, the copy function screen D2, and the FAX (e-mail) transmission function screen D6. The user can set in advance which display is to be performed.

  (Third Pattern) When a document is inserted into the ADF 51 and an external storage device is inserted, there is a high possibility that the function desired by the authenticated user is the scan function. Therefore, when a document is inserted into the ADF 51 before user authentication and an external storage device is inserted before user authentication, the control board 110 displays the screen of the scan function so as to display the scan function. Control the display.

  This operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In ACT 103, the control board 110 determines whether the insertion of the sheet is detected by the ADF 51 before the user authentication, and whether the external data transmission / reception unit 114 detects the insertion of the external storage device before the user authentication. Determine. When both determinations are affirmative, as an operation of ACT 104, the control panel 120 displays a scan function screen D4.

  An implementation in which the control during private printing (control in the flowchart of FIG. 5 as it is) and any one or a plurality of the first to third pattern controls may be combined. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart in which the control at the time of private printing shown in FIG. 5 and the control of the first pattern, that is, the operation of determining whether or not an external storage device is inserted are added. ACT100 to ACT103 are the same as those in FIG. In the case where the print job of the user who has been authenticated in ACT 103 has not been received (ACT 103, No), the control board 110 then inserts an external storage device (for example, a USB memory) into the external data transmission / reception unit 114. Is determined (ACT110). When it is inserted (ACT 110, Yes), the control board 110 controls the control panel 120 to display the scan function screen D4 or the print function screen D3 (ACT 111). When no external storage device is inserted (ACT 110, No), a default screen is displayed on the control panel 120 (ACT 105). After ACT 111 or ACT 105, the operation of ACT 106 is performed.

  As the operation of ACT 110, both the determination of the document sheet detection of the ADF 51 of the pattern 2, the determination of the presence / absence of the detection of the document sheet of the ADF 51 of the pattern 3 and the determination of the presence / absence of the connection detection of the external data transmitting / receiving unit 114 are performed. Good. In this case, ACT 111 displays a screen corresponding to each pattern.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the implementation example in which the default screen is displayed when the user authentication is performed in a state where the print job is not received from the user has been described. The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment displays a screen of a function most frequently used for a user who has been subjected to authentication processing when user authentication is performed in a state where a print job is not received from the user. . In the second embodiment, the screen image for each hardware configuration and function is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Further, the reference numerals of the first embodiment are also used for the respective units.

  An area for storing history information for each user is secured in the memory 112 of the image forming apparatus 100. The history information in this example is information in which a user ID, a use date / time of the image forming apparatus 100, and a code of a used function are associated as one record. This history information is registered every time the user uses the image forming apparatus 100.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 has not received a print job, the image forming apparatus 100 derives the usage frequency of the authenticated user from the history information and displays the screen of the function with the highest usage frequency. As a method of deriving the function with the highest frequency, in this example, for example, how many times the function has been used within a specified period such as the last month, the last week, etc. Is derived from the history information, and the function with the highest number of uses is identified. In addition to this implementation example, when the same function is used continuously or intermittently on the day, the screen of the function is displayed, and the history information is aggregated and used for each time zone. Various implementations are possible, such as an implementation that displays the function screen that is used most frequently in the time zone according to the time of day.

  An operation example of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  Since ACT 100 to ACT 113 in FIG. 8 are similar to those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here. When the image forming apparatus 100 has not received a print job (ACT 103, No), the control board 110 acquires, for example, a record for the last one month from the memory 112 of the history information of the user for which the authentication processing has been performed. (ACT201).

  Next, the control board 110 counts the acquired history information for each function, and derives the function having the largest value. As a result, the function with the highest frequency of use is selected in the most recent month. The control board 110 controls the control panel 120 so that the control panel 120 displays a screen related to the most frequently used function (ACT 202). Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, the process proceeds to ACT 106.

  After the job desired by the user is executed in ACT 106, the control board 110 additionally updates the function code used this time to the history information together with the use date and time and the user ID (ACT 203). In the case where the prescribed records are already stored, the control board 110 adds a new record after deleting the oldest record. Thereafter, a logout determination is made as in the first embodiment (ACT 107).

  The above aspect of the second embodiment may be incorporated in each operation of the first to third patterns described in the first embodiment. That is, you may incorporate in the operation | movement shown in FIG. In this case, ACT 105 in FIG. 7 becomes ACT 201 and ACT 202, and ACT 203 is executed after ACT 106 in FIG.

  The display unit corresponds to the control panel 120 of the embodiment, and the reception unit corresponds to the NIC 113. The authentication information acquisition unit corresponds to the IC card reader 130, and the control unit corresponds to the control board 110 (processor 111, memory 112). The document reading unit corresponds to the image reading unit R, and the document conveying unit corresponds to the ADF 51. The external connection detection unit corresponds to the external data transmission / reception unit 114. The first information corresponds to a read value from the ID card.

  The screen relating to the print job corresponds to the print function screen (D3). In addition to the user ID list screen shown in the screen D3, the print job ID and document file name list screen transmitted by the authenticated user are displayed. It may be a preview screen of the document.

  As described above in detail, according to the technique described in this specification, when a user who has received a print job and subsequently transmits the print job is authenticated, the screen relating to the print job is switched. This eliminates the need for the user to perform complicated operations. This improves the convenience for the user.

  The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of claims, and is not restricted by the text of the specification. Further, all modifications, various improvements, alternatives and modifications belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are all within the scope of the present invention.

  51 ADF, 100 image forming apparatus, 110 control board, 111 processor, 112 memory, 113 NIC, 114 external data transmission / reception unit, 120 control panel, 130 IC card reader, 200 PC, 300 LAN, 500 image processing system, R image reading Part, P image forming part.

Claims (8)

A display unit;
A receiving unit for receiving a user's print job;
An authentication information acquisition unit that acquires first information that is information used in user authentication;
When the first user print job is received by the receiving unit and the authentication result based on the first information acquired by the authentication information acquiring unit is a result of the first user, after the authentication A control unit that controls to switch the display screen of the display unit to a screen related to a print job;
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The control unit switches the display screen of the display unit from a standby screen to a screen related to the print job. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The control unit further obtains information about the usage history of the image forming apparatus of the first user when the receiving unit has not received the print job of the first user, and based on the information, An image forming apparatus that controls the display unit to display a screen for a function having the highest use frequency of a first user. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The control unit further acquires setting information of the first user defined in advance, and controls the image forming apparatus so that an operation according to the setting information becomes a default operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
An original reading unit that scans an original and converts it into electronic image data;
A document conveyance unit that detects whether a document is loaded and conveys the document to the document reading unit;
The control unit further includes the case where the first user's print job is not received by the receiving unit, and when the original conveying unit detects that the original is loaded, the authentication unit after the authentication An image forming apparatus that controls to switch a display screen of the display unit to a screen related to scan processing by the document reading unit, a screen related to copy processing, or a screen related to external transmission. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
It has an external connection detector that detects the connection with the external storage device,
Further, the control unit is a case where the first user's print job is not received by the receiving unit, the document conveying unit detects that a document is loaded, and the external connection detecting unit stores the external job. An image forming apparatus that controls to switch the display screen of the display unit after the authentication to a screen related to scan processing by the document reading unit when it is detected that the apparatus is connected. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
It has an external connection detector that detects the connection with the external storage device,
The control unit further includes a case where the first user's print job is not received by the receiving unit and the external connection detecting unit detects that an external storage device is connected. An image forming apparatus that controls to switch a display screen of the display unit later to a screen related to scan processing or a screen related to copy processing. An image forming apparatus having a display unit
Receiving the first user's print job,
After the reception, obtain information used for user authentication,
When the authentication result based on the acquired information is a result indicating that the user is the first user, the display screen of the display unit after the authentication is switched to a screen related to a print job.

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