JP2016132106A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which can set content of a plurality of setting items easily with high flexibility.SOLUTION: A main control part acquires other device setting information from other image forming device S204. The other device setting information includes at least a part of setting content out of a plurality of setting items stored in a storage part of the other image forming device. The main control part presents setting content of the other device setting information corresponding to a partial setting item as a selection candidate on each partial setting item as a part of the plurality of setting items of an own device S206.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of storing setting contents of a plurality of setting items related to image formation.

  In general, it is known that an image forming apparatus stores setting contents of a plurality of setting items related to image formation, and executes processing related to image formation using operating conditions according to the setting contents as standard operating conditions. The setting contents of the setting items are determined according to a user operation on the operation unit.

  For example, the setting items include a monochrome mode, an output density level, and an aggregation mode. The monochrome mode is an item for designating whether to output a monochrome image related to whether the original image is a color image or a monochrome image. The output density level is an item for designating the density of the output image in a plurality of stages. The aggregation mode is an item for designating the number of pages of the original image formed on one page of the output sheet.

  Further, it is known that in the image forming apparatus connected to the server via a network line, the image forming apparatus used by a certain user acquires and uses setting information of the same user in another image forming apparatus. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-256118 A

  By the way, the image forming apparatus used by a certain user may not be able to quote the setting contents of the setting items of the same user in other image forming apparatuses. For example, there is a case where the setting item has not been set by the same user in another image forming apparatus.

  Further, when a certain image forming apparatus quotes a combination of setting contents of a plurality of setting items in another image forming apparatus as it is, the degree of freedom of setting the contents of each of the setting items is low. In this case, it takes a lot of trouble to find out and correct the setting contents that do not match the user's intention from among the setting contents of the many setting items.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily setting the contents of a plurality of setting items with a high degree of freedom.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit, a communication unit, another device setting information acquisition unit, a selection candidate presentation unit, and a setting content selection unit. The storage unit stores setting contents of a plurality of setting items related to image formation. The communication unit can communicate with other image forming apparatuses through a network. The other apparatus setting information acquisition unit acquires other apparatus setting information from the other image forming apparatus through the communication unit. The other apparatus setting information includes at least some setting contents of the plurality of setting items stored in the storage unit of the other image forming apparatus. The selection candidate presenting unit presents the setting content of the other device setting information corresponding to the partial setting item as a selection candidate for each partial setting item that is a part of the plurality of setting items in the own device. The setting content selection unit selects the setting content for each partial setting item to be stored in the storage unit of the device from the selection candidates according to an operation on the operation unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily setting the contents of a plurality of setting items with a high degree of freedom.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a network system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an external view of an operation display unit included in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a main control processing procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a setting process procedure in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job selection screen in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy candidate selection screen in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a first state of an example of a setting screen in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a second state of an example of a setting screen in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting confirmation screen in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a data configuration diagram of an example of the apparatus setting information stored in the storage unit by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 12 is a data configuration diagram of an example of response information acquired from another apparatus by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a data configuration diagram of an example of other apparatus setting information acquired from another apparatus by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 14 is a data configuration diagram of an example of selection candidate information generated by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the following embodiment is an example which actualized this invention, Comprising: It does not have the character which limits the technical scope of this invention.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 10]
First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The image forming apparatus 10 is an apparatus that forms an image on a sheet-like image recording medium. The image forming apparatus 10 can communicate with other image forming apparatuses 10 through the network 100. For example, the network 100 is a LAN (Local Area Network).

  An image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2 is a multifunction machine having both the function of an image reading apparatus that reads an image from a document and the function of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the sheet-like image recording medium. Note that the image forming apparatus 10 may be a facsimile apparatus having an image transmission function.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes a main control unit 1, an operation display unit 2, a scan unit 20, a scan control unit 30, a print unit 40, a print control unit 50, a communication unit 60, an image processing unit 70, a post-processing unit 80, and the like. .

  The main control unit 1, the scan control unit 30, the print control unit 50, the communication unit 60, and the image processing unit 70 are each connected to the bus 9 and can exchange data with each other through the bus 9.

  The scanning unit 20 includes an optical system (not shown) that scans the original with light, an image sensor (not shown) that detects the amount of reflected light from the original for each pixel, and outputs original image data.

  The scan control unit 30 controls the scan unit 20 to acquire the original image data. Further, the scan control unit 30 transfers the document image data to another device such as the image processing unit 70 through the bus 9.

  The print unit 40 forms an image on the image recording medium by a known electrophotographic image forming process. The print unit 40 includes an image carrier (not shown) and its peripheral devices, and transfers an image of the developer from the image carrier to the image recording medium and fixes the image on the image recording medium.

  The print control unit 50 acquires the recording image data from the image processing unit 70 and causes the printing unit 40 to execute a process of forming an image based on the recording image data on the recording sheet.

  The communication unit 60 transmits / receives data to / from another image forming apparatus 10 and an external device such as a personal computer (not shown) through the network 100. Further, the communication unit 60 exchanges data with other devices through the bus 9. For example, the communication unit 60 receives job data for image formation from the external device, and transfers the job data to the image processing unit 70 via the bus 9.

  The communication unit 60 also has a function of acquiring the document image data from the scan control unit 30 via the image processing unit 70 and transmitting data including the document image data to the external device.

  Further, the communication unit 60 requests information set in the image forming apparatus 10 in response to a request from the main control unit 1 and acquires information provided in response to the request. Also execute. The acquired setting information of the other image forming apparatus 10 is delivered to the main control unit 1.

  The image processing unit 70 executes various types of data processing on image data obtained from other devices via the bus 9. The target of data processing by the image processing unit 70 is, for example, the original image data obtained from the scan control unit 30 or the job data obtained from the external device through the communication unit 60.

  For example, the image processing unit 70 performs image processing such as image rotation processing, halftone processing, or size cut processing on the document image data obtained from the scan control unit 30. The image processing unit 70 also executes processing for converting the original image data obtained from the scan control unit 30 and the job data obtained from the communication unit 60 into the recording image data and transferring them to the print control unit 50. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation display unit 2 includes an information input operation unit 21 including, for example, a touch panel and operation buttons, and a display unit 22 including a liquid crystal display panel and a notification lamp.

  The main control unit 1 controls the other control units in an integrated manner. For example, the main control unit 1 displays an operation menu on the display unit 22. Furthermore, the main control unit 1 outputs a control command to other control units in accordance with input information input through operation of the operation unit 21 and detection results of various sensors. As shown in FIG. 2, the main control unit 1 includes an MPU (Micro Processor Unit) 11 and a storage unit 12.

  The MPU 11 is a processor that executes various operations and data processing. The storage unit 12 is a nonvolatile storage unit that stores various types of information referred to by the MPU 11. The storage unit 12 is also a storage unit that can read and write various information by the MPU 11.

  The storage unit 12 stores programs for causing the MPU 11 to execute various processes, information referred to by the MPU 11 that executes these programs, and information to be written.

  For example, the storage unit 12 stores user authentication information D0 and own device setting information D1. The user authentication information D0 is information that uniquely identifies each user who can use the image forming apparatus 10, and is referred to during login processing for permitting use of the image forming apparatus 10.

  For example, the user authentication information D0 includes user identification information D01 that can be disclosed through the display unit 22, and secret identification information such as a password that is not disclosed.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of the data structure of the own device setting information D1. The own apparatus setting information D1 is information including setting contents of a plurality of setting items related to image formation. The own device setting information D1 is information set according to an operation on the operation unit 21 by the user.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the own apparatus setting information D1 includes setting item information D10 and setting content information D11. The setting item information D10 is information representing each of a plurality of setting items relating to image formation. For example, the setting item information D10 includes items such as whether or not to enable color image forming processing, whether or not to enable eco print processing, and the level of image forming density.

  The setting content information D11 is information representing the setting content of each setting item information D10. For example, the setting content information D11 is information representing one of valid and invalid or information representing a density level.

  The main control unit 1 executes processing related to image formation using the operation condition according to the setting content information D11 of the own apparatus setting information D1 as a standard operation condition.

  In the own apparatus setting information D1 shown in FIG. 11, the setting item information D10 and the setting content information D11 are associated with the user identification information D01. That is, the storage unit 12 can store a plurality of setting item information D10 and setting content information D11 corresponding to them for each user identification information D01.

  When the log-in process described later is successful, the main control unit 1 performs a process related to image formation using the operating condition according to the setting content information D11 corresponding to the user authentication information D0 used in the log-in process as a standard operating condition. Run.

  Conventionally, it is known that an image forming apparatus 10 used by a certain user acquires and uses setting information of the same user in another image forming apparatus 10.

  By the way, the image forming apparatus 10 used by a certain user may not be able to quote the setting contents of the setting items of the same user in other image forming apparatuses 10. For example, there is a case where setting of the setting items by the same user has not been performed in another image forming apparatus 10.

  When a certain image forming apparatus 10 quotes a combination of setting contents of a plurality of setting items in another image forming apparatus 10 as it is, the degree of freedom of setting the contents of each of the setting items is low. In this case, it takes a lot of trouble to find out and correct the setting contents that do not match the user's intention from among the setting contents of the many setting items.

  However, the image forming apparatus 10 can easily set the contents of a plurality of setting items with a high degree of freedom by executing a setting process described later.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, the plurality of setting item information D10 are divided into a plurality of item groups in advance. For example, the item group includes a group of setting items related to copy processing, a group of setting items related to document image reading processing, and a group of setting items related to post-processing. The post-processing is processing for the image recording medium after image formation. The item group is an example of a partial setting item that is a part of a plurality of setting items in the own device.

[Main control procedure]
Next, an example of a main control processing procedure executed by the main control unit 1 of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the following description, S101, S102,... Represent identification codes of respective steps executed by the main control unit 1. The processing of the main control unit 1 shown below is realized by the MPU 11 executing a control program.

<Step S101>
When the image forming apparatus 10 is energized, first, the main control unit 1 executes a login process. In the login process, the main control unit 1 acquires user authentication input information through the operation unit 21 operated by the user, and collates the user authentication input information with the user authentication information D0 stored in the storage unit 12 in advance. To do.

  The user authentication information D0 includes user identification information D01. For example, the user authentication information D0 includes user identification information D01 and password information. If the input information for user authentication matches the user authentication information D0, the user authentication is successful. Otherwise, the user authentication is unsuccessful.

  In the following description, the user identification information D01 and the corresponding user used in the successful user authentication are referred to as target user identification information and target user, respectively.

<Step S102>
If the user authentication is unsuccessful, the main control unit 1 displays an error message on the display unit 22, and then re-executes the processing from step S101.

  The processes in steps S101 and S102 are realized by the MPU 11 of the main control unit 1 executing the user authentication program Pr1. The MPU 11 that executes the user authentication program Pr1 determines whether or not to permit the use of the image forming apparatus 10 by collating information input according to a user operation with user authentication information D0 stored in the storage unit 12 in advance. Execute the process.

<Step S103>
If the user authentication is successful, the main control unit 1 causes the display unit 22 to display the job selection screen g1. The job selection screen g1 is a screen that prompts an operation for selecting a job to be executed by the image forming apparatus 10.

  The job selection screen g1 shown in FIG. 6 includes operation icons corresponding to various jobs such as copying, scanning image data transmission, scanning image data storage, facsimile transmission, Internet connection, and the setting process. Hereinafter, the operation icon corresponding to the setting process is referred to as a setting icon g11.

<Step S104>
Further, the main control unit 1 monitors which operation icon is operated on the job selection screen g1.

<Steps S105 and S106>
When the main control unit 1 detects that the setting icon g11 has been operated, the main control unit 1 executes setting processing to be described later (S105). When the main control unit 1 detects that another operation icon has been operated, the main control unit 1 executes a job corresponding to the operated operation icon (S106).

  When the main control unit 1 detects that the logout operation icon g01 on the job selection screen g1 has been operated, the main control unit 1 ends the processing related to the use of the image forming apparatus 10. The description about the termination process is omitted in the flowcharts.

  The main control unit 1 repeats the process from step S101 until the logout operation icon g01 is operated after step S105 or step S106.

  The processes in steps S103 to S106 are realized by the MPU 11 of the main control unit 1 executing the job selection program Pr2.

[The setting process]
Next, an example of the setting process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

<Step S201>
In the setting process, the main control unit 1 searches for another image forming apparatus 10 that can communicate through the communication unit 60. For example, when the main control unit 1 broadcasts a predetermined response request command through the communication unit 60 and then receives predetermined response information D2 within a predetermined time, the main control unit 1 It is recognized as another image forming apparatus 10 capable of communication.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the response information D2 includes a device name D21 of the image forming apparatus 10 that transmits the response information D2 and an address D22 on the network 100. It is also conceivable that the response information D2 includes equipment function information D23 indicating the presence or absence of various functions in the image forming apparatus 10 that transmits the response information D2.

  Further, the response request command may include the target user identification information. In this case, it is conceivable that the response information D2 includes target user registration presence / absence information D24. The target user registration presence / absence information D24 is information indicating whether or not the same user identification information D01 as the target user identification information included in the response request command is already registered in another image forming apparatus 10 that transmits the response information D2. It is.

  The main control unit 1 returns a response information D2 to the transmission source of the response request command when the response request command broadcasted through the communication unit 60 is received from another image forming apparatus 10. Execute.

  The process of step S201 is realized by the MPU 11 of the main control unit 1 executing the other device search program Pr3. The MPU 11 that executes the other apparatus search program Pr3 executes a process of searching all other image forming apparatuses 10 in the network 100 that can communicate through the communication unit 60. At that time, the MPU 11 acquires the target user registration presence / absence information D24 from the other image forming apparatus 10. The target user registration presence / absence information D24 is information indicating whether or not the setting content information D11 corresponding to the target user identification information has already been set in another image forming apparatus 10.

<Step S202>
Next, the main control unit 1 executes a copy candidate selection process. As will be described later, the image forming apparatus 10 can set a part or all of the setting contents information D11 of the own apparatus setting information D1 by duplicating the setting contents information D11 in the other image forming apparatuses 10 on the network 100. It has a function.

  The duplication candidate selection process is a process of selecting another image forming apparatus 10 that is a duplication source candidate of the setting content information D11.

  For example, the main control unit 1 causes the display unit 22 to display a copy candidate selection screen g2 as shown in FIG. The copy candidate selection screen g2 includes a list of information of all other image forming apparatuses 10 that responded to the response request command in step S201.

  In the example shown in FIG. 7, the duplication candidate selection screen g2 is a screen that displays a list of response information D2 from all the other image forming apparatuses 10 obtained in step S201. As described above, the response information D2 includes the device name D21, the address D22, the equipment function information D23, the target user registration presence / absence information D24, and the like.

  In FIG. 7, the human mark indicates that the same user identification information D01 as the target user identification information included in the response request command is already registered in the image forming apparatus 10 that transmits the response information D2.

  The equipment function information D23 is useful when the target user wants to select another image forming apparatus 10 having a function corresponding to the setting item information D10 whose contents are to be set as a copy source candidate. The target user registration presence / absence information D24 is useful when the target user wants to apply the setting content information D11 set by the other user with the other image forming apparatus 10 to the image forming apparatus 10 being operated.

  Furthermore, the copy candidate selection screen g2 shown in FIG. 7 includes a copy candidate selection field g21, an all selection icon g22, a selection icon g23, a return icon g24, and the like.

  The copy candidate selection column g21 is a so-called check box for sequentially selecting one or more copy source candidates. The all selection icon g22 is an operation icon for selecting all duplication source candidates at once.

  The selection icon g23 is an operation icon for confirming selection by an operation in the duplication candidate selection field g21. The return icon g24 is an operation icon for canceling the copy candidate selection process.

  The main control unit 1 selects one or a plurality of duplication source candidates (another image forming apparatus 10) according to an operation for each of the duplication candidate selection column g21 or the all selection icon g22 and the selection icon g23. When the main control unit 1 detects an operation of the return icon g24, the main control unit 1 stops the setting process and executes the process from step S103 again.

  The process of step S202 is realized by the MPU 11 of the main control unit 1 executing the replication candidate selection program Pr4. The MPU 11 that executes the copy candidate selection program Pr4 executes a process of selecting a device that is a copy source candidate of the setting content information D11 from all other image forming apparatuses 10 that can communicate through the communication unit 60.

<Step S203>
Further, the main control unit 1 acquires the own device setting information D1 from the storage unit 12. The setting content information D11 of the own device setting information D1 read from the storage unit 12 in this step is stored in a main storage area (not shown) as information for display on the display unit 22, and the own device setting of the storage unit 12 is set. The information D1 can be changed without being updated.

  Note that the process of step S203 may be performed before step S202 or after step S204. The process of step S203 is realized by the MPU 11 of the main control unit 1 executing its own apparatus setting content information reading program Pr5.

<Step S204>
Further, the main control unit 1 transmits part or all of the setting content information D11 of the apparatus from one or a plurality of other image forming apparatuses 10 that are candidates for the copy source selected in step S202 through the communication unit 60. The other apparatus setting information D3 including is acquired.

  For example, as FIG. 13 shows, the other apparatus setting information D3 includes other apparatus setting content information D31. The other device setting content information D31 corresponds to the setting content information D11 corresponding to each of the user identification information D01 set in the copy source candidate selected in step S202.

  Furthermore, as FIG. 13 shows, it is also conceivable that the other apparatus setting information D3 includes target user success / failure information D32. The target user propriety information D32 is information indicating whether or not the combination of the other device setting content information D31 for each user identification information D01 is information corresponding to the target user identification information.

  In the example shown in FIG. 13, the other device setting information D3 includes setting item information D10 associated with the other device setting content information D31. However, it is also conceivable that the other device setting information D3 does not include the setting item information D10. In this case, in the other apparatus setting information D3, the other apparatus setting content information D31 is organized in a predetermined format that can specify the correspondence with the setting item information D10.

  The process of step S204 is realized by the MPU 11 of the main control unit 1 executing the other apparatus setting information acquisition program Pr6. The MPU 11 that executes the other apparatus setting information acquisition program Pr6 includes other apparatus settings including at least a part of setting content information D11 among the plurality of setting item information D10 stored in the storage unit 12 of the other image forming apparatus 10. Information D3 is obtained from another image forming apparatus 10 through the communication unit 60. The MPU 11 that executes the process of step S204 is an example of another device setting information acquisition unit.

<Step S205>
Next, the main control unit 1 determines the frequency for each combination of the other apparatus setting content information D31 obtained from all the candidates for the replication source. At that time, the main control unit 1 generates selection candidate information D4, which is information in which the same combination is aggregated for each item group, from the other apparatus setting information D3 obtained from all the candidates for the replication source.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the selection candidate information D4 is generated for each item group, and a combination of other device setting content information D31 for each user identification information D01, target user admission information D32, frequency information D40, including.

  When there are a plurality of the same combinations in the combinations of the other device setting content information D31 for each item group, if at least one of them corresponds to the target user, the target user propriety information D32 is the target user It is set to a state indicating that it corresponds to.

  The frequency information D40 represents the frequency of the combination of the other device setting content information D31 for each item group in the other device setting information D3. The combination with a large value of the frequency information D40 indicates that the frequency of the combination is high, that is, a combination set by many users or in many image forming apparatuses 10.

  The process of step S205 is realized by the MPU 11 of the main control unit 1 executing the frequency determination program Pr7. The MPU 11 that executes the frequency determination program Pr7 determines the frequency of the combination of the other device setting content information D31 for each item group in the other device setting information D3. The MPU 11 that executes the process of step S205 is an example of a frequency determination unit.

<Step S206>
Next, the main control unit 1 causes the display unit 22 to display a setting screen g3 for setting the setting content information D11 of the own device setting information D1.

  In the example shown in FIG. 8, the setting screen g3 is a screen that displays setting item information D10, setting content information D11 corresponding to the setting item information D10, and other device setting content information D31. Further, the setting screen g3 displays target user success / failure information D32 for each of the other device setting content information D31. In FIG. 8, the human mark indicates that the setting content is already set by the target user in another image forming apparatus 10.

  For each item group in which a plurality of setting item information D10 in its own device is divided into a plurality of items on the setting screen g3, the main control unit 1 sets the setting item information D10 belonging to the item group and the corresponding setting content information D11. The other device setting content information D31 is displayed on the display unit 22. The item group is an example of a partial setting item that is a part of a plurality of setting items in the own device.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the main control unit 1 displays only the setting item information D10 belonging to the selected item group, the corresponding setting content information D11, and the other device setting content information D31 on the display unit 22. Let For example, first, the main control unit 1 automatically selects the predetermined item group.

  In the setting screen g3, the display field of the other device setting content information D31 is also a citation selection icon g33 that accepts an operation of selecting a combination of the other device setting content information D31 for each item group as the setting content information D11. The combination of the other device setting content information D31 included in the quotation selection icon g33 is displayed as a selection candidate of the setting content information D11 of the own device.

  The process of step S206 is realized by the MPU 11 of the main control unit 1 executing the selection candidate presentation program Pr8. The MPU 11 that executes the selection candidate presentation program Pr8, for each item group that is a part of the plurality of setting item information D10 in its own device, stores other device setting content information D31 for the other device setting information D3 corresponding to the item group. Present as a selection candidate. MPU11 which performs process S206 is an example of a selection candidate presentation part.

  The setting screen g3 includes frequency information D40 for each combination of other device setting content information D31 for each item group. The frequency information D40 on the setting screen g3 distinguishes the selection candidate of the item group corresponding to the combination having a large value of the frequency information D40 from the selection candidate of the item group corresponding to the combination having a small value of the frequency information D40. It is an example of the display information for doing.

  That is, in step S206, the main control unit 1 presents the selection candidate of the item group corresponding to the combination with high frequency separately from the selection candidate of the item group corresponding to the combination with low frequency. .

  In the example shown in FIG. 8, the main control unit 1 presents the selection candidates in order from the item group corresponding to the combination with the highest frequency through the setting screen g3. This presentation method is also an example of a method of presenting the selection candidates of the item group corresponding to the combination with high frequency in distinction from the selection candidates of the item group corresponding to the combination with low frequency.

  In addition, as a method of distinguishing information presentation according to the frequency information D40, a method other than presenting the frequency information D40 is also conceivable. For example, the selection candidates may be displayed in different colors according to the value of the frequency information D40, or the selection candidates having a larger value of the frequency information D40 may be highlighted and displayed. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that only a predetermined number of the selection candidates are displayed in order from the highest value of the frequency information D40, and the other selection candidates are not displayed.

  The setting screen g3 includes an item designation field g34 for designating one or a plurality of setting item information D10. The item designation field g34 is a so-called check box.

  Further, the setting screen g3 includes a group selection icon g31 for selecting the item group, an individual content selection icon g32, a confirmation operation icon g35, a return operation icon g36, and the like.

  The group selection icon g31 also includes selection icons for selecting all the item groups. Further, the item group includes a group of setting item information D10 in which setting content information D11 common to all users is set. For example, the item group setting content information D11 common to all users can be changed only when the target user is a predetermined administrator.

  The individual content selection icon g32 is an operation icon for selecting one candidate as setting content information D11 from a candidate list predetermined for each setting item information D10 displayed on the setting screen g3. By operating the individual content selection icon g32, it is possible to select the setting content information D11 regardless of the other device setting content information D31.

<Step S207>
Next, the main control unit 1 monitors what operation is performed on the operation unit 21 while the setting screen g3 is displayed.

<Steps S208 to S210>
When the main control unit 1 detects that a selection operation, which is an operation for the group selection icon g31, the individual content selection icon g32, the quotation selection icon g33 or the item designation field g34, is performed while the setting screen g3 is being displayed, the selection operation is performed. The process according to is executed.

  The main control unit 1 repeats the processes from step S206 after the processes of steps S208 to S210 shown below.

  For example, when detecting an operation on the individual content selection icon g32 or the citation selection icon g33, the main control unit 1 newly selects setting content information D11 or a combination thereof corresponding to the operated icon (S208).

  Further, when detecting an operation on the group selection icon g31, the main control unit 1 reorganizes the display items on the setting screen g3 so as to correspond to the selected item group (S209). Thereby, setting item information D10 belonging to the selected item group, setting content information D11 corresponding thereto, and other device setting content information D31 (selection candidate) are displayed on the display unit 22.

  That is, when detecting an operation on the group selection icon g31, the main control unit 1 updates the setting screen g3 to a screen that displays the setting item information D10 belonging to the group corresponding to the operation and information corresponding thereto ( S209).

  When the main control unit 1 detects that a part of the setting item information D10 is specified by the operation of the item specifying field g34, the other device setting content information D31 (selection candidate) to be included in the setting screen g3 according to the specified content ) Is reorganized (S210).

  Here, when a part of the setting item information D10 in the item group is specified by the operation of the item specifying field g34, the setting content information D11 selected at that time for the specified setting item information D10 is indicated. This is called specific content information.

  In step S210, when a part of the setting item information D10 is designated by the operation of the item designation field g34, the main control unit 1 includes the specific content information about the designated setting item information D10. Only the selection candidates are included in the setting screen g3 as the citation selection icon g33.

  That is, when a part of the item group (partial setting item) in the own device is designated as the specific content, the main control unit 1 selects the item group including the specific content in the other device setting information D3. Candidates are presented separately from the other selection candidates (S210).

  FIG. 9 shows the eco print when the eco print is designated by the operation of the item designation field g34 in a state where the eco print setting content information D11 which is one of the setting item information D10 is “OFF”. An example is shown in which only the selection candidates whose corresponding other device setting content information D31 is “OFF” are displayed as the quotation selection icon g33.

  In addition, as a technique for presenting the selection candidates of the item group including the specific content separately from the other selection candidates, a technique such as color-coded display or highlight display is also conceivable. The main control unit 1 that executes step S210 and step S206 is also an example of the selection candidate presenting unit.

<Step S211>
Further, when the main control unit 1 detects an operation on the confirmed operation icon g35 while the setting screen g3 is being displayed, the main control unit 1 causes the display unit 22 to display a setting confirmation screen g4 that prompts the user to confirm.

  In the example shown in FIG. 10, the setting confirmation screen g4 includes a first notification column g41 corresponding to the target user identification information and another second notification column g42.

  The first notification column g41 indicates the presence of another image forming apparatus 10 in which the combination of the setting content information D11 in the item group selected at that time is set as the setting content corresponding to the target user identification information. It is a column to notify.

  On the other hand, in the second notification column g42, the combination of the setting content information D11 in the item group selected at that time is set as the setting content corresponding to the user identification information D01 other than the target user identification information. This is a column for notifying the existence of the image forming apparatus 10.

  Furthermore, the setting confirmation screen g4 includes a confirmation operation icon g43 and a return operation icon g44. When detecting that the return operation icon g44 on the setting confirmation screen g4 has been operated, the main control unit 1 re-executes the processing from step S206.

<Step S212>
On the other hand, when the main control unit 1 detects that the confirmation operation icon g43 on the setting confirmation screen g4 is operated, the main control unit 1 stores the combination of the setting content information D11 in the item group selected at that time in the storage unit 12. . Thereafter, the main control unit 1 ends the setting process.

  The main control unit 1 also ends the setting process when detecting an operation on the operation icon g36 that is returned while the setting screen g3 is being displayed.

  The processes in steps S207 to S212 are realized by the MPU 11 of the main control unit 1 executing the setting content selection program Pr9. The MPU 11 that executes the setting content selection program Pr9 selects the setting content information D11 for each item group to be stored in the storage unit 12 of the own apparatus from the selection candidates according to the operation on the operation unit 21. The MPU 11 that executes the processes of steps S207 to S212 is an example of a setting content selection unit.

  By the way, it is also conceivable that some of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 10 that can communicate through the network 100 do not include some of the plurality of functions related to the setting item information D10. In this case, the other device setting content information D31 of the other device setting information D3 is set to an invalid state.

  In step S206, the main control unit 1 may notify that the other device setting content information D31 is not set, for example, by blanking the display column of the other device setting content information D31 in the invalid state.

  Furthermore, when the selection candidate including the other device setting content information D31 in the invalid state is selected in step S207, the main control unit 1 determines that the own device setting information corresponding to the other device setting content information D31 in the invalid state. It is conceivable that the setting content information D11 of D1 is not changed from the current state.

  If the image forming apparatus 10 is employed, the setting contents information D11 of the own apparatus can be set for each item group using the other apparatus setting contents information D31 corresponding to the setting item group as a selection candidate.

  Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 10, the setting content information D11 of each setting item information D10 can be easily set with a high degree of freedom while quoting the setting content of the other device as a selection candidate. This point is greatly different from a case where all combinations of other device setting content information D31 of a certain user are cited as they are.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 10, even when the image forming apparatus 10 used by a certain user cannot quote the setting contents of the setting item information D10 of the same user in the other image forming apparatus 10, the setting contents of the other apparatus are selected. The setting content information D11 can be set while quoting as a candidate.

  In general, the selection candidate having a high use frequency in other devices is often a standard setting content. For this reason, in the setting screen g3, the selection candidates are presented according to the magnitude of the value of the frequency information D40, which is a suitable guide for a user who is not familiar with the apparatus.

  Further, in the setting screen g3, when a part of the setting item information D10 in the own device is designated as the specific content, the selection candidate including the specific content in the other device setting information D3 is different from the other selection candidates. Presented separately. This function is also a suitable guide for users who are not familiar with the apparatus.

  Further, the main control unit 1 can acquire and present other device setting information D3 from a plurality of other image forming devices 10. Therefore, the setting content information D11 can be set by quoting more appropriate selection candidates.

  Further, in the setting screen g3, the other device setting content information D31 for each user identification information D01 is presented as the selection candidate. This also contributes to setting the setting content information D11 by quoting more appropriate selection candidates.

[Application example]
In step S <b> 101, the user authentication input information may be input by a method other than the input of characters or symbols according to the operation on the operation unit 21.

  For example, it is conceivable that the main control unit 1 inputs biometric information such as a user's fingerprint information or face image through the biometric information input device. In this case, the image forming apparatus 10 includes the biological information input device such as a fingerprint reading sensor or a camera that captures a face image.

  Further, it is conceivable that the image forming apparatus 10 includes some devices such as the storage unit 12 or the operation display unit 2 as devices independent of the main body of the image forming device 10. For example, it is conceivable that the operation display unit 2 is a terminal device such as a tablet computer or a portable information terminal (for example, a smartphone) capable of wireless communication with the main body of the image forming apparatus 10.

  It is also conceivable that the processes in steps S201 and S202 are omitted. In this case, all the other image forming apparatuses 10 that can communicate through the communication unit 60 are candidates for the copy source.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be freely combined with the above-described embodiments and application examples, or can be appropriately modified within the scope of the invention described in each claim. Alternatively, it may be configured by omitting a part.

1: Main control unit 2: Operation display unit 9: Bus 10: Image forming apparatus 11: MPU
12: Storage unit 20: Scan unit 21: Operation unit 22: Display unit 30: Scan control unit 40: Print unit 50: Print control unit 60: Communication unit 70: Image processing unit 80: Post-processing unit 100: Network D0: User Authentication information D01: User identification information D1: Own device setting information D10: Setting item information D11: Setting content information D2: Response information D21: Device name D22: Address D23: Equipment function information D24: Target user registration presence / absence information D3: Other device Setting information D31: Other device setting content information D32: Target user pass / fail information D4: Selection candidate information D40: Frequency information Pr1: User authentication program Pr2: Job selection program Pr3: Other device search program Pr4: Duplication candidate selection program Pr5: Own device Setting information reading program Pr6: Device configuration program PR7: frequency determining program Pr8: selection candidate presentation program Pr9: setting selection program

Claims (5)

A storage unit for storing setting contents of a plurality of setting items relating to image formation;
A communication unit capable of communicating with other image forming apparatuses via a network;
The other apparatus setting information including at least a part of setting contents of the plurality of setting items stored in the storage unit of the other image forming apparatus is acquired from the other image forming apparatus through the communication unit. A device setting information acquisition unit;
A selection candidate presenting unit that presents the setting content of the other device setting information corresponding to the partial setting item as a selection candidate for each partial setting item that is a part of the plurality of setting items in the device;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a setting content selection unit that selects setting contents for each of the partial setting items to be stored in the storage unit of the apparatus from the selection candidates according to an operation on an operation unit. A frequency determination unit that determines the frequency of the combination of setting contents for each partial setting item in the other apparatus setting information;
The selection candidate presenting unit presents the selection candidate of the partial setting item corresponding to the combination with the high frequency separately from the selection candidate of the partial setting item corresponding to the combination with the low frequency. The image forming apparatus according to 1.   The selection candidate presenting unit, when a part of the setting items of the partial setting item in the own device is specified as a specific content, the partial setting item including the specific content in the other device setting information The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a selection candidate is presented separately from the other selection candidates.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the other apparatus setting information acquisition unit is capable of acquiring the other apparatus setting information from each of the plurality of other image forming apparatuses. The storage unit can store the setting contents of a plurality of setting items for each user identification information,
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection candidate presenting unit is capable of presenting the setting content of the other apparatus setting information for each of the user identification information as the selection candidate. .

Images