JP2019036965A - Multifunctional peripheral equipment, multifunctional peripheral equipment system and user interface customization method of multifunctional peripheral equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide multifunctional peripheral equipment capable of visually recognizing final results without performing complex operation, and having a user friendly customization interface.SOLUTION: Multifunctional peripheral equipment has a function for customizing a default user interface screen, or the user interface screen customized before. The user interface has a button consisting of an icon indicating a specific application, and a sentence indicating the content of this application. A mode for customizing the user interface screen is specified. Identification means identifies a button in the screen, when the customize mode is specified. When the button is identified, the content of at least any one of the icon and the application, on the user interface screen related to the application, is changed. Means for reflecting the changed content on the interface screen is also provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  This application claims the benefit of US Patent Application No. 62 / 491,553, filed April 28, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application claims US Patent Application No. 15 / 455,348, filed March 10, 2017, which claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 62 / 334,634, filed May 11, 2016. Which is a continuation-in-part application, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application claims US patent application Ser. No. 15 / 455,785 filed Mar. 10, 2017, which claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 62 / 360,581 filed Jul. 11, 2016. Which is a continuation-in-part application, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

  The present invention relates to setting of a device interface of a multifunction peripheral device. More specifically, it relates to remote customization of touch screen user interfaces for multifunction peripherals via a web interface.

  The document processing apparatus includes a printer, a copier, a scanner, and an electronic mail gateway. In recent years, devices that use two or more of these functions have been found in office environments. These devices are called multifunction peripheral devices (MFP) or multifunction devices (MFD). In this specification, the term MFP refers to a printer alone or a printer combined with the other functions described above. Furthermore, any appropriate document processing apparatus may be used.

  Traditionally, the user presses a dedicated “copy” button, for example, via an electromechanical switch, or dials a fax number when connected to a remote facsimile machine and presses a “send” switch. To operate the MFP. MFPs are becoming more sophisticated and user operations are becoming more complex accordingly. Currently, MFP devices generally have a touch screen user interface. Various functions and controls can be displayed and selected by a screen having a touch selectable area.

  End users often want to customize the user interface of their MFP device. For example, a company may want to completely remove the option for color printing in order to save printing costs. A company may also require special job functions or special job functions. Each time the user uses such a job function, the user may have to browse and operate a series of complicated menus in order. The procedure for changing the software code for the customized interface is complicated and is generally performed by the manufacturer of the MFP. If you are a large company, you might be able to pay a device manufacturer to generate a specific user interface to use for devices owned by the company. However, the cost is very expensive for many end users.

  The MFP user interface can be customized via software running on the MFP intelligent controller. User interaction for customization can be performed using a touch screen incorporated in the MFP. Device functions can be appropriately customized by selecting from a menu of callable applications including embedded web applications and the like. This is very advantageous, but when customizing using the MFP touch screen, especially when the customization interface is being set up, the user visually recognizes how this customization interface will appear after loading I can't.

  It would also be advantageous to update and customize the user interface based on in-house requirements, corporate image and professional service contracts. The user interface can be customized by setting a customization file or a set of user interface controls. However, with this method, the user cannot visually recognize the final result. In addition, editing or customizing may produce unpredictable results. Furthermore, it is inconvenient for the administrator to customize the menu by physically operating one or more MFPs.

Japanese Patent No. 5142852 JP 2009-54027 A

  One way to provide a customizable interface is to create a customized interface that is available to the user. This requires a user-friendly customization interface that has a mechanism for customization, is fully compatible with the target device, and can be easily saved for automatic loading.

  A problem to be solved by the present invention is a multi-functional peripheral device, a multi-functional peripheral device system and a multi-functional device having a user-friendly customization interface that can visually recognize a final result without performing a complicated operation. An object is to provide a user interface customization method for peripheral devices.

  According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the multifunction peripheral device has the ability to customize a default user interface screen or a previously customized user interface screen. The user interface includes a button including an icon indicating a specific application and a sentence indicating the contents of the application. Specify the mode to customize the above user interface screen. A specifying means for specifying a button in the screen when the customize mode is instructed. When the button is specified, the contents of at least one of the icon on the user interface screen related to the application and the application are changed. Means for reflecting the changed contents on the interface screen.

  Each embodiment will be understood by the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a remotely operable and user customizable MFP interface system. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a document rendering system. FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a web server for a user interface customization tool. FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a user interface customization system. FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a first interactive preview screen for user interface customization. FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a second interactive preview screen for user interface customization. FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a third interactive preview screen for user interface customization. FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a fourth interactive preview screen for user interface customization. FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a fifth interactive preview screen for user interface customization. FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a sixth interactive preview screen for user interface customization.

  The systems and methods disclosed herein will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, by way of example. The disclosed embodiments, arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, devices, methods, systems, and the like can be changed as appropriate. It will also be appreciated that it may be desirable to modify for a particular application. Even if specific techniques, arrangements, etc. are specified in the present disclosure, they are related to the presented specific examples, or are only general descriptions of such techniques, arrangements, etc. Absent. The identification of specific details or specific examples is not intended, and should not be construed, as mandatory or limiting unless otherwise specified.

  The MFP touch screen user interface provides access to a variety of device functions such as faxing, scanning, printing, or emailing documents. Further, other function options (paper size selection, page order collation, punching, stapling, double-sided printing, or N-up printing of a plurality of pages on one sheet) may be added. A touch screen (display input means) constituting the user interface may be used for a user to log in using a user ID and a password. The touch screen may be used to charge job costs to a specific billing account.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a remotely operable and user customizable MFP interface system 100.
The MFP interface system 100 can immediately visualize (display) how the screen of the interface that has been once installed and customized is displayed. The MFP 110 has a user interface 120. The user interface 120 includes a touch screen 130. The MFP 110 performs network data communication with a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the global Internet, or a combination thereof via a connection with the cloud 140. Further, a management terminal 150 is further connected to the cloud 140. As will be described later, the management terminal 150 facilitates remote customization of the user interface 120 of the MFP 110.

  FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a document rendering system 200. MFP 110 shown in FIG. 1 appropriately includes a document rendering system 200. The document rendering system 200 includes a controller 201 composed of one or more processors as shown as processor 202. Each processor including the processor 202 is appropriately connected to a nonvolatile memory such as a ROM 204 and a random access memory (RAM) 206 via a data bus 212. A plurality of device control applications are stored in the nonvolatile memory. A plurality of device control applications are engaged with a subset of a plurality of functional units (subsystems) described later. A plurality of image files are stored in the nonvolatile memory. Each image file is used to generate an interface image corresponding to a device control application on a user interface including a touch screen.

  The processor 202 is also in data communication with a storage interface (I / F) 208 for reading or writing to the storage 216. The storage 216 is suitably configured from a hard disk, optical disk, solid disk, cloud-based storage, or other suitable data storage as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

  The processor 202 is also in data communication with a network interface (I / F) 210. The network interface 210 provides an interface to a network interface controller (NIC) 214. The NIC 214 in turn provides a data path for any suitable wired / physical network connection 220 or wireless data connection via the wireless network interface 218. Examples of wireless connection include cellular, WiFi (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, NFC, wireless universal serial bus (wireless USB), satellite, and the like. Examples of the wired interface include Ethernet, USB, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Apple Lighting (Apple Light (registered trademark)), a telephone line, and the like. The processor 202 is also in data communication with one or more sensors 219. The one or more sensors 219 provide data regarding the state of the device or the surrounding environment, such as device temperature, ambient temperature, humidity, device movement, and the like.

  The processor 202 may be any suitable user input / output (I / O) interface (hereinafter simply referred to as the user interface), such as a display, keyboard, mouse, trackball, touch screen, etc., that provides data communication to the user peripheral device. Data communication with 221 is also possible. In addition, a document processor interface (I / F) 222 suitable for data communication with the MFP function unit 250 is in data communication with the data bus 212. In the example of FIG. 2, these MFP function units 250 include copy hardware 240, scan hardware 242, print hardware 244, and fax hardware 246 that constitute MFP function hardware. The MFP function unit 250 is appropriately configured from an intelligent unit including any appropriate hardware platform or software platform.

  The hardware monitor (touch screen) of the user interface 221 appropriately provides device event data and operates in conjunction with an appropriate monitoring system. As a further example, the monitoring system may include page counters and sensor outputs such as consumable level sensors, temperature sensors, power quality sensors, device error sensors, and door opening sensors. Data is stored appropriately in one or more device logs, such as storage 216 shown in FIG.

The controller 201 suitably includes an embedded web server system for device settings and device management. The web server is appropriately configured from a TOP ACCESS Controller (may be described as “TA” in the drawing) available from Toshiba Tec Corporation.
The controller 201 executes the embedded electronic application, displays the configuration of the user interface screen on the touch screen, acquires the customization image file created by the setting tool of the management terminal 150 connected to the network, and customizes the image file Has a function of displaying and registering the result of customizing the user interface screen.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a web server for the customization tool 300 of the MFP user interface 221. The customization tool 300 can be used via platforms such as top access and web client access. The customization option can be selected from an embedded electronic application (e-appli).
The embedded application in the example of FIG. 3 includes a copy e application 304 and a scan e application 316. The copy e application 304 has a function of controlling the copy function of the device by one or more selectable profiles 308. A top access user interface link (TAUI link) 312 enables device interaction. Similarly, the scan e-app 316 includes one or more selectable profiles 320 and a top access user interface link (TAUI link) 324. Once the user interface screen is constructed, the user can check the results from the touch screen 130 at block 327. In block 327, how the user interface configuration is displayed is rendered.

  In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, customization is performed by a customized e-appli 314 that is another callable e-appli. The customized e-appli 314 includes an extensible markup language (XML) e-app parser 328, a customized user interface (UI) / e-app setting (configurator) 332, and an XML user interface (UI) parser 336.

  User interaction via the web interface of the management terminal 150 is performed via the setting tool 350. The setting tool 350 calls the customized e-application 314 using the e-application package 354. The e-app package 354 allows interaction with image files in XML and GIF, TIFF, JPEG, or other suitable image file formats. With such an image file, the user can place an image such as a company logo on the user interface 221. It may be customized to select the order of color scheme, menu layout, background image, available device functions and layered interface screens.

  Once the user interface screen is constructed, the user interface is registered and displayed on the touch screen 130 at block 360. The update or patch (correction) of the e-appli is appropriately performed via a network connection with the patch request 362. In block 364, it is determined whether the patch can be used in the e-appli. Alternatively, in block 368, it is determined whether the patch can be displayed.

  As described above, a platform for a web-based user interface for customizing the look and feel (interface design and behavior) of a multifunction peripheral is provided. The user interface screen selects a template layout, adds resident applications to be placed in the template layout, customizes these applications, and provides real previews and in-place editing that is real. Customize the look and feel of multi-functional peripherals. This improves usability and improves the predictability of results.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart 400 of an exemplary embodiment for customizing the user interface (120 in FIG. 1). Operation begins at block 404. A preview screen, ie, a default user interface screen or a previously customized user interface screen, is appropriately displayed on the touch screen 130 at block 408. In this embodiment, a template is prepared as a user interface displayed during customization. The user will customize the template.
In block 416, the background change can be selected by clicking on the preview background with the mouse. If background change is selected, at block 420, the user selects a background from the background options. If it is determined at block 424 that the user has selected a background, the background is changed at block 428 and a preview is generated. When further customization is performed, the system returns to the preview block display block 408 updated this time. If no further customization is performed, the process ends at block 432.

In block 436, when the user clicks a button on the preview interface, a screen for selecting an element is displayed on the touch screen 130. In this embodiment, editable elements are displayed as shown in block 440. At block 444, an icon or other graphic element is selected and invoked. An opportunity to edit the text is also provided at block 448. The properties of the associated application or applications are edited at block 450.
If the change is made and allowed at block 454, the view of the icon is updated at block 456. If no further user interface screen customization is performed, processing ends at block 458. If further customization of the user interface screen occurs, processing returns appropriately to block 408. At block 462, the same processing as described above is performed on the text preview. If the customization is complete, the process ends at block 464 and returns to block 408 if further customization is required. The changed settings are previewed appropriately at block 468. Processing ends at block 470 or returns to block 408. If no changes are made or changes are not allowed, processing returns to block 408.

  If at block 474 the user clicks on the logo or logo area on the preview interface image displayed on the touch screen 130, the user instructs the system to select the desired electronic image file location at block 478. Desired. Once the file location is selected at block 480, the preview image is updated at block 484 and processing ends at block 490. If further customization is required, processing returns to block 408.

5-10 each illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an interactive preview screen (web page) for user interface customization.
In FIG. 5, a web page 500 is generated on a web interface such as the management terminal 150 shown in FIG. When the user selects button 502 to view the layout, layout options 504, 506, 510, and 514 are displayed. These opsines 504, 506, 510, and 514 are templates. As a layout, four types of selectable templates are provided. For example, when the user selects the layout 504, the selectable button area can be arranged left-justified as indicated by reference numeral 520. The displayed layout display includes a background, a button, and a logo, but a certain function (application) is already associated with the button displayed on the left. This button includes a so-called icon image and an outline of an application corresponding to the button or an explanatory text within the user.

  FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a preview user interface screen (web page) customization screen 600. In this case, the user wants to change the process (application) specified by the button, that is, change the function. In customization screen 600, the user selects button 604 to load his own customized form (corresponding to block 436 in FIG. 4). The user inputs appropriate information indicated by reference numeral 610 from the display panel, and one or more custom forms can be used via the customized user interface screen. Here, it is a case where it is desired to change the registration form to a form unique to the user. When the button 604 is selected, a guide “scan to folder location setting” is displayed on the right side of the screen (corresponding to block 450 in FIG. 4). In the field below, the application is displayed in a pro-down format. Here, the user selects the “scan to folder application”. Further, the location path “\\ path \ folder” is designated in the field below the field. Next, enter "user name" and "password" for falder management. The default file format can be selected from the pull-down menu. It is also possible to select whether the user can edit the setting or not. Note that the processing shown in FIG. 3 is performed based on these pieces of information, and a specific function is realized.

  FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a preview user interface screen (web page) customization screen 700. Here, it is assumed that the design of the button is to be changed. In the customization screen 700, the user selects the icon area 704 to select an icon in the button area. In response to this selection, a list of selectable icons is displayed in the screen area 708. The user arbitrarily selects a desired icon from icons displayed in the screen area 708. Thus, an icon change process is executed.

  FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a preview user interface screen (web page) 800. This figure is an example of background change. When a background is clicked on the screen (corresponding to block 416 in FIG. 4), a list of backgrounds is displayed in the screen area 810 on the preview user interface screen 800. When the background 820 is selected in the background list, the background area 850 is displayed (changed) in the preview.

  FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a preview user interface screen (web page) 900. In this embodiment, to edit a tag line, click on the tag line area 910 to select it (corresponding to block 448 in FIG. 4).

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a preview user interface (web page) screen 1000. When the tag line area 910 shown in FIG. 9 is selected, a text input box 1010 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. In the text input box 1010, the change (edit input) is performed and saved.
As described above, the user interface screen can be appropriately remotely customized by the intuitive user interface screen customization tool. On the other hand, when the user interface screen is applied to the MFP, the user can visually recognize how it looks in real time.

  Although specific embodiments have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein can be implemented in a variety of other forms. In addition, various omissions, substitutions, and changes may be made in the form of the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims and their equivalents include forms or modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

100: MFP interface system 110: MFP
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 ... User interface 130 ... Touch screen 140 ... Cloud 150 ... Management terminal 200 ... Document rendering system 201 ... Controller 219 ... Sensor 221 ... User interface (I / F)
222 ... Document processor interface (I / F)
240 ... Copy hardware 242 ... Scan hardware 244 ... Print hardware 246 ... Fax hardware 250 ... Function unit 300 ... Customization tool 350 ... Setting tool 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000 ... Interactive preview screen (web page) )

Claims (6)

In multi-function peripherals that have the ability to customize the default user interface screen or a previously customized user interface screen,
The user interface includes a button including an icon indicating a specific application and a sentence indicating the contents of the application,
Customization specifying means for specifying a mode for customizing the user interface screen;
When a customization mode is instructed by this means, a specifying means for specifying a button in the screen;
Changing means for changing the contents of at least one of the icon on the user interface screen related to the application and the application when a button is specified by the specifying means;
A multifunction peripheral device having means for reflecting the contents changed by the changing means on the interface screen. The changing means includes means for executing an editing process on an icon, text, or one or more related application properties when the button is specified, by which the edited result is displayed by the user. The multifunction peripheral device according to claim 1, which is reflected in an interface screen. Selection means for selecting a background portion of the user interface screen when designated by the customization specifying means, and means for displaying a plurality of optional images for the background when the background portion is selected by the selection means The multi-function peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein means for specifying one option image from a plurality of option images displayed by the means, and the option image specified by the means is reflected on the interface screen. . Means for selecting a text portion of the user interface screen when designated by the customization specifying means, and means for allowing text input by the user when the text portion is selected by the means; The multifunction peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein when the text is changed, the text is reflected on the user interface screen. Multifunctional peripheral device comprising: a display input unit that displays a user interface screen operated by a user; and a controller that functions as a web server and that can customize the user interface screen displayed on the display input unit. When,
A management terminal that is network-connected to the multifunction peripheral device and creates an image file for customization created by a setting tool;
Have
The controller of the multifunction peripheral device is:
Execute an electronic application to display the configuration of the user interface screen on the display input means,
Obtain an image file for customization created by the management terminal,
A multifunction peripheral system for displaying and registering a result of customizing the user interface screen using the image file for customization. In a method of customizing a default user interface screen or a previously customized user interface screen,
The user interface includes a button including an icon indicating a specific application and a sentence indicating the contents of the application,
A customization specifying step for specifying a mode for customizing the user interface screen;
When the customization mode is instructed by this step, a specifying step for specifying a button in the screen;
A change step of changing the contents of at least one of an icon on the user interface screen related to the application and the application when a button is specified by the specifying step;
A method for customizing a user interface for a multi-function peripheral device, comprising: reflecting the contents changed in the changing step on the interface screen.

Images