JP2020087195A - Image processing apparatus, image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus, image display method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus having a UI configured to allow an icon corresponding to a desired function program to be easily selected.SOLUTION: An operation panel control unit 107 in an image forming apparatus includes: means of storing function programs; means 203 of calculating the number of times that jobs were executed in the past using setting values of job conditions, for each of the setting values; representative item determination means 211 which calculates a degree of variability of setting values in each job condition using the number of times of job execution in each of the setting values, and determines a representative job condition of each function program on the basis of the calculated degree of variability; and display screen generation means 215 which generates icons including type images representing the type of jobs defined in the function programs, for each of the function programs and setting value images representing setting values of the representative job condition of the function programs, and generates a list display screen with the generated icons arranged therein.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for executing a job related to image processing according to a plurality of job conditions assigned to one icon selected by a user from a plurality of icons displayed on a display.

In recent years, in a multifunction machine, a function program for calling a set value of a plurality of settings (job conditions) in a job such as copying or scanning is registered in advance, and when the job is executed, the preregistered function program is executed. A technique is known in which a UI (User Interface) having high operability is provided by displaying an icon on a display.

In Patent Document 1, an icon in which an image indicating a job condition is overlaid on the front of an image indicating a job type is displayed. From the image showing the job condition displayed on the front, the user can grasp the job condition set in the function program corresponding to the icon, just by looking at the icon.

JP, 2013-8224, A

In Patent Document 1, an icon in which all job conditions set in the function program are overlaid is displayed on the front of the image indicating the type of job. In such an icon display method, when the job conditions registered in a plurality of function programs are similar, the icons corresponding to the function programs are also similar. For example, if two job programs differ only in some job conditions out of a plurality of settable job conditions, the icons corresponding to the two function programs differ only in images showing the job conditions. Most of the others have the same icon. It is difficult for the user to distinguish a plurality of such similar icons.

The present invention solves the above problems, and provides an image processing apparatus, an image reading apparatus, an image forming apparatus, an image display method, and a program having a UI capable of easily selecting an icon corresponding to a desired function program. Is to provide.

An image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an image processing apparatus that executes a job related to image processing according to a plurality of job conditions assigned to one icon selected by a user from a plurality of displayed icons, A program storage unit that stores a plurality of function programs including job types and a plurality of setting values of job conditions, and a plurality of setting values of each of the plurality of job conditions, and a job that was previously executed using the setting values. The number of executions storage means for storing the number of executions of the job and the number of executions of the job at each set value are used to calculate the degree of variation of a plurality of set values in each job condition, and the calculated variation of each function program is calculated. Representative item determination means for determining one or more job conditions as representative job conditions in ascending order, a type image representing the type of job defined in the function program for each function program, and a representative job condition of the function program A display screen generating means for generating a list display screen in which a plurality of generated icons are arranged, and a display means for displaying the list display screen. It is characterized by being provided.

The representative item determining means may calculate the degree of variation for each job condition by a predetermined calculation formula.

The representative item determination means may calculate, as the degree of variation, an average value of the differences in the number of executions of jobs for all combinations of two setting values of a plurality of setting values for each job condition.

The representative item determination means, for each functional program, compares the set values of the plurality of job conditions of other functional programs with the set values of the plurality of job conditions in the ascending order of the degree of variation, thereby You may specify the setting value of one or more job conditions distinguishing from other function programs, and determine the job condition of the specified setting value as the representative job condition of the said function program.

If the set value of the job condition of one function program is different from the set value of the job condition of all the other function programs, the representative item determination unit is the one job condition and the one job condition. All job conditions having a smaller degree of variation than the above may be determined as representative job conditions of the function program.

The representative item determining means is configured such that, for one function program, a combination of set values of one or more job conditions whose degree of variation is smaller than one job condition is more than the one job condition in another function program. If any of the combinations of the set values of one or more job conditions having a small degree of variation is different, it may be determined that the one job condition is not the representative job condition of the functional program.

The representative item determination means may determine a job condition whose degree of variation is smaller than a predetermined value as a representative job condition for each functional program.

The execution count storage means further stores the execution count of the job executed according to the job type and the set value of the job condition included in each function program, and the representative item determination means stores the variation in the two function programs. When the set values of the job conditions whose degree of execution is smaller than the predetermined value are all the same, the execution times of the jobs of the two function programs held in the execution number storage means are compared, and the one having the smaller execution number is compared. Among the job conditions of the degree of variation larger than the predetermined value for the function program of 1, the one or more job conditions may be further determined as the representative job condition in the order of the smallest degree of variation.

When it is determined that a plurality of job conditions are representative of one function program for one function program, the display screen generation means sets the job condition setting value with a small degree of variation in the icon generated for the function program. The image may be arranged in front of the set value image of the job condition having a large degree of variation.

When it is determined that a plurality of job conditions are representative of one function program for one function program, the display screen generation means sets the job condition setting value with a small degree of variation in the icon generated for the function program. For the image, a setting value image larger than the setting value image of the job condition having a greater degree of variation than the job condition may be generated.

A user operation detection unit that detects a user operation that specifies a job type, and a plurality of functions that store a function program of the same job type as the job type that is specified by the detected user operation in the program storage unit. The display screen generation means may further include a program selection means for selecting from a program, and the display screen generation means may generate the list display screen including an icon generated for the functional program selected by the program selection means.

The user operation detecting means detects an operation of selecting a job type on the operation screen by the user, and the program selecting means stores the functional program of the same job type as the job type selected by the user in the program. You may select from the some function program memorize|stored in the memory|storage means.

An image reading apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the image processing apparatus, and the job type includes a scan job for reading a document surface to generate image data, and an image reading for reading a document to generate image data. The user operation detecting means is a sensor that detects that a document is set on the image reading means, and the program selecting means is a sensor that the sensor sets a document on the image reading means. If detected, a function program whose job type is the scan job may be selected from a plurality of function programs stored in the program storage means.

An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the image processing apparatus described above, and the job type includes a copy job for reading an original surface to generate an image and forming the generated image on a sheet. Further comprising a storage tray for storing, the user operation detection means is a sensor for detecting the opening/closing operation of the storage tray, the program selection means, when the sensor detects the opening/closing operation of the storage tray, A function program whose job type is the copy job may be selected from a plurality of function programs stored in the program storage means.

The list display screen is composed of a first area and a second area, and the display screen generation means displays an icon corresponding to the function program selected by the program selection means in the first area, and An icon corresponding to the functional program may be displayed in the second area.

The display screen generation means may perform image processing for highlighting an icon corresponding to the function program selected by the program selection means in the list display screen.

The display screen generation means may perform image processing for reducing the visibility of icons corresponding to function programs other than the function program selected by the function program selection means in the list display screen.

When a job is executed, reference is made to history storage means for storing the set values of a plurality of job conditions set in the executed job as history information, and all history information stored in the history storage means. Then, a counting unit that counts the number of executions of the job having a plurality of set values for each of the plurality of job conditions and stores the number of executions in the number-of-executions storage unit may be further included.

When a job is executed, a history storage unit that stores, as history information, a time at which the job was executed and set values of a plurality of job conditions set for the executed job; and a history storage unit that stores the history value. Counting means for counting the number of times of execution of a job having a plurality of setting values for each of the plurality of job conditions by referring to history information of a certain past period from the present history information, and storing it in the number-of-executions storing means. , May be further provided.

The image processing apparatus further includes a user identification unit that identifies a user who operates the image processing apparatus, and the execution count storage unit executes a job for each set value of the plurality of job conditions for each user who operates the image processing apparatus. The number of times may be held, and the representative item determination means may calculate the degree of variation of each of the plurality of job conditions for each user who operates the image processing apparatus.

An image display method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is an image used in an image processing apparatus that executes a job related to image processing according to a plurality of job conditions assigned to one icon selected by a user from a plurality of displayed icons. A method of displaying, wherein a plurality of function programs including a job type and a plurality of setting values of job conditions are stored, and a plurality of setting values of each of the plurality of job conditions are set in the past using the setting values. The step of storing the number of executions of the executed job and the number of executions of the job with each setting value are used to calculate the degree of variation of multiple setting values under each job condition, and the calculated variation for each function program is calculated. Step of determining one or more job conditions as representative job conditions in ascending order of degree, a type image indicating the type of job defined in the function program for each function program, and setting of representative job conditions of the function program It is characterized by including a step of generating an icon having a set value image representing a value, generating a list display screen in which a plurality of generated icons are arranged, and a step of displaying the list display screen. ..

A computer program according to an aspect of the present invention is an image display used in an image processing apparatus that executes a job related to image processing according to a plurality of job conditions assigned to one icon selected by a user from a plurality of displayed icons. A computer program for storing a plurality of function programs including job types and setting values for a plurality of job conditions, and using the setting values for each of a plurality of setting values for each of the plurality of job conditions. Using the step of storing the number of times the job was executed in the past and the number of times the job was executed with each setting value, the degree of variation of multiple setting values under each job condition was calculated, and calculated for each function program. The step of determining one or more job conditions as representative job conditions in the order of increasing variation, a type image representing the type of job defined in the function program for each function program, and a representative job condition of the function program A setting value image representing the setting value of the icon is generated, a step of generating a list display screen in which a plurality of generated icons are arranged, and a step of displaying the list display screen are executed. Characterize.

An image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an image processing apparatus that executes a job related to image processing according to a plurality of job conditions assigned to one icon selected by a user from a plurality of displayed icons, A program storage unit that stores a plurality of function programs defined by job types and a plurality of job condition setting values, a priority storage unit that stores the priority of each of a plurality of job conditions, and each function program By comparing the setting values of each job condition in the order of high priority with the function program of No. 1, one or more job conditions that distinguish from other function programs are specified, and the specified job conditions are set as representative job conditions of the function program. An icon including a representative item determining means for determining, a type image indicating the type of job defined in the function program, and a setting value image indicating the setting value of the representative job condition of the function program for each function program. And a display means for generating a list display screen in which a plurality of generated icons are arranged, and a display means for displaying the list display screen.

An image display method according to an aspect of the present invention is an image used in an image processing apparatus that executes a job related to image processing according to a plurality of job conditions assigned to one icon selected by a user from a plurality of displayed icons. A display method, a step of storing a plurality of function programs defined by a job type and setting values of a plurality of job conditions, a step of storing the priority of each of the plurality of job conditions, and for each function program, By comparing the setting values of each job condition with other function programs in order of priority, one or more job conditions that distinguish from other function programs are specified, and the specified job conditions are used as a representative job of the function program. An icon is generated that includes a step of determining a condition, a type image representing the type of job defined in the function program, and a set value image representing the set value of the representative job condition of the function program for each function program. Then, the method further includes: a step of generating a list display screen in which the plurality of generated icons are arranged, and a step of displaying the list display screen.

A computer program according to an aspect of the present invention is an image display used in an image processing apparatus that executes a job related to image processing according to a plurality of job conditions assigned to one icon selected by a user from a plurality of displayed icons. And a step of storing a plurality of function programs defined by a job type and a plurality of setting values of job conditions in an image processing apparatus that is a computer, and a priority of each of the plurality of job conditions. By comparing the setting values of each job condition in the order of high priority with the stored step and each function program, one or more job conditions to be distinguished from other function programs are specified and specified. Steps for determining the specified job condition as a representative job condition of the function program, a type image indicating the type of job defined in the function program for each function program, and a set value of the representative job condition of the function program It is characterized in that an icon including the set value image is generated, a step of generating a list display screen in which the plurality of generated icons are arranged, and a step of displaying the list display screen are executed.

The image processing apparatus of the present invention determines one or more job conditions as representative job conditions in the ascending order of the number of executions of each set value, and arranges a set value image indicating the set value in the icon. With this configuration, it is possible to display the setting value of the job condition, which becomes useful information for distinguishing the function program desired by the user and other function programs in the environment of the user, in the icon. For example, in a certain usage environment, double-sided printing is not permitted, only single-sided printing has been executed in the past, and all set values of job conditions for double-sided/single-sided printing in a plurality of function programs registered in the image forming apparatus etc. Consider the case where single-sided printing is set. In this case, even if an image showing single-sided printing is displayed in the icon indicating each function program, it is said that single-sided printing is performed in order for the user to distinguish the desired function program from other function programs. Information becomes unnecessary information. On the other hand, consider a case where double-sided printing and single-sided printing are performed to the same extent in a certain usage environment. In this case, displaying the image indicating single-sided printing or the image indicating double-sided printing in the icon indicating each function program is a function of the user It is considered to be useful information for distinguishing from the functional programs of. Since the image processing apparatus of the present invention displays information useful in distinguishing the function program desired by the user from other function programs in the icon, the user can easily select the icon corresponding to the desired function program. Can be selected.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming system 1. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a main control unit 100. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an operation panel control unit 107. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of function program registration information registered in a function program registration information table 201. It is a figure which shows an example of the history information registered into the history information table 202. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of set value execution times and function program execution times registered in a set value execution times table 204 and a function program execution times table 205. It is a figure which shows an example of the priority information registered into the priority information table 207. It is a figure which shows an example of the suggestion target program registered into the suggestion target program table 210. It is a figure which shows an example of the representative item information registered into the representative item information table 212. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a job type image and a setting value image registered in a job type image table 213 and a setting value image table 214. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the image forming system 1. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of priority determination/update processing. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of representative item determination processing. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a suggestion target program registered in a suggestion target program table 210 and representative item information registered in a representative item information table 212. It is a flow chart which shows an example of suggestion screen generation processing. It is a figure which shows an example (suggestion screen 216b) of a suggestion screen 216. It is a figure which shows an example (suggestion screen 216a) of a suggestion screen 216. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting confirmation screen 1800. It is a figure which shows an example (suggestion screen 216c) of a suggestion screen 216. It is a figure which shows an example (suggestion screen 216d) of a suggestion screen 216. It is a figure which shows an example (suggestion screen 216e) of a suggestion screen 216.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1. Embodiment [1] Configuration of Image Forming System (Image Processing Apparatus) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image forming system 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 10 that forms an image on a recording sheet by an electrophotographic method, and a bundle of image-formed recording sheets output from the image forming apparatus 10 as an optional device. On the other hand, the post-processing device 16 performs post-processing such as staple binding and punching processing.

The image forming apparatus 10 is a tandem-type color multifunction peripheral (MFP: MultiFunction Peripheral) having functions of a scanner, a printer, and a copier.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 is provided with a paper feed unit 13 that accommodates and feeds recording sheets at the bottom of the housing. A printer unit 12 that forms an image by an electrophotographic method is provided above the paper feeding unit 13. Further above the printer unit 12, an image reader unit 11 (image reading means) for reading a document to generate image data and an operation panel 19 for displaying an operation screen and receiving an input operation from a user are provided.

The paper feeding unit 13 includes paper feeding cassettes 60, 61 and 62 for accommodating recording sheets of different sizes, pickup rollers 63, 64 and 65 for feeding the recording sheets from the respective paper feeding cassettes to a conveyance path, and image formation. It is composed of sensors 71, 72, 73 for detecting the operation of pulling out each paper feed cassette by the user of the system 1. When each sensor detects the operation of pulling out the corresponding paper feed cassette, it notifies the main control unit 100 to that effect.

The image reader unit 11 has an automatic document feeder. The automatic document feeder conveys the documents set on the document tray one by one to a document glass plate. The image reader unit 11 reads an image of a document conveyed to a predetermined position on a document glass plate by an automatic document feeder by moving a scanner, and multi-value digital signals of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). To obtain image data consisting of.

The image reader unit 11 is provided with a sensor 74 for detecting that a document is set on the document tray of the automatic document feeder. When the sensor 74 detects that a document is set on the document tray, it notifies the main control unit 100 to that effect.

The image data of each color component obtained by the image reader unit 11 is subjected to various data processing in the main control unit 100, which will be described later, and further processed in yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). It is converted into image data of each reproduction color.

The printer unit 12 is arranged at predetermined intervals along the traveling direction X of the intermediate transfer belt 21, facing the intermediate transfer belt 21, a driving roller that stretches the intermediate transfer belt 21, a driven roller, a backup roller, and the intermediate transfer belt 21. The image forming units 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K, the paper discharge unit 40, the fixing unit 50, the main control unit 100, and the like.

Each image forming unit includes a photoconductor drum that is an image carrier, an LED array for exposing and scanning the surface of the photoconductor drum, a charger, a developing device, a cleaner, and a primary transfer roller.

In each of the image forming units 20Y to 20K, each photoconductor drum is uniformly charged by the charging charger and is exposed by the LED array to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor drum. Each electrostatic latent image is developed by each color developing device, a toner image of Y to K colors is formed on the surface of each photoconductor drum, and the toner image is disposed on the back surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 21. It is sequentially transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 by the electrostatic action of each primary transfer roller.

A recording sheet is fed from one of the paper feed cassettes of the paper feed unit 13 in accordance with the image forming operation of the image forming units 20Y to 20K, and the secondary transfer roller 22 and the backup roller sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 21. Are conveyed on the conveying path to the opposite position (secondary transfer position), and the toner images of Y to K colors on the intermediate transfer belt 21 are generated by the electrostatic action of the secondary transfer roller 22 at the secondary transfer position. Secondary transfer is performed on the recording sheet. The recording sheet to which the toner images of Y to K colors are secondarily transferred is further conveyed to the fixing unit 50.

When the toner image on the surface of the recording sheet passes through a fixing nip formed between the heating roller 51 of the fixing unit 50 and the pressure roller 52 pressed against the heating roller 51, the toner image of the recording sheet is heated and pressed. The recording sheet is fused and fixed on the surface, and after passing through the fixing unit 50, the recording sheet is delivered to the paper discharge unit 40.

The paper discharge unit 40 sends out the recording sheet sent from the fixing unit 50 from the paper discharge port 42 to the transport unit 15, or switches it back at the reversing port 45. Specifically, when the recording sheet is sent out from the sheet discharge port 42, the sheet discharge unit 40 raises the tip of the switching claw 41 to open the passage to the sheet discharge port 42, and the sheet discharge roller is set at the tip of the recording sheet. 43. As a result, the recording sheet is sent out of the housing through the paper discharge port 42 and stored in the transport unit 15. When the sheet is to be switched back at the reversing port 45, the leading end of the switching claw 41 is lowered to open the passage to the reversing port 45, and the leading end of the recording sheet is drawn into the reversing roller 46. The reversing roller 46 first rotates in the normal direction, and the recording sheet moving along the switching claw 41 is sent out from the reversing port 45 and once sent out of the housing. Immediately before the trailing edge of this recording sheet passes through the reversing port 45, the reversing roller 46 reverses, and the recording sheet is drawn into the reversing port 45, that is, switched back and sent to the circulation path 47. In the circulation path, the plurality of transport rollers return the recording sheet sent from the reversing roller 46 to the transport path 23 by turning it over. After that, the recording sheet is sent again to each image forming unit 20, and a toner image is formed on the back surface. The fixing unit 50 heat-treats the recording sheet again, and the paper discharge unit 40 discharges the recording sheet to the transport unit 15 this time.

In the transport unit 15, a transport path is formed in the horizontal direction, and a plurality of transport roller pairs arranged along the transport path outputs the image-formed recording sheet to the post-processing device 16. The panel 19 is provided with a display unit composed of a touch panel or the like, receives touch input from the user, and displays the content set by the user and various messages. Further, on the operation panel 19, a button 31 for instructing execution of a job, setting of a job type and each job condition before instructing execution of a job (for example, setting of a reading surface of an original, orientation of an original, etc.). Settings, printing surface settings, document binding direction settings, staple OFF or ON settings, punch settings, etc.) are provided. The operation panel 19 accepts an input from the user via the touch panel and the buttons 31-35, and notifies the main controller 100 of the accepted content.

The post-processing device 16 has, as post-processing, a stapling process function for stapling a plurality of recording sheets and a punch process function for punching two or four punch holes. Each processing function is executed based on.

As shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing device 16 is provided with a post-processing unit 18 inside the housing, and a transport path 17 is provided above the post-processing unit 18 so as to face the transport unit 15. ..

When the post-processing device 16 does not perform the post-processing such as the staple binding process and the punching process on the recording sheet output from the transport unit 15, the post-processing device 16 transports the recording sheet through the transport path 17 to perform the first processing. The paper is discharged to the discharge tray 35.

On the other hand, when the post-processing is performed, the recording sheet output from the transport unit 15 branches from the transport path 17 and is transported to the post-processing unit 18. The post-processing unit 18 performs post-processing such as staple binding processing or punching processing, and ejects the post-processing recording sheet to the second ejection tray 36.
[2] Configuration of Main Control Unit 100 The configuration of the main control unit 100 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main control unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main control unit 100 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an HDD 104, an image memory 105, a NIC 106, an operation panel control unit 107, an image reader control unit 108, a printer control unit 109, and a post-processing device control unit 110. Etc.

The operation panel control unit 107 performs control to generate various operation screens according to the usage scene of the image forming system 1 and display the generated operation screen on the touch panel of the operation panel control unit 107. In addition, the operation panel control unit 107 generates a command for controlling the image reader unit 11, the printer unit 12, and the post-processing device 16 based on an instruction from the user using the operation panel 19, and the generated command is used by the image reader. It is transmitted to the control unit 108, the printer control unit 109, and the post-processing device control unit 110.

The image reader control unit 108 controls the image reader unit 11 based on a command from the operation panel control unit 107 or the like to execute the reading operation of the image of the document.

The printer control unit 109 integrally controls the feeding operation from the paper feeding unit 13 and the image forming operations of the image forming units 20Y to 20K of the printer unit 12 based on an instruction from the operation panel control unit 107. , Execute an image forming operation.

The post-processing device control unit 110 controls the post-processing device 16 based on a command from the operation panel control unit 107 and causes the post-processing devices such as staple binding and punching process to be executed.

The NIC 106 is a network adapter for connecting to a network such as a LAN, and controls communication such as receiving a print job from an external terminal device or connecting to a cloud server to save image data read by the image reader unit 11. To do.

The image memory 105 temporarily stores image data such as a print job.

The HDD 104 stores image data that is the basis of a screen displayed on the touch panel of the operation panel 19, execution history data of past jobs executed by the image forming system 1, and the like.

The RAM 103 temporarily stores various control variables and the number of copies set by the operation panel, and also provides a work area when the CPU 101 executes the program.

The ROM 102 stores a control program for executing various jobs such as a copy operation.

The CPU 101 operates according to the control program stored in the ROM 102 to control the NIC 106, the operation panel control unit 107, the image reader control unit 108, the printer control unit 109, the post-processing device control unit 110, and the like.

[3] Functional Configuration of Operation Panel Control Unit 107 The operation panel control unit 107 functionally includes a counting unit 203, a priority determining unit 206, a user operation detecting unit 208, a candidate selecting unit 209, as shown in FIG. It is composed of a representative item determination means 211, a display screen generation means 215, and a display control means 217.

Further, the HDD 104 stores in advance a function program registration information table 201, a history information table 202, a job type image table 213, and a setting value image table 214. The HDD 104 also has an area for storing a set value execution count table 204, a function program execution count table 205, a priority information table 207, a suggestion target program table 210, a representative item information table 212, and a suggestion screen 216. ..

The counting unit 203 calculates the set value execution count and the function program execution count based on the history information table 202 stored in the HDD 104, and stores them in the set value execution count table 204 and the function program execution count table 205.

FIG. 5 is an example of history information 202a stored in the history information table 202 stored in the HDD 104. As shown in FIG. 5, the history information 202a indicates, for a past job executed in the image forming system 1, the time when the job was executed, the type of the executed job, and each job condition (original) set in the executed job. The setting values of size, both sides/single side of original, sheet size, both sides/single side of sheet, merge, punch, staple) are recorded.

The counting unit 203 uses the history information table 202 to calculate the number of executions (set value execution number) of each of the plurality of setting values of each of the plurality of job conditions. FIG. 6A is an example of the set value execution count calculated by the counting unit 203 and registered in the set value execution count table 204. In the example of FIG. 6A, for example, the number of jobs executed with the setting value “A3” of the job condition “paper size” is “15”, and the setting value “A4” of the job condition “paper size” is This indicates that the number of executed jobs is “85”.

Further, the counting unit 203 uses the history information table 202 and the function program registration information table 201 to determine, for each of the plurality of function programs registered in the image forming system 1, the job having the same setting value as the function program. Calculate the execution count (function program execution count).

FIG. 4 is an example of the function program registration information 201a registered in the function program registration information table 201 stored in the HDD 104. As shown in FIG. 4, the function program registration information 201a is, for the function programs registered in the image forming system 1, a registration number for uniquely identifying each function program, and a job type read by executing the function program. , And setting values of job conditions (document size, document duplex/single-sided, paper size, sheet duplex/single-sided, merge, punch, staple) read by executing the function program.

FIG. 6B is an example of the function program execution count calculated by the counting unit 203 and registered in the function program execution count table 205. In the example of FIG. 6B, for example, when the number of executions of the job is “15” with the same setting value as the setting values of the plurality of job conditions read by executing the functional program with the registration number “1”. It shows that there is.

The priority determining unit 206 determines the priority of each job condition based on the set value execution count calculated by the counting unit 203, and registers it in the priority information table 207.

FIG. 7 is an example of the priority information 207a generated by the priority determining unit 206 and registered in the priority information table 207. In the example of FIG. 7, “paper size”, “combination”, “punch”, “original/duplex/single-sided”, “paper/duplex/single-sided”, “original size”, and “staple” in descending order of priority. It indicates that the priority is determined so that

The user operation detection unit 208 identifies the type of job the user is trying to make the image forming system 1 execute based on the notification from the sensors 71-74 and the operation panel 19. For example, when the sensor 74 detects that a document is set on the document tray of the automatic document feeder, the user operation detection unit 208 determines that the type of job the user is trying to make the image forming system 1 execute is "scan". To be specified. Further, for example, when any one of the sensors 71-73 detects a pull-out operation of the corresponding paper feed cassette, the user specifies that the type of job to be executed by the image forming system 1 is “copy”. .. Further, for example, when an input for designating “copy” as a job type is received by the user operating the operation panel 19, the user operation detecting unit 208 causes the job that the user is trying to execute to the image forming system 1. The type is specified as "copy".

The candidate selection unit 209 is a function program (a suggestion target program) that displays a corresponding icon on the suggestion screen based on the function program registration information table 201 stored in the HDD 104 and the job type identified by the user operation detection unit 208. Is selected and registered in the suggestion target program table 210.

The candidate selection unit 209 selects, for example, a plurality of first type programs and a plurality of second type programs as suggestion target programs. The first type program is a function program in which a job type that matches the job type identified by the user operation detecting unit 208 is set among a plurality of function programs registered in the function program registration information table 201. is there. The second type program is a function program in which a job type different from the job type specified by the user operation detection unit 208 is set among the plurality of function programs registered in the image forming system 1.

FIG. 8A shows an example of a first type program of the suggestion target programs registered in the suggestion target program table 210 when the type of the job specified by the user operation detecting unit 208 is “copy”. ing. FIG. 8B shows an example of the second type program of the suggestion target programs registered in the suggestion target program table 210 when the type of the job specified by the user operation detecting unit 208 is “copy”. ing.

The representative item determination means 211 determines a job condition representing each suggestion target program based on the priority information table 207 and the suggestion target program table 210, and registers it in the representative item information table 212.

FIG. 9 is an example of representative item information registered in the representative item information table 212. In the example of FIG. 9, for example, the job condition represented by the function program with the registration number “1” is determined to be “paper size”, and the job condition represented by the function program with the registration number “4” is “paper size”. And "aggregate" and "punch" are determined.

The display screen generation unit 215 generates a suggestion screen 216 based on the suggestion target program table 210, the representative item information table 212, the job type image table 213, and the set value image table 214.

FIG. 10A is an example of the job type image table 213 stored in the HDD 104, and FIG. 10B is an example of the setting value image table 214 stored in the HDD 104. As shown in the job type image table 213, the HDD 104 stores job type images corresponding to each job type. As shown in the setting value image table 214, the HDD 104 stores setting value images corresponding to a plurality of setting values for each of a plurality of job conditions.

FIG. 17 is an example (suggestion screen 216a) of the suggestion screen 216 generated by the display screen generation unit 215. The suggestion screen 216a is divided into a first area 1601 and a second area 1602 for displaying the first type program. Then, an icon indicating each type 1 program is displayed in the icon drawing areas 1603, 1604, 1605, and 1606 in the first area 1601. Further, icons representing the respective second type programs are displayed in the icon drawing areas 1607 and 1608 in the second area 1602. The icon drawn in each icon drawing area is generated by superimposing the set value image of the job condition, which is representative of the front of the job type image.

The display control unit 217 controls to display the suggestion screen 216 generated by the display screen generation unit 215 on the touch panel of the operation panel 19.
[4] Operation of Operation Panel Control Unit 107 (1) Main Operation of Operation Panel Control Unit FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the main operation of the operation panel control unit 107.

The operation panel control unit 107 (counting unit 203, priority determining unit 206) executes a priority determining process described later to determine the priority of each of the plurality of job conditions (step S101).

After executing the priority determination process, the user operation detecting unit 208 receives the user operation and identifies the type of the job that the user wants the image forming system 1 to execute (step S102).

When the type of the job that the user intends the image forming system 1 to execute is specified, the candidate selecting unit 209 selects a suggestion target program (first program) from the plurality of functional programs registered in the functional program registration information table 201. The seed program and the second program) are selected and registered in the suggestion target program table 210 (step S103).

The representative item determination unit 211 determines whether or not there are a plurality of suggestion target programs registered in the suggestion target program table 210, and when there are a plurality of suggestion target programs (step S104: Yes), a representative item determination process described later is executed. The representative item information is registered in the representative item information table 212 (step S105).

After determining the job conditions that represent each suggestion target program, the display screen generation unit 215 executes a suggestion screen generation process described later to generate a suggestion screen 216, an example of which is shown in FIG. 17 (step S106).

The display control unit 217 displays the generated suggestion screen 216 on the touch panel of the operation panel 19 and prompts the user to select an icon (step S107).

When the user displays one icon from the plurality of icons displayed on the suggestion screen 216, the operation panel control unit 107 executes the function program corresponding to the icon selected by the user to execute the job type and plural jobs. The job condition is set, and a confirmation screen of the set job type and the set job condition is displayed on the touch panel of the operation panel 19. Alternatively, when only one suggestion target program exists (step S104: No), the operation panel control unit 107 executes the program to set the job type and a plurality of job conditions, and sets the job of the set job. A type and job condition confirmation screen is displayed on the touch panel of the operation panel 19 (step S108).

FIG. 18 shows an example of the confirmation screen 1800 displayed on the touch panel of the operation panel 19. On the confirmation screen 1800, the job type and the setting value of each job condition are displayed, and the user can confirm whether the job condition is properly set.

When the user presses the job execution button 31 while the confirmation screen 1800 is displayed on the touch panel of the operation panel 19, the image forming system 1 causes the job to be executed according to the set type and the set value of the set job condition. Is executed (step S109).

The image forming system 1 generates the history information of the executed job and adds it to the history information table 202 of the HDD 104 (step S110).

The operation panel control unit 107 (counting unit 203, priority determining unit 206) executes a priority update process described later based on the updated history information proposal table 202, and updates the priority of each of a plurality of job conditions. (Step S111).

After updating the priority, the operation panel control unit 107 returns to step S102 and continues the processing.

The above is the operation of the operation panel control unit 107.

(2) Priority determination processing (priority update processing)
The priority determination process and the priority update process will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, the priority determination process will be described, but the priority update process is also the same.

The operation panel control unit 107 specifies the job condition for determining the priority (step S201). Specifically, the counting unit 203 identifies job conditions that can be set when executing a job in the image forming system 1. For example, the image forming system 1 has seven types of job conditions of “original size”, “original/duplex/single-sided”, “paper size”, “paper/duplex/single-sided”, “combination”, “punch”, and “staple”. Are settable, these seven job conditions are specified.

The operation panel control unit 107 selects one job condition from the specified job conditions, and performs step S203 and step S204. The operation panel control unit 107 repeats steps S203 and S204 until all job conditions are selected (steps S202 to 205).

In step S203, the counting unit 203 calculates the number of times the job has been executed for each of the plurality of setting values of the selected job condition. For example, consider a case where the selected job condition is “paper size” and the set values of “paper size” are “A3”, “A4”, “B4”, and “B5”. First, the counting unit 203 calculates, from the history information table 202, the number of times the job has been executed when the job condition is “paper size” and the setting value is “A3”. The counting unit 203 similarly calculates “A4”, “B4”, and “B5”, and registers them in the set value execution count table 204.

The priority determination means 206 calculates the variation in the plurality of set value execution times of the job condition selected based on the set value execution number table 204 (step S204).

The image forming system 1 calculates the variation in the number of times the set value is executed, for example, by the following formula.

Here, M is the number of set values, X is a set of set values, x is the set value, N _x is the number of executions of the job at the set value x, and N _all is the total execution of the job. The number of times.

Here, for example, let us consider a case in which a plurality of set value execution times of the job condition “paper size” having four set values “A3”, “A4”, “B4”, and “B5” are calculated. It is assumed that the number of times each set value is executed is "15", "85", "0", "0" as shown in FIG. At this time, M=4, N _all =100, the number of executions of the job of the setting value “A3” is 15, the number of executions of the job of the setting value “A4” is 85, and the number of executions of the job of the setting value “B4” is 0. Since the number of executions of the job having the setting value “B5” is 0, the above equation is (|(100/4)−15|+|(100/4)−85|+|(100/4)−0| +|(100/4)-0|)/4=(10+60+25+25)/4=30 is calculated.

The priority determining means 206 determines the priority of each job condition such that the smaller the calculated variation value is, the higher the priority is, based on the variation of the plurality of set value execution times calculated for each job condition. Is registered and registered in the priority information table 207 (step S206).

As described above, the operation panel control unit 107 determines the priority of each of the plurality of job conditions.

(3) Representative Item Determination Process The representative item determination process will be described with reference to FIG.

The representative item determination means 211 identifies the type of job defined by each suggestion target program registered in the suggestion target program table 210 (step S301).

The representative item determination unit 211 selects the identified job types one by one in an arbitrary order, and performs steps S303 to S310. The representative item determination means 211 repeats steps S302 to S310 until all job types are selected (steps S302 to 311).

The representative item determining unit 211 determines whether or not there are a plurality of suggestion target programs of the selected job type, and when there are a plurality of suggestion target programs (step S303: Yes), sorts the job conditions in order of priority ( Step S304).

The representative item determination means 211 selects the sorted job conditions one by one in descending order of priority, and performs steps S306 to S308. The representative item determination means 211 repeats steps S305 to S308 until all job conditions are selected in descending order of priority (steps S305 to 309).

The representative item determination means 211 sets the job condition setting value selected in step S304 and the job condition selected in step S304 between the suggestion target programs in which the job type defined in step S302 matches the defined job type. The combinations of the setting values of the job condition having the higher priority than that are compared (step S306).

As a result of the comparison, when there is a suggestion target program in which the combination of the setting value of the selected job condition and the setting value of the job condition having a higher priority than the selected job condition is different from the others (step S307: Yes), the representative The item determining unit 211 determines that the job condition representing the relevant suggestion target program is a combination of the selected job condition and the job condition having a higher priority than the selected job condition (step S308). The representative item determination unit 211 excludes the suggestion target program for which the representative job condition is determined and continues the process. It should be noted that the representative item determining unit 211 proceeds to step S311 when all suggestion target programs of the selected job type are excluded.

If there is only one suggestion target program of the selected job type (step S303: No), the representative item determination means 211 decides not to set the job condition representing the relevant suggestion target program (step S310). ).

As described above, the representative item determination means 211 determines the job conditions that represent a plurality of suggestion target programs.

Here, the processing in which the representative item determination unit 211 determines the job conditions that represent a plurality of suggestion target programs will be described by further giving an example.

(Example 1) A case where the suggestion target programs are FIGS. 8A and 8B and the priority of each job condition is FIG. 7 will be described.

In step S301, the representative item determination unit 211 specifies that the job type of the suggestion target program with the registration numbers “1”, “4”, “5”, and “6” is “copy”, and the registration number “ The job type of the suggestion target program of “2” is identified as “scan (local)”, and the job type of the suggestion target program of registration number “3” is identified as “scan (cloud)”.

In step S302, the representative item determination unit 211 selects "copy" as the job type, for example.

Since there are four suggestion target programs whose job type is "copy", which are registration numbers "1", "4", "5", and "6" (step S303: Yes), the process proceeds to step S304 and image formation is performed. The system 1 sets the job conditions in the order of priority from “paper size”, “combine”, “punch”, “original/duplex/single-sided”, “paper/duplex/single-sided”, “document size”, and “staple”. And sort.

In step S305, the representative item determination unit 211 first selects the "paper size" that is the job condition with the highest priority.

In steps S306 to S308, the representative item determination unit 211 causes the suggestion target program (registration numbers “1”, “4”, “5”, and “6” that matches the job type “copy” selected in step S302. Of the job condition “paper size” in the “Suggestion target program”. The setting value of the job condition “paper size” of the suggestion target program with the registration number “1” is “A3”, and the job condition “paper size” of the suggestion target program with the registration numbers “4”, “5”, and “6” The setting value of is “A4”. Since the setting value of the suggestion target program with the registration number “1” is different from the others, the representative item determining unit 211 determines the job condition representing the suggestion target program with the registration number “1” to be “paper size”, The suggested program with registration number “1” is excluded from the processing.

In step S309, the representative item determination means 211 has not yet selected all the job conditions, and therefore returns to step S305.

In step S305, the representative item determination unit 211 selects "aggregate" which is the job condition having the next highest priority.

In steps S306 to S308, the representative item determination unit 211 causes the suggestion target programs (registration numbers "4", "5", and "6") that match the job type "copy" selected in step S302. The setting value of the job condition “aggregate” in the program) is compared. The setting value of the job condition "aggregate" of the suggestion target program of the registration number "5" is "2in1", and the setting value of the job condition "aggregate" of the suggestion target programs of the registration numbers "4" and "6" is "none". It is. Since the setting value of the suggestion target program with the registration number “5” is different from the others, the representative item determining unit 211 sets the job conditions representing the suggestion target program with the registration number “5” to “paper size” and “aggregate”. Then, the suggestion target program with registration number “5” is excluded from the processing.

In step S309, the representative item determination means 211 has not yet selected all the job conditions, and therefore returns to step S305.

In step S305, the representative item determination unit 211 selects "punch" which is the job condition having the next highest priority.

In steps S306 to S308, the representative item determining unit 211 determines that the job in the suggestion target program (the suggestion target programs with the registration numbers “4” and “6”) that matches the job type “copy” selected in step S302. Compare the setting value of the condition "punch". The setting value of the job condition “punch” of the suggestion target program of registration number “4” is “2 holes”, and the setting value of the job condition “aggregate” of the suggestion target program of registration number “6” is “4 holes”. is there. Since the setting values of the suggestion target programs with the registration numbers “4” and “6” are different from the others, the representative item determining unit 211 sets the job conditions that represent the suggestion target programs with the registration numbers “4” and “6”. The "sheet size", "collection", and "punch" are determined, and the suggestion target programs with registration numbers "4" and "6" are excluded from the processing. Since all suggested programs have been excluded, the process proceeds to step S311.

In step S311, the representative item determination means 211 has not selected all job types yet, and therefore returns to step S302.

In step S302, the image forming system 1 selects, for example, “scan (local)” as the job type.

Since the suggestion target program whose job type is "scan (local)" is the only one with the registration number "2" (step S303: No), the process proceeds to step S310, and the representative item determination means 211 causes the representative item determination means 211 to register the registration number "2". It is determined that the job condition representing the suggestion target program of “” is not set.

In step S311, the representative item determination means 211 has not selected all job types yet, and therefore returns to step S302.

In step S302, the representative item determination unit 211 selects "scan (cloud)" as the job type.

Since the suggestion target program whose job type is “scan (cloud)” is the only one with the registration number “3” (step S303: No), the process proceeds to step S310, and the representative item determination unit 211 causes the representative item determination means 211 to register the registration number “3”. It is determined that the job condition representing the suggestion target program of “” is not set.

In step S311, since all job types have been selected, the representative item determination unit 211 ends the process of determining job conditions that represent a plurality of suggestion target programs.

In this way, the representative item determination means 211 determines the job conditions that represent each suggestion target program (functional program) shown in FIG.

(Example 2) A case where the suggestion target programs are FIGS. 14A and 8B and the priority of each job condition is FIG. 7 will be described. The difference from Example 1 is that the suggestion target program is changed from FIG. 8A to FIG. 14A.

In step S301, the representative item determination unit 211 specifies that the job type of the suggestion target program with the registration numbers “1”, “4”, “5”, and “6” is “copy”, and the registration number “ The job type of the suggestion target program of “2” is identified as “scan (local)”, and the job type of the suggestion target program of registration number “3” is identified as “scan (cloud)”.

In step S302, the representative item determination unit 211 selects "copy" as the job type, for example.

Since there are four suggestion target programs whose job type is "copy", which are registration numbers "1", "4", "5", and "6" (step S303: Yes), the process proceeds to step S304 and image formation is performed. The system 1 sets the job conditions in the order of priority from “paper size”, “combine”, “punch”, “original/duplex/single-sided”, “paper/duplex/single-sided”, “document size”, and “staple”. And sort.

In step S305, the representative item determination unit 211 first selects the "paper size" that is the job condition with the highest priority.

In steps S306 to S308, the representative item determination unit 211 causes the suggestion target program (registration numbers “1”, “4”, “5”, and “6” that matches the job type “copy” selected in step S302. Of the job condition “paper size” in the “Suggestion target program”. The setting value of the job condition "paper size" of the suggestion target program of registration numbers "1" and "4" is "A3", and the job condition "paper size" of the suggestion target program of registration numbers "5" and "6" The setting value of is “A4”. Since there is no suggestion target program whose set value is different from the others, the representative item determination means 211 advances the process to step S309.

In step S309, the representative item determination means 211 has not yet selected all the job conditions, and therefore returns to step S305.

In step S305, the representative item determination unit 211 selects "aggregate" which is the job condition having the next highest priority.

In steps S306 to S308, the representative item determination unit 211 causes the suggestion target program (registration numbers “1”, “4”, “5”, and “6” that matches the job type “copy” selected in step S302. Of the job conditions "paper size" and "aggregate" in the "Suggestion target program". The job condition "paper size" and "aggregate" setting values of the suggestion target program with registration number "1" are "A3" and "2in1", and the job condition "paper size" of the suggestion target program with registration number "4" The setting values of “Aggregate” are “A3” and “None”. In addition, the setting values of the job conditions “paper size” and “aggregate” of the suggestion target program of registration number “5” are “A4” and “2in1”, and the job condition “paper of the suggestion target program of registration number “6” is “paper”. The setting values of “size” and “aggregate” are “A4” and “none”. Since the setting values of the suggestion target programs of the registration numbers “1”, “4”, “5”, and “6” are different from the others, the representative item determining unit 211 causes the registration number “1”, “4”, “ The job conditions that represent the 5" and 6" suggestion target programs are determined to be "paper size" and "aggregate", and the suggestion target programs with registration numbers "1", "4", "5", and "6" are selected. Exclude from processing. Since all suggested programs have been excluded, the process proceeds to step S311.

In step S311, the representative item determination means 211 has not selected all job types yet, and therefore returns to step S302.

In step S302, the representative item determination unit 211 selects “scan (local)” as the job type, for example.

Since the suggestion target program whose job type is "scan (local)" is the only one with the registration number "2" (step S303: No), the process proceeds to step S310, and the representative item determination means 211 causes the representative item determination means 211 to register the registration number "2". It is determined that the job condition representing the suggestion target program of “” is not set.

In step S311, the representative item determination means 211 has not selected all job types yet, and therefore returns to step S302.

In step S302, the representative item determination unit 211 selects "scan (cloud)" as the job type.

Since the suggestion target program whose job type is “scan (cloud)” is the only one with the registration number “3” (step S303: No), the process proceeds to step S310, and the representative item determination unit 211 causes the representative item determination means 211 to register the registration number “3”. It is determined that the job condition representing the suggestion target program of “” is not set.

In step S311, since all job types have been selected, the representative item determination unit 211 ends the process of determining job conditions that represent a plurality of suggestion target programs.

In this way, the representative item determination means 211 determines the job condition that is representative of each suggestion target program (functional program) shown in FIG.

(4) Suggest Screen Generation Process The suggest screen generation process will be described with reference to FIG.

The display screen generation unit 215 sets the first area and the second area in the drawing area of the suggestion screen in accordance with the number of the first type program and the second type program of the plurality of suggestion target programs (step). S401). For example, a case where the function program shown in FIG. 8A is selected as the first type program and the function program shown in FIG. 8B is selected as the second type program will be described. At this time, since the number of the first type programs is four and the number of the second type programs is two, the display screen generation means 215 causes the display screen generating means 215 to display the four icons in the first area and the two icons. Set a second area of a size capable of displaying in the suggestion screen. Reference numeral 1601 in FIG. 16 is the first area set in the suggestion screen 216b, and reference numeral 1602 is the second area set in the suggestion screen 216b.

The display screen generation means 215 sets the same number of icon drawing areas as the first type programs in the first area 1601 set in the suggestion screen, and sets the second type 1602 in the second area 1602 set in the suggestion screen. The same number of icon drawing areas as the programs are set (step S402). Reference numerals 1603 to 1606 in FIG. 16 are icon drawing areas set in the first area 1601, and reference numerals 1607 and 1608 are icon drawing areas set in the second area 1602.

The display screen generation unit 215 sequentially selects a plurality of suggestion target programs and performs the processes of steps S404 to S411. The display screen generation means 215 repeats steps S404 to S411 until all the suggestion target programs are selected (steps S403 to S412).

The display screen generation unit 215 determines whether or not the selected suggestion target program is the first type program, and when it is the first type program (step S404: Yes), draws a plurality of icons in the first area. One is selected from the areas, and it is determined as an area in which the icon indicating the selected suggestion target program is drawn (step S405).

When the selected suggestion target program is the second type program (step S404: No), the display screen generation means 215 selects one from the plurality of icon drawing areas in the second area and selects the selected suggestion target. It is determined as an area for drawing the icon indicating the program (step S406).

The display screen generation means 215 draws a job type image corresponding to the job type of the suggestion target program selected by referring to the job type image table 213 in the area determined in step S405 or step S406 (step). S407). 18 is an example of a job type image in which a symbol 1701 in the icon drawing area 1603 of the first area 1601 in FIG. 17 is drawn.

The display screen generation unit 215 determines whether or not the job condition representative of the selected suggestion target program is set, and when the representative job condition is set (step S408), the representative job condition is set. The selection is performed in the order of low priority, and step S410 is performed. The display screen generation unit 215 repeats step S410 until all the representative job conditions are selected (steps S409 to S411).

The display screen generation unit 215 acquires the set value of the selected job condition defined in the selected suggestion target program, acquires the set value image corresponding to the acquired set value from the set value image table 214, The acquired setting value image is drawn in the area determined in step S405 or step S406 (step S410). 18 is an example of a set value image in which a symbol 1702 in the icon drawing area 1603 of the first area 1601 in FIG. 17 is drawn.

It should be noted that the set value image is predetermined to be drawn in the icon drawing area for each job condition, for example, the set value image of “paper size” is displayed at the lower right of the drawing area. ing.

The display screen generation means 215 generates a suggest screen, an example of which is shown in FIG. 17, as described above.
[5] Summary The image forming system 1 of the present invention calculates the degree of variation in the number of executions of the job of each set value for each of the plurality of job conditions. This makes it possible to determine the priority indicating which job condition is important in distinguishing a function program desired by the user from other function programs, according to the usage environment of the user. Since the job condition representing each functional program is determined based on the priority determined in this way, it is necessary to display unnecessary information for distinguishing the functional program desired by the user from other functional programs. It is possible to display the setting value of the job condition, which is useful information for distinguishing the function program desired by the user from other function programs, in the icon. As a result, the user can easily select the icon corresponding to the desired function program.
2. Supplement The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and the following modifications are possible.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the method of calculating the degree of variation in the number of executions at a plurality of setting values has been described using a mathematical formula. However, the above equation calculates the degree of variation in the number of executions at a plurality of setting values. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The degree of variation in the number of executions in a plurality of setting values can be calculated so that the value is small when the deviation of the number of executions of the job in each setting value is small, and the value is large when the deviation is large. Good. For example, for a plurality of setting values of a certain job condition, the difference in the number of job executions may be calculated in a brute force manner, and the average of the calculated differences may be used as the degree of variation in the number of executions of the plurality of setting values.
(2) The method of determining the job condition representing the suggestion target program is not limited to the method of the above-described embodiment, and may be as follows.

For example, a job condition having a predetermined priority and a priority higher than the predetermined priority may be set as a job condition representing each suggestion target program. In FIG. 19, the suggestion target programs are FIGS. 8A and 8B, the priority of each job condition is FIG. 7, and the job conditions whose priority is 3, 2, 1 are 9 is an example of a suggestion screen when a target program is used as a representative job condition. At this time, the job conditions that represent each suggestion target program are “paper size” with a priority of 1, “aggregate” with a priority of 2, and “punch” with a priority of 3. Therefore, for example, in the icon drawing area 1603 of FIG. 19, a setting value image 1902 showing the setting value of the job condition “paper size” and a setting value image showing the setting value of the job condition “aggregate” are displayed in front of the job type image 1901. An icon in which 1903 and the setting value image 1904 of the job condition “punch” are overlaid is displayed. Note that the icons in the icon drawing areas 1604 and 1606 do not have a setting value image indicating the setting value of the job condition “aggregate” superimposed, but the job condition “aggregate” is defined in the corresponding function program. Because there is no.
(3) When the job condition having the predetermined priority and the priority higher than the predetermined priority is set as the job condition representing each suggestion target program as in the above (2), a plurality of functional programs are set. Corresponding icons may end up looking exactly the same. For example, when the job conditions having the priorities of 3, 2, and 1 are set as the job conditions that represent each suggestion target program, the setting value of the job condition having the priority of 3 and the priority are set in the two functional programs. When the setting value of the job condition of No. 2 and the setting value of the job condition of the priority of 1 are all the same, the appearances of the icons corresponding to the two function programs are the same.

In such a case, the number of executions of the functional program calculated by the counting means 203 is compared with these two functional programs, and the functional program with the smaller number of executions and the program with the larger number of executions differ. By adding the job condition in which the set value is defined to the job condition representing the function program with the smaller number of executions, it is possible to distinguish the two. If there are multiple job conditions that have different setting values defined for the function program with the least number of executions and the program with the most number of executions, the job condition that represents the job condition with the higher priority is selected. Good.
(4) In the embodiment, the set value images of the job conditions representing the suggestion target program are drawn in the order of low priority. Accordingly, when the setting value images of the two job conditions are drawn in the overlapping areas, the setting value image of the job condition having a higher priority is displayed on the front side. This is a process for making the setting value image of the job condition having a higher priority stand out, but the process for making the setting value image of the job condition having a higher priority stand out is not limited to the above. For example, the size of the set value image may be changed such that the higher the priority, the larger the size.
(5) In the embodiment, the setting value image is preliminarily determined at which position in the icon drawing region is drawn for each job condition, but the drawing position is decided according to the priority. Good. For example, the setting value image of the job condition with the highest priority may be drawn in the upper left of the icon drawing area, and the setting value image of the job condition with the next highest priority may be displayed in the upper right of the icon drawing area.
(6) In the embodiment, the icon indicating the first type program is drawn in the first area 1601 and the icon indicating the second type program is drawn in the second area 1602. This is a display for allowing the user to easily distinguish from the second type program, and the means is not limited to this.

For example, a user can easily distinguish the type 1 program from the type 2 program by performing an emphasis process such as displaying a thick frame line or increasing the saturation on the icon indicating the type 1 program. You may do it. FIG. 20 shows a suggestion screen of the icon indicating the first type program, which is emphasized to display a thick frame line so that the user can easily distinguish the first type program from the second type program. This is an example.

Further, for example, the first-type program and the second-type program are used by performing image processing that reduces the visibility, such as reducing the saturation or grayscale, on the icon indicating the second-type program. You may make it easy for a person to distinguish. FIG. 21 is an example of a suggestion screen that allows a user to easily distinguish between a type 1 program and a type 2 program by subjecting an icon indicating the type 2 program to image processing for grayscale conversion. is there.
(7) In the embodiment, the counting unit 203 uses the history information table 202 to calculate the number of times the job has been executed for each set value. The counting unit 203 may refer to all the history information in the history information table 202 to calculate the number of times the job has been executed with each set value, or may refer to only the history information for a certain period from the present time to the past. The number of times the job is executed may be calculated based on the set value.
(8) The image forming system 1 has a user identification means for identifying a user such as an IC card reader, records history information for each user, and uses the history information recorded for each user to use the history information. The priority of a plurality of job conditions may be determined for each person.
(9) In the embodiment, the priority of each job condition is determined based on the degree of variation in the number of times the job has been executed with a plurality of setting values calculated for each job condition. Here, the process of determining the priority from the degree of variation is not always necessary, and the degree of variation may be used instead of the priority to determine the job condition representing each suggestion target program.
(10) Each device described above is a computer system including a microprocessor and a memory. The memory stores a computer program, and the microprocessor operates according to the computer program.

Here, the computer program is configured by combining a plurality of instruction codes indicating instructions to the computer in order to achieve a predetermined function.

Further, the computer program may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory or the like.

Further, the computer program may be transmitted via a wireless or wired electric communication line, a network represented by the Internet, data broadcasting, or the like.
(11) The above embodiment and the above modifications may be combined.

According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the setting value of the job condition, which is useful information for distinguishing the function program desired by the user from other function programs, can be displayed in the icon. The person can easily select the icon corresponding to the desired function program. Therefore, it is useful as a technique for executing a job by selecting an icon to read the setting value of the job condition.

Reference Signs List 10 image forming apparatus 11 image reader section 12 printer section 13 paper feeding section 16 post-processing apparatus 19 operation panel 100 main control section 107 operation panel control section 108 image reader control section 109 printer control section 110 post-processing apparatus control section

Claims (26)

An image processing apparatus that executes a job related to image processing according to a plurality of job conditions assigned to one icon selected by a user from a plurality of displayed icons,
Program storage means for storing a plurality of function programs including job types and a plurality of job condition setting values,
For each of the plurality of setting values of each of the plurality of job conditions, an execution number storage unit that stores the number of times the job has been executed in the past using the setting value,
The degree of variation of a plurality of setting values under each job condition is calculated by using the number of times the job is executed at each setting value, and for each functional program, one or more job conditions are represented in order of decreasing calculated variation degree. Representative item determining means to be determined as a condition,
For each function program, an icon is displayed in which a type image indicating the type of job defined in the function program and a setting value image indicating the setting value of the representative job condition of the function program are generated, and the generated plurality of icons are generated. A display screen generating means for generating a list display screen in which icons are arranged,
An image processing apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays the list display screen. The representative item determining means calculates the degree of variation according to the following formula for each job condition,

M is the number of set values, x is a variable representing the set value, X is a set of set values, N _x is the number of times the job has been executed at the set value x, and N _all is the total number of executed jobs. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number is the number of times. The representative item determining means calculates, for each job condition, an average value of differences in the number of executions of jobs for all combinations of two setting values among a plurality of setting values as the degree of variation. The image processing device according to claim 1. The representative item determination means, for each functional program, compares the set values of the plurality of job conditions of other functional programs with the set values of the plurality of job conditions in the ascending order of the degree of variation, thereby The image according to claim 1, wherein setting values of one or more job conditions for distinguishing from other function programs are specified, and the job condition of the specified setting values is determined as a representative job condition of the function program. Processing equipment. If the set value of the job condition of one function program is different from the set value of the job condition of all the other function programs, the representative item determination unit is the one job condition and the one job condition. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein all the job conditions having a smaller degree of variation than the above are determined as representative job conditions of the function program. The representative item determining means is configured such that, for one function program, a combination of set values of one or more job conditions whose degree of variation is smaller than one job condition is more than the one job condition in another function program. The method according to claim 4, wherein if the combination of setting values of one or more job conditions having a small degree of variation is different, the one job condition is determined not to be a representative job condition of the functional program. The image processing device described. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the representative item determination unit determines a job condition whose degree of variation is smaller than a predetermined value as a representative job condition of each functional program. The execution count storage means further stores the execution count of the job executed according to the job type and the set value of the job condition included in each function program,
In the two function programs, the representative item determination unit holds the two functions stored in the execution count storage unit when the setting values of the job conditions whose degree of variation is smaller than the predetermined value are all the same. The execution times of the jobs of the programs are compared, and one or more job conditions are selected in ascending order of the variation degree from the job conditions of the variation degree larger than the predetermined value for the function program having the smaller execution number. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising determining a representative job condition. When it is determined that a plurality of job conditions are representative of one function program for one function program, the display screen generation means sets the job condition setting value with a small degree of variation in the icon generated for the function program. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is arranged in front of the set value image of the job condition having a large degree of variation. When it is determined that a plurality of job conditions are representative of one function program for one function program, the display screen generation means sets the job condition setting value with a small degree of variation in the icon generated for the function program. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus generates a set value image larger than a set value image of a job condition in which the degree of variation is larger than the job condition. A user operation detecting means for detecting a user operation for specifying the type of job,
Program selection means for selecting a function program of the same job type as the job type specified by the detected user operation from a plurality of function programs stored in the program storage means,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display screen generation unit generates the list display screen including an icon generated for the function program selected by the program selection unit. The user operation detecting means detects an operation by a user to select a job type on an operation screen,
The program selection means selects a function program of the same job type as the job type selected by the user from a plurality of function programs stored in the program storage means. Image processing device. An image reading apparatus including the image processing apparatus according to claim 11,
The type of the job includes a scan job that scans a document surface and generates image data,
An image reading unit for reading an original to generate image data is further provided,
The user operation detection unit is a sensor that detects that a document is set on the image reading unit,
When the sensor detects that the document is set in the image reading unit, the program selection unit selects a function program whose job type is the scan job from a plurality of function programs stored in the program storage unit. An image reading device characterized by selecting. An image forming apparatus, comprising the image processing apparatus according to claim 11, for forming an image by an electrophotographic method,
The type of the job includes a copy job that scans a document surface to generate an image and forms the generated image on a sheet.
Further comprising a storage tray for storing the sheets,
The user operation detection means is a sensor that detects an opening/closing operation of the storage tray,
When the sensor detects the opening/closing operation of the storage tray, the program selection unit selects a function program whose job type is the copy job from a plurality of function programs stored in the program storage unit. An image forming apparatus characterized by. The list display screen is composed of a first area and a second area,
The display screen generation means displays an icon corresponding to the function program selected by the program selection means in the first area, and displays an icon corresponding to another function program in the second area. The image processing device according to claim 11. The image processing according to claim 11, wherein the display screen generation means performs image processing for highlighting an icon corresponding to the function program selected by the program selection means in the list display screen. apparatus. The display screen generating means performs image processing for reducing visibility of icons corresponding to function programs other than the function program selected by the function program selecting means in the list display screen. Item 12. The image processing device according to item 11. History storage means for storing, as history information, set values of a plurality of job conditions set in the executed job when the job is executed;
Counting means for counting the number of times of execution of jobs having a plurality of setting values for each of the plurality of job conditions with reference to all history information stored in the history storage means, and for storing in the execution count storage means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: When the job is executed, a history storage unit that stores, as history information, the time when the job was executed and the set values of the plurality of job conditions set in the executed job,
Among the history information stored in the history storage means, the number of executions of a job having a plurality of setting values for each of the plurality of job conditions is counted by referring to the history information of a past certain period from the present time, and the execution count is stored. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a counting unit that stores the unit. Further comprising user identification means for identifying a user operating the image processing apparatus,
The execution count storage unit holds, for each user who operates the image processing apparatus, the execution count of a job for each set value of each of the plurality of job conditions,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the representative item determination unit calculates the degree of variation of each of the plurality of job conditions for each user who operates the image processing apparatus. An image display method used in an image processing apparatus for executing a job relating to image processing according to a plurality of job conditions assigned to one icon selected by a user from a plurality of displayed icons,
Storing a plurality of function programs including job types and setting values of a plurality of job conditions;
For each of the plurality of setting values of each of the plurality of job conditions, a step of storing the number of times the job has been executed in the past using the setting value,
The degree of variation of a plurality of setting values under each job condition is calculated by using the number of times the job is executed at each setting value, and for each functional program, one or more job conditions are represented in order of decreasing calculated variation degree. The step of determining as a condition,
For each function program, an icon is displayed in which a type image indicating the type of job defined in the function program and a setting value image indicating the setting value of the representative job condition of the function program are generated, and the generated plurality of icons are generated. A step of generating a list display screen with icons arranged,
And a step of displaying the list display screen. A computer program for image display used in an image processing apparatus that executes a job related to image processing according to a plurality of job conditions assigned to one icon selected by a user from a plurality of displayed icons,
Storing a plurality of function programs including job types and setting values of a plurality of job conditions;
For each of the plurality of setting values of each of the plurality of job conditions, a step of storing the number of times the job has been executed in the past using the setting value,
The degree of variation of a plurality of setting values under each job condition is calculated by using the number of times the job is executed at each setting value, and for each functional program, one or more job conditions are represented in order of decreasing calculated variation degree. The step of determining as a condition,
For each function program, an icon is displayed in which a type image indicating the type of job defined in the function program and a setting value image indicating the setting value of the representative job condition of the function program are generated, and the generated plurality of icons are generated. A step of generating a list display screen with icons arranged,
Displaying the list display screen,
A computer program for running. An image processing apparatus that executes a job related to image processing according to a plurality of job conditions assigned to one icon selected by a user from a plurality of displayed icons,
Program storage means for storing a plurality of function programs defined by the job type and a plurality of job condition setting values;
Priority storage means for storing the priority of each of a plurality of job conditions,
For each function program, one or more job conditions that distinguish it from other function programs are specified by comparing the setting values of each job condition with other function programs in order of priority, and the specified job conditions are Representative item determining means for determining the representative job condition of the function program,
For each function program, an icon is displayed in which a type image indicating the type of job defined in the function program and a setting value image indicating the setting value of the representative job condition of the function program are generated, and the generated plurality of icons are generated. A display screen generating means for generating a list display screen in which icons are arranged,
An image processing apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays the list display screen. An image display method used in an image processing apparatus for executing a job related to image processing according to a plurality of job conditions assigned to one icon selected by a user from a plurality of displayed icons,
A step of storing a plurality of function programs defined by a job type and a plurality of job condition setting values;
Storing the priority of each of a plurality of job conditions,
For each function program, one or more job conditions that distinguish it from other function programs are specified by comparing the setting values of each job condition with other function programs in order of priority, and the specified job conditions are Determining the representative job conditions of the function program,
For each function program, an icon is displayed in which a type image indicating the type of job defined in the function program and a setting value image indicating the setting value of the representative job condition of the function program are generated, and the generated plurality of icons are generated. A step of generating a list display screen with icons arranged,
Displaying the list display screen,
An image display method comprising: A computer program for image display used in an image processing apparatus that executes a job related to image processing according to a plurality of job conditions assigned to one icon selected by a user from a plurality of displayed icons,
In the image processing device that is a computer,
A step of storing a plurality of function programs defined by a job type and a plurality of job condition setting values;
Storing the priority of each of a plurality of job conditions,
For each function program, one or more job conditions that distinguish it from other function programs are specified by comparing the setting values of each job condition with other function programs in order of priority, and the specified job conditions are Determining the representative job conditions of the function program,
For each function program, an icon is displayed in which a type image indicating the type of job defined in the function program and a setting value image indicating the setting value of the representative job condition of the function program are generated, and the generated plurality of icons are generated. A step of generating a list display screen with icons arranged,
Displaying the list display screen,
A computer program for running. An image forming apparatus, comprising the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, 15 to 20, or 23, for forming an image by an electrophotographic method.

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