JP2024065645A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] The objective is to reduce the operational burden on the user when selecting and displaying a shortcut. [Solution] When a wireless communication IF 17 detects the approach of an IC card 19, a controller 11 causes a user IF 16 to display, from among a plurality of screens constituting a home screen, a screen that is associated with the IC card 19 and on which a shortcut icon is arranged. The controller 11 executes a function for the shortcut icon arranged on the screen displayed on the user IF 16. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming device that performs image formation processing.

Patent Document 1 describes an apparatus that associates an image forming process with a shortcut icon and registers the shortcut icon, and can execute the associated image forming process by operating the shortcut icon. Specifically, the image forming apparatus can place the shortcut icon on a home screen that is displayed on a user interface. In addition, the home screen is made up of multiple screens, and the user can place the shortcut icon on any of the multiple screens that make up the home screen.

JP 2003-150009 A

When the number of shortcuts registered for an image forming device increases, the user needs to know the screen on which each shortcut icon is located. For example, if an image forming device is shared by multiple people, it is conceivable that shortcut icons that the user does not recognize may be placed on the device, and it may take time for the user to find the intended shortcut icon from the multiple screens that make up the home screen.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to reduce the operational burden on the user when selecting and displaying shortcuts.

In order to solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus disclosed in this embodiment is an image forming apparatus that includes a user interface, a wireless communication interface, a memory, an image forming unit, and a controller, and the wireless communication interface is capable of detecting a mobile device approaching the image forming apparatus. The controller is capable of executing a home screen display process for selecting one of the home screens and displaying it on a user interface, the home screen being composed of a plurality of screens, each of which can have a plurality of icons arranged thereon, and capable of causing the image forming unit to execute an image formation process using setting values corresponding to each of a plurality of setting items. The controller is capable of executing a registration process for registering shortcut information indicating a type of image formation process and a setting value used for the image formation process in a memory, associated with a shortcut icon, in response to an instruction received via the user interface; an arrangement process for arranging the shortcut icon as one of the icons to be arranged on one of the home screens in response to an instruction received via the user interface; a shortcut execution process for causing the image forming unit to execute an image formation process of the type indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut icon, using the setting value indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut icon, in response to an operation on the shortcut icon; and an associated screen display process for displaying, on the user interface, a screen associated with the mobile device and in which the shortcut icon is arranged, out of the plurality of screens constituting the home screen, when the wireless communication interface detects a mobile device approaching the image forming apparatus. The shortcut execution process is configured to cause the image forming unit to execute the type of image formation process indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut icon using the setting values indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut icon in response to an operation on a shortcut icon arranged on the screen displayed in the user interface by the related screen display process.

In the above configuration, if the user places a shortcut icon as one of the icons on one of the home screens, the user can display a screen associated with the mobile device and operate the shortcut icon included on the screen simply by bringing the mobile device close to the wireless communication interface. As a result, the user does not need to know in advance the location of each shortcut registered in the image forming device, and the operational load when selecting a shortcut icon can be reduced.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming device that improves user convenience when performing a specific image forming process by operating a shortcut icon.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing screen transitions when registering a shortcut icon. 4 is a diagram illustrating shortcut information and the like stored in a memory. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a process when a home screen is operated. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen transition when a shortcut icon is operated. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing screen transitions when linking a function to a card. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the process of S18 in FIG. 4. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a process executed when a card is brought close. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the screen transition when a card is brought close to the screen. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the screen transition when a card is brought close to the screen.

First Embodiment
An embodiment of an image forming apparatus will be described using an MFP (abbreviation of Multi Function Peripheral). The MFP 10 includes a controller 11, a memory 12, a printer 13, a FAX IF 14, a scanner 15, a user IF 16, a wireless communication IF 17, and a communication IF 18. These components are connected to each other via a bus so as to be able to communicate with each other.

The communication IF 18 connects the MFP 10 to a network (not shown). This allows the MFP 10 to communicate with other devices, such as a PC, connected to the network in accordance with a specified protocol. The scanner 15 has a reading sensor, such as a CCD or CIS, and generates image data in response to reading an original. The generation of image data is an example of image formation. The printer 13 executes a printing operation to print an image on a recording medium, such as a sheet or a disk. A sheet is also called paper. Printing is an example of image formation. The recording method of the printer 13 can be an inkjet method, an electrophotographic method, or the like.

The user IF 16 is an interface capable of accepting various operations on the MFP 10 by the user. The user IF 16 includes a touch panel including an LCD display, various switches, and the like. The communication IF 18 performs, for example, wireless LAN communication, and communicates with a PC and a server (not shown) connected to the wireless LAN. The printer 13, the FAX IF 14, and the scanner 15 are examples of an image forming unit, and perform copy processing, scanning processing, FAX transmission processing, and FAX reception processing in response to instructions from the controller 11.

The wireless communication IF 17 is hardware that wirelessly reads information stored in the IC card 19. The MFP 10 has an IC card reading stand (not shown) on the front of the main body, and the wireless communication IF 17 is arranged behind the reading stand. The IC card 19 stores a card number, which is information for identifying the IC card 19. When a user brings the IC card 19 close to the reading stand, the wireless communication IF 17 can read the card number stored in the IC card 19. The wireless communication IF 17 performs wireless communication according to, for example, NFC (Near Field Communication). In this embodiment, the IC card 19 is an example of a mobile device. The card number is an example of identification information.

The memory 12 is configured by combining volatile memory such as RAM, non-volatile memory such as NVRAM, ROM, etc. As non-volatile memory, SSD, HDD, etc. may be used. A buffer provided in the controller 11 and used when executing various programs may also be considered as part of the memory 12. The memory 12 may be a storage medium readable by the controller 11. A storage medium readable by the controller 11 is a non-transitory medium. In addition to the above examples, non-transitory media also include recording media such as CD-ROM and DVD-ROM. A non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electrical signal carrying a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a computer-readable signal medium, which is a type of computer-readable medium, but is not included in non-transitory computer-readable storage media.

The controller 11 is configured by combining a CPU and an internal memory. In this embodiment, the controller 11 mainly performs processing according to commands written in a program. In other words, the processes of the controller 11 in the following description, such as "judgment," "extraction," "selection," "calculation," "decision," "identification," "acquisition," "reception," and "control," represent the processes of the controller 11. Note that "acquisition" is used as a concept that does not necessarily require a request. In other words, the process of the controller 11 receiving data without a request is also included in the concept of "the controller 11 acquiring data." In addition, "data" in this specification is represented by a bit string that can be read by the controller. Data that has the same substantial meaning but different formats is treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in this specification. Note that the controller 11 may be configured by multiple controllers, not just one controller. In this case, each process to be described later performed by the controller 11 may be distributed and executed by multiple controllers.

When the power supply of the MFP 10A is turned on, the controller 11 causes the user IF 16 to display the home screen 40 shown in FIG. 2A. The home screen 40 is configured to display icons in an icon display area 44 of m rows and n columns (m and n are natural numbers). In FIG. 2A, the icon display area 44 is surrounded by a dashed line. Specifically, the icon display area 44 of the home screen 40 includes icons 41A, 41B, and 41C that accept execution instructions for each function of the icons "FAX," "Copy," and "Scan," which correspond to any of the image forming processes that the MFP 10 can execute as an initial state. The home screen 40 is composed of multiple screens, and in this embodiment, by operating tabs 43A to 43C displayed at the bottom of the screen, the user IF 16 can display a screen corresponding to the operated tab 43. The home screen 40 shown in FIG. 2A displays the screen of "Basic 1" corresponding to the tab 43A. When tab 43C is operated, the controller 11 causes the user IF 16 to display a screen corresponding to "Custom1" as shown in FIG. 2(h) and the like.

The arrangement of the tabs 43 on the home screen 40 is not limited to the bottom of the home screen 40, but may be arranged at the top of the home screen 40 or at the left or right edge. Furthermore, the tabs 43 are not limited to being arranged in a rectangular shape, but may be arranged at a distance from each other. In this embodiment, the tabs 43 are an example of a screen-corresponding image.

When the user operates the icon 41A related to the fax function, the controller 11 executes the fax transmission function using the fax IF 14. The fax transmission function is a function that transmits scan data generated by reading with the scanner 15, transmission data transmitted from, for example, a PC via the communication IF 18, and record data read from a USB memory or the like to a destination device via the fax IF 14. In addition, when the user operates the icon 41A, a fax reception process can be performed using the fax IF 14. In the fax reception process, the fax reception data received via the fax IF 14 is printed on a sheet by the printer 13, transmitted to another external device via the communication IF 18, and further written to a USB memory.

When the user operates the icon 41B related to the copy function, the controller 11 executes the copy function using the printer 13 and the scanner 15. The copy function is a function that causes the printer 13 to print the scan data generated by the scanner 15 reading the document. When the user operates the icon 41C related to the scan function, the controller 11 executes the scan function using the scanner 15. The scan function is a function that transmits the scan data generated by the scanner 15 reading the document to, for example, a PC or a server via the communication IF 18, or a function that saves the data in a USB memory. The copy function executed by the printer 13 and the scanner 15, the scan function executed by the scanner 15, the fax transmission process executed by the FAX IF 14, and the fax reception process are examples of image formation processes. Before executing the functions corresponding to the icons 41A to 41C included in the home screen 40, the controller 11 can display a confirmation screen 66 (FIG. 5(c)) corresponding to the function to be executed as described below, to allow the user to confirm the current setting value and accept an operation to change the setting value. In this case, when the controller 11 detects the operation of the start button 68 included in the confirmation screen 66, it executes the function.

The icon display area 44 of the home screen 40 includes shortcut icons 90 and unregistered keys 42 to which other shortcut icons can be assigned. A shortcut icon is an image that associates a function of the MFP 10 with various setting values used by the function. The controller 11 can execute a registration process to store in the memory 12 shortcut information 20 that registers a function of the MFP 10 and a setting value used by the function, in association with a shortcut icon, in response to an instruction received via the user IF 16. When the user operates the shortcut icon 90, the controller 11 can execute the function and various settings of the MFP 10 associated with the operated shortcut icon 90, without a series of function selection operations and various setting operations. Hereinafter, associating a shortcut icon with a function of the MFP 10 and a setting value used by the function is also referred to as "shortcut registration."

Next, the process of additionally registering a shortcut icon 91 (described later) on the home screen 40 displayed on the MFP 10A will be described. Note that it is assumed that the shortcut icon 90 has already been registered on the home screen 40 prior to registering the shortcut icon 91.

When the user operates the tab 43C on the home screen 40 and performs a predetermined operation, such as a long press, on the unregistered key 42 included in the home screen 45 shown in FIG. 2(b) displayed on the user IF 16, the controller 11 temporarily stores a record in the volatile memory of the memory 12. The record includes each setting item of the Short Cut display name, Tab number, registration position number, function, initial value, and OneTouch, which are information corresponding to the function to be registered as a shortcut in the shortcut information 20 stored in the memory 12. Each piece of information included in the record corresponds to the record included in the shortcut information 20 shown in FIG. 3(a). The shortcut information 20 and the record will be described later. In addition, the controller 11 writes each value of the Tab number corresponding to the screen displayed on the user IF 16 and the registration position number corresponding to the unregistered key 42 operated on the displayed screen as the Tab number and the registration position number of the record.

3B, the memory 12 stores Tab information 30, which is screen information for identifying a screen displayed on the user IF 16 by the operation of the tab 43. The Tab number, which is a number for identifying the operated tab 43, and the name of the screen displayed by the operation of the tab 43 are registered in the Tab information 30. In the home screen 40 shown in FIG. 2A, the name "Basic1" is associated with the Tab number "1" corresponding to the tab 43A, and the name "Custom1" is associated with the Tab number "3" corresponding to the tab 43C. By referring to the Tab information 30, the controller 11 writes the Tab number "3" corresponding to the operated tab 43 into the temporarily stored record, and writes the registration position number "17" corresponding to the unregistered key 42 operated on the displayed screen into the temporarily stored record.

The controller 11 causes the user IF 16 to display the major category selection screen 50 shown in FIG. 2(c). The major category selection screen 50 is a screen that accepts a major category selection operation for roughly identifying the functions to be registered as shortcuts. The major category selection screen 50 shown in FIG. 2(c) includes a number of buttons 51 corresponding to the major categories, namely, a button 51A indicating a "copy function", a button 51B indicating a "fax function", a button 51C indicating a "scan function", a button 51D indicating a "network connection", and a button 51E indicating an "execute application".

When the controller 11 detects that any of the buttons 51 on the large category selection screen 50 has been operated, the controller 11 displays the small category selection screen 52 on the user IF 16. The small category selection screen 52 is a screen that accepts the designation of a small category to specify in more detail the function specified by the operation of the large category selection screen 50. In this example, when the user operates the button 51C indicating the "scan function" as a large category, the controller 11 displays the small category selection screen 52 shown in FIG. 2(d) on the user IF 16, which accepts the designation of the destination to save the scan data, which is a small category. The small category selection screen 52 includes multiple buttons 53A to 53E that indicate the destination to save the scan data, specifically, a button 53A that specifies a USB memory, a button 53B that specifies a PC, a button 53C that specifies an e-mail server, a button 53D that specifies an FTP server or SFTP server, and a button 53E that specifies a device connected on the network. In addition, by operating the scroll bar on subsection selection screen 52, buttons corresponding to subsections other than buttons 53A to 53E can be displayed.

When the user operates any of the buttons 53A-53E on the subcategory selection screen 52, the controller 11 writes the function specified by the category selected on each screen 50, 52 as a function in the temporarily stored record. Here, the function is information indicating the function to be registered as a shortcut. In this example, "Scanning" is selected on the main category selection screen 50, and "Save to E-mail Server" is selected on the subcategory selection screen 52, so the controller 11 writes "Scan to E-mail Server" as the function of the temporarily stored record, and writes the initial values of each setting item corresponding to the predetermined "Scan to E-mail Server" as the initial values. The controller 11 writes "OFF" as the value of OneTouch in the temporarily stored record.

"Temporary storage" refers to storing information before "registration" in a volatile area of memory 12 for working purposes. "Temporary storage" includes temporary storage of records and temporary storage of information separately from records. "Registration" refers to storing "temporarily stored" information in a non-volatile area of memory 12.

When the controller 11 has finished setting the function for which shortcut registration is to be performed, it causes the user IF 16 to display the initial value setting screen 55 shown in FIG. 2(e). The initial value setting screen 55 includes buttons 56A-56E corresponding to each setting item of the function indicated in the temporarily stored record. The screen illustrated in FIG. 2(e) includes buttons 56A-56E corresponding to the setting item for "Scan to Email Server."

The setting values used when executing a shortcut vary depending on the function registered as the shortcut. For example, if the function is related to copying, the setting values of the setting items "output size," "quality," and "color," as well as the setting items "number of copies" and "double-sided printing" are used. Also, for example, if the "function" is related to scanning, the setting values of the setting items "save destination," "read size," "output size," "quality," and "color," as well as the setting value of the setting item "scaling" are used. Here, since the function "Scan to E-mail Server" is a type of scanning function, the setting values of each of the items "Address," which is a type of "save destination," "read size," and "scan size," "File Size," which is a type of "output size," "Brightness," which indicates brightness and "Contrast," which indicates the strength of contrast, which are types of "quality," are used. In addition, the function "Scan to E-mail Server" uses the setting values of each item, "File Name" indicating the file name to be saved, "File Name Style" indicating the style of the file name, and "Skip Blank Page" indicating whether to exclude blank documents from the scan data to be saved. For the function "Scan to E-mail Server", the preset setting values are, for example, "Address" is blank, "Scan Size" is "A4", "Brightness" is "0", "File Name" is "mail", "Contrast" is "0", "File Name Style" is "Name_Counter", "File Size" is "Medium", and "Skip Blank Page" is "OFF".

When the controller 11 detects that a button 56 corresponding to a setting item that is not the target for text input, for example, any of buttons 56A, 56B, 56D, and 56E, has been operated on the initial value setting screen 55, the controller 11 causes the user IF 16 to display a detailed setting screen that accepts an operation to change the value corresponding to the target setting item from its initial value, in a manner indicating that an initial value has been set. For example, when any of buttons 56A or 56B corresponding to "brightness" or "contrast" is operated, the controller 11 causes a detailed setting screen for inputting a setting value of 0 to 10 to be displayed.

The input on each detailed setting screen may be by inputting a numerical value as described above, or by inputting a value selected by selecting an option. The controller 11 temporarily stores the value input on the detailed setting screen in volatile memory. When the controller 11 receives an operation indicating the end of input, it overwrites the initial value corresponding to the relevant setting item in the temporarily stored record with the value temporarily stored in the memory 12. Then, the display on the user IF 16 is returned to the initial value setting screen 55 shown in FIG. 2(e).

When the controller 11 detects that a button 56 corresponding to a setting item for which text is to be input, for example button 56C corresponding to the setting item "File Name", has been operated on the initial value setting screen 55, the controller 11 causes the user IF 16 to display a detailed setting screen for accepting an operation to change the setting value. When text that is a setting value is input via the detailed setting screen, the controller 11 overwrites the setting value temporarily stored in the memory 12 with the input text. The controller 11 then returns the display on the user IF 16 to the initial value setting screen 55 shown in FIG. 2(e).

When the controller 11 detects that the Confirm button 57 on the initial value setting screen 55 has been operated, the controller 11 displays the name setting screen 60 shown in FIG. 2(f) on the user IF 16. The name setting screen 60 is a screen that accepts a change operation to the value of the Short Cut display name in the temporarily stored record. In the display field 61 of the name setting screen 60, the Short Cut display name of the temporarily stored record is displayed in a form that indicates a predetermined value. In this embodiment, the value predetermined for the Short Cut display name is a character string that combines "Shortcut" and a number. In addition, the value predetermined for the Short Cut display name may be blank. The user can operate the input key 62 to input a change to the name displayed in the display field 61. When the user operates the Confirm button 57, the controller 11 rewrites the setting value indicated by the Short Cut display name of the temporarily stored record to the name input in the display field 61. The controller 11 then displays the mode setting screen 63 shown in FIG. 2(g).

2(g) is a screen that accepts a change operation to enable "ON" or disable "OFF" the one-touch shortcut indicated by OneTouch in the temporarily stored record. In the mode setting screen 63, the explanation display field 64 displays text indicating that the mode selection button 65 is operated when the one-touch shortcut is enabled. The mode selection button 65 is displayed in a manner indicating a value that is predetermined as OneTouch in the temporarily stored record. In this embodiment, the value that is predetermined as OneTouch is disabled "OFF". Each time the controller 11 detects that the mode selection button 65 has been operated once by the user, the controller 11 toggles between checked and unchecked mode selection button 65. When the user operates the confirm button 57, the controller 11 temporarily stores "ON" if the mode selection button 65 is checked, and "OFF" if the mode selection button 65 is unchecked, as the value of OneTouch.

The controller 11 registers the temporarily stored record value in the shortcut information 20 stored in the memory 12. The controller 11 displays the shortcut icon associated with the function "Scan to E-mail Server" on the home screen 40 at a position specified by the registration position number on the screen specified by the registered Tab number. Specifically, the home screen 45 shown in FIG. 2(h) is a screen displayed on the user IF 16 when the tab 43C specified by the Tab number "3" registered in the shortcut information 20 is operated among the screens constituting the home screen. A shortcut icon 91 for calling the shortcut-registered function "Scan to E-mail Server" is additionally displayed on the home screen 45 at a position specified by the registration position number "17". The shortcut icon 91 added to the home screen 40 displays "Short Cut 17" specified by the Short Cut display name included in the record associated with this shortcut icon 91 in the shortcut information 20.

Figure 3 (a) shows shortcut information 20 in a state where a record corresponding to the function "Scan to E-mail Server" has been registered. In shortcut information 20, the Short Cut display name, Tab number, registration position number, function, initial value, and OneTouch information correspond to the setting items of the record temporarily stored when the shortcut was registered as described above.

The shortcut information 20 is information in a database format, and records other than the Short Cut display names "Short Cut 13" and "Short Cut 17" may be registered. In this case, the records may be records registered at the time of manufacturing the MFP 10, or records registered by the vendor selling the MFP 10, the administrator of the MFP 10, or the administrator of the system including the MFP 10. In this embodiment, information that is predetermined at the time of designing the MFP 10 is written to the non-volatile area or the non-rewritable area of the memory 12 at the time of manufacturing the MFP 10. The predetermined information includes not only setting values but also passwords, which will be described later. The predetermined information may be information that can be rewritten by the vendor selling the MFP 10, the administrator of the MFP 10, or the administrator of the system including the MFP 10.

Next, the process executed by the controller 11 in response to an operation on a shortcut icon displayed on the user IF 16 of the MFP 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. When any icon on the home screens 40, 45 shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) is operated, the controller 11 executes the process shown in FIG. 4. First, it is assumed that the home screen 40 shown in FIG. 5(a) is displayed on the user IF 16. Note that the home screen 40 shown in FIG. 5(a) is the same screen as the home screen 40 shown in FIG. 2(a).

When a user performs some operation on the home screen 40 shown in FIG. 5(a), the controller 11 determines in step (hereinafter, step is also referred to as "S") 10 whether or not a long press of an icon has been detected. If the controller 11 does not detect a long press (S10: NO), the controller 11 proceeds to S20 and determines whether or not the operated icon is a shortcut icon.

When the controller 11 determines that a shortcut icon has not been operated (S20: NO), the process proceeds to S24, where it determines whether or not tab 43 has been operated on the home screen 40. When the controller 11 determines that tab 43 has been operated on the home screen (S24: YES), the process proceeds to S25, where it switches the home screen 40 to a screen corresponding to the operated tab 43. In this example, when tab 43C is operated on the home screen 40 shown in FIG. 5(a), the controller 11 switches the screen displayed on the user IF 16 to home screen 45 shown in FIG. 5(b).

When the controller 11 determines that the tab 43 has not been operated (S24: NO), the process in FIG. 4 ends. In this case, if an icon other than a shortcut icon or a tab has been operated, the controller 11 executes the process corresponding to the operated icon.

Next, assume that the user performs a normal operation, for example a short press, on the shortcut icon 91 on the switched home screen 45. Because the controller 11 does not detect a long press of the icon (S10: NO), the process proceeds to S20, where it detects an operation of the shortcut icon 91 (S20: YES), and proceeds to S21. In S21, the controller 11 causes the user IF 16 to display a confirmation screen 66 corresponding to the operated shortcut icon 91. Specifically, the controller 11 reads out a record corresponding to the operated shortcut icon 90 from the shortcut information 20 stored in the memory 12, and uses the read out record to display the confirmation screen 66 shown in FIG. 5(c).

The confirmation screen 66 shown in FIG. 5(c) has the same configuration as the initial value setting screen 55 shown in FIG. 2(e). In the confirmation screen 66, buttons 67A to 67E are the same as buttons 56A to 56E in the initial value setting screen 55. This allows the user to check the setting values to be used when executing a shortcut. Furthermore, if the user operates buttons 67A to 67E, a detailed setting screen for the corresponding setting item can be displayed, just as in the case of operating buttons 56A to 56E. When the controller 11 receives an input to change a setting value via the detailed setting screen, it temporarily stores the setting value according to the input.

When the controller 11 detects the operation of the start button 68 on the confirmation screen 66, the controller 11 executes the function "Scan to E-Mail Server" using each value of the temporarily stored record. Specifically, after the shortcut icon 91 is operated, the controller 11 displays the detailed setting screen by operating the confirmation screen 66, and executes the function using the changed setting value for the setting item for which an operation to change the setting value has been accepted. On the other hand, the controller 11 executes the function using the setting value temporarily stored when displaying the detailed setting screen for the setting item for which an operation to change the setting value has not been accepted even though the detailed setting screen has been displayed after the shortcut icon 91 has been operated, and executes the function using the initial value for the setting item for which the detailed setting screen has not been displayed after the shortcut icon has been operated. At this time, the controller 11 displays the execution screen 80 shown in FIG. 5(d) on the user IF 16 to show the user that the function registered as a shortcut is being executed. After executing the function, the controller 11 returns to displaying the home screen 45 shown in FIG. 5(b).

Next, the process of operating the shortcut icon 91 included in the home screen 45 shown in FIG. 6(a) to link the shortcut-registered function "Scan to E-mail Server" to the IC card 19 with card number "2000" will be described. The home screen 45 shown in FIG. 6(a) is the same screen as the home screen 45 shown in FIG. 5(b).

If the icon that was pressed and held is a shortcut icon (S11: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S12 and temporarily stores in the memory 12 the display screen setting "ShortCut", the registration position number of the operated shortcut icon 91, and the tab number corresponding to the home screen 45 on which the shortcut icon 91 is located. The display screen setting is a value registered in the linking information 31, which will be described later, and is information that specifies the screen mode displayed on the user IF 16 in response to the approach of the IC card 19 to the reading stand.

In S13, the controller 11 displays the edit menu screen 70 shown in FIG. 6B on the user IF 16. The edit menu screen 70 includes buttons 71A to 71E corresponding to various processes of the shortcut information 20. Of these, the button 71A is a button operated when receiving an instruction to change the Short Cut display name of the record corresponding to the target function "Scan to E-mail Server". The button 71B is a button operated when copying the record corresponding to the function "Scan to E-mail Server" to a USB memory (not shown). The button 101C is a button operated when receiving an instruction to delete the record corresponding to the function "Scan to E-mail Server". The button 71D is a button operated when registering a shortcut icon for the function "Scan to E-mail Server" on the IC card 19. The button 71E is a button operated when deleting the shortcut icon for the function "Scan to E-mail Server" registered on the IC card 19.

When the controller 11 detects that any of the buttons 71A, 71B, 71C, and 71E other than the button 71D has been operated (S17: NO), the controller 11 proceeds to S19 and executes processing according to the operated button 71. When the controller 11 ends the processing of S19, it ends the processing of FIG. 4 and returns the screen displayed on the user IF 16 to the home screen 45 shown in FIG. 6(a).

When the controller 11 detects that the button 71D has been operated on the edit menu screen 70 (S17: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S18 and executes a linking process for registering the operated shortcut icon 91 on the IC card 19. Figure 7 is a flowchart explaining the steps of the linking process executed in S18.

In S30, the controller 11 causes the user IF 16 to display the card touch standby screen 72 shown in FIG. 6(c). The card touch standby screen 72 includes an explanation display area 73 and a registration button 74. The explanation display area 73 displays an image that specifies the position of the reading stand where the IC card 19 is held over the MFP 10.

In S31, the controller 11 determines whether or not it has detected the approach of the IC card 19 to the reading stand. When the user holds the IC card 19 over the reading stand in accordance with the image displayed in the instruction display area 73, the wireless communication IF 17 detects the approach of the IC card 19. If the controller 11 does not detect the approach of the IC card 19 to the reading stand even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed (S31: NO), the controller 11 ends the process shown in FIG. 7. On the other hand, if the controller 11 detects the approach of the IC card 19 to the reading stand within the predetermined period of time (S31: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S32 and acquires the card number from the IC card 19 via the wireless communication IF 17.

In S33, the controller 11 displays the Card number acquired in S32 in the already displayed explanation display area 73 of the card touch standby screen 72. In the card touch standby screen 72 shown in FIG. 6(d), the Card number "2000" acquired in S32 is displayed in the explanation display area 73.

In S34, when the controller 11 detects that the registration button 74 has been operated (S34: YES), the process proceeds to S35. In S35, the controller 11 determines whether or not what was temporarily stored in the memory 12 in S12 is information about a shortcut icon. Specifically, if the display screen setting "ShortCut" was temporarily stored in S12 (S35: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S36. Note that if a predetermined period of time has passed without the registration button 74 being operated, the controller 11 ends the process of FIG. 7.

In S36, the controller 11 causes the user IF 16 to display the selection screen 75 shown in FIG. 6(e). The selection screen 75 includes, as display screen settings, a button 76A for specifying the shortcut "ShortCut" and a button 76B for specifying the tab "Tab". When the display screen setting is specified as "ShortCut", the corresponding confirmation screen 66 is displayed when the IC card 19 is held over the reading stand, just as when a shortcut icon is operated. On the other hand, when the display screen setting is specified as "Tab", the screen corresponding to the operated tab 43 of the home screen 40 is displayed when the IC card 19 is held over the reading stand, just as when the tab 43 is operated.

When the controller 11 detects that the button 76B has been operated on the selection screen 75 (S37: NO), it proceeds to S39 and links the Tab number temporarily stored in the memory 12 to the Card number of the IC card 19, registers the registration position number, and the display screen setting "Tab" specified by the operation on the selection screen 75 in the linking information 31. In this example, in the linking information 31 shown in FIG. 3(c), the Tab number "3", the registration position number "17", and the display screen setting "Tab" are registered in association with the Card number "2000" of the IC card 19.

On the other hand, when the controller 11 detects that the button 76A has been operated on the selection screen 75 (S37: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S38, and links the Tab number temporarily stored in the memory 12 to the Card number of the IC card 19, the registration position number, and the display screen setting "ShortCut" specified by the operation on the selection screen 75, and registers them in the linking information 31. When the controller 11 ends the process of S38 or S39, it ends the process of FIG. 4 and FIG. 7. Note that an embodiment may be adopted in which the controller 11 does not link the Tab number to the Card number and save it in S38. An embodiment may be adopted in which the controller 11 does not link the Tab number to the Card number and save it in S39.

Next, an example will be described in which a function related to a shortcut icon is linked to an IC card 19 with card number "3000" by pressing and holding tab 43 on the home screen 45. In FIG. 4, if what was pressed and held is not a shortcut icon (S11: NO) but tab 43 (S14: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S15 and temporarily stores in the memory 12 information "Tab" indicating that what was pressed is tab 43 and the tab number of the pressed tab 43.

In S16, the controller 11 displays an edit menu screen on the user IF 16. The edit menu screen displayed in S16 is the same as the edit menu screen displayed in S13, but the difference is that the object to be edited is the tab 43. When the controller 11 detects that the button 71D has been operated on the edit menu screen (S17: YES), the process proceeds to S18 and executes the linking process. In the linking process shown in FIG. 7, the controller 11 displays the card touch standby screen 72, and when the IC card 19 with the card number "3000" is detected (S30 to S33), the process proceeds to S34. When the controller 11 detects that the register button 74 has been operated on the card touch standby screen 72 (S34: YES), the process proceeds to S35. In S35, if the controller 11 has temporarily stored the display screen setting "Tab" in S15 (S35: NO), the process proceeds to S39 without displaying the selection screen 75.

In S39, the controller 11 registers the Tab number "3" and the display screen setting "Tab" in the linking information 31 in association with the Card number "3000" of the IC card 19. When the controller 11 ends the process of S39, it ends the processes of FIG. 4 and FIG. 7. Note that in this example, since the controller 11 does not temporarily store the registration position number in S15, the controller 11 does not register the registration position number in the linking information 31 in S39. In addition, an embodiment may be adopted in which the controller 11 acquires all the registration position numbers in which shortcut icons are arranged on the home screen 45 corresponding to the Tab number to be registered in the linking information 31 in S15, and registers the acquired registration position numbers in the linking information 31. In addition, an embodiment may be adopted in which the controller 11 selects and registers one of the registration position numbers, rather than registering all the registration position numbers.

If the home screen corresponding to the Tab number registered in S38 and S39 is a home screen that is set not to be displayed unless the user logs in using user information, the controller 11 acquires the user information and also registers the acquired user information in the linking information 31. User information is information that identifies a user. For example, in the linking information 31 shown in FIG. 3(c), Tab number "4" and user information "User1" are registered in association with Card number "3001". Note that the controller 11 may acquire the user information from the setting information stored in the memory 12, or may acquire it by an input operation via the user IF 16.

Next, the process executed by the controller 11 of the MFP 10 when the IC card 19 is brought close to the reading stand of the MFP 10 after the shortcut icon for the function "Scan to E-mail Server" has been registered on the IC card 19 will be described. Prior to the execution of the process shown in FIG. 8, the home screen 40 shown in FIG. 9(a) is displayed on the user IF 16 of the MFP 10. FIG. 9(a) is a page corresponding to the tab "Basic1" on the home screen 40, and is the same screen as the page corresponding to the tab "Basic1" shown in FIG. 2(a).

First, an example will be described in which an IC card 19 with card number "1000" registered in the linking information 31 is held over a reading stand. If the wireless communication IF 17 detects the approach of the IC card 19 in S40 (S40: YES), the controller 11 acquires the card number from the IC card 19 in S41. In this example, the card number of the IC card 19 acquired in S41 is "1000".

In S42, the controller 11 determines whether the card number acquired in S41 is registered in the linked information 31. Because card number "1000" is registered in the linked information 31 (S42: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S43 and determines whether user information linked to the card number is registered in the linked information 31. Here, because user information linked to card number "1000" is not registered in the linked information 31 (S43: NO), the controller 11 proceeds to S45 and refers to the display screen setting registered in the linked information 31 linked to card number "1000".

Because the display screen setting registered in the linking information 31 is "ShortCut" (S46: NO), the controller 11 proceeds to S48 and switches the screen display of the home screen according to the registration position number registered in the linking information 31. In this case, the registration position number linked to the card number "1000" in the linking information 31 is "4", so the controller 11 reads out the record corresponding to the registration position number "4" from the shortcut information 20. The controller 11 then refers to the read out record and displays the confirmation screen 66 shown in FIG. 9(b). The confirmation screen 66 shown in FIG. 9(b) is the same as the confirmation screen 66 shown in FIG. 5(c), and the user can operate the start button 68 to execute the selected function "Scan To Email Server".

In S49, it is determined whether or not a logged-in user is already present. Here, since there is no logged-in user (S49: NO), the controller 11 ends the processing in FIG. 8. When the controller 11 detects operation of the start button 68 on the confirmation screen 66 shown in FIG. 9(b), it causes the user IF 16 to display the execution screen 80 shown in FIG. 9(d), and executes the selected function "Scan To Email Server." When execution of the function "Scan to E-mail Server" is completed, the controller 11 causes the home screen 40 shown in FIG. 9(a) to be displayed.

Next, an example will be described in which the IC card 19, which has the card number "2000" registered in the linking information 31, is held over the reading platform. In S41, the controller 11 acquires the card number from the IC card 19. In this example, the card number of the IC card 19 acquired in S41 is "2000". Since the card number "2000" is registered in the linking information 31 (S42: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S43. Since no user information is registered in the linking information 31 linked to the card number "2000" (S43: NO), the controller 11 proceeds to S45, where the controller 11 refers to the display screen setting registered in the linking information 31 linked to the card number "2000".

Since the display screen setting registered in the linking information 31 is "Tab" (S46: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S47 and switches the home screen display according to the Tab number. In this case, since the Tab number associated with the Card number "2000" in the linking information 31 is "3," the controller 11 switches the display of the home screen 40 to screen 45 corresponding to "Custom 1" specified by tab 43C, as shown in FIG. 9(c).

In S49, it is determined that there is no logged-in user (S49: NO), and the controller 11 ends the process of FIG. 8. When the shortcut icon 91 is operated on the screen 45 shown in FIG. 9(b), the controller 11 displays a confirmation screen 66 similar to that shown in FIG. 9(b). When the controller 11 detects an operation of the start button 68 on the confirmation screen 66, it displays an execution screen 80 similar to that shown in FIG. 9(d) on the user IF 16, and executes the selected function "Scan To Email Server". When execution of the function "Scan to E-mail Server" is completed, the controller 11 displays the home screen 45 for Custom1 shown in FIG. 9(c).

Next, an example will be described in which an IC card 19 with card number "3001" registered in the linking information 31 is held over a reading stand. The IC card 19 with card number "3001" is a card with tab number, display screen settings, and user information linked in the linking information 31, but not with a registration position number.

Since the card number "3001" is registered in the linking information 31 (S42: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S43. Since the user information "User1" is registered in the linking information 31 in association with the card number "3001" (S43: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S44 and performs user authentication. Specifically, the controller 11 reads a password from the setting information stored in the memory 12 using the user information registered in the linking information 31, and performs user authentication using this password. If the user authentication is successful, the controller 11 permits login and proceeds to S45. If the user authentication is not successful, the controller 11 does not permit login and ends the process of FIG. 8. In this case, an error may be displayed on the user IF 16. If a password is registered in the linking information 31 together with the user information in the above-mentioned S38 and S39, the controller 11 may perform user authentication using this password. Furthermore, in S44, the controller 11 may accept a password through an input operation via the user IF 16, and perform user authentication using the accepted password.

The process proceeds to S45, and since the display screen setting registered in the linking information 31 is "Tab" (S46: YES), the controller 11 proceeds to S47 and switches the home screen display according to the Tab number. In this case, since the Tab number linked to Card number "3001" in the linking information 31 is "4", the controller 11 switches the home screen to the home screen corresponding to "Custom2" specified by tab 43D. The home screen corresponding to "Custom2" is the same as the screen shown in FIG. 10(c) described below.

Because the user authentication in S44 indicates that a logged-in user exists (S49: YES), the controller 11 displays the logged-in user "User1" in the user display field 46 on the home screen in S50. The controller 11 ends the processing in FIG. 8. The user display field 46 is a field on the home screen that displays the logged-in user.

The above-described embodiment can provide the following advantages.
When the controller 11 detects the IC card 19 approaching the reading stand by the wireless communication IF 17, the controller 11 causes the user IF 16 to display the home screen. In response to an operation on a shortcut icon arranged on the home screen, the controller 11 causes an image forming process of a type indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut icon to be executed using a setting value indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut icon. As a result, if the user arranges a shortcut icon as one of the icons arranged on any one of the home screens, the user can display a screen associated with the IC card 19 and operate the shortcut icon included in the screen simply by bringing the IC card 19 close to the wireless communication IF 17. As a result, the user does not need to know the position of each shortcut in advance, and the operational load when selecting a shortcut icon can be reduced.

When the wireless communication IF 17 detects the proximity of the IC card 19, the controller 11 acquires the card number of the IC card 19 via the wireless communication IF 17, identifies shortcut information registered in the memory 12 in association with the acquired card number, and causes the user IF 16 to display a confirmation screen 66 indicating the setting values included in the identified shortcut information. When the controller 11 receives an execution instruction for the confirmation screen 66 via the user IF 16, it executes image formation processing according to the setting values. This allows the user to display the confirmation screen instead of the screen associated with the IC card 19 by bringing the IC card 19 into proximity, thereby reducing the operational burden when selecting a shortcut icon.

After a long press of a shortcut icon is performed, the controller 11, in response to the wireless communication IF 17 detecting the approach of the IC card 19, associates shortcut information indicating the shortcut icon that was long pressed with the card number of the IC card 19 and stores them in the memory 12. When the wireless communication IF 17 detects the approach of the IC card 19, the controller 11 displays a home screen on which the shortcut icon indicated by the shortcut information associated with the detected card number of the IC card 19 is arranged as a screen associated with the IC card 19. In this way, by associating the shortcut information with the card number of the IC card 19, it is possible to display a screen on the home screen on which a specific shortcut icon is arranged by bringing the IC card into proximity.

When the wireless communication IF 17 detects the approach of the IC card 19, the controller 11 acquires the Card number of the IC card 19 via the wireless communication IF 17, identifies the Tab number stored in the memory 12 in association with the acquired Card number, and displays on the user IF 16 the screen indicated by the identified Tab number among the multiple screens constituting the home screen as a screen associated with the IC card 19. This allows a specific screen to be displayed among the multiple screens constituting the home screen by holding up the IC card 19, allowing for flexibility in the user's subsequent operability.

After a specific operation is performed on a shortcut icon arranged on the home screen, the controller 11, in response to the wireless communication IF 17 detecting the approach of the IC card 19, stores in memory a Tab number indicating the screen on which the shortcut icon on which the specific operation was performed is arranged, in association with the Card number of the IC card 19. This allows the user to improve operability by storing the Tab number and Card number in association with the operation on the shortcut icon.

After a predetermined operation is performed on a tab 43 arranged on the home screen, the controller 11, in response to the wireless communication IF 17 detecting the approach of the IC card 19, associates Tab information indicating the screen corresponding to the tab 43 on which the predetermined operation was performed with Card information of the IC card 19 and stores them in memory. This allows the user to improve operability by storing Tab information and Card information in association with the operation on the tab 43 arranged on the screen.

(Modification of the first embodiment)
In the above embodiment, when the IC card 19 on which user information is registered is held over the reading stand once, user authentication related to the login process is performed in S44, and the home screen display is switched over in S47 or S48. Alternatively, user authentication and home screen display may be switched over every time the IC card 19 is held over.

Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating how the home screen display changes when an IC card 19 with card number "3001" is held over the MFP 10 as a modified example. In this example, the home screen 40 shown in Figure 10(a) does not display user information in the user display field 46 because no login has been entered.

In this case, after the user holds the IC card 19 with card number "3001" over the reader, the controller 11 determines that the user information has been registered in S43 of FIG. 8 (S43: YES) and performs login processing in S44. As a result, the controller 11 causes the user IF 16 to display the home screen 40 of FIG. 10(b). In this home screen 40, the user information "USER1" linked to the card number "3001" in the linking information 31 is displayed in the user display field 46.

Next, when the user holds the IC card 19 with card number "3001" over the reader again, the controller 11 proceeds to S45 in FIG. 8 and checks the display screen setting registered in the linking information 31. In this example, the display screen setting "Tab" is linked to the card number "3001" in the linking information 31. Therefore, in S47, the controller 11 displays the home screen 45 (FIG. 10(c)) corresponding to tab 43D. Note that in the screen 45, the user display field 46 displays the user information "USER1" indicating the currently logged-in user information.

Other Embodiments
The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the following modifications are also possible.
In the above embodiment, the mobile device has been described as an example of the IC card 19. Alternatively, the mobile device may be a portable terminal such as a smartphone.

The use of an MFP as an example of an image forming device is just one example, and the image forming device may be a device that only has a single function such as a printing operation or a scanning operation.

11...Controller, 12...Memory, 13...Printer, 14...FAXIF, 15...Scanner, 20...Shortcut information, 40, 45...Home screen, 90, 91...Shortcut icon

Claims (8)

A user interface;
A wireless communication interface;
Memory,
An image forming unit;
A controller and an image forming apparatus comprising:
the wireless communication interface is capable of detecting a mobile device approaching the image forming apparatus;
The controller:
a home screen display process is executed to select one of the home screens and display it on the user interface, the home screen being configured with a plurality of screens, and a plurality of icons can be arranged on each of the plurality of screens;
The image forming unit is capable of executing an image forming process by using setting values corresponding to each of a plurality of setting items,
a registration process for registering shortcut information indicating the type of the image forming process and the setting value used in the image forming process in association with a shortcut icon in the memory in response to an instruction received via the user interface;
an arrangement process of arranging the shortcut icon as one of the icons to be arranged on any one of the home screens in response to an instruction received via the user interface;
a shortcut execution process for causing the image forming unit to execute an image forming process of a type indicated in shortcut information associated with the shortcut icon by using a setting value indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut icon in response to an operation on the shortcut icon;
a related screen display process for displaying, on the user interface, a screen associated with the mobile device and on which the shortcut icon is arranged, among a plurality of screens constituting the home screen, when the wireless communication interface detects the mobile device approaching the image forming apparatus;
It is possible to execute
In the shortcut execution process, the image forming device is configured to cause the image forming unit to execute an image formation process of the type indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut icon, using setting values indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut icon, in response to an operation on the shortcut icon placed on the screen displayed on the user interface by the related screen display process. The controller:
The shortcut information and identification information of the mobile device can be stored in the memory in association with each other,
The controller:
When the wireless communication interface detects the proximity of the mobile device, it is possible to acquire identification information of the mobile device via the wireless communication interface, identify shortcut information registered in the memory in correspondence with the acquired identification information, and display on the user interface a setting screen showing setting values of the image forming process included in the identified shortcut information,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when an execution instruction for said setting screen is accepted via said user interface, image forming processing is executed in accordance with a setting value. The controller:
after a predetermined operation is performed on the shortcut icon arranged on the screen displayed in the home screen display process, in response to detection by the wireless communication interface of the approach of the mobile device, shortcut information indicating the shortcut icon on which the predetermined operation is performed is associated with identification information of the mobile device and stored in the memory;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the associated screen display process, when the wireless communication interface detects the approach of the mobile device, the home screen on which a shortcut icon indicated by the shortcut information associated with the identification information of the detected mobile device is arranged is displayed as a screen associated with the mobile device. The controller:
Screen information indicating any one of a plurality of screens constituting the home screen can be associated with identification information of the mobile device and stored in a memory;
In the related screen display process,
when the wireless communication interface detects the approach of the mobile device, acquires identification information of the mobile device via the wireless communication interface, identifies the screen information stored in the memory in association with the acquired identification information, and displays, on the user interface, a screen indicated by the identified screen information among a plurality of screens constituting the home screen, as a screen associated with the mobile device.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured as follows. The controller:
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a step of: storing in a memory, in association with the identification information of the mobile device, the screen information indicating the screen on which the shortcut icon on which the predetermined operation has been performed is located, in response to detection by the wireless communication interface of the approach of the mobile device after a predetermined operation has been performed on the shortcut icon arranged on the screen displayed in the home screen display process, in association with the identification information of the mobile device. The controller:
In the home screen display process, it is possible to arrange, on a screen to be displayed, screen corresponding images corresponding to each of a plurality of screens constituting the home screen;
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a display unit configured to display, in a display unit, a display screen corresponding to the ... The controller:
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, in the related screen display process, if a screen indicated by the specified screen information among a plurality of screens constituting the home screen is a screen that requires user authentication, user authentication is performed using user authentication information, and then the screen indicated by the specified screen information is displayed on the user interface. The controller:
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, configured to, after a predetermined operation is performed on the screen requiring user authentication displayed in the related screen display process, in response to detection of the approach of the mobile device by the wireless communication interface, store in the memory in association with screen information indicating the screen on which the predetermined operation was performed, identification information of the mobile device, and user authentication information.

Images