JP5268812B2 - Computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lock each of a plurality of setting items and allow a user to release the lock through an easy operation. <P>SOLUTION: A computer 15 executes a driver program 14 to achieve processing units 31-34. Based on lock setting data 22c, a setting change processing unit 33 determines whether to prohibit changing the value of each setting item. A display control unit 31 causes a lock release button to be displayed only on a tab screen containing setting items whose values are prohibited from being changed by the lock setting data. If authentication is successful when a user operates the lock release button, the display control unit 31 temporarily hides the unlocking button on all the tab screens. The setting change processing unit 33 temporarily permits to change the values of the setting items locked by the lock setting data 22c, without changing the lock setting data 22c. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a computer program.

  Some computer programs such as a printer driver implement a graphical user interface (hereinafter referred to as GUI) and perform various settings in accordance with user operations. Some of such GUIs have a lock setting function that allows only an administrator to change the setting (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In the first technique described in Patent Document 1, a lock file is created when the use of a function is restricted only to an administrator, and the lock file is deleted when the restriction is released. In the second technique described in Patent Document 2, an icon indicating a lock state is displayed for each setting item. When the lock state is set, the icon is operated to unlock the setting item. be able to.

JP 2003-216374 A JP 2004-192219 A

  In the first technique described above, it is difficult to lock each setting item.

  On the other hand, in the above-described second technique, locking can be performed for each setting item. However, when the user inputs values for a plurality of setting items, in order to release the lock for those setting items, those settings are set. It is necessary to perform the unlocking operation as many times as the number of items, and the user's operation becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to obtain a computer program that can be locked for each setting item and that can simplify the operation when the user performs unlocking. Objective.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

A computer program according to the present invention comprises a computer in the terminal device, (a) associated with a plurality of setting items in the printing function of the peripheral device of the terminal device, the icon image corresponding to the current value of the plurality of setting items each An icon display processing unit for displaying a plurality of icons on one tab screen of a predetermined display device; (b) a predetermined user operation on any one of the plurality of icons displayed on the one tab screen described above ; The operation detection unit to be detected, ( c ) lock setting data for specifying a setting item whose value is prohibited to be changed, and the setting item associated with the icon with the predetermined operation detected by the operation detection unit icon when the change value is not prohibited, and change the value of the setting items associated with the icon to a different value, for which the predetermined operation If the change of the value of the setting item associated is prohibited, the setting change processing unit that does not change the value of the setting items associated with the icon to a different value, according to the setting change processing unit (d) In accordance with the change of the value of the setting item, the icon image of the icon itself that has been subjected to the predetermined operation displayed on the one tab screen is changed from the icon image corresponding to the value of the setting item before the change. An icon image switching processing unit for switching to an icon image corresponding to the value of the setting item; (e) graying out only the icon image corresponding to the value of the setting item whose change is prohibited by the lock setting data; If at least one grayed out icon image is displayed on the screen, the lock release button to temporarily unblock change value for that one tab screen Display control unit that presents, and (f) to function as a control unit for controlling the peripheral device based on the value of the setting item. Then, the display control unit, and is temporarily hide the lock release button definitive one of the tab screen upon successful authentication performed with the user operation, the setting change processing unit for lock release button, If the authentication performed in response to the user's operation on the unlock button is successful, the lock setting data is not changed temporarily, and any setting item whose value change is prohibited in the lock setting data is temporarily performed. The value of the setting item can be changed to another value, and the grayed-out icon image is switched to the icon image when the value change is permitted . Furthermore, one of a plurality of setting items of a plurality of icons is a color mode, and the value of the color mode includes monochrome and color, and an icon image corresponding to “color” is drawn using a plurality of colors. The icon image corresponding to “monochrome” is drawn in black and white.

  Thereby, in the lock setting function for prohibiting the change of the value by a user who does not have a predetermined user authority (for example, an administrator), it is possible to lock for each setting item, and an operation when the user performs unlocking Can be easy.

The computer program according to the present invention, in addition to the above computer program, may be as follows. In this case, the display control unit performs the above-described one only during a period from when the user is determined to be a specific user through user authentication performed in accordance with the user operation on the unlock button until the computer program ends. the lock release button definitive on the tab screen to hide, setting change processing unit, from the time the user by the user authentication performed with the user operation on the lock release button is determined to be a specific user, the computer program For any setting item whose value is prohibited from being changed in the lock setting data only during the period until the end, the value of the setting item can be changed to another value by operating the setting item input unit.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while being able to lock separately for every setting item, operation at the time of a user releasing lock can be simplified.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the terminal device in which the driver program which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention was installed. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the terminal device in which the driver program which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention was installed. It is a figure which shows the example of the several icon displayed in the terminal device of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the some icon image used for the icon of a paper orientation setting in FIG. 3 (A) or FIG. 3 (B), and their display order. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of icon images used for the copy printing setting icon in FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B and their display order. It is a figure which shows the example of the some icon image used for the icon of the page aggregation setting in FIG. 3 (A) or FIG. 3 (B), and their display order. It is a figure which shows an example of another tab screen displayed on the window 41 in FIG. 3 in the state before unlocking. It is a figure which shows an example of another tab screen displayed on the window 41 in FIG. 3 in the state after unlocking. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an administrator setting window according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lock setting window according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminal device in which a driver program according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is installed. The terminal device 1 is, for example, a personal computer. The image forming apparatus 2 is connected to the terminal device 1 via a predetermined communication path (peripheral device interface cable, computer network, etc.). The image forming apparatus 2 is an apparatus having at least one of a printing function, an image reading function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function.

  The terminal device 1 includes an input device 11, a display device 12, a communication device 13, a data storage device 14, and a computer 15.

  The input device 11 is a device that detects a user operation and outputs it as an electrical signal. As the input device 11, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, or the like is used.

  The display device 12 is a device that receives an electrical signal and displays an image corresponding to the electrical signal on a screen. A liquid crystal display or the like is used as the display device 12.

  The communication device 13 is a device that performs data communication with peripheral devices such as the image forming apparatus 2 via a predetermined communication path. As the communication device 13, a peripheral device interface, a network interface card, or the like is used.

  The data storage device 14 is a device that stores data and programs. In the first embodiment, the data storage device 14 stores a driver program 21, setting information 22 including values of a plurality of setting items, and icon image data 23. As the data storage device 14, a hard disk driver, a nonvolatile memory, or the like is used. The icon image data 23 is image data of a plurality of icon images, and the icon image is an image including text and / or an illustration.

  The setting information 22 includes profile data 22a, a profile correspondence list 22b, and lock setting data 22c.

  The profile data 22a includes one or a plurality of profiles. Each profile is given a name, and describes one or more setting items and the value of each setting item.

  The profile correspondence list 22b includes application identification information (file path, program name, etc.) and profile identification information (profile name, etc.) associated with the application. The profile is described in the profile data 22a.

  The lock setting data 22c is data indicating a specified lock setting state. The lock setting includes (a) a state in which all users can change the value of the setting item, (b) a state in which all users cannot change the value of the setting item, and (c) a predetermined part of specific users. Only the user can change the value of the setting item, and other users are designated as one of three states in which the value of the setting item cannot be changed. A plurality of different lock setting data 22c may be provided for each profile, or a plurality of different lock setting data 22c may be provided for each application. Furthermore, the lock setting data includes restriction release information indicating whether or not only a specific user is allowed to change the value of a setting item whose value change is prohibited. For example, the restriction release information indicates that only the administrator is allowed to change the value. Alternatively, the restriction release information indicates that only a user belonging to a specific user group is allowed to change the value.

  The computer 15 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. (not shown), loads various programs into the RAM, and executes them by the CPU, thereby realizing various processing units. It is a device to do. By executing the driver program 21 on the computer 15, a display processing unit 31, a click detection unit 32, a setting change processing unit 33, and a control unit 34 are realized. The driver program 21 is an example of a computer program.

  The display processing unit 31 causes the display device 12 to display a tab screen selected by the user from among a plurality of tab screens each including a setting item input unit, and changes a value by lock setting data among the plurality of tab screens. This is a processing unit that displays an unlock button for temporarily canceling prohibition of value change only on a tab screen that includes at least one setting item that is prohibited. The display control unit 31 temporarily hides the unlock button on any tab screen when it is determined that the user is a specific user by user authentication performed in accordance with the user operation on the unlock button. . For example, the setting item input unit includes at least one of an icon that changes the value of the setting item each time it is operated, a value input field, and one or more radio buttons. The display processing unit 31 grays out the input unit of the setting item whose value is prohibited from being changed. In addition, the display processing unit 31 displays an icon on the display device 12 and changes the icon image of the icon displayed on the display device 12 before the change according to the change of the setting item value by the setting change processing unit 33. The icon image corresponding to the setting item value is switched to the icon image corresponding to the changed setting item value.

  The click detection unit 32 is a processing unit that detects a click operation on an icon displayed on the display device 12.

  When one click operation is detected by the click detection unit 32, the setting change processing unit 33 is a processing unit that changes the value of the setting item associated with the icon with the operation to another value. The setting change processing unit 33 is temporarily prohibited from changing the value in the lock setting data without changing the lock setting data 22c when the authentication performed in accordance with the user operation on the unlock button is successful. For any setting item, the value of the setting item can be changed to another value by operating the setting item input unit.

  The control unit 34 is a processing unit that controls the image forming apparatus 2 based on the value of the setting item.

  Next, the operation of the above apparatus will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the terminal device 1 in which the driver program according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed.

  First, when the initial screen of the icon menu is displayed, the display processing unit 31 specifies an application that has activated this driver program (step S1), and is associated with the application by referring to the profile correspondence list 22b. The profile data 22a of the profile is read from the data storage device 14, and the current values set in a plurality of predetermined setting items in the profile are specified (step S2).

  Further, the display processing unit 31 reads the lock setting data 22c and determines whether or not the change of the value of the setting item included in the profile is prohibited (step S3). Furthermore, the display processing unit 31 specifies the user who is executing the application, refers to the restriction release information, and whether the user executing the application corresponds to the specific user registered in the restriction release information. Determine whether or not. For example, the setting change processing unit 33 inquires the user who is executing the application to the operating system, and identifies the user from the response.

  Then, the display processing unit 31 reads the icon image data 23 of the icon image corresponding to the current value for each of the plurality of setting items from the data storage device 14 (step S4), and for each of the plurality of setting items. A plurality of icons each having an icon image corresponding to the current value is displayed on the display device 12 (step S5). Thereby, the icon menu is displayed on the tab screen. Thus, since the icon of the icon image corresponding to the current value set in the setting item is displayed, the user can immediately recognize the value currently set for the setting item. The icon image to be displayed is not limited to the one corresponding to the setting items included in the profile, and one corresponding to a plurality of preset setting items is displayed. At this time, the value of the setting item not included in the profile is regarded as a predetermined default value, and an icon image corresponding to the value is selected.

  In step S4, for the setting item whose value change is prohibited, the icon image data 23 of the grayed-out icon image corresponding to the current value of the setting item is read. On the other hand, if the change of the value of the setting item is not prohibited, for example, the icon image data 23 of the color icon image is read in step S4. That is, the icon image data 23 of different icon images is read depending on whether the change of the value is prohibited or not. However, if the user executing the application corresponds to a specific user registered in the restriction release information, even for setting items whose values are prohibited to be changed, changing the values of the setting items is prohibited The icon image data 23 of the icon image when it has not been read is read out.

  Further, the display processing unit 31 determines whether or not there is an icon for a setting item whose value is prohibited from being changed (that is, a grayed-out icon) among the icons displayed on the tab screen. If an icon of a setting item whose value change is prohibited is displayed (step S6), an unlock button is displayed on the tab screen (step S7). The lock release button is a button operated to temporarily release the value change prohibition (that is, lock) for all setting items for which the value change is prohibited.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of icons displayed on the terminal device 1 of FIG. The icon menu shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on one tab screen 51 in a certain window 41. This icon menu includes four icons 52-55. The icon 52 is a paper orientation setting icon, the icon 53 is a copy-by-unit printing setting icon, the icon 54 is a page aggregation setting icon, and the icon 55 is a color mode setting icon. When the change of the value of the setting item corresponding to the icons 52 to 55 is not prohibited, as shown in FIG. 3A, all the icons 52 to 55 are not grayed out. On the other hand, when the change of the value of the setting item corresponding to the icons 52 to 54 is not prohibited and the change of the value of the setting item corresponding to the icon 55 is prohibited, as shown in FIG. In addition, the icons 52 to 54 are not grayed out, and the icon 55 is grayed out. Furthermore, when the change of the value of the setting item corresponding to at least one of the icons 52 to 55 displayed on the tab screen 51 is prohibited, as shown in FIG. The tab screen 51 is displayed.

  As the paper orientation setting values, there are “portrait” and “landscape”, and icon image data 23 corresponding to “portrait” and icon image data 23 corresponding to “landscape” are stored as data. It is stored in the device 14. One of these icon images is selected according to the current value of the paper orientation setting and used for the icon 52. In the icon menu shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, an icon image corresponding to “portrait” is used for the icon 52.

  The value of the set printing setting includes “sort” and “collate”. The icon image data 23 of the icon image corresponding to “sort” and the icon image data 23 of the icon image corresponding to “collate” are stored in the data storage device. 14. One of the icon images is selected according to the current value of the copy printing setting and used for the icon 53. In the icon menu shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, an icon image corresponding to “sort” is used for the icon 53.

  The value of the page aggregation setting includes “no aggregation”, “2UP”, and “4UP”, the icon image data 23 of the icon image corresponding to “no aggregation”, and the icon image data of the icon image corresponding to “2UP”. 23 and icon image data 23 of icon images corresponding to “4UP” are stored in the data storage device 14. One of the icon images is selected according to the current value of the page aggregation setting and used for the icon 54. In the icon menu shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, an icon image corresponding to “no aggregation” is used for the icon 54.

  The color mode setting value includes “color” and “monochrome”. The icon image data 23 of the icon image corresponding to “color” and the icon image data 23 of the icon image corresponding to “monochrome” are stored in the data storage device. 14. One of these icon images is selected according to the current value of the color mode setting and used for the icon 55. In the icon menu shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, an icon image corresponding to “color” is used for the icon 55. Note that the icon 55 in the icon menu shown in FIG. 3A is drawn in black and white, but is actually an icon image using a plurality of colors. Therefore, the user can immediately recognize that “color” is set as the color mode setting value.

  Thus, after the tab screen including the icon menu is displayed, it is monitored whether or not a predetermined operation by the user has been performed (steps S8 to S11). When switching the displayed tab screen to another tab screen, another tab is clicked. In order to release the lock, the lock release button 56 is clicked. When changing the value of the setting item using the icon menu, the icons 52 to 55 are clicked. When this program is terminated (that is, when the window 41 is closed), the OK button in the window 41 is clicked.

  Thereafter, when the user operates the input device 11 and performs a click operation on any of the icons 52 to 55, the click detection unit 32 detects the operation based on a signal from the input device 11 ( Step S10).

  When the click operation is detected by the click detection unit 32, the setting change processing unit 33 determines whether or not the change of the value of the setting item associated with the clicked icon is prohibited (step S12). Furthermore, the setting change processing unit 33 identifies the user who is executing the application, refers to the restriction release information, and the user executing the application corresponds to the specific user registered in the restriction release information. It is determined whether or not. For example, the setting change processing unit 33 inquires the user who is executing the application to the operating system, and identifies the user from the response.

The setting change processing unit 33 is forbidden to change the value of the setting item associated with the clicked icon, and the user executing the application corresponds to a specific user registered in the restriction release information If it is determined not to do so, the processing for the click operation is terminated without changing the value of the setting item. For example, when a user other than the specific user executes the application and clicks the grayed out icon 55 in the icon menu shown in FIG. 3B, the value of the setting item of the icon 55 is not changed. .

  On the other hand, when the setting change processing unit 33 determines that the change of the value of the setting item associated with the clicked icon is not prohibited, the setting change processing unit 33 changes the value of the setting item associated with the clicked icon. Is prohibited, but if the user executing the application determines that it falls under the specific user registered in the restriction release information, the value of the setting item associated with the clicked icon is changed. (Step S13). For example, when the icon 52 shown in FIG. 3A or 3B is clicked, the paper orientation setting value associated with the icon 52 is changed from “portrait” to “landscape”. Therefore, the user can select another value only by a click operation without performing an operation of selecting a desired value from a list of a plurality of values of setting items.

  When the click operation is detected by the click detection unit 32, the display processing unit 31 changes the icon image of the icon with the operation before the change according to the change of the setting item value by the setting change processing unit 33. The icon image corresponding to the setting item value is switched to the icon image corresponding to the changed setting item value (step S14). For example, when the icon 52 shown in FIG. 3A or 3B is clicked, the paper orientation setting value associated with the icon 52 is changed from “portrait” to “landscape”. The icon image of the icon 52 is changed from the “portrait” icon image to the “landscape” icon image.

  In this way, when a click operation on a certain icon is detected, if the change of the value is not prohibited by the lock setting data 22c, the value of the setting item corresponding to that icon is changed, and accordingly the icon The image is also changed.

  In the first embodiment, the order of setting item values to be changed by detecting a click operation is preset. In the first embodiment, each time a predetermined operation on a certain icon is detected, the value of the setting item is changed according to a predetermined order, and after the last value in the predetermined order, Return to the first value in a given order.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of icon images used for the paper orientation setting icon 52 in FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B and their display order. If the order of “Portrait” and “Landscape” is set for the paper orientation setting value, the paper orientation setting values are “Portrait”, “Landscape”, “Portrait”, “Landscape”, etc.・ Changed in the order. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the icon image of the icon 52 includes a “portrait” icon image 52a, a “landscape” icon image 52b, a “portrait” icon image 52a, and a “landscape” icon image 52b. ,... Are switched in this order.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a plurality of icon images used for the copy printing icon 53 in FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B and their display order. When the order of “sort” and “collate” is set for the set value of the copy unit, the set value of the copy unit is set in the order of “sort”, “collate”, “sort”, “collate”,. Will be changed. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, the icon image of the icon 53 includes a “sort” icon image 53a, a “collate” icon image 53b, a “sort” icon image 53a, a “collate” icon image 53b,. · · · Can be switched in the order.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of icon images used for the page aggregation setting icon 54 in FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B and their display order. When the order of “no aggregation”, “2UP”, “4UP” is set for the page aggregation setting value, the page aggregation setting values are “no aggregation”, “2UP”, “4UP”, “no aggregation” ”,“ 2UP ”,“ 4UP ”,... Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the icon images of the icons 54 are “no aggregation” icon image 54a, “2UP” icon image 54b, “4UP” icon image 54c, and “no aggregation” icon image 54a. , “2UP” icon image 54b, “4UP” icon image 54c,...

  Similarly, the order of the values “color” and “black and white” is set for the color setting icon 55.

  Returning to FIG. 2, after the tab screen including the icon menu is displayed, when the user operates the input device 11 and performs a click operation on the unlock button 56, the click detection unit 32 starts from the input device 11. The operation is detected based on the signal (step S9).

  When the click on the unlock button 56 is detected by the click detection unit 32, the display control unit 31 causes the display device 12 to display a window or dialog having an input field for inputting the unlock password, and the input field. When the password is input to the authentication processing unit (not shown), it is determined whether or not the input password matches a predetermined unlock password (step S15). Then, when the above-described authentication is successfully performed by an authentication processing unit (not shown) (step S16), the setting change processing unit 33 temporarily prohibits the value change without changing the lock setting data 22c. All the set items are unlocked (step S17). Thereby, the change of the value is permitted, and the display control unit 31 switches the icon image of the grayed-out icon to the icon image when the change of the value is permitted (step S18). The unlock button on all tab screens is deleted (step S19). That is, the lock release button is not displayed on all tab screens by this one lock release procedure. On the other hand, if the authentication processing unit (not shown) has not succeeded in authentication (step S16), the lock state according to the lock setting data 22c continues.

  Further, after the tab screen including the icon menu is displayed, when the user operates the input device 11 and performs a click operation on another tab, the click detection unit 32 is based on the signal from the input device 11. The operation is detected (step S8).

  When the click detection unit 32 detects a click on another tab, the display control unit 31 displays the tab screen of the tab in the window 41 (step S20). At this time, the display control unit 31 is prohibited from changing the value among the setting item input units (similar to the icons 52 to 55 described above, radio buttons, numeric input fields, etc.) displayed on the tab screen. It is determined whether or not there is at least one item that is locked (that is, locked), and only when there is an input part of a setting item whose value change is prohibited on the tab screen, On the tab screen, an unlock button similar to the unlock button 56 is displayed. In addition, the display control unit 31 grays out and displays the input unit for which the change of the value is prohibited, and even if an operation is performed on the grayed-out input unit, the setting change processing unit 33 The value of the setting item corresponding to the input unit is not changed.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of another tab screen displayed on the window 41 in FIG. 3 in a state before unlocking. As shown in FIG. 7, when the setting item “print orientation” is not locked, an input unit 121 that is not grayed out is displayed on another tab screen 111. The input unit 121 includes radio buttons and check boxes. Further, when the setting item “duplex printing” is locked, the grayed out input unit 122 is displayed on another tab screen 111. The input unit 122 includes radio buttons and check boxes. Further, when the setting item “number of copies” is not locked, an input unit 123 that is not grayed out is displayed on another tab screen 111. The input unit 123 includes an input field for inputting a numerical value. When the setting item “color mode” is locked, the grayed out input unit 124 is displayed on another tab screen 111. The input unit 124 includes radio buttons and check boxes. Furthermore, since there are setting items that are locked, an unlock button 125 is displayed.

  On the other hand, when the unlock button is operated on this tab screen or another tab screen and the user authentication has already been successful, the display control unit 31 does not display the unlock button on this tab screen. If the user authentication has already been successful, the display control unit 31 displays the input unit for which the change of the value in the lock setting data 22c is prohibited without being grayed out. When an operation is performed on the input unit, the setting change processing unit 33 changes the value of the setting item corresponding to the input unit in accordance with the operation. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of another tab screen displayed on the window 41 in FIG. 3 in a state after unlocking. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, in another tab screen 111, the input parts 121 to 124 that are not grayed out are displayed, and the lock release button 125 is not displayed.

  The input unit that is not grayed out in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be operated. When an operation on the input unit is detected, the setting change processing unit 33 changes the value of the setting item according to the operation.

  Returning to FIG. 2, after the end operation is performed (step S11), when a print request is generated in the state where the setting item value is set as described above, the control unit 34 at that time Print data corresponding to the value of the setting item is generated and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 2 via the communication apparatus 13. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 2 executes print processing that reflects the values set as described above for a plurality of setting items for the print function.

  Even when the above-described lock release button is operated and authentication is successful, the lock setting data 22c is not changed. Therefore, the lock release is valid until the program 21 is terminated, but this program 21 is activated next time. When set, the setting items whose value is prohibited from being changed in the lock setting data 22c are set to the locked state in accordance with the lock setting data 22c. Of course, after that, if the unlock button is operated and the user authentication is successful, the lock is released as in the case described above.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, in the terminal device 1, when the computer 15 executes the driver program 14, the display processing unit 31, the click detection unit 32, the setting change processing unit 33, and the control unit 34 are performed. Is realized. The setting change processing unit 33 refers to the lock setting data 22c that designates a setting item whose value is prohibited to be changed, and the change of the value of the setting item that has been detected by the click detection unit 32 and has been subjected to a predetermined operation is prohibited. If it is not, change the value of the setting item with the operation to another value. If changing the value of the setting item with the operation is prohibited, change the setting item with the operation. Do not change the value of to another value. Further, the display control unit 31 causes the display device 12 to display the tab screen selected by the user among the plurality of tab screens each including the setting item input unit, and the lock setting data 22c among the plurality of tab screens. The lock release button for temporarily canceling the prohibition of changing the value is displayed only on the tab screen including at least one setting item whose changing of the value is prohibited. The display control unit 31 temporarily hides the unlock button on any tab screen only when the authentication performed in accordance with the user operation on the unlock button is successful, and the setting change processing unit 33 Without changing the lock setting data 22c, temporarily change the value of the setting item to another value by operating the setting item input unit for any of the setting items whose change is prohibited in the lock setting data 22c. Can be changed to

  As a result, the unlock button is displayed only on the tab screen where the locked setting items exist, and all the setting items can be unlocked at once by operating the unlock button and performing authentication once. it can. Therefore, in the lock setting function for prohibiting the change of the value by a user who does not have a predetermined user authority (for example, an administrator), it is possible to lock for each setting item and to perform an operation when the user performs unlocking. Can be simple. In addition, when it is not necessary to unlock, the unlock button is not displayed on the tab screen, so that the user can immediately recognize whether or not the unlocking operation can be performed. Further, even if the unlocking operation is performed, the lock setting data 22c is not changed without being changed, and the lock is only temporarily released, and the lock setting data 22c is reflected when the program 21 is started next time. There is no need to reset the lock.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the control unit 34 controls the image forming apparatus 2 based on the value of the setting item. The display processing unit 31 displays a plurality of icons 52 to 55 respectively associated with a plurality of setting items in a certain function of the image forming apparatus 2.

  Thereby, the values of a plurality of setting items that can be set in the driver of the image forming apparatus 2 can be set together with a simple operation.

Embodiment 2. FIG.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, only when the user who starts the driver program 21 is a specific user (such as an administrator user or a user in a predetermined user group), a predetermined operation by the user is detected by the input device 11. Then, the display control unit 31 causes the display device 12 to display an administrator setting window. In the administrator setting window, only a specific user can make various settings. The configuration of the terminal device 1 including the driver program 21 in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment. However, in the second embodiment, the following functions are added by executing the driver program 21. The

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an administrator setting window according to the second embodiment. In the administrator setting window shown in FIG. 9, when a quick setting tab or quick setting tab for displaying whether or not to display the quick setting tab (that is, the tab screen 51) is displayed, display of other tabs is permitted. When a check box for setting whether or not and a quick setting tab are displayed, a check box for setting whether or not the quick setting tab is a tab displayed by default is displayed. Further, the administrator setting window displays a lock setting button 141 for displaying a lock setting window for setting and releasing the lock for each setting item.

  When a click operation on the lock setting button 141 is detected by the input device 11, the display control unit 31 causes the display device 12 to display a lock setting window. In the lock setting window, the lock for each setting item can be set and released.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lock setting window according to the second embodiment. In the lock setting window shown in FIG. 10, a check box for setting lock setting and release for each setting item is displayed. In FIG. 10, the setting item “color mode”, the setting item “eco-print”, the setting item “double-sided printing”, the setting item “page aggregation”, the setting item “application profile”, the setting item “job save tab”, and the setting item “ Check boxes for the “security watermark” and the setting item “password setting” are displayed.

  When the check box of the setting item “color mode” is checked, the setting item is locked in a state where the value of the setting item “color mode” is “black and white”. When the check box of the setting item “eco-print” is checked, the setting item is locked while the value of the setting item “eco-print” is “on”. If the value of the setting item “eco-print” is “on”, printing is performed with the amount of consumed toner reduced. When the check box of the setting item “duplex printing” is checked, the setting item is locked in a state where the value of the setting item “double-sided printing” is “on”. If the value of the setting item “duplex printing” is “on”, printing is performed by duplex printing. When the check box of the setting item “page aggregation” is checked, this setting item is locked in a state where the setting item “page aggregation” is set to “on”. When the value of the setting item “page aggregation” is “on”, printing is performed by page aggregation.

  When the check box of the setting item “application profile” is checked, the setting item is locked while the setting item “application profile” is set to “on”. When the value of the setting item “application profile” is “on”, a profile can be set for each application. When the check box of the setting item “job storage tab” is checked, the setting item is locked while the setting item “job storage tab” is set to “fixed”. When the value of the setting item “job storage tab” is “fixed”, the setting value in the job storage tab is locked while being fixed. When the check box of the setting item “security watermark” is checked, the setting item is locked while the setting item “security watermark” is set to “fixed”. If the value of the setting item “security watermark” is “fixed”, the current setting value of the setting item “security watermark” is locked while being fixed. When the check box of the setting item "Password setting" is checked, the authentication process for unlocking is performed in the same way as the above-mentioned unlocking, and when authentication is successful, the password for unlocking can be set or changed It becomes.

  When the lock setting is changed in the lock setting window, the lock setting data 22c is changed according to the change.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, only a specific user can change the lock setting.

  Each embodiment described above is a preferred example of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

  For example, in each of the embodiments described above, after the unlocked icons 52 to 55 are operated and the order of the setting item values reaches the end, the values are changed from the end of the order toward the beginning. It may be.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, although the number of the icons in the icon menu shown in FIG. 3 is four, it is not limited to four, Any of 1-3, 5 or more may be sufficient. Also, the types of setting items are not limited to those shown in FIG. Further, among the icons displayed in the icon menu, those that are operated less frequently may be automatically changed to icons of other setting items.

  In each of the above embodiments, there are two or three allowable values for one setting item, but there may be four or more allowable values (that is, four or more types of icon images) for one setting item. .

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, any of the allowable values of the setting items associated with other icons due to the change of the value of the setting item associated with the icon by clicking on the icon. In the case where it becomes impossible to select one of the above items, the allowable value may be removed from the order of the values of the setting items.

  In each of the above embodiments, a click operation is used as an operation for changing the value of a setting item. However, the click operation may be a single click or a double click. As the operation, various mouse gestures, various finger gestures, and the like may be used.

  In each of the above embodiments, a plurality of icon images are prepared corresponding to a plurality of allowable values for a certain setting item. The plurality of icon images are different from each other. Thereby, the user can immediately visually recognize the value of the setting item currently set by the icon image.

  In each of the above embodiments, password authentication is performed as an authentication for unlocking. Instead, device authentication using a specific device such as an IC card (that is, whether or not a regular device has been presented) Authentication based on the above), authentication using the biometric information of the user, or the like may be performed.

  The present invention can be applied, for example, to prohibiting a change in the value of a setting item in a peripheral device driver.

2 Image forming device (an example of peripheral equipment)
12 Display Device 14 Data Storage Device 15 Computer 21 Driver Program (Example of Computer Program)
22a profile data 22c lock setting data 31 display processing unit 32 click detection unit (an example of operation detection unit)
33 Setting change processing unit (an example of a setting change processing unit)
34 Control part 51,111 Tab screen 52-55 Icon (an example of a setting item input part)
56, 125 Unlock button 121-124 Setting item input section

Claims (2)

The computer in the terminal device
A plurality of icons associated with a plurality of setting items in the printing function of the peripheral device of the terminal device and respectively having icon images corresponding to the current values of the plurality of setting items are displayed on one tab screen of a predetermined display device. Icon display processing unit,
An operation detection unit for detecting a predetermined operation on any one of the plurality of icons displayed on the one tab screen ;
Referring to lock setting data to specify the settings that change in value is prohibited, change of values of setting items associated with a icon of said detected predetermined operation by the operation detection unit is forbidden If there is not, the value of the setting item associated with the icon is changed to another value, and the change of the value of the setting item associated with the icon having the predetermined operation is prohibited Is a setting change processing unit that does not change the value of the setting item associated with the icon to another value ,
In accordance with the change of the value of the setting item by the setting change processing unit, the icon image of the icon itself that has been subjected to the predetermined operation displayed on the one tab screen corresponds to the value of the setting item before the change. An icon image switching processing unit for switching from the icon image to the icon image corresponding to the value of the setting item after the change,
When only the icon image corresponding to the value of the setting item whose value change is prohibited by the lock setting data is grayed out, and at least one grayed-out icon image is displayed on the one tab screen , the value Functioning as a display control unit that displays on the one tab screen a lock release button that temporarily cancels the prohibition of changes, and a control unit that controls peripheral devices based on the value of the setting item,
Wherein the display control unit is configured to temporarily hide the lock release button definitive said one tab screen in case of successful authentication performed with the user operation on the lock release button,
The setting change processing unit temporarily changes the value in the lock setting data without changing the lock setting data when the authentication performed in accordance with a user operation on the unlock button is successful. for any of the setting items are prohibited, and can change the value of the set item to a different value, the icon image which is the grayed, switch to the icon image when the value changes are allowed,
One of the plurality of setting items of the plurality of icons is a color mode, the color mode value includes monochrome and color, and an icon image corresponding to the color is drawn using a plurality of colors. The icon image corresponding to the monochrome is drawn in black and white,
A computer program characterized by the above. The display control unit is configured to display the one tab only during a period from when it is determined that the user is a specific user through user authentication performed in accordance with a user operation on the unlock button until the computer program ends. to hide the lock release button that definitive on the screen,
The setting change processing unit is configured to perform the lock setting only during a period from when it is determined that the user is a specific user through user authentication performed in accordance with a user operation on the unlock button until the computer program ends. For any setting item whose value is prohibited from being changed in the data, the value of the setting item can be changed to another value by operating the input unit of the setting item.
Claim 1 Symbol placement of a computer program characterized.

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