JP5930207B2 - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an identification unit for identifying a user, a usage count storage unit that stores a function used by the user and the usage count of the function, a display unit that displays an operation screen on which an operation menu is arranged, An image forming apparatus having an input unit for inputting a user operation, a transmission unit for transmitting the user ID of the user identified by the identification unit to another device, and functioning screen information for forming an operation screen Screen information acquisition means for acquiring the screen information associated with a function whose usage frequency of the user is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, read by the other device from the screen information storage means stored in association with the screen information acquisition means, and the screen information acquisition means The display means displays on the display means an optimization means for optimizing the screen information acquired according to the device or function of its own device, and a recommended operation screen formed based on the optimized screen information. It discloses an image forming apparatus characterized by comprising display control means for, the.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a display unit for displaying a plurality of functions that can be set as necessary for an image forming operation, and the number of times the image forming operation is executed for each of the plurality of settable functions. An image forming apparatus comprising: a function execution count unit that counts a function; and a function selection unit that can select a function counted by the function execution count unit on the display unit. The display can be switched between the first screen and the second screen, and among the functions selected by the function selection means, a function that is frequently used based on the count number of each function counted by the function execution counting means. The first display control means to be displayed on the first screen and the function not selected by the function selection means to be displayed on the first screen The specified one includes a second display control unit that displays the first screen in a fixed manner regardless of whether the function execution counting unit counts, and the plurality of settable functions have a predetermined use frequency. Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that is divided into a plurality of high basic functions and other functions, and wherein the function execution counting means counts the number of times the basic functions are executed. Yes.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a history collection unit that traces a business history and collects an execution pattern of the business, a frequency table that stores an execution pattern collected by the history collection unit and its appearance frequency, and a frequency of the frequency table. The user interface system having candidate display means for changing the display position of the candidate for the job selection menu based on the above is disclosed.

JP 2010-041238 A Japanese Patent No. 3522684 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-182128

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a program capable of improving a user's degree of recognition of functions provided in the apparatus.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided display means for displaying a screen for accepting a function use instruction, counting means for counting the number of times the function is used for each function, and a predetermined period counted by the counting means. An image forming apparatus having a display control unit that controls to display information related to the function on a predetermined screen by the display unit for a function whose number of uses is less than a predetermined use number.

  In the present invention according to claim 2, the display control means displays information related to a predetermined function when the number of uses counted by the counting means is less than the predetermined number of uses. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled to do so.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the display means displays one of a plurality of screen groups consisting of a plurality of hierarchies, and the display control means uses a screen of a lower hierarchy than a predetermined hierarchy. The function for accepting the use instruction is controlled to display information related to the function on the screen of the predetermined hierarchy when the number of uses counted by the counting means is less than the predetermined number of uses. Item 3. The image forming apparatus according to Item 2.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the display control means is a function that is selected in accordance with a predetermined priority order among the functions in which the number of uses counted by the counting means is less than a predetermined number of uses. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled to display information related to the function.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the display control means controls to display an image for accepting an instruction to use the function for a function for which the number of uses counted by the counting means is less than a predetermined use number. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the display control means controls to display information describing the function for a function for which the number of times of use counted by the counting means is less than a predetermined number of times of use. Item 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 5.

  The present invention according to claim 7 displays, on the predetermined screen, an image for accepting an instruction to use the function for a function for which the number of uses counted by the counting means is less than the predetermined number of uses. A display request accepting unit that accepts an instruction to request the function, and the display control unit instructs the use of the function regardless of the number of times of use for the function that is the target of the instruction accepted by the display request accepting unit. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled to display an image that accepts the image on the predetermined screen.

  The present invention according to claim 8 further includes user identification means for identifying a user, and the counting means counts the number of times of use for each function for each user identified by the user identification means. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

  The present invention according to claim 9 includes a step of displaying a screen for accepting an instruction to use a function, a step of counting the number of times the function is used for each function, and a predetermined number of times of use for a predetermined period. For a function that is less than the number of times of use, a program for causing a computer to execute a step of controlling to display information related to the function on a predetermined screen.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving the degree of recognition of the user with respect to the functions provided in the apparatus as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the degree of recognition of the user with respect to a desired function that is relatively less frequently used than the case without the present configuration is improved. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing the above.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the second aspect of the present invention, it is not displayed unless a transition is made at least once from a screen of a predetermined hierarchy as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can improve a user's degree of recognition of a function.

  According to the present invention according to claim 4, in addition to the effects of the present invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the desired function is prioritized over the other functions as compared to the case without this configuration. In addition, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving the degree of recognition of the user.

  According to the present invention of claim 5, in addition to the effects of the present invention of any of claims 1 to 4, the function displayed as less than the predetermined number of uses compared to the case without this configuration An image forming apparatus that can be easily used can be provided.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the present invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, information for understanding the function displayed for the function that is displayed as less than the predetermined number of times of use. An image forming apparatus can be provided.

  According to the present invention of claim 7, in addition to the effects of the present invention of any of claims 1 to 6, the number of times of use for a desired function among the functions displayed as less than the predetermined number of times of use. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can be set to be displayed on a predetermined screen regardless of the above.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the present invention according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing display according to the degree of recognition for each user. it can.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a program capable of improving the degree of recognition of the user with respect to the functions provided in the apparatus as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 realized by executing a program. It is a schematic diagram shown about an example of the hierarchical screen which the display part displays, (a) shows an example of the initial screen which the display part 70 displays, (b) is the screen of the transition destination from an initial screen (C) shows an example of a transition destination screen from the screen shown in (b). It is a table | surface which shows an example of the recommended function management table which the display information storage part 78 memorize | stores. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of information displayed in a recommended function display area 92 under the control of the display control unit 80. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example which displays the information regarding the recommended function by pop-up. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display when displaying the image which receives the use instruction | indication of this function about the function in which the frequency | count of use is less than the predetermined use frequency on a predetermined screen, (a) is display The example of a display at the time of the reception of the instruction | indication by the request | requirement reception part 82 is shown, (b) shows the example of a display of an initial screen when the display request | requirement reception part 82 receives an instruction | indication. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement in step 104 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement in step 206 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement in step 112 of FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 realized by executing a program in a modification of the embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the image forming apparatus 10 according to a modification.

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

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a UI device 11, a printing device 12, a reading device 14, and a communication device 16.

  The UI device 11 is a device that also serves as a display device that displays information and an input reception device that receives input made by an operator. In this embodiment, the UI device 11 includes a touch panel, various buttons such as a start button that receives a process execution instruction, and a stop button that receives a process stop instruction.

  The printing device 12 is a device that performs printing. The printing apparatus 12 includes, for example, three stages of recording medium supply cassettes 18, and each of the recording medium supply cassettes 18 is provided with a supply head 20.

  When one of the recording medium supply cassettes 18 is selected, the supply head 20 is actuated and supplied from the selected recording medium supply cassette 18 to the image forming mechanism 24 via the recording medium supply path 22.

  The image forming mechanism 24 is provided with yellow, magenta, cyan, and black photoconductors 26 and an intermediate transfer belt 28.

  Around each photoconductor 26, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a primary transfer device, a cleaning device, and the like (not shown) are arranged, and a toner image formed on each photoconductor 26 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 28. Transcribed. When black and white is set, only black is enabled.

  The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 28 is transferred to the sent recording medium by the secondary transfer roll 30 and fixed by the fixing device 32, and the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed passes through the recording medium discharge path 34. And discharged to the discharge unit 36.

  However, when duplex printing is set, the recording medium whose surface is fixed by the fixing device 32 is sent from the recording medium discharge path 34 to the reversing device 38, reversed by the reversing device 38, and recorded on the recording medium reversing path 40. To the recording medium supply path 22 again and sent to the image forming mechanism 24 to print the back side.

  The reading device 14 has an automatic document feeder 42 capable of reading a double-sided document. The automatic document feeder 42 feeds the document to a platen 44, and the document is scanned on the platen 44 by a reading unit 46 composed of a CCD or the like. Images are read.

  A document set detector 48 for detecting whether or not a document is set on the automatic document feeder 42 is provided. The automatic document feeder 42 also serves as a platen cover, and the document can be placed on the platen 44 by opening the platen cover. The opening / closing of the platen cover can be detected by a platen cover opening / closing detector 50.

  The communication device 16 is a device that communicates with an external device via a network (not shown), and is composed of, for example, a data line termination device. The image forming apparatus 10 forms an image on a recording medium based on, for example, image data received by the communication device 16 and image data read by the reading device 14.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 has a configuration in which a CPU 60, a memory 62, and a storage device 64 are connected by a bus in addition to the above-described printing device 12, reading device 14, UI device 11, and communication device 16. ing.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a component as a computer that can communicate with other apparatuses via a network such as the Internet.

  The CPU 60 controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 by executing a program written in the memory 62 or the storage device 64. In addition, an input received via the UI device 11 is transmitted to the CPU 60, and display information from the CPU 60 is transmitted to the UI device 11.

  The CPU 60 may execute a program stored in a portable storage medium such as a CD-ROM (not shown), or may execute a program provided through the communication device 16.

  The storage device 64 stores data in a hard disk or the like so as to be able to write and read data.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 realized by executing the program.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a display unit 70, an operation receiving unit 72, a process execution unit 74, a usage count unit 76, a display information storage unit 78, and a display. A control unit 80 and a display request receiving unit 82 are provided.

  The display unit 70 displays on the UI device 11 a screen for accepting an instruction to use the function of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the control of the display control unit 80 described later. In the present embodiment, the display unit 70 displays one of the screen groups consisting of a plurality of layers. Here, the display unit 70 displays the uppermost screen among a plurality of layers as an initial screen, and thereafter transitions to a screen of another layer based on an operation received by the operation reception unit 72 or the like. Display.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a hierarchical screen displayed by the display unit 70. 4A shows an example of an initial screen displayed by the display unit 70, FIG. 4B shows an example of a screen that is a transition destination from the initial screen, and FIG. 4C shows FIG. An example of a transition destination screen from the screen illustrated in b) is illustrated.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the initial screen includes an initial screen function display area 90 and a recommended function display area 92. In the initial screen function display area 90, images 94 to 102 for receiving a function use instruction for a predetermined function among the functions of the image forming apparatus 10 are displayed. In addition, in the recommended function display area 92, information related to a function that is a recommendation target by the display control unit 80 to be described later among the functions of the image forming apparatus 10 is displayed.

  FIG. 4B shows a transition destination screen when the image 94 is designated on the initial screen shown in FIG. 4A, and a screen for setting a function to be additionally used when using the copy function. Is displayed. Note that the screen shown in FIG. 4B is a screen one level lower than the initial screen shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, the functions usable for the copy function include a function related to “output format”, a function related to “image quality adjustment”, and a function related to “reading method”. Of the classification functions, a desired function can be used. For example, when the user uses an output format function, the image 104 is designated from among the images 104 to 108 indicating the classification of functions usable in the copy function.

  FIG. 4C shows an example of a transition destination screen when the image 104 is designated on the screen shown in FIG. Note that the screen shown in FIG. 4C is a screen that is one level lower than the screen shown in FIG. On the screen shown in FIG. 4C, images 110 to 116 for receiving a function use instruction are displayed for the functions of the image forming apparatus 10 as an output format in the copy function. For example, the user wants to use the ID card copy function, which is a function of reading both sides of an ID card (identification card) and printing the images on each side arranged side by side on one side of the recording medium. In this case, the user designates the image 110. When the image 110 is designated, the setting is changed so that the process execution unit 74 described later is executed using the ID card copy function.

  The operation reception unit 72 receives a user operation via the UI device 11. For example, the operation reception unit 72 receives an operation for instructing use of a function displayed on the display unit 70, an operation for instructing execution of processing, an operation for changing a screen displayed on the display unit 70, and the like.

  When the operation accepting unit 72 accepts an operation instructing execution of the process, the process executing unit 74 executes the process using the function based on the use instruction of the function accepted by the operation accepting unit 72. .

  For example, in the state where the instruction to use the “ID card copy” function is accepted, when the operation accepting operation (for example, pressing the start button) is accepted by the operation accepting unit 72, the process executing unit 74 The reading device 14 reads both sides of the ID card, and controls the reading device 14 and the printing device 12 to perform printing by arranging the images on each side read on one side of the recording medium for printing. To do.

  The number-of-uses counter 76 counts the number of times the function is used for each function. Specifically, when the process is executed by the process execution unit 74, the number of times of use is counted for the function used in the executed process. In the present embodiment, the usage count counter 76 counts the usage count for each function listed in a later-described recommended function management table stored in the display information storage section 78, and is stored in the recommended function management table. The number of times the function is used is incremented by one each time it is used.

  The display information storage unit 78 stores information used for screen display by the display unit 70. In addition, the display information storage unit 78 stores a recommended function management table for managing display of the recommended function display area 92.

  FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of the recommended function management table stored in the display information storage unit 78. The recommended function management table stores, for each function, a recommended priority, the number of times of use, and a display state for a predetermined function among the functions of the image forming apparatus 10.

  Here, the recommended priority indicates the priority of the function in the recommendation of the function. When there are a plurality of functions to be recommended, a function having a high priority is preferentially displayed in the recommended function display area 92. Is displayed. In the present embodiment, any one of 0 to 3 is assigned to the function as the recommended priority, and when the recommended priority is 0, it is excluded from the display target in the recommended function display area 92. The priority increases in the order of 2,3.

  The number of uses of the recommended function management table is added by counting by the use number counting unit 76. The display state of the recommended function management table indicates whether the function is displayed in the recommended function display area 92 or whether it is registered to be displayed in the initial screen function display area 90. The points registered to be displayed in the initial screen function display area 90 will be described later.

  The display control unit 80 controls screen display by the display unit 70. Here, the display control unit 80 uses the display unit 70 to display information related to the function for the function for which the number of uses in the predetermined period counted by the use number counting unit 76 is less than the predetermined number of uses. Control to display on the specified screen.

  In the present embodiment, the display control unit 80 sets the number of times of use for any one of the predetermined functions that are listed in the recommended function management table to the predetermined number of times of use. If not, control to display information on this function on the screen.

  As a result, the display control unit 80, when the usage instruction is received on the screen of a lower hierarchy than the predetermined hierarchy, when the counted usage count is less than the predetermined usage count, You may control to display the information regarding this function on the screen of the defined hierarchy.

  As an example of the screen of the predetermined hierarchy, an initial screen is assumed, and an example shown in FIG. 4 will be described. The “ID card copy” function is a function in which a use instruction is accepted on a screen lower than the initial screen (see FIG. 4C). When the number of times of use of the “ID card copy” function for a predetermined period is less than the predetermined number of times of use, the display control unit 80 refers to the recommended function display area 92 on the initial screen (see FIG. 4A). ) To display information on the “ID card copy” function.

  In addition, the display control unit 80 according to the present embodiment displays information related to a function that is selected in accordance with a predetermined priority order among the functions for which the counted number of times of use is less than the predetermined number of times of use. Control as follows. For example, if the number of functions that can be displayed in the recommended function display area 92 is N (N is a natural number), the number of functions that have been determined to be less than the predetermined number of uses is M. When M is a natural number greater than N, control is performed so that the top N functions are displayed in the recommended function display area 92 in descending order of the recommended priority value among the M functions.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of information displayed in the recommended function display area 92 under the control of the display control unit 80.

  As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the display control unit 80 controls the recommended function display area 92 to display an image 120 that accepts a function use instruction and a column 122 that describes the function. The image 120 that receives a function use instruction is set to use the function when the image is designated. Further, in the column 122 for explaining the function, information for explaining the function is displayed.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, one function (“ID card copy” function) is displayed in the recommended function display area 92, but a plurality of functions may be displayed. Further, the content displayed in the recommended function display area 92 may be information related to a function, and may be either one of an image for receiving a function use instruction or information describing a function.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, an example of displaying in the recommended function display area 92 on the initial screen is shown, but not limited to the initial screen, it may be displayed on another predetermined screen, As shown in FIG. 7, it may be displayed by a pop-up 124 or may be displayed protruding from the peripheral edge of the screen.

  The display request receiving unit 82 displays, on a predetermined screen, an image that receives a use instruction for this function for a function for which the number of uses counted by the use number counting unit 76 is less than the predetermined number of uses. Accept the requested instructions. In addition, when the display request receiving unit 82 receives an instruction, the display control unit 80 displays, for a function requested to be displayed, an image that receives the instruction to use this function regardless of the number of times of use. Control to display on. In the present embodiment, an image that receives an instruction to use this function is registered to be displayed in the initial screen function display area 90. After this registration, the display control unit 80 uses the function in the initial screen function display area 90. Control to display an image that accepts an instruction.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a display example in the case where an image for accepting a use instruction for this function is displayed on a predetermined screen for a function whose number of uses is less than the predetermined use number. FIG. 8A shows a display example when an instruction is received by the display request receiving unit 82, and FIG. 8B shows a display example of an initial screen when the display request receiving unit 82 receives the instruction. .

  When the processing instructed to use the function displayed in the recommended function display area 92 is completed, the display control unit 80 arranges the function on the initial screen as shown in FIG. 8A, for example. A pop-up 126 for confirming whether or not is displayed. On the other hand, when the user instructs to place the function on the initial screen (for example, when the user selects “OK” in the pop-up 126), the instruction is received by the display request receiving unit 82 and displayed. As shown in FIG. 8B, the control unit 80 controls to display an image 128 that accepts an instruction to use the function in the initial screen function display area 90.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 10.

  In step 100 (S100), the system of the image forming apparatus 10 is activated, and in step 102 (S102), initialization processing of the image forming apparatus 10 is performed with the activation of the system. In this initialization process, the number of uses and the display state are initialized in the recommended function management table described above. In step 102, activation of the timer is started. By this timer, the elapse of a predetermined period is measured, and the display control unit 80 confirms the number of times of use of the predetermined period for the function, and there is a function that does not satisfy the predetermined number of times of use. It will be determined whether or not.

  In step 104 (S104), the display unit 70 displays a screen for receiving a function use instruction in accordance with the control of the display control unit 80. The details of step 104 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step 106 (S106), the operation accepting unit 72 accepts a user operation via the UI device 11.

  In step 108 (S108), in step 106, it is determined whether or not the operation accepting unit 72 has accepted an operation instructing execution of the process. If the operation accepting operation is accepted, the process proceeds to step 110. If the process execution operation has not been accepted, the process returns to step 104.

  In step 110 (S110), the process execution unit 74 executes the process using the function instructed to be used in step 106.

  In step 112 (S112), a process of updating the usage record for the function used in the process executed in step 110 is performed. Details of step 112 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Next, details of the operation in step 104 will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation in step 104 of FIG.

  In step 200 (S200), the display control unit 80 determines whether or not the screen to be displayed is the initial screen. If the initial screen is displayed, the display control unit 80 proceeds to step 202 and displays a screen other than the initial screen. Is displayed, the process proceeds to step 208.

  In step 202 (S202), the display control unit 80 determines whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed based on a timer, and proceeds to step 204 if the predetermined period has not elapsed. If the predetermined period has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 206.

  In step 204 (S204), the display control unit 80 controls the display unit 70 to display a predetermined initial screen. Here, in the predetermined initial screen, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the initial screen function display area 90 has functions of predetermined functions among the functions provided in the image forming apparatus 10. An image for accepting a use instruction is displayed, and the recommended function display area 92 corresponds to a screen on which no information about the function is displayed yet. Note that the recommended function display area 92 may not be provided on the predetermined initial screen.

  On the other hand, in step 206 (S206), display processing for recommended functions is performed. Details of step 206 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Next, details of the operation in step 206 will be described.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation in step 206 of FIG.

  In step 300 (S300), the display control unit 80 extracts the recommended display target function. Specifically, the display control unit 80 refers to a recommended priority item in the recommended function management table, and extracts a function having a recommended priority value other than 0 from the recommended function management table. Further, the display control unit 80 excludes from the extraction target a function that stores a value indicating that it is registered to be displayed in the initial screen function display area 90 as a display state in the recommended function management table.

  In step 302 (S302), the display control unit 80 acquires the number of uses for the function extracted in step 300. Specifically, the display control unit 80 refers to the item of use count in the recommended function management table, and acquires the use count for the extracted function.

  In step 304 (S304), it is determined whether or not the number of times of use is less than a predetermined threshold for each extracted function. If there is a function whose number of uses is less than a predetermined threshold, The process proceeds to step 306 (S306). On the other hand, when the number of times of use of the extracted functions is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the process proceeds to step 204 shown in FIG. 10 and a predetermined initial screen is displayed.

  In step 306 (S306), the display control unit 80 determines a predetermined number based on the recommended priority from all the functions that are determined to be less than the predetermined threshold in step 304. Select the function. Specifically, the number of functions that can be displayed in the recommended function display area 92 is N, and the number of functions determined in step 304 that the number of uses is less than a predetermined threshold is M (where N <M ), The display control unit 80 selects the top N functions in descending order of the recommended priority according to the recommended priority of each function stored in the recommended function management table. When M is N or less, the display control unit 80 selects all the M functions.

  In step 308 (S308), the display control unit 80 displays information related to the function on the initial screen for the function selected in step 306.

Next, details of the operation in step 112 of FIG. 9 will be described.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation in step 112 of FIG.

  In step 400 (S400), the use count counting unit 76 adds one use count of the function stored in the recommended function management table for the function used in the process executed by the process execution unit 74.

  In step 402 (S402), the display control unit 80 determines whether or not the function displayed in the recommended function display area 92 is used in the process executed by the process execution unit 74. The process proceeds to step 404, and ends if it is not used.

  In step 404 (S404), the display control unit 80 registers the function displayed in the recommended function display area 92 to be placed on the initial screen for the function as shown in FIG. 8A, for example. Control display to confirm.

  In step 406 (S406), it is determined whether or not the display request receiving unit 82 has received an instruction to place an image for accepting the function use instruction on the initial screen. If the instruction is accepted, The process proceeds to step 408 and ends if the instruction is not accepted.

  In step 408 (S408), the display request receiving unit 82 updates the information stored in the display information storage unit 78. Specifically, the information stored in the display information storage unit 78 is updated so as to add a function requested to be placed on the initial screen as a function to be displayed in the initial screen function display area 90 in the initial screen. Further, the display request receiving unit 82 updates the display state of the function in the recommended function management table to a value indicating that it is registered to be displayed in the initial screen function display area 90.

  Next, a modification of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The modification is different from the above embodiment in that the number of times of use for each function is counted for each user, and the recommended function is determined based on the frequency of use for each user.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 realized by executing a program in a modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the modification is different from the configuration shown in FIG. 3 in that a user identification unit 130 is added.

  For example, the user identification unit 130 identifies the user based on the user identification information acquired by the authentication device provided in the image forming apparatus 10. In the authentication apparatus, for example, the identification information is acquired by input by the user, reading of an IC card, a magnetic card, or the like presented by the user.

  The user identifying unit 130 notifies the identified user information to the usage number counting unit 76 and the display control unit 80.

  In the modified example, the usage count counter 76 counts the usage count of the function for the notified user. In the modification, the display control unit 80 selects a function to be recommended based on the notified usage frequency of the user. Specifically, the display control unit 80 controls the display unit 70 to display information related to the function on a predetermined screen with respect to the function whose number of use by the user is less than the predetermined use number. To do. Further, the display control unit 80 may manage the contents to be displayed on the initial screen for each user, and may control to display a setting screen corresponding to the user identified by the user identification unit 130.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the modification.

  In step 500 (S500) and step 502 (S502), the system of the image forming apparatus 10 is activated in the same manner as in steps 100 and 102 of FIG. 9, and the initialization process and timer activation of the image forming apparatus 10 are performed.

  In step 504 (S504), the user identification unit 130 identifies the user.

  In step 506 (S506), as in step 104 of FIG. 9, the display unit 70 displays a screen for accepting a function use instruction according to the control of the display control unit 80. However, it differs from step 104 in that a display for recommending a function is performed based on the usage frequency of the user identified by the user identifying unit 130.

  In step 508 (S508), the operation accepting unit 72 accepts the user's operation via the UI device 11 as in step 106 in FIG.

  In step 510 (S510), as in step 108 of FIG. 9, it is determined whether or not the operation accepting unit 72 has accepted an operation instructing execution of the process. If the process has not been accepted and the process execution operation has not been accepted, the process returns to step 506.

  In step 512 (S512), as in step 110 of FIG. 9, the process execution unit 74 executes the process using the function instructed to be used in step 508.

  In step 514 (S514), similarly to step 112 in FIG. 9, processing for updating the usage record for the function used in the processing executed in step 512 is performed. However, it differs from step 112 in that the usage record for each user identified by the user identifying unit 130 is updated.

10: Image forming apparatus 11: UI device 60: CPU
62: Memory 64: Storage device 70: Display unit 72: Operation accepting unit 74: Process execution unit 76: Use count counting unit 78: Display information storage unit 80: Display control unit 82: Display request accepting unit 130: User identification unit

Claims (7)

Display means for displaying an image for accepting instructions to use a plurality of functions on the initial screen ;
Counting means for counting the number of times the function is used for each function;
Display controlling so that the number of uses of the counting means a predetermined period of time counted by the information about the first function that is less than the number of times use a predetermined, displays a predetermined screen by the display means Control means;
Display request accepting means for accepting an instruction for requesting to display an image for accepting an instruction to use the first function on the initial screen;
The image forming apparatus that controls the display control unit to display the first function, which is a target of an instruction received by the display request receiving unit, on an initial screen as one of a plurality of functions . The display control means controls to display information related to the predetermined function as the first function when the number of uses counted by the counting means is less than the predetermined number of uses. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The display means displays any one of a screen group consisting of a plurality of layers,
The display control means, for a function that accepts a use instruction on a screen lower than a predetermined hierarchy, when the number of uses counted by the counting means is less than a predetermined use count, The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein control is performed so that information relating to the function is displayed as the first function on a screen of a predetermined hierarchy. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display control unit controls the function selected according to a predetermined priority among the first functions to display information regarding the function. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display control unit controls the first function to display information that describes the function. A user identification means for identifying the user;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the counting unit counts the number of uses for each function for each user identified by the user identifying unit. A display step for displaying an image for receiving an instruction to use a plurality of functions on an initial screen ;
A counting step for counting the number of times the function is used for each function;
Information about the first function usage count counted predetermined time period is less than the number of uses predetermined display control step of controlling to display a predetermined screen,
A display request receiving step for receiving an instruction for requesting to display an image for accepting an instruction to use the first function on the initial screen;
The display control step controls the first function, which is a target of the instruction received in the display request receiving step, to display on the initial screen as one of a plurality of functions. Program to make.

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