JP6447091B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an application, an image forming system, and a program.

  Many applications (hereinafter referred to as applications) are installed in current image forming apparatuses, and corresponding application icons are also increasing on the home screen of the operation unit. A technique for displaying an application screen desired by a user at an early stage is already known.

  In Patent Literature 1, an application selection screen for selecting icons of all registered applications is displayed while returning from the energy saving state in order to display the desired application early when returning to the standby state. Technology is disclosed.

  However, in the prior art and the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the icon arrangement displayed on the application selection screen is fixed, and when there are many applications, many icons are displayed on the application selection screen. There was a problem that it took time to get to the app you wanted to operate quickly.

  The present invention is for solving the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can quickly reach an icon of a desired application in the display of an application selection screen for selecting the desired application. It is to be.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention has the following features.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a scanner function for scanning a sheet set in a document setting unit as one of a plurality of functions , and a list of functions selected by contact of a user Display means for displaying, a detection means for detecting a main body operation for setting a paper of a specific paper size in the original document setting section, and a management means for associating the function related to the main body operation, When the main body operation is performed, the display unit changes the display so that the display order of the related functions in the function list display is higher .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the display of the application selection screen which can select a desired application, the icon of a desired application can be reached quickly.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the software structure of the controller which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the software structure of the operation part which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the application management table regarding a main body operation and an application. It is a figure which shows the display order change in the application selection screen of 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the effect of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the display order change in the application selection screen of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the effect of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows determination of the authentication information for application order change in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the display order change in the application selection screen of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the effect of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the effect of a prior art.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Hardware configuration of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. A hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus for realizing the present embodiment will be described. The image forming apparatus includes a controller 1 and an operation unit 2.

  The controller 1 which is the main control unit is connected to the operation unit 2 through the operation unit I / F 8. The controller 1 includes a CPU 3, a ROM 4, a network I / F 5, a RAM 6, a nonvolatile memory 7, an operation unit I / F 8, an engine I / F 9, and an authentication device I / F 10.

  As a main control unit, the controller 1 performs device state management and job control. The controller 1 controls the application icon display order on the application selection screen by an operation on the image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as main body operation). The CPU 3 controls the image forming apparatus including the controller 1. The ROM 4 stores programs related to power management and job control.

  The network I / F 5 performs communication with the external network 11. External operation detection (such as a job from a PC) communicates with the controller 1 via the network I / F 5. The RAM 6 is a program execution area and is used for developing a print image image. The nonvolatile memory 7 stores data necessary for storing accumulated document data and developing image images.

  The operation unit I / F 8 communicates with the operation unit 2. The display request and display contents of the application selection screen are routed through the operation unit I / F 8. The engine I / F 9 performs communication with the engine 12. The main body operation (such as setting paper on the original glass) communicates with the controller 1 via the engine I / F 9. The authentication device I / F 10 communicates with the external authentication device 13. The user authentication information is communicated to the controller 1 via the authentication device I / F 10.

  The operation unit 2 has a CPU and a storage area independent from the controller 1 and performs control related to screen display. The display of the application selection screen and the selection of the user's desired application are controlled by the CPU and storage area. The operation unit 2 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a controller I / F 23, a RAM 24, a nonvolatile memory 25, and a display unit 26.

  The CPU 21 is a CPU for controlling the operation unit screen display. The ROM 22 stores an application and a program for controlling the operation unit 2. The application itself is stored in the ROM 22. The controller I / F 23 communicates with the controller 1. The RAM 24 is a program execution area.

  The nonvolatile memory 25 stores initial values at startup and items that can be set. The application icon displayed on the application selection screen and the related data between the application and the main body operation are stored in the nonvolatile memory 25. The display unit 26 is a panel operated by the user.

<Software configuration of image forming apparatus>
A software configuration of the image forming apparatus for realizing the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the controller 1 according to the present embodiment. The controller 1 includes a communication unit 31, a data processing unit 32, a data storage unit 33, an image generation unit 34, and a printing unit 35.

  The communication unit 31 exchanges data with an external host. In the present embodiment, communication is performed with the outside of the main body (PC, mobile terminal, authentication device, etc.). The data processing unit 32 controls the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the state of the device. Information processing of the main body operation and display order determination processing of the application selection screen are performed by the data processing unit 32.

  The data storage unit 33 controls the HDD, NVRAM, and the like that store the accumulated job. The image generation unit 34 develops the user job data and draws it in the memory as an image image. The printing unit 35 controls an engine that transfers and prints a drawn image on paper.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of the operation unit 2 according to the present embodiment. The operation unit 2 includes a communication unit 41, a data processing unit 42, a data storage unit 43, and a display unit 44. The communication unit 41 communicates with the controller 1 and exchanges data.

  The data processing unit 42 controls the operation of the operation unit 2 by interpreting the user operation input from the display unit. The data storage unit 43 stores data that is required to be non-volatile, such as initial values required for activation. The display unit 44 controls panel display. The input from the user is transmitted to the data processing unit 42.

(First embodiment)
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an application management table related to the main body operation and the application. The fields of the application management table are an application name, a default activation order, and a main body operation related to priority activation.

  The application name is copy, printer, scanner, or the like. As for the default activation order, applications are displayed in the order of Nos. 1 to 15. The main body operation related to the priority activation is, for example, that paper is set on the original glass in copying, an original is set on the ADF, and paper is set on the manual feed tray. Also, for example, in business card registration, paper is set on the original glass, the paper size becomes the business card size, and the like.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display order change on the application selection screen according to the first embodiment. When a print job is accumulated from an external terminal, the default activation order is changed in the order of application selection screen display. When a print job is accumulated from an external terminal, the default startup order of the printer is 2, but the application selection screen display order is changed to 1.

  The default activation order for easy document printing is 12, but the application selection screen display order is changed to 2, and the default activation order for copying is 1, but the application selection screen display order is changed to 3. .

  The initial setting, browser, and map printing have no main body operation related to priority activation, and the application selection screen display order is fixed, so the application selection screen display order is not changed. For the other scanners, the application selection screen display order is shifted from the default activation order. The Fax and language switching application remain in the same order.

  When switching the display order of the application, the image forming apparatus can be operated by the main unit to check whether there is job accumulation from an external terminal, whether paper is set on the original glass, what size paper is set, It is time to detect whether the fax is received, whether the user information matches with the IC card, and the like.

  Note that the display order of applications may be determined by a total count value. Each time an app is used, the total count value increases, and apps that are used frequently are placed at the top.

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of this embodiment. The first embodiment is a use case in which a print job is accumulated from an external terminal (PC or smartphone) and the print job is printed via a main body operation unit.

  When the user operates the PC, the communication unit 31 of the controller 1 receives an instruction to save a print job from the PC (step S1). The communication unit 31 of the controller 1 requests the data processing unit 32 of the controller 1 to store the print job (step S2), and the data storage unit 33 of the controller 1 stores the print job (step S3).

  The data processing unit 32 of the controller 1 records the accumulation of the print job that is the main body operation (step S4). The data processing unit 32 of the controller 1 stores the main body operation record in the data storage unit 33 of the controller 1 (step S5).

  In order to print the accumulated print job, the user moves to the front of the image forming apparatus (step S6) and touches the display unit 44 of the operation unit 2 (step S7). The communication unit 41 of the operation unit 2 receives a notification that the display unit 44 of the operation unit 2 is touched (step S8). The communication unit 31 and the data processing unit 32 of the controller 1 receive notification that the display unit 44 of the operation unit 2 is touched (steps S9 and S10).

  The data storage unit 33 of the controller 1 acquires a main body operation record (step S11). By the main body operation, the data processing unit 32 of the controller 1 changes the display order of the application selection screen (step S12). Make the app linked to job accumulation higher. The data processing unit 32 of the controller 1 notifies the communication unit 31 of the controller 1 of the display order of the application selection screen (step S13).

  The communication unit 31 of the controller 1 notifies the display order of the application selection screen to the communication unit 41 of the operation unit 2 (step S14). The data processing unit 42 of the operation unit 2 performs screen generation processing according to the display order of the application selection screen (step S15). The display unit 44 of the operation unit 2 generates an application selection screen (step S16).

  The user selects a target application (step S17). The data processing unit 42 of the operation unit 2 performs screen generation processing of the target application (step S18), and the display unit 44 of the operation unit 2 displays the target application (step S19).

  When an operation for accumulating a job is performed, the controller 1 side changes the icon order displayed on the application selection screen by the operation for accumulating the job and transfers the job to the operation unit 2. An application selection screen is constructed with the order information transferred to the operation unit 2 and displayed.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the effect of the conventional technology. Conventionally, it has been necessary to flick page 1 displayed on the application selection screen to reach the application selection screen of page 2 where the simple document printing of the target application is performed.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the effect of the first embodiment. Easy document printing of the target application is arranged on the first page of the application selection screen, making it easier to reach. In addition, the printer application is moved to the upper left, the copy application is moved to the upper right, and the scanner application and the like are arranged after the scanner application.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a change in the display order on the application selection screen according to the second embodiment. When a print job is accumulated from an external terminal and a business card size paper is set on the original glass, the default activation order is changed in the order in which the application selection screen is displayed.

  The default startup order of the printer is No. 2, but the application selection screen display order is changed to No. 1, and the default startup order of business card registration is No. 10, but the application selection screen display order is changed to No. 3. The default activation order for simple document printing is 12, but the application selection screen display order is changed to 2, and the default activation order for copying is 1, but the application selection screen display order is changed to 4. .

  The initial setting, browser, and map printing have no main body operation related to priority activation, and the application selection screen display order is fixed, so the application selection screen display order is not changed. For the other scanners, the application selection screen display order is shifted from the default activation order. Fax and language switching application are in the same order.

  In the second embodiment, control when a plurality of operations occur will be described based on the first embodiment. This is because the number of operations that occur is not limited to one. A use case in which a print job is accumulated from an external terminal (PC or smartphone), the print job is printed via the main body operation unit, and at the same time a business card is registered is a second embodiment.

  A main body operation in which a job accumulation operation is performed and a business card is set on the original glass is detected by the controller 1, and the operation selection unit 2 changes the display order of the application selection screens displayed on the application selection screen by two operations. Forward to. The operation unit 2 constructs and displays an application selection screen with the transferred order information.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the data processing unit 32 of the controller 1 changes the display order of the application selection screen by operating the main body (step S12). App that is linked to the operation of the main body of the job accumulation and the paper set on the original glass.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the effect of the second embodiment. Easy document printing and business card registration for the target app are located on the first page of the app selection screen, making it easier to reach. In addition, the printer application is moved to the upper left, the copy application is moved to the lower left, and the scanner application is arranged after the scanner application.

(Third embodiment)
The third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating determination of authentication information for changing the application order in the third embodiment. User language information is acquired from the authenticated user information (step S41). The language setting information of the device is acquired (step S42).

  It is determined whether the user language information matches the language setting information of the device (step S43). If the results match (step S43, Yes), the process ends. If the results do not match (step S43, No), the controller is notified (step S44) and the process ends.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display order change on the application selection screen according to the third embodiment. When a print job is accumulated from an external terminal and the language used by the authenticated user is different from the setting of the main body, the default activation order is changed to the application selection screen display order.

  The default startup order of the printer is No. 2, but the application selection screen display order is changed to No. 1, the default startup order of simple document printing is No. 12, but the application selection screen display order is changed to No. 2. . The default activation order of the language switching application is No. 15, but the application selection screen display order is changed to No. 3, and the default activation order of copy is No. 1, but the application selection screen display order is changed to No. 4. .

  The initial setting, browser, and map printing have no main body operation related to priority activation, and the application selection screen display order is fixed, so the application selection screen display order is not changed. For the other scanners, the application selection screen display order is shifted from the default activation order.

  When the user authentication is valid, the third embodiment is a use case in which user information is obtained and the information is used to change the application display order on the application selection screen. A user accumulates print jobs from an external terminal (PC or smartphone), and prints the print jobs through authentication on the main body.

  When authentication is performed, authentication information is also transferred to the controller 1, and the controller 1 transfers the application selection screen display order displayed on the application selection screen according to the authentication information to the operation unit 2. The operation unit 2 constructs and displays an application selection screen with the transferred order information.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the data processing unit 32 of the controller 1 changes the display order of the application selection screen by operating the main body (step S12). App that associates with job storage and app that associates authentication information.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the effect of the third embodiment. Easy document printing and language switching for the target app are located on the first page of the app selection screen, making it easier to reach. In addition, the printer application is moved to the upper left, the copy application is moved to the lower left, and the scanner application is arranged after the scanner application.

  According to the present embodiment, the arrangement order of application icons displayed on the application selection screen is variable, the image forming apparatus detects a main body operation, and an app associated with the generated main body operation is displayed at the top of the application selection screen. Therefore, the icon of the desired application can be quickly reached in the display of the application selection screen for selecting the desired application.

  The above-described embodiment shows an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. is there.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Controller 2 Operation part 11 Network 12 Engine 13 Authentication apparatus 31 Communication part 32 Data processing part 33 Data storage part 34 Image generation part 35 Printing part 44 Display part

JP 2014-126924 A

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus having a scanner function for scanning a sheet set in a document setting unit as one of a plurality of functions,
Display means for displaying a list of functions selected by user contact;
Detecting means for detecting a main body operation for setting a paper of a specific paper size in the document setting section ;
Management means for linking the function related to the main body operation,
The image forming apparatus, wherein when the main body operation is performed, the display unit changes the display so that the display order of the related functions in the function list display is higher . The document set unit is a document glass, an automatic document feeder, or a manual feed tray,
The specific paper size is a business card size,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the related function is a business card registration function. The display means includes
Arranging a plurality of application icons using the plurality of functions over a plurality of pages, and displaying an application selection screen for selecting each application icon,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the main body operation is performed, the display of the application selection screen is changed so that an application icon using the related function is arranged on the first page of the plurality of pages. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display unit changes the display of the application selection screen after detecting a user contact. An image forming system having an externally operated terminal and an image forming apparatus having a scanner function for scanning a sheet set in a document setting unit as one of a plurality of functions,
The image forming apparatus includes a display unit that displays a function list selected by a user's contact;
Detecting means for detecting a main body operation for setting a paper of a specific paper size in the document setting section ;
Management means for linking the function related to the main body operation,
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein when the main body operation is performed, the display unit changes the display so that the display order of the related functions in the function list display is higher . Processing to display a list of functions selected by user contact;
A process of detecting the operation of the main body of the image forming apparatus for setting a paper of a specific paper size in the document setting unit ;
A process of associating the function related to the main body operation;
When the main body operation is performed, a process of changing the display so that the display order of the related functions in the function list display is higher;
A program that causes a computer to execute.