JP7444100B2 - User interface device, image forming device, control method, and control program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a user interface device, an image forming apparatus, a control method, and a control program.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In offices of public offices, educational institutions, companies, etc., and stores such as convenience stores and print shops, there are many facilities and devices that are shared by multiple users. For example, image forming apparatuses such as facsimile machines, copy machines, and multi-function peripherals (MFPs) having multiple functions thereof are often shared in offices and stores.

For example, in a company, image forming apparatuses are often installed on each floor or department and shared by multiple users. For example, a user using a shared copy machine can move to the location where the copy machine is located, place a document on the copy machine's sheet feeder or scanning surface, and operate the buttons (soft keys) on the touch panel. Forces the copier to print copies of the specified size and number of copies.

In connection with this, for example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses an information processing device that includes a touch panel and is shared by a plurality of users. This information processing device aims to prevent users from operating incorrectly by shifting the operable area of each operation button on the screen displayed on the touch panel according to the operating trends of logged-in users. There is.

Generally, by sharing facilities and equipment among a large number of users, the operating rate of the facilities and equipment is improved, and there are advantages in that the overhead costs and installation space required for installation and operation can be reduced. However, since multiple users touch the touch panel when operating equipment or equipment, if a user is infected with a virus or bacteria, other users may come into contact with the touch panel that has the virus or bacteria attached. there is a possibility.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-49563

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a user interface device, an image forming device, a control method, and a control program that can limit the area on a touch panel that a user touches.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.

(1) a touch panel that displays a first operation screen including soft keys, receives a touch operation by a first user on the first operation screen, and outputs information regarding the position where the touch operation is performed; A storage unit that stores information regarding the position, and a display area of a soft key on a subsequent second operation screen displayed by the touch panel overlaps with the position based on the information regarding the position stored in the storage unit. A user interface device, comprising: a display control unit that sets a display area of the soft keys.

(2) The display control unit sets a touch area of the first user on the touch panel based on the information regarding the position, and sets a display area of the soft keys on a subsequent second operation screen displayed by the touch panel. The user interface device according to (1) above, wherein the display area of the soft keys is set so that the display area of the soft keys is included in the touch area of the first user.

(3) The second operation screen includes a background area and soft keys arranged on the background area, and the display control unit controls the display layout of the second operation screen only for the soft keys. The user interface device according to (1) or (2) above, for setting.

(4) The first operation screen is a common operation screen commonly used by a plurality of users, and the second operation screen is a custom operation screen customized by the first user. The user interface device according to (1) or (2).

(5) further comprising a user information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a user operating the touch panel; (1) above, wherein the soft key display area on the second operation screen for the user is set so that the soft key display area does not overlap with the position where the first user's touch operation is performed; The user interface device according to (2) or (4).

(6) The display control unit adjusts the display area of the soft keys so that the display area of the soft keys on the second operation screen for the second user does not overlap with the touch area of the first user. The user interface device according to (5) above.

(7) further comprising a user information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a user operating the touch panel, and when the second operation screen is an operation screen for a first user, the display control unit Determine whether or not a soft key can be placed within the touch area of the first user, and if it is determined that there is a soft key that cannot be placed, notify that the soft key cannot be placed, (1) and (2) above. , (4), (5), or (6).

(8) If the second operation screen is an operation screen for a second user different from the first user, the display control unit may be configured to Determine whether or not a soft key can be placed within the user's touch area, and if it is determined that there is a soft key that cannot be placed, notify that the soft key cannot be placed, (1), (2), (4) above. ), (5), or (6).

(9) The user interface device according to (7) or (8), wherein the display control unit causes the touch panel to display a countermeasure against the inability to arrange a soft key on the second operation screen.

(10) The second operation screen is a common operation screen commonly used by a plurality of users, and includes a background area and the soft keys arranged on the background area, and the display control unit , setting the display layout of the second operation screen so that the display area of the soft keys on the second operation screen for the first user is included in the contact area of the first user; 9) The user interface device according to item 9).

(11) further comprising: a communication unit that communicates with another user interface device on the network; and an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a touch area of another user on a touch panel of the other user interface device, and the display The control unit determines whether a soft key can be placed outside the contact area on the second operation screen of the other user interface device based on the information regarding the contact area, and determines that the soft key can be placed. If so, the user interface device according to (9) above, which notifies information regarding the other user interface device on which soft keys can be arranged.

(12) further comprising a user information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the user operating the touch panel; further comprising an operation screen storage unit that stores a plurality of custom operation screens customized for each user; When the second operation screen is an operation screen for a first user, the control unit selects a custom operation screen on which soft keys can be placed within a contact area of the first user from the plurality of custom operation screens. The user interface device according to (9) above, which is employed as the second operation screen.

(13) If the second operation screen is an operation screen for a second user different from the first user, the display control unit may be configured to The user interface device according to (12) above, wherein a custom operation screen on which soft keys can be arranged within a user's touch area is selected from the plurality of custom operation screens and adopted as the second operation screen.

(14) The display control unit sets the position, size, and shape of the soft key display area on the second operation screen so that the soft key display area overlaps the position. ) to (13).

(15) The display control unit records information regarding the position regarding the plurality of touch operations by the first user in the storage unit, and based on the information regarding the position regarding the multiple touch operations, The user interface device according to (2) above, which sets a contact area.

(16) The user interface device according to any one of (1) to (15) above, and an image generation unit that reads a document and generates print image data in response to an operation accepted by the user interface device. and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium based on the print image data.
An image forming apparatus having:

(17) A user interface device having a touch panel that displays an operation screen including soft keys, receives a user's touch operation on the operation screen, and outputs information regarding the position on the operation screen where the touch operation was performed. A control method, comprising: (a) displaying a first operation screen on the touch panel; (b) accepting a touch operation by a user on the first operation screen; and a position where the touch operation is performed. Based on the step (c) of storing information regarding the position in a storage unit, and the information regarding the position stored in the storage unit, the display area of the soft key on the subsequent second operation screen displayed by the touch panel is A control method comprising the step of setting a display area of the soft key so as to overlap the position of the soft key.

(18) A user interface device having a touch panel that displays an operation screen including soft keys, receives a user's touch operation on the operation screen, and outputs information regarding the position on the operation screen where the touch operation was performed. A control program that includes a step (a) of displaying a first operation screen on the touch panel, a step (b) of accepting a user's touch operation on the first operation screen, and a position where the touch operation is performed. Based on the step (c) of storing information regarding the position in a storage unit, and the information regarding the position stored in the storage unit, the display area of the soft key on the subsequent second operation screen displayed by the touch panel is A control program for causing a computer to execute a process including a step (d) of setting a display area of the soft key so as to overlap the position thereof.

According to the present invention, it is possible to limit the area on the touch panel that a user touches. Thereby, if a user is infected with a virus, bacteria, etc., it is possible to prevent or suppress the area where the virus, bacteria, etc. adhere to the touch panel from expanding.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a method for controlling an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an initial state operation screen (custom operation screen) of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a subsequent operation screen (custom operation screen) of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a case where a subsequent operation screen is displayed in normal mode as a comparative example. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation screen (common operation screen) of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a subsequent operation screen (custom operation screen) of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation screen (common operation screen) of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display layout of a subsequent operation screen (custom operation screen) of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display layout of a custom operation screen in an initial state as a comparative example. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a method for controlling an image forming apparatus in a fourth embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a notification that a soft key cannot be placed on a subsequent operation screen. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a countermeasure against the inability to arrange soft keys. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating another image forming apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display layout of a custom operation screen in which display of soft keys is restricted. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display layout of a common operation screen. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display layout of another custom operation screen.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in the description of the drawings, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. Further, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. An image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process, and is used to form (print) an image on paper, which is a recording medium, based on read original image data. The image forming apparatus 100 may be, for example, a facsimile device, a copy machine, or an MFP having a combination of these functions.

The image forming apparatus 100 includes an image reading section 110, an image processing section 120, an image forming section 130, a communication section 140, a paper feeding section 150, an operation display section 160, and a control section 170. These components are connected by a bus 101.

Image reading section 110 optically reads a document and generates an image data signal. Image reading unit 110 includes a light source, an optical system, an image sensor, and an analog-to-digital conversion circuit. In the image reading unit 110, a light source sequentially irradiates the original with light of each color (R, G, B). The optical system includes a plurality of mirrors and an imaging lens, and reflected light from the original is imaged on an image sensor through the mirrors and imaging lenses of the optical system. The image sensor reads reflected light corresponding to each color (R, G, B) line by line, and generates an electrical signal according to the intensity of the reflected light from the document. The generated electric signal is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal in an analog-to-digital conversion circuit, and is sent to the image processing section 120 as an image data signal.

The image processing unit 120 performs various image processing on the image data signal to generate print image data. Examples of the image processing include shading correction, γ correction, line-to-line correction, color shift correction, enlargement/reduction processing, color conversion processing, and the like. The image reading section 110 and the image processing section 120 function as an image generation section.

The image forming unit 130 forms an image by an electrophotographic process based on the print image data, and fixes the formed image on paper as a recording medium. More specifically, the image forming unit 130 charges the photoreceptor with a charger, and emits light onto the photoreceptor using a light emitting element such as a laser or an LED (Light Emitting Diode) based on print image data. to form an electrostatic latent image. Then, the image forming unit 130 attaches toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor, and then transfers the toner onto a sheet of paper.

The paper is fed by the paper feed section 150 and is transported to the image forming section 130 by the paper transport section. The paper onto which the toner has been transferred is transported to a fixing device by a transport belt. The fixing device fuses the toner transferred to the paper by heating and applying pressure. The paper on which the toner is fused and the image is formed is ejected from the paper ejection tray to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100.

The communication unit 140 is an interface for communicating with other devices via a network.

The paper feed section 150 includes at least one paper feed tray, and supplies sheets of paper to the image forming section 130 one by one.

The operation display unit 160 includes a touch panel including a display device and a position input device such as a touch pad, and has a structure that can process input reception and information display in parallel. For example, the operation display unit 160 displays software keys (hereinafter also referred to as "soft keys") on the operation screen of the display device, accepts input (operation) from the operator on the operation screen, and displays various settings, processing results, etc. Display information such as warnings and messages. The display device is disposed on the back side of the position input device and may include a liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting display, or the like. Further, the position input device may employ any one of a resistive film type, a capacitance type, a surface acoustic wave type, an infrared type, a load detection type, and the like.

By operating the soft keys displayed on the operation screen of the touch panel, the operator issues instructions regarding operation control such as start and stop of printing to the image forming apparatus 100, and information such as copy settings. Make input.

The soft keys may be, for example, a start key, a stop key, a reset key, a numeric keypad, an OK button in a popup, a cancel button, etc. More specifically, the operator operates a specific soft key (for example, turns it on/off) by touching (or pressing a specific soft key) a specific soft key on the screen using a finger or the like. , or selection).

Note that in this specification, the operation of the operator by touching the touch panel and operating the soft keys is simply referred to as "operation" or "touch operation." A soft key can be in the form of, for example, an icon, a button, a text section, a cell in a diagram, or the like. The touch panel can accept, for example, a tap, double tap, triple tap, long tap, etc. as an operation. Furthermore, the display area other than the soft keys (including blank areas) is also referred to as a "background area." The operator cannot manipulate the background area.

The operation display unit 160 outputs information regarding the position of an operation performed on the touch panel. More specifically, the information regarding the position includes the position coordinates of the operation performed on the touch panel. For example, when a position input device outputs a plurality of position coordinates corresponding to the area touched by the operator's finger, the information regarding the position is the coordinates of the center of gravity of the area touched by the operator's finger on the touch panel. (The coordinates of the center of gravity are calculated based on multiple coordinates.) Further, when the position input device outputs one position coordinate corresponding to the position touched by the operator's finger, the coordinate information includes the position coordinate. The coordinate information is transmitted to the control unit 170.

The control section 170 controls the image reading section 110, the image processing section 120, the image forming section 130, the communication section 140, the paper feeding section 150, and the operation display section 160. The control unit 170 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 171, an auxiliary storage unit 172, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 173, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 174, and these components are interconnected by an internal bus. ing.

The auxiliary storage unit 172 stores an operating system, various application programs, control programs for controlling each part of the image forming apparatus 100, and the like. Further, the auxiliary storage unit 172 functions as an operation screen storage unit and stores the display layout of the operation screens (common operation screen and a plurality of custom operation screens) in an initial state. The common operation screen is a common operation screen that is commonly used by multiple users. On the other hand, the custom operation screen is an operation screen in which the type, size, arrangement, etc. of soft keys can be customized by the user, and is characterized by a higher degree of freedom in display layout setting than the common operation screen.

The RAM 173 functions as a storage unit, and stores the results of arithmetic processing by the CPU 171, coordinate information related to operations, history of operated soft keys, display areas and sizes of soft keys, and positions where touch operations (to be described later) are performed (touch positions). , contact area history, print image data, etc. are temporarily stored. The ROM 174 stores various parameters used by the CPU 171 in calculation processing and the like. The CPU 171 implements various functions by executing control programs.

For example, the control unit 170 converts information regarding the position received from the operation display unit 160 into information about the operated soft key. Thereby, the control unit 170 recognizes which soft key has been operated among the soft keys displayed on the operation screen. A history of operated soft keys is stored in the RAM 173. The operation display section 160 and the control section 170 function as a user interface device.

Further, when the control unit 170 recognizes that the copy key 204 (see FIG. 3) has been operated, the control unit 170 controls the image generation unit to read the original and generate print image data, and the generated print image data and the copy Generate print jobs based on settings. The control unit 170 functions as a job execution unit and executes a print job, and the image forming unit 130 forms an image on paper based on print image data according to instructions from the control unit 170.

The image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment can execute any one of a plurality of modes including a normal mode, an infection prevention mode, and a sleep mode. The normal mode is a mode in which the main functions of the image forming apparatus 100, including image formation, can be executed. Further, the infection prevention mode is a mode in which, in addition to the functions of the normal mode, display control of the operation screen is performed for the purpose of limiting the area that the user touches on the touch panel. In addition, the sleep mode is a mode in which functions of the image forming apparatus 100 are stopped except for a part of the image forming apparatus 100. power supply will be stopped except for some units such as units that detect voltage fluctuations). For example, the user can instruct the transition from normal mode to infection prevention mode by changing the setting from normal mode to infection prevention mode on the operation screen for making mode settings.

In the following, a case will be described in which the operation mode of image forming apparatus 100 is set to infection prevention mode. The control unit 170 functions as a display operation unit, and based on the information regarding the position stored in the RAM 173, the display area of the soft keys on the subsequent operation screen displayed by the touch panel overlaps with the position where the user's operation was performed. In other words, the display area of the soft keys is set so that the user can perform operations only in as narrow a range as possible. The details of the function of the display control section will be described later.

<Control method>
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a method for controlling the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. The processing in the figure is realized by the CPU 171 of the control unit 170 executing a control program. Further, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation screen (custom operation screen) 200 in an initial state of the image forming apparatus. Further, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a subsequent operation screen (custom operation screen) 300 of the image forming apparatus 100.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the touch panel displays an operation screen (first operation screen) (step S101). As shown in FIG. 3, the operation screen 200 is, for example, a custom operation screen for making copy settings, and includes a number of copies setting section 201, a print setting section 202, a page aggregation setting section 203, and a copy key 204. The number of copies setting section 201, print setting section 202, page aggregation setting section 203, and copy key 204 each correspond to soft keys and are arranged on the background area 205. Note that areas TA1 to TA4 shown in gray in the figure are areas (contact areas) that include positions touched by a finger or the like on the touch panel when the user operates the operation screen 200 in step S102, which will be described later. .

An overview of the soft keys included in the operation screen 200 will be explained below. The number of copies setting is used to set the number of copies. By the user operating (for example, tapping) the "+" or "-" part of the number of copies setting section 201, the set number of copies can be increased or decreased, respectively. Further, the print settings are used to set single-sided/double-sided settings for each of the original and printed matter. By operating the print setting section 202 by the user, print setting options can be sequentially displayed at the same position. Further, page aggregation settings are used when a plurality of pages are aggregated and printed. By operating the page aggregation setting section 203 by the user, options for page aggregation settings can be sequentially displayed at the same position. In the illustrated example, the number of copies setting is set to "1," the print setting is set to "one-sided → one-sided," and the page aggregation setting is set to "off." Further, the copy key 204 is a soft key for instructing the image forming apparatus 100 to start copying, and is the most frequently used soft key because the user always operates it when executing copying. it is conceivable that.

Next, returning to FIG. 2, the user's operation on the operation screen 200 is accepted (step S102). The touch panel position input device receives a user's operation on the operation screen 200 and transmits information regarding a position on the touch panel that the user touches through the operation (that is, a position where the user's operation is performed) to the control unit 170.

Next, information regarding the position is stored (step S103). The control unit 170 stores information regarding the position where the user's operation was performed in the RAM 173.

Next, the display area of the soft keys on the subsequent operation screen (second operation screen) is set (step S104).

The display control unit sets the display area of the soft keys based on the information regarding the position stored in the RAM 173 so that the display area of the soft keys on the subsequent operation screen overlaps with the position where the user's operation was performed. . For example, the display control unit sets the copy key display area so that the center of gravity of the copy key display area on the subsequent operation screen overlaps with the position where the user's operation was performed on the operation screen 200. As a result, on the subsequent operation screen, the copy key is displayed at the same position as the position touched by the user on the touch panel.

Furthermore, assuming that the user operates the same soft key multiple times, the contact areas TA1 to TA4 shown in FIG. The soft key display area can also be set to be included in TA4.

As shown in FIG. 4, for example, a subsequent operation screen 300 is a custom operation screen for performing color settings and paper tray settings, and includes a color setting section 301, a paper tray setting section 302, and a copy key 303. . The color setting section 301, paper tray setting section 302, and copy key 303 correspond to soft keys and are arranged on the background area 304.

Color settings are used to set colors when printing. The user can display color setting options by operating the color setting section 301 on the operation screen 300. FIG. 4 illustrates a case where "auto color" is selected.

Further, the paper tray setting is used to set a tray containing paper used for printing. When the user operates the paper tray setting section 302, paper tray setting options are sequentially displayed. Paper tray options include "auto", "bypass tray", and "tray 1" to "tray 5", and FIG. 4 illustrates a case where "auto" is selected.

The contact areas TA1 to TA4 can be set, for example, by the following procedure. In step S102, it is assumed that the user operates (for example, taps) within the display area of the number of copies setting section 201 (for example, a position corresponding to "+"). The control unit 170 compares the display area of each soft key on the operation screen 200 with information regarding the position where the user's operation was performed, and identifies that the operated soft key is the number of copies setting unit 201. do. Information regarding the display area of the soft keys (for example, the upper left position coordinates and the size of the area) is stored in the RAM 173 in advance.

The display control unit sets a soft key corresponding to the touch position in the touch area. The display control section sets, for example, an area that includes the number of copies setting section 201 and is slightly wider than the number of copies setting section 201 (for example, an area shown in gray) as the contact area TA1. The reason why the contact area TA1 is made slightly wider than the number of copies setting section 201 is to take into account the area of the user's finger in contact with the surface of the touch panel. Also, when an operation is performed at a position corresponding to the contact areas TA2 to TA4, the contact areas TA2 to TA4 are set in the same manner as the contact area TA1. The set contact areas TA1 to TA4 are stored in the RAM 173.

Alternatively, if an operation has been performed multiple times on the operation screen before the operation screen 200, the display control unit may set the contact area based on the stored history of information regarding the positions of the multiple operations. In the display control unit, for example, an area slightly wider than the area including the position where these operations are performed may be set as the contact area.

In this embodiment, the display control section controls the software so that the display areas of the color setting section 301, paper tray setting section 302, and copy key 303 on the operation screen 300 are included in each of the contact areas TA1, TA2, and TA4. Set the key display area. Furthermore, if the user has operated multiple operation screens, the display control unit controls not only the touch area due to the operation on the operation screen 200 but also the user's touch area stored in the RAM 173 (storage unit). Based on the history, the position, size, and shape of the display area of the soft key to be displayed are set so that it overlaps with any of the user's touch areas and has a size smaller than or equal to the touch area.

For example, the display control unit sets the display area of the color setting unit 301 so that the display area of the color setting unit 301 is included in the contact area TA1. More specifically, the display control unit adjusts the display of the color setting unit 301 so that the display area of the color setting unit 301 and the contact area TA1 overlap and do not exceed the vertical and horizontal lengths of the contact area TA1. Set the vertical and horizontal length of the area.

The display control unit also controls the display area of the paper tray setting unit 302 so that the display area of the paper tray setting unit 302 and the contact area TA2 overlap and do not exceed the vertical and horizontal lengths of the contact area TA2. Set the length in the vertical and horizontal directions. Therefore, the paper tray setting unit 302 may be configured to sequentially display options at the same position according to the user's operation.

Note that the operation screen 200 has three setting sections: a copy setting section 201, a print setting section 202, and a page aggregation setting section 203, but the operation screen 300 has two setting sections: a color setting section 301 and a paper tray setting section. There are only two settings sections. Therefore, nothing is displayed in the contact area TA3 on the operation screen 300. On the other hand, if the number of soft keys to be arranged on the operation screen 300 is greater than the number of soft keys displayed on the operation screen 200, it is not possible to arrange all the soft keys within the contact area. Places only selected softkeys within the touch area based on set priorities. This prioritization is done so that soft keys that are considered to be operated frequently are selected preferentially. Alternatively, if there are many soft keys to be arranged on the subsequent operation screen 300, all the soft keys may be arranged within the contact area by resizing (reducing or trimming).

The display control unit also controls the length of the copy key 303 in the vertical and horizontal directions so that the display area of the copy key 303 overlaps with the contact area TA4 and does not exceed the length of the contact area TA4 in the vertical and horizontal directions. Set.

Further, among the background areas, the display area including the character string "color" is related to the color setting section 301, so if these are displayed separately, the operation screen may become difficult to understand. Therefore, in such a case, the display control unit sets the display layout of the operation screen 300 not only for the color setting unit 301 but also for the display area including the related character string “color”. The same applies to the display area of “Paper Tray” and the paper tray setting section 302. On the other hand, when the copy key 303 does not have an associated background area, the display layout of the operation screen 300 is set only for the copy key 303.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a case where a subsequent operation screen is displayed in the normal mode as a comparative example. The subsequent operation screen 310 has a color setting section 311 and a paper tray setting section 312, which correspond to the color setting section 301 and paper tray setting section 302 of the subsequent operation screen 300 in FIG. The display area of the paper tray setting section 312 also extends to the display area outside the contact areas TA1 to TA3. Therefore, when the user operates the color setting section 311 and the paper tray setting section 312, there is a possibility that the user touches the display area outside the contact areas T1 to T3.

In this way, in the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the touch panel displays the operation screen 200, accepts the user's operation on the operation screen 200, and outputs information regarding the position on the touch panel where the operation was performed. The RAM 173 stores information regarding the position, and the display control unit adjusts the soft keys based on the information regarding the position so that the display area of the soft keys on the subsequent operation screen 300 overlaps with the position where the user's operation was performed. Set the display area. Alternatively, the touch areas TA1 to TA4 are set, and the soft key display area is set so that the soft key display area on the operation screen 300 is included in the touch areas TA1 to TA4.

The user interface device of this embodiment described above has the following effects.

For example, it is possible to limit the area on the touch panel that the user touches during a period during which the same user is considered to be operating the touch panel, such as a period until one print job is completed. Thereby, if a user is infected with a virus, bacteria, etc., it is possible to prevent or suppress the area where the virus, bacteria, etc. adhere to the touch panel from expanding.

(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the case where the user operates the custom operation screen has been described. In the second embodiment, a case will be described in which operations are performed on a common operation screen. The second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the configuration that employs a common operation screen, so in order to avoid duplication of explanation, the same configuration as the first embodiment will not be described in detail below. The explanation will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation screen (common operation screen) of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a subsequent operation screen (custom operation screen) of the image forming apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 6, the operation screen 210 is a common operation screen for performing copy settings, for example, and includes a color setting section 211, a magnification setting section 212, a paper setting section 213, a density setting section 214, and a duplex setting section 215. , a staple setting section 216, a number of copies setting section 220, and a footer area 230.

The color setting section 211 is used to perform color settings. When the user operates the color setting section 211, color setting options are sequentially displayed at the same position. FIG. 6 illustrates a case where "auto color" is selected as the setting value.

In the example shown in the figure, the color setting section 211 has, for example, a rectangular area including, in order from the left, an icon, a setting item "color", and a setting value "auto color". For example, an area within a rectangular area excluding the icon, the setting item "color", and the setting value "auto color" can be set as soft keys that can be operated by the user. Alternatively, the entire rectangular area may be set as a soft key.

Further, the display method of options in the magnification setting section 212, paper setting section 213, density setting section 214, double-sided setting section 215, and staple setting section 216 can be set in the same manner as in the color setting section 211.

Further, the number of copies setting section 220 includes a numeric keypad 221 and a number of copies display section 222. The numeric keypad 221 includes soft keys "0" to "9" and "C (clear)", and is used by the operator to input the number of copies. Further, the number of copies display section 222 displays the number of copies input using the numeric keypad 221.

Further, the footer area 230 is located at the bottom of the operation screen 210 and includes a home screen key 231, a reset key 232, a stop key 233, and a start key 234. Of these, the start key 234 is considered to be used most frequently because the operator always operates it when executing a print job.

For example, assume that a user performs color settings, paper settings, and duplex settings, and instructs image forming apparatus 100 to copy a document. The user operates the color setting section 211, paper setting section 213, duplex setting section 215, and start key 234.

The display control unit sets the soft key display area so that the soft key display area on subsequent operation screens overlaps the position where the user performed the operation, based on information regarding the position of the user's operation. do.

Alternatively, the display operation unit sets the contact areas TA5 to TA8 indicated by diagonal lines based on the information regarding the position of the operation performed by the user, so that the display area of the soft keys on the subsequent operation screen is set to the contact areas TA1 to TA4. You can also set the softkey display area to include: The contact area TA5 can be set, for example, based on the position of multiple operations performed on the color setting section 211 by the user on the operation screen before the operation screen 210. In other words, the contact area TA5 is set to include the positions of multiple operations by the user. Further, the contact areas TA6 to TA8 are also set to include the positions of multiple operations by the user for the paper setting section 213, duplex setting section 215, and start key 234, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 7, the display control section sets the display area of the number of copies setting section 321 so that the display area of the number of copies setting section 321 on the subsequent operation screen 320 is included in the contact area TA5. Similarly, the display control unit configures the print setting section 322, page aggregation setting section 322, page aggregation setting section 323, and copy key 324 so that the display areas of the print setting section 322, page aggregation setting section 323, and copy key 324 are included in the contact areas TA6, T7, and T8, respectively. 323 and the display area of the copy key 324.

In this way, the display areas of the copy number setting section 321, print setting section 322, page aggregation setting section 323, and copy key 324 of the operation screen 320 are changed to the areas included in the contact areas TA5 to TA8, that is, the contact areas TA5 to TA8, respectively. The contact area is limited to a position overlapping with TA8 and a size smaller than each contact area TA5 to TA8. This prevents the user from operating the soft keys outside the contact areas TA5 to TA8 on the operation screen 320.

On the other hand, if the display area of the copy number setting section 321, print setting section 322, page aggregation setting section 323, and copy key 324 is made too small, the operability of these soft keys may be impaired. are preferably set to approximately the same size as each of the contact areas TA5 to TA8.

The interface device of this embodiment described above has the following effects in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.

Based on the position of the user's operation on the operation screen 210, the area in which the user touches the touch panel on the subsequent operation screen 320 can be limited.

(Third embodiment)
In the first and second embodiments, a case was described in which the soft key display area of a subsequent operation screen is set for the same user who operated the operation screen (referred to as the "first user"). . In the third embodiment, a case will be described in which a soft key display area on a subsequent operation screen is set for a second user different from the first user. Below, in order to avoid duplication of description, detailed description of the same configuration as the second embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation screen (common operation screen) of the image forming apparatus 100 of FIG. 8. . Further, FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display layout of a subsequent operation screen (custom operation screen) of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display layout of a custom operation screen in an initial state as a comparative example. It is.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image reading section 110, an image processing section 120, an image forming section 130, a communication section 140, a paper feeding section 150, an operation display section 160, and a control section. In addition to 170, it has a user authentication section 180.

The user authentication unit 180 authenticates the user of the touch panel operator by comparing the data obtained by scanning the ID information of the ID card carried by the user with authentication data using a short-range wireless reader unit (not shown). may be configured to do so. The user authentication unit 180 outputs user information such as the operator's user ID, name, and department based on the comparison result. The control unit 170 functions as a user information acquisition unit, acquires user information (information regarding the user), and stores it in the RAM 173.

The user authentication unit 180 also acquires biometric information such as the shape of the iris from an image of the face of the touch panel operator using an imaging device such as a camera, and compares the biometric information with pre-registered authentication information. The configuration may be such that authentication is performed by The authentication information is stored in advance in the auxiliary storage section 172. The control unit 170 determines the user operating the touch panel based on the user information output by the user authentication unit 180.

As shown in FIG. 9, the operation screen 240 is a common operation screen for performing copy settings, for example, and includes a color setting section 241, a magnification setting section 242, a paper setting section 243, a density setting section 244, and a duplex setting section 245. , a staple setting section 246, a number of copies setting section 250, and a footer area 260. These are the same as the color setting section 211, magnification setting section 212, paper setting section 213, density setting section 214, duplex setting section 215, staple setting section 216, number of copies setting section 220, and footer area 230 shown in FIG. Since this is just a configuration, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

For example, assume that a first user makes color settings and magnification settings, and instructs image forming apparatus 100 to copy a document. The first user operates the color setting section 241 and the magnification setting section 242 to perform color setting and magnification setting, respectively. The first user also operates the start key 264 to instruct copying.

In this embodiment, the control unit 170 functions as a display control unit, and based on the user information, the display area of the soft keys on the subsequent operation screen for the second user corresponds to the area operated by the first user. Set the softkey display area so that it does not overlap with the position.

Alternatively, assuming a case where a user performs multiple operations on the same soft key, the display operation unit may be arranged so that the display area of the soft key on the subsequent operation screen for the second user is the same as the touch area of the first user. It is also possible to set the display area of the soft keys so that they do not overlap with TA9 and TA10. The contact areas TA9 and TA10 are set based on information regarding the position of the operation performed by the first user. The contact area TA9 can be set, for example, based on the position of multiple operations performed on the color setting section 241 and the magnification setting section 242 by the user on the operation screen before the operation screen 240. In other words, the contact area TA9 is set to include positions of multiple operations by the user. The contact area TA10 is also set to include positions where the user has operated the start key 264 multiple times.

As shown in FIG. 10, the display control unit determines, based on the user information, that the display area of the soft keys on the subsequent operation screen 330 for the second user corresponds to the contact areas TA11 to TA14 (shown in gray) of the second user. ), and set the soft key display area so as not to overlap with the first user's touch areas TA9 and TA10. The contact areas TA11 to TA14 are contact areas of the second user on the operation screen displayed on the touch panel before the operation screen 240.

The display control unit determines whether the soft key display area on the operation screen 330 is outside the first user's touch area, based on the history of the touch areas of the first and second users for the operation screens before the operation screen 240. In addition, the display area of the soft keys is set to be within the touch area of the second user.

For example, the display control unit controls the number of copies setting unit so that the display area of the number of copies setting unit 331 on the operation screen 330 is included in the second user's contact area TA11 and does not overlap with the first user's contact area TA9. Set the display area of 331 to a position shifted to the right. Furthermore, if only the display area of the number of copies setting section 331 is positioned differently in the horizontal direction, the display becomes difficult to see. is similarly set at a position shifted to the right with respect to the contact area TA9.

As shown in FIG. 11, the operation screen 340 in the initial state as a comparative example includes a number of copies setting section 341, a print setting section 342, a page aggregation setting section 343, and a copy key 344, and these display areas are as shown in FIG. This is the same as the display area of the copy number setting section 201, print setting section 202, page aggregation setting section 203, and copy key 204 in . Further, in the figure, contact areas TA9 and TA10 are shown by broken lines.

The display area of the copy number setting section 341 and the contact area TA9 overlap in a part of the area, and the display area of the copy key 344 and the contact area TA10 overlap in a part of the area. Therefore, when the second user operates the copy number setting section 341 and the copy key 344 of the subsequent operation screen 340, there is a possibility that the second user will touch the contact areas TA9 and TA10.

The user interface device of this embodiment described above has the following effects in addition to the effects of the first and second embodiments.

In the subsequent operation screen 340 displayed to the second user, it is possible to prevent or suppress the second user from touching the first user's contact areas TA9 and TA10 on the touch panel.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the first and second embodiments described above, the soft keys of the subsequent operation screen are arranged within the touch area of the user who operated the operation screen. Further, in the third embodiment, it has been described that the soft keys for the subsequent operation screen for the second user are arranged outside the touch area of the first user. However, as the area touched by the user increases, soft keys may not be able to be placed within or outside the touched area. In the fourth embodiment, it is determined whether a soft key can be placed inside or outside the contact area on the subsequent operation screen according to the user's authentication result, and if the soft key cannot be placed, the appropriate countermeasures are taken. We will explain when to present a proposal. Below, in order to avoid duplication of explanation, detailed explanation of the same configuration as the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a method for controlling the image forming apparatus 100 in the fourth embodiment. The processing in the flowchart in the figure is realized by the CPU 171 of the control unit 170 executing a control program. Further, FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a notification that a soft key cannot be arranged on a subsequent operation screen, and FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a countermeasure against the inability to arrange a soft key. Further, FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating another image forming apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via a network, and FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display layout of a custom operation screen in which display of soft keys is restricted. be. Further, FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display layout of a common operation screen, and FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display layout of another custom operation screen.

The processing in steps S201 to S204 in the flowchart of FIG. 12 is the same as the processing in steps S101 to S104 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

In step S205, information about the user operating the touch panel is acquired. The user authentication section 180 outputs user information based on the authentication result of the user operating the touch panel, and the control section 170 acquires the user information.

Next, it is determined whether the operator is the first user (step S206). If the operator of the touch panel is the first user (step S206: YES), the display control unit considers that the target for displaying the subsequent operation screen is the first user, and in the subsequent operation screen, It is determined whether a soft key can be placed within the touch area of the user (step S207). If it is determined that it is possible to arrange the soft keys within the touch area of the first user (step S207: YES), the display area of the soft keys on the subsequent operation screen is set. This process is the same as the process in step S105 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, so detailed explanation will be omitted.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the soft key cannot be placed within the first user's contact area (step S207: NO), a message that the soft key cannot be placed is displayed on the touch panel (step S209). As shown in FIG. 13, the display control unit displays, for example, on the screen 350, something like "Operating in infection prevention mode. The operation screen cannot be displayed because some buttons cannot be placed." control.

Next, on the subsequent operation screen, a countermeasure plan for the inability to arrange the soft keys is displayed (step S210). As shown in FIG. 14, the display control unit controls, for example, to display response options (a) to (d) on the operation screen 360. The user can (a) limit and display the buttons (soft keys) to be displayed on a custom operation screen on the image forming apparatus 100, (b) display a common operation screen on the image forming apparatus 100, (c) do other things. (d) displaying another usable custom operation screen in the image forming apparatus 100;

Note that in the case where a soft key cannot be arranged, if the user has decided on the process to be executed from options (a) to (d), the option corresponding to the process to be executed is set in advance, and the process in step S209 is The process of notifying that the soft key cannot be placed and the process of displaying the response options (a) to (d) in step S210 may be omitted.

Regarding (c) above, as shown in FIG. 15, the other image forming apparatuses are, for example, a copy machine A installed on the first floor and a copy machine B installed on the third floor of a building of a certain company. The user interface device of the image forming apparatus 100 communicates with the user interface devices of other image forming apparatuses on the network 102 and obtains information regarding other users' touch areas on the touch panels of the other user interface devices.

The display control unit determines whether a soft key can be placed outside the contact area on a subsequent operation screen of another user interface device, based on the information regarding the contact area. When the display control unit determines that the soft key can be placed outside the contact area, the display control unit displays information regarding other user interface devices on which the soft key can be placed (for example, the installation location of the copy machine, name, IP (Internet Protocol) address, etc.) Notify.

Next, processing according to the countermeasure selected by the user is executed (step S211). For example, as shown in FIG. 16, when the above (a) is selected, the display control unit limits the soft keys to be displayed and displays them on the custom operation screen 370. In the example shown in the same figure, the area in which soft keys can be placed is limited due to previous operations, so the number of copies setting section 371, print setting section 372, and copy key 373 are It is placed closer to the center of the Further, in the initial setting display layout of the custom operation screen (see FIG. 11), the page aggregation setting section 343 is arranged, but the page aggregation section setting is not arranged on the custom operation screen 370.

If the user does not feel inconvenienced even if the display of some of the soft keys is restricted, the displayed soft keys can be restricted and displayed on the custom operation screen 370, so that the user can continue to use the custom operation screen that he or she is familiar with. can.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, when the above (b) is selected, the display control section displays a common operation screen 380. In the example shown in the figure, the print setting section 382 and page aggregation setting section 383 are arranged at the bottom of the common operation screen 380 because the area in which soft keys can be placed is limited due to previous operations. , a start key 384 is arranged toward the center of the common operation screen 380 in the left-right direction.

Furthermore, when the above (c) is selected, the control unit 170 shifts the operation mode to sleep mode, and turns off the display of the touch panel (stops accepting operations on the image forming apparatus 100).

Furthermore, when the above (d) is selected, the display control unit selects a custom operation screen to be used as a subsequent operation screen from a plurality of custom operation screens customized by the user. More specifically, if the subsequent operation screen is an operation screen for the first user, a custom operation screen on which soft keys can be placed within the contact area of the first user is selected. Furthermore, if the subsequent operation screen is an operation screen for the second user, a custom operation screen is selected in which soft keys can be placed outside the first user's touch area and within the second user's touch area. A plurality of custom operation screens are stored in the auxiliary storage section 172.

In FIG. 18, another custom operation screen 390 including a color setting section 391, a number of copies setting section 392, a print setting section 393, a page aggregation setting section 394, and a copy key 395 is illustrated as a subsequent operation screen.

Returning to FIG. 12, if the operator of the touch panel is not the first user (for example, the second user) (step S206: NO), the display control unit controls the operation of the first user in the subsequent operation screen. It is determined whether the soft key can be placed outside the contact area (step S212). If the soft key cannot be placed outside the first user's touch area (step S212: NO), the process moves to step S209. On the other hand, if the soft key can be placed outside the first user's touch area (step S212: YES), it is determined whether the soft key can be placed within the second user's touch area on the subsequent operation screen. (Step S213). If the soft key can be placed within the second user's touch area (step S213: YES), the process moves to step S208. On the other hand, if the soft key cannot be placed within the second user's touch area (step S213: NO), the process moves to step S209.

The user interface device of the present embodiment described above provides the following effects in addition to the effects of the first to third embodiments.

Depending on the user's authentication result, on the subsequent operation screen, it is determined whether the soft key can be placed inside or outside the contact area, and if it cannot be placed, a countermeasure is presented to the user. can.

As described above, in the embodiment, the user interface device and the image forming apparatus 100 including the user interface device have been described. However, it goes without saying that those skilled in the art can appropriately add, modify, and omit the present invention within the scope of its technical concept.

For example, in the first to fourth embodiments described above, the user interface device is an image forming device, but the user interface device of the present invention is not limited to an image forming device. The user interface device of the present invention can also be applied to information equipment having a touch panel, such as a vending machine and an automatic teller machine (ATM).

In addition, if it is determined that a predetermined reset time has elapsed since the user last operated the touch panel, the display layout of the operation screen is initialized, that is, the initial display layout (for example, the display layout of the operation screen in Figure 3). ). The reset time is sufficient time to kill viruses and bacteria that have adhered to the surface of the touch panel when touched by the operator, and can range from one hour to several days, depending on the type of virus or bacteria that is assumed It can be set to a certain degree. Even if viruses and bacteria adhere to the touch panel after the operation, it is considered that these viruses and bacteria will be extinct or significantly reduced after the reset time has elapsed since the operation. Note that the reset time may be configured to be set appropriately by the administrator of the image forming apparatus 100 depending on the type of virus or bacteria assumed, or may be configured to be set appropriately from an external database etc. via the network. It may be configured to obtain the value.

Further, the control program may be provided by a computer-readable recording medium such as a USB memory, a flexible disk, or a CD-ROM, or may be provided online via a network such as the Internet. In this case, a program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium is usually transferred and stored in a memory, storage, or the like. Furthermore, this control program may be provided, for example, as independent application software, or may be incorporated into the software of each device as a function of the server.

Furthermore, in the embodiments, part or all of the processing executed by the control program may be executed by replacing it with hardware such as a circuit.

100 image forming device,
110 image reading unit,
120 image processing unit,
130 image forming section,
140 Communications Department,
150 paper feed section,
160 operation display section,
170 control unit,
171 CPU,
172 Auxiliary storage unit,
173 RAM,
174 ROM,
180 User authentication section.

Claims (18)

a touch panel that displays a first operation screen including soft keys, receives a touch operation by a first user on the first operation screen, and outputs information regarding a position where the touch operation is performed;
a storage unit that stores information regarding the position;
Based on the information regarding the position stored in the storage unit, set the display area of the soft key so that the display area of the soft key on a subsequent second operation screen displayed by the touch panel overlaps with the position. A user interface device comprising: a display control section for controlling the display; The display control unit sets a touch area of the first user on the touch panel based on the information regarding the position, and the display control unit sets a touch area of the first user on the touch panel, and the display area of the soft keys on a subsequent second operation screen displayed by the touch panel is configured to The user interface device according to claim 1, wherein the display area of the soft keys is set to be included in a first user's touch area. The second operation screen includes a background area and soft keys arranged on the background area,
3. The user interface device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit sets a display layout of the second operation screen only for the soft keys. The first operation screen is a common operation screen commonly used by multiple users,
3. The user interface device according to claim 1, wherein the second operation screen is a custom operation screen customized by the first user. further comprising a user information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a user operating the touch panel,
The display control unit is configured to adjust a display area of soft keys on the second operation screen for a second user different from the first user based on information regarding the user so that a touch operation by the first user 5. The user interface device according to claim 1, 2, or 4, wherein the display area of the soft key is set so as not to overlap the position where the soft key is pressed. The display control unit sets a display area of the soft keys on the second operation screen for the second user so that the display area of the soft keys does not overlap with a contact area of the first user. A user interface device according to claim 5. further comprising a user information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a user operating the touch panel,
When the second operation screen is an operation screen for a first user, the display control unit determines whether or not a soft key can be placed within a contact area of the first user, and selects a soft key that cannot be placed. 7. The user interface device according to claim 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6, wherein if it is determined that there is a soft key, the user interface device notifies that the soft key cannot be placed. When the second operation screen is an operation screen for a second user different from the first user, the display control unit may be configured to display a screen outside the touch area of the first user and a touch area of the second user. Claim 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6, wherein it is determined whether or not a soft key can be placed within the area, and if it is determined that there is a soft key that cannot be placed, a notification is sent that the soft key cannot be placed. user interface device. 9. The user interface device according to claim 7, wherein the display control unit causes the touch panel to display a countermeasure against the inability to arrange a soft key on the second operation screen. The second operation screen is a common operation screen commonly used by a plurality of users, and includes a background area and the soft keys arranged on the background area,
The display control unit controls the display layout of the second operation screen so that a display area of soft keys on the second operation screen for the first user is included in a touch area of the first user. 10. The user interface device of claim 9. a communications unit that communicates with other user interface devices on the network;
further comprising an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a touch area of another user on the touch panel of the other user interface device;
The display control unit determines whether a soft key can be placed outside the contact area on the second operation screen of the other user interface device based on the information regarding the contact area, and determines whether the soft key can be placed outside the contact area. The user interface device according to claim 9, wherein when the determination is made, information regarding the other user interface device on which soft keys can be placed is notified. further comprising a user information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a user operating the touch panel,
It further includes an operation screen storage unit that stores a plurality of custom operation screens customized for each user,
When the second operation screen is an operation screen for a first user, the display control unit may configure a custom operation screen on which soft keys can be placed within a touch area of the first user to display the custom operation screen on the plurality of custom operation screens. 10. The user interface device according to claim 9, wherein the user interface device selects from the following and adopts it as the second operation screen. When the second operation screen is an operation screen for a second user different from the first user, the display control unit may be configured to display a screen outside the touch area of the first user and a touch area of the second user. 13. The user interface device according to claim 12, wherein a custom operation screen on which soft keys can be arranged within an area is selected from the plurality of custom operation screens and adopted as the second operation screen. 14. The display control unit according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit sets the position, size, and shape of the soft key display area on the second operation screen so that the soft key display area overlaps the position. The user interface device according to any one of the items. The display control unit records information regarding the position regarding the plurality of touch operations by the first user in the storage unit, and adjusts the contact area based on the information regarding the position regarding the multiple touch operations. 3. The user interface device of claim 2. A user interface device according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
an image generation unit that reads a document and generates print image data in response to an operation accepted by the user interface device;
an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium based on the print image data;
An image forming apparatus having: A method for controlling a user interface device having a touch panel that displays an operation screen including soft keys, receives a user's touch operation on the operation screen, and outputs information regarding a position on the operation screen where the touch operation was performed. There it is,
step (a) of displaying a first operation screen on the touch panel;
a step (b) of accepting a user's touch operation on the first operation screen;
a step (c) of storing information regarding the position where the touch operation was performed in a storage unit;
Based on the information regarding the position stored in the storage unit, set the display area of the soft key so that the display area of the soft key on a subsequent second operation screen displayed by the touch panel overlaps with the position. step (d) of
A control method having. A control program for a user interface device having a touch panel that displays an operation screen including soft keys, receives a user's touch operation on the operation screen, and outputs information regarding the position on the operation screen where the touch operation was performed. There it is,
step (a) of displaying a first operation screen on the touch panel;
a step (b) of accepting a user's touch operation on the first operation screen;
a step (c) of storing information regarding the position where the touch operation was performed in a storage unit;
Based on the information regarding the position stored in the storage unit, set the display area of the soft key so that the display area of the soft key on a subsequent second operation screen displayed by the touch panel overlaps with the position. step (d) of
A control program that causes a computer to perform processes including