JPH09135320A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of components such as key switches and buttons for arrow keys by using a * key and a # key in place of the arrow keys, to reduce the cost, to make the size of the operation panel small and to realize a compact communication equipment. SOLUTION: An operation section main body 3-1 is provided with a display section 3-2 such as an LCD to display various information, various function keys including a data registration key 3-3 and a dial registration key, and a ten-key 3-4 for dial input or the like, also with various edit keys including a tone key, a pause key, a radial key, a set key 3-5, a clear key, and with a start key 3-7, a stop key 3-6 or the like. That is, in comparison with the operation section of a conventional equipment, the arrow keys are omitted and the * key of the ten-key 3-4 is used in place of the arrow keys. Furthermore, an arrow key mark to be substituted is indicated to a lower side of a key top of the * key and the # key for the convenience of the use.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a menu item selection system in a communication device such as a facsimile device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional facsimile apparatus, there are many menu types and menu selection items such as selection of communication service functions such as confidential transmission and relay instruction, and selection of facsimile setting items such as time registration and terminal number registration. Was. Then, when searching or selecting such a menu item, a specially provided arrow key or the like is used.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of an operating section in such a conventional facsimile apparatus.

As shown in the figure, the operating section 2-1 has a right arrow key 2-2 and a left arrow key 2-3 for selecting menu items and the like. The other elements will be described in Examples.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, a special key switch or key button is required for selecting a menu item, which not only increases the cost but also requires a space for arranging the keys. That is one of the factors that hinders the compactness of the device.

Further, since the above-mentioned arrow keys are arranged outside the frequently used ten-key pad, start key, and stop key, the operator must move the viewpoint in order to press the arrow keys. It has a drawback that it deteriorates operability.

An object of the present invention is to provide a communication device which can improve the operability of selecting a menu item without using a special key for selecting a menu item.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in a facsimile machine or the like having a numeric keypad section and a display section, the current operation state is to select a menu item, and the * key is pressed. When it is detected via the numeric keypad, the display indicates that the menu item before the currently selectable menu item is available for selection, while the numeric keypad indicates that the # key has been pressed. When it is detected through the operation, the operation control means for displaying on the display unit that the menu item next to the currently selectable menu item is in the selectable state is provided. The relationship between the * key and the # key may be reversed.

In the present invention, by using the * and # keys instead of the conventional arrow keys, the number of parts such as key switches and buttons used for the arrow keys is reduced, the cost is reduced and the operation panel is downsized. A compact communication device can be realized.

Furthermore, during the operations of searching and selecting menu items, the operator can perform smooth operations without moving the viewpoint.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the CPU 1-3 is connected to the system bus 1-
The entire device is controlled via 1. ROM1-
Reference numeral 2 stores a program or the like for the CPU 1-3 to execute various controls, and particularly includes software that realizes operation control means according to the present invention.

The RAM 1-4 provides a work area for the CPU 1-3 to execute various controls, and
It stores various data, especially C shown in FIG.
The management data used in the memory management function of PU1-3 is stored.

The storage memory 1-5 provides a line buffer area managed by the memory management function of the CPU 1-3 and stores code data such as image data. The line I / F unit 1-6 has an ISDN (I / F) interface, an NCU, a modem and the like.

The IO control A section 1-7 is connected to a reading section 1-12 for reading a document and a printer section 1-11 for printing out an image. On the other hand, the IO control B unit 1-8
Is an interface unit for software to control an operation unit 1-13 having a keypad such as a display unit and a numeric keypad unit.

The pixel density converter 1-9 performs resolution conversion, page size conversion, and mm / inch conversion of the stored original. The compression / decompression unit 1-10 converts the image data read by the reading unit 1-12 into code data such as MMR.

FIG. 3 shows the operation unit 1-13 in this embodiment.
3 is a plan view showing a configuration example of FIG.

As shown in the figure, the operation section main body 3-1 has a display section 3-2 such as an LCD for displaying various information, various function keys including a data registration key 3-3 and a dial registration key, and a dial. Numeric keypad 3-4 for inputting, tone key, pause key, redial key, set key 3
-5, various editing keys including a clear key, a start key 3-7, a stop key 3-6 and the like.

That is, compared with the conventional operation unit shown in FIG. 2, the arrow keys 2-2 and 2-3 are eliminated, and the * keys and # keys of the numeric keypad 3-4 are replaced with arrow keys. There is. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, by displaying the arrow keys to substitute below the * key and the # key,
I am planning a flight when using it.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the screen transition of the display unit 3-2 in this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of this embodiment. In addition, the following operation is C
This is due to the operation control program executed by PU1-3.

First, the data registration key 3- of the operation unit 3-1.
3 is pressed, the data registration screen surface 4- is displayed on the display unit 3-2.
1 is displayed and the operation of FIG. 5 is started. First, in a key input waiting state (S51), when pressing of the # key is detected (S53), it is checked whether or not the currently selected menu item is the last item (S58).

If it is not the last item, it is checked whether the currently selected menu item is the last item on the currently selected menu screen (S59). If it is not the last item, the current menu item [ 01. Stop the black and white reverse display of [Basic registration], and select the next menu item [02. Send]
The black and white reverse display 4-2 is performed as a selection target (S6
0), the process returns to key input waiting (S51).

Here, if the # key is pressed again (S53), the screen 4-3 in which the last menu item of the menu selection screen is selected is displayed (S60). When the # key is pressed again on this screen (S53), the currently selected menu item [03. Since [Receive] is not the last menu item but the last item on the currently displayed menu screen (S59), the next menu selection item is selected and the menu selection screen 4-4 including it is displayed. The menu item [04. [Report] is highlighted in black and white (S62), and the process returns to key input waiting (S51).

Next, when the set key 3-5 is pressed (S55), the currently selected menu item [0
4. Since "Report" is a menu item for menu selection (S56), the process proceeds to the next menu selection process (S68).

In this menu selection processing (S68), the report screen 4-5 is displayed, and when the set key 3-5 is pressed (S55), the automatic time setting screen 4-6 is displayed and the menu item [automatic [Time setting] is selected,
When the set key 3-5 is further pressed (S55), it is checked whether or not the corresponding item process is the menu screen process. Since it is not the menu screen process here, the process moves to the data setting process (S57), and the automatic time is set. The setting screen 4-7 is displayed.

Also, when the * key is pressed in the key input waiting state (S51) (S52), the same processing is performed by displaying the menu in the opposite direction to the case where the # key is pressed (S52).
63-S67).

Further, by pressing the stop key 3-6 while waiting for a key input (S51), this processing is ended.

In the above embodiment, the # key corresponds to the right arrow key, the menu item advances by pressing this key, and the * key corresponds to the left arrow key, and the menu item changes by pressing this key. I went back,
Other combinations may be used depending on the relationship between the key layout and the screen display direction.

Further, although the facsimile apparatus has been described in the embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a communication apparatus such as a multi-function telephone having a ten-key section and a display section and performing a menu selection operation.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a communication device including a numeric keypad and a display, by using the * and # keys instead of the conventional arrow keys,
The number of parts such as key switches and buttons used for the arrow keys can be reduced, cost can be reduced, and the operation panel can be miniaturized to realize a compact communication device.

Further, during the operation of searching and selecting a menu item, the operator can perform a smooth operation without moving the viewpoint.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of an operation unit in a conventional facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of an operation unit in the facsimile apparatus of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a screen transition of a display unit in the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-1 ... System bus, 1-2 ... ROM, 1-3 ... CPU, 1-4 ... RAM, 1-5 ... Storage memory, 1-6 ... Line I / F section, 1-7 ... IO control A section , 1-8 ... IO control B section, 1-9 ... Pixel density conversion section, 1-10 ... Compression / expansion section, 1-11 ... Printer section, 1-12 ... Reading section, 1-13 ... Operation section, 3- 1 ... Operation unit main body, 3-2 ... Display unit, 3-4 ... Numeric keypad.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A communication device comprising a numeric keypad section including # keys and * keys, and a display section, wherein when the operation state is a state of selecting a menu item, based on the depression of the # key and * key, A communication device comprising an operation control means for controlling selection display of menu items. 2. The operation control means according to claim 1, wherein when the operation state is a state of selecting a menu item, when the * key (or # key) is pressed, the currently selectable menu is selected. If the # key (or * key) above is pressed by displaying on the display that the menu item before the item is selectable, the menu item next to the currently selectable menu item can be selected. A communication device characterized by causing a display unit to display that it is in a different state.