JPH10268998A - Interface controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display the specific use of a device as a usable function by recording data on the use frequency of an image processing system so as to decide a function which is most generally selected in the image processing system. SOLUTION: A fast copy screen is updated by the lapse of a prescribed time or the display of the use frequency changing from a former use (S132). Changing is required after a preset time or after monitoring an instruction of using the function and an initialized function is compared (S134). Next, a prescribed function, a function 'X' is selected (S136) to decide whether the function is provided with a high use rate (S138). When the use of the function 'X' is decided to be frequent, is displayed in a fast copying frame (S140). Next, a next function 'X+1' is selected (S144). Then, an updated fast copy frame is provided for a normal operator.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a user interface, and more particularly to a simplified technique for displaying a common copy function at high speed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to meet various requirements for documents in recent years, a document system has an extended function set for various local applications and remote applications such as document copy, document distribution, document storage and document print. Equipped. In the past, in order to extend the feature set, more menu layers, function categories, and buttons and icons were usually added to the current control panel. As a result, end-user operators often have to search the control panel to find and access the specific feature sets and electronic dialogs needed to perform a specific job.

This only complicates the preparation work of the operator. This problem is exacerbated in the case of multi-functions that require faxing, printing, storage and distribution. In these cases, users and operators are often bothered by the availability of features and the proper selection and combination of features to achieve a given job purpose. The amount of information and many options in the dialog can be confusing for the operator and can lead to incorrect choices. In particular, the parts of the device required for very specific tasks are not fully utilized in the control panel of the device, which continuously displays unnecessary prompts, selections and functions. Also,
If a simple job is required, many features and options on the control panel are not required to achieve the job requirements.

[0004] US Patent No. 5,450,571 to the same assignee as the present invention discloses a dialog removal process for a printing system for removing non-selective print program options. . US Patent 5,
No. 513,126 discloses a network having a communication channel profile that prioritizes selectively accessible recipients. In particular, the sender can automatically distribute information to recipients on the network using the devices and communication channels defined in the recipient profile. Further, U.S. Patent Application No. D / 94101 filed October 27, 1994. 08 / 329,8
No. 11 discloses a method of customizing and saving interface controls for a device by entering an interface control customization mode. According to this, a control function set for use on a predetermined device can be selected, and a control function library for arranging and configuring the control function set in a predetermined form on a scale display of interface control can be accessed. The set of control functions and the predetermined form can be referred to by a predetermined identifier, so that when the identifier is accessed, the set of control functions and the predetermined form is displayed on the interface control display. D filed on October 10, 1995
No./95418, U.S. Pat. 08 / 541,54
No. 7 discloses a method of using a customized interface control panel.

[0005]

However, the systems described above have the difficulty that they are relatively complex. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,571 handles print interrupts and provides a common electronic job ticket in client-to-client and client-server protocol formats. The format includes forming a printer user interface mask file for each printer. They also set up, save and retrieve customized control panels, or see US Pat.
No. 3,126, related to a communication channel profile for transmitting and receiving information over a network. The system does not assume the actual use of a given device or the frequency of function selection and will indicate the suitability of the control panel for a particular use of a particular device, or the particular or general use of a device by an operator. No high-speed access to the control panel is assumed. Therefore, it is desirable to eliminate the complexity driven by the hierarchical menu during normal user use of the device and to provide user function selection based on normal use and the use of typical historical features of a given device. Stated another way, it is desirable to provide the user only with the features that the user deems necessary, and not to bother the user with a large number of features that the user does not require.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved user interface with the capability to provide the most commonly used device functions on a single control frame. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fast and integrated overview of the most commonly used functions in a particular device. Yet another object of the present invention is to be able to indicate a particular use of the device as an available function. Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, and features of the invention are pointed out in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a method for removing the complexity of hierarchical windows from the user interface of an imaging device by displaying commonly used functions on a single frame. The method includes recording usage data for the image processing system and determining the most commonly selected functions in the image processing system. These functions are displayed on a single frame by accessing the quick function button, thereby displaying the functions on a single frame upon request based on the particular use of the device.

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated with like reference numerals.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary multimedia device information system or network 2 including a workstation 4 allows users to communicate quickly and independently. The network (multimedia system) 2 can be implemented using various hardware platforms, including a scanner or digital copy 5, a keyboard 6, a pointing device or mouse 7, a microphone 8, and a video camera 9.
And an input device including:

The system further comprises a display terminal 10,
An output device including a printer 11 and a speaker 12 is provided. The input / output device (I / O) includes a facsimile 13, a file server 14, and a telephone 15. Server 14
Are centrally or remotely located on a workstation 4 with public, shared and / or personal data storage identified by the user's access rights. The server 14 includes an associated database system 17, a network management system 18, and a mail system 19 (e.g., e-mail, voice mail) and a data storage / retrieval system 20, which are physically optical, hard, floppy and / or Alternatively, it can be configured using a tape device. Related database system 17
Provides a system with fast query and retrieval of data.

The workstations 4 operate in a collaborative environment, and users of different workstations 4 can work together in real time to process and distribute public, shared or personal information that exists in different forms. (Here, public data is defined as data accessible to anyone, shared data as data accessible to a limited number of users, and personal data as data accessible to only one user. )
The workstation 4 can exist in a distributed or central environment. In any environment, the workstation 4 is connected to other systems and devices via a local network (LAN) 24, a gateway 25, and / or a modem 26. In a distributed system, multiple workstations increase distributed processing and storage capacity, for example, by providing redundant storage or a single mount for a particular application.

The workstation 4 includes an object-oriented user interface (UI) 40 using icons and windows, such as a display representing an office desktop metaphor using various data objects and various abstracts of a typical office environment. Express the user application. User interfaces that use windows and icons that employ object-oriented techniques to maintain data, navigate through various user spaces, and represent a metaphor for representing the abstract computer concept are well known. One example is Global View ™ (“GV”) software available from Xerox Corporation, which uses abstracts such as desktops, in-baskets, out-basks and documents.

[0013] The channel architecture is client-
Based on the interrelationship of the servers, the client functions are the applications sent out to the network 24 and the server functions are imported from the network. Stated another way, the client accesses the submitted server function. Thus, some services (printers, scanners, etc.) need only send or provide server functions without using client functions. As a result, both the channel client and the channel server may operate on the same service in addition to independently operating on different services.
FIG. 2 shows the system configuration in detail, and the integrated client / server system 102
04, server 103 and communication channel management server 10
5 working together. Communication channel management server 105
Provides network management functions such as a storage communication channel on disk 106.

The communication channel manager 110 is common to the client and the server. Manager 110
Connects the user interface 111 to the network 24,
Local storage disk 112 and cache 11
3. Recipient service 114 and sender service 115
Interface. Local storage available to manager 110 is in the form of local storage (long term storage) 112 (eg, disk, floppy or tape) and short term high speed access or cache storage 113. Recipient service 114
Provides a server function, for which the sender service 1
15 provides a client function for the manager 110. For further details on the example system,
In pending U.S. patent application Ser. 07
/ 130,929.

Referring to FIG. 3, an interface screen for setting up and operating the device is shown. This screen is a conventional representative initial screen or panel displayed to the operator, and the operator sequentially starts an operation sequence. In particular, there are six functional categories as shown. That is, paper feed, output, reduction / enlargement, side image, basic image quality, and book mode. Conventionally, this is the first display or control frame in the hierarchy of control frames to reach the selection level requested by the operator. For example, if the operator requests a magnification other than 100%,
The operator must then press the reduce / enlarge button to display additional options for magnification. When the reduce / enlarge button is pressed, a function window as shown in FIG. 4 appears.

Referring to FIG. 4, an up / down button for scrolling between 25 and 400% magnification and various reductions / increases including various individual magnifications provided by the individual buttons.
Magnification options are shown. For example, a 25% reduction button, a 78% reduction button, and a 200% enlargement button are shown with other individual selectors. Having made the appropriate magnification selection for the reduction, the operator presses the save button to record this selection and then the first as shown in FIG.
Or return to the initial frame. Also, there are additional low-level feature selections that must be obtained with reference to the additional screen in prior art systems. It can be seen that there are, for example, the selection levels shown in FIG. 4 that require one or more two displays.

Returning to the initial screen as shown in FIG. 3, the operator must then display additional control frames or screens for additional details. For example, if the operator desires a dual operation, the operator must press the side image button to display a display or screen with various options related to the hidden side image. For the usual operator, this kind of access to the required functions is not only error prone but also time consuming and cumbersome. It is inconvenient for the operator to continuously go to a detailed display towards a given function to make the appropriate selection, return to the main display or menu of selections, and repeat this for some required functions.
This is especially annoying to the operator, with unnecessary obstructions in setting up and running occasional job requests.

In accordance with the present invention, a dedicated "fast copy" button or switch is provided on the main or initial display (or even on the operator console). Pressing this fast copy button immediately provides the operator on a single display or control frame with an aggregated version of the multiple functions available in the device as shown in FIG. These functions are based on the frequency of use of the functions of a given device. A single high-speed copy frame represents an overview or organization of the type of use of a given device by the operator of the device, especially the normal operator. Thus, pressing the high speed copy display usually provides the operator with one frame representing the functions that are most likely to be needed.

As shown in FIG. 5, there are four main functional categories. That is, there are output, reduction / enlargement, paper feed, and side image. The operator is not confused by the additional complexity of the function or the display display. In addition, for the four main functions, options are shown that can be selected from that given display frame without the need for an additional function display. Stated another way, for output, the operator can select staples, stacks, collates, and top trays, as shown in FIG. For paper feeding, Auto, 8.5 × 11 ″ and 11 × 1
7 "is shown, but additionally, even for the normal operator, functions not shown on a single frame adapted to the frequency of use are required, displaying additional optional functions on a separate display For example, there may be an opportunity, as shown in the paper feed function, to expand or press other options, and there may be various choices for the display as shown in FIG. The display can also highlight a single function as shown in Figure 5. Therefore, the output is only the top tray and the side image is one-to-one.
Only be. The various options for these features may or may not be displayed on a single fast copy frame, depending on the frequency of use of the options, usually by the operator.

The point is that the normal operator is informed in a single frame of function that the equipment usage has determined the function that he or she would most likely need.

FIG. 6 is another example of a typical prior art functional screen showing multiple functions in a complex display. This display provides the operator with a complex set of very confusing displays on the display. In a display such as that shown in FIG. 6, a more detailed and continuous display is required for further selection, but a complex set is provided that is very confusing to the operator. Comparing this screen with the screen shown in FIG. 5 makes it easier to understand the expression of functions. The essence of the present invention is also to remove from the display functions that are rarely needed.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an additional high speed copy screen according to the present invention, which is a variation of the screen shown in FIG. Again, if it was indicated that a particular function was not used due to lack of use of the device,
Various offered options are removed.

Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a flow chart illustrating the automatic change of the high speed copy screen normally provided to the operator, depending on the frequency of use of the function by the operator. According to the present invention, block 130 represents a record of function use. After that, by the elapse of a predetermined time or by the display of the use frequency that changes from the previous use,
The fast copy screen needs to be updated as indicated by block 132. A change is required at a preset time or after monitoring the command to use the function, and there is a comparison of the function usage initialized as shown in block 134.

In block 138, a predetermined function, function "X", is selected, and in decision block 138, it is determined whether the function has a high usage rate. A high usage rate will be based on the usage set rate for a given job set up. It should be understood that this ratio or high utilization for a given function may vary. If the use of function "X" is determined to be frequent, it is displayed in a fast copy frame as indicated by block 140. If not, no display is made as shown in block 142.

It should be understood that if it is already displayed, it will be removed from the frame or, alternatively, will not catch the operator's attention.
After the determination has been made for the predetermined function "X", the system then selects the next function "X + 1" as indicated by block 144. Function "X + 1" is evaluated for high usage and a determination is made as to whether function "X + 1" should be displayed in the fast copy frame in a manner similar to that for function "X". This procedure continues until all functions have been examined, and an updated fast copy frame is provided to the normal operator. This is just one embodiment of the technology according to the present invention, which organizes the functions normally used on a single frame in order to display on the display in response to the device operation performed by a normal operator. is there.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the disclosed configurations, it is not limited to the details set forth herein.
It is intended to cover all modifications or changes that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0027]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a user only with a functional display that the user deems necessary.

[0028]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a system environment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram used in the system environment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an illustration showing an initial interface screen for setting up and operating the device.

FIG. 4 is an illustration showing a progress screen and sequence for setting up and operating the device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a high-speed copy screen and a sequence for setting up and operating an apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustration showing an overloaded screen of a conventional initial screen requiring multiple successive screens to set up and operate the device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an additional high-speed copy screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing an additional high-speed copy screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an automatic change of a high speed copy screen in response to a change in operator usage according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 network, 4 workstation, 5 digital copy, 6 keyboard, 7 mouse, 8 microphone, 9 video camera, 10 display terminal,
11 printer, 12 speaker, 13 facsimile, 14 file server, 15 telephone, 17 database, 18 network management system, 19 mail system, 20 filing (data storage and retrieval system), 24 LAN, 25 gateway, 26
Modem, 40 object oriented user interface, 130-144 processing steps.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method in which a user display is connected to a plurality of devices on a network and performs interface control on the user interface, the first interface showing a hierarchy of functions for setting up the devices on the network. Providing a control panel set; providing a high-speed copy interface control panel, which is a specific control panel of a device adapted for common functions; providing a high-speed copy access button on a user interface; Enabling display of a frequently used function set of a given device on a suitable interface control panel. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of selectively changing common functions on an interface control panel adapted to the high-speed copying apparatus. 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of, after a lapse of a predetermined time, selectively changing a common function on an interface control panel adapted to the high-speed copying apparatus.