JPH11133816A - Image forming device, method for inputting set information, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of improving an operating performance, at the time of inputting the setting information for setting respective function adopting a virtual key board. SOLUTION: In this image forming device, the information inputting picture inputting the setting information for setting respective function with regard to the image forming is displayed on a LCD(liquid crystal display) 2013, the virtual key board is displayed by the inputting operation through a touch panel 2019 on this information inputting screen, at the same time, the setting information inputting system is composed for inputting the setting information by adopting this virtual key board. In this display processing of the virtual key board in this setting information inputting system, when indicating by the depressing operation of the character inputting section inputting the setting information through the touch panel 2019, the optimum virtual key board for input character kind with respect to the indicated character input section is displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a plurality of functions relating to image formation, and it is possible to input setting information for setting each function using an information input screen displayed on a display means. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a setting information input method used for the image forming apparatus, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Laser beam printers are generally C
While moving the photoelectric conversion element such as a CD licensing sensor in the main scanning direction and reading the original one by one pixel by pixel,
By relatively moving the photoelectric conversion element and the original in the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, the original image electrically read by the photoelectric conversion element is printed out. .

An image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer has various functions relating to a printing method. The image forming apparatus includes an operation instruction input means for instructing setting of those functions, and A display unit is provided for displaying setting information of a function set by an instruction of the operation instruction input unit to a user. Usually, this display means is C
The display is composed of an RT, a liquid crystal display, and the like, and the user can confirm setting information of each function of the image forming apparatus on the screen of the display unit. As operation instruction input means,
In addition to hardware keys and buttons, there are also provided coordinate input devices such as a touch panel sheet arranged on the screen of the display means, and in this operation instruction input means, soft keys displayed on the screen are provided. By pressing on the touch panel sheet, an operation instruction can be input. The setting information of each function includes setting information including characters and numerals that need to be input. The setting information input section, which is an area where the setting information is input, is displayed on the screen of the display unit. Show virtual keyboard,
It is also possible to input setting information to the setting information input unit using this virtual keyboard.

In this method of inputting setting information using a virtual keyboard, specifically, a corresponding setting information input section is designated from a plurality of setting information input sections on a screen of a display means, and the display of the virtual keyboard is performed. Operating a soft key or a hard key for instructing, a virtual keyboard in a predetermined format is displayed by the operation instruction with this key, and characters or numerals of setting information are displayed using the virtual keyboard displayed on the screen. Is input to the designated setting information input section.

[0005]

However, when setting information is input to each of a plurality of setting information input sections simultaneously displayed on the screen using the above-described virtual keyboard, in addition to the virtual keyboard display instruction, , It is necessary to specify which setting information input section to input.
For each setting information input section, an operation for designating the setting information and an operation for inputting the setting information corresponding thereto are required. Therefore, the instruction operation and the input operation of the characters or numerals of the setting information become complicated and troublesome. In addition, since the same virtual keyboard is displayed for all the setting information input units, erroneous input is likely to occur when only numbers or specific characters are to be input.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a setting information input method, and a storage which can improve the operability of inputting setting information for setting each function using a virtual keyboard. To provide a medium.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the operability of inputting setting information for setting each function on an information input screen when the setting information is input to a corresponding input area. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a setting information input method, and a storage medium that can be used.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An image forming apparatus that has a plurality of functions related to image formation and is capable of inputting setting information for setting each function using an information input screen displayed on a display unit. Virtual keyboard display instructing means for instructing display of a virtual keyboard used for inputting the setting information; and a virtual keyboard in a format corresponding to the type of the setting information when the instruction is issued from the virtual keyboard display instructing means. And virtual keyboard display means for displaying the virtual keyboard created by the virtual keyboard creation means on the information input screen.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the virtual keyboard display instruction means is responsive to an operation input for designating an input area portion of the setting information on the information input screen. The display of the virtual keyboard is instructed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the virtual keyboard creating means includes:
When the virtual keyboard display instructing unit issues the instruction, a character type of the setting information to be input to the input area of the specified setting information is determined, and a virtual form having a format optimal for inputting the determined character type is determined. It is characterized in that it is created by selecting a keyboard.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of functions relating to image formation are provided, and setting information for setting each function can be input by using an information input screen displayed on a display means. In the image forming apparatus, an input area part designating means for designating an input area part of the setting information on the information input screen, and an input area part designated by the input area part designating means, Input area portion changing means for performing a display change process on the input area portion so as to be distinguishable from the input area portion.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the display change processing by the input area part changing means changes the color of the input area specified by the input area part specifying means. It is characterized in that it is a process of changing the color of another input area portion on the information input screen and displaying it.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the display change processing by the input area part changing means is a frame surrounding the input area specified by the input area part specifying means. Is changed to a color of a frame surrounding another input area on the information input screen and displayed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a plurality of functions relating to image formation are provided, and setting information for setting each function can be input by using an information input screen displayed on a display means. In the setting information input method used in the image forming apparatus, a step of instructing to display a virtual keyboard used for inputting the setting information on the information input screen, and when the instruction is issued, the type of the setting information A process of selecting and creating a virtual keyboard in a format according to the
Displaying the created virtual keyboard on the information input screen; and inputting the setting information using the virtual keyboard displayed on the information input screen.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the setting information input method according to the seventh aspect, display of the virtual keyboard is instructed in response to an operation input for designating an input area of the setting information on the information input screen. It is characterized by doing.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the setting information input method according to the eighth aspect, when the instruction is issued, the character type of the setting information to be input to the input area of the specified setting information is changed. It is characterized in that a virtual keyboard having a format optimal for inputting the determined character type is selected and created.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of functions relating to image formation are provided, and setting information for setting each function can be operated and input using an information input screen displayed on a display means. In a setting information input method used in an image forming apparatus, a step of designating an input area portion of the setting information on the information input screen, and the other input area portion of the information input screen on the designated input area portion Performing a display change process on the input area portion so that the input area portion can be identified.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the setting information input method according to the tenth aspect, the display change processing includes changing a color of the designated input area to a color of another input area on the information input screen. It is characterized in that it is a process of displaying the image by changing the color.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the setting information input method according to the tenth aspect, the display change processing includes setting a color of a frame surrounding the designated input area portion to another input on the information input screen. It is characterized in that it is a process of changing the color of the frame surrounding the region and displaying it.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of functions relating to image formation are provided, and setting information for setting each function can be input by using an information input screen displayed on a display means. In a storage medium storing a program executed by the image forming apparatus, the program includes:
A virtual keyboard display instruction module that instructs to display a virtual keyboard used for inputting the setting information on the information input screen, and when the instruction is issued from the virtual keyboard display instruction module, the type of the setting information A virtual keyboard creation module that selects and creates a virtual keyboard of a format corresponding to the virtual keyboard, and a virtual keyboard display module that displays the virtual keyboard created by the virtual keyboard creation module on the information input screen. I do.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium of the thirteenth aspect, the virtual keyboard display instruction module is configured to execute the virtual keyboard display instruction module in response to an operation input for designating an input area of the setting information on the information input screen. The display of the virtual keyboard is instructed.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the fourteenth aspect, the virtual keyboard creation module is configured to store the designated setting information when the instruction is issued by the virtual keyboard display instruction module. It is characterized in that the character type of the setting information to be input to the input area portion is determined, and a virtual keyboard having a format most suitable for inputting the determined character type is selected and created.

The invention according to claim 16 has a plurality of functions relating to image formation, and setting information for setting each function can be operated and input using an information input screen displayed on a display means. An input area specifying module for specifying an input area of the setting information on the information input screen; and an input area specified by the input area specifying module on a storage medium storing a program to be executed by the image forming apparatus. An input area change module for performing a display change process on the input area so that the part can be distinguished from another input area on the information input screen.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the sixteenth aspect, the display change processing by the input area part change module changes the color of the input area specified by the input area part specification module. It is characterized in that it is a process of changing the color of the other input area on the information input screen and displaying it.

In the storage medium according to the present invention, in the storage medium according to the present invention, the display change processing by the input area part changing module may include a frame surrounding the input area specified by the input area part specifying module. The process is characterized in that the color is changed to a color of a frame surrounding another input area on the information input screen and displayed.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus is connected to a scanner 2070 as an image input device and a printer 2095 as an image output device.
A LAN 2011 and a public line (WAN) 2051 are connected, and have a copy function, a printer function for printing out data supplied from the outside via the LAN 2011, and a communication function including a facsimile function via the public line (WAN) 2051. The multifunction device includes a controller unit 2000 that controls the entire device and controls input and output of image information and device information.

The controller unit 2000 has a ROM
The system has a CPU 2001 that starts a system based on a boot program stored in 2003, reads various control programs stored in an HDD (hard disk device) 2004 on the system, and executes predetermined processing using a RAM 2002 as a work area. . HDD2
004 stores the above-mentioned various programs and image data.

The CPU 2001 has a RAM 2002, an R
Operation unit I / F together with OM2003 and HDD2004
(Operation unit interface) 2006, LAN I / F (L
AN interface) 2010, modem 2050, image bus I / F (image bus interface) 200
5 are connected via a system bus 2007.

An operation unit I / F 2006 includes an operation unit 2012
Interface for transferring image data to be displayed on the operation unit 2012 to the operation unit 2012;
CPU 200 of the signal generated by the operation input in 2
1 and so on. The operation unit 2012 includes a display unit for displaying a current setting state of each function regarding image formation, an information input screen for inputting setting information regarding each function, a key for inputting setting information for each function, and the like. It has an input unit and the like. The operation unit 20
The detailed configuration of the device 12 will be described later.

The LAN I / F 2010 is a LAN 2011
To input and output information via the LAN 2011. The modem 2050 is connected to a public line (WAN) 2051 and performs input / output of information via the public line 2051. The image bus I / F 2005 is connected to the image bus 2008.
And a system bus 2007 for connecting the system bus 2007 and converting a data structure. The image bus 2008
PCI bus or IEEE capable of transferring image data at high speed
It consists of a bus according to the E1394 standard.

An image bus 2008 includes a RIP (raster image processor) 2060, a device I / F (device interface) 2020, and a scanner image processing unit 20.
80, printer image processing unit 2090, image rotation unit 203
0 and the image compression unit 2040 are connected.

The RIP 2060 develops a PDL code into a bitmap image. Device I / F 2020
Connects the scanner unit 2070 or printer 2095, which is an image input / output device, to the controller unit 2000, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. Here, the device I / F 2020 and the scanner 2070 are connected via a cable 2071, and the device I / F 2020 and the printer 2095 are connected via a cable 2096. Scanner image processing unit 2080
Performs correction, processing, and editing on input image data. The printer image processing unit 2090 performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. The image rotation unit 2030 performs rotation processing of image data. The image compression unit 2040 performs JPE for multi-valued image data.
G, JBIG, MMR, M for binary image data
H compression / expansion processing is performed.

As described above, the controller unit 200
The CPU 2001 controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 2007 based on each control program, and controls the device I / F 202.
0 to read image information from the scanner 2070,
After performing predetermined processing on the read image information, the image information is transferred to the printer 2 via the device I / F 2020.
Control such as output to 095 is performed.

Next, the scanner 2070 and the printer 2
An image input / output device integrally formed with the image input / output device 095 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an external view of an image input / output device in which the scanner 2070 and the printer 2095 of FIG. 1 are integrally configured.

A scanner 2070 as an image input device
And the printer 2095 as an image output device, FIG.
As shown in (1), the image input / output device is integrally configured, and the scanner 2070 is provided with an operation unit 2012.

The scanner 2070 reads the image on the document by illuminating the image on the document and scanning a CCD line sensor (not shown), and converts the read image into raster image data by photoelectric conversion. The original is set on the tray 2073 of the original feeder 2072, and when the user issues a reading start instruction from the operation unit 2012, the CPU 2001 of the controller unit 2000 is activated.
Instructs the scanner 2070 to perform an original reading operation. Documents are fed one by one from the document feeder 2072 according to the instruction of the CPU 2001, and a reading operation of a document image is performed for each fed document.

The printer 2095 is connected to the device I / F 20
The image forming apparatus converts the raster image data transferred from the printer 20 through a cable 2096 into an image on a sheet. The image forming method includes an electrostatic latent image holding device such as a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt. 2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic method of forming an electrostatic latent image by scanning a laser beam on the electrostatic latent image carrier based on raster image data using a body is used. In this embodiment, the electrophotographic method is used. Instead, another image forming method such as an ink jet method in which an ink is ejected from a minute nozzle array and an image is printed directly on paper is used. You can also.

The printing operation is performed by the controller unit 2
000 in response to an instruction from the CPU 2001. The printer 2095 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and for each paper feed stage, a paper cassette 2101, 1022, 2103, 2
104 are mounted. The sheet on which the image is formed is discharged onto a discharge tray 2111.

Next, the configuration of the operation unit 2012 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows the operation unit 2012 of FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 2012 has a liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as LCD) 2013 on which a touch panel sheet 2019 is attached on a screen, and a plurality of hard keys. The LCD 2013 displays an operation screen and soft keys of the system, and when the displayed soft key is pressed, the position information is displayed on the operation unit I / F 2.
006 via the CPU of the controller unit 2000
Output to 2001. Hard keys include a start key 2014, a stop key 2015, an ID key 201
6. A reset key 2017 is provided. A start key 2014 is a key for instructing the start of a reading operation of a document image.
A color LED 2018 is mounted. Two-color LED 201
8 indicates that the press of the start key 2014 is not accepted, and the green light indicates that the start key 2014 is not received.
Indicates that the press of the key is accepted. Stop key 2015
Is a key for stopping the operation during operation. ID key 2
Reference numeral 016 denotes a key used to input a user ID of a user.
This key is used when initializing the settings from No. 12.

Next, the operation unit 201 by the CPU 2001
2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the operation unit 2012 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing functional blocks for executing a virtual keyboard display process in the setting information input system of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

The touch panel 2019 of the operation unit 2012 and the key group of each of the hard keys 2014 to 2017 are shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the input port 20 of the operation unit I / F 2006
061 is connected to the CPU 2001, and the position information indicating the pressed position of the touch panel 2019 and the key information corresponding to the pressed key group are input to the CPU 2001 via the input port 20061. Two colors L of the operation unit 2012
The ED 2018 and the LCD 2013 are connected to the operation unit I / F 2
CPU 2001 via output port 20062
To the two-color LED 2018 and the LCD 2
The display of 013 is controlled by the CPU 2001.

In the present embodiment, an information input screen for inputting setting information for setting various functions relating to image formation is displayed on LCD 2013, and a virtual keyboard is operated by an input operation via touch panel 2019 on the information input screen. A setting information input system for displaying and inputting setting information using this virtual keyboard is referred to as a CP.
The U2001 reads and executes the control program stored in the HDD 2004, and is constructed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the function block for executing the display processing of the virtual keyboard in the setting information input system includes a pressed position on the information input screen displayed on the LCD 2013, that is, a pressed position on the touch panel 2019. Input coordinates for determining whether or not the character input portion is displayed on the information input screen and displaying a virtual keyboard used for inputting setting information on the information input screen according to a result of the determination. It has a determination unit 3001.
Specifically, the input coordinate determination unit 3001 calculates the coordinates corresponding to the input position information,
7, the touch panel 201 is calculated from the calculated coordinates.
It is determined whether or not the pressed position on the touch panel 9 points to the character input area, and if the pressed position on the touch panel 2019 points to the character input area, the coordinate type data 30
With reference to the reference character 04, the character type input to the designated character input unit is determined, and a virtual keyboard display instruction is given to the soft keyboard creation unit 3002 together with information indicating the determined character type. The coordinate type data 3004 includes coordinate data of each character input unit and character type information indicating a character type to be input, which is associated with the character input unit. The coordinate type data 3004 is data prepared for each information input screen,
04.

Upon receiving the virtual keyboard display instruction and the character type information from the input coordinate determination unit 3001, the soft keyboard generation unit 3002 generates a virtual keyboard in a format most suitable for inputting the character type with reference to the keyboard data 3005. For example, when the character type input to the designated character input unit is a number, keyboard data in which numeric keys are arranged as a virtual keyboard is read from the keyboard data 3005 and created. On the other hand, when the character type input to the designated character input unit is alphanumeric, keyboard data in which alphabet keys and numeric keys are arranged as a virtual keyboard is read from the keyboard data 3005 and created.

The created image data indicating the keyboard is input to the soft keyboard display processing unit 3003, and the soft keyboard display processing unit 3003 displays the virtual keyboard corresponding to the input image data on the information input screen displaying the virtual keyboard. Perform the process of superimposing and displaying. In this processing, when displaying the virtual keyboard, the position of the designated character input unit is acquired, and the virtual keyboard is set to be displayed at a position on the LCD 2013 screen that does not interfere with the display of the character input unit. I have.

As described above, when the virtual keyboard is displayed, it becomes possible to input setting information to the designated character portion using the virtual keyboard.

In this embodiment, a control program for constructing the setting information input system is stored in the HDD 2.
This control program is stored in ROM
The information may be stored in advance in 2003, or may be configured to be supplied from another storage medium.

Next, an example of inputting setting information to a character input section using a virtual keyboard on the information input screen is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
13 is a diagram showing an example of an information input screen displayed on FIG. 13, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of inputting alphanumeric characters into a character input section on the information input screen of FIG. 6, and FIG. It is a figure showing the example which inputs a number into a character input part.

For example, when searching for a file on the WWW server, an information input screen for inputting setting information related to the search is displayed on the LCD 2013 as shown in FIG. Here, in this information input screen, URL
(uniform resource locator) character input part 4001 and Li
Consider the case where setting information is input to each of the character input unit 4002 of nk Depth, and the URL (uniform resource locato
It is assumed that the character type input to the character input unit 4001 of r) is alphanumeric and the character type input to the character input unit 4002 of Link Depth is numeric.

First, as shown in FIG. 7, an area 4004 corresponding to the character input section 4001 on the information input screen
Is pressed, the pressed position is determined to be an area in the character input unit 4001, that is, the designated character input unit is the character input unit 4001, and is input to the character input unit 4001. Character type is determined to be alphanumeric. Next, a full keyboard 4003 is displayed on the information input screen as a virtual keyboard in a format optimal for inputting the alphanumeric characters. Next, the corresponding key of the virtual keyboard is pressed, and the character of the pressed key (that is, alphabetic or numeric) is input to the designated character input unit 4001.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, an area 4008 corresponding to the character input section 4002 on the information input screen.
Is pressed, it is determined that the pressed position is an area in the character input unit 4002, that is, the designated character input unit is the character input unit 4002, and is input to the character input unit 4002. Is determined to be a numeral. Next, a numeric keyboard 4005 is displayed on the information input screen as a virtual keyboard in a format most suitable for inputting the numbers. Next, the corresponding key of the virtual keyboard is pressed, and the character of the pressed key (that is, a number) is input to the designated character input unit 4002.

Next, a virtual keyboard display processing procedure in the setting information input system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a virtual keyboard display processing procedure in the setting information input system of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

First, in step S5001, the process waits for an operation input via the touch panel 2019, and if there is an operation input via the touch panel 2019, the process proceeds to step S50.
In step 02, input coordinates indicating the pressed position on the touch panel 2019 are calculated.

Next, the process proceeds to step S5003, where the coordinate type data 3 corresponding to the currently displayed information input screen is displayed.
Touch panel 2 with reference to 004 and the calculated input coordinates.
It is determined whether the pressed position of “019” is within the area of the character input section on the displayed information input screen. Touch panel 20
When the pressed position of 19 is not within the area of the character input section,
The process returns to step S5001 again. Touch panel 20
When the pressed position of 19 is in the area of the character input section,
It is determined that the setting information is input to the character input unit designated by the pressed position on the touch panel 2019, and the process advances to step S5004 to refer to the coordinate type data 3004 corresponding to the currently displayed information input screen. Then, the type of the character input to the character input unit designated by the pressed position of the touch panel 2019 is determined. If the input character type for the designated character input unit is alphanumeric, step S50
In step 05, the full keyboard data is input from the keyboard data 3005, and a full keyboard is created based on this data. Then, the process proceeds to step S5007,
Control so that the created full keyboard is superimposed and displayed on the information input screen.

On the other hand, if the input character type is a number, the flow advances to step S5006 to proceed to step S5006.
Numeric keyboard data is input from 005, and a numeric keyboard is created based on this data. The process advances to step S5007 to control the created numeric keyboard so as to be superimposed and displayed on the information input screen.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the character input unit for inputting the setting information is designated by a pressing operation via the touch panel 2019, a virtual keyboard optimal for inputting the input character type to the designated character input unit is displayed. When there are a plurality of character input sections on one information input screen, an operation for instructing each of the character input sections and a display instruction operation of a virtual keyboard for inputting setting information for each of the character input sections are performed as in the related art. No complicated operation such as performing is required, and setting information can be input using a virtual keyboard that is optimal for inputting an input character type to a designated character input unit, thereby reducing occurrence of erroneous input.
Therefore, when setting information for setting each function is input using the virtual keyboard, operability related to the input can be improved.

Further, since there is no need to provide a key for displaying the virtual keyboard, it is not necessary to secure an extra space on the information input screen, and the information input screen can be effectively used. For example, by allocating extra space that is conventionally required and extra to the display area of the virtual keyboard, it is possible to display a virtual keyboard with a wide key interval and no mistouch.

In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which a full keyboard and a numeric keyboard are displayed as virtual keyboards on the search screen. However, other types of virtual keyboards can be displayed.

A display example of another type of virtual keyboard will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which another type of virtual keyboard is displayed on the information input screen of the image forming apparatus in FIG.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 10, the day of the week (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, S
at or Sun). In this information input screen, the characters input to the character input unit 6002 are “Mon”, “Tue”, “Wed”, “Thu”, and “Fr”.
i ”,“ Sat ”, or“ Sun ”
As a virtual keyboard suitable for inputting setting information to the character input unit 6002, a keyboard 6001 in which a plurality of day keys indicating respective days are arranged is displayed. In this case, by designating each day key on the keyboard 6001, the designated day can be easily input to the character input unit 6002. As described above, when it is sufficient to select a corresponding word from a plurality of predetermined words as information to be input to the character input unit, a keyboard in which keys for individually designating predetermined words are arranged. Just create it. It goes without saying that this method can be easily realized.

Further, in addition to the display form shown here, the month (Jan, Feb,
(Mar, Apl, ...) Pressing the character input section displays a virtual keyboard for entering the month. Pressing the character input section to input only a specific symbol displays a specific symbol. It is possible to display various types of virtual keyboards according to the contents of the setting information input to the character input unit, such as displaying a keyboard for inputting a character.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing functional blocks for executing a color change display process of a character input unit of a setting information input system according to a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
2 and 13 show an example in which a color change display process is performed on a character input portion on an information input screen according to the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 14 is an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the color change display processing procedure of the character input part in 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

This embodiment has the same configuration as the above-described first embodiment. In this embodiment, an information input screen for inputting setting information for setting each function relating to image formation is displayed on LCD 2013. When the character input unit on the information input screen is displayed, the color of the specified character input unit is changed so that the specified character input unit can be distinguished from other character input units on the information input screen. A setting information input system for displaying a color different from the color of another character input unit is constructed by reading and executing a control program stored in the HDD 2004 by the CPU 2001. Here, the display color of the character input unit is a color for drawing an area defining the character input unit, and each character input unit is normally displayed in the same color.

The function block for executing the color change display processing of the character input section in the setting information input system is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, it is determined whether or not the pressed position on the information input screen displayed on the LCD 2013, that is, the pressed position on the touch panel 2019 is the character input section displayed on the information input screen. If the pressed position on 2019 is an area in the character input unit, a character input unit change determination processing unit 3101 that determines whether or not the designated character input unit is a newly designated character input unit is provided. Specifically, the coordinates indicating the pressed position on the touch panel 2019 are compared with the coordinates indicating the character input unit, and the pressed position on the touch panel 2019 is displayed on the information input screen according to the comparison result. When the pressed position on the touch panel 2019 indicates the character input unit, the designated character input unit is referred to the setting data 3104 to determine whether the character input unit is currently instructed. It is determined whether it is a part. Here, the setting data 3014 is data indicating the currently designated character input unit, and is updated each time a new character input unit is designated. This setting data 3014 is stored in the HD 2004.

The determination result of the character input section change determination processing section 3101 is input to the character input section display color change section 3102. The character input unit display color change unit 3102 changes the display color of the designated character input unit with reference to the display color data 3105 according to the determination result of the character input unit change determination processing unit 3101. Specifically, the character input unit change determination processing unit 310
If it is determined that the designated input unit is a newly designated input unit different from the currently designated character input unit based on the determination result of No. 1, the display of the designated character input unit is performed with reference to the display data 3105. The color is set so as to be changed to the display color at the time of selection, and the currently designated character input section is set so as to be changed to the display color at normal time. On the other hand, if it is determined that the designated input unit is the currently designated character input unit based on the determination result of the character input unit change determination processing unit 3101, the current display is set to be continued. The display data 3105 includes, for each information input screen,
The display color when the character input section is selected (that is, at the time of instruction) and the display color at the time of normal are described.

The contents set by the character input section display color change section 3102 are input to the display color change display processing section 3103. When a character input unit is newly instructed and the display color of the character input unit is changed, the display color change display processing unit 3103 uses the display color at the time of selecting the designated character input unit as information. In addition to displaying on the input screen, the currently input character input section is returned to the normal display color and displayed, and if the current display is set to continue, the current display is continued To perform the process.

As described above, when the character input section for inputting the setting information is newly designated, the display color of the designated character input section is changed to the display color of another character input section, and the designated color is changed. It is possible to display a character input section.

Next, an example in which setting information is input to a character input unit using a virtual keyboard on the information input screen is shown in FIG.
2 and FIG.

For example, when information is transmitted via the Internet, as shown in FIG. 12, an information input screen for inputting setting information relating to this information transmission is displayed on the LCD 20.
13 is displayed. In this information input screen, "Su
The character input sections 4101, 4102, and 4103 of "bject", "Message", and "File Name" are displayed, and a virtual keyboard 4104 is used to input setting information to each character input section.

First, as shown in FIG. 12, when a position in the area of the character input unit 4101 is pressed down on the information input screen and the character input unit 4101 is newly instructed, the character input unit 4101 displays the display color. Display color data 3
The display color is changed to 105 and displayed. Here, the other character input units 4102 and 4103 are displayed in the normal display color, and the designated character input unit 4101 is the other character input unit 4101.
102 and 4103 are identified by their display colors. Next, the designated character input unit 4101 includes:
The corresponding setting information is input using the virtual keyboard.

When the input of the setting information to the designated character input unit 4101 is completed and the next character input unit 4102 is designated, the character input unit 4101 changes to the normal display color as shown in FIG. The character input unit 4102 is returned and displayed, and the designated character input unit 4102 is displayed with its display color changed to the display color at the time of selection. Next, setting information corresponding to the character input unit 4102 is input using the virtual keyboard 4104.

Next, the procedure for changing the display color of the character input section in the setting information input system will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step S5101, the apparatus waits for an instruction input from the character input unit via the touch panel 2019.
When an instruction is input to the character input unit, step S51 is performed.
In step 02, the setting data indicating the currently designated character input unit is read from the setting data 3104.

Next, the flow advances to step S5103 to determine whether or not the currently designated character input unit is the same as the currently designated character input unit, and the currently designated character input unit is currently designated. If the character input unit is not the same as the character input unit, that is, if the character input unit designated this time is the newly designated character input unit, the process proceeds to step S5104, where the display color data is read from the display data 3105. To change the display color of the entered character input section to the display color at the time of selection,
A setting is made so that the currently input character input section is changed to a normal display color. Then, in step S5106,
The setting data is updated to indicate the character input unit designated this time.

Then, the flow advances to step S5107 to display the character input section designated this time on the information input screen in the display color at the time of selection, and to return the currently designated character input section to the normal display color. Is displayed, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5103 that the character input unit designated this time is the same as the character input unit currently designated, it is determined that the current display is to be continued, and the flow advances to step S5107. Continue the current display.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when a character input unit for inputting setting information is designated by a pressing operation via the touch panel 2019, the designated character input unit is connected to another character input unit on the information input screen. Since the designated character input section is displayed in a different color from the other character input sections so that it can be identified, the designated character input section is visually recognized on the information input screen on which a plurality of character input sections are displayed. Therefore, it is possible to easily input the setting information to the designated character input unit. Therefore, when setting information for setting each function on the information input screen is input to the corresponding character input unit, the operability for inputting the setting information can be improved.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 15 and 16 are diagrams illustrating an example in which a color change display process is performed on a character input portion of an information input screen according to a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

This embodiment is different from the above-described second embodiment in that the color of the frame surrounding the area defining the character input section is changed between the normal state and the selected state.

Next, an example in which setting information is input to the character input unit using a virtual keyboard on the information input screen is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

For example, when an information input screen for inputting setting information regarding information transmission is displayed on the LCD 2013, as shown in FIG. 15, the information input screen includes "Subject", "Message", and "File". Name "6101, 6102, 6103 are displayed,
A virtual keyboard 6 is used to input setting information to each character input unit.
104 is used.

First, as shown in FIG.
If the user 101 is newly instructed, the character input unit 610
The color of the frame surrounding the area 1 is changed to a color different from the normal color. Here, a frame surrounding the area of the other character input units 6102 and 6103 is displayed in a normal display color, and the designated character input unit 6101 is identified from the other character input units 6102 and 6103 by the color of each frame. Will be done. When the input of the setting information to the designated character input unit 6101 is completed and the next character input unit 6102 is designated, the frame of the character input unit 6101 returns to the normal display color as shown in FIG. The designated character input unit 6102 is displayed with the display color of the frame changed to the display color at the time of selection.

[0086]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, virtual keyboard display instructing means for instructing to display a virtual keyboard used for inputting setting information on an information input screen. When an instruction is issued from the virtual keyboard display instructing means, a virtual keyboard creating means for selecting and creating a virtual keyboard in a format corresponding to the type of setting information, and a virtual keyboard created by the virtual keyboard creating means on an information input screen. Since the virtual keyboard display means is provided above, operability related to the input can be improved when setting information for setting each function is input using the virtual keyboard.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the virtual keyboard display instructing means instructs the display of the virtual keyboard in response to the operation input for designating the input area of the setting information on the information input screen. Can be configured.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the virtual keyboard creating means inputs the setting information to the input area portion of the setting information specified when the instruction is issued by the virtual keyboard display instructing means. It is possible to determine the character type and select and create a virtual keyboard in a format most suitable for inputting the determined character type.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the input area part designating means for designating the input area part of the setting information on the information input screen and the input area part designated by the input area part designating means are used as information. Input area portion changing means for performing a display change process on the input area portion so as to be distinguishable from other input area portions on the input screen, so that setting information for setting each function on the information input screen is When inputting to the corresponding input area, the operability of inputting the setting information can be improved.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the display change processing by the input area part changing means is performed by changing the color of the input area specified by the input area part specifying means to another input area on the information input screen. It is possible to perform a process of displaying the image by changing the color of the portion.

According to the image forming apparatus of the sixth aspect, the display change processing by the input area part changing means is performed by changing the color of the frame surrounding the input area specified by the input area part specifying means on the information input screen. Can be changed to the color of the frame surrounding the input area.

According to the setting information input method of the present invention, the step of instructing the display of the virtual keyboard used for inputting the setting information on the information input screen, and when the instruction is issued, the type of the setting information is changed. A step of selecting and creating a virtual keyboard in a corresponding format, a step of displaying the created virtual keyboard on an information input screen, and a step of inputting setting information using the virtual keyboard displayed on the information input screen Therefore, when inputting setting information for setting each function using the virtual keyboard, operability related to the input can be improved.

According to the setting information input method of the present invention, the display of the virtual keyboard can be instructed in accordance with the operation input for designating the input area portion of the setting information on the information input screen.

According to the setting information input method of the ninth aspect, when the instruction is issued, the character type of the setting information to be input to the input area portion of the specified setting information is determined, and the input of the determined character type is performed. It can be configured to select and create a virtual keyboard of the most appropriate format.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a step of designating an input area portion of setting information on an information input screen and a step of designating the designated input area portion to another input area portion on the information input screen And performing a display change process on the input area portion so that the input area portion can be identified. Therefore, when setting information for setting each function on the information input screen is input to the corresponding input area portion, the setting is performed. Operability related to information input can be improved.

According to the setting information input method of the present invention, the display change process is a process of changing the color of the designated input area portion to the color of another input area portion on the information input screen and displaying it. be able to.

According to the setting information input method of the twelfth aspect, the display change processing changes the color of the frame surrounding the designated input area to the color of the frame surrounding the other input area on the information input screen. Display processing.

According to the storage medium of the thirteenth aspect, a virtual keyboard display instruction module for instructing that a program display a virtual keyboard used for inputting setting information on an information input screen, and a virtual keyboard display instruction module , A virtual keyboard creation module that selects and creates a virtual keyboard in a format according to the type of setting information, and a virtual keyboard that displays the virtual keyboard created by the virtual keyboard creation module on an information input screen The storage medium according to claim 14, wherein when the setting information for setting each function is input using the virtual keyboard, the operability related to the input can be improved. Input area for setting information on the information input screen in the keyboard display instruction module The can be configured to instruct the display of the virtual keyboard in accordance with an operation input to designate.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, when the virtual keyboard creation module issues an instruction from the virtual keyboard display instruction module, the character type of the setting information input to the input area portion of the setting information specified Is determined, and a virtual keyboard having a format most suitable for input of the determined character type is selected and created.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, an input area portion designating module for designating an input area portion of setting information on an information input screen and an input area portion designated by the input area portion designating module are used for information input. An input area portion change module that performs display change processing on the input area portion so that it can be distinguished from other input area portions on the screen, so that setting information for setting each function on the information input screen is supported. When inputting in the input area portion to be set, the operability of inputting the setting information can be improved.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, the display change processing by the input area part changing module is performed by changing the color of the input area specified by the input area part specifying module to another input area on the information input screen. Can be displayed by changing the color.

According to the storage medium of the eighteenth aspect, the display change processing by the input area part change module is performed by changing the color of the frame surrounding the input area specified by the input area part specification module to another color on the information input screen. The display may be performed by changing the color of the frame surrounding the input area portion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a scanner 2070 and a printer 209 shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is an external view of an image input / output device integrally formed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an operation unit 2012 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an operation unit 2012 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing functional blocks for executing a virtual keyboard display process in the setting information input system of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information input screen displayed on an LCD 2013.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of inputting alphanumeric characters into a character input section on the information input screen of FIG. 6;

8 is a diagram showing an example of inputting a number into a character input section on the information input screen of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a virtual keyboard display processing procedure in the setting information input system of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which another type of virtual keyboard is displayed on the information input screen of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks for executing a color change display process of a character input unit of a setting information input system according to a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a color change display process is performed on a character input unit on an information input screen according to a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a color change display process is performed on a character input unit on an information input screen according to the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a color change display processing procedure of a character input unit according to the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a color change display process is performed on a character input portion of an information input screen according to a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a color change display process is performed on a character input portion of an information input screen according to a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 2000 Controller Unit 2001 CPU 2002 RAM 2003 ROM 2004 HDD 2006 Operation Unit I / F 2010 LAN I / F 2012 Operation Unit 2013 LCD LCD 2019 Touch Panel 2050 Modem 2070 Scanner 2095 Printer 3001 Input Coordinate Judgment Unit 3002 Soft Keyboard Creation Unit 3003 Soft keyboard display processing unit 3004 Coordinate type data 3005 Keyboard data 3101 Character input unit change determination processing unit 3102 Character input display color change unit 3103 Display color change display processing unit 3104 Setting data 3105 Display color data

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yuka Nagai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Matsuda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions related to image formation, wherein setting information for setting each function can be operated and input using an information input screen displayed on a display means. Virtual keyboard display instructing means for instructing display of a virtual keyboard used for inputting the setting information on an information input screen; and when the instruction is issued from the virtual keyboard display instructing means, the virtual keyboard display instructing means according to the type of setting information Virtual keyboard creating means for selecting and creating a virtual keyboard of a selected format, and virtual keyboard displaying means for displaying the virtual keyboard created by the virtual keyboard creating means on the information input screen. Image forming device. 2. The virtual keyboard display instruction means instructs display of the virtual keyboard in response to an operation input for designating an input area of the setting information on the information input screen. The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 3. The virtual keyboard creating means determines a character type of the setting information to be input to an input area portion of the designated setting information when the instruction is issued by the virtual keyboard display instruction means. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a virtual keyboard having a format optimal for inputting the determined character type is selected and created. 4. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions relating to image formation, wherein setting information for setting each function can be operated and input using an information input screen displayed on a display means. An input area part specifying means for specifying an input area part of the setting information on the information input screen; and an input area part specified by the input area part specifying means can be distinguished from other input area parts on the information input screen. An image forming apparatus comprising an input area portion changing means for performing a display change process on the input area portion. 5. The display change processing by the input area part changing means, wherein the color of the input area part specified by the input area part specifying means is changed to the color of another input area part on the information input screen. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the processing is a display processing. 6. The display change process performed by the input area portion changing means includes: changing a color of a frame surrounding the input area portion specified by the input area portion specifying means to surround another input area portion on the information input screen. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display is performed by changing the color of the frame. 7. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions relating to image formation and capable of inputting setting information for setting each function using an information input screen displayed on a display means. In the setting information input method, a step of instructing to display a virtual keyboard used for inputting the setting information on the information input screen, and when the instruction is issued, a virtual keyboard in a format corresponding to the type of the setting information Selecting and creating, displaying the created virtual keyboard on the information input screen, and inputting the setting information using a virtual keyboard displayed on the information input screen. A setting information input method characterized by including: 8. The setting information input method according to claim 7, wherein the display of the virtual keyboard is instructed in response to an operation input for specifying an input area portion of the setting information on the information input screen. 9. When the instruction is issued, a character type of the setting information to be input to an input area portion of the specified setting information is determined, and a virtual keyboard in a format most suitable for inputting the determined character type is determined. 9. The setting information input method according to claim 8, wherein the setting information is selected and created. 10. It has a plurality of functions relating to image formation,
In a setting information input method used in an image forming apparatus capable of inputting operation of setting information for setting each function using an information input screen displayed on a display unit, the setting information on the information input screen Specifying an input area portion, and performing a display change process on the input area portion so that the specified input area portion can be distinguished from another input area portion on the information input screen. A setting information input method characterized by the following. 11. The display changing process according to claim 10, wherein a color of the designated input area is changed to a color of another input area on the information input screen and displayed. The described setting information input method. 12. The display change process is a process of changing a color surrounding the designated input area part to a color of a frame surrounding another input area part on the information input screen and displaying the input input area part. The setting information input method according to claim 10, wherein the setting information is input. 13. It has a plurality of functions relating to image formation,
In a storage medium storing a program executed by an image forming apparatus capable of performing operation input using an information input screen displayed on a display means for setting information for setting each function, the program includes the information A virtual keyboard display instruction module for instructing to display a virtual keyboard used for inputting the setting information on an input screen, and when the instruction is issued from the virtual keyboard display instruction module, the virtual keyboard display instruction module according to the type of the setting information A virtual keyboard creation module for selecting and creating a virtual keyboard of a format, and a virtual keyboard display module for displaying the virtual keyboard created by the virtual keyboard creation module on the information input screen. Medium. 14. The virtual keyboard display instruction module instructs the display of the virtual keyboard in response to an operation input for designating an input area of the setting information on the information input screen. The storage medium according to the above. 15. The virtual keyboard creation module determines a character type of the setting information to be input to an input area portion of the designated setting information when the instruction is issued by the virtual keyboard display instruction module. 15. The storage medium according to claim 14, wherein a virtual keyboard in a format optimal for inputting the determined character type is selected and created. 16. It has a plurality of functions relating to image formation,
In a storage medium storing a program executed by an image forming apparatus capable of performing operation input using an information input screen displayed on a display unit, setting information for setting each function is displayed on the information input screen. An input area part designating module for designating an input area part of the setting information; and the input so that the input area part designated by the input area part designating module can be distinguished from other input area parts on the information input screen. A storage medium, comprising: an input area change module for performing a display change process on an area. 17. The display change processing by the input area part change module changes the color of the input area part specified by the input area part specification module from the color of another input area part on the information input screen. 17. The storage medium according to claim 16, which is a process for displaying. 18. The display change processing by the input area part change module, wherein a color of a frame surrounding the input area part specified by the input area part specification module surrounds another input area part on the information input screen. 17. The storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the display is performed by changing the color of the frame.