Information Processing Apparatus, Method of Information Processing Apparatus, and Storage Medium

Abstract

The present invention discloses an information processing apparatus, a method of the information processing apparatus, and a storage medium. An information processing apparatus having multiple functions includes: a first display control unit configured to display a plurality of buttons on a screen, each of the plurality of buttons being configured to execute a corresponding one of the multiple functions; a reordering unit configured to automatically reorder the plurality of buttons; and a setting unit configured to set the reordering of the plurality of buttons to be enabled or disabled, the reordering being performed by the reordering unit, wherein, when the setting unit makes a setting to enable reordering, the reordering unit performs the reordering of the plurality of buttons, and when the setting unit makes a setting to disable reordering, the reordering unit does not perform the reordering of the plurality of buttons.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a method of the information processing apparatus, and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] An image processing apparatus displays a menu screen including a plurality of buttons for executing functions of the apparatus, such as a copy function and a scan function, on an operation unit. A user can issue an instruction to change settings or execute a function by pressing a corresponding button among the above-described buttons on the menu screen. As the number of functions of the image processing apparatus increases, the number of buttons displayed on the menu screen also increases.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-117158 discusses a technique of reordering buttons displayed on a menu screen depending on the state of an image processing apparatus so that a user can more easily find a desired button on the menu screen. For example, when a document having a specific paper size is placed on a scanner of an image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus reorders the buttons so that buttons related to processing to be performed on the document are first displayed on the menu screen. Meanwhile, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-236028 discusses a method of preferentially displaying buttons that a user may expect based on the user's button usage history.

[0004] In this way, preferentially displaying buttons that a user may expect makes it easier for the user to find a desired button among a large number of buttons.

[0005] As described above, automatically reordering buttons based on a user's usage history or the like makes it easier for the user to find a desired button. However, depending on the user or the usage environment of the apparatus, reordering the buttons may be rather troublesome for the user. For example, in the case where a user uses an image processing apparatus in which the button order is stored, if the buttons are reordered based on the usage history or the like, the user is troubled because the buttons are displayed in an order different from the stored order. More specifically, automatically reordering the buttons may increase convenience in some cases, while it may decrease convenience in other cases. This kind of problem has not been generally considered. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to providing a method for increasing convenience in an apparatus that automatically reorders buttons.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus having multiple functions includes: a first display control unit configured to display a plurality of buttons on a screen, each of the plurality of buttons being configured to execute a corresponding one of the multiple functions; a reordering unit configured to automatically reorder the plurality of buttons; and a setting unit configured to set the reordering of the plurality of buttons to be enabled or disabled, the reordering being performed by the reordering unit, wherein, when the setting unit makes a setting to enable reordering, the reordering unit performs the reordering of the plurality of buttons, and when the setting unit makes a setting to disable reordering, the reordering unit does not perform the reordering of the plurality of buttons.

[0008] Other features of the present invention will become clear from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the software configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the screen display processing according to the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 4A and Figure 4B are diagrams each illustrating an example of a menu screen according to the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the sequence update processing according to the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user information table according to the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the processing executed when a switching button is pressed according to the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating the processing executed when a switching button is pressed according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen on which a user can select a button order according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu screen according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating a sequential update process according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user information table according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the exemplary embodiments, a description will be given of an image processing apparatus as an example of an information processing apparatus, but the present invention set forth in the claims is not limited thereto. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the exemplary embodiments are necessarily essential for the solution of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of an image processing apparatus 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] The control unit 10 controls the operation of each unit of the image processing apparatus 1. The control unit 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 100, a communication unit 101, a random access memory (RAM) 102, a hard disk drive (HDD) 103, a read only memory (ROM) 104, a timer 105, and a facsimile unit 106.

[0026] The CPU 100 controls the entire control unit 10. The communication unit 101 transmits and receives data via a local area network (LAN) 11. The LAN 11 represents a network for exchanging data with external devices, and the image processing apparatus 1 is connected to the Internet via the LAN 11.

[0027] The RAM 102 provides a system working memory for the CPU 100 to operate. The HDD 103 is a hard disk drive, but can be another storage device such as a magnetic disk, optical medium, or flash memory, or a combination of these devices. The HDD 103 can store job data, setting data, etc. The HDD 103 may not be included in the image processing apparatus 1. For example, an external server, a personal computer, etc. can be used as a storage device via the communication unit 101.

[0028] The ROM 104 is a boot ROM and stores a boot program of the system. The CPU 100 uses the boot ROM of the ROM 104 to load the program installed in the HDD 103 into the RAM 102 and execute various controls based on the program.

[0029] The timer 105 measures time according to an instruction from the CPU 100 and notifies the CPU 100 of the time by an interruption when the indicated time has elapsed. The fax unit 106 transmits and receives fax data via the telephone line 14.

[0030] The display / operation unit 12 is controlled by the control unit 10 and includes a display unit 120 and an input unit 121. The display unit 120 is a display for displaying information about the image processing apparatus 1 to the user. The input unit 121 accepts input from the user via an interface such as a touch panel, mouse, camera, voice input, and keyboard. Alternatively, the input unit 121 can be a non-contact user interface through which the user can perform input operations without touching the operation unit.

[0031] The image processing unit 13 is controlled by the control unit 10 and includes an image analysis unit 130, an image generation unit 131, and an image output unit 132.

[0032] The image analysis unit 130 analyzes the structure of the original image and extracts necessary information from the analysis result.

[0033] The image generation unit 131 reads (e.g., scans) a document, digitizes the image of the document to generate image data, and stores the image data in the HDD 103. Additionally, the image generation unit 131 can also generate original image data in another format using the information obtained as the analysis result of the image analysis unit 130.

[0034] The image output unit 132 outputs the image data stored in the HDD 103, etc. Examples of output methods include a method of printing the image data of a document on paper, a method of transmitting the image data via the communication unit 101 to an external device, server, or fax device connected to a network, and a method of storing the image data in a storage medium connected to the image processing apparatus 1.

[0035] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the functions of the image processing apparatus 1.

[0036] The image processing apparatus 1 includes, as its functional modules, an authentication processing unit 201, a user information management unit 202, a job processing unit 203, an operation processing unit 204, a device information management unit 205, and a sequence change processing unit 206. Each functional unit is implemented by the CPU 100 loading a program installed in the HDD 103 into the RAM 102 using the boot ROM of the ROM 104 and executing the program.

[0037] The authentication processing unit 201 performs login and logout processing by accepting input from the user. When accepting the input of the user identification (ID) and password from the user, the authentication processing unit 201 performs authentication based on the accepted information. In the case where the authentication is successful, the authentication processing unit 201 performs processing preliminarily associated with the authenticated user.

[0038] The user information management unit 202 manages information about the users authenticated by the authentication processing unit 201 on a per-user basis. For example, the user information management unit 202 manages the language (e.g., English, Japanese, etc.) used when using the image processing apparatus 1, whereby the language can be switched on a per-user basis. The user information management unit 202 can also manage, for each user for whom a job has been input, print jobs received from an external device via the communication unit 101. The user information management unit 202 can also manage, on a per-user basis, information about the button order (e.g., button order 602) displayed on the menu screen and / or information for changing the button order (e.g., information such as the user's button usage history). The user information management unit 202 also stores information about the user's past button order. The menu screen mentioned here is the portal screen, in which a plurality of buttons for executing various functions including the image processing functions of the image processing apparatus 1 are arranged, and the display order of the buttons can be automatically changed based on the user's button usage history. The user information management unit 202 also manages, on a per-user basis, information about whether to automatically change the display order of the buttons displayed on the menu screen. In other words, the user information management unit 202 manages, on a per-user basis, the setting of whether to change the display order of the buttons based on the button usage history, etc.

[0039] The job processing unit 203 performs processing of various jobs executed in the image processing apparatus 1. Specifically, the job processing unit 203 controls the image generation unit 131 to execute a scanning job, controls the image output unit 132 to execute a printing job, and controls the communication unit 101 to execute a sending job.

[0040] The operation processing unit 204 controls the display unit 120 to control the display of various information to the user. In addition, the operation processing unit 204 receives operation instructions input by the user from the input unit 121 and executes processing.

[0041] The device information management unit 205 manages information about the entire image processing device 1. Specific examples of the information managed by the device information management unit 205 include the Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to the device and the setting values common to all users who use the device. The device information management unit 205 can manage information of a type similar to the type of information managed by the user information management unit 202.

[0042] The order change processing unit 206 executes processing for changing the order of the buttons displayed on the menu screen. For example, the order change processing unit 206 determines the display priority level of each button based on the user's button usage history (for example, the buttons are displayed so that frequently used buttons are placed at the top). The method for determining the display priority level of each button is not limited to this, and various methods can be used. The display priority level of each button can be determined based on, for example, the state of the image processing device 1 (for example, in a state where paper is placed on the scanner of the image processing device 1, the button for executing the scanning process is preferentially displayed). A description will be given below of the case where the display order of the buttons is determined based on the usage history of the buttons as an example, but the method for determining the order of the buttons is not limited to this. The order of the buttons can be determined based on the state as described above, or the order of the buttons can be determined by considering the state of the image processing device 1 and the usage history of the buttons.

[0043] The image processing device 1 can be configured not to include the authentication processing unit 201 and the user information management unit 202. However, in this case, the device information management unit 205 executes processing equivalent to the processing executed by the user information management unit 202 and treats all users without any distinction as one user.

[0044] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the processing of displaying the menu screen. Figure 3 Each step in is implemented by the CPU 100 of the image processing device 1 executing a program. The program to be executed is read from the ROM 104 and then executed.

[0045] In step S301, the operation processing unit 204 receives a display instruction for displaying the menu screen from the user.

[0046] Examples of the display instructions mentioned in this document include detecting the presence of a user in front of the image processing apparatus 1, operations by the user on the display / operation unit 12, and the execution of user authentication. When the operation processing unit 204 receives a display instruction for displaying a menu screen, the process proceeds to step S302.

[0047] In step S302, the order change processing unit 206 performs a process of updating the order of the buttons displayed on the menu screen (details of this process will be described below with reference to Figure 5 ). After performing the process of updating the order of the buttons, the process proceeds to step S303.

[0048] In step S303, the operation processing unit 204 displays the menu screen in the order of the buttons changed in step S302. Examples of the menu screen to be displayed are illustrated in Figure 4A and Figure 4B . Figure 4A illustrates the first page of the menu screen, and Figure 4B illustrates the second page of the menu screen. The buttons are displayed such that the buttons frequently used by the user are placed at the top. When the user presses the page forward button 405, the buttons at the bottom are displayed. When the user presses the page back button 406, the buttons at the top are displayed. In the first exemplary embodiment, the display priority level increases from left to right. The page forward button 405 is not displayed when there are no buttons at the bottom, and the page back button 406 is not displayed when there are no buttons at the top. The function buttons 401 to 403 and 407 to 409 are buttons for performing processes using the corresponding functions of the image processing apparatus 1, and the execution of the process or the display of the setting screen can be performed by pressing the corresponding function button.

[0049] As Figure 6 illustrated in the button table 620 in, information about the buttons displayed on the menu screen is managed by the device information management unit 205. In the button ID 621 column, an identifier for uniquely identifying the corresponding button is defined. In the button name 622 column, the button name is defined.

[0050] In the call function 623 column, the function to be executed when the user selects the corresponding button is defined. In the setting value 624 column, the setting value to be added as a parameter when the corresponding function is executed is defined. The buttons defined by the button table 620 are displayed on the menu screen composed of multiple pages in a predetermined order. Not all the buttons defined by the button table 620 have to be displayed on the menu screen. There may be buttons stored as button information but not displayed on the menu screen.

[0051] When the user presses the switching button 404, the system can be switched between enabling and disabling the automatic reordering of the buttons. In other words, whether to change the order of the buttons can be switched based on the user's button usage history. The setting for enabling / disabling the automatic reordering of the buttons is stored for each user as an automatic reordering setting.

[0052] Figure 5 FIG. is a flowchart illustrating the order update process (S302) executed by the system. Figure 5 Each process in is implemented by the CPU 100 of the image processing apparatus 1 executing a program. The program to be executed is read from the ROM 104 and then executed.

[0053] In step S501, the order change processing unit 206 reads the automatic reordering setting 601 of the logged-in user of the image processing apparatus 1 from the user information management table 600 ( Figure 6 ) managed by the user information management unit 202, and the process proceeds to step S502. For example, the automatic reordering setting 601 is switched between enabling and disabling by operating the switching button 404. The user information management unit 202 stores the button order 602 indicating the display order of the buttons on the menu screen in association with the automatic reordering setting 601 for each user, as illustrated in the user information management table 600. Based on the display order indicated by the button order 602, the buttons are displayed on the menu screen. For example, in the case of user A, the usage frequency of the buttons is in descending order of the copy button, the scan and send button, the fax button, the print all button, and the send to myself button, and the buttons are displayed on the menu screen in this order.

[0054] In step S502, the order change processing unit 206 determines whether the automatic reordering setting 601 read in step S501 is "enabled". If the automatic reordering setting 601 is "enabled" (Yes in step S502), the process proceeds to step S503. If the automatic reordering setting 601 is "disabled" (No in step S502), the order update process ends.

[0055] In step S503, the order change processing unit 206 performs a process of changing the order of the buttons displayed on the menu screen.

[0056] Specifically, the order change processing unit 206 updates the button order 602 for the logged-in user of the image processing apparatus 1 based on the usage history of the buttons held by the user information management unit 202.

[0057] A more detailed description will be given with reference to the operation history table 610. The operation history table 610 is a table indicating the usage count of the buttons for each user, and in Figure 6The operation history table of user B is illustrated in the figure. Each row indicates one job execution, and the identifier of the button that has been executed and the execution date and time are stored in association with each other. The order change processing unit 206 counts the number of executions of each job (i.e., the number of times each button is used), and updates the button order 602 so that the button with a large number of uses is displayed at the top. More specifically, if a job is executed multiple times on the image processing apparatus 1, the buttons are automatically reordered so that the button with a large number of uses is displayed at the top. The update processing in step S503 does not have to be performed at this moment and can be performed whenever the user uses the buttons on the menu screen. For a user who has never executed a job on the image processing apparatus 1 before, the menu screen is displayed in the default order (e.g., factory default settings). When the user disables the automatic reordering and uses the image processing apparatus 1, the buttons are always displayed in the default order.

[0058] With the processing according to the flowchart, users who have enabled the automatic reordering setting do not have to go through the trouble of searching for the desired button because the button with a large number of uses is preferentially displayed on the menu screen. On the other hand, in the case where the automatic reordering setting is disabled, the order of the buttons is fixed regardless of the usage history of the buttons, which is convenient for users who have memorized the display positions of the buttons and select the buttons. In this way, the user can change whether to change the display order of the buttons based on the operation history. The method of performing the processing for changing the button order is not limited to the method based on the button usage history and can be a method of updating the button order 602 based on the state of the apparatus (e.g., status information such as whether a document is placed on the scanner) held by the apparatus information management unit 205.

[0059] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the details of the processing executed when the operation of the user on the switching button 404 is accepted. Figure 7 Each step in is implemented by the CPU 100 of the image processing apparatus 1 executing a program. The program to be executed is read from the ROM 104 and then executed.

[0060] In step S701, the operation processing unit 204 accepts the operation of the user to switch whether to enable or disable the automatic reordering of the buttons displayed on the menu screen. The switching operation mentioned herein can be the operation of the switching button 404 or can be accepted on a setting screen, dialog box, etc. different from the menu screen. When the operation processing unit 204 accepts the user operation, the processing proceeds to step S702.

[0061] In step S702, as a result of the switching operation accepted in step S701, the operation processing unit 204 records the automatic reordering setting in the user information management table 600, and the processing proceeds to step S703.

[0062] In step S703, the operation processing unit 204 determines whether the user operation accepted in step S701 enables automatic reordering. In the case where the user operation is disabling automatic reordering (No in step S703), the process ends. In the case where the user operation is enabling automatic reordering (Yes in step S703), the process proceeds to step S704.

[0063] In the case where the user disables automatic reordering, the operation processing unit 204 may be configured not to perform subsequent recording of the usage count of the buttons using the operation history table 610. This can save the storage capacity of the image processing apparatus 1.

[0064] In step S704, when automatic reordering is set to enabled, the order change processing unit 206 performs processing to change the order of the buttons. In the order change processing in step S704, the order change processing unit 206 changes the order of the buttons displayed on the menu screen based on the usage history of the buttons held by the user information management unit 202. Specifically, the order change processing unit 206 refers to the operation history table 610 to count the usage count of each button, and changes the order of the buttons such that the buttons with a large usage count are displayed at the top. As the operation history to be referred to herein, the order change processing unit 206 may refer to all usage histories until this time when automatic reordering is enabled, or may refer only to the usage history before the last time automatic reordering was disabled. By referring to the usage history before the last time automatic reordering was disabled, the order change processing unit 206 can restore the button order at the time when automatic reordering was last disabled. In this case, as indicated in the automatic reordering setting 611 at the time of execution in the operation history table 610, the user information management unit 202 stores the usage history of the buttons and the enable / disable information in the automatic reordering setting in association with each other.

[0065] For example, in a case where a user who frequently uses button fixation in their daily work enables automatic reordering and utilizes a menu screen on which frequently used buttons are preferentially displayed, if different work from the daily work is assigned to the user only within a certain month and the buttons frequently used by the user are changed, the display priority level of the buttons frequently used in the daily work decreases. Therefore, when resuming the daily work, the frequently used buttons are not preferentially displayed, which causes trouble to the user. Considering this situation, automatic reordering is disabled only in a certain month when performing work different from the daily work so that the order of the buttons does not change, and automatic reordering is enabled when resuming the daily work, and the user can thereby utilize the menu screen on which the buttons frequently used in the daily work are preferentially displayed. In the case of enabling automatic reordering, the order change processing unit 206 can apply the default order of the buttons held by the device information management unit 205 without using the operation history.

[0066] Performing processing according to the above flowchart allows the user to switch whether to automatically change the order of the buttons at a desired moment. Although an example description has been given in which the setting of whether to enable or disable automatic reordering can be made for each user, the configuration is not limited thereto. The setting of whether to enable or disable automatic reordering can be made as a common device setting of the image processing apparatus 1.

[0067] In the first exemplary embodiment, when automatic reordering is enabled, the process of changing the button order is performed. In the second exemplary embodiment, an example description will be given of presenting multiple modes of order when performing the process of changing the button order so that the user can select the order desired by the user. The basic configuration of the second exemplary embodiment is the same as the basic configuration of the first exemplary embodiment, so only the differences will be described.

[0068] The difference between this exemplary embodiment and the first exemplary embodiment is that Figure 7 the flowchart illustrated in Figure 8 becomes the flowchart illustrated in

[0069] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the details of the process executed when the operation of the user switching whether to enable or disable automatic reordering is accepted. Figure 8 Each step in Figure 7 is implemented by the CPU 100 of the image processing apparatus 1 executing a program. The program to be executed is read from the ROM 104 and then executed. The difference from

[0070] In step S801, when the user operation received in step S701 is an operation to enable automatic reordering, the operation processing unit 204 presents multiple candidates for the button order to the user. Figure 9 An example of a screen on which candidates for the button order are presented is illustrated. Two candidates 902 for the button order are displayed in the dialog box 901.

[0071] Figure 6 The order history table 630 illustrated in is used to describe the button order to be presented in step S801. The order history table 630 is a table for storing the user's past button orders. As an example, the button order used when the user last disabled automatic reordering of the buttons, the button order used when the user last enabled automatic reordering of the buttons, etc. are stored in the order history table 630. Whenever automatic reordering is enabled or disabled, the button order displayed on the menu screen at that time is stored in the order history table 630.

[0072] Examples of candidates for the button order to be presented include the default order held by the device information management unit 205, the button order based on the usage times of all buttons until automatic reordering was enabled up to that point, and the button order used when automatic reordering was last disabled or enabled. In addition to the above, examples of candidates for the button order to be presented include the order preset by the user and the order set by the administrator of the image processing apparatus 1. Among the candidates, at least two candidates are displayed on the display unit 120 in a state where the user can compare between at least two candidates, and the process proceeds to step S802. Alternatively, the user may be able to preset which order candidates are to be presented.

[0073] In step S802, the operation processing unit 204 determines whether it has received a user operation to select an order candidate displayed on the display unit 120 in step S801. Specifically, the operation processing unit 204 detects whether the application button 903 has been pressed. When the operation processing unit 204 accepts the user's selection operation (Yes in step S802), the process proceeds to step S803. When the operation processing unit 204 does not accept the user's selection operation (No in step S802), the processing in step S802 is repeated.

[0074] In step S803, the operation processing unit 204 reflects the order candidate selected by the user in step S802 in the button order displayed on the menu screen. The usage history other than the usage history of the buttons corresponding to the selected order candidate may be deleted. For example, when the default order is selected, all previous usage histories may be deleted and the usage times may be recounted.

[0075] Performing the above-mentioned processing allows the user to select a button order close to the order the user desires when the user enables automatic reordering, thereby increasing user convenience. Although a description of an example of presenting candidates when automatic reordering is enabled has been given, candidates can also be presented when automatic reordering is disabled. This allows the user to choose whether to fix the order of the buttons to the current order of the buttons or to change the order of the buttons to the default order and then fix it.

[0076] In the third exemplary embodiment, in the case of performing reordering of buttons based on the number of times the buttons are used, a method of restoring the original order before reordering will be described. For example, in a state where the user continues to use the image processing apparatus 1 without disabling automatic reordering while the buttons are arranged in the button order desired by the user, even if the number of times an infrequently used button is used increases due to accidental operations or the like and the desired order is changed, the desired order can be restored. The basic configuration of the third exemplary embodiment is the same as the basic configuration of the first exemplary embodiment, and thus only the differences will be described.

[0077] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu screen according to the present exemplary embodiment. Different from Figure 4A and Figure 4B is that a restore button 1007 is displayed. Pressing the restore button 1007 can restore the button order before the button reordering.

[0078] Reference will be made to Figure 11 the flowchart illustrated in to describe the processing performed when the restore button 1007 is pressed. Figure 11 Each step in is implemented by the CPU 100 of the image processing apparatus 1 executing a program. The program to be executed is read from the ROM 104 and then executed.

[0079] In step S1101, the operation processing unit 204 receives an operation on the restore button 1007 from the user, and the processing proceeds to step S1102.

[0080] In step S1102, the operation processing unit 204 reads the order change history held by the user information management unit 202. The order change history mentioned herein is information indicating the past button order. In order to store the history, in the present exemplary embodiment, when the order of the buttons is changed in step S503, the user information management unit 202 holds information indicating the button order before the change. After the operation processing unit 204 reads the order change history, the processing proceeds to step S1103.

[0081] In step S1103, the order change processing unit 206 displays buttons on the menu screen based on the order change history read in step S1102. In other words, the order of the buttons before reordering is restored. At this time, the button usage history from after the last reordering until the current reordering can be deleted.

[0082] Performing the above-described processing enables the user to restore the original order of the buttons even when the order becomes an order that the user does not expect.

[0083] In the above exemplary embodiment, the order of the buttons displayed on the menu screen is changed based on the usage history of the buttons on the menu screen. However, it is conceivable to use factors other than the usage history of the buttons as factors for changing the order of the buttons. An example of a factor can be the state of the device. In a state where a sheet is placed on the scanner of the image processing apparatus 1, it is conceivable to rearrange the buttons so that the buttons for performing the scanning process are preferentially displayed. In the fourth exemplary embodiment, a description will be given of an example in which a device that automatically reorders buttons based on multiple factors in this way can set whether to enable automatic reordering of the buttons for each factor. The basic configuration of the fourth exemplary embodiment is the same as the basic configuration of the first exemplary embodiment, and thus only the differences will be described.

[0084] Figure 14 FIG. is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen 1401 for reordering buttons according to the present exemplary embodiment. Buttons 1403 for switching whether to automatically reorder the buttons on the menu screen, buttons 1404 for switching whether to reorder the buttons using the usage history of the buttons, and buttons 1405 for switching whether to reorder the buttons based on the state of the device are displayed. More specifically, it is possible to set whether to reorder the buttons for each factor used to reorder the buttons. For example, if both the button 1404 for switching whether to reorder the buttons using the usage history of the buttons and the button 1405 for switching whether to reorder the buttons based on the state of the device are enabled, the buttons on the menu screen are reordered based on both the usage history and the device state. When one of the factors is disabled, the buttons are reordered based on the other factors. The factors used for reordering are not limited to the above two factors.

[0085] Figure 12 FIG. is a flowchart illustrating the order update process (S302) performed by the system. Figure 12Each process in is implemented by the CPU 100 of the image processing apparatus 1 executing a program. The program to be executed is read from the ROM 104 and then executed. In the flowchart, the following situation is described: where two factors, factor A (the usage history of the button) and factor B (the state of the image processing apparatus 1), are provided as factors for reordering the buttons, and the image processing apparatus 1 executes order change process A (reordering the buttons based on the usage history) and order change process B (reordering the buttons based on the state of the image processing apparatus 1).

[0086] In step S1201, the order change processing unit 206 reads the setting regarding reordering made on the setting screen 1401, and the process proceeds to step S1202. In Figure 13 the order change process A / order change process B 1301 of the user information management table 1300 illustrated in manages the setting regarding reordering made on the setting screen 1401.

[0087] In step S1202, the order change processing unit 206 checks whether order change process A is enabled based on the information read in step S1201. If order change process A is enabled (Yes in step S1202), the process proceeds to step S1203. If order change process A is disabled (No in step S1202), the process proceeds to step S1204 and subsequent steps.

[0088] In step S1203, the order change processing unit 206 executes order change process A, and thereafter, the process proceeds to step S1204.

[0089] In step S1204, the order change processing unit 206 checks whether order change process B is enabled based on the information read in step S1201. If order change process B is enabled (Yes in step S1204), the process proceeds to step S1205. If order change process B is disabled (No in step S1204), the process ends. In step S1205, the order change processing unit 206 executes order change process B, and thereafter, the process ends. At this time, if the process in step S1203 has been executed, the order change processing unit 206 further applies order change process B to the order that has undergone order change process A. Alternatively, the order change processing unit 206 determines the order of the buttons by considering both the factors of order change process A and order change process B.

[0090] Performing the above-mentioned process enables providing a process for changing the button order that is close to the process desired by the user, and thereby improves the convenience of the user.

[0091] In a first exemplary embodiment, a description has been given of the following mode: on a screen identical to an example of a menu screen illustrated in Figure 4A and Figure 4B , function buttons 401 to 403 associated with corresponding functions of the image processing apparatus 1 and a switching button 404 are displayed, but the displayed mode is not limited thereto. For example, as illustrated in Figure 14 , when a menu button or a similar button is pressed, switching buttons 1403 to 1405 are displayed on another screen or a dialog box, and a user's switching operation can be accepted on the other screen or the dialog box. Not only the switching button 404 but also the restoration button 1007 can be similarly displayed on another screen or a dialog box different from the screen or the dialog box on which the function buttons 401 to 403 are displayed. The switching button 404 and the restoration button 1007 can be displayed on the same screen or dialog box, or can be displayed on different screens or dialog boxes.

[0092] In the above-mentioned exemplary embodiment, a description has been given of an example of reordering buttons on a menu screen based on the number of times the buttons are used, but the configuration for preferentially displaying buttons is not limited to the configuration for reordering the buttons. For example, a configuration for displaying frequently used buttons in an enlarged manner or highlighting such buttons based on the number of times the buttons are used can be adopted. Alternatively, a configuration for displaying only frequently used buttons on the menu screen and not displaying other buttons can be adopted.

[0093] The present invention increases the convenience in an apparatus for automatically reordering execution buttons.

[0094] Other embodiments

[0095] One or more embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads and executes computer-executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be more fully referred to as a "non-transitory computer-readable storage medium") to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments and / or includes one or more circuits (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments, and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading and executing the computer-executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments and / or controlling one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments. The computer may include one or more processors (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read and execute the computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or a storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage device of a distributed computing system, an optical disk (such as a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), or a Blu-ray disk (BD) TM ), a flash device, a memory card, etc.

[0096] Other embodiments

[0097] Embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented by the following method, that is, by providing software (program) that performs the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus through a network or various storage media, and the method in which the computer or the central processing unit (CPU), the microprocessing unit (MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program.

[0098] Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the appended claims should be given the broadest interpretation so as to cover all such modifications as well as equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus having multiple functions, comprising: A first display control unit configured to display a plurality of buttons on a screen, wherein each of the plurality of buttons corresponds to a different one of the multiple functions; A reordering unit configured to automatically reorder the plurality of buttons; A second display control unit configured to display a setting screen on which enabling or disabling of the reordering of the plurality of buttons can be set, and on which restoration of the order of the plurality of buttons can be set, the reordering being performed by the reordering unit; And A setting unit configured to display on the setting screen and set the reordering of the plurality of buttons to be enabled or disabled based on a setting of a switching operation on the setting screen, and to display on the setting screen and set the order of the plurality of buttons to be restored based on a setting of a restoration operation on the setting screen, wherein, when the setting unit makes a setting to enable reordering, the reordering unit performs the reordering of the plurality of buttons, and when the setting unit makes a setting to disable reordering, the reordering unit does not perform the reordering of the plurality of buttons.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one processor that acts as: A storage unit configured to store settings received on the setting screen.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, Among them, The at least one processor further acts as an authentication unit configured to authenticate a user operating the information processing apparatus, and wherein the storage unit is configured to store information indicating the authenticated user and the settings in association with each other.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The storage unit is configured to store the settings as common apparatus settings of the information processing apparatus.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The reordering unit is configured to perform a display such that at least one of the plurality of buttons is placed at the top.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The reordering unit is configured to automatically reorder the plurality of buttons based on the usage times of the plurality of buttons.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, Among them, When the setting unit sets reordering to be enabled, the usage times of the plurality of buttons are stored, and wherein, when the setting unit sets reordering to be disabled, the usage times of the plurality of buttons are not stored.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, When the setting is changed, the first display control unit is configured to present a plurality of screen candidates that are different in terms of the order of the plurality of buttons to the user and display a screen corresponding to the screen candidate selected by the user.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, The plurality of screen candidates include at least one of a screen on which the plurality of buttons are displayed in a default order and a screen on which the plurality of buttons are displayed in an order determined at least based on the usage times of the plurality of buttons.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, The plurality of screen candidates at least include a screen on which the plurality of buttons are displayed in the order used when the setting unit last set reordering to be disabled.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The first display control unit is configured to display a button for displaying the screen before the plurality of buttons are reordered by the reordering unit.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The reordering unit is configured to reorder the plurality of buttons based on a plurality of factors, the plurality of factors including the number of times the plurality of buttons are used.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, The setting unit is configured to be able to set the reordering to be enabled or disabled for each of the plurality of factors.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The reordering unit is configured to perform a display such that frequently used buttons are placed at the top.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of functions at least include a copying function and a scanning function, and at least a button corresponding to the copying function and a button corresponding to the scanning function are displayed on the screen by a first display control unit.

16. A method for an information processing apparatus having a plurality of functions, the method comprising: Performing first display control to display a plurality of buttons on a screen, wherein each of the plurality of buttons corresponds to a different one of the plurality of functions; Performing reordering to automatically reorder the plurality of buttons; Performing second display control to display a setting screen on which the enabling or disabling of the reordering of the plurality of buttons can be set, and on which the restoration of the order of the plurality of buttons can be set; And Based on the setting of a switching operation on the setting screen, displaying on the setting screen and setting the reordering of the plurality of buttons to be enabled or disabled, and based on the setting of a restoration operation on the setting screen, displaying on the setting screen and setting the order of the plurality of buttons to be restored, wherein, when the reordering is set to be enabled in the setting, the reordering of the plurality of buttons is performed in the reordering, and when the reordering is set to be disabled in the setting, the reordering of the plurality of buttons is not performed in the reordering.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program, the program for causing a computer to execute a method for an information processing apparatus having a plurality of functions, the method comprising: Performing first display control to display a plurality of buttons on a screen, wherein each of the plurality of buttons corresponds to a different one of the plurality of functions; Performing reordering to automatically reorder the plurality of buttons; Performing second display control to display a setting screen on which the enabling or disabling of the reordering of the plurality of buttons can be set, and on which the restoration of the order of the plurality of buttons can be set; And Based on the setting of a switching operation on the setting screen, displaying on the setting screen and setting the reordering of the plurality of buttons to be enabled or disabled, and based on the setting of a restoration operation on the setting screen, displaying on the setting screen and setting the order of the plurality of buttons to be restored, wherein, when the reordering is set to be enabled in the setting, the reordering of the plurality of buttons is performed in the reordering, and when the reordering is set to be disabled in the setting, the reordering of the plurality of buttons is not performed in the reordering.

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