Printer, information processing device, control method, and program

Abstract

To make it easier for a user to understand which operation button displayed on an operation screen is related to a warning about a malfunction.SOLUTION: A control unit detects a malfunction within a printer using a malfunction detection unit. The control unit determines whether or not a malfunction has been detected, and decides a warning icon corresponding to the type of detected malfunction from the multiple warning icons different for each type of malfunction prepared in advance. The control unit displays the acquired warning icon on the operation button that needs to be operated in order to resolve the detected malfunction, among the operation buttons displayed on the operation panel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control technique for displaying a warning in a printing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, some printing devices display a warning on the operation screen of the device when a malfunction occurs inside the device, to notify the user of the malfunction. Technology that displays a malfunction warning on the operation screen using an exclamation mark (!) icon is also widely known.

[0003] Patent document 1 discloses a method in which, when ink is low, a warning icon and warning content are displayed in a pre-allocated display area, and when the user operates the warning icon, a screen is displayed encouraging the user to replace or purchase ink. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-72740 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, the warning content is displayed independently of the pre-prepared operation buttons, making it difficult to intuitively grasp the relationship between the warning content and the items assigned to the operation buttons. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a printing device, comprising: a display means for displaying an operation screen including operation buttons for operating the printing device; an acquisition means for acquiring warning information indicating a type of defect in the printing device; and a selection means for selecting, when the warning information is acquired by the acquisition means, a warning icon corresponding to the warning information from among a plurality of warning icons capable of identifying the type of the defect. the display means further displays the warning icon in association with a part of the operation button displayed on the operation screen. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily grasp which operation button displayed on the operation screen a warning about a malfunction is related to. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing device 100. [Diagram 2] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a data processing procedure in a printing device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] A correspondence table showing an example of a means for associating a defect with a warning icon used in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a user's operation procedure on a printing device according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1 is an example of the operation top screen and main body information screen of the printing device 100 when one malfunction occurs. [Figure 6] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a data processing procedure in a printing device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] A priority table in which priorities are set for defects used in the second embodiment [Figure 8] An example of the operation top screen and device information screen of a printing device when multiple malfunctions occur [Figure 9] A priority table in which priorities are set for defects and their causes used in the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the drawings. However, the components described in the present embodiment are merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these components.

[0010] [Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the printing device 100. The printing device 100 is composed of an operation unit 110, a control unit 120, a printing unit 130, a scanner unit 140, and a communication unit 150. The operation unit 110 includes an operation panel 111 for accepting user operations. The control unit 120 includes a CPU 121, a data storage unit 122, and a defect detection unit 123, and controls the entire printing device 100. The data storage unit 122 is composed of a ROM, a RAM, etc., and stores image data, control data, etc. in addition to various programs executed by the CPU 121. The defect detection unit 123 detects defects occurring in the printing device 100. The printing unit 130 is a printing mechanism provided in the printing device 100, and forms an image on a recording medium based on raster data, etc. output from the control unit 120, and outputs the print result. The scanner unit 140 reads the image with a scanning mechanism using an optical sensor. The communication unit 150 exchanges data with an external device via a wireless LAN or a USB cable.

[0011] 2 is a flowchart showing a warning icon display sequence executed by the printing device 100 in this embodiment. Note that this flowchart is realized by the CPU 121 loading a control program stored in the ROM of the data storage unit 122 into the RAM of the data storage unit 122 and executing the control program. This flowchart starts when the user opens the operation top screen.

[0012] In S201, the control unit 120 detects a malfunction in the printing device 100 using the malfunction detection unit 123, and obtains warning information indicating the type of malfunction.

[0013] In S202, the control unit 120 judges whether or not a malfunction has been detected based on the acquired warning information. If it is judged in S201 that a malfunction has been detected, the process proceeds to S203 to display a warning icon. On the other hand, if it is judged that a malfunction has not been detected, the process ends since a warning icon will not be displayed.

[0014] In S203, the control unit 120 determines a warning icon corresponding to the type of the defect detected in S201 from among a plurality of warning icons prepared in advance that can identify the type of defect. In this embodiment, a correspondence table 300 shown in FIG. 3 is used as an example of a method for determining a warning icon. In the correspondence table 300, a warning icon 301 is displayed when an ink error occurs, a warning icon 302 is displayed when a paper error occurs, and a warning icon 303 is displayed when a head error occurs. The correspondence table 300 is stored in the ROM of the data storage unit 122, and is loaded into the RAM of the data storage unit 122 together with the control program. The correspondence table 300 is also described in the manual, and a user who reads the manual can identify the defect by looking at the warning icon. In this embodiment, a warning icon that can identify the defect by numbers is shown, but a warning icon that can identify the defect by letters, shapes, colors, etc. may also be used. After determining the warning icon to be displayed, the process proceeds to S204.

[0015] In S204, the control unit 120 displays the warning icon acquired in S203 in association with some of the operation buttons associated with the malfunction detected in S201, such as those that need to be operated to solve the malfunction, among the operation buttons displayed on the operation panel 111. When the display of the warning icon is completed, a series of post-warning icon display processes is terminated.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation flow when a user solves a problem with the printing device 100. As shown in FIG.

[0017] In S401, when a user performs an operation to open the operation top screen, the control unit 120 executes the warning icon display process shown in FIG. 2, and displays a warning icon if a malfunction occurs.

[0018] In S402, the control unit 120 executes the warning icon display process shown in FIG.

[0019] In S403, if the user selects an operation button associated with a warning icon, the control unit 120 proceeds to S404 to resolve the malfunction. If the user does not select an operation button associated with a warning icon, the control unit 120 ends the operation flow.

[0020] In S404, the control unit 120 displays a screen corresponding to the operation button selected by the user and associated with a warning icon, and when the malfunction is resolved by the user, the display of the warning icon corresponding to the resolved malfunction is removed. When the process of S404 is completed, the process returns to S401 to open the operation top screen again, and when it is determined in S404 that there is no malfunction, the series of processes is terminated.

[0021] FIG. 5 shows an example of an operation top screen (FIG. 5(a)) when a warning icon is displayed by the warning icon display process, and an example of a main unit information screen (FIG. 5(b)) displayed when the main unit information button is selected. Based on the displayed warning icon 301, the user can understand that an ink error, which is a corresponding malfunction, has occurred, and can intuitively understand that the malfunction that has occurred is a malfunction related to an item displayed on the main unit information screen. In addition, when the main unit information screen is opened, the warning icon 301 is displayed in association with the ink information button, so that the user can easily understand that it is only necessary to select the ink information button to solve the malfunction. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the warning icon is displayed superimposed on the operation button, but this is an example of a configuration in which the warning icon is displayed in association with a specific operation button. In this embodiment, the warning icon and the operation button do not necessarily need to be displayed superimposed, and it is sufficient that the warning icon and the operation button are displayed so that the user can recognize the warning icon and the operation button in association with each other.

[0022] According to the first embodiment, the warning icon changes depending on the type of the problem, so that the user can understand the type of the problem just by looking at the warning icon. Also, the user can intuitively know which operation button to select to solve the problem from the display position of the warning icon.

[0023] [Embodiment 2] In the first embodiment, a configuration was described in which warning icons displayed in association with some of the operation buttons on the operation panel 111 are switched depending on the type of malfunction. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, a case in which multiple malfunctions occur simultaneously is considered. Specifically, when multiple malfunctions occur simultaneously and the operation buttons to which the warning icons are associated and displayed are the same, the printing device 100 must select one warning icon to display. In this embodiment, by setting priorities in advance for the types of malfunctions associated with warning icons, it is possible to display a warning icon corresponding to the malfunction that should be given priority in notifying the user when multiple malfunctions occur simultaneously.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a warning icon display sequence according to a second embodiment, in which a procedure for handling a case where multiple malfunctions occur simultaneously is added to the flowchart illustrating the warning icon display sequence according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

[0025] The difference from the first embodiment is in S603 and S604, which are processes when a defect is detected in S602. In the following, only the difference from the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the other steps will be omitted.

[0026] In S603, the control unit 120 determines whether or not a plurality of malfunctions were detected in S601. If a plurality of malfunctions were detected, the process proceeds to S604, and if only one malfunction was detected, the process proceeds to S605.

[0027] In S604, the control unit 120 determines which of the multiple defects detected in S601 should display a warning icon. In this embodiment, as an example of a method for determining which of the multiple defects should display a warning icon, a method using priority information such as a priority table 700 shown in FIG. 7 is shown. The priority table 700 is stored in the ROM of the data storage unit 122 of the printing device 100, and a priority is assigned to each type of defect. When the priority table 700 is used, if a head error and an ink error occur simultaneously and the operation button that corresponds to and displays the warning icon is the same, the head error has a higher priority, so the head error is determined as the defect that displays the warning icon. On the other hand, if a head error and an ink error occur simultaneously and the operation button that corresponds to and displays the warning icon is different, both the head error and the ink error are determined as the defect that displays the warning icon. The priority table 700 is loaded from the ROM of the data storage unit 122 to the RAM together with the control program. After determining one of the multiple defects, the process proceeds to S305.

[0028] In S605, the control unit 120 determines a warning icon corresponding to the type of defect determined in S604 from a plurality of warning icons prepared in advance, each of which differs for each type of defect.

[0029] In S606, the control unit 120 displays the warning icon determined in S605 in association with some of the operation buttons displayed on the operation panel 111 that are associated with the malfunction determined in S604, such as some of the operation buttons that need to be operated to resolve the malfunction.

[0030] FIG. 8 is an example of the main body information screen of the printing device 100. The main body information screen is a screen to which the printer 100 transitions when the "Main Body Information" button on the operation top screen is selected, and is a base screen for displaying main body information. Ink error, paper error, and head error in the correspondence table 300 shown in FIG. 3 correspond to ink information, paper information, and head information, respectively. For example, when an ink error occurs, a warning icon 301 is displayed on the main body information button on the operation top screen as shown in FIG. 5(a), and a warning icon 301 is displayed on the ink information button on the main body information screen as shown in FIG. 5(b). Also, when an ink error and a head error are detected at the same time, the operation top screen displays only the warning icon 303 corresponding to the head error with a higher priority according to the priority table 700 as shown in FIG. 8(a) in association with a part of the main body information button. On the other hand, the main body information screen displays the warning icons 301 and 303 corresponding to both the ink information button and the head information button as shown in FIG. 8(b). In the configuration shown in Fig. 8, the warning icon is displayed superimposed on the operation button, but this is an example of a configuration in which the warning icon is displayed in association with a specific operation button, similar to Fig. 5. In this embodiment, the warning icon and the operation button do not necessarily need to be displayed superimposed, and it is sufficient that the warning icon and the operation button are displayed so that the user can recognize the association between them.

[0031] In the operational flow shown in FIG. 4, S402 and S404 are different from the first embodiment.

[0032] In S402, the control unit 120 executes the warning icon display process shown in FIG. 6, and when a malfunction occurs, displays a warning icon corresponding to the malfunction with a high priority.

[0033] In S404, the control unit 120 displays a screen corresponding to the operation button selected by the user and associated with the warning icon, and when the user solves the problem, the control unit 120 erases the display of the warning icon corresponding to the solved problem. Using the example shown in FIG. 8, when the user selects the main body information button associated with the warning icon on the operation top screen shown in FIG. 8(a), the control unit 120 opens the main body information screen shown in FIG. 8(b). Since the operation buttons associated with the warning icons are different on the main body information screen, the warning icons 301 and 303 are displayed simultaneously. At this time, in order to guide the user to select the warning icon 303 with a higher priority, the display of the warning icon 301 may be made lighter, the colors of the warning icons 301 and 303 may be changed, or the text of the warning icon 303 may be made bold. In other words, when multiple warning icons are displayed on the same screen, the warning icon with a higher priority is highlighted. A screen corresponding to the operation button selected by the user is displayed, and when the user resolves the problem, the warning icon corresponding to the resolved problem is removed, and when the processing of S404 is completed, the process returns to S401 to open the operation top screen again. Note that since two warning icons are displayed on the main unit information screen shown in Fig. 8(b), even if one problem is resolved and the process returns to S401, the warning icon corresponding to the other unresolved problem remains displayed. When all problems are resolved and all warning icons are removed, and it is determined in S403 that there are no warning icons, the process ends.

[0034] According to the second embodiment, when multiple problems occur within the printing device 100, the icon with the highest priority is displayed, allowing the user to efficiently solve the problems.

[0035] [Embodiment 3] In the second embodiment, a configuration was described in which when multiple malfunctions occur simultaneously, the malfunction to be displayed as a warning icon is determined using a priority level. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, a warning icon is displayed taking into consideration not only the type of malfunction but also its cause.

[0036] Among the types of defects that can be displayed, there are states with different degrees of importance, such as a state where printing is not possible and a state where printing is possible. Therefore, in the third embodiment, in order to display warning icons taking into consideration states with different degrees of importance in addition to the type of defect, the priority is also changed depending on the cause of the defect.

[0037] The difference from the second embodiment is in the method of determining the problem used in S604. In the second embodiment, a priority is assigned to each type of problem, but in the third embodiment, a priority is assigned taking into consideration the cause of the problem. In this embodiment, the priority table 900 shown in FIG. 9 is used as an example. There are two types of ink errors: when there is no ink and printing is impossible (no ink), and when there is little ink but printing is possible (low ink), so the priority table 900 sets different priorities for them. In this embodiment, when a paper error and an ink error occur simultaneously, the priority for each error type and cause is referenced. When the type and cause of the paper error are "no paper" and the type and cause of the ink error are "no ink", a warning icon 301 corresponding to the ink error is displayed. When the type and cause of the paper error are "no paper" and the type and cause of the ink error are "low ink", a warning icon 302 corresponding to the paper error is displayed. Note that the warning icon for a printable problem and the warning icon for a printable problem may be different in color, line thickness, size, etc., so that it is possible to know whether printing is possible or not from the warning icon.

[0038] According to the third embodiment, when multiple problems occur simultaneously in the printing device 100, the printing device 100 presents the user with the problems that must be solved in order to perform printing in order of occurrence, thereby enabling the user to deal with the problems efficiently.

[0039] In addition, in the first to third embodiments, the configuration implemented in the printing device 100 has been described, but the function of displaying a warning icon on some of the operation buttons displayed on the operation image of the printing device of the present invention can also be implemented in an information processing device.

[0040] (Other Examples) The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

[0041] The present disclosure includes the following configurations and methods. [Configuration 1] a display means for displaying an operation screen including operation buttons for operating the printing device; an acquisition means for acquiring warning information indicating a type of the malfunction of the printing device; a selection means for selecting, when the warning information is acquired by the acquisition means, a warning icon corresponding to the warning information from among a plurality of warning icons capable of identifying a type of the defect; Equipped with the display means further displays the warning icon in association with a part of the operation button displayed on the operation screen. A printing device comprising: [Configuration 2] the display means displays the warning icon in association with a part of the operation button associated with the malfunction indicated by the warning information corresponding to the warning icon. 2. The printing device according to configuration 1. [Configuration 3] the selection means has information indicating a priority level assigned according to the warning information, and when a plurality of pieces of warning information are acquired by the acquisition means and the operation button displayed in an overlapping manner is the same among a plurality of warning icons corresponding to the plurality of pieces of warning information, the selection means selects a warning icon corresponding to the warning information having a higher assigned priority level. 3. The printing device according to configuration 1 or 2. [Configuration 4] The priority is assigned to each type of malfunction indicated by the warning information. 4. The printing device according to configuration 3. [Configuration 5] The warning information further includes information indicating a cause of the malfunction, The priority is assigned for each type and cause of the malfunction indicated by the warning information. 4. The printing device according to configuration 3. [Configuration 6] When a plurality of warning icons are displayed simultaneously on the operation screen, the display means highlights a warning icon corresponding to the warning information having a higher priority. 6. The printing device according to any one of configurations 3 to 5. [Configuration 7] The plurality of warning icons include letters or numbers for identifying the corresponding warning information. 7. The printing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6. [Configuration 8] the display means changes the display of the warning icon depending on whether the defect indicated by the corresponding warning information is a printable defect or an unprintable defect. 8. The printing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7. [Configuration 9] a display unit for displaying an operation screen including operation buttons for operating the printing device; when a malfunction occurs in the printing device, the display means further displays a warning icon capable of identifying a type of the malfunction that has occurred, in association with a part of the operation button displayed on the operation screen. 23. An information processing apparatus comprising: [Configuration 10] a display means for displaying an operation screen including operation buttons for operating the printing device; an acquisition means for acquiring warning information indicating a type of the malfunction of the printing device; a selection means for selecting, when the warning information is acquired by the acquisition means, a warning icon corresponding to the warning information from among a plurality of warning icons capable of identifying a type of the defect; Equipped with the display means further displays the warning icon in association with a part of the operation button displayed on the operation screen. 23. An information processing apparatus comprising: [Configuration 11] displaying an operation screen including operation buttons for operating the printing device; obtaining warning information indicating a type of the malfunction of the printing device; a step of selecting a warning icon corresponding to the warning information from among a plurality of warning icons capable of identifying the type of the defect when the warning information is acquired by the acquiring step; Equipped with and the displaying step further displays the warning icon in association with a part of the operation button displayed on the operation screen. A control method comprising: [Configuration 12] A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the control method according to configuration 11.

Claims

1. a display means for displaying an operation screen including operation buttons for operating the printing device; an acquisition means for acquiring warning information indicating a type of the malfunction of the printing device; a selection means for selecting, when the warning information is acquired by the acquisition means, a warning icon corresponding to the warning information from among a plurality of warning icons capable of identifying a type of the defect; Equipped with the display means further displays the warning icon in association with a part of the operation button displayed on the operation screen. A printing device comprising:

2. the display means displays the warning icon in association with a part of the operation button associated with the malfunction indicated by the warning information corresponding to the warning icon.

2. The printing device according to claim 1.

3. the selection means has information indicating a priority level assigned according to the warning information, and when a plurality of pieces of warning information are acquired by the acquisition means and the operation button displayed in an overlapping manner is the same among a plurality of warning icons corresponding to the plurality of pieces of warning information, the selection means selects a warning icon corresponding to the warning information having a higher assigned priority level.

2. The printing device according to claim 1.

4. The priority is assigned to each type of malfunction indicated by the warning information.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3.

5. The warning information further includes information indicating a cause of the malfunction, The priority is assigned for each type and cause of the malfunction indicated by the warning information.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3.

6. When a plurality of warning icons are displayed simultaneously on the operation screen, the display means highlights a warning icon corresponding to the warning information having a higher priority.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3.

7. The plurality of warning icons include letters or numbers for identifying the corresponding warning information.

2. The printing device according to claim 1.

8. the display means changes the display of the warning icon depending on whether the defect indicated by the corresponding warning information is a printable defect or an unprintable defect.

8. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second printing units are arranged in a first direction.

9. a display unit for displaying an operation screen including operation buttons for operating the printing device; when a malfunction occurs in the printing device, the display means further displays a warning icon capable of identifying a type of the malfunction that has occurred, in association with a part of the operation button displayed on the operation screen.

23. An information processing apparatus comprising:

10. a display means for displaying an operation screen including operation buttons for operating the printing device; an acquisition means for acquiring warning information indicating a type of the malfunction of the printing device; a selection means for selecting, when the warning information is acquired by the acquisition means, a warning icon corresponding to the warning information from among a plurality of warning icons capable of identifying a type of the defect; Equipped with the display means further displays the warning icon in association with a part of the operation button displayed on the operation screen.

23. An information processing apparatus comprising:

11. displaying an operation screen including operation buttons for operating the printing device; obtaining warning information indicating a type of the malfunction of the printing device; a step of selecting a warning icon corresponding to the warning information from among a plurality of warning icons capable of identifying the type of the defect when the warning information is acquired by the acquiring step; Equipped with and the displaying step further displays the warning icon in association with a part of the operation button displayed on the operation screen. A control method comprising:

12. A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the control method according to claim 11.

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