Information processor, control method of information processor, and program

Abstract

To simultaneously display setting data which is automatically registered accompanying execution of each application, and setting data set to the respective applications by a user, and allow the user to select the setting data while confirming the content of the setting data.SOLUTION: An information processor having a plurality of applications corresponding to a specific function displays a call setting screen including a first button group for calling first setting data which is automatically registered in storage means corresponding to any one application, and a second button group for calling second setting data which is registered in the storage means, corresponding to any one application, according to a registration instruction by the user, on display means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, a control method for an information processing device, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Among image processing devices that execute multiple applications and perform various types of data processing, some have a function for saving setting data corresponding to the applications executed by the user. The following Patent Document 1 describes a user interface that automatically sets default values ​​for each application and a process for customizing the applications. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-292864 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The majority of users of image processing apparatuses have only a few settings for the applications they run. Even though the number of settings becomes even fewer when considering each application, users still need to reset the settings every time. To avoid having to set the settings every time, functions for registering settings (such as changing default settings, custom menus, and mode memory) have been proposed, but users do not take the trouble to register settings.

[0005] On the other hand, proposals have been made to eliminate the need for users to register settings for applications and to predict user intentions, as in Patent Document 1, but there is a risk that the user will not know what settings have been made to the image processing device.

[0006] In addition, functions (such as calls) that allow the image processing device to automatically register settings may seem to solve the above problems, but when past settings are automatically recorded, the registration location may change dynamically or the registration itself may be lost, compromising the operability and convenience of the image processing device.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that can display on the same screen a first object for calling a first function, a second object for calling a second function, a third object for calling a first type of setting data registered in a memory unit in accordance with the execution of a first type of job, and a fourth object for calling a first type of setting data registered in a memory unit in accordance with the execution of a second type of job. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A printer according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. an information processing apparatus comprising: a display control means for displaying on a display unit a screen including a button for instructing the execution of a copy function and a button for instructing the execution of a second function different from the copy function; the display control means is capable of displaying in a predetermined area on the display unit a predetermined button for calling up a function and a setting value of an executed job; when a button for executing the copy function is operated and the copy function is executed with a first setting value, a first button which is the predetermined button and is a button indicating the executed copy function and the first setting value is displayed in the predetermined area; when a button for executing the second function is operated and the second function is executed with a second setting value, a second button which is the predetermined button and is a button indicating the executed second function and the second setting value is displayed in the predetermined area where the first button is displayed; and when the copy function or the second function is executed in a state where the number of the predetermined buttons which can be displayed in the predetermined area has reached an upper limit, the oldest of the predetermined buttons displayed in the predetermined area is deleted. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, a first object for calling a first function, a second object for calling a second function, a third object for calling a first type of setting data registered in a memory unit according to execution of a first type of job, and a fourth object for calling a first type of setting data registered in a memory unit according to execution of a second type of job can be displayed on the same screen. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing device. [Diagram 2] 2 is a plan view showing the operation unit shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen displayed on a display unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a management table of registered data. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed on a display unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an application. [Figure 7] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating management data of buttons displayed on the display unit. [Figure 8] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the image processing device. [Figure 9] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the image processing device. [Figure 10] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the image processing device. [Figure 11] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the image processing device. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a table for managing registered setting data. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen displayed on a display unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. <System configuration> [First embodiment]

[0012] 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of an image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the image processing device is provided with a plurality of applications, each of which corresponds to a specific function and performs image processing. The image processing device according to this embodiment is, for example, a multi-function printer (MFP) capable of executing a copy application, a fax application, and an email application. In other words, the specific functions that can be executed by the application include a print function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and an email function.

[0013] 1, a control unit 1 controls the operation of each unit of the MFP 100. The control unit 1 includes a CPU 10, a LAN 11, a communication unit 12, a RAM 13, a HDD 14, and a ROM 15. The CPU 10 controls the entire control unit 1. The LAN 11 indicates a network for exchanging data with an external device, and is connected to the Internet via this LAN 11. The communication unit 12 transmits and receives data via the LAN 11. The RAM 13 provides a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 10. A hard disk drive (HDD) 14 may be a storage medium such as a magnetic disk, optical media, or flash memory. The HDD 14 is configured to store document data and setting data associated with each application in a table format, which will be described later. The HDD 14 does not have to be present in the MFP 100. An external server or PC may be used as a storage device via the communication unit 12. The ROM 15 is a boot ROM, and stores a boot program for the system. The CPU 10 loads the program installed in the HDD 14 into the RAM 13 by the boot ROM of the ROM 15, and performs various controls based on the program. In addition, a specific area is secured in the HDD 14 for managing a group of buttons (a group of buttons to be automatically registered) displayed in a specific area of ​​a recall portal screen 300, which will be described later, and the specific area is used as a first-in-first-out area (FIFO area). The timer 16 performs time elapse processing according to instructions from the CPU 10, and when the instructed time has elapsed, notifies the CPU 10 by an interrupt or the like.

[0014] The operation unit 20 is controlled by the control unit 1, and includes a display unit 21 and an input unit 22. Here, the display unit 21 is a display for displaying information about the multifunction machine to the user. The input unit 22 accepts input from the user through an interface such as a touch panel, a mouse, a camera, a voice input, or a keyboard. Furthermore, the display unit 21 displays a user interface (UI) screen, which will be described later, and accepts settings from the user.

[0015] The image processing unit 30 is controlled by the control unit 1, and includes an image analysis unit 31, an image generation unit 32, and an image output unit. The image analysis unit 31 analyzes the structure of the document image and extracts necessary information from the analysis result. The image generation unit 32 reads the document (for example, scans it), digitizes the image of the document, generates image data, and stores it in the HDD 14. Furthermore, the image generating unit 32 can also generate document image data in a different format using information analyzed by the image analyzing unit 31. The image output unit 33 outputs image data stored in the HDD 14 or the like. Examples of the output method include printing the image data of the document on paper, transmitting the image data to an external device, server, facsimile machine, or the like connected to the network via the communication unit 12, and storing the image data in a storage medium connected to the MFP 100.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the operation unit 20 shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the display unit 21 is configured as a liquid crystal display unit with a touch panel sheet attached onto the liquid crystal panel, which displays an operation screen and soft keys, and when a displayed key is pressed by a user's operation, transmits position information of the key to the CPU 10. Therefore, in this case, the display unit 21 also functions as the input unit 22.

[0017] Next, various keys and buttons operated by the user will be described. The start key 201 is used to instruct the start of an operation to read a document, etc. In the center of the start key 201 is a two-color LED 202, green and red, which indicates whether the start key 201 is ready to be used or not depending on the color. The stop key 203 serves to stop an operation that is in progress. The numeric keypad 204 is made up of number and letter buttons, and is used to set the number of copies, switch the screen of the display unit 21, etc. The user mode key 205 is pressed when setting up the device. Next, the recall portal screen according to this embodiment will be described.

[0018] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen displayed on the display unit 21 shown in Fig. 2. This example is an example of a recall portal screen. In addition, this UI screen is display-controlled so that a button group, which will be described later, is arranged in each of the divided areas. In FIG. 3, a recall portal screen 300 includes a fixed setting area 301 registered by a clear instruction from a user, and a recall setting area 302 registered by a recall function (to be described later) when a job is executed. In this embodiment, the fixed settings are displayed in the fixed setting area 301, and the recall settings are displayed in the recall setting display area 302, so that the user can easily distinguish between the areas. Buttons 303 to 307 are pressed when the user calls up the setting data that is set in advance as a fixed setting on a setting screen according to a user's registration instruction shown in FIG. 7, which will be described later. Buttons 308 to 310 are associated with the setting data that is automatically set by the call portal 401 in this embodiment. In particular, the button 308 is pressed when a specific email address "yosida@ca..." is to be automatically set as the destination in the setting data associated with the Email application 403. The button 309 is pressed when the user wishes to select the setting data associated with the copy application 402, for example, the number of copies is "15", and double-sided printing, stapling, etc. The button 310 is pressed when selecting setting data associated with the copy application 402, for example, black and white, 2 in 1, etc. The processing (registration, deletion) of the automatically registered setting data will be described later. Also, in this embodiment, the UI screen is configured so that the user who operates the UI screen can perform button operations with good visibility by making the displayed areas and the shapes of the displayed buttons different from one another.

[0019] When the recall portal screen 300 is started, it first reads the fixed registration data management table 1201 shown in Fig. 4A in order to display the fixed setting area 301. Next, the recall portal screen 300 calls up entries in order, starting from entry 1202 up to entry 1210. Each time an entry is called up, the CPU 10 refers to the application ID, and if it is "0", performs control so that the corresponding button is not displayed on the display unit 21. Also, if the application ID is other than "0", the CPU 10 performs control so that the display TXT is displayed on the corresponding button. Next, the CPU 10 searches for an entry having the same application ID stored in the application icon table 1211 shown in FIG. 4B, and performs control to display the entry at a predetermined position of the icon displayed on the display unit 21. On the recall portal screen 300, the CPU 10 processes all of the fixed registration data management table 1201 shown in Fig. 4A. Next, the CPU 10 reads the recall data management table 1101 shown in Fig. 5A to display in the recall setting display area 302. The recall portal screen 300 sequentially reads entries from the entry 1102. Each time the application is called, the application ID is referenced, and if the ID is "0", the corresponding button is not displayed. If the application ID is other than "0", the CPU 10 controls to display the display TXT on the corresponding button. Next, the CPU 10 searches for an entry having the same application ID stored in the application icon table 1211 shown in FIG. 4B, and performs control to display the icon at a predetermined position. As a result, the CPU 10 can display the UI screen shown in FIG. 3 on the display unit 21 by using the recall data management table 1101 in FIG. 5A and the fixed registration data management table shown in FIG.

[0020] Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, when referring to the entire fixed settings, it will be expressed as fixed settings 301S using this fixed setting area 301. Similarly, when referring to the entire recall settings, it will be expressed as recall settings 302S using this recall setting display area 302. In this embodiment, the button shape of the fixed setting 301S and the button shape of the recall setting 302S are made different, so that the user can visually distinguish between the respective areas by the button shapes.

[0021] The buttons in the fixed settings 301S display the icon of the application that is started by pressing the button, and the name input by the user is displayed for the button designated by the user on the user setting registration screen described later. Unregistered buttons are not displayed.

[0022] On the other hand, the CPU 10 controls the display of the icon of the application that is started by pressing the button of the recall setting 302S, and the text expressing the summary of the setting that is generated in the display TXT generation (S606) described later. The button of the recall setting 302S is generated and deleted by the recall data registration process executed by the CPU 10 described later.

[0023] 6 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of applications in the image processing device according to the present embodiment. This example corresponds to a registration sequence of the applications. Each application is executed by the CPU 10 to perform corresponding data processing. In FIG. 6, a recall portal 401 is a type of application, and operates in conjunction with other applications, such as a copy application 402, an email application 403, and a fax application 404.

[0024] Each application can be identified by an application ID, and holds data shown in a recall data registration configuration diagram and a setting data management table, which will be described later. When a button displayed on the operation unit 20 is pressed, the recall portal 401 calls up the recall data corresponding to that button and transmits an action ID to that application ID (406). The application specified by the application ID reads out the setting data corresponding to the received action ID and sets it. Of course, this application can be any application as long as it is capable of exchanging the above data.

[0025] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the display unit 21 shown in Fig. 1. This example is an example of a user setting registration screen. 7, the fixed setting registration screen 501 has a fixed setting area 301 with the same configuration as the recall portal screen 300. The difference from the recall portal screen 300 is that it also displays unregistered buttons 502, 503, 504, and 505, and that any button in the fixed setting area 301 can be selected simply by pressing it. Clicking the Cancel button 506 cancels the registration, and clicking the Next button 507 displays the next fixed setting registration screen 508. In the fixed setting registration screen 508 shown in FIG. 7B, the text to be displayed on the button is entered. Fixed setting registration screen 508 includes area 509 for confirming input contents, and keyboard (soft keyboard) 510 for input. Pressing Back button 511 displays fixed setting registration screen 501 shown in Fig. 7A, and pressing OK button 512 completes the registration work. Below, a detailed explanation will be given with reference to Figures 6 to 12 for an example in which the UI screen shown in Figure 3 is displayed on the display unit 21 and then the following new job is executed in the copy application 402 shown in Figure 6. [Examples of new jobs] Job settings = {3 copies, color copy, single-sided print, 4in1} 1 includes an engine for printing a color image on one side or both sides of a sheet. Furthermore, the image output unit 33 includes an Nin1 function for allocating and printing multiple pages onto one page using the image generation unit 32. Here, N is 2, 4, 6, 9, etc.

[0026] In this embodiment, the copy application 402 will be described as an example, but it may of course be replaced with any application such as an email application 403 or a fax application (404) as long as the communication shown in FIG. 4 is possible.

[0027] Fig. 8 to Fig. 11 are flowcharts for explaining a data processing method of the image processing apparatus according to this embodiment. Fig. 8 shows an example of a job completion process of an application, and Fig. 9 to Fig. 11 correspond to the detailed steps of S603, S605, and S607 in Fig. 6. More specifically, Fig. 9 corresponds to a registered ID list acquisition process by recall portal 401. Also, Fig. 10 corresponds to an application setting data storage process. Furthermore, Fig. 11 corresponds to a recall data registration process by recall portal 401. Note that each step shown in Figs. 8 to 11 is realized by CPU 10 loading and executing a control program stored in HDD 14 or the like. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a setting data management table for applications managed by the HDD 14 shown in FIG.

[0028] When the copy application 402 completes the job, the recall portal starts the job completion process (S601). When the recall portal 401 starts the job completion process, the recall portal 401 first acquires an application ID (S602). Here, the recall portal 401 starts the process corresponding to S701 in FIG. 9, in which the recall portal 401 acquires the application ID of the copy application 402. Specifically, the copy application 402 sends the application ID to the already registered ID list acquisition routine of the recall portal 401 (S703) (407 in FIG. 4). As a result, the copy application 402 acquires the action IDs that have already been registered by itself (S603). 9, the recall portal 401 reads the settings for the copy application 402 that has already been registered (S702). Then, the recall portal 401 sends a list of already registered IDs (described in detail later) to the requesting copy application 402 (S703), and ends this process (S704). As a result, the requesting copy application 402 obtains the already registered ID list (S603). Next, the recall portal 401 reads out the setting data corresponding to the action ID acquired from the copy application 402, and determines whether it is the same as the currently executed setting data by searching the setting data registered in the HDD 14 (S604). If the recall portal 401 determines that it is the same as the currently executed setting data, it does not perform the registration process and ends the job completion process (S608). In this embodiment, if it is determined that the same setting data does not exist, the setting data storage processing routine (FIG. 10) of the copy application 402 described later is called. Then, the recall portal 401 stores the setting data 1018 shown in FIG. 12 (details are stored in S802 to S805), and obtains an action ID=0005 (S605). Next, the recall portal 401 generates a display message (display TXT) based on the currently executed setting data (S606). This action ID and the generated display TXT are sent to the recall data registration processing (S901 to 904 shown in FIG. 11) of the recall portal 401 described later (S607), and this processing ends.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 6, when the recall portal 401 receives a registered ID list acquisition request 407 from the copy application 402, it starts an already registered ID list acquisition routine (S701 to S704). In obtaining the list of registered IDs in S701 of FIG. 9, the action IDs of data having the application ID of the requester are collected from the recall data management table 1101 shown in FIG. 5 and the fixed registration data management table 1201 shown in FIG. 4 (S702), and are returned to the copy application 402 that made the request (S703), and the process is terminated (S704). In this embodiment, the already registered ID list is {0001, 0002, 0003, 0004}.

[0030] Next, in the job completion process started in S601, the setting data storage routine (S801 to S806 shown in FIG. 10) is called (S605). Specifically, when the setting data storage process is started (S801), it is determined whether the recall portal 401 has reached the setting upper limit value, for example, by determining whether or not there is an available entry (S802). Here, the recall portal 401 determines whether an entry is available by checking whether the first item of the entry is "0." If it is determined that there is no available entry, the process ends without doing anything (S806). For example, in the case of (A) in Fig. 12, the recall portal 401 determines that the upper limit has not been reached because the entry 1007 is free, and generates the number of that entry as an action ID (S803).Then, the recall portal 401 updates the entry (S804), stores the setting data 1018 as shown in (D) in Fig. 12 (S805), and ends this process (S806).

[0031] Furthermore, when the job completion processing routine of the copy application 402 issues a call registration request (S607) shown in FIG. 6, the recall portal 401 starts a recall data registration processing routine shown in FIG. 11 (S901). In the recall data registration process, the recall portal 401 reads (S902) the registration data from the recall data management table 1101 shown in Fig. 5. Specifically, it reads out the application ID=403 and action ID=0003 from the entry 1102 of the oldest registration registered in the recall data management table 1101 shown in Fig. 5. Then, the recall portal 401 notifies (405) the Email application 403 having the application ID=403 that the registration of the action ID=0003 has been deleted. Upon receiving this notification, the email application 403 deletes the entry 1012 shown in FIG. 12B that corresponds to the action ID=0003 in the setting data management table 1008. In the recall data registration process shown in Fig. 11, entries are moved in sequence starting from the last deleted entry 1102, as shown in Fig. 5. Furthermore, the requested application ID=402, action ID=0005, and display TXT are registered in the vacant entry 1107 (S903), and this process ends (S904).

[0032] Second Embodiment In this embodiment, an application start button is arranged on the recall portal screen instead of a user setting button.

[0033] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen displayed on the display unit 21 shown in Fig. 2. This example corresponds to a recall portal screen 1300. 13, a button 1303 for starting the copy application 402, a button 1304 for starting the email application 403, and a button 1305 for starting the fax application 404 are arranged in an application button area 1304. Note that buttons 1306 to 1308 are equivalent to buttons 308 to 310 shown in FIG. According to this embodiment, it becomes possible for a user to freely select and instruct on the recall portal screen 1300 whether to use automatically registered setting data or to execute any application of the user's choice.

[0034] Each step of the present invention can also be realized by executing software (programs) acquired via a network or various storage media on a processing device (CPU, processor) such as a personal computer (computer).

[0035] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the respective embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 300 Recall Portal Screen 301 Fixed setting area 302 Recall setting display area

Claims

[Claim 1] a display control means for displaying on a display unit a screen including a button for instructing execution of a copy function and a button for instructing execution of a second function different from the copy function; the display control means is capable of displaying a predetermined button for calling up a function and a setting value of an executed job in a predetermined area of ​​the display unit; when a button for executing the copy function is operated and the copy function is executed with a first set value, a first button which is the specified button and indicates the executed copy function and the first set value is displayed in the specified area, and when a button for executing the second function is operated and the second function is executed with a second set value, a second button which is the specified button and indicates the executed second function and the second set value is displayed in the specified area where the first button is displayed; An information processing device characterized in that, when the copy function or the second function is executed when the number of the specified buttons that can be displayed in the specified area has reached an upper limit, the oldest of the specified buttons displayed in the specified area is deleted.

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