Operation setting program and information processor

Abstract

To simplify the operation setting of a multifunctional image forming device.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 comprises: a display control part 101 that causes a display part 473 to display an operation screen which accepts setting for multiple setting items in accordance with instructions from a user; and a retrieval part 102 that searches for a setting item name of the setting item including a search keyword based on the search keyword entered by the user. The display control part 101 causes the display part 473 to display an operation screen which includes the setting item name hit in the search performed by the retrieval part 102 as an option, and then causes the display part 473 to display an operation screen which accepts settings for the setting item indicated by the setting item name selected by the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation setting program and an information processing device, and more particularly to a technique for simplifying the operation setting of an electronic device. [Background technology]

[0002] Image forming devices such as copiers and multifunction devices have become multifunctional, and many operation screens for operation settings are arranged in a hierarchical structure. In addition, management servers (embedded servers) that externally manage the operation settings of image forming devices have recently become available, and users can use terminal devices such as personal computers to configure the operation settings of the image forming devices via the management servers. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 7,340,450 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As described above, in an image forming device, the operation screen for operation setting is hierarchical, so that the user must repeatedly perform key operations (such as selecting an icon) to reach the operation screen desired by the user, which is cumbersome. Even when operation setting is performed via a management server using a personal computer, the operation is still cumbersome. The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 describes that it is possible to easily search for data and services, but it does not relate to operation setting of a multi-functional image forming device.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to make it easier to reach a desired operation screen and to simplify the operation settings of a multi-functional electronic device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An operation setting program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer provided in an image forming device that performs operations in accordance with settings for a plurality of setting items, or in a management device that manages the image forming device and accepts settings for the setting items, to function as a display control unit that causes a display unit to display an operation screen that accepts settings for the setting items in accordance with instructions from a user, and a search unit that searches for setting item names of the setting items that contain a search keyword entered by the user, based on the search keyword, and the display control unit causes the computer to function as follows: display on the display unit an operation screen that includes the setting item names found in the search by the search unit as options, and display on the display unit an operation screen for accepting settings for the setting item indicated by the setting item name selected from the options.

[0007] Moreover, an information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a display control unit that causes a display unit to display an operation screen that accepts settings for a plurality of setting items in accordance with instructions from a user, and a search unit that searches for setting item names of the setting items that include a search keyword input by the user, and the display control unit causes the display unit to display the operation screen that includes the setting item names found in the search by the search unit as options, and causes the display unit to display the operation screen that accepts settings for the setting item indicated by the setting item name selected by the user. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it becomes easier to reach a desired operation screen, and it is possible to simplify the operation settings of a multi-functional electronic device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an outline of a main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus as an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention; [Diagram 2]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 7] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 8] 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed by a control unit in the image forming apparatus. [Figure 9A] 1 is a diagram showing an example of an information processing system including a management device as an embodiment of an information processing device according to the present invention; [Figure 9B] 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of the electrical configuration of a management device; [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal device. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal device. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal device. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An operation setting program and an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of the main internal configuration of an image forming device as an embodiment of the information processing device according to the present invention. The image forming device 1 is a multifunction device having multiple functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, an original feeding section 6, an original reading section 5, an image forming section 12, a fixing section 13, a paper feeding section 14, an operation section 47, a network interface section 91, and a storage section 8.

[0012] The document feeder 6 is configured to be openable and closable by a hinge or the like (not shown) on the top surface of the document reading unit 5, and functions as a document pressing cover when reading a document placed on a platen glass (not shown). The document feeder 6 is also an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), and includes a document placement tray (not shown), and supplies documents placed on the document placement tray to the document reading unit 5.

[0013] A description will be given of a case where a document reading operation is performed by the image forming apparatus 1. The document reading unit 5 optically reads an image of a document supplied to the document reading unit 5 by the document feeding unit 6 or a document placed on the platen glass, and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an image memory or the like (not shown).

[0014] A description will be given of an image forming operation performed by the image forming apparatus 1. Based on image data generated by a document reading operation, image data stored in an image memory or the like, image data received from a computer connected via a network, and the like, the image forming unit 12 forms an image on a recording paper as a recording medium fed from a paper feed unit 14.

[0015] The image forming unit 12 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum, an exposure device that exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum into a toner image, and a transfer device that transfers the toner image (image) on the surface of the photosensitive drum to recording paper, and forms an image represented by the image data on the recording paper.

[0016] The fixing unit 13 applies heat and pressure to the recording paper on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit 12, thereby fixing the image to the recording paper, and the recording paper that has been subjected to the fixing process is discharged to a discharge tray (not shown). The paper feed unit 14 includes a paper feed cassette.

[0017] The operation unit 47 includes hard keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key, and receives instructions such as an instruction to execute an image forming operation from an operator regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 that displays operation guides and the like for the operator. The operation unit 47 also receives input of instructions from the user based on the user's operation (touch operation) on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 473 via a touch panel that the display unit 473 has.

[0018] The display unit 473 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. The display unit 473 is equipped with a touch panel. When the operator touches a button or key displayed on the screen, the touch panel receives an instruction associated with the touched position.

[0019] The network interface unit 91 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving various data to and from an external device (eg, a server) within a local area or on the Internet.

[0020] The storage unit 8 is a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various control programs, etc. The storage unit 8 also includes an operation setting program 81.

[0021] The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100, a display control unit 101, and a search unit 102.

[0022] The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100, a display control unit 101, and a search unit 102 by the operation of the processor in accordance with a control program and an operation setting program stored in the storage unit 8. However, the control unit 100 and the like can also be configured by hardware circuits, regardless of the operation in accordance with a control program by the control unit 10. The same applies to each embodiment below unless otherwise stated.

[0023] The control unit 100 is responsible for controlling the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the document feeding unit 6, the document reading unit 5, the image forming unit 12, the fixing unit 13, the paper feeding unit 14, the operation unit 47, the network interface unit 91, and the storage unit 8, and performs drive control of these units. For example, the control unit 100 executes various processes necessary for image formation by the image forming apparatus 1.

[0024] As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction device having multiple functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and performs operations according to settings for multiple setting items. For example, the control unit 100 controls the display of the display unit 473, and displays an operation screen G1 as a home screen in the highest hierarchy on the display unit 473, as shown in FIG.

[0025] Operation screen G1 as a home screen displays function icons for selecting functions (such as Copy) that can be executed by image forming apparatus 1. In addition, an operation button B1, also called a "three-dot leader", is displayed in the upper right portion of operation screen G1 as a menu button.

[0026] When the control unit 100 receives an instruction to display an operation screen via the operation unit 47 based on a user's operation on the operation button B1, it controls the display of the display unit 473 and displays, for example, an operation screen G2 as a window on the operation screen G1 in a pop-up manner, as shown in Fig. 3. Operation buttons using various icons are displayed on the operation screen G2, including an operation button B2 with a magnifying glass design and the character string "Search."

[0027] The display control unit 101, in accordance with an instruction from the user, causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen for accepting settings for each setting item. For example, the display control unit 101 controls the display of the display unit 473 in accordance with an instruction from the user accepted by the operation unit 47, and displays an operation screen G3 on the display unit 473, in which settings for each setting item (such as a Bonjour function, an IP filtering function, and a network restart (Restart Network)) are accepted, as shown in FIG.

[0028] 4, operation screen G3 displays operation buttons B3 to B7 with setting item names SN3 to SN7 indicating the setting items belonging to the category CN1 "Network Settings". The operation button B3 displays the setting item name SN3 "Bonjour" and its setting value "On" for the setting item "Bonjour function". The operation button B7 displays the setting item name SN7 "Restart Network".

[0029] The control unit 100 accepts settings for the setting contents indicated by each setting item according to instructions from the user via the operation screen displayed on the display unit 473. For example, when the operation screen G3 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 473, if the operation unit 47 accepts a touch operation on the operation button B3 marked "Bonjour", the control unit 100 accepts an instruction to switch the use of the Bonjour function from "On" to "Off", executes the process indicated by the instruction, and switches the display of the operation button B3 from "On" to "Off". In addition, if the operation unit 47 accepts a touch operation on the operation button B7 marked "Restart Network", the control unit 100 accepts an instruction to restart the network and executes the process indicated by the instruction.

[0030] The search unit 102 searches for the setting item names of setting items that include a search keyword input by the user, based on the search keyword. For example, when the operation unit 47 accepts a touch operation on the operation button B2 (FIG. 3), the control unit 100 displays an operation screen G4 with the title "Search" on the display unit 473, as shown in FIG. 5. A storage unit or the like built into the control unit 10 stores character strings indicating the setting item names of all setting items. The search unit 102 searches from these for the setting item names of setting items that include the search keyword.

[0031] The operation screen G4 displays a text box BX1 for accepting input of search keywords, an operation button B8 labeled "Start," and also displays frequently used search keywords that have been previously entered into the text box BX1.

[0032] For example, when "Restart" is entered in text box BX1 and operation unit 47 receives a search start instruction based on a touch operation on operation button B8 marked "Start," search unit 102 searches for setting item names including the search keyword "Restart" from among the setting item names indicating the setting items that can be set on image forming device 1.

[0033] The display control unit 101 causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen that includes, as options, the setting item names hit by the search by the search unit 102, and causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen for accepting settings for the setting item indicated by the setting item name selected by the user. For example, when the setting item names hit by the search by the search unit 102 are "Restart Network", "Restart Network" as the setting item name of another setting item with the same name, and "Restart Entire Device", the display control unit 101 displays, on the display unit 473, an operation screen G5 as shown in FIG. 6, with these setting item names as text icons TX1 to TX3. Further, the display control unit 101 presents the user with the setting item name hit by the search by the search unit 102 together with the category name of the category to which the setting item indicated by the setting item name belongs.

[0034] Thereby, it can be seen from the operation screen G5 shown in FIG. 6 that the setting item indicated by the setting item name "Restart Network" written on the text icon TX1 belongs to the category with the category name "Network Settings". Also, on the operation screen G5, it can be seen that the setting items indicated by the setting item names "Restart Network" and "Restart Entire Device" written on the text icons TX2 and TX3 belong to the category with the category name "Restart / Initialization", and further, that this category belongs to the category with the category name "Adjustment / Maintenance".

[0035] Furthermore, for example, when the operation unit 47 accepts a selection operation from the user on the text icon TX1, the display control unit 101 accepts an instruction to display an operation screen for accepting settings for the setting item indicated by the setting item name "Restart Network" written in the text icon TX1 via the touch panel, and in accordance with the instruction, displays on the display unit 473 an operation screen G6 for accepting settings for the setting item indicated by the setting item name "Restart Network" written in the text icon TX1, as shown in Fig. 7(A) for example. Specifically, the display control unit 101 displays on the display unit 473 the operation screen G6 including an operation button B7 on which "Restart Network" is written as the setting item name SN7.

[0036] The operation screen G6 indicates that the setting item (restarting the network) with the setting item name SN7 "Restart Network" belongs to the category (network settings) with the category name CN1 "Network Settings." Furthermore, the operation screen G6 also displays operation buttons B3 to B6 bearing the setting item names (such as Bonjour) of other setting items (such as the Bonjour function) that belong to the above category.

[0037] When the display control unit 101 causes the display unit 473 to display an operation screen for accepting settings of a setting item indicated by a setting item name selected by the user, the display control unit 101 may highlight the name of the setting item selected by the user as shown in Fig. 7(B) as an example. For example, the display control unit 101 displays the parts other than the operation button B7 in gray out, so as not to accept selection operations on operation buttons other than the operation button B7, and cancels the gray out display when the operation unit 47 accepts a touch operation on an area other than the operation button B7.

[0038] Next, an example of a setting item search process in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 8. Note that this setting item search process is performed when a search instruction is input to the operation unit 47 by touching the operation button B8 marked "Start" in a state where a search keyword has been input in the text box BX1 displayed on the operation screen G4 shown in Fig. 5.

[0039] The search unit 102 searches for the setting item names of the setting items that include the search keyword input in the text box BX1 based on the search keyword (S1). The display control unit 101 controls the display of the display unit 473, and displays the setting item names found in the search by the search unit 102 as text icons on the display unit 473, as shown in the example of Fig. 6, including the text icons as options (S2).

[0040] Here, when the operation unit 47 receives a selection operation from the user for any of the text icons TX1 to TX3 (YES in S3), the display control unit 101 controls the display of the display unit 473, and displays an operation screen G6 for receiving settings for the setting item indicated by the setting item name selected by the user on the display unit 473 (S4), as shown in the example of Fig. 7(B). After this, the process ends.

[0041] According to the above embodiment, the operation screen for accepting operation settings is identified based on a keyword search, and the identified operation screen is displayed on display unit 473, making it easier for the user to reach the operation screen desired, and simplifying the operation settings of multi-functional image forming device 1.

[0042] So far, we have described the case of image forming device 1 as one embodiment of the information processing device of the present invention, but the embodiment of the information processing device is not limited to image forming device 1 and may be a management device (e.g., an embedded server) that manages image forming device 1 and is capable of accepting settings for setting items that can be set on image forming device 1.

[0043] FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an example of an information processing system configured to include a management device as an embodiment of the information processing device according to the present invention. The information processing system 11 includes an image forming apparatus 1, a management device 2, and a plurality of terminal devices (for example, personal computers) 3 that exist on a network such as the Internet.

[0044] The management device 2 is, for example, a server, and the management device 2, the image forming apparatus 1, and the terminal device 3 are connected through a network, and data communication is performed between the management device 2, the image forming apparatus 1, and the terminal device 3.

[0045] FIG. 9B is a block diagram showing a main part of the electrical configuration of the management device 2. The management device 2 includes, as main parts of the electrical configuration, a control unit 210, an operation unit 247, a network interface unit 291, and a storage unit 28. The control unit 210, the operation unit 247, the network interface unit 291, and the storage unit 28 have the same functions as the control unit 10, the operation unit 47, the network interface unit 91, and the storage unit 8 included in the image forming apparatus 1, respectively.

[0046] Note that the network interface unit 291 is a communication interface that performs transmission and reception of various data with the image forming apparatus 1 and the terminal device 3 as external devices within a local area or on the Internet.

[0047] Also in the management device 2, the control unit 210 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a dedicated hardware circuit, and includes a control unit 200, a display control unit 201, and a search unit 202. The control unit 210 functions as the control unit 200, the display control unit 201, and the search unit 202 by the operation of the processor according to the control program and the operation setting program stored in the storage unit 28. However, the control unit 200, etc. can also be configured by hardware circuits without depending on the operation according to the control program etc. of the control unit 210.

[0048] The control unit 200 is responsible for the overall operation control of the management device 2. The control unit 200 accepts settings for setting items that can be set in the image forming device 1. Furthermore, instead of the control in which the display control unit 201 of the image forming device 1 displays an operation screen on the display unit 473, the display control unit 201 of the management device 2 transmits various operation screen data to the terminal device 3 via the network interface unit 291 in response to a request from the terminal device. Based on the operation screen data transmitted from the management device 2, the terminal device 3 displays operation screens G11 to G14, examples of which are shown in Figs. 10 to 13, on its display unit.

[0049] 10 is an operation screen for accepting settings for setting items that can be set in the image forming apparatus 1. An operation screen G12 shown in Fig. 11 displays a text box BX11 for accepting input of a search keyword, similar to the text box BX1 displayed on the operation screen G4 shown in Fig. 5.

[0050] The operation screen G13 shown in Fig. 12 is similar to the operation screen G5 shown in Fig. 6, and is an operation screen that includes the setting item names hit by the search keyword "net" as options. The operation screen G14 shown in Fig. 13 is similar to the operation screen G6 shown in Fig. 7(B), and is an operation screen for accepting settings for the setting item indicated by the setting item name selected by the user.

[0051] The control unit 200 of the management device 2 receives each instruction required for the above-mentioned search, which is accepted in the terminal device 3 through the operation screens G11 to G14 shown in Figs. 10 to 13, from the terminal device 3 through the network interface unit 291. The control unit 200, the display control unit 201, and the search unit 202 of the management device 2 execute the same processing as the above-mentioned setting item search processing and each processing related thereto performed in the image forming device 1 according to each instruction received from the terminal device 3. Furthermore, the control unit 200 of the management device 2 transmits the setting item and its setting value indicated by the instruction received from the terminal device 3 to the image forming device 1 through the network interface unit 291. In the image forming device 1, the control unit 100 receives the setting item and its setting value through the network interface unit 91, and sets the setting value for the function indicated by the setting item.

[0052] As a result, even when the operation settings of the image forming device 1 are made via the management device 2, the operation screen for accepting the operation settings is identified based on a keyword search, and the identified operation screen is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 3, making it easier for the user to reach the operation screen desired, and simplifying the operation settings of the multi-functional image forming device 1.

[0053] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In addition, in the above embodiment, the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiment using Figures 1 to 13 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration and processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1. Image forming device 10. Control Unit 100 Control section 101 Display control unit 102 Search Department 2 Management device 210 Control Unit 200 Control section 201 Display control unit 202 Search Department 8 Memory section 81 Operation setting program

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus that executes operations in accordance with settings for a plurality of setting items, or a computer that is provided in a management device that manages the image forming apparatus and receives settings for the setting items, a display control unit that displays on a display unit an operation screen that accepts settings for the setting items in accordance with an instruction from a user; a search unit that searches for a setting item name of the setting item that includes a search keyword input by a user, based on the search keyword; The display control unit is an operation setting program that causes the computer to function in such a way that the display unit displays an operation screen including, as options, the setting item names hit in a search by the search unit, and the display unit displays an operation screen for accepting settings for the setting item indicated by the setting item name selected from the options.

2. The operation setting program of claim 1, further causing the computer to function in such a way that the display control unit causes the display unit to display the options including the setting item name hit in a search by the search unit together with the category name to which the setting item indicated by the setting item name belongs.

3. The operation setting program of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the display control unit further causes the computer to function to highlight the name of the setting item selected by the user when the operation screen for accepting settings of the setting item indicated by the setting item name selected by the user is displayed on the display unit.

4. a display control unit that displays on the display unit an operation screen that accepts settings for a plurality of setting items in accordance with an instruction from a user; a search unit that searches for a setting item name of the setting item that includes a search keyword input by a user, based on the search keyword; The display control unit displays on the display unit the operation screen including options for the setting item name found in the search by the search unit, and displays on the display unit the operation screen that accepts settings for the setting item indicated by the setting item name selected by the user.

Images