Electronic equipment

Abstract

To provide electronic equipment which, when it is determined that an erroneous operation is input, presents possibility of false recognition resulting from a problem with a touch panel.SOLUTION: A display apparatus 11a displays an operation screen. A touch panel 11b1 detects an operation to the operation screen. A panel control unit 32 carries out transition of the operation screen in accordance with the detected operation. If the operation for undoing the screen transition is detected more than a predetermined frequency, the panel control unit 32 displays, on the operation screen, an erroneous recognition key 41 for presenting erroneous recognition of the touch pane 11b1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device.

Background Art

[0002] A certain operation support display device includes an operation correctness determination unit that determines whether an operation to be performed for a process desired by a user has been performed (operation correctness), and determines whether to display a help function for supporting the operation performed by the user based on the determination history of past operation correctness (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when there is a problem with the touch panel that receives user operations, and the touch panel misrecognizes the user operation even though the user has performed a correct operation, and an incorrect user operation is input, since the user is performing a correct operation, the above-described operation support help function is meaningless.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to obtain an electronic device that presents the possibility of misrecognition due to a problem with the touch panel when it is determined that an incorrect operation has been input.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The electronic device according to the present invention includes a display device that displays an operation screen, a touch panel that detects an operation on the operation screen, and a panel control unit that performs transition of the operation screen according to the detected operation. Then, when the operation for reverting the transition is detected a predetermined number of times or more, the panel control unit displays a first soft key for presenting misrecognition of the touch panel on the operation screen.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, when it is determined that a wrong operation has been input, an electronic device that presents the possibility of misrecognition due to a defect of the touch panel can be obtained.

[0008] The above or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an electronic device such as a copying machine or a multifunction peripheral. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an operation panel 11, a storage device 21, an arithmetic processing unit 22, a printing device 23, an image reading device 24, a facsimile device 25, a communication device 26, and the like.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the operation panel 11 in FIG. 1. The operation panel 11 is disposed on the front side of the housing of the image forming apparatus 1 and includes, for example, a display device 11a such as a liquid crystal display, and an input device 11b such as a touch panel 11b1 and hard keys 11b2. The display device 11a displays various operation screens for the user. Soft keys are realized by key images displayed on the display device 11a and the touch panel. The input device 11b detects user operations input by the user for the operation screen (such as soft keys) on the touch panel 11b1 and user operations for the hard keys 11b2. Note that the hard key 11b2 shown in FIG. 2 is a key for transitioning the operation screen to the home screen 101.

[0013] Returning to FIG. 1, the storage device 21 is a non-volatile rewritable storage device such as a flash memory.

[0014] The arithmetic processing unit 22 is a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., loads a program from the storage device 21 or the ROM into the RAM and executes it with the CPU, and operates as various processing units. The arithmetic processing unit 22 operates as a controller 31 and a panel control unit 32.

[0015] The printing device 23 prints an image specified by the job request in accordance with a print job request or a copy job request based on a user operation.

[0016] In addition, the image reading device 24 includes, for example, an automatic document feeder, and according to a copy job request or the like based on a user operation, conveys the document sheet 51 placed on the automatic document feeder to the automatic document feeder, optically reads a document image from the document sheet 51, and generates image data of the document image.

[0017] Further, the facsimile device 25 generates and transmits a facsimile signal of an image specified by a facsimile transmission job request according to a facsimile transmission job request based on a user operation, and receives a facsimile signal from the outside and generates image data from the facsimile signal. The communication device 26 is a wireless or wired interface or the like, and performs data communication with an external device.

[0018] The controller 31 controls internal devices such as the printing device 23, the image reading device 24, the facsimile device 25, and the communication device 26, and executes a job (printing, scanning, copying, sending, etc.) specified by a job request.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a misrecognition key and a help key that are displayed when there are many operations for going back in the screen transition. The panel control unit 32 performs a transition of the operation screen displayed on the display device 11a according to a user operation detected by the input device 11b. Further, when a user operation for going back in the screen transition is detected at a predetermined frequency or more, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the panel control unit 32 displays a misrecognition key 41 (soft key) for presenting a misrecognition of the touch panel 11b1 on the operation screen.

[0020] Here, the "user operation for going back in the screen transition" is, for example, pressing the hard key 11b2 to return to the home screen (initial screen), or pressing a "back" key (not shown) for returning to the previous operation screen on the operation screen. Further, for example, the above-mentioned predetermined frequency is set to 5 times in the most recent 30 seconds.

[0021] Also, when the user feels that the operation was performed due to misrecognition of the touch panel 11b1 rather than their own operation error, the user presses this misrecognition key 41.

[0022] Then, the panel control unit 32 performs at least one of (a) displaying a message indicating a defect in the touch panel 11b1 and (b) notifying the touch panel 11b1 defect to customer support according to the frequency with which the misrecognition key 41 is displayed and pressed.

[0023] For example, when pressing is detected for 6 times or more out of the last 10 times it was displayed, the above-mentioned message display or defect notification is performed.

[0024] For example, when the image forming apparatus 1 is not connected to the network, a message indicating a defect in the touch panel 11b1 (e.g., "The touch panel may be malfunctioning. Please call a service person.") and the contact information of the service person are displayed.

[0025] For example, when the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the network, a message indicating a defect in the touch panel 11b1 (e.g., "The touch panel may be malfunctioning. Do you want to send the device status information to customer support?") is displayed, and the device status information (such as the operation history) is sent to customer support (that is, the defect of the touch panel 11b1 is notified).

[0026] For example, when the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to a network and remote access for customer support is permitted, as described above, after the malfunction of the touch panel 11b1 is notified, a message such as "Do you request remote touch panel operation by customer support?" is displayed. The user who sees the message requests remote touch panel operation from customer support by e-mail or the like. Customer support performs remote touch panel operation (for example, operation on the remote panel) and causes the image forming apparatus 1 to execute the processing desired by the user.

[0027] Further, when a user operation for reverting the screen transition is detected a predetermined number of times or more, the panel control unit 32 displays, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a help key 42 for providing a help function together with a misrecognition key 41 on the operation screen. When the help key 42 is pressed, the help function is called.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the menu of the help function. The panel control unit 32, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, (a) displays a list of items classified for each function on the display device 11a in the help function, and (b) excludes items other than the function corresponding to the operation screen on which the user operation for reverting the screen transition is performed (that is, the function that may have a malfunction) and displays the list.

[0029] For example, when the help key 42 is pressed, the panel control unit 32 displays a help initial screen 201. The help initial screen 201 includes an all display key 211 and a selection display key 212. The all display key 211 is a soft key for selecting a normal help function (display of a list that does not exclude items as described above). The selection display key 212 is a soft key for selecting display of a list excluding items as described above.

[0030] When the selection display key 212 is pressed, a list of function selection keys 221 to 224 is displayed. Here, by a flick operation or the like, two items (function selection keys 221 to 224) in the list are switched and displayed at a time.

[0031] For example, when the function that may have a problem is the network connection function, the function selection keys 221 to 224 of the related functions (send, fax, USB, and Wi-Fi) are displayed, but the function selection keys of the unrelated functions (such as copy) are not displayed. Note that the function selection keys 221 to 224 are arranged in descending order of the number of views based on the browsing history of the help function and the like.

[0032] Here, when the Wi-Fi function selection key 224 is pressed, the function selection keys 231 and 232 as sub-items for the selected item (Wi-Fi) are displayed. Then, when either of the function selection keys 231 and 232 is pressed, the support information (information for malfunction judgment, information for malfunction resolution, etc.) corresponding to the pressed function selection key 231 or 232 is displayed.

[0033] Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

[0034] The panel control unit 32 displays a home screen (initial screen) as shown in FIG. 2 on the display device 11a when the image forming apparatus 1 is started up or logged in.

[0035] The user performs an operation (such as clicking an icon) for selecting a desired function on the home screen. When such an operation is detected by the input device 11b, the panel control unit 32 displays an operation screen for that function on the display device 11a. The operation screens for each function are hierarchically configured, and each operation screen is provided with a "return" key. By pressing the "return" key, it is possible to return to the previous operation screen.

[0036] The user inputs various information (such as job settings) on the operation screen. After confirming that there is no error in the input information, the user performs an operation for executing that function. On the other hand, when the input information is not as intended, the user re-enters the information. Therefore, a user operation for tracing back the screen transition as described above is performed.

[0037] The panel control unit 32 monitors whether a user operation for reverting such a screen transition has been detected a predetermined number of times or more. When a user operation for reverting the screen transition has been detected a predetermined number of times or more, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the misrecognition key 41 is displayed superimposed on the operation screen.

[0038] At this time, when the user feels that the operation was performed due to a misrecognition of the touch panel 11b1 rather than their own operation error, the user presses the misrecognition key 41. Then, the panel control unit 32 performs (a) displaying a message indicating a defect of the touch panel 11b1 and (b) notifying the defect of the touch panel 11b1 to customer support as described above according to the frequency with which the misrecognition key 41 is displayed and pressed.

[0039] Also, when a user operation for reverting the screen transition has been detected a predetermined number of times or more, the panel control unit 32 displays the help key 42 on the operation screen together with the misrecognition key 41, for example, as shown in FIG. 3. When the help key 42 is pressed, the panel control unit 32 displays a hierarchical help menu excluding irrelevant items and displays support information for the selected item as described above.

[0040] As described above, according to the above embodiment, the display device 11a displays an operation screen, and the touch panel 11b1 detects an operation on the operation screen. The panel control unit 32 performs a transition of the operation screen according to the detected operation. Then, when an operation for reverting the screen transition has been detected a predetermined number of times or more, the panel control unit 32 displays the misrecognition key 41 for presenting a misrecognition of the touch panel 11b1 on the operation screen.

[0041] Thereby, when it is determined that a misoperation has been input, the possibility of misrecognition due to a defect of the touch panel 11b1 is presented. Therefore, the defect of the touch panel 11b1 can be easily discovered and resolved at an early stage, and usability is improved.

[0042] Various changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter and without diminishing the intended advantages. That is, it is intended that such changes and modifications be included within the scope of the claims.

Industrial Applicability

[0043] The present invention is applicable to, for example, a multifunction device or the like.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0044] 1 Image forming apparatus (an example of an electronic device) 11a Display device 11b Input device 32 Panel control unit

Claims

1. A display device for displaying an operation screen, a touch panel for detecting an operation on the operation screen, and a panel control unit for performing a transition of the operation screen according to the detected operation, wherein when the operation for reverting the transition is detected a predetermined number of times or more, the panel control unit displays a first soft key for presenting a misrecognition of the touch panel on the operation screen, characterized by an electronic device.

2. The panel control unit performs at least one of (a) displaying a message indicating a malfunction of the touch panel and (b) notifying the malfunction of the touch panel to customer support according to the frequency of the first soft key being displayed and pressed, characterized by the electronic device according to Claim 1.

3. When the operation for reverting the transition is detected a predetermined number of times or more, the panel control unit displays a second soft key for providing a help function on the operation screen together with the first soft key, wherein (a) in the help function, the panel control unit displays a list of items classified for each function on the display device, and (b) the panel control unit displays the list excluding the items other than the function corresponding to the operation screen on which the operation for reverting the transition is performed, characterized by the electronic device according to Claim 1.

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