Image reading device, program, and guidance method

Abstract

To provide proper guidance on how to set a document to be set in an automatic document reading device.SOLUTION: The present invention provides an image reading device including an automatic document reading device, a memory unit that stores mixed information indicating whether the environment includes a mixture of image reading devices that have different methods of setting documents into the automatic document reading device, and a display control unit that, when an operation using the automatic document reading device is detected, provides guidance on how to set the document in accordance with the mixed information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, a program, and a guiding method.

Background Art

[0002] An image reading apparatus having a scanner function may have an automatic document feeder (also referred to as an ADF: Auto Document Feeder). Many general automatic document feeders of image reading apparatuses are of a type that takes in one sheet at a time from the top of a stack of documents set face up. However, it may happen that both face-up machines and face-down machines are mixed among a plurality of image reading apparatuses that a user can use.

[0003] When different types of machines with different document reading orders and recording surface paper discharge directions are mixed on a network, a technique has been devised to match the page order of the documents with the page order of the printed matter (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of selecting a face-down or face-up printer according to whether the ADF reads from the first page or the last page and performing a copy operation.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the conventional technique has a problem that a user may make a mistake as to whether to set the document on the automatic document feeder face up or face down. For example, in an environment where face-up machines and face-down machines are mixed, since the document setting methods are different, the user may make a mistake in the document setting method.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a technique for appropriately guiding a method of setting a document to be set on an automatic document feeder.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an image reading apparatus including a document automatic reading apparatus, a storage unit that stores mixing information indicating whether the environment is a mixed environment where different image reading apparatuses having different document setting methods for the document automatic reading apparatus are mixed, and a display control unit that guides the document setting method according to the mixing information when an operation of using the document automatic reading apparatus is detected.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] It is possible to appropriately guide the document setting method for the document automatic reading apparatus.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, as an example of a mode for carrying out the present invention, an image reading apparatus and a method for guiding a document set performed by the image reading apparatus will be described.

[0010] <Supplement Regarding ADF> Most ADFs of image reading apparatuses pick up documents one by one from the top of a stack of documents set face up. However, in the future, there is a possibility that ADFs of a type that read documents one by one from the bottom of a stack of documents set face down will become available. If, hypothetically, face-up type ADFs and face-down type ADFs are mixed in a customer environment, the user needs to change the setting method for each machine, such as setting documents face up on one image reading apparatus and setting documents face down on the other image reading apparatus. For this reason, the user may be confused about the document setting method.

[0011] Each time the user uses the ADF, the image reading apparatus may display guidance on the document setting method. However, if face-up machines and face-down machines are not mixed in the customer environment, the user will learn the correct setting method while using the image reading apparatus. In this case, if the image reading apparatus displays guidance every time, the user may feel bothered.

[0012] Also, it is possible for the user to set so that guidance will not be displayed after the next time. However, once set, the guidance will never be displayed again. In the case of a situation where multiple users use the image reading device, if someone sets not to display the guidance, there is a possibility that it will be the same as the case where the guidance function does not exist because it will never be displayed again.

[0013] Therefore, in this embodiment, the image reading device controls the display and non-display of guidance according to whether it is an environment where face-up machines and face-down machines are installed mixedly. Further, in this embodiment, in the case of an environment where face-up machines and face-down machines are mixed, the image reading device displays guidance when the usage frequency of the ADF is low. As a result, since the guidance will not be displayed as the usage frequency increases, annoyance can be suppressed.

[0014] Also, since the frequency of using the ADF is likely to vary from person to person, when the image reading device can identify the user (for example, when user authentication is performed), the image reading device controls the display and non-display of guidance according to the usage frequency of the ADF of each user.

[0015] In this way, the image reading device of this embodiment can reduce the possibility that the user makes a mistake in the method of setting the document in an environment where face-up machines and face-down machines are mixed. Also, by controlling the display and non-display of guidance by the image reading device according to the usage frequency of the ADF by the user, it is also possible to reduce the annoyance felt by the user.

[0016] <Regarding terms> A customer environment in which face-up machines and face-down machines are mixed refers to an environment in which the same user can use both face-up machines and face-down machines, and in practice, it may vary depending on the action range of each user. In the present embodiment, it is determined whether a face-up machine and a face-down machine are mixed in a customer environment where other machines from which the image reading device can acquire information are installed. The other machines from which the image reading device can acquire information refer to, for example, the same building, floor, room, etc. Alternatively, the customer environment can also be defined as the range in which the image reading device and other machines are connected by a network. On the other hand, a user (customer engineer) may set in the image reading device whether it is a customer environment in which a face-up machine and a face-down machine are mixed. A customer environment in which a face-up machine and a face-down machine are mixed is referred to as a "mixed environment of face-up machine and face-down machine", a "mixed environment of different ADF types", etc.

[0017] In some cases, the image reading device being operated by the user is referred to as the "own device", and other image reading devices as viewed from the image reading device being operated by the user are referred to as "other devices".

[0018] Also, the method of setting the document refers to the way of placing the document in terms of whether the user sets the front surface of the document facing up or facing down.

[0019] The automatic document reading device is an ADF. There are a one-pass duplex ADF and an automatic reversing ADF in the ADF. The one-pass duplex ADF is an ADF that reads both sides in one paper feed. The automatic reversing ADF is an ADF that reverses the document every time it reads one side. The ADF in the present embodiment can be either.

[0020] The operation of using the automatic document reading device refers to the operation of the user setting the document on the ADF, starting the scanner application, etc. In addition, for the user to use the automatic document reading device, the operations required for the image reading device are included in the operation of using the automatic document reading device.

[0021] The mixed information is information that sets whether the environment is one in which image reading apparatuses with different methods of setting originals on the ADF are mixed. In the present embodiment, the mixed information is described as initial setting information stored in the initial setting storage unit.

[0022] Guidance means guidance. The guidance in the present embodiment is an image that explains the method of setting the original. The guidance may be a video or an animation. Also, the guidance may be voice, or both an image and voice may be presented.

[0023] A user is a person who operates the image reading apparatus 20. The user may include an end user of a customer, a system administrator, or a customer engineer.

[0024] <System configuration example> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration example of a device system 100 including the image reading apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment. The device system 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which the image reading apparatus 20 is communicably connected via the network N2.

[0025] The image reading apparatus 20 is arranged in a facility such as a company and is connected to the network N2. The network N2 may be a LAN, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), wide area Ethernet (registered trademark), a mobile phone network such as 4G, 5G, 6G, or the like.

[0026] The image reading apparatus 20 and the server apparatus 10 are communicably connected via a wide area network N1 such as the Internet. Also, the server apparatus 10 can communicate with an external service system 40, which is an external system, via the network N1, and the image reading apparatus 20 can communicate with the external service system 40, which is an external system, via the networks N1 and N2.

[0027] The image reading device 20 may be a device equipped with or connected to an ADF. The image reading device 20 may have a scanner function for reading a document captured by the ADF. In addition to the scanner function, the image reading device 20 may have one or more of a printing function, a copying function, a fax function, or a data storage function. Further, the image reading device 20 may be referred to as an image processing device, an image forming device, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral), a scanner device, a printing device, a printer, a fax device, a copying device, etc.

[0028] Note that the image reading device 20 may be able to execute a web browser. The image reading device 20 can communicate with the server device 10 by the function of the web browser operated by the user. For example, the image reading device 20 can execute a web application called a workflow on the web browser and transmit the image data of the document generated by reading the document captured by the ADF of the image reading device 20 to the server device 10. A workflow is a service that executes a series of processes by one web application (or application), and the user can execute a series of processes collectively with a small number of operations.

[0029] Also, for example, the image reading device 20 may be such that a PC (Personal Computer) and a scanner device are separate systems. In this case, an ADF is mounted on the scanner device. The scanner device reads a document according to an instruction from the PC and transmits the image data to the PC.

[0030] Hereinafter, when distinguishing each of a plurality of image reading devices 20, they will be described using suffixes such as "image reading device 20A", "image reading device 20B", etc.

[0031] The server device 10 is realized by one or more information processing devices. In this embodiment, the server device 10 is not essential. When there is a server device 10, operation history information, etc. of the ADF in each image reading device 20 is stored in the server device 10, and each image reading device 20 can acquire the usage frequency of the ADF of other machines from the server device 10.

[0032] The server device 10 may be implemented by cloud computing or may be implemented by a single information processing device. Cloud computing refers to a form in which resources on a network are used without awareness of specific hardware resources. The server device 10 may exist on the Internet or may exist on-premises.

[0033] The external service system 40 is one or more information processing devices that provide services by storing, reading, or processing data when the server device 10 executes an application. In this embodiment, the external service system 40 is not essential. The "external" of the external service system 40 means a system different from the server device 10, but it does not necessarily have to be operated by a different company from the server device 10. For example, even for the same user, the accounts of the external service system 40 and the server device 10 may be different.

[0034] Examples of the external service system 40 include, for example, cloud services, ASP (Application Service Provider), etc., and may include various external services provided via a network. For example, there is a storage service as an example of the service. The external service system 40 may exist on the Internet or may exist on-premises.

[0035] In addition to those shown in the figure, a terminal device may be connectable to the network N2. The terminal device is, for example, a desktop PC, a notebook PC, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc. used by a user. A web browser operates on the terminal device. The user can also operate the terminal device to connect to the image reading device 20 and cause the terminal device to transmit the image data of the document captured by the ADF and read by the image reading device 20.

[0036] <Hardware Configuration Example> Referring to FIG. 2, the hardware configuration of the image reading device 20 included in the device system 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image reading device 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading device 20 includes a controller 910, a short-range communication circuit 920, an engine control unit 930, an operation panel 940, and a network I / F 950.

[0037] Among these, the controller 910 has a CPU 901 which is the main part of a computer, a system memory (MEM-P) 902, a north bridge (NB) 903, a south bridge (SB) 904, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 906, a local memory (MEM-C) 907 which is a storage unit, an HDD controller 908, and an HD 909 which is a storage unit, and is configured to connect between the NB 903 and the ASIC 906 by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 921.

[0038] Among these, the CPU 901 is a control unit that performs overall control of the image reading device 20. The NB 903 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 901, the MEM-P 902, the SB 904, and the AGP bus 921, and has a memory controller for controlling read / write operations on the MEM-P 902, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master, and an AGP target.

[0039] The MEM-P 902 consists of a ROM 902a which is a memory for storing programs and data for realizing each function of the controller 910, and a RAM 902b which is used as a memory for expanding programs and data and for drawing during memory printing. Note that the programs stored in the RAM 902b may be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a CD-R, or a DVD in an installable format or an executable format file.

[0040] SB904 is a bridge for connecting NB903 with PCI devices and peripheral devices. ASIC906 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing applications having hardware elements for image processing, and serves as a bridge for connecting the AGP bus 921, PCI bus 922, HDD controller 908, and MEM-C907 respectively. This ASIC906 includes a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) forming the core of the ASIC906, a memory controller for controlling MEM-C907, a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) for performing operations such as rotation of image data by means of hardware logic, etc., and a PCI unit for performing data transfer via the PCI bus 922 between the scanner unit 931, printer unit 932, and facsimile unit. Note that the ASIC906 may have an interface for USB (Universal Serial Bus) and an interface for IEEE1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394).

[0041] MEM-C907 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer. HD909 is a storage for accumulating image data, font data used at the time of printing, and forms. HD909 controls the reading or writing of data to / from HD909 according to the control of the CPU901. The AGP bus 921 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed for speeding up graphic processing, and can speed up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing MEM-P902 with high throughput.

[0042] Also, the short-range communication circuit 920 is provided with an antenna 920a for the short-range communication circuit. The short-range communication circuit 920 is a communication circuit such as NFC or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0043] Furthermore, the engine control unit 930 includes a scanner unit 931, a printer unit 932, and a facsimile unit 933. Also, the operation panel 940 has a panel display unit 940a such as a touch panel that displays current setting values, selection screens, etc. and accepts inputs from the operator. The operation panel 940 includes a numeric keypad that accepts setting values for conditions related to image formation such as density setting conditions, and a hard key 940b such as a start key that accepts a copy start instruction. The controller 910 controls the entire image reading apparatus 20, for example, controls drawing, communication, inputs from the operation panel 940, etc. The scanner unit 931 or the printer unit 932 includes an image processing part such as error diffusion and gamma conversion.

[0044] An ADF 934 is connected to the scanner unit 931. The scanner unit 931 and the ADF 934 may be integrated. In the case of single-sided reading, each time the scanner unit 931 reads one side, it requests the ADF 934 to take in the next document, and continuously reads only one side of the document stack. In the case of double-sided reading and when the ADF 934 is a one-pass double-sided ADF (the ADF has a scanner), while the ADF 934 reads one side of the document, the scanner unit 931 reads the document sent into the scanner unit 931 by the ADF 934. The scanner unit 931 receives image data from the ADF 934 and requests the ADF 934 to take in the next document each time it reads both sides of one sheet. In the case of double-sided reading and when the ADF 934 is an automatic duplex ADF, the scanner unit 931 reads one side of the document sent from the ADF 934 and requests the ADF 934 to reverse the document. When the ADF 934 reverses the document and sends it into the scanner unit 931, the scanner unit 931 reads one side of the document sent from the ADF 934. The scanner unit 931 requests the ADF 934 to take in the next document each time it reads both sides of one sheet of the document.

[0045] Note that the image reading device 20 can sequentially switch and select the document box function, copy function, print function, and facsimile function by operating the application switching key on the operation panel 940. When the document box function is selected, the image reading device 20 enters the document box mode. When the copy function is selected, it enters the copy mode. When the print function is selected, it enters the printer mode. When the facsimile mode is selected, it enters the facsimile mode.

[0046] The network I / F 950 is an interface for data communication using the network N2. The short-range communication circuit 920 and the network I / F 950 are electrically connected to the ASIC 906 via the PCI bus 922.

[0047] <Regarding functions> Next, referring to FIG. 3, the functional configuration of the image reading device 20 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the image reading device 20 according to the present embodiment.

[0048] The image reading device 20 includes an operation panel control service 21, a scanner application 22, a reading control service 23, and a communication control service 24. Each functional unit of the image reading device 20 is a function or means realized by the CPU 901 executing instructions included in one or more programs installed in the image reading device 20, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0049] The image reading device 20 also includes an initial setting information storage unit 25 and an operation history information storage unit 26. These storage units of the image reading device 20 are constructed in the HD 909, RAM 902b, etc. shown in FIG. 2. Note that these storage units may be constructed in the server device 10 or the external service system 40 instead of the image reading device 20.

[0050] The scanner app 22 is one of a plurality of apps that a user executes on the image reading device 20. The scanner app 22 attaches the image data of the scanned document to an email and sends it, or sends it to a folder specified by the user. That is, the scanner app 22 is an application that uses the image data generated by the reading control service 23 from the document. Here, the scanner app 22 has been described as a typical app for reading, but the scanner app 22 may also be a copy app or a fax app.

[0051] The scanner app 22 has an information acquisition unit 31, a ratio calculation unit 32, a determination unit 33, a display control unit 34, an ADF communication unit 35, and an authentication unit 36. The information acquisition unit 31 acquires device information and operation history information from other devices via the communication control service 24. The device information includes information on whether it is a face-up machine or a face-down machine. The operation history information of other devices is a part for each other device among those shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6.

[0052] The ratio calculation unit 32 calculates the ratio of "ADF / total" of the number of reading jobs on its own device, and also calculates the ratio of "ADF / total" of the number of reading jobs on other devices. The ratio of "ADF / total" is the ratio (rate) of the number of reading jobs using the ADF among the total number of all reading jobs using the scanner. Details will be described later.

[0053] The determination unit 33 makes various determinations in this embodiment. The determination unit 33 compares, for example, the above ratio with threshold values 1 and 2 (each an example of a first threshold value and a second threshold value).

[0054] When the display control unit 34 detects an operation in which the user uses the ADF 934, it controls whether to display guidance on the document setting method on the operation panel 940 according to whether face-up machines and face-down machines are mixed.

[0055] The ADF communication unit 35 communicates with the ADF 934 of its own device and acquires notifications such as that the user has set a document from the ADF 934.

[0056] The authentication unit 36 authenticates the user. The authentication unit 36 may request the authentication server to perform the authentication itself. The authentication unit 36 authenticates the user using a combination of a user name and password, biometric information, face authentication, an IC card, etc. When the authentication is successful, the logged-in user is identified.

[0057] The operation panel control service 21 displays a screen serving as a user interface on the operation panel 940. Also, the operation panel control service 21 accepts the user's selection of an application, settings for the application, etc. The operation panel control service 21 notifies the received operation content of the user to various applications.

[0058] The reading control service 23 operates the scanner unit 931 according to an instruction from the scanner application 22 to read a document and generate image data. Also, the reading control service 23 notifies the scanner application 22 of the type of the ADF 934 (face-up type or face-down type) connected when the main power is turned on.

[0059] The communication control service 24 connects to the network N2 and communicates with other devices and the server device 10. The communication control service 24 acquires device information and operation history information from other devices and transmits them to the scanner application 22.

[0060] <<Initial setting information storage unit>> FIG. 4 shows an example of the initial setting information stored in the initial setting information storage unit 25. The initial setting information mainly includes information on whether a face-up type and a face-down type are mixed. Although it is named "initial", the initial setting information storage unit 25 does not necessarily have only the information set at startup or the like. · The item of device mixture indicates whether the customer environment is a mixed environment of a face-up type and a face-down type. The item of device mixture may be detected by the image reading device 20 or set by the user. · In the item of threshold value 1, a threshold value to be compared with the ratio of "ADF / whole" is set for determining whether to display guidance on the original document setting method, regardless of whether it is a mixed environment of a face-up machine and a face-down machine or not. Threshold value 1 may be set by the user or may be pre-coded in the program. · In the item of threshold value 2, a threshold value to be compared with the ratio of "ADF / whole" is set for determining whether to display guidance on the original document setting method in the case of a mixed environment of a face-up machine and a face-down machine. Threshold value 2 may be set by the user or may be pre-coded in the program.

[0061] <<Operation history information storage unit>> Figure 5 shows an example of the operation history information stored in the operation history information storage unit 26 of the image reading apparatus 20 when there is no user authentication. · The item of user ID is the identification information of the user. When there is no user authentication, all users are recorded as guest users. · The item of user name is the name of the user, etc. When there is no user authentication, all users are recorded as guest users. · The item of the number of reading jobs on the own machine is the number of all reading jobs that the image reading apparatus 20 operated by the user has executed in the past. · The item of the number of reading jobs using ADF934 on the own machine is the number of reading jobs that the image reading apparatus 20 operated by the user has executed using ADF934 in the past. · The item of the name of other machines is the model name, etc. of other machines acquired by the information acquisition unit 31 of the image reading apparatus 20 via the network. · The item of the type of ADF934 of other machines is the device information (face-up machine, face-down machine) of other machines acquired by the information acquisition unit 31 of the image reading apparatus 20 via the network. · The item of the number of reading jobs on other machines is the number of all reading jobs that other machines have executed in the past, acquired by the information acquisition unit 31 of the image reading apparatus 20 via the network. · The item of the number of reading jobs using ADF934 on other devices is the number of reading jobs that other devices have executed using ADF934 in the past, which was acquired by the information acquisition unit 31 of the image reading apparatus 20 via the network.

[0062] The item of the number of reading jobs using ADF934 on other devices exists for the number of other devices whose device information was acquired by the information acquisition unit 31 of the image reading apparatus 20 via the network from the item of the name of other devices.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation history information stored in the operation history information storage unit 26 of the image reading apparatus 20 when there is user authentication. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 6 with FIG. 5, the items of the operation history information storage unit 26 are the same regardless of the presence or absence of user authentication. However, when there is user authentication, the items of the user ID and the user name record those of the logged-in user. Thereby, the image reading apparatus 20 can control the display and non-display of guidance for each user.

[0064] · For example, user A has performed 2 reading jobs on their own device but has never used ADF934. Also, user A has never used other devices.

[0065] · User B has performed 10 reading jobs on their own device, and among them, 1 job used ADF934. User B has also used other device A, and the number of reading jobs is 2, and both used ADF934. User B has never used other devices B and C.

[0066] · User C has performed 5 reading jobs on their own device, and among them, 4 jobs used ADF934. User C has also used other device C, and the number of reading jobs is 4, and among them, 1 job used ADF934. User C has never used other devices A and B.

[0067] · User D performed 10 reading jobs on their own device, 4 of which used the ADF934. User D has also used another device B, with 10 reading jobs, 9 of which used the ADF934. User D has also used another device C, with 6 reading jobs, 4 of which used the ADF934. User D has never used another device A.

[0068] Therefore, based on the operation history information in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 7, it can be determined whether each of the users A to D has used the face-up machine and the face-down machine.

[0069] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically explaining the operation history in the image reading apparatus 20 and other devices when there is user authentication. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing whether each user has used the face-up machine and the face-down machine based on the operation history information in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 shows the own device and other devices A to C (all are image reading apparatuses 20), and whether users A to D have used each of the own device and other devices A to C is shown.

[0070] For example, user A has only used the face-down machine. User B has used both the face-down machine and the face-up machine. User C has used both the face-down machine and the face-up machine. User D has used both the face-down machine and the face-up machine. In this way, since the operation history of the face-up machine and the face-down machine for each user is known, the image reading apparatus 20 can control the display and non-display of guidance for each user. Information like that in FIG. 7 is used in the determination in step S108 of FIG. 11 described later.

[0071] <Guidance display for the original setting method> Next, referring to FIG. 8, the process in which the image reading apparatus 20 displays guidance on the original setting method will be described.

[0072] S1: First, when the image reading device 20 is activated (when the main power is turned on or when the energy saving mode resumes, etc.), and periodically, it communicates with other devices in the network to obtain device information and operation history information from other devices. For this purpose, the information acquisition unit 31 of the scanner application 22 requests the communication control service 24 to acquire information.

[0073] S2, S3: The communication control service 24 communicates with other devices A and B (for the sake of illustration, there are 2 other devices, but it may be 3 or more). It acquires device information and operation history information. From the device information, it can be determined whether other devices A and B are face-up devices or face-down devices. Also, the scanner application 22 can calculate the ratio of "ADF / whole" in other devices based on the operation history information.

[0074] Note that the communication control service 24 communicates with other devices in at least the same network. The same network refers to a network with the same network address. The communication control service 24 may communicate with other devices in the same LAN as itself by broadcast, or it may acquire the IP addresses of devices in the network using the arp command and communicate with all IP addresses as destinations. The communication control service 24 communicates with other devices using communication protocols such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) or HTTP to acquire device information, operation history information, etc.

[0075] S4: The communication control service 24 returns the acquired device information and operation history information to the information acquisition unit 31.

[0076] S5: Based on the device information, the information acquisition unit 31 saves in the initial setting information storage unit 25 whether it is a mixed environment of face-up devices and face-down devices.

[0077] S6: Also, the information acquisition unit 31 saves the operation history information in the operation history information storage unit 26.

[0078] S7: Next, the user presses the scanner app icon on the screen of the user interface displayed on the operation panel 940 (see FIG. 12). The operation panel control service 21 accepts the press. If the image reading apparatus 20 requires user authentication, the authentication unit 36 authenticates the user before the operation starts. The user who has successfully authenticated is the logged-in user.

[0079] S8: The operation panel control service 21 notifies the scanner app 22 that the button (scanner app icon) to start the scanner app 22 has been pressed.

[0080] S9: Upon receiving the notification, the display control unit 34 of the scanner app 22 requests the operation panel control service 21 to display a reading setting screen. The operation panel control service 21 displays the reading setting screen on the operation panel 940 in response to the request.

[0081] S10: As a result, a reading setting screen is displayed on the operation panel 940 (see FIG. 13).

[0082] S11: Next, the user sets the document on the ADF 934. The ADF 934 detects the setting of the document with a sensor and notifies the scanner unit 931.

[0083] S12: The scanner unit 931 notifies the ADF communication unit 35 of the scanner app 22 that a document has been set on the ADF 934.

[0084] S13: The determination unit 33 of the scanner app 22 that has received the notification acquires the initial setting information from the initial setting information storage unit 25 and determines whether it is a mixed environment of face-up and face-down machines.

[0085] S14: Also, the determination unit 33 acquires information for calculating the ratio of "ADF / whole" from the operation history information storage unit 26.

[0086] The scanner app 22 requests the operation panel to display guidance on the method of setting the original document on the ADF 934 in the following cases. (i) When it is the first time to read an original document using the ADF 934, including other devices When it is the first time to read using the ADF 934, including the own device and other devices, the image reading apparatus 20 performs guidance display because the user is considered not to be accustomed to using the ADF 934. (ii) When the ratio of "ADF / whole" on the own device is less than the threshold value Excluding other devices, when the frequency of using the ADF 934 on the own device is low, guidance display is performed because the user is considered not to be accustomed to using the ADF 934 on the image reading apparatus 20 being operated. (iii) When the frequency of using the ADF 934 on the own device is low compared to other devices in a mixed environment of face-up machines and face-down machines In a mixed environment of face-up machines and face-down machines, when reading using the ADF 934 is being performed to some extent on other devices but not on the own device, guidance display is performed because the user is considered not to be accustomed to using the ADF 934 on the own device.

[0087] S15: Details of the above judgments (i) to (iii) will be described with reference to FIG. 11. In any of the above cases (i) to (iii), the display control unit 34 of the scanner app 22 requests the operation panel control service 21 to display guidance on the method of setting the original document on the ADF 934.

[0088] S16: The operation panel control service 21 causes the operation panel 940 to display guidance on the method of setting the original document on the ADF 934.

[0089] Note that when the user actually reads an original document using the ADF 934, the scanner app 22 records this fact in the operation history information storage unit 26 (increases each of the item of the number of reading jobs on the own device and the item of the number of reading jobs using the ADF 934 on the own device by one).

[0090] <User Settings for an Environment with a Mixture of Face-up and Face-down Devices> In the description of FIG. 8, the image reading apparatus 20 automatically acquires device information from other surrounding devices and determines whether it is an environment with a mixture of face-up and face-down devices. On the other hand, whether it is an environment with a mixture of face-up and face-down devices can also be set by the user. That is, the user can set whether it is an environment with a mixture of face-up and face-down devices even if the image reading apparatus 20 cannot acquire device information from other devices. In addition, the user can modify whether it is an environment with a mixture of face-up and face-down devices set by the image reading apparatus 20.

[0091] Referring to FIG. 9, the determination result by the image reading apparatus 20 as to whether it is an environment with a mixture of face-up and face-down devices and a method for manually changing it will be described. FIG. 9 shows a setting screen 200 displayed on the operation panel 940. The setting screen 200 has a detection result column 201 and a manual setting column 202. In the detection result column 201, the result of the determination by the image reading apparatus 20 as to whether it is an environment with a mixture of face-up and face-down devices is displayed. In the manual setting column 202, radio buttons 203 and 204 associated with "Do" and "Do not" are displayed. When the user manually sets that it is an environment with a mixture of face-up and face-down devices, the radio button 203 associated with "Do" is pressed, and when not manually setting, the radio button 204 associated with "Do not" is pressed.

[0092] FIG. 9(a) is the initial setting screen 200 when the image reading apparatus 20 determines that it is an environment with a mixture of face-up and face-down devices. In the detection result column 201, there is a display indicating that they are mixed. When the user wants to change the display indicating that they are mixed, the radio button 203 associated with "Do" can be selected in the manual setting column 202.

[0093] Figure 9(b) shows the setting screen 200 when the image reading apparatus 20 determines that it is not in an environment where face-up and face-down machines are mixed, but the user manually sets it to an environment where face-up and face-down machines are mixed. The radio buttons 205 and 206 associated with "mixed" and "not mixed" are displayed only when the user selects the radio button 203 associated with "do".

[0094] Note that the setting screen 200 in FIG. 9 can be displayed when a customer engineer installs the image reading apparatus 20 or when the user sets whether it is an environment where face-up and face-down machines are mixed at an arbitrary timing. The merit of being able to set manually in this way is that the image reading apparatus 20 can display guidance even in the following cases. (1) Case where the image reading apparatus 20 is not connected to the network N2 (2) Case where other machines cannot acquire information via the network because they are machines of other companies etc. (3) Case where image reading apparatuses 20 of different types of ADF934 are installed outside the same network In all of these cases, the image reading apparatus 20 cannot acquire device information from other machines, so it cannot automatically determine whether it is an environment where face-up and face-down machines are mixed. Also, it is a merit that the user can correct the determination made automatically by the image reading apparatus 20 as to whether it is an environment where face-up and face-down machines are mixed.

[0095] <Guidance display in case of user authentication> Next, referring to FIG. 10, the flow of guidance display of the original document setting method in case of user authentication will be described. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram for explaining the process in which the image reading apparatus 20 displays guidance on the original document setting method. In the description of FIG. 10, mainly the differences from FIG. 8 will be described. In FIG. 10, steps S21 and S22 are added, and the conditions for displaying guidance are different.

[0096] S21: The information acquisition unit 31 of the scanner app 22 acquires the operation history information for each image reading device 20 and for each user, and stores it in the operation history information storage unit 26. Even if the number of image reading devices 20 is large in a large-scale office or the like, it is estimated that the image reading devices 20 used by each user are limited to several units within the action range of that user. Therefore, a huge storage area is not required for storing the operation history information.

[0097] S22: The determination unit 33 of the scanner app 22 acquires the operation history information associated with the user ID of the logged-in user from the operation history information storage unit 26.

[0098] Also, in step S15, the conditions under which the scanner app 22 displays guidance are as follows. (iv) When the reading using the ADF 934 by the logged-in user is the first time (v) When the frequency of reading using the ADF 934 by the logged-in user on the local machine is low (vi) When the logged-in user is in an environment where face-up machines and face-down machines are mixed, and the frequency of reading using the ADF 934 on the local machine is low compared to other machines Under such conditions, guidance can be effectively displayed based on the ratio of "ADF / whole" on the local machine of the logged-in user and the ratio of "ADF / whole" on other machines.

[0099] <Details of the determination of display and non-display of guidance> Next, with reference to FIG. 11, the details of the process for determining whether the scanner app 22 displays guidance will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart diagram for explaining the process of determining whether the determination unit 33 displays guidance. First, a general determination will be described with a flowchart diagram, and then a determination example using the operation history information in FIGS. 5 and 6 will be described. Also, FIG. 11 may be common for both the case with user authentication and the case without user authentication. In the case without user authentication, the acquisition and determination of the operation history information are for guest users, and in the case with user authentication, they are for logged-in users.

[0100] First, the determination unit 33 of the scanner app 22 determines whether the information acquisition unit 31 can acquire the device information and operation history information of other devices (S101). That is, it is determined whether the communication control service 24 communicates with other devices via the network and receives the device information and operation history information. If the determination unit 33 can receive the device information and operation history information of even one other device, it may determine step S101 as Yes. Alternatively, the determination unit 33 may compare the number of other devices for which information has been acquired with a determined threshold value to determine whether the device information and operation history information of other devices have been acquired.

[0101] Note that when the user manually sets in the setting screen 200 whether it is a mixed environment of a face-up machine and a face-down machine, the device information is determined to be "acquired". If the determination in step S101 is Yes, the process proceeds to step S102, and if No, the process proceeds to step S108. Therefore, when proceeding to step S102, the display and non-display of guidance are determined only based on the information of the local device.

[0102] If device information and operation history information of other devices cannot be obtained (Yes in S101), the determination unit 33 of the scanner app 22 determines whether there is no operation history of reading using the ADF 934 on the own device or whether there is no operation history of reading using the ADF 934 on the own device by the logged-in user (S102). In step S102, it is determined whether the "number of reading jobs using the ADF on the own device" in the operation history information is "0". If the determination in step S102 is Yes, the process proceeds to step S103, and if No, the process proceeds to step S104.

[0103] If there is no operation history of reading using the ADF 934 on the own device or by the logged-in user (Yes in S102), the determination unit 33 of the scanner app 22 determines to display guidance (S103). Therefore, the display control unit 34 causes the guidance to be displayed on the operation panel control service 21.

[0104] If there is an operation history of reading using the ADF 934 on the own device or by the logged-in user (No in S102), the ratio calculation unit 32 of the scanner app 22 calculates the ratio of "ADF / total" of the number of reading jobs on the own device, and the determination unit 33 determines whether the ratio is less than the threshold value 1 (for example, 30%) (S104). In step S104, the ratio of the "number of reading jobs using the ADF on the own device" (an example of the second job number) to the "number of reading jobs on the own device" (an example of the first job number) in the operation history information is compared with the threshold value 1. If the determination in step S104 is Yes, the process proceeds to step S103, and if No, the process proceeds to step S105.

[0105] If the ratio of "ADF / total" is less than the threshold value 1 (for example, 30%) (Yes in S104), the determination unit 33 of the scanner app 22 determines to display guidance (S103). Therefore, the display control unit 34 causes the guidance to be displayed on the operation panel control service 21.

[0106] When the ratio of "ADF / total" is not less than the threshold value 1 (for example, 30%) (No in S104), the determination unit 33 of the scanner application 22 determines whether the item of device mixture in the initial setting information is "Y" (S105). If the determination in step S105 is Yes, the process proceeds to step S106, and if No, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0107] When the item of device mixture in the initial setting information is not "Y" (No in S105), the determination unit 33 of the scanner application 22 determines not to display the guidance (S107). Therefore, the display control unit 34 does not cause the guidance to be displayed on the operation panel control service 21.

[0108] When the item of device mixture in the initial setting information is "Y" (Yes in S105), the determination unit 33 of the scanner application 22 determines whether the ratio of "ADF / total" of the number of reading jobs in the own device or the ratio of "ADF / total" of the number of reading jobs in the own device of the logged-in user is less than the threshold value 2 (for example, 50%) (S106). In step S106, the ratio of the "number of reading jobs using ADF in the own device" (an example of the second number of jobs) to the "number of reading jobs in the own device" (an example of the first number of jobs) in the operation history information is compared with the threshold value 2. If the determination in step S106 is Yes, the process proceeds to step S103, and if No, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0109] When the ratio of "ADF / total" in the own device is less than the threshold value 2 (for example, 50%) (Yes in S106), the determination unit 33 of the scanner application 22 determines to display the guidance (S103). Therefore, the display control unit 34 causes the guidance to be displayed on the operation panel control service 21. That is, since it is an environment where face-up machines and face-down machines are mixed, by setting the threshold value 2 to be larger than the threshold value 1, even if the ratio of "ADF / total" in the own device is slightly larger, the guidance is displayed.

[0110] If the ratio of "ADF / whole" is not less than the threshold value 2 (for example, 30%) (No in S106), the determination unit 33 of the scanner app 22 determines not to display the guidance (S107). Therefore, the display control unit 34 does not cause the guidance to be displayed on the operation panel control service 21.

[0111] Subsequently, moving to the right side of the flowchart, the case where the information acquisition unit 31 has acquired information of other machines will be described.

[0112] In step S108 (when information of other machines has been acquired), the determination unit 33 of the scanner app 22 determines whether there is no operation history of using the ADF 934 on the own machine or other machines, or whether there is no operation history of using the ADF 934 on the own machine or other machines by the logged-in user (S108). In step S108, as shown in FIG. 7, it is determined whether the "number of reading jobs using the ADF on the own machine" or the "number of reading jobs using the ADF on other machines" in the operation history information is "0". If the determination in step S108 is Yes, the process proceeds to step S103, and if No, the process proceeds to step S109.

[0113] If there is no operation history of using the ADF 934 on the own machine or other machines (Yes in S108), the determination unit 33 of the scanner app 22 determines to display the guidance (S103). Therefore, the display control unit 34 causes the guidance to be displayed on the operation panel control service 21.

[0114] If there is an operation history using the ADF934 on the own device or another device (No in S108), the ratio calculation unit 32 of the scanner app 22 calculates the ratio of "ADF / total" of the number of reading jobs on the own device, and the determination unit 33 determines whether the ratio is less than the threshold value 1 (for example, 30%) (S109). In step S109, the ratio of the "number of reading jobs using the ADF on the own device" (an example of the second job number) to the "number of reading jobs on the own device" (an example of the first job number) in the operation history information is compared with the threshold value 1. In the case of user authentication, the ratio of the "number of reading jobs using the ADF on the own device" (an example of the second job number) to the "number of reading jobs on the own device" (an example of the first job number) by the logged-in user is compared with the threshold value 1. If the determination in step S109 is Yes, the process proceeds to step S103; if No, the process proceeds to step S110.

[0115] When the ratio of "ADF / total" is less than the threshold value 1, the determination unit 33 of the scanner app 22 determines to display guidance (S103). Therefore, the display control unit 34 causes the guidance to be displayed on the operation panel control service 21.

[0116] If the ratio of "ADF / total" is not less than the threshold value 1, the determination unit 33 of the scanner app 22 determines whether there is another device with a different type of ADF934 attached (S110). In step S110, the "type of ADF of another device" in the operation history information is referred to and it is determined whether it is the same as the type of ADF of the own device. In the case of user authentication, the "type of ADF of another device" that the logged-in user has used is compared. If the determination in step S110 is Yes, the process proceeds to step S111; if No, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0117] If there is no other device with a different type of ADF934 attached (No in S110), the determination unit 33 of the scanner app 22 determines not to display guidance (S107). Therefore, the display control unit 34 does not cause the guidance to be displayed on the operation panel control service 21.

[0118] If there is another device with a different type of ADF934 attached (Yes in S110), the determination unit 33 of the scanner app 22 determines whether the ratio of "ADF / total" of the number of reading jobs on the own device is lower than that on another device with a different type of ADF934 attached (S111). In step S111, the ratio of the "number of reading jobs using the ADF on the own device" (an example of the second job number) to the "number of reading jobs on the own device" (an example of the first job number) in the operation history information is compared with the ratio of the "number of reading jobs using the ADF on another device" (an example of the fourth job number) to the "number of reading jobs on another device" (an example of the third job number). When there is user authentication, the operation history information of other devices used by the logged-in user is used.

[0119] For example, if the ratio of the own device is lower, that is, if the ADF934 is well utilized on other devices but not much on the own device, the determination unit 33 determines to display guidance. Conversely, if not, the determination unit 33 determines not to display guidance. If the determination in step S111 is Yes, the process proceeds to step S103, and if No, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0120] As an example, threshold 1 is set to 30% and threshold 2 is set to 50%, but these are just examples and the thresholds can be different values. Thresholds 1 and 2 may be hard-coded in the program or may be set as setting items in the initial settings or the like so that the user can change them arbitrarily.

[0121] <Explanation based on the specific data of the flowchart in FIG. 11> <<In the case where information of other devices cannot be obtained in a mixed environment of face-up and face-down devices>> Regarding the control of display and non-display of guidance in this case, it will be explained by taking the initial setting information in FIG. 4 and the operation history information in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 as examples.

[0122] (1) When there is no user authentication First, according to the operation history information in FIG. 5, the ratio of "ADF / total" of the number of reading jobs is as follows. The ratio of "ADF / Total" of the user's own device is 32 / 54 = 59% Therefore, it is determined that step S102 is No, step S104 is No, step S105 is Yes, and step S106 is No. Therefore, the guidance is not displayed.

[0123] (2) When there is user authentication This will be described based on the operation history information in Fig. 6. · The ratio of "ADF / Total" of the number of reading jobs of the user's own device of User A is 0 / 2 = 0%. For User A, it is determined that step S102 is No and step S104 is Yes. Therefore, the guidance is displayed. · The ratio of "ADF / Total" of the number of reading jobs of the user's own device of User B is 1 / 10 = 10%. For User B, it is determined that step S102 is No and step S104 is Yes. Therefore, the guidance is displayed. · The ratio of "ADF / Total" of the number of reading jobs of the user's own device of User C is 4 / 5 = 80%. For User C, it is determined that step S102 is No, step S104 is No, step S105 is Yes, and step S106 is No. Therefore, the guidance is not displayed. · The ratio of "ADF / Total" of the number of reading jobs of the user's own device of User D is 4 / 10 = 40%. For User D, it is determined that step S102 is No, step S104 is No, step S105 is Yes, and step S106 is Yes. Therefore, the guidance is displayed.

[0124] (When in a mixed environment of face-up and face-down devices and information of other devices can be obtained) Regarding the control of display and non-display of guidance in this case, it will be described by taking the initial setting information in Fig. 4 and the operation history information in Fig. 5 or Fig. 6 as examples.

[0125] (1) When there is no user authentication First, according to the operation history information in FIG. 5, the ratio of the number of "ADF / Total" of read jobs is as follows. The ratio of "ADF / Total" of the own device is 32 / 54 = 59% The total ratio of "ADF / Total" of other devices A and B is (29 + 27) / (47 + 34) = 69% Based on these values, it is determined that step S108 is No, step S109 is No, step S110 is Yes, and step S111 is Yes. Therefore, guidance is displayed.

[0126] (2) When there is user authentication This will be described based on the operation history information in FIG. 6. · In the case of user A, it is determined Yes in step S108, and guidance is displayed. · The ratio of "ADF / Total" of the read jobs of the own device of user B is 1 / 10 = 10%. Therefore, in the case of user B, it is determined No in step S108 and Yes in step S109, and guidance is displayed. · The ratio of "ADF / Total" of the read jobs of the own device of user C is 4 / 5 = 80%, and the ratio of other devices is 1 / 4 = 25%. In the case of user C, step S108 is No, step S109 is No, step S110 is Yes, and it is determined No in step S111, and guidance is not displayed. · The ratio of the own device of user D is 4 / 10 = 40%, and the ratio of other devices is (9 + 4) / (10 + 6) = 81%. In the case of user D, step S108 is No, step S109 is No, step S110 is Yes, and it is determined Yes in step S111, and guidance is displayed.

[0127] <Example of guidance display> 12 shows an example of an application selection screen 240 displayed on the operation panel. A copy application icon 241, a scanner application icon 242, a fax application icon 243, and a document box application icon 244 are displayed on the application selection screen 240. When the user presses the scanner application icon 242, the read setting screen 210 is displayed.

[0128] Fig. 13 shows a reading setting screen 210 and guidance displayed on the operation panel when reading a document. Fig. 13(a) shows the reading setting screen 210. The reading setting screen 210 has a reading condition setting field 211, an automatic density field 212, a document feed field 213, and a file format field 214.

[0129] When the user presses the reading condition setting field 211, a screen for setting reading conditions such as resolution and color is displayed. When the user presses the automatic density field 212, the function for automatically adjusting density is turned on (reversed). When the user presses the document feed field 213, a screen for the user to specify whether to read one side or both sides of the document is displayed. When the user presses the file format field 214, a screen for setting the file format of the image data (PDF, JPEG, etc.) is displayed.

[0130] Furthermore, the reading settings screen 210 has email transmission settings 215 and folder transmission settings 216. When email transmission settings 215 is selected, a destination list 218 is displayed, and the email address of a destination user selected by the user in the destination list 218 is displayed in an email address field 217. When folder transmission settings 216 is selected, a list of folders such as shared folders is displayed, and when the user selects a folder from the list, the folder is displayed in the field displayed in place of email address field 217.

[0131] When it is determined that the scanner app 22 displays guidance, and the user sets the document on the ADF 934 (when the reading settings screen 210 is being displayed), the operation panel control service 21 pops up and displays the guidance on the reading settings screen 210. Therefore, when the reading settings screen 210 is being displayed, setting the document on the ADF 934 corresponds to the case where an operation using the ADF 934 is detected.

[0132] Figure 13(b) shows an example of the guidance 220 in the case of a face-down machine. A message 221 that says "Please place the document on the ADF of this machine with the front side of the first page of the document facing down" is displayed in this guidance 220. Also, an image diagram 222 of how to place the document is displayed. Therefore, the user can set the document in the correct way in this image reading device 20.

[0133] Figure 13(c) shows an example of the guidance 230 in the case of a face-up machine. A message 231 that says "Please place the document on the ADF of this machine with the front side of the first page of the document facing up" is displayed in this guidance 230. Also, an image diagram 232 of how to place the document is displayed. Therefore, the user can set the document in the correct way in this image reading device 20.

[0134] In addition, if the user places the document on the ADF 934 before displaying the reading settings screen 210 in Fig. 13(a), the guidance 220, 230 is displayed at the timing when the user displays the reading settings screen 210 in Fig. 13(a). That is, the reading settings screen 210 is displayed with the guidance 220, 230 popped up and displayed. Therefore, when the document is set on the ADF 934, pressing the scanner app icon 242 in Fig. 12 corresponds to the case where an operation using the ADF 934 is detected.

[0135] Also, before the user displays the reading settings screen 210, and after the user displays the reading settings screen 210, the guidance content may be changed depending on whether the original document is placed on the ADF934. For example, when the user places the original document on the ADF934 before displaying the reading settings screen 210, the display control unit 34 displays a message such as "Is the method of setting the original document incorrect?" By adding such a confirmation-promoting message, the possibility that the user checks the method of setting the original document already set is increased.

[0136] <Main effects> When the image reading apparatus 20 of the present embodiment is in an environment where a face-up machine and a face-down machine are mixed, by controlling the display and non-display of guidance by the image reading apparatus 20, it is possible to reduce the mistake in the method of setting the original document. Further, by controlling the display and non-display of guidance by the image reading apparatus according to the usage frequency of the ADF by the user, it is possible to reduce the annoyance felt by the user.

[0137] <Other application examples> As described above, the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described using examples. However, the present invention is not limited to such examples, and various modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0138] For example, in the present embodiment, the image reading apparatus 20 has the initial setting storage unit and the operation history information storage unit 26, but the server apparatus 10 may hold these. In this case, the image reading apparatus 20 acquires the initial setting information and the operation history information from the server apparatus 10 at the time of startup (when the main power is turned on or when the energy saving is restored, etc.) and at regular intervals or other timings. Therefore, each image reading apparatus 20 does not need to communicate with other machines and acquire the initial setting information and the operation history information from the server apparatus 10.

[0139] Also, the guidance display example in FIG. 13 is an example, and the image reading apparatus 20 may transmit the guidance to the user's smartphone or the like, and the smartphone may display the guidance.

[0140] Configuration examples such as FIG. 3 are divided according to the main functions in order to facilitate the understanding of the processing by the image reading apparatus 20. The present invention is not limited by the way of dividing the processing units or their names. The processing of the image reading apparatus 20 can be further divided into more processing units according to the processing content. Also, one processing unit can be divided to include more processing.

[0141] Each function of the embodiment described above can be realized by one or a plurality of processing circuits. Here, the "processing circuit" in this specification means a processor programmed to execute each function by software like a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) designed to execute each function described above, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a device such as a conventional circuit module.

[0142] <Appendix> [Appendix 1] An automatic document reading apparatus, a storage unit that stores mixed information as to whether or not there is an environment in which image reading apparatuses having different document setting methods for the automatic document reading apparatus are mixed, a display control unit that guides the document setting method according to the mixed information when an operation of using the automatic document reading apparatus is detected; An image reading apparatus having the above. [Appendix 2] When, according to the mixed information, image reading apparatuses having different document setting methods are mixed, the display control unit causes the document setting method to be displayed, The image reading apparatus according to Appendix 1, wherein when, according to the mixed information, image reading apparatuses having different document setting methods are not mixed, the display control unit does not cause the document setting method to be displayed. [Appendix 3] The storage unit stores information on whether the own device has read a document using the document automatic reading device in the past. Even if the own device has read a document using the document automatic reading device in the past, when there are mixed image reading devices with different document setting methods according to the mixed information, the display control unit displays the image reading device described in Supplementary Note 1 or 2 for displaying the document setting method. [Supplementary Note 4] The storage unit stores the total number of first jobs in which the own device has read a document in the past and the number of second jobs in which the own device has read a document using the document automatic reading device in the past. The own device has read a document using the document automatic reading device in the past. The ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs is not less than a first threshold value, and when there are mixed image reading devices with different document setting methods according to the mixed information, the display control unit displays the image reading device described in any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3 for displaying the document setting method. [Supplementary Note 5] The own device has read a document using the document automatic reading device in the past. The ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs is not less than a first threshold value. There are mixed image reading devices with different document setting methods according to the mixed information, and when the ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs is less than a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value, the display control unit displays the image reading device described in Supplementary Note 4 for displaying the document setting method. [Supplementary Note 6] It has an authentication unit for authenticating a user. The storage unit stores, for each user, the total number of first jobs in which the own device has read a document in the past and the number of second jobs in which the own device has read a document using the document automatic reading device in the past. Regarding the logged-in user, The own device has read a document using the automatic document reading device in the past, the ratio of the number of the second jobs to the number of the first jobs is not less than a first threshold, image reading devices with different document setting methods according to the mixed information are mixed, and when the ratio of the number of the second jobs to the number of the first jobs is less than a second threshold greater than the first threshold, the image reading device according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3 for displaying the document setting method. [Appendix 7] having an information acquisition unit that acquires device information regarding the automatic document reading device from another device capable of communicating via a network, the information acquisition unit stores in the mixed information that another device with a different document setting method from the own device is mixed, when another device with a different document setting method from the own device is mixed, the display control unit displays the document setting method, the image reading device according to Appendix 1 that does not display the document setting method when another device with a different document setting method from the own device is not mixed. [Appendix 8] information regarding whether the own device has read a document using the automatic document reading device in the past is stored in the storage unit, even if the own device has read a document using the automatic document reading device in the past, when another device with a different document setting method from the own device is mixed according to the mixed information, the display control unit displays the document setting method, the image reading device according to Appendix 7. [Appendix 9] the total number of the first jobs that the own device has read in the past and the number of the second jobs that the own device has read a document using the automatic document reading device in the past are stored in the storage unit, the own device has read a document using the automatic document reading device in the past, the ratio of the number of the second jobs to the number of the first jobs is not less than a first threshold, and When other machines with a different method of setting the original document from the own machine are mixed according to the mixed information, The display control unit is the image reading apparatus according to appended note 7 or 8 that displays the method of setting the original document. [Appended note 10] The information acquisition unit acquires, from other machines communicable via a network, the total number of all third jobs in which the other machines have read the original document in the past, and the number of fourth jobs in which the other machines have read the original document using the original document automatic reading apparatus in the past, the own machine has read the original document using the original document automatic reading apparatus in the past, the ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs is not less than a first threshold value, other machines with a different method of setting the original document from the own machine are mixed according to the mixed information, and when the ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs in the own machine is lower than the ratio of the number of fourth jobs to the number of third jobs in the other machines, the image reading apparatus according to appended note 9 that displays the method of setting the original document. [Appended note 11] having an authentication unit that authenticates a user, the information acquisition unit acquires, from other machines communicable via a network, the total number of all first jobs in which the other machines have read the original document in the past, and the number of second jobs in which the other machines have read the original document using the original document automatic reading apparatus in the past, in the storage unit, for each user, the total number of all first jobs in which the own machine has read the original document in the past and the number of second jobs in which the own machine has read the original document using the original document automatic reading apparatus in the past are stored, for the logged-in user, the own machine has read the original document using the original document automatic reading apparatus in the past, the ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs of the own machine is not less than a first threshold value, other machines with a different method of setting the original document from the own machine are mixed according to the mixed information, and An image reading apparatus according to any one of supplementary notes 7 to 9 that causes display of a method for setting the document when a ratio of the number of the second jobs to the number of the first jobs in the own apparatus is lower than a ratio of the number of the second jobs to the number of the first jobs in other apparatuses.

Explanation of Signs

[0143] 20 Image reading apparatus 22 Scanner application

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0144]

Patent Document 1

Claims

1. An original automatic reading device, a storage unit that stores mixing information indicating whether or not there is a mixed environment in which image reading devices having different methods for setting an original on the original automatic reading device are mixed, a display control unit that, when an operation of using the original automatic reading device is detected, guides a method for setting the original according to the mixing information, and an image reading device having the same.

2. When there are mixed image reading devices having different methods for setting the original according to the mixing information, the display control unit displays the method for setting the original, The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein when there are no mixed image reading devices having different methods for setting the original according to the mixing information, the display control unit does not display the method for setting the original.

3. The storage unit stores information regarding whether or not the own device has read an original using the original automatic reading device in the past, Even if the own device has read an original using the original automatic reading device in the past, when there are mixed image reading devices having different methods for setting the original according to the mixing information, the display control unit displays the method for setting the original. The image reading device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The storage unit stores the total number of first jobs in which the own device has read an original in the past and the number of second jobs in which the own device has read an original using the original automatic reading device in the past, The own device has read an original using the original automatic reading device in the past, The ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs is not less than a first threshold, and When there are mixed image reading devices having different methods for setting the original according to the mixing information, The display control unit displays the method for setting the original. The image reading device according to claim 1.

5. The own device has read an original using the original automatic reading device in the past, The ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs is not less than a first threshold, There are mixed image reading devices having different methods for setting the original according to the mixing information, and When the ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs is less than a second threshold greater than the first threshold, the display control unit displays the method for setting the original. The image reading device according to claim 4.

6. having an authentication unit that authenticates a user, In the memory unit, for each user, the total number of all first jobs that the own device has read manuscripts in the past and the number of second jobs that the own device has read manuscripts using the manuscript automatic reading device in the past are stored. Regarding the logged-in user, the own device has read manuscripts using the manuscript automatic reading device in the past, the ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs is not less than a first threshold, image reading devices with different manuscript setting methods are mixed according to the mixed information, and when the ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs is less than a second threshold greater than the first threshold, the image reading device according to claim 1, which displays the manuscript setting method.

7. having an information acquisition unit that acquires device information regarding the manuscript automatic reading device from another device that can communicate via a network, the information acquisition unit stores in the mixed information that other devices with different manuscript setting methods from the own device are mixed, when other devices with different manuscript setting methods from the own device are mixed, the display control unit displays the manuscript setting method, the image reading device according to claim 1, which does not display the manuscript setting method when other devices with different manuscript setting methods from the own device are not mixed.

8. In the memory unit, information regarding whether the own device has read manuscripts using the manuscript automatic reading device in the past is stored, even if the own device has read manuscripts using the manuscript automatic reading device in the past, when other devices with different manuscript setting methods from the own device are mixed according to the mixed information, the display control unit displays the manuscript setting method. The image reading device according to claim 7.

9. In the memory unit, the total number of all first jobs that the own device has read manuscripts in the past and the number of second jobs that the own device has read manuscripts using the manuscript automatic reading device in the past are stored. the own device has read manuscripts using the manuscript automatic reading device in the past, the ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs is not less than a first threshold, and when other devices with different manuscript setting methods from the own device are mixed according to the mixed information, the display control unit displays the manuscript setting method. The image reading device according to claim 7 or 8.

10. The information acquisition unit acquires, from other machines that can communicate via a network, the total number of all third jobs in which the other machines have read manuscripts in the past, and the number of fourth jobs in which the other machines have read manuscripts using the manuscript automatic reading device in the past. The own machine has read a manuscript using the manuscript automatic reading device in the past. The ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs is not less than a first threshold. According to the mixed information, other machines with a different method of setting the own machine and the manuscript are mixed, and The image reading apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when the ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs in the own machine is lower than the ratio of the number of fourth jobs to the number of third jobs in other machines, the method of setting the manuscript is displayed.

11. It has an authentication unit for authenticating a user. The information acquisition unit acquires, from other machines that can communicate via a network, the total number of all first jobs in which the other machines have read manuscripts in the past, and the number of second jobs in which the other machines have read manuscripts using the manuscript automatic reading device in the past. In the storage unit, for each user, the total number of all first jobs in which the own machine has read manuscripts in the past and the number of second jobs in which the own machine has read manuscripts using the manuscript automatic reading device in the past are stored. Regarding the logged-in user, The own machine has read a manuscript using the manuscript automatic reading device in the past. The ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs of the own machine is not less than a first threshold. According to the mixed information, other machines with a different method of setting the own machine and the manuscript are mixed, and The image reading apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs in the own machine is lower than the ratio of the number of second jobs to the number of first jobs in other machines, the method of setting the manuscript is displayed.

12. Displays whether other machines with a different method of setting the own machine and the manuscript are mixed, which is acquired by the information acquisition unit, and The image reading apparatus according to claim 7, which accepts a change from the user regarding whether other machines with a different method of setting the own machine and the manuscript are mixed.

13. An image reading apparatus having a manuscript automatic reading device, Based on the mixed information on whether the environment is a mixed environment where image reading apparatuses with different methods of setting manuscripts to the manuscript automatic reading device are mixed. When an operation of using the original document automatic reading device is detected, a display control unit that guides a method of setting the original document according to the mixed information, A program that functions as.

14. A guidance method performed by an image reading device having an original document automatic reading device, Based on a storage unit that stores mixed information as to whether or not there is a mixed environment of image reading devices with different methods of setting the original document to the original document automatic reading device, When an operation of using the original document automatic reading device is detected, a process of guiding a method of setting the original document according to the mixed information, A guidance method that performs.

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