Display input device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To display a plurality of operation buttons in the order in which the buttons are easily to be operated even when an image forming apparatus is operated by a logged-in user or a large number of unspecified individuals.SOLUTION: In an image forming apparatus 10, a control unit 31 displays operation buttons on a display 21, and executes one of: a display mode for each user for, for each user, measuring the number of times YN the user operates the operation buttons, and when the user uses the operation buttons, setting the order in which the operation buttons are displayed on the display 21 on the basis of the number of times YN the user operates the operation buttons; and a display mode in common for all users for measuring the total number of times TN all the users operate the operation buttons, and for all the users using the operation buttons, setting the order in which the operation buttons are displayed on the display 21 on the basis of the total number of times TN the users operate the operation buttons.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display input device that displays operation buttons on a display unit and inputs instructions associated with the operation buttons, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the same, and in particular to a technique for setting the display order of multiple operation buttons. [Background technology]

[0002] The display input device has a display unit and an operation unit (for example, a touch panel provided on the screen of the display unit) that is operated by the user, and when one of a number of operation buttons such as icons or soft keys displayed on the screen of the display unit is operated, the operation on the operation button is detected by the touch panel, and the function associated with the operated operation button is executed.

[0003] For example, in the information processing device described in Patent Document 1, the MFP receives from a server computer usage history information that compiles frequently used functions for each user and combination information that compiles function combinations set by the user, stores the usage history information in a usage history management table, and also stores the combination information in a management table, and when a mode is selected by a logged-in user, reads out from the usage history management table the functions that the logged-in user used most frequently and displays them on the touch panel display, and when a function is selected and confirmed, reads out from the combination function management table the functions that are most frequently combined with the confirmed function and displays them as recommendations on the touch panel display, and transmits the function combinations to the server computer. This makes it possible to present function combinations that other users know in association with functions that the logged-in user frequently selects.

[0004] Furthermore, the image forming device described in Patent Document 2 includes a storage unit that stores, for each user, a usage history of the user's use of an application or each function of the application, a control unit that determines recommended functions for each user based on the usage history stored in the storage unit, and a notification unit that notifies each user of the recommended functions. This makes it possible to recommend convenient functions for each user. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-268345 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-127720 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Here, the display input device as described above is applied to, for example, an image forming apparatus, and displays operation buttons corresponding to a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus. When one of the operation buttons is operated in the image forming apparatus, the function corresponding to the operated operation button is executed. Since the image forming apparatus has a wide variety of functions and a large number of operation buttons, it is preferable to display these operation buttons in an order that makes them easy for the user to operate.

[0007] In Patent Document 1, functions that are frequently used by the logged-in user are displayed on a touch panel display, and when a function is selected and confirmed, functions that are frequently combined with the confirmed function are recommended and displayed on the touch panel display, presenting function combinations to the logged-in user.

[0008] Furthermore, in Patent Document 2, the usage history is stored for each user, and recommended functions are determined and notified based on this usage history.

[0009] However, in image forming devices that are shared by an unspecified number of people, user login is often omitted, and in such cases, there is no point in displaying functions or combinations of functions for each user. Also, if one person edits each operation button displayed on the display input device, it may become difficult for others to use each operation button.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to display multiple operation buttons in an order that makes them easy to operate, regardless of whether they are operated by a logged-in user or an unspecified number of people. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] A display input device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a display unit that displays a plurality of operation buttons each associated with a respective function; an input unit that is operated by a plurality of users to input instructions associated with each of the operation buttons displayed on the display unit; and a control unit that executes a function associated with the operation button when the instruction associated with the operation button is input to the input unit, wherein the control unit controls display on the display unit in either a user-specific display mode that counts the number of user-specific operations of each of the operation buttons by each of the users and sets a display order of the operation buttons on the display unit for each user based on the counted number of user-specific operations of each of the operation buttons, or a user-common display mode that counts the total number of times each of the operation buttons is operated by all users and sets a display order of the operation buttons on the display unit common to all users based on the counted total number of times each of the operation buttons is operated.

[0012] An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes the display input device according to the above aspect of the present invention, and an image forming section that forms an image on recording paper. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, a plurality of operation buttons can be displayed in an order that makes them easy to operate, whether the operation is performed by a logged-in user or an unspecified number of people. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus to which a display input device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a home screen displayed on a display unit of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a child setting screen displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a grandchild setting screen displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen for another grandchild displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 7] 10 is a diagram conceptually showing a data table storing the number of times each user operates each operation button by a user, etc. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram conceptually showing a data table in which the total number of times each operation button has been operated by all users is stored. [Figure 9A] 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for selecting and executing either a user-specific display mode or a user-common display mode. [Figure 9B] 9B is a flowchart showing the control procedure following FIG. 9A. [Figure 9C] 9B is a flowchart showing another control procedure following FIG. 9A. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home screen displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 11]10 is a diagram conceptually showing a data table storing the number of times each user operates each operation button by a user, a fixed order of any operation buttons, and the like. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a home screen displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus to which a display input device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment is an MFP (multi-function peripheral) that combines multiple functions such as a copy function, a printer function, and a facsimile function. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image reading unit 11 and an image forming unit 12.

[0016] The image reading unit 11 has an image pickup element that optically reads an image of a document, and the analog output of this image pickup element is converted into a digital signal to generate image data representing the image of the document.

[0017] The image forming unit 12 forms an image of the document on recording paper and includes a magenta image forming unit 3M, a cyan image forming unit 3C, a yellow image forming unit 3Y, and a black image forming unit 3Bk. Each of the image forming units 3M, 3C, 3Y, and 3Bk uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 4, exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 to light, forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4, develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 into a toner image, and primarily transfers the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 to the intermediate transfer belt 5. This forms a color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 5. This color toner image is then secondarily transferred to the recording paper P, which has been transported from the paper feed unit 14 through the transport path 8, in a nip region N between the intermediate transfer belt 5 and the secondary transfer roller 6.

[0018] Thereafter, the recording paper P is heated and pressed in the fixing device 15, the toner image on the recording paper P is fixed by thermocompression, and the recording paper P is then discharged onto a paper discharge tray 17 via a discharge roller 16.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an image reading unit 11, an image forming unit 12, a display unit 21, an operation unit 22, a touch panel 23, a card reader 24, a storage unit 28, and a control unit 29. These components are capable of transmitting and receiving data or signals to and from each other via a bus.

[0020] The display unit 21 is configured with a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, etc. The operation unit 22 has physical keys such as a numeric keypad, a decision key, and a start key.

[0021] A touch panel 23 is arranged on the screen of the display unit 21. The touch panel 23 is a so-called resistive or capacitive touch panel, which detects contact (touch) of a user's finger or the like on the touch panel 23 together with the contact position, and outputs a detection signal indicating the coordinates of the contact position to a control unit 31 (described later) of the control unit 29. The touch panel 23 serves as an input unit into which user operations are input to the screen of the display unit 21. The touch panel 23 is operated by a plurality of users, and instructions associated with each operation button displayed on the display unit 21 are input to the touch panel 23.

[0022] The card reader 24 reads the user's identification information YD from the user's ID card.

[0023] The storage unit 28 is a large-capacity storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores various application programs and various data.

[0024] The control unit 29 is composed of a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 29 functions as a control unit 31 when a control program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 28 is executed by the processor.

[0025] The control unit 29 comprehensively controls the image forming apparatus 10. The control unit 29 is connected to the image reading unit 11, the image forming unit 12, the display unit 21, the operation unit 22, the touch panel 23, the card reader 24, and the storage unit 28, and controls the operation of these components and transmits and receives signals or data to and from each of the components.

[0026] The control unit 31 serves as a processing unit that executes various processes required for image formation by the image forming apparatus 10. The control unit 31 also accepts operation instructions input by the user based on detection signals output from the touch panel 23 or operation of the physical keys of the operation unit 22. For example, the control unit 31 accepts instructions corresponding to touch operations on a GUI (Graphical User Interface) displayed on the screen of the display unit 21 via the touch panel 23. The control unit 31 also has a function of controlling the display operation of the display unit 21.

[0027] In addition, the control unit 31 acquires the user's identification information YD read by the card reader 24, and if the read user's identification information YD matches any of the multiple user identification information YD pre-stored in the memory unit 28, approves the user's login to the image forming device 10.

[0028] In image forming apparatus 10 configured as described above, when a user operates operation unit 22 or touch panel 23 to select a copy function, an instruction to execute copying is input to operation unit 22 or touch panel 23. In accordance with the input instruction to execute copying, control unit 31 causes image reading unit 11 to read an image of the document, and causes image forming unit 12 to record the image of the document on recording paper.

[0029] Furthermore, as image forming device 10 becomes more multifunctional, it executes multiple functions selected by the user. Control unit 31 causes display unit 21 to display multiple pages (such as a home screen) on which multiple operation buttons for receiving instructions to execute each function are arranged. When any of the operation buttons is operated by the user, control unit 31 receives an instruction to execute the function associated with the operated button via touch panel 23, and executes the function indicated by the execution instruction.

[0030] The operation buttons are icons or soft keys, etc. In addition to copying, the functions include saving image data showing an image of a document, facsimile transmission of image data, and sending e-mail with image data attached.

[0031] For example, when the control unit 31 is causing the display unit 21 to display a home screen HP as shown in Fig. 3(A), the control unit 31 causes the operation buttons SB1, SB2, ... to be displayed in order on the home screen HP. The control unit 31 causes a predetermined number (eight in this example) of operation buttons to be displayed on the display screen of the display unit 21. When the control unit 31 detects a touch operation by the user on the scroll bar CB via the touch panel 23, the control unit 31 scrolls the screen of the display unit 21 to further display another operation button to be displayed.

[0032] When each operation button is displayed on the display unit 21 in this manner, if the user touches any operation button, the control unit 31 receives the instruction associated with that operation button through the touch panel 23 and executes the function indicated by this instruction.

[0033] Furthermore, when the function associated with the operation button SB1 on the home screen HP is the display of a setting screen CP1 that is lower in rank (called a child) than the home screen HP as shown in FIG. 4, when the control unit 31 receives a screen transition instruction based on a touch operation on the operation button SB1 through the touch panel 23, the control unit 31 displays the child setting screen CP1 shown in FIG. 4 on the display unit 21 in accordance with this screen transition instruction.

[0034] 4, for example, a plurality of operation buttons KB1, KB2, ... that are lower in rank than the operation button SB1 on the home screen HP are displayed in order, and a scroll bar CB for instructing the scrolling display of each operation button KB1, KB2, ... is displayed. When the user touches any operation button on the setting screen CP1, the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to the operation button via the touch panel 23 and executes the function indicated by the operation button.

[0035] Furthermore, when the instruction associated with the operation button KB4 is an instruction to display the grandchild setting screen CP2 as shown in the example of Figure 5, when the control unit 31 receives the instruction corresponding to the child operation button KB4 through the touch panel 23, it executes the display of the setting screen CP2, which is the function associated with the operation button KB4, and causes the grandchild setting screen CP2 as shown in the example of Figure 5 to be displayed on the display unit 21.

[0036] 5, a plurality of grandchild operation buttons MB1, MB2, ... that are subordinate to the child operation button KB4 on the child setting screen CP1 are sequentially displayed in a row. For example, when the user touches the grandchild operation button MB1, the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to the operation button MB1 via the touch panel 23, and performs processing to set a function indicated by the instruction, such as single-sided printing.

[0037] Furthermore, if the instruction associated with the child operation button KB2 is an instruction to display the grandchild setting screen CP2 as shown in Figure 6, when the control unit 31 receives the instruction corresponding to the child operation button KB2 through the touch panel 23, it executes the function associated with the child operation button KB2 and displays the grandchild setting screen CP2 shown in Figure 6 on the display unit 21.

[0038] 6, a plurality of grandchild operation buttons (operation keys) MB1, MB2, ... that are subordinate to the child operation button KB2 are displayed in a sequential order, and a scroll bar CB is displayed for instructing the scrolling display of each grandchild operation button MB1, MB2, .... For example, when the grandchild operation button MB1 is touched by the user, the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to the grandchild operation button MB1 through the touch panel 23, and executes a process of selecting and setting the original size, which is the function indicated by the instruction.

[0039] As described above, the image forming apparatus 10 has a wide variety of functions and a large number of operation buttons. For this reason, it is preferable to appropriately set the display order of the operation buttons on each screen for each home screen and setting screen displayed on the display unit 21. For example, the display order of the operation buttons on the home screen can be set according to the preferences of each user who has logged in to the image forming apparatus 10.

[0040] However, in image forming apparatus 10 that is shared by an unspecified number of people, user login may be omitted. In this case, it is not possible to set the display order of each operation button on the home screen and the settings screen according to the user's preferences. Furthermore, if an individual sets the display order of each operation button displayed on display unit 21 according to their own preferences, it becomes difficult for other people to use each operation button. Furthermore, even if a means for setting the display order of each operation button on the home screen and the settings screen according to the user's preferences is provided, the operation of using this means is cumbersome.

[0041] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the control unit 31 executes a function indicated by an instruction associated with an operation button operated by a user, the control unit 31 counts the number of times YN of operations by each user for each operation button by the user. Then, when a user is logged in to the image forming apparatus 10, the control unit 31 controls the display of the display unit 21 in a user-specific display mode that sets the display order of the operation buttons on the home screen and setting screen displayed on the display unit 21, for example, to display the button with the most frequent operations first, based on the counted number of times YN of operations by each user for each operation button.

[0042] The control unit 31 also measures the total number of operations TN of each operation button by all users. When no user is logged in to the image forming apparatus 10, i.e., when multiple users are sharing the image forming apparatus 10, the control unit 31 controls the display of the display unit 21 in a user-common display mode that sets the display order of each operation button on the home screen and setting screen based on the measured total number of operations TN of each operation button, for example, to display the button with the most operations first. The control unit 31 selectively executes the user-specific display mode and the user-common display mode in accordance with instructions from the user.

[0043] When the user-specific display mode is executed, when a user is logged in to the image forming device 10, the display order of each operation button on the home screen and setting screen is set based on the number of times YN each operation button has been operated by that user, making the home screen easier to use for that user.

[0044] Furthermore, when the user common display mode is executed, when multiple users share the image forming apparatus 10, the display order of each operation button on the home screen and the setting screen is set based on the total number of times TN each operation button has been operated by all users, making the home screen and the setting screen easy to use for all users. For example, as shown in Fig. 3(B), the total number of times TN each operation button has been operated is measured for each operation button on the home screen HP, and the display order of each operation button is set based on the measured total number of times TN each operation button has been operated.

[0045] As described above, when the control unit 31 measures the number of times YN each user operates each operation button on the home screen HP by the user, the control unit 31 creates a data table YT1 for each user, as shown in FIG. 7, and stores each data table YT1 in the storage unit 28. Each data table YT1 contains the user's identification information YD, the identification information BD for each operation button, the function FU for each operation button, and the number of times YN each user operates each operation button. When the control unit 31 reads the user's identification information YD using the card reader 24 and approves the user's login, the control unit 31 reads the data table YT1 containing the user's identification information YD and displays the home screen HP on the display unit 21. When the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to an operation button on the home screen HP via the touch panel 23 based on an operation on the operation button, the control unit 31 determines the identification information BD for the operation button and reads the function FU associated with the identification information BD for the operation button from the selected data table YT1. That is, the control unit 31 executes the read function. That is, when the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to an operation button, it executes a function corresponding to the instruction. After executing the function, the control unit 31 counts up and updates the number of times YN the operation button has been performed by each user in the data table YT1. This counts the number of times NY the operation button has been performed by each user on the home screen HP.

[0046] 7, when the display of the child setting screen CP1 is set as the function FU of the operation button in the data table YT1, in order to measure the number of times YN each child operation button on the child setting screen CP1 is operated by a user, the control unit 31 also creates a child data table YT2 linked to the identification information BD of the operation button in the data table YT1, and stores this data table YT2 in the storage unit 28. Written in the child data table YT2 are the identification information BD of the operation button in the higher-level data table YT1, the identification information YD of the same user as the higher-level data table YT1, the identification information BD of each child operation button, the function FU of each operation button, and the number of times YN each child operation button is operated by a user.

[0047] When the control unit 31 executes a process to display a child setting screen CP1 as a function indicated by an instruction corresponding to an operation button operated on the user's home screen HP, the control unit 31 selects a child data table YT2 linked to the identification information BD of the operation button and in which the user's identification information YD is written. When the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to a child operation button on the child setting screen CP1 via the touch panel 23, the control unit 31 determines the identification information BD of the child operation button, reads out the function FU associated with the identification information BD of the child operation button from the selected child data table YT2, and executes it. The control unit 31 counts up and updates the number of times YN the child operation button has been operated by each user in the child data table YT2. This allows the control unit 31 to measure the number of times YN the user has operated each child operation button on the child setting screen CP1 by the user.

[0048] 7, when a process for displaying a grandchild setting screen CP2 is set as the function FU of an operation button in the child data table YT2, when the control unit 31 measures the number of times YN a user operates each grandchild operation button on the grandchild setting screen CP2 by a user, it creates a grandchild data table YT3 linked to the identification information BD of the operation button in the higher-level child data table YT2, and stores the data table YT3 in the storage unit 28. The identification information BD of the operation button in the higher-level child data table YT2, the identification information YD of the same user as the higher-level data table YT1, the identification information BD of each grandchild operation button, the function FU of each operation button, and the number of times YN a user operates each grandchild operation button are written into the grandchild data table YT3.

[0049] When the control unit 31 displays the grandchild setting screen CP2 as a function indicated by an instruction corresponding to an operation button on the child setting screen CP1 of the user, the control unit 31 selects the grandchild data table YT3 linked to the identification information BD of the operation button and in which the user's identification information YD is written. When the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to a grandchild operation button on the grandchild setting screen CP2 via the touch panel 23, the control unit 31 determines the identification information BD of the grandchild operation button, reads out the function FU associated with the identification information BD of the grandchild operation button from the selected grandchild data table YT3, and executes it. The control unit 31 counts up and updates the number of times YN the grandchild operation button has been operated by each user in the grandchild data table YT3. This counts the number of times YN the user has operated each grandchild operation button on the grandchild setting screen CP2 by the user.

[0050] Furthermore, when measuring the total number of times TN each operation button on the home screen HP has been operated by all users as described above, the control unit 31 creates a data table TT1 as shown in the example of FIG. 8. The control unit 31 writes the total number of times TN each operation button has been operated in the data table TT1. When the image forming apparatus 10 is shared by multiple users without approving the user's login to the image forming apparatus 10, the control unit 31 displays a common home screen HP on the display unit 21. When the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to an operation button on the home screen via the touch panel 23, it identifies and executes the function associated with this operation button from the data table TT1. The control unit 31 counts up and updates the total number of times TN each operation button has been operated in the data table TT1. This measures the total number of times TN each operation button on the home screen HP has been operated by all users.

[0051] 8, when a process for displaying a child setting screen CP1 is set as a function FU indicated by an instruction corresponding to an operation button in the data table TT1, the control unit 31 creates a child data table TT2 linked to the identification information BD of the operation button in the data table TT1 and stores it in the storage unit 28. The child data table TT2 contains the identification information BD of the operation button in the higher-level data table TT1, the identification information BD of each child operation button, the function FU of each operation button, and the total number of operations TN of each child operation button. When the control unit 31 displays the child setting screen CP2 in response to the user's operation of an operation button on the home screen HP, it selects the child data table TT2 linked to the identification information BD of the operation button. When the control unit 31 detects an operation on a child operation button on the child setting screen CP1 via the touch panel 23, it determines the identification information BD of the child operation button, identifies the function FU associated with the identification information BD of the child operation button from the selected child data table TT2, and executes the identified function. The control unit 31 counts up and updates the total number of times TN the child operation button has been operated in the child data table TT2, thereby measuring the total number of times TN the user has operated each child operation button on the child setting screen CP1.

[0052] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, when the display of the grandchild setting screen CP2 is set as the function FU of the operation button of the child data table TT2, a grandchild data table TT3 linked to the identification information BD of the operation button of the child data table TT2 is created and stored in the storage unit 28. The identification information BD of the operation button of the child data table TT2, the identification information BD of each grandchild operation button, the function FU of each operation button, and the total number of operations TN of each grandchild operation button are written to the grandchild data table TT3. When the control unit 31 displays the grandchild setting screen CP2 in response to the user's operation of an operation button on the child setting screen CP1, it selects the grandchild data table TT3 linked to the identification information BD of the operation button. When the control unit 31 detects an operation on a grandchild operation button on the grandchild setting screen CP2 via the touch panel 23, it determines the identification information BD of the grandchild operation button and identifies and executes the function FU associated with the identification information BD of the grandchild operation button from the selected grandchild data table TT3. The control unit 31 counts up and updates the total number of operations TN of the grandchild operation button in the grandchild data table TT3. As a result, the total number of times TN that the user has operated each of the operation buttons on the grandchild setting screen CP2 is measured.

[0053] In addition, the control unit 31 refers to another data table in which the position of each operation button displayed on the home screen and the setting screen is written in correspondence with the identification information BD, and determines the identification information BD of the operation button that is associated with the position of the operation button detected through the touch panel 23.

[0054] Next, a control procedure for selecting and executing either a user-specific display mode that sets the display order of each operation button on the home screen and setting screen displayed on the display unit 21 based on the number of times each operation button has been operated by each user YN as described above, or a user-common display mode that sets the display order of each operation button on the home screen and setting screen based on the total number of times each operation button has been operated by all users TN will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in Figures 9A, 9B, and 9C.

[0055] When an instruction to select the user-common display mode is received from the operation unit 22, the control unit 31 sets the image forming apparatus 10 to the user-common display mode (S101). The control unit 31 arranges the operation buttons in descending order of total number of operations TN based on the data table TT1 shown in FIG. 8 (S102), and then displays the operation buttons on the home screen HP (S102). For example, in this embodiment, in the case of the home screen HP shown in FIG. 3(A), the control unit 31 arranges the operation buttons with the greatest total number of operations TN in the upper row, and further arranges the operation buttons with the greatest total number of operations TN from the left in each row. As a result, the operation buttons are arranged in descending order of total number of operations TN, making the home screen HP easy to use for all users.

[0056] If the control unit 31 does not approve the user's login (S104 "No"), the control unit 31 maintains the user common display mode and the display of the home screen HP of S103.

[0057] Furthermore, when the user identification information YD is read by the card reader 24 and the control unit 31 approves the login of the user (S104 "Yes"), it switches the mode of the image forming apparatus 10 to the user-specific display mode and sets it (S105).

[0058] When the user-specific display mode is set (S105), the control unit 31 selects the data table YT1 in which the identification information YD of the logged-in user is written, and based on the identification information BD of each operation button in the data table YT1, arranges the operation buttons in descending order of the total number of operations TN (S106), and displays each operation button on the home screen HP (S107). This makes the home screen HP easy to use for the logged-in user.

[0059] The control unit 31 waits for a touch operation on any of the operation buttons on the home screen HP or the end key EK (shown in FIG. 3), and when an instruction corresponding to the operation button is received through the touch panel 23 (S108 "Instruction Present"), the control unit 31 determines the identification information BD of the operated operation button, identifies the function FU associated with the identification information BD of this operation button from the selected data table YT1, and executes it (S109). The control unit 31 counts up and updates the number of operations YN per user for that operation button in the data table YT1 (S110).

[0060] If the control unit 31 determines that the function FU executed in S109 is not the display of the child setting screen CP1 (S111 "No"), the process returns to S107. At this time, the operation count YN for each user of the operation button is updated in S110, but the control unit 31 does not change the display order of each operation button while the home screen HP is being operated. This prevents the user from being confused about the operation of the operation buttons due to a sudden change in order.

[0061] Furthermore, when the control unit 31 determines that the function FU executed in S109 is the display of the child setting screen CP1 (S111 "Yes"), the control unit 31 executes this function FU, and based on the identification information BD of the operation buttons of the home screen HP determined in S108 and the identification information BD of each operation button in the child data table YT2 in which the same user identification information YD as in the higher-level data table YT1 used to create the user's home screen HP is written, sets an arrangement of the operation buttons in descending order of the number of operations YN per user in the child data table YT2 (S112), and causes the display unit 21 to display the child setting screen CP1 with the operation buttons arranged in this manner (S113). This makes the child setting screen CP1 easier for the user to operate.

[0062] The control unit 31 waits for input of an instruction corresponding to any of the child operation buttons or the back key RK (shown in FIG. 4) on the child setting screen CP1 (S114), and upon receiving an instruction corresponding to the child operation button via the touch panel 23 (S114 "Instruction Present"), determines the identification information BD of the operated child operation button, identifies the function FU associated with the identification information BD of the child operation button from the child data table YT2, and executes it (S115). The control unit 31 counts up and updates the number of operations YN by user for the child operation button in the child data table YT2 (S116).

[0063] The control unit 31 determines whether the function FU executed in S115 is a display process of the grandchild setting screen CP2 (S117), and if it determines that it is not a display of the grandchild setting screen CP2 (S117 "No"), returns to S113. At this time, although the number of operations YN by user of the child operation button has been updated in S116, the control unit 31 does not change the display order of each child operation button during operation of the child setting screen CP1.

[0064] On the other hand, in S114, when the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to the back key RK (shown in FIG. 4) through the touch panel 23 (S114 "Back"), the process returns to S107 and causes the user's home screen HP to be displayed again on the display unit 21. After this, S107 to S114 are repeated.

[0065] Furthermore, if the function FU executed in S115 is the display process of the grandchild setting screen CP2 (S117 "Yes"), the control unit 31 arranges and sets the layout of each operation button in descending order of the number of operations YN per user based on the identification information BD of each operation button in the grandchild data table YT3 in which the identification information YD of the logged-in user is written (S118), and displays the grandchild setting screen CP2 with the operation buttons arranged in this manner on the display unit 21 (S119). This makes the grandchild setting screen CP2 easy to operate for the user.

[0066] The control unit 31 waits for a touch operation on any of the grandchild operation buttons or the back key RK (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) on the grandchild setting screen CP2 (S120), and upon receiving an instruction corresponding to the grandchild operation button via the touch panel 23 (S120 "Instruction Present"), it identifies and executes the function FU associated with the identification information BD of the grandchild operation button from the selected grandchild data table YT3 (S121). The control unit 31 counts up and updates the number of operations per user YN of the grandchild operation button in the grandchild data table YT3 (S122). At this time, even if the number of operations per user YN of the grandchild operation button is updated, the control unit 31 does not change the display order of the grandchild operation buttons during operation of the grandchild setting screen CP2.

[0067] After S122, the process returns to S119. When the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to another grandchild operation button through the touch panel 23 (S120 "Instruction Present"), it repeats S121 and S122.

[0068] Furthermore, when the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to the back key RK through the touch panel 23 without touching the operation button of another grandchild (S120 "Back"), the process returns to S113. The control unit 31 causes the display unit 21 to display the setting screen CP1 for the user's child again.

[0069] In S114, when the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to the back key RK (shown in FIG. 4) through the touch panel 23 (S114 "Back"), the process returns to S107, the display unit 21 displays the user's home screen HP again, and S107 to S114 are repeated. However, when the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to the end key EK (shown in FIG. 3) on the home screen HP through the touch panel 23 (S108 "End"), the control unit 31 hides the user's home screen HP. Then, the process ends.

[0070] On the other hand, the control unit 31 does not approve the user's login (S104 "No"), and while maintaining the user common display mode and the display of the home screen HP of S103, waits for input of an instruction corresponding to any operation button on the home screen HP (S123). At this time, when the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to the operation button through the touch panel 23 (S123 "Yes"), it identifies and executes the function FU associated with the identification information BD of this operation button from the data table TT1 (S124). The control unit 31 counts up and updates the total number of operations TN of the operation button in the data table TT1 (S125).

[0071] Then, the control unit 31 determines whether the function FU executed in S124 is a display process of the child setting screen CP1 (S126), and if it is not a display of the child setting screen CP1 (S126 "No"), the process returns to S123. At this time, although the total number of times TN of operation buttons has been updated in S125, the control unit 31 does not change the display order of each operation button during operation of the home screen HP.

[0072] Furthermore, if the function FU executed at S124 is a process for displaying the child setting screen CP1 (S126 "Yes"), the control unit 31 sets the layout of the operation buttons by arranging them in descending order of the total number of operations TN in the child data table TT2 based on the identification information BD of each operation button in the child data table TT2 linked to the identification information BD of the operation button on the home screen HP determined at S124 (S127). The control unit 31 displays the child setting screen CP1 with the operation buttons arranged in this manner on the display unit 21 (S128). This makes the child setting screen CP1 easy to use for all users.

[0073] The control unit 31 waits for input of an instruction corresponding to any of the child operation buttons or the back key RK on the child setting screen CP1 (S129), receives the instruction corresponding to the child operation button through the touch panel 23 (S129 "Instruction Present"), identifies and executes the function FU associated with the identification information BD of the child operation button from the selected child data table TT2 (S130), and counts up and updates the total number of operations TN of the child operation button in the child data table TT2 (S131).

[0074] Next, the control unit 31 determines whether the function FU executed in S130 is a display process of the grandchild setting screen CP2 (S132), and if it is not a display of the grandchild setting screen CP2 (S132 "No"), the process returns to S128. At this time, although the number of operations YN by user of the child operation button has been updated in S131, the control unit 31 does not change the display order of each child operation button during operation of the child setting screen CP1.

[0075] Furthermore, when the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to the back key RK through the touch panel 23 without touching another child operation button (S129 "Back"), the process returns to S103 and causes the common home screen HP to be displayed again on the display unit 21. Then, the process from S103 onwards is repeated.

[0076] Furthermore, when the function FU executed at S130 is the display process of the grandchild setting screen CP2 (S132 "Yes"), the control unit 31 sets the layout of the operation buttons by arranging the operation buttons in descending order of the total number of operations TN based on the identification information BD of each operation button in the grandchild data table TT3 linked to the identification information BD of the operation button of the child setting screen CP1 determined at S130 (S133), and displays the grandchild setting screen CP2 having the operation buttons arranged in this way on the display unit 21 (S134). This makes the grandchild setting screen CP2 easy to use for all users.

[0077] The control unit 31 waits for input of an instruction corresponding to any of the grandchild's operation buttons or the back key RK on the grandchild's setting screen CP2 (S135), and upon receiving an instruction corresponding to an operation on the grandchild's operation button through the touch panel 23 (S135 "Instruction Present"), identifies and executes the function FU associated with the identification information BD of the grandchild's operation button from the selected grandchild's data table TT3 (S136). The control unit 31 counts up and updates the total number of operations TN of the grandchild's operation button in the grandchild's data table TT3 (S137).

[0078] Thereafter, the control unit 31 returns to S134 and waits for input of an instruction corresponding to another grandchild operation button or the back key RK (S135), and when an instruction corresponding to another grandchild operation button is received through the touch panel 23 (S135 "Instruction Present"), it repeats the processing of S136 and S137.

[0079] Furthermore, when the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to the back key RK through the touch panel 23 without touching the operation button of another grandchild (S135 "Back"), the process returns to S128. The control unit 31 causes the display unit 21 to display the setting screen CP1 for the user's child again.

[0080] Here, when the control unit 31 receives an instruction corresponding to the back key RK through the touch panel 23 (S129 "Back"), the process returns to S103. The control unit 31 causes the display unit 21 to display the common home screen HP again.

[0081] In this manner, in this embodiment, the number of times YN each operation button is operated by a user by the user is measured for each user, and when that user uses the system, the display order of each operation button on the home screen and setting screen displayed on the display unit 21 is set based on the measured number of times YN each operation button is operated by the user, or the user common display mode is selected and executed, in which the total number of times TN each operation button is operated by all users is measured, and when any user uses the system, the display order of each operation button on the home screen and setting screen is set based on the measured total number of times TN each operation button is operated. Therefore, multiple operation buttons can be displayed in an order that is easy to operate for both the logged-in user and an unspecified number of people.

[0082] As described above, in the above embodiment, the display order of each operation button is set based on the number of times each operation button is operated by a user (YN), or the display order of each operation button is set based on the total number of times each operation button is operated (TN). However, there are cases where it is easier to operate the operation buttons if the display order of the operation buttons is fixed and not changed, regardless of the number of times the operation button is operated. Therefore, in a further embodiment, during display control in the common-user display mode, the control unit 31 does not subject the operation buttons specified by a button order fixing instruction input to the operation unit 22 to the process of setting the display order according to the number of times they are operated, but instead fixes the display order displayed at the time the button order fixing instruction was input and displays them on the display unit 21.

[0083] For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 31 displays a mark FX at the corner of the operation button for receiving an input of a button order fixing instruction to fix the display order of the operation buttons.

[0084] Furthermore, as shown in an example in FIG. 11, the data table YT1 stored in the memory unit 28 has a “Fixed Order” item that indicates whether or not the display order of each operation button is fixed, and the order if it is fixed.

[0085] 10, when the user touches the mark FX of any of the operation buttons, the control unit 31 receives a button order fixing instruction to fix the display order of the operation buttons via the touch panel 23. Then, in accordance with the button order fixing instruction, the control unit 31 fixes the display order of the operation buttons whose mark FX has been operated, and writes information that fixes the display order of the operation buttons at the time the button order fixing instruction was received to the "fixed order" item of the identification information BD of the operation buttons in the data table YT1.

[0086] When performing the processing of S102 described above, the control unit 31 sets the display order of each operation button on the home screen HP in the fixed display order written in the "Fixed Order" field for operation buttons for which a fixed display order is written, and in the order of the most frequent user operation counts YN for operation buttons for which a fixed display order is not written in the "Fixed Order" field. The control unit 31 displays the home screen HP on the display unit 21, in which the operation buttons are arranged in the display order set in this way, as shown in the example of FIG. 12. At this time, for operation buttons to be displayed in the fixed display order, the control unit 31 displays an image indicating that the display is in a fixed order, a pin image PN indicating a push pin in this embodiment, on the operation button. As a result, the arrangement of the operation buttons specified by the user is fixed and displayed on the home screen HP.

[0087] Furthermore, for the child setting screen CP1 and the grandchild setting screen CP2, the display order of the operation buttons is fixed in accordance with the operation of the mark FX at the corner of the operation button, and this fixed display order is written in the data tables YT2 and YT3 in association with the identification information BD of the operation button. Then, when performing the processing of S102 described above, the control unit 31 sets the display order of each operation button on the home screen HP by setting the display order of the operation buttons for which a fixed display order is written in the "Fixed Order" field to the written fixed display order, and by setting the display order of the operation buttons for which a fixed display order is not written in the "Fixed Order" field to the order of the most frequent operations YN per user. The control unit 31 causes the display unit 21 to display the child setting screen CP1 and the grandchild setting screen CP2, in which the operation buttons are arranged in this set display order.

[0088] The process of setting the fixed display order by the control unit 31 may be performed in the user-specific display mode.

[0089] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an image forming apparatus 10 to which a display input device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied is exemplified, but the display input device of the present invention can also be applied to other electronic devices such as personal computers, mobile phones, or cellular phones.

[0090] Furthermore, the control unit 31 may add up the number of times YN that each user has operated the operation button measured for each user, to calculate the total number of times TN that each user has operated the operation button.

[0091] Furthermore, the configuration and processing of the embodiment described above using FIGS. 1 to 12 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these configurations and processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 10 Image forming device 11 Image reading unit 12 Image forming unit 21 Display section 22 Control section 23 Touch Panel 24 card readers 28 Memory section 29 Control Unit 31 Control Unit

Claims

1. a display unit that displays a plurality of operation buttons each associated with a function; an input unit operated by a plurality of users to input instructions associated with each of the operation buttons displayed on the display unit; a control unit that executes a function associated with the operation button when an instruction associated with the operation button is input to the input unit, The control unit a user-specific display mode in which the number of times each user operates each of the operation buttons by the user is counted for each of the users, and a display order of each of the operation buttons on the display unit is set for each of the users based on the counted number of times each user operates each of the operation buttons; a user common display mode that measures the total number of times each of the operation buttons is operated by all users and sets the display order of the operation buttons on the display unit to be common to all users based on the measured total number of times each of the operation buttons is operated; and a control unit that controls the display of the display unit using either one of the above.

2. 2. The display input device according to claim 1, wherein, during display control in the user-common display mode, the control unit does not subject the operation buttons specified by the button order fixing instruction input to the input unit to a process of setting a display order according to the number of operations, but fixes the display order displayed at the time the button order fixing instruction was input and displays them on the display unit.

3. The control unit When an instruction associated with the operation button is input to the input unit, a plurality of subordinate operation buttons belonging to the operation button are displayed on the display unit; When an instruction associated with the lower-level operation button is input to the input unit, the function associated with the lower-level operation button is executed; a user-specific display mode in which the number of times each user operates each of the lower-level operation buttons by the user is counted for each of the users, and the display order of each of the lower-level operation buttons on the display unit is set for each of the users based on the counted number of times each user operates each of the lower-level operation buttons; a user common display mode in which the total number of times each of the lower-level operation buttons has been operated by all users is counted, and the display order of each of the lower-level operation buttons on the display unit is set to be common to all users based on the total number of times each of the lower-level operation buttons has been operated.

4. The display input device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit calculates a total number of times the operation button has been operated by all users based on the number of times the operation button has been operated by each user measured for each user.

5. a display unit that displays a plurality of operation buttons each associated with a function; an input unit operated by a plurality of users to input instructions associated with each of the operation buttons displayed on the display unit; a control unit that executes a function associated with the operation button when an instruction associated with the operation button is input to the input unit, The control unit counting the total number of times each of the operation buttons has been operated by all users, and controlling the display of the display unit in a user common display mode in which a display order of the operation buttons on the display unit is set in common to all users based on the total number of times each of the operation buttons has been operated; The control unit, during display control in the user-common display mode, does not subject the operation buttons specified by the button order fixing instruction input to the input unit to the process of setting the display order according to the number of times of operation, but fixes the display order displayed at the time the button order fixing instruction was input and displays them on the display unit.

6. A display input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5; and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet.

Images