Information processing apparatus, method for controlling information processing apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

To more flexibly set a movement attribute of an application button.SOLUTION: The information processing apparatus includes a display control unit configured to display an application button indicating any one of a plurality of functions in a predetermined area, a moving unit configured to move a position of the plurality of application buttons displayed by the display control unit, and a setting unit configured to set a movement setting indicating whether the application button can be moved with respect to each of the plurality of application buttons displayed in the predetermined area. When an operation to move a first application button set to be movable by the setting means is accepted, the first application button is moved, and a second application button included in the predetermined area and set to be unmovable by the setting means is not moved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A home screen displayed on an information processing device may display application buttons (hereinafter referred to as "application buttons") with images corresponding to each function. There are techniques for changing the layout of these application buttons by setting their visibility or non-visibility or by moving them. There are also personalization techniques for saving the layout of application buttons for each user, such as an administrator user (manager) who manages the layout of application buttons and general users. Patent Document 1 discloses the following technique for an image forming device capable of individually switching the display between a shared screen and a personal screen. In this technique, only application buttons determined to be required to be displayed on a personal screen when an application is installed are displayed on the personal screen. Although general users cannot change the layout of application buttons on a shared screen, they can freely change the layout of application buttons on the home screen of a personal screen, improving operability. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-113999 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] With the personalization function described above, an administrator can set whether all application buttons are movable or immovable for each user. However, general users may want to make some application buttons movable and some application buttons in fixed positions. Therefore, there is a need for a more flexible way to set the movement attributes of application buttons. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The information processing device according to the present disclosure is an information processing device having a plurality of functions, and comprises: a display control means for displaying an application button indicating one of the plurality of functions in a predetermined area; a moving means for moving the positions of the plurality of application buttons displayed by the display control means; and a setting means for setting a moving setting for each of the plurality of application buttons displayed in the predetermined area indicating whether the application button can be moved, wherein the moving means, when receiving an operation to move a first application button which is an application button included in the predetermined area and which has been set as movable by the setting means, moves the first application button and executes control to prevent the movement of a second application button which is an application button included in the predetermined area and which has been set as unmovable by the setting means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the technology of the present disclosure, it becomes possible to set the movement attributes of application buttons more flexibly. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the arrangement of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an external view of an operation unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3]10A to 10C are diagrams showing screen transitions in a process of changing movement attribute information of an application button. [Figure 4] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing screen transitions in a process of changing movement attribute information of an application button. [Figure 5] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing screen transitions during application button movement processing. [Figure 6] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing screen transitions during application button movement processing. [Figure 7] 10 is an information table showing movement attribute information of application buttons. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for changing movement attribute information of an application button. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart of a process for moving an application button. [Figure 10] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing screen transitions in a process of changing travel attribute information of a user group. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a login screen display accompanying a process for changing movement attribute information of a user group. [Figure 12] An information table showing the user group and administrator movement information of the logged-in user. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart of a process for changing travel attribute information of a user group. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart of a screen display process for a logged-in user. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present disclosure, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solutions of the present disclosure. Note that identical components will be described with the same reference numerals. Furthermore, each process (step) in a flowchart will be indicated with a reference numeral beginning with "S."

[0009] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image processing device 1, which is an example of an information processing device according to this embodiment. The image processing device 1 is, for example, an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) printer equipped with the following functions. Note that it may also be an SFP (Single Function Peripheral) printer instead of an MFP. Note that the printing method of the image processing device 1 may be an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or another method. Furthermore, the information processing device does not have to be an image processing device and may be, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), a tablet terminal, or a smartphone.

[0010] The image processing device 1 includes a control unit 10, a display operation unit 12, an image processing unit 13, a scanner 109, and a printing unit 110. The control unit 10 controls the operation of each unit of the image processing device 1. The control unit 10 includes a CPU 100, a communication unit 101, a RAM 102, a HDD 103, a ROM 104, a timer 105, a FAX unit 106, a scanner I / F 108, and a printer I / F 107.

[0011] The CPU 100 controls the entire control unit 10. The RAM 102 functions as a work memory for the CPU 100. The HDD 103 stores application programs, image data, various data, and the like. The HDD 103 may be a storage medium such as an SSD (Solid State Drive), optical media, or flash memory. The HDD 103 may also be configured as an external storage device that is detachable from the image processing device 1, or may be cloud storage. The ROM 104 stores a boot program and other programs that are read by the CPU 100. The timer 105 manages time and is referenced by the CPU 100, which acquires the time information.

[0012] The communication unit 101 is connected to the LAN 11 and controls data transmission and reception via the LAN 11. The FAX unit 106 is connected to the telephone line 14 and controls data transmission and reception via the telephone line 14. The display operation unit 12 includes a display unit 120 with a touch panel sheet attached and an input unit 121 such as hardware keys. The display unit 120 displays a UI screen or the like and accepts operations from the user. In this embodiment, a liquid crystal display is used as the display unit 120, but other types of displays may also be used. In this embodiment, a touch panel is used as the input unit 121, and the display unit 120 and the input unit 121 are integrated, but this is not limited to this. The input unit 121 may accept operations from the user via another interface such as a mouse. The input unit 121 may also be separate from the display unit 120.

[0013] The image processing unit 13 is controlled by the control unit 10 and includes an image analysis unit 130 and an image generation unit 131. The image analysis unit 130 analyzes the structure of an original image and extracts necessary information from the analysis results. The image generation unit 131 reads an original document using the scanner 109, digitizes the image of the original document, and generates image data. The generated image data is stored in the HDD 103. The image generation unit 131 can also generate original image data in a different format using the information analyzed by the image analysis unit 130.

[0014] The image processing device 1 has a copy function, a scan function, and a print function. The copy function is a function that reads image data of an original document using a scanner 109 and prints an image based on the image data of the read original document onto a sheet using a print unit 110. The scan function is a function that reads an image of an original document using the scanner 109 and generates image data, and transmits the image data to an external device using a communication unit 101. The print function is a function that prints an image based on print data received from an external information processing device such as a PC via the communication unit 101 onto a sheet using the print unit 110.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the display / operation unit 12 of FIG. 1. The touch panel 200, in this example, is a liquid crystal display with a touch panel sheet attached thereto, and displays objects such as an operation screen and soft keys. When a displayed object is selected by a pointer (e.g., a user's finger), the position information is transmitted to the CPU 100. This allows the CPU 100 to determine which object has been selected by the user. Therefore, in this case, the touch panel 200 functions as the display unit 120 of FIG. 1 and also as the input unit 121. Note that, in this embodiment, a configuration having the functions of the touch panel 200 is described as the display unit 120, but it is not necessary for the display unit 120 to have the functions of the touch panel 200. For example, the display unit 120 may be configured to display screen transitions based on operations performed using a pointing device such as a mouse cursor.

[0016] Next, various keys and buttons operated by the user will be described. The start key 201 is used to instruct the scanner 109 to start scanning an original document. In the center of the start key 201 is a two-color LED 202, green and red, whose color indicates whether the start key 201 is in a usable state or not. The stop key 203 is used to stop an operation that is in progress. The numeric keypad 204 is made up of number and symbol keys and is used to set the number of copies and to instruct screen switching on the touch panel 200. The user mode key 205 is used to call up the user mode. The user mode is a mode for setting the image processing device 1.

[0017] Next, functional blocks of the information processing device according to this embodiment will be described. The setting unit performs various settings, such as movement attribute information and placement information, for each application button. Here, application button placement information refers to information that defines the placement position of the application button. The setting unit also sets the size and number of application buttons per screen. This setting may be performed by user operation or automatically. The mode change unit performs processing to change the mode to movement attribute information setting mode or button movement mode depending on the situation, and processing to transition to normal mode when processing in that mode is completed. The display control unit controls the display operation unit 12 and displays a UI screen, etc., on the display operation unit 12. The movement unit performs processing to move the positions of multiple application buttons displayed by the display control unit. As described above, the control unit 10 controls the entire information processing device.

[0018] Figures 3(a) to 4(e) are diagrams showing screen transitions during the process of changing the movement attribute information of an application button displayed on the home screen 302. Figures 3(a), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e), and 4(a) show the first page of the home screen. Figures 3(b), 3(f), and 4(b) show the second page of the home screen.

[0019] The home screen 302 shown in FIG. 3(a) is the screen that is first displayed on the display unit 120 after the image processing device 1 is powered on and the startup process is completed, and is a screen that allows the user to customize each application button. Note that the home screen 302 displayed on the display unit 120 may be a screen that is displayed based on a predetermined user operation. The application buttons are buttons (content or icons) for executing each function of the image processing device 1. For example, when the application button 311 indicating copy is selected by a user operation, a settings screen for executing the copy function is displayed. In other words, the function corresponding to the application button is activated. Note that the functions of the application buttons shown in FIGS. 3(a) to 3(f) may each be different functions.

[0020] In this embodiment, the following description will be given with reference to FIG. 4(c) to be described later. Unlike general users, the administrator has the authority to perform operations on functions that are restricted to general users. This description will explain the screen display after the administrator performs an operation to change the movement attribute information in a state in which the administrator has prohibited general users from moving all application buttons. The state in which the administrator has prohibited general users from moving all application buttons refers to a state in which the setting value of the setting item 332 for whether to allow application button movement is OFF. This description will explain the screen display when, from the above state, the administrator performs an operation to change the movement attribute information, and the movable application buttons are moved by a user operation.

[0021] The home screen 302 will be described in detail using FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) as examples. FIG. 3(a) is a display example of the first page of the home screen 302 displayed on the touch panel 200. FIG. 3(b) is a display example of the second page of the home screen 302 displayed on the touch panel 200. The home screen 302 includes an application button display area 310 including application buttons 311 to 322 for launching applications. The application button display area 310 displays the application buttons 311 to 322 side by side. Each application button is customized by the user based on login user information, which is information about the user currently logged in to the image processing device 1 (a user in a logged-in state), and is displayed in a layout determined by the user. In the examples of FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), the application buttons 311 to 320 represent applications pre-installed in the main unit. The application buttons 321 and 322 represent application buttons for which setting values ​​set by the user are registered as functions.

[0022] Each application button displays a name and an icon (an image indicating the function of the application button) indicating the function of the application button. Both the name and the icon indicating the function of the application button may be displayed, or at least one of them may be displayed. Alternatively, the application button may have a name located outside the icon, which is an image indicating the function. In this embodiment, the processing will be described using an application button having a predetermined function as an example, but any content having a predetermined function may be used instead of an application button.

[0023] The home icon 301 is a button representing the home screen 302. For example, when the home icon 301 displayed on a screen other than the home screen 302 is operated, the screen transitions to the home screen 302. The menu button 303 displays a setting area where settings related to the home screen can be configured. Pressing the menu button 303 displays a list of setting items related to the home screen 302. The name of the currently logged-in user is displayed in area 304. Note that FIGS. 3(a) to 3(d) illustrate the case where "Administrator 1" is logged in. Pressing area 304 logs out the currently logged-in user, but a separate logout button may also be provided. The slider bar 306 is used to switch the displayed page by sliding it left or right. For example, sliding the slider bar 306 right displays the page following the currently displayed page in the application button display area 310. When an operation is performed to display the next or previous page from the currently displayed page, the CPU 100 calls up a screen including a specific application button from the HDD 103 in accordance with the operation and displays it in the application button display area 310. For example, examples of operations for displaying the next or previous page from the currently displayed page are shown below. For example, there is an operation of sliding the slider bar left or right, an operation of pressing arrow 305 to move to the page previous to the currently displayed page, and an operation of pressing arrow 307 to move to the next page from the currently displayed page. Other examples include an operation of flicking or scrolling to the next or previous page within the application button display area 310.

[0024] FIG. 3(c) shows the home screen 302 in a state where a context menu 350 is displayed by pressing the menu button 303 in FIG. 3(a) or 3(b). The context menu 350 displays setting items related to the home screen 302. The setting items include a move button 351, a size and number setting button 352, a background setting button 353, a management setting button 354, a movement attribute information setting button 355, and a movement attribute information management setting button 356. The move button 351 is a button that enables the user to move the position of the application buttons displayed on the home screen 302. The size and number setting button 352 is a button that changes the number of application buttons displayed per page and the button size. The background setting button 353 is a button that changes the background image displayed in the background of the home screen 302. The management setting button 354 is a button that changes settings related to the management of the home screen 302. The movement attribute information setting button 355 is a button that changes the movement attribute information settings of the application buttons displayed on the home screen 302. Movement attribute information management setting button 356 is a button for changing management settings related to the movement attribute information of the application buttons displayed on home screen 302. Note that the operation for displaying movement attribute information management setting button 356 from movement button 351 may be, for example, a right click on a pointing device if display unit 120 does not have a touch panel function.

[0025] FIG. 3(d) shows a state in which, when a movement attribute information setting button 355, which is a setting item related to the home screen 302, is pressed, movement attribute information of application buttons displayed on the home screen 302 can be set on the home screen. This state is called a "movement attribute information setting mode." In the movement attribute information setting mode, guidance 361 indicating that the mode has been switched to the movement attribute information setting mode and an end button 362 for confirming the movement attribute information are displayed. The guidance 361 displays a message prompting the user to select whether to set the application button to movable or immovable. For example, a message such as "Movement attribute information of the button will be set. Click 'Exit' to save the movement attribute information" is displayed. For example, the initial state of movement attribute information setting is a state in which all application buttons are movable. When a specific application button is pressed in the movement attribute information setting mode, the movement attribute information of the pressed specific application button is set to information indicating that the application button is immovable.

[0026] In the movement attribute information setting mode, it is possible to change the movement attribute information of one or more application buttons. For example, it is possible to set the movement attribute information of one or more application buttons to "unmovable," or to set the movement attribute information of one or more application buttons to "movable." Furthermore, if a setting is made to prohibit (not permit) the movement of an application button (if the "Allow movement" setting item 332 in FIG. 4(c), which will be described later, is OFF), the following operation is also performed. If there is an application button whose movement attribute information has been updated from "unmovable" to "movable," and the movement attribute information setting mode has ended, control is also performed to cancel (turn ON) the setting item 332 that prohibits the movement of the application button (S810 in FIG. 8).

[0027] Note that the trigger for transitioning to the movement attribute information setting mode does not have to be pressing the movement attribute information setting button 355. For example, transitioning to the movement attribute information setting mode may be based on a long press of an application button or an area on the home screen 302 where no application button is located. For example, the movement attribute information setting button 355 may be displayed at a predetermined position on the home screen 302 instead of the context menu 350. Note that the movement attribute information setting button 355 may not be displayed on the home screen 302. Furthermore, in the movement attribute information setting mode, blank buttons 363 to 366 to which no function of the image processing device 1 is set are displayed. In the movement attribute information setting mode, the blank areas (buttons) 363 to 366 drawn with dotted lines can be operated in the same way as application buttons (for example, dragging and dropping operations on the blank buttons). When the movement attribute information setting mode is released, the blank buttons are displayed on the home screen 302 in a blank state where application buttons can be placed but are not.

[0028] 3(e) and 3(f) show a state in which application buttons 371 to 382 are assigned movement attribute information indicating that they cannot be moved when the setting value of setting item 342, which specifies that pre-installed application buttons cannot be moved, is OFF. This will also be described in the section of FIG. 4(d). A custom button added by a user operation may be assigned movement attribute information indicating that it can be moved, or movement attribute information indicating that it cannot be moved. A setting item may also be displayed that allows either movement attribute information to be set as default for the custom button.

[0029] 3(e) and 3(f) can also be achieved by selecting all of the application buttons 371 to 382, ​​but it is not necessary to select all of the application buttons. For example, consider a case where a screen has multiple pages. If you want to set movement attribute information indicating that movement is not possible at the same position on all pages, you can set the setting value of setting item 344 in FIG. 4(e), which will be described later, for whether to set the same movement attribute information at the same position on all pages, to ON. After making this setting, if you select application buttons 371 to 376 in FIG. 3(e), application buttons 377 to 382 in FIG. 3(f) will automatically be selected.

[0030] 4(a) and 4(b) show a state in which the system has entered the movement attribute information setting mode when the setting value of the setting item 342 for disabling pre-installed application buttons is ON, as shown in FIG. 4(d) (to be described later). In this state, an application button may be further set as non-movable. When the end button 362 is pressed in the movement attribute information setting mode, the movement attribute information setting for the application button is saved, the movement attribute information setting mode is terminated, and the home screen 302 shown in FIG. 3(a) or 3(b) is displayed. If an operation that discards the movement attribute information setting mode screen, such as turning off the image processing device 1 without pressing the end button 362, is performed, the movement attribute information assigned in the movement attribute information setting mode is discarded without being saved. In a system in which the movement attribute information setting can be changed and saved at the same time in the movement attribute information setting mode, the movement attribute information does not need to be discarded even when an operation that discards the screen is performed. Instead of saving the movement attribute information setting immediately after the end button 362 is pressed, a screen that allows the user to select whether to save or not save the movement attribute information may be displayed. The movement attribute information that has been set may be saved or discarded according to the selected operation. In a system in which the number of displayed application buttons can be changed, the following setting may be made. In Fig. 4(d) described later, when the setting item 343 for determining whether to fix the size and number of application buttons when setting movement attribute information is turned OFF, the movement attribute information setting may be saved and the number of displayed application buttons may be set at the same time.

[0031] FIG. 4(c) shows a management settings screen 331 that can display and change settings required for managing the home screen 302 when the management settings button 354 in FIG. 3(c) is pressed. The management settings screen 331 includes a setting item 332 for determining whether a general user is permitted to move application buttons, a setting item 333 for determining whether changes to the size and number of application buttons are permitted, and a setting item 334 for determining whether background settings are permitted. The setting items 332 to 334 are displayed so that the current setting value is displayed as ON or OFF, and also include buttons for switching the setting value. The management settings screen 331 also includes an OK button 335 for saving the setting value when a setting value is changed on this screen, and a Cancel button 336 for discarding the setting value. The display example in FIG. 4(c) shows the management settings screen 331 in a state in which moving application buttons is prohibited, changes to the size and number of application buttons are permitted, and background settings are permitted.

[0032] FIG. 4(d) shows a management setting screen 341 for application button movement attribute information, which allows the display and setting change of setting items required for managing movement attribute information on the home screen 302 when the movement attribute information management setting button 356 in FIG. 3(c) is pressed. The management setting screen 341 for application button movement attribute information includes setting items 342 to 345. The setting item 342 is a setting item for setting whether pre-installed application buttons are to be immobile. The setting item 343 is a setting item for setting whether the size and number of application buttons are to be fixed when movement attribute information is set. The setting item 344 is a setting item for setting whether the same movement attribute information is to be set in the same position on all pages. The setting item 345 is a setting item for setting whether the setting of the setting item 332, which sets whether to permit application button movement, is to be automatically turned ON when the movement attribute information setting is changed. The setting items 342 to 345 display whether the current setting is ON or OFF, and also include buttons for switching the setting value. Furthermore, the management setting screen 341 for application button movement attribute information includes an OK button 346 for saving the setting value when the setting value is changed on this screen, and a Cancel button 347 for discarding the setting value. The display example of FIG. 4(d) shows the management setting screen 341 for application button movement attribute information with the following settings: That is, it shows a state in which pre-installed application buttons are movable, and the size and number of application buttons are fixed when the movement attribute information is set. Furthermore, it shows a state in which the same movement attribute information is not set in the same position on all pages, and movement of application buttons is not permitted by changing the movement attribute information setting. When fixing the size and number of application buttons, the size and number setting button 352 may be disabled so that it cannot be selected at the same time as changing the size and number settings in FIG. 3(c).

[0033] Figure 4(e) shows a state in which, from the state in Figure 4(d), setting item 342 for disabling pre-installed application buttons to be moved has been changed to ON, and setting item 344 for determining whether to set the same movement attribute information in the same position on all pages has been changed to ON. The display example in Figure 4(e) shows a management setting screen 341 for application button movement attribute information, which differs from the state in Figure 4(d) in that pre-installed application buttons are disabled to be moved, and movement attribute information is set in the same position on all pages.

[0034] Figures 5(a) to 6(a) are diagrams showing screen transitions during the process of moving an application button displayed on the home screen 302. Figure 5(a) and Figures 5(c) to 6(a) show the first (first) page of the home screen. Figure 5(b) shows the second page of the home screen. Explanations of parts of Figures 5(a) to 6(a) that are the same as those of Figures 3(a) to 3(f) will be omitted.

[0035] Area 504 in FIG. 5(a) displays the name of the currently logged-in user. That is, FIGS. 5(a) to 6(a) show a state in which "general user A" is logged in. FIG. 5(c) shows home screen 302 in a state in which context menu 350 is displayed when menu button 303 in FIG. 5(a) is pressed. Context menu 350 includes setting items related to home screen 302, from move button 351 to background setting button 353. Management setting button 354 to movement attribute information management setting button 356, which were displayed in FIG. 3(c), can only be displayed when logged in as an administrator, and are therefore not displayed in FIG. 5(c). These buttons may be hidden or disabled.

[0036] FIG. 5(d) shows a state (button movement mode) in which application buttons displayed on the home screen 302 become movable on the home screen when the move button 351 is pressed in FIG. 5(c). In the button movement mode, guidance 561 indicating "entered button movement mode" and an end button 362 for finalizing the button position are displayed. The guidance 561 displays a message indicating that the layout of the application button display area 310 can be changed by moving the application buttons. For example, a message such as "Active display buttons can be moved. Click 'Exit' to save the moved position" is displayed. Application buttons 571, 572, 575, 576, 579, and 580 that are set as not movable as movement attribute information are displayed in a toned-down color, grayed out, semi-transparent, or the like. This display indicates that application buttons that are set as not movable cannot be selected (drag-and-dropped). On the other hand, application buttons 573, 574, 577, 578, 581, and 582 whose movement attribute information indicates that they are movable are displayed in the normal button color, indicating that they are selectable (drag-and-drop capable).

[0037] In the button movement mode, the user can move application buttons to change the arrangement of the application buttons included in the menu. For example, in the button movement mode, if a specific application button is pressed with an indicator and the position of the indicator is moved, the specific application button is displayed following the indicator. That is, the specific application button can be dragged. Also, if the specific application button transitions from a pressed state with an indicator to a non-pressed state, the specific application button is displayed at the position where it was not pressed. That is, the specific application button can be dropped. Also, for example, even if a general user transitions from normal mode to button movement mode, an administrator can log in, transition to movement attribute information setting mode, and change the movement attribute information of the specific application button.

[0038] 5(e) is a diagram showing a state in which application button 578 shown in FIG. 5(d) is dragged and overlaps application button 573 shown in FIG. 5(d). Specifically, the figure shows a state (drag state) in which the application button that the user first started dragging (dragged application button 578) is displayed following the user's drag operation (position (coordinates) of the user's finger). Note that if application button 578 is dropped while overlapping application button 571 or the like that has movement attribute information that makes it unmovable, application button 578 returns to its original position (the position of application button 578 in FIG. 5(d)).

[0039] 5(f) is a diagram showing a screen transition on the home screen 302 when a drop operation is performed on application button 578 in the dragged state in FIG. 5(e) while it overlaps with application button 573. Note that the home screen 302 in FIG. 5(f) is in the button movement mode, similar to FIGS. 5(d) and 5(e). By the drop operation on application button 578, the position of application button 578 moves to the position of application button 573, and the position of application button 573 moves to the position of application button 578. That is, the home screen 302 displays a state in which the positions of application button 578 and application button 573 are swapped.

[0040] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5(f), a predetermined application button is dragged and dropped while overlapping with another application button, thereby moving the application buttons and swapping their positions. The method of moving the application buttons is not limited to this. For example, the application buttons may be arranged so that they are shifted one by one in the lower right direction (Z direction on the home screen 302). Specifically, in FIG. 4(e), when application button 578 is dropped while overlapping with application button 573, the application buttons are moved as follows: application button 578 is placed in the position of application button 573, and application button 573 is placed in the position of the application button indicating the "print function." The application button indicating the "print function" is placed in the position of the application button indicating the "settings / registration shortcut function." The application button indicating the "settings / registration shortcut function" is placed in the position of application button 573. FIG. 6(a) shows the home screen 302 in the normal state after the button movement mode is terminated by the user pressing the end button 362 in the state shown in FIG. 5(f) (button movement mode).

[0041] 6(b) and 6(c), the setting value of setting item 342 that disables movement of pre-installed application buttons is ON. In this state, in FIGS. 6(b) and 6(c), the home screen 302 in button movement mode shows the application buttons that are displayed after the move button 351 in FIG. 5(c) is pressed.

[0042] FIG. 7 is an information table stored in HDD 103 that indicates the display position of each application button displayed on the home screen. Information table 700 includes application button names 701, button position information 702, and application button movement attribute information 703. Button position information 702 indicates the display position of the corresponding application button name 701. The number on the left indicates the row from the top of the home screen 302 in which the specific application button is located, and the number on the right indicates the column from the left of the home screen 302 in which the specific application button is located. In other words, the numbers indicate the position from the left in the specific row in which the specific application button is located. For example, "1-1" indicates the position of application button 311 with the application name "Copy" in FIG. 3(a). CPU 100 refers to information table 700 to determine whether each application button is movable. If the movement attribute information 703 indicates "movable," the application button is movable in button movement mode. If the movement attribute information 703 is set to "impossible," the application button is displayed in gray or the like in the button movement mode, and movement of the application button is prohibited.

[0043] 8 is a flowchart showing a process for setting movement attribute information (movement settings) of an application button displayed on the home screen 302. A program for executing the process described in this flowchart is stored in the HDD 103 of the image processing apparatus 1, read into the RAM 102, and executed by the CPU 100. The process of this flowchart starts when an instruction is given to display a menu button 303 for displaying a context menu 350 for an application button included in the application button display area 310 of the home screen 302.

[0044] In S801, CPU 100 accepts a user operation to display context menu 350, and proceeds to S802. In S802, CPU 100 reads information from RAM 102 and determines whether the logged-in user is an administrator. If it is determined in S802 that the logged-in user is not an administrator, the process proceeds to S803, and if it is determined in S802 that the logged-in user is an administrator, the process proceeds to S804.

[0045] In S803, the CPU 100 displays the context menu 350 that does not include the application button movement attribute information setting button 355. In other words, the application button movement attribute information setting button 355 is not displayed. After that, the CPU 100 ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0046] In S804, the CPU 100 displays the setting button 355 for the movement attribute information of the application button in the context menu 350, and proceeds to S805.

[0047] In S805, the CPU 100 detects that the setting button 355 for movement attribute information of an application button included in the context menu 350 has been pressed, and proceeds to S806. In S806, the CPU 100 transitions to a button movement attribute information setting mode, and proceeds to S807.

[0048] In S807, the CPU 100 detects that an application button displayed in the application button display area 310 has been pressed. The CPU 100 updates the movement attribute information 703 of each application button in FIG. 7 that corresponds to the pressed application button and is temporarily stored in the RAM 102, and reflects this information on the display. Specifically, when an application button that had movement attribute information indicating that the application button was not movable before is pressed by the administrator, the application button is displayed in a movable mode. On the other hand, when an application button that had movement attribute information indicating that the application button was movable before is pressed by the administrator, the application button is displayed in a movable mode. An application button that has movement attribute information indicating that the application button was not movable is displayed in a color that is inverted from that of an application button that has movement attribute information indicating that the application button is movable. When setting of the movement attribute information indicating whether or not each application button is movable has been completed, the process proceeds to S808.

[0049] In S808, CPU 100 detects that end button 362 has been pressed, and proceeds to S809. In S809, CPU 100 saves movement attribute information indicating whether each application button is movable or not in information table 700 stored in HDD 103, and proceeds to S810.

[0050] In S810, if the administrator has set the setting item 332 in FIG. 4(c) to OFF and the setting item 345 in FIG. 4(d) to ON, the CPU 100 changes the setting item 332 in FIG. 4(c) to ON. This makes it possible to move application buttons set in the movement attribute information that allows movement. Furthermore, the CPU 100 updates the movement attribute information 703 of each application button shown in FIG. 7 and reflects this in the display of each application button. It is also possible to make it possible to cancel the movement of an application button only for a specific user name 1201 or user group 1202 in FIG. 12 (described later). Details will be explained in the second embodiment. Once each application button is displayed according to the updated movement attribute information 703, the process proceeds to S811. In S811, the CPU 100 ends the movement attribute information setting mode and ends the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8. Note that either the processing of S810 or the processing of S811 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 can be executed first.

[0051] 9 is a flowchart showing the process of moving an application button displayed on the home screen 302. A program for executing the process described in this flowchart is stored in the HDD 103 of the image processing device 1, is read into the RAM 102, and is executed by the CPU 100.

[0052] In S901, the CPU 100 detects that the move button 351 has been pressed, and proceeds to S902. In S902, the CPU 100 switches to button move mode, and proceeds to S903. In S903, the CPU 100 reads the move attribute information 703 from the HDD 103, and determines whether there is an application button with move attribute information that cannot be moved. If it is determined that there is no application button with move attribute information that cannot be moved, the process proceeds to S904, and if it is determined that there is an application button with move attribute information that cannot be moved, the process proceeds to S905.

[0053] In S904, CPU 100 accepts a user operation on an application button to move the application button, and the process proceeds to S907. In S905, CPU 100 displays application buttons with immovable movement attribute information and movable movement attribute information in different modes according to the movement attribute information 703 read from HDD 103. For example, the names and icons indicating the functions of application buttons with immovable movement attribute information and the frames surrounding them are displayed as in application buttons 571, 572, 575, 576, 579, and 580 in FIG. 5(d). In other words, the application buttons are displayed in a toned-down color, grayed out, semi-transparent, or the like, and cannot be selected (drag-and-dropped). Furthermore, the names and icons indicating the functions of application buttons with movable movement attribute information and the frames surrounding them are displayed as in application buttons 573, 574, 577, 578, 581, and 582 in FIG. 5(d).

[0054] In S906, the CPU 100 detects that an application button having movable attribute information has been pressed and accepts the movement of the application button having movable attribute information. Specifically, the CPU 100 detects that an application button having movable attribute information has been selected and dragged, and then a drop operation has been performed while the selected application button is overlapping another application button having movable attribute information. For example, the CPU 100 detects a drag-and-drop operation for exchanging the positions of the application buttons having movable attribute information. Alternatively, when the CPU 100 detects a drag-and-drop operation for an application button having movable attribute information, the application buttons having movable attribute information may be arranged so that they shift positions one by one. Note that the movement operation for the application buttons does not have to be a drag-and-drop operation. For example, the application buttons may be moved when an operation to select the application button to be moved and an operation to select the destination application button are performed. In this case, the display form in which the application buttons are moved may be such that each application button moves one by one in the Z direction on the home screen 302, or the positions of the selected application buttons are exchanged.

[0055] In S907, CPU 100 detects that end button 362 has been pressed, and proceeds to S908. In S908, CPU 100 saves the layout information of the moved application buttons in information table 700 stored in HDD 103, and proceeds to S909. In S909, CPU 100 ends the button movement mode, and ends the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0056] According to this embodiment, it is possible to set and change movement attribute information indicating whether one or more application buttons are movable for application buttons displayed on the home screen. That is, the home screen 302 of this embodiment includes a mixture of application buttons whose layout (position) can be changed and application buttons whose layout (position) cannot be changed. As a result, even when there is a mixture of application buttons that the administrator does not want to move and application buttons that can be moved, it is possible to set whether each application button is movable. Therefore, for movable application buttons, the user can move the position of the application button, improving user convenience. This makes it possible to set the movement attribute of application buttons more flexibly.

[0057] [Second embodiment] In this embodiment, a case will be described in which an administrator has permitted a general user to move application buttons, and the general user has freely rearranged them, and then a process for changing the movement attribute information of the application buttons is performed later. Fig. 10(c), which will be described later, shows a state in which the administrator has permitted a general user to move application buttons, and Figs. 11(a) and 11(b), which will be described later, show states in which the application buttons have already been moved by the general user. In this state, the administrator has performed an operation to change the movement attribute information of an application button arranged on the home screen 302, and then the screen display will be described in which the general user moves the application button. The description will begin with the state after the movement attribute information setting button 355 in Fig. 3(c) of the first embodiment is pressed.

[0058] FIG. 10(a) is a screen that is displayed when the movement attribute information setting button 355 is pressed, and displays the user group for which movement attribute information is to be set. The user group may be a user role, or may be displayed on a user-by-user basis. Guidance 1001 indicates that a user group can be selected. Additionally, an OK button 1002 for confirming the user group is displayed on the screen. User groups 1011 to 1014 are also displayed as a selectable list.

[0059] FIG. 10(b) shows the state in which user groups 1011, 1012, and 1014 have been selected on the screen of FIG. 10(a). When the OK button 1002 is pressed in this state, the screen of FIG. 3(d) of the first embodiment is displayed. From this point on, the movement attribute information can be set using the same procedure as in the first embodiment. FIG. 10(c) shows the state in which the setting value of the setting item 332 for whether or not to permit movement of application buttons has been changed from the state of FIG. 4(c) to ON. In this state, users other than the administrator can also move application buttons.

[0060] 11(a) and 11(b) show the state when general user B has logged in, and the state in which the following application buttons have been swapped from the application button layout decided by the administrator: application buttons 1111 and 1121, and application buttons 1112 and 1122 have been swapped, respectively.

[0061] Fig. 11(c) shows the state of the screen when general user B logs in after the setting of the movement attribute information of Fig. 5(f) has been performed for user groups 1011, 1012, and 1014 in Fig. 10(b). The screen of Fig. 11(c) includes a login user input area 1131, a password input area 1132, and a login execution button 1133. When the login execution button 1133 is pressed after the correct login user and password have been entered, the login process is executed.

[0062] FIG. 11(d) is a screen displayed when login processing is executed in the state of FIG. 11(c). Guidance 1141 indicates that the application buttons have been moved by the administrator. Additionally, the screen of FIG. 11(d) displays an OK button 1142 for consent and a list of the movement results 1151 to 1152. Furthermore, FIGS. 11(e) and 11(f) show the state in which the application buttons have been moved by the administrator. In other words, the arrangement of application buttons 1111 and 1121 and the arrangement of application buttons 1112 and 1122 have been reset.

[0063] 12 shows information table 1200 in a state in which the migration attribute information of FIG. 5(f) has been set for user groups 1011, 1012, and 1014 in FIG. 10(b). Information table 1200 includes items of user name 1201, user group 1202, and administrator migration information 1203. Users 1211 to 1218 included in user name 1201 indicate information displayed on the login execution button 1133 on the home screen, etc. User group 1202 indicates the user group to which users 1211 to 1218 belong. Administrator migration information 1203 indicates whether an application button has been moved by the administrator.

[0064] 13 is a flowchart showing a process for changing the movement attribute information of an application button displayed on the home screen 302. A description of the same process flow as the process flow described in FIG.

[0065] In S1301, CPU 100 displays a screen for selecting a user group to which the saved movement attribute information is to be applied, and processing proceeds to S1302. In S1302, CPU 100 accepts a selection from among user groups 1011 to 1014 to which the saved movement attribute information is to be applied, and detects that the OK button 1002 has been pressed. When it is detected that the OK button 1002 has been pressed, processing proceeds to S806. After the processing of S809 is executed, processing proceeds to S1303. In S1303, CPU 100 stores the saved movement attribute information in HDD 103 as administrator movement information 1203 of a user belonging to the user group, and processing proceeds to S810.

[0066] 14 shows a flowchart in which the following processing is performed when an application button has already been moved by a general user. This explains the processing performed on the home screen displayed by a general user when the administrator changes the movement attribute information of an application button placed on the home screen 302 and changes the position of the application button. Note that after the processing of this flowchart is completed, the application button movement processing shown in FIG. 9 can also be performed.

[0067] In S1401, CPU 100 detects a login operation, and the process proceeds to S1402. In S1402, CPU 100 reads whether or not there is administrator migration information for the user from HDD 103. If it is determined that there is administrator migration information, the process proceeds to S1403. If it is determined that there is no administrator migration information, the process proceeds to S1406.

[0068] In S1403, based on the administrator movement information, CPU 100 reads the application button layout information of the logged-in user and the movement attribute information and layout information set for the user group to which the logged-in user belongs from HDD 103. After reading the information, CPU 100 detects differences in the application button layout information and displays them on the screen.

[0069] In S1404, CPU 100 detects the consent operation of the logged-in user, and the process proceeds to S1405. In S1405, CPU 100 resets the layout of the application buttons in accordance with the transfer attribute information and layout information set for the user group stored in HDD 103, and stores the transfer attribute information of the application buttons in HDD 103. After storing the transfer attribute information of the application buttons in HDD 103, the process proceeds to S1406.

[0070] In S1406, if there is administrator information, CPU 100 displays on the home screen the application buttons whose layout has been reset in S1405. Then, CPU 100 ends the processing flow of the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0071] In this embodiment, the administrator has permitted general users to move application buttons, and the general users have already moved the application buttons. If the administrator wants to restrict the movement attribute information and layout information of the application buttons from this state, a means for changing the settings and a screen for explaining the information to the general users are provided. Therefore, it is possible to restrict the movement of application buttons even when the application buttons have been moved by general users, and it is possible to set the movement attributes of the application buttons more flexibly.

[0072] [Other embodiments] The present disclosure can also be realized by providing a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0073] The disclosure of the above-described embodiment includes the following configurations.

[0074] (Configuration 1) An information processing device having multiple functions, comprising: a display control means for displaying an application button indicating one of the multiple functions in a predetermined area; a movement means for moving the position of the multiple application buttons displayed by the display control means; and a setting means for setting a movement setting for each of the multiple application buttons displayed in the predetermined area indicating whether the application button can be moved, wherein the movement means, when receiving an operation to move a first application button that is an application button included in the predetermined area and has been set as movable by the setting means, executes control to move the first application button and not move a second application button that is an application button included in the predetermined area and has been set as unmovable by the setting means.

[0075] (Configuration 2) The information processing device according to configuration 1 further comprises a mode change means for transitioning to a mode in which an operation to move the application button can be accepted, and the display control means displays the first application button and the second application button in different manners when transitioning to a mode in which an operation to move the application button can be accepted.

[0076] (Configuration 3) The information processing device according to Configuration 2, wherein the display control means displays the first application button in a selectable manner and the second application button in a non-selectable manner.

[0077] (Configuration 4) The information processing device according to configuration 1, characterized in that the migration setting by the setting means can be set when an administrator user having authority different from that of a general user is logged in to the information processing device.

[0078] (Configuration 5) The information processing device according to Configuration 3, further comprising: a control means for controlling to disable the setting not allowing the application button to be moved when the setting not allowing the application button to be moved is enabled and the moving setting is completed by the setting means.

[0079] (Configuration 6) The information processing device according to Configuration 5, characterized in that, when a user operates to move the first application button to a predetermined position where an application button that is set to be movable by the movement setting is located, the control means moves the first application button to the predetermined position, and, when a user operates to move the first application button to a specific position where an application button that is set to be immovable by the movement setting is located, the control means does not move the first application button to the specific position.

[0080] (Configuration 7) The information processing device according to Configuration 6, characterized in that the control not to move the first application button to the specific position is a control that performs an operation to return the first application button to its original position even if an operation to move the first application button to the specific position is performed.

[0081] (Configuration 8) The information processing device described in Configuration 1, characterized in that the setting means is capable of setting the size and number of the application buttons per screen, and the display control means displays the application buttons based on the size and number of the application buttons per screen set by the setting means.

[0082] (Configuration 9) The information processing device according to configuration 1, wherein the setting means is capable of setting the same movement setting for the application buttons arranged in the same position on a plurality of different screens.

[0083] (Configuration 10) The information processing device according to configuration 1, wherein the setting means is capable of setting the movement setting for an area where functions of the information processing device can be arranged but are not arranged.

[0084] (Configuration 11) The information processing device described in Configuration 8, wherein the setting means is capable of setting whether or not to allow the pre-installed application buttons to be moved for all of the application buttons of pre-installed applications.

[0085] (Configuration 12) The information processing device described in Configuration 1, characterized in that when a general user other than an administrator user logs in to the information processing device and the layout of the application buttons is set based on user operation, if the administrator user changes the layout of the application buttons set by the general user, the display control means displays the layout of the application buttons changed by the administrator user.

[0086] (Configuration 13) A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 12.

[0087] (Configuration 14) A control method for an information processing device having multiple functions, comprising the steps of: displaying an application button indicating one of the multiple functions in a predetermined area; moving the positions of the multiple application buttons displayed in the displaying step; and setting a movement setting for each of the multiple application buttons displayed in the predetermined area indicating whether the application button can be moved; wherein, when an operation to move a first application button that is included in the predetermined area and that is set to be movable in the setting step is received in the moving step, the control method moves the first application button and executes control to prevent the movement of a second application button that is included in the predetermined area and that is set to be non-movable in the setting step.

Claims

1. An information processing device having multiple functions, a display control means for displaying an application button indicating one of the plurality of functions in a predetermined area; a moving means for moving positions of the plurality of application buttons displayed by the display control means; a setting means for setting a movement setting indicating whether or not each of the plurality of application buttons displayed in the predetermined area can be moved; Equipped with when the moving means receives an operation to move a first application button that is the application button included in the predetermined area and that is set by the setting means to be movable, the moving means moves the first application button and executes control to prevent a second application button that is the application button included in the predetermined area and that is set by the setting means to be unmovable from being moved.

1. An information processing device comprising:

2. further comprising a mode change means for shifting to a mode in which an operation of moving the application button can be accepted; the display control means, when transitioning to a mode in which an operation to move the application button can be accepted, displays the first application button and the second application button in different modes.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

3. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control means displays the first application button in a selectable manner and the second application button in an unselectable manner.

4. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the migration setting by the setting means can be set when an administrator user having authority different from that of a general user is logged in to the information processing apparatus.

5. a control means for performing control to disable the setting for not allowing the movement of the application button when the setting for not allowing the movement of the application button is enabled and the movement setting is completed by the setting means; 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

6. 6. The information processing device according to claim 5, wherein, when a user operates to move the first application button to a predetermined position where an application button that is set to be movable by the movement setting is located, the control means moves the first application button to the predetermined position, and when a user operates to move the first application button to a specific position where an application button that is set to be immovable by the movement setting is located, the control means controls not to move the first application button to the specific position.

7. 7. The information processing device according to claim 6, wherein the control not to move the first application button to the specific position is a control to perform an operation to return the first application button to its original position even if an operation to move the first application button to the specific position is performed.

8. the setting means is capable of setting a size and a number of the application buttons per screen; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control means displays the application buttons based on the size and number of the application buttons per screen set by the setting means.

9. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting means is capable of setting the same movement setting for the application buttons arranged at the same position on a plurality of different screens.

10. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting means is capable of setting the movement setting for an area where functions of the information processing apparatus can be arranged but are not arranged.

11. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the setting means is capable of setting whether or not the pre-installed application buttons can be moved for all the application buttons of the pre-installed applications.

12. The information processing device described in claim 1, characterized in that when a general user other than an administrator user logs in to the information processing device and the layout of the application buttons is set based on user operation, if the administrator user changes the layout of the application buttons set by the general user, the display control means displays the layout of the application buttons changed by the administrator user.

13. A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A control method for an information processing device having multiple functions, comprising: displaying an application button indicating any one of the plurality of functions in a predetermined area; a step of moving positions of the plurality of application buttons displayed in the displaying step; setting a movement setting for each of the plurality of application buttons displayed in the predetermined area, the movement setting indicating whether the application button can be moved; and When an operation to move a first application button, which is the application button included in the predetermined area and which is set to be movable in the setting step, is received in the moving step, control is executed to move the first application button and not move a second application button, which is the application button included in the predetermined area and which is set to be unmovable in the setting step.

2. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus comprising:

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