Information processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium

Abstract

To solve the problem that it is necessary to display a necessary button according to a situation when displaying a button for instructing the stop / restart of a job common to a plurality of functions in a screen in a conventional technology.SOLUTION: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including an operation unit configured to display a display screen, wherein the display screen includes a display area of an application for realizing a plurality of functions and a common display area including a plurality of buttons used in common to the applications, and the information processing apparatus further comprises a control unit configured to change display of the buttons in the common display area according to a job status and a screen of the display area of the application displayed on the operation unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] In currently widely used image forming devices such as copiers, printers, and fax machines, jobs can be executed or paused by pressing start and stop keys provided as hardware keys. In recent years, image forming devices that do not have hard keys have also become popular. In such image forming devices, soft keys corresponding to hard keys such as a start key and a stop key are fixedly displayed in a common display area of ​​the operation panel. These soft keys are displayed in common even on different application screens. Patent Document 1 discloses a method for displaying the start key as a soft key on the screen and controlling its display position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-4232 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if softkeys corresponding to hardkeys are fixedly displayed in the common display area as in the past, usability may be reduced. If a large number of softkeys are fixedly displayed, the user may become confused about key operations. Furthermore, if the number of softkeys fixedly displayed is limited to a small number, the softkey desired by the user may not be displayed. Furthermore, the softkeys required may change from time to time depending on the state of the image forming apparatus, etc. An object of the present invention is to provide a display method that does not reduce usability even when soft keys are displayed in a common display area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention is an information processing device having an operation unit that displays a display screen, wherein the display screen has a display area for applications that realize multiple functions and a common display area that includes multiple buttons used in common by each application, and has a control means that changes the display of the buttons in the common area depending on the status of the job and the screen of the display area of ​​the application displayed on the operation unit, and is characterized in that when there is no job and the screen displayed in the display area of ​​the application is a home screen, none of the buttons are displayed in the common area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] To prevent a decrease in usability even when soft keys are displayed on an operation panel in a common display area. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] Hardware configuration diagram of the controller of the MFP according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the hardware of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Example of the display screen of the operation unit [Figure 4] Example of copy screen according to the embodiment [Figure 5] Example of authentication screen according to the embodiment [Figure 6] 1 is a state transition diagram showing job states according to an embodiment; [Figure 7] List of job management information according to the embodiment [Figure 8] Schematic diagram of a status confirmation screen according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart of button display control according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 10] 10 is an example of a job stop screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] Table of display decision subprocess according to the embodiment [Figure 12]Example of button display according to the embodiment [Figure 13] Example of button display according to another embodiment (one button display is not displayed) [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart of button display control according to another embodiment. [Figure 15A] Example of button display according to another embodiment [Figure 15B] Example of button display according to another embodiment [Figure 16] 10 is a flowchart of button display control according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [MFP100 configuration] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) 100, which is an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The CPU 101 comprehensively controls access to various devices connected to the system bus 107 and also comprehensively controls various processes performed within the controller 125 in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 103 or HDD 104. The RAM 102 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 101 and also serves as a memory for temporarily storing image data. The ROM 103 stores the boot program of the device, etc. The HDD 104 is a hard disk drive capable of storing system software and image data. The operation unit I / F 105 is an interface unit for connecting the system bus 107 and the operation unit 121. The operation unit I / F 105 receives image data to be displayed on the operation unit 121 from the system bus 107 and outputs it to the operation unit 121, and also outputs information input from the operation unit 121 to the system bus 107. The network interface 106 connects the LAN, the WAN 124 and the system bus 107, and exchanges data bidirectionally with other devices. The image bus 120 is a transmission path for exchanging image data, and is configured by a PCI bus, IEEE1394, or the like. The scanner image processing unit 112 corrects, processes, and edits image data received from the scanner unit 122 via the scanner I / F 111. The embedded information extraction unit 110 detects patterns embedded in the background image from the image data and extracts additional information. The compression unit 113 receives image data from the scanner image processing unit 112 and compresses the data. The expansion unit 115 expands the compressed data, then performs rasterization and sends it to the printer image processing unit 117. The printer image processing unit 117 receives the image data sent from the decompression unit 115 and performs image processing on the image data while referring to the attribute data attached to the image data. If instructed to do so, it combines the coded image data generated by the coded image generation unit 116 with the image data. The coded image generation unit 116 generates coded image data such as a two-dimensional code image, a barcode image, or an image generated by information embedding technology. The coded image is generated by executing a program stored in the RAM 102. The image data after image processing is output to the printer unit 123 via the printer I / F 118. The image conversion unit 114 performs predetermined conversion processes on the image data, such as rotation, color space conversion, binary-to-multi-value conversion, image synthesis, and thinning. The RIP unit 108 receives the intermediate data generated based on the PDL code data and generates bitmap data (multi-value). The generated bitmap data is compressed by a compression unit 109 and sent to an image bus 120. The authentication processing unit 119 performs print job authentication in addition to authenticating users and workgroups using user information input via the operation unit 121. It also manages information on authenticated users and workgroups. The finisher unit 126 performs various post-processing operations such as stapling, punching, and sorting on a sheet bundle formed by bundling a plurality of sheets discharged from the printer unit 123 .

[0009] [Printer and scanner configuration] Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of MFP100, which is the information processing apparatus shown in Figure 1, and the same components as in Figure 1 are assigned the same reference numerals. As shown in Figure 2, MFP100 has a scanner unit 122, a printer unit 123, a finisher unit 126, and an operation unit 121. Here, the scanner unit 122 and the printer unit 123 are configured as an integrated unit. In addition, the finisher unit 126 is configured to be detachable from the printer unit 123. The scanner unit 122 is equipped with an automatic document feeder (ADF) 201. The ADF 201 feeds documents set face up on a document tray, one by one, starting with the first page, toward the left, and transports them to a predetermined position on a platen glass 202 via a curved path. The documents transported to the predetermined position on the platen glass 202 are scanned from left to right by a scanner unit 203, and the image on the document is read. When the scanner unit 203 scans a document, the reading surface of the document is illuminated with light from a lamp of the scanner unit 203, and the reflected light from the document is guided to a lens via a mirror. The light passing through this lens forms an optical image on the imaging surface of an image sensor 204. This optical image is converted into image data by the image sensor 204 and output. The image data output from the image sensor 204 is subjected to predetermined processing in a scanner image processing unit 112 and then input as a video signal to an exposure control unit 205 of the printer unit 123.

[0010] Next, a case where an image is formed on one side of a sheet will be described. An exposure control unit 205 of the printer unit 123 modulates and outputs laser light based on the input video signal, and the laser light is scanned by a polygon mirror (not shown) or the like and irradiated onto a photosensitive drum 206. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the scanned laser light is formed on the photosensitive drum 206. This electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 206 is visualized as a developer image by a developer supplied from a developing unit 207. A sheet is fed from each cassette 208, 209 or a manual paper feed tray 210. The leading edge of this fed sheet abuts against registration rollers 211 and is temporarily stopped, and then the sheet is transported between the photosensitive drum 206 and a transfer unit 212 in synchronization with the start of laser light irradiation. Here, the leading edge of the fed sheet abuts against the registration rollers 211 and the sheet is temporarily stopped, thereby correcting any skew of the sheet. Next, the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 206 is transferred onto a fed sheet by a transfer unit 212. The sheet onto which the developer image has been transferred is transported to a fixing unit 213. The fixing unit 213 fixes the developer image onto the sheet by thermocompression bonding the sheet. The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 213 is transported by a transport roller 214 toward a flapper 215, and is then transported by the flapper 215 toward a discharge roller 216. The sheet then passes through the discharge roller 216 and is discharged from the printer unit 123 to the finisher unit 126. At this time, the sheet is discharged face up.

[0011] It is also possible to discharge the sheet face-down to the finisher unit 126. When this face-down discharge is performed, the flapper 215 is switched so as to guide the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 213 to a reverse conveying path 217, and the sheet passes through the flapper 215 and is conveyed into the reverse conveying path 217 by conveying rollers 218 and 219. The sheet conveyed to the reverse conveying path 217 is switched back, whereby the front and back of the sheet are reversed. Then, the reversed sheet is discharged from the printer unit 123 to the finisher unit 126 via discharge rollers 216.

[0012] [Finisher Configuration] The finisher section 126 has a first punch unit 220 and a staple stacker section 221, and can use these to perform various post-processing such as stapling, punching, and sorting on a sheet bundle formed by bundling multiple sheets. The first punch unit 220 is a unit for performing multi-hole punching. The first punch unit 220 has entrance conveyance rollers 222 for receiving sheets discharged from the printer section 123 into the first punch unit 220. A sheet conveyed into the first punch unit 220 is conveyed toward discharge rollers 224 or toward conveyance rollers 225, depending on the switching operation of a flapper 223. When the sheet is conveyed toward the discharge rollers 224 by the flapper 223, the sheet is conveyed directly to the staple stacker section 221, bypassing the first punch unit 220. When the sheet is conveyed toward the conveyance rollers 225 by the flapper 223, the sheet is subjected to multi-hole punching. Downstream of the conveying roller 225 are provided conveying rollers 226, a sensor 227, a punch unit 228, and an abutment plate 229. The sensor 227 is a sensor for detecting the leading edge of a sheet. The punch unit 228 performs a multi-hole punch process to punch a number of holes, for example, 30 holes, in the leading edge of the sheet (the portion that is the leading edge in the sheet conveying direction). The abutment plate 229 is normally positioned to open the sheet conveying path. The abutment plate 229 is rotated through an angle of π / 2 (rad) at a predetermined timing and protrudes into the sheet conveying path so that it can abut against the leading edge of the sheet. By abutting the leading edge of the sheet against this abutment plate 229, the sheet can be positioned with predetermined accuracy relative to the punch unit 228. On the downstream side of the abutment plate 229, conveying rollers 230 to 233 are provided, and a conveying path for guiding the sheet to the discharge rollers 224 is formed by the conveying rollers 230 to 233. The staple stacker section 221 has an entrance roller 234 for receiving into the unit the sheets discharged from the first punch unit 220. The sheets transported into the staple stacker section 221 via the entrance roller 234 are guided to the second punch unit 235. When the small-hole punching process is set, the second punch unit 235 performs small-hole punching, punching a small number of holes, for example, 2 to 4 holes, at the rear end of the sheet (the rear end in the sheet conveyance direction). When the small-hole punching process is not set, the second punch unit 235 operates to pass the sheet through and convey it downstream. The second punch unit 235 includes a sensor 236 for detecting the rear end of the sheet and an abutment plate 237 against which the rear end of the sheet abuts. When the second punch unit 235 performs a small number of hole punching process, the conveyance rollers in the second punch unit 235 are rotated in the reverse direction at a predetermined timing after the sensor 236 detects the trailing edge of the sheet. Furthermore, the abutment plate 237 is rotated through an angle of π / 2 (rad) and protrudes onto the conveyance path. The sheet is then switched back toward the abutment plate 237 and stopped with its trailing edge abutting against the abutment plate 237. With the sheet positioned in this way with its trailing edge as the reference, a small number of holes are punched in the trailing edge of the sheet. The sheet is then conveyed toward the flapper 238 by the conveyance rollers.

[0013] A flapper 238 performs a switching operation to guide the sheet to a non-sort path 239 or conveyance rollers 240. Here, when post-processing such as sorting, punching, or stapling is not set and the sheet is to be discharged as is, the flapper 238 guides the sheet to the non-sort path 239. The sheet guided to the non-sort path 239 is discharged to a stack tray 242 by conveyance rollers 241. When post-processing such as sorting or stapling is set for a sheet, the printer unit 123 discharges the sheet face-down to the finisher unit 126. The sheet transported into the finisher unit 126 passes through the first punch unit 220 and is then conveyed to the staple stacker unit 221. The sheet is then guided by the flapper 238 to the conveyance rollers 240. The conveyance rollers 240 then discharge the sheet onto the bundle discharge belt 243. A low-friction intermediate processing tray (not shown) is provided parallel to and several millimeters higher than the bundle discharge belt 243, and the sheet is actually discharged onto the intermediate processing tray. The discharged sheet falls to the lower right along the intermediate processing tray (bundle discharge belt 243) due to its own weight. Furthermore, the fan-shaped return roller 244 rotates counterclockwise, and a friction member attached to its outer edge comes into contact with the sheet. This friction member exerts a force on the sheet, causing it to fall to the lower right, and the edge of the sheet strikes the stopper plate 245. As a result, the sheet is aligned in the vertical direction (feed direction). In addition, alignment plates 246 are provided on the intermediate processing tray, one on the front side and one on the back side. Each alignment plate 246 is driven every time a sheet is discharged onto the intermediate processing tray. This aligns the sheets on the intermediate processing tray in the horizontal direction (width direction). When a predetermined number of sheets are discharged and stacked on the intermediate processing tray, the bundle discharge belt 243 is driven, and the sheets are discharged onto the stack tray 242 or 247. When the staple mode is set, a bundle of sheets to be stapled is discharged onto the intermediate processing tray, and the sheets are aligned horizontally by the alignment plate 246. Thereafter, the staple unit 250 is driven to staple the sheet bundle, and the stapled sheet bundle is discharged onto the stack tray 242 or 247 by the bundle discharge belt 243. Here, each of the stack trays 242 and 247 is configured to be movable up and down. Each of the stack trays 242 and 247 is provided with sensors 248 and 249 for detecting the presence or absence of sheets. In the setting shown in FIG. 2, the stack tray 242 is set to discharge sheets for which post-processing is not set. The staple unit 250 can also perform "corner binding," which binds the rear end of a sheet at the rearmost position, and "double binding," which binds the rear end of a sheet at two positions. The binding positions for the sheets are set by the user.

[0014] [Configuration of the operation section] Fig. 3 is an example of a display screen of the operation unit 121 shown in Fig. 1. It is divided into an application display area 300 and a common button display area 301. Various functions of the information processing device are realized by the CPU 101 executing each application. The application display area 300 is an area where a running application displays a screen, and can display, for example, a home screen 302 that is a portal for starting each application. (Home screen) Home screen 302 has application buttons 303 to 308 for launching applications. For example, when copy button 303 is pressed, a copy application is launched and the screen transitions to copy screen 401 in FIG. 4. Slider bar 309 indicates that home screen 302 can be slid to move. When the user slides this slider bar, presses the arrows on both ends of the bar, or flicks home screen 302, CPU 101 receives the input and calls up and displays an application button registered in the next area of ​​HDD 104. Common button display area 301 is an area where buttons commonly used by each application are displayed. The same common button display area is displayed even for different applications. Commonly used buttons include, for example, a login button 310, a start button 311, a stop button 312, a status check / stop button 313, and a numeric keypad button group 314. Common button display area 301 is an area where buttons commonly used by different applications are fixedly displayed. In other words, common button display area 301 is displayed commonly on each application screen.

[0015] (Copy screen) 4 is a diagram showing a copy screen 401 displayed in the application display area 300. Various copy functions are set by pressing setting buttons 403 to 413. The number of copies is set by pressing the numeric keypad button group 314. The set number of copies is displayed in the copy number display area 402. (Authentication screen) Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an authentication screen 500 that is displayed in the application display area 300 by pressing the login button 310 in Fig. 3. The authentication screen has areas for inputting a username 501 and a password 502, and the controller 125 queries the authentication processing unit 119 for the details entered in each field to log in. [Job status transition diagram] 6 is a state transition diagram showing a job state 600. The job state 600 has the states of No Job 601, Job Executing 602, and Job Suspended 603, and is stored in the ROM 103 or HDD 104 by the controller 125. When a job start instruction 604 is issued by the controller 125, the state transitions from No Job 601 to Job Executing 602. Similarly, when a job pause instruction 605 is issued, the state transitions from Job Executing 602 to Job Suspended 603, and when a job cancel instruction 606 is issued, the state transitions from Job Suspended 603 to No Job 601. Furthermore, when a job resume instruction 607 is issued, the state transitions from Job Suspended 603 to Job Executing 602. The job pause instruction 605 , job stop instruction 606 , and job resume instruction 607 are executed by pressing the start button 311 and the stop button 312 displayed in the common button display area 301 . (Job management information) 7 shows job management information 700, which manages information such as the name of the executed application, the user who logged in on the authentication screen 500, the job execution time, and the job status 600 as a table. This information is managed by the controller 125. (Status check screen) 8 is a diagram showing a status check screen 800 of the MFP 100 that is displayed in the application display area 300 by pressing the status check / cancel button 313. It is possible to check the jobs being executed by various applications, the remaining amount of consumables, and the like.

[0016] [Display control of start and stop buttons] 9 is a flowchart for controlling the display of start button 311 and stop button 312 displayed in common button display area 301 according to the present invention, and starts when MFP is started and home screen 302 is displayed. S901 to S910 represent each step, and these steps are realized by CPU 101 of MFP 100, which is an information processing device, executing a program stored in ROM 103 or HDD 104. In S901, the CPU 101 of the controller 125 inquires of the authentication processing unit 119 about the authentication status and determines whether or not the user has logged in. If it is determined that the user has logged in, the process proceeds to S902, and if it is determined that the user has not logged in, the process proceeds to S903. In step S902, the CPU 101 monitors the jobs of the logged-in user, and the process proceeds to step S904. On the other hand, in S903, the CPU 101 monitors jobs of all users and proceeds to S904. Note that in steps S904 and after, if the process proceeds from S902, only the job status of the logged-in user in the user management information 600 is monitored, and if the process proceeds from S903, the job status of all users is monitored. Next, in S904, the CPU 101 determines what the current display screen is. If the display screen is the home screen 302, the process proceeds to S905, and otherwise the process proceeds to S906. If it is the home screen, the CPU 101 stores the display screen information in the ROM 103 or the HDD 104 in S905. On the other hand, if the screen is other than the home screen, in S906, the CPU 101 determines whether the job status is the job paused 603. If the CPU 101 determines that the job status is the job paused 603, the process proceeds to S907, and if not, the process proceeds to S905. Note that in the case of the "status confirmation screen," the job list is displayed regardless of whether the job is paused or not. In step S907, the CPU 101 displays a job paused screen 1000 shown in Fig. 10. The job paused screen 1000 has a job paused list 1001, and displays only jobs whose job status 600 is paused 603 from the job management information 700. When the screen transition from the copy screen 401 in Fig. 4 to the job paused screen 1000 is performed by pressing the "Cancel" button, only copy jobs are displayed in the job list 1001. The user can also select any job from the job paused list 1001 to check detailed information or issue an instruction to resume the job. In step S908, the CPU 101 determines whether the job status 600 is in the no job 601, job in progress 602, or job suspended 603 state. In the next step S910, the job status 600 is stored in the ROM 103 or the HDD 104. The CPU 101 executes display processing of the start button 311 and the stop button 312 in a display determination subprocess S911 based on the display screen information stored in S905 and the job status 600 stored in S910.

[0017] [Display decision subprocess] 11 shows a table 1100 for determining display states 1101 to 1109 for the start button 311 and the stop button 312 from the display screen information and job status information 600 in the display determination subprocess S911. CPU 101 refers to table 1100 and determines the buttons to be displayed in common button display area 301 according to the status of MFP 100. Here, the job status is shown as an example of the status of MFP 100, but other states such as an error occurrence may also be used. Also, the start button and stop button are shown as examples of buttons to be displayed in common button display area 301, but other buttons may also be used. 9, the method for determining the display states of the start button 311 and the stop button 312 is realized by performing a so-called table search, in which the current job status information 600 is referenced in the table 1100. Note that instead of the table search method, the display information of this job status information may be determined by multiple conditional judgments, and the processing method may be any method that can determine the display states of the buttons from the job status information.

[0018] [Example of common button display area] FIG. 12 shows specific examples 1200A to 1200G of the start button 311 and the stop button 312 displayed in the common button display area 301. (No job status 601) When the job status information indicates a no job status 601, there is no job to stop, and therefore the stop button 312 is not displayed. When the display screen information is the copy screen 401, the start button 311 can issue a job start instruction 604. The start button 311 displays a message (e.g., start) suggesting that the job will be started with the content set by the user. When the display screen information is other than the copy screen 401, the job start instruction 604 cannot be issued and is therefore not displayed. When the job status information is the no job status 601, a display example of 1101 when the display screen information is the home screen 302 or 1102 when the display screen information is the status check screen 800 is shown as 1200A in Fig. 12. When the job status information is the no job status 601, a display example of 1103 when the display screen information is the copy screen 401 is shown as 1200B in Fig. 12. (Job execution status 602) When the job status information is in the job execution status 602, the stop button 312 can issue a job stop instruction 606. The stop button 312 displays a message (e.g., stop) suggesting that the job being executed should be temporarily stopped. The start button 311 can issue a job start instruction 604. The start button 311 displays a message (e.g., start) suggesting that the job should be started with the contents set by the user. When the job status information is the job execution status 602, a display example of 1104 when the display screen information is the home screen 302 or 1105 when the display screen information is the status check screen 800 is shown as 1200C in FIG. When the job status information is the job execution status 602 and the display screen information is the copy screen 401, an example of the display in case 1105 is shown in 1200D of FIG. (Job paused status 603) When the job status information indicates a job paused state 603, the start button 311 can issue a paused job restart instruction 607. The start button 311 displays a message (e.g., restart) suggesting that the job be executed again. If the display screen information is the copy screen 401: 1109, or if it is the status check screen 800: 1108, the job suspension screen 1000 is displayed, and the cancel button 312 can be used to issue a job suspension instruction: 606 selected in the job suspension list 1001. The cancel button 312 displays a message (e.g., "Cancel") suggesting job suspension. If the display screen information is the home screen 302: 1107, the cancel button 312 is not displayed. When the job status information is the job suspended status 603, an example of a display when the display screen information is the status confirmation screen 800: 1108 or the copy screen 401: 1109 is shown as 1200E in FIG. When the job status information is the job paused status 603 and the display screen information is the home screen 302: an example of the display of 1107 is 1200F in FIG. These implementations allow the user to easily perform job operations 604 to 607 when necessary by changing the display and processing contents of the start button 311 and the stop button 312 displayed in the common button display area 301 depending on the status of the MFP.

[0019] (Embodiment 2) Fig. 13 is a display example different from Fig. 12 when the start button 311 is not displayed. For example, when the job status information 600 is the job execution status 602, if the display screen information is the home screen 302 (1104) or the status check screen 800 (1105), the display is not limited to the form shown in display example 1200C of Fig. 12. In the second embodiment, the form shown is a stop button 1301 in which the width of the stop button 312 is widened within the common button display area 301. (Display control processing) 14 is a flowchart showing how to change the button width of the stop button 312 when the start button 311 is not displayed. The same processing is performed when the stop button 312 is not displayed, instead of the start button 311. In S1401, the controller 125 determines whether the start button 311 is hidden. If the start button 311 is displayed (No in S1401), this processing ends, and if it is not displayed (Yes in S1401), the process proceeds to S1402. In S1402, the size (width) of the stop button 312 is changed, and the process ends. In this embodiment, the size of the area in which the stop button 312 can be pressed is increased, which has the effect of making it easier for the user to operate the button.

[0020] (Embodiment 3) 15A is a display example different from that of FIG. 4 when a copy screen 401 is displayed in the application display area 300. In the third embodiment, the start button 311 on the copy screen 1501 displays a message corresponding to the application being displayed, such as a [Start Copy] button 1502. (Display control processing) FIG. 16 is a flowchart for determining the display text of the start button 311. In step S1601, the CPU 101 of the controller 125 determines what the display screen is. If it is determined that the copy screen 401 is being displayed, the process proceeds to S1602, where the display text of the start button 311 is changed to text suggesting the start of copying (for example, [Copy]), and the copy start button 1502 is displayed. Similarly, if it is determined that the scan and send application screen is displayed, the process proceeds to S1603, where a message suggesting the start of sending (e.g., [Send]) is displayed, otherwise the process proceeds to S1604, where a message suggesting job execution (e.g., [Start]) is displayed. An example of the display in S1603 is shown in FIG. 15B. In the third embodiment, the job start instruction 604 can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner depending on the application.

[0021] (Other Examples) The present invention can also be realized by supplying 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.The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0022] 100 MFP 121 Operation section 123 Printer section 125 Controller

Claims

1. An information processing device having an operation unit that displays a display screen, the display screen has a display area for applications that realize a plurality of functions and a common display area that includes a plurality of buttons that are commonly used by the applications; a control unit that changes the display of the buttons in the common area in accordance with the state of the job and the screen of the display area of ​​the application displayed on the operation unit; If there is no job and the screen displayed in the display area of ​​the application is the home screen, no buttons are displayed in the common area.

1. An information processing device comprising:

Images