Image forming device

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that improves convenience by supporting a user in selecting a service.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 10 can provide a plurality of types of utilization services and requires an operation setting for selecting the utilization service to use the service, and comprises: a touch panel 11 that receives an operation performed by a user while presenting an operation screen; and a control unit 12 that controls the operation screen on the touch panel 11. At least part of the utilization services provided by the image forming apparatus 10 requires operations for reception devices (document reading unit 13, media reader 14, QR code reader 15, and NFC card reader 16) provided in the image forming apparatus 10 or connected with the image forming apparatus 10. When the operation for the reception device is performed before the operation setting for selecting the utilization service is performed on the touch panel 11, the control unit 12 switches to an operation screen that preferentially displays a utilization service corresponding to the reception device for which the operation is performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that is installed in a store or the like and is capable of providing services as an information terminal. [Background technology]

[0002] In stores such as convenience stores, image forming devices such as multi-copy machines are installed, and the various functions of the multi-copy machines (copy function, fax function, scan function, print function, etc.) are available to an unspecified number of users. Furthermore, in addition to these functions, multi-copy machines for convenience stores are increasingly being used as information terminals, and the services they can provide are tending to become more diverse. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-151570 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As the services offered by multi-copy machines for convenience stores become more diverse, the number of service buttons on the portal screen increases, the button size becomes smaller, and the screen layout becomes complicated. This causes issues such as it taking time for users to select a service and causing them to have to go back and do something else due to selecting the wrong service.

[0005] Incidentally, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which, in a document reading device provided in an image forming device, when a user places a document on a document table and closes a pressure plate for pressing the document, reading is started even without a document reading instruction. The technology in Patent Document 1 can eliminate the need for a user to issue a document reading instruction, but it cannot simplify the service selection operation when selecting a service to be used from a number of services.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide an image forming apparatus that improves convenience by supporting a user in selecting a service. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of providing multiple types of utilization services and requiring operational settings to select a utilization service when in use, and is equipped with an operation reception unit that accepts operations by a user while presenting an operation screen, and a control unit that controls the operation screen of the operation reception unit, and further, at least some of the utilization services require operations on a reception device provided in the image forming apparatus or connected to the image forming apparatus, and the control unit is characterized in that, when an operation of the reception device is performed before the operation setting for selecting a utilization service is performed by the operation reception unit, the control unit switches to an operation screen that preferentially displays the utilization services that are the target of the reception device on which the operation was performed.

[0008] According to the above configuration, when selecting a service to be used, not only the general procedure of touching a service button on the operation reception unit is performed, but also, upon detection of an operation on a reception device other than the operation reception unit, automatic switching to an operation screen narrowed down to the target services of the reception device that was operated can be performed. In this way, on the operation screen narrowed down to the target services, the user can quickly select and set the desired service without having to go through the trouble of selecting the desired service from a large number of service buttons.

[0009] The image forming apparatus may be configured such that, in the prioritized display, only the service button of the service to be used that is the target of the accepting device on which the operation has been performed can be selectively displayed.

[0010] In addition, the image forming device can be configured to pre-store a service usage correspondence table that links the reception device with the service usage target of the reception device, and to perform the priority display based on the service usage correspondence table.

[0011] In addition, in the above-mentioned image forming device, the control unit can be configured to check whether or not there is operation assistance judgment content in the detection content of the receiving device, and if there is operation assistance judgment content, to further narrow down the target available services according to the operation assistance judgment content and to display a guidance display to the narrowed down available services.

[0012] According to the above configuration, if there is operation assistance judgment content in the detection content of the receiving device, convenience for the user can be further improved by displaying a guide to the available services narrowed down by the operation assistance judgment content.

[0013] In addition, in the above-mentioned image forming device, when the operation receiving unit has performed some operation settings for selecting a service to be used and further operation of the receiving device is performed, the control unit can be configured to combine the setting status based on the operation settings with the operation status of the receiving device and display the target service preferentially.

[0014] According to the above configuration, the setting status based on the operational settings and the operational status of the receiving device are combined to display the target service with priority, thereby making it possible to further improve convenience for the user. Effect of the Invention

[0015] The image forming apparatus of the present invention has the effect of detecting an operation of a reception device by a user and automatically switching to an operation screen that is narrowed down to the target services of the operated reception device, thereby supporting the user in selecting services. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a configuration relating to a service selection method in an image forming apparatus, illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a service is provided in the image forming apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a portal screen on a touch panel. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a service correspondence table; [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen on a touch panel. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen on a touch panel. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen on a touch panel. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen on a touch panel. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen on a touch panel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] [First embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. An image forming device 10 according to this embodiment is, for example, a multi-copying machine installed in a store such as a convenience store, and is capable of providing various services to an unspecified number of users. That is, the image forming device 10 is not only capable of using various functions of a multi-copying machine (copying function, faxing function, scanning function, printing function, etc.), but also has a role as an information terminal and is capable of providing services using the Internet.

[0018] Image forming device 10 improves convenience by supporting service selection when a user uses the device. That is, image forming device 10 is characterized by a method of supporting service selection, and the basic configuration of image forming device 10 is well known. Therefore, in this embodiment, a description of the basic configuration of image forming device 10 is omitted, and only the characteristic parts are described.

[0019] 1 is a functional block diagram of a characteristic configuration of an image forming device 10, that is, a configuration related to a service selection method. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming device 10 has a touch panel 11 as an operation reception unit, and when a user inputs an operation via the touch panel 11, the operation content is recognized by a control unit 12. The control unit 12 also controls the operation screen on the touch panel 11.

[0020] Furthermore, at least some of the services used in the image forming apparatus 10 require operations on specific reception devices. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a document reading unit 13, a media reader 14, a QR code reader 15, and an NFC (Near Field Communication) card reader 16 as reception devices.

[0021] The document reading unit 13 is a reception device for reading a document when using a service (copy, fax, scan service) that requires reading a document. The media reader 14 is a reception device for a user to insert a recording medium (such as a USB memory) when using a print service. The QR code reader 15 is a reception device for reading a QR code (registered trademark) displayed on a smartphone (or printed on a printed matter) when using an Internet service (MMK (Multi Media Kiosk) service such as network print, content print, ticket reservation service, etc.). The NFC card reader 16 is a reception device for reading an NFC card (such as a basic resident card or a My Number card) when using an Internet service (such as a government service or network print service). When a user operates any of the reception devices, the control unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 10 recognizes the reception device on which the operation was performed.

[0022] Furthermore, the reception device is not limited to one provided in the image forming apparatus 10, and may be one provided in a peripheral device communicably connected to the image forming apparatus 10. For example, an image forming apparatus 10 installed in a store is usually combined with a billing apparatus 20 (see FIG. 1). In this case, the reception device may be provided on the billing apparatus 20 side. For example, a reception device (such as a coin vendor or an NFC card reader for reading an electronic money card) that allows a user to bill the image forming apparatus 10 may be provided on the billing apparatus 20.

[0023] 2 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure when a service is provided in the image forming device 10. When a user starts to operate the image forming device 10, a portal screen (see FIG. 3) is displayed on the touch panel 11 (S1). In the image forming device 10, the user can select a service to be used only by operating the buttons on this portal screen, but can also receive support for service selection by operating the reception device before operating the buttons. For this reason, the image forming device 10 checks whether or not an operation has been performed on the reception device (S2).

[0024] That is, if the user operates the reception device before operating the touch panel 11 of the portal screen (YES in S2), the control unit 12 recognizes the reception device on which the operation was performed and searches for the service to be used (target service) that is the target of the reception device (S3). Furthermore, the presence or absence of operation assistance determination content is confirmed in the detection content of the reception device (S4).

[0025] In the image forming apparatus 10, based on the results of steps S3 and S4, the operation screen of the touch panel 11 is switched to a screen that preferentially displays the target service of the reception device on which the operation was performed. If there is no operation assistance judgment content in the detection content of the reception device (NO in S4), the operation screen can be set to display the service button of the service to be used searched for in S3 (S5). If there is an operation assistance judgment content in the detection content of the reception device (YES in S4), the target services can be further narrowed down according to the operation assistance judgment content, and a guidance display to the narrowed down target services can be performed (S6).

[0026] The search for the service to be used in step S3 and the confirmation of the operation assistance determination content in step S4 are performed according to a service to be used correspondence table pre-stored in the memory of the image forming apparatus 10. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the service to be used correspondence table.

[0027] For example, if the operation of the reception device performed by the user is to place a document on the document reading unit 13, it can be determined that the service intended by the user is a service that requires reading of a document (copy, fax, scan service). That is, in the utilization service correspondence table of Fig. 4, if the operated reception device is the document reading unit 13, the copy, fax, and scan services are searched for as the target services.

[0028] Furthermore, when a document is placed on the document reading unit 13, the control unit 12 can check whether or not there is an operation assistance determination content from the image data of the document scanned by the document reading unit 13. That is, when the receiving device is the document reading unit 13, the document size and the detection content of a specific document type (driver's license / card, postcard, photo, etc.) can be obtained from the scanned image data. Note that the specific document type can be determined by subjecting the image data to OCR processing to extract a specific character string or a characteristic pattern image. Also, known algorithms can be applied to such determination.

[0029] In the example of the service correspondence table in Fig. 4, the document type such as license / card, postcard, photo, etc. is regarded as the operation assistance determination content. In other words, if a specific document type is not identified in the image data, the display on the touch panel 11 is shifted from the portal screen in Fig. 3 to a screen (see Fig. 5) that displays only the service buttons of the services to be used (here, copy, fax, and scan services) searched for in step S3 (S5). In the screen in Fig. 5, the service buttons displayed are only those services that require scanning of a document, and the user's service selection is supported. This makes it easier for the user to select a service, improving the convenience of the image forming device 10.

[0030] Furthermore, when a specific document type is identified in the image data, the image forming apparatus 10 can display a guide to a copy mode suitable for that document type. For example, the image forming apparatus 10 has a "license / card" copy mode suitable for copying licenses and cards, a "postcard" copy mode suitable for copying postcards, and a "photo" copy mode suitable for copying photos. When a user wishes to select one of these copy modes from the display screen of FIG. 5, the user selects the "various copies" mode and selects the desired copy mode from the subsequent display screen (a screen displaying service buttons such as "copy → license / card", "copy → postcard", and "copy → photo").

[0031] On the other hand, when a specific document type is identified in the image data, for example, when the scanned document is identified as a driver's license, a "Various Copy" service button is displayed to guide the user to the "Driver's License / Card" copy mode. For example, the layout of the service buttons on the screen in FIG. 5 may be changed to place the "Various Copy" button at the top (see FIG. 6), or the "Various Copy" button may be displayed larger than the other service buttons (see FIG. 7). The method of displaying the service button guidance is not particularly limited, and other methods include displaying the service button to which the user is directed by flashing or displaying it with a red frame. Furthermore, after the user presses the "Various Copy" button, the service button "Copy → Driver's License / Card" can be displayed on the transitioned display screen.

[0032] If the scanned document is determined to be a postcard or a photograph, a "Various copies" service button is similarly displayed, and furthermore, after the "Various copies" button is pressed, the display screen may display the "Copy → Postcard" or "Copy → Photo" service buttons.

[0033] 5 and 6 guide the user to the most likely service or copy mode for the identified document type, but also displays service buttons for selecting other services or copy modes. This is because even if the document placed on document reading unit 13 is a driver's license or a card, the service the user intends to use is not necessarily copying, and the user may intend to use a scan or fax service.

[0034] Also, if the determination in step S2 is YES and the reception device is the NFC card reader 16, it can be determined that the service intended by the user is a service (government service, network print service) that can be accessed by reading an NFC card. That is, in the available service correspondence table in Fig. 4, if the operated reception device is the NFC card reader 16, the government service and network print service are searched for as the target services, and service buttons for these services can be displayed.

[0035] Furthermore, NFC card reader 16 can determine the type of NFC card being read (Basic Resident Card, My Number Card, electronic money card, employee ID card, etc.). In this case, the type of NFC card becomes the operation assistance determination content. For example, if it is determined that the read NFC card is a Basic Resident Card or My Number Card, it can be determined that the service intended by the user is an administrative service. As a result, the display on touch panel 11 changes from the portal screen in FIG. 3 to a screen that displays only the administrative service button (see FIG. 8).

[0036] If the read NFC card is determined to be an electronic money card, the screen transitions to an MFP portal screen (assuming, however, that there is no billing and settlement service in the Internet services of the image forming device 10). The MFP portal screen is the screen transitioned to when the "Multi-copy machine service" button is pressed on the portal screen in Fig. 3, and is a portal screen that displays only service buttons for services that use various functions of the multi-copy machine (copy function, fax function, scan function, print function, etc.). Also, if the read NFC card is determined to be an employee ID card, the screen transitions to a corporate account screen for network printing.

[0037] Also, if the determination in step S2 is YES and the reception device is the QR code reader 15, it can be determined that the service intended by the user is a service that can be accessed by reading a QR code (network print, content print, ticket reservation service). In other words, in the service correspondence table in Fig. 4, if the operated reception device is the NFC card reader 16, the administrative service and network print service are searched for as the target services, and service buttons for these services can be displayed.

[0038] Furthermore, if the reception device is a QR code reader 15, the number of characters (digits) of the decoded QR code can be used as the operation assistance determination content. For example, it is possible to distinguish between the network print service, the content service, and the MMK payment service, which each have a different number of characters (10 alphanumeric characters, 12 alphanumeric characters, etc.) depending on the number of characters in the QR code.

[0039] For example, if the read QR code is determined to be a network print service code, the screen moves to a network print service login screen (see FIG. 9). If the read QR code is determined to be a content print service code, the screen moves to a content print content confirmation screen. If the read QR code is determined to be a QR code electronic money code, the screen moves to an MFP portal screen (assuming that there is no billing settlement service in the Internet service of the image forming device 10). Also, if the read QR code is determined to be a ticket reservation code, the screen moves to an MMK ticket reservation confirmation screen.

[0040] Also, if the determination in step S2 is YES and the accepting device is media reader 14, it can be determined that the service intended by the user is a print service for printing data in a recording medium. That is, in the available service correspondence table in Fig. 4, if the accepted device operated is media reader 14, a print service is searched for as the target service, and a service button for that service can be displayed.

[0041] Furthermore, if the accepting device is a media reader 14, the type of data in the recording medium can be used as the operation assistance determination content. For example, it is possible to determine whether the data is office data such as EXCEL or WORD, or image data such as JPEG or TIFF, based on the data extension.

[0042] For example, if the data in the recording medium is determined to be office data, an office direct print service button is displayed. If the data in the recording medium is determined to be image data, an image print service button is displayed. If the recording medium contains both office data and image data, both the office direct print service button and the photo print service button may be displayed.

[0043] In steps S5 or S6, the user can perform operational settings (selection and setting of a service to be used) while receiving support for service selection on the operation screen of touch panel 11. When the user performs operational settings, image forming device 10 checks whether the service operationally set by the user matches the target service of the reception device operated in step S2 (S7).

[0044] If the service operationally set by the user matches the target service of the operated reception device (YES in S7), the operational setting of the service to be used is completed (S9), and the job of the operationally set service to be used is executed (S9). On the other hand, if the service operationally set by the user does not match the target service of the operated reception device (NO in S7), the image forming device 10 displays a pop-up screen on the touch panel 11 or the like for a certain period of time (S8) indicating that there is a mismatch between the operational setting and the reception device operation, and returns to step S4.

[0045] That is, if the answer is NO in S7, it is assumed that there was a setting error in the service that the user set up, and the user can return to step S4 and re-set it. In a multi-function copier used by an unspecified number of people, if the previous user leaves mid-operation, the next user may operate it to perform a different service. For example, if the previous user leaves with the operation settings selected for the MMK service (without using the service), and the next user inserts a USB memory stick to use the print service, a mismatch between the operation settings and the reception device operation may occur. In such a case, a warning in step S8 allows the next user to understand the reason for the mismatch and urges them to cancel the operation settings made by the previous user.

[0046] As described above, when selecting a service to be used for the multi-copy machine, the image forming apparatus 10 according to this embodiment can automatically switch to an operation screen narrowed down to the target services of the operated reception device upon detection of an operation on a reception device other than the touch panel 11, in addition to the general procedure of touching a service button on the touch panel 11. In this manner, on the operation screen narrowed down to the target services, the user can quickly select and set the desired service without having to go through the trouble of selecting the desired service from a large number of service buttons.

[0047] [Embodiment 2] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, it has been explained that when a user operates the reception device before operating the touch panel 11 of the portal screen, support for selecting a service to be used is available on the operation screen of the touch panel 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and even when a user performs some of the setting operation for selecting a service to be used using the touch panel 11 and then further operates the reception device, support for selecting a service to be used is available on the operation screen of the touch panel 11. In other words, it is also possible to combine the operation setting status performed on the touch panel 11 and the operation status of the reception device to display the target services with priority.

[0048] For example, when a user selects an Internet service (MMK service) on the portal screen of touch panel 11 and reads the QR code with QR code reader 15, a service button for using tickets or coupons can be displayed as the product of the services available included in the MMK service and the target services when QR code reader 15 is operated.

[0049] Alternatively, when a user selects the photo print service on the MFP portal screen and reads a USB memory with the media reader 14, even if the USB memory contains a mixture of office data (e.g., Excel data) and image data (e.g., JPEG data), only the image data can be read and the folder displayed based on the fact that the photo print service has been selected.

[0050] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to be limiting. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not interpreted solely by the above-described embodiments, but is defined by the claims. Also, all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims are included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10 Image forming device 11 Touch panel (operation reception area) 12 Control section 13 Document reading unit (reception equipment) 14 Media Reader (Reception Equipment) 15 QR code reader (reception device) 16 NFC card reader (reception device) 20 Charging device

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus capable of providing a plurality of types of service to be used, and requiring an operation setting for selecting a service to be used at the time of use, comprising: an operation reception unit that receives operations by a user while presenting an operation screen; A control unit that controls an operation screen of the operation reception unit, Furthermore, at least a part of the service requires an operation of a receiving device provided in the image forming apparatus or connected to the image forming apparatus, when the reception device is operated before the operation reception unit performs an operation setting for selecting a service to be used, the control unit switches to an operation screen that preferentially displays a service to be used that is a target of the reception device on which the operation is performed, The control unit of this image forming apparatus is characterized in that, when the operation settings for selecting a service to be used are partially performed by the operation reception unit and further operation of the reception device is performed, the control unit combines the setting status based on the operation settings with the operation status of the reception device and displays the target service preferentially.

2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, The image forming apparatus is characterized in that, in the prioritized display, only the service buttons of the available services targeted by the accepting device on which the operation is performed can be selectively displayed.

3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, a service correspondence table that associates the receiving device with a service that is a target of the receiving device is stored in advance; The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the priority display is performed based on the service correspondence table.

4. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, The control unit is capable of checking whether or not there is operation assistance judgment content in the detection content of the receiving device, and if there is operation assistance judgment content, further narrows down the target services to be used according to the operation assistance judgment content and displays guidance to the narrowed down services to be used.

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