Image forming system

Abstract

To provide an image forming system that can restore information on settings concerning a method of displaying information memorized in a remote control device.SOLUTION: In an image forming system A, a remote control panel 50 comprises an ROM 22 that memorizes information on settings concerning a method of displaying information which is displayed on a display 51, and a CPU 21 that makes the display 51 display information in accordance with the information on settings memorized in the ROM 22. An image forming device 1 comprises an ROM 12 that memorizes the information on settings transmitted via wireless communication from the remote control panel 50. The remote control panel 50 can receive the information on settings memorized in the ROM 12 from the image forming device 1 and make the ROM 22 memorize the information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, etc.) and a remote control device capable of wireless communication with the image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, image forming devices have been known to have a configuration that includes a display unit that displays images and an operation unit for inputting information, and that includes an operation display unit that allows settings related to image formation, such as the size of sheets related to image formation and the number of images formed, to be made by operating the operation unit.

[0003] Patent document 1 also describes a remote control device that has a configuration in which the operation display unit can be removed from the image forming apparatus and that transmits information input on the operation unit to the image forming apparatus via wireless communication at a location away from the image forming apparatus. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-366287 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the above-mentioned remote control device, in order to improve operability, it is possible to configure it so that the method of displaying information, such as the button arrangement on the screen displayed on the display unit and the size of characters, can be set. It is also possible to configure it so that the setting information on the method of displaying information can be stored in the remote control device for the next time the remote control device is used.

[0006] In such a configuration in which setting information on the information display method can be stored in the remote control device, if the remote control device is subjected to an impact due to being dropped, etc., the setting information stored in the remote control device may be damaged. In this case, in order to reduce the workload of the user in reconfiguring the settings on the information display method, it is desirable to configure the remote control device so that the setting information on the information display method previously stored therein can be restored.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus and a remote control device capable of wireless communication between the image forming apparatus, which enables the restoration of setting information regarding the display method of information stored in the remote control device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A representative configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, and a remote control device that has a display unit that displays information and an operation unit that inputs information, and that is capable of configuring settings related to an image formed by the image forming apparatus by transmitting and receiving information to and from the image forming apparatus via wireless communication, the remote control device includes a first storage unit that stores setting information related to a display method of information to be displayed on the display unit, which is configured by the operation unit, and a display control unit that displays information on the display unit in accordance with the setting information stored in the first storage unit, the image forming apparatus includes a second storage unit that stores the setting information transmitted from the remote control device via wireless communication, and the remote control device: When an acquisition instruction to acquire the setting information stored in the second storage unit is received from a user, The setting information stored in the second storage unit is received from the image forming apparatus and can be stored in the first storage unit. ,before When the setting information stored in the second memory unit is received, the display control unit displays a confirmation screen on the display unit to confirm whether or not to reflect the settings of the received setting information on the display unit. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, in an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a remote control device capable of wireless communication between the image forming apparatus, it is possible to restore setting information regarding the display method of information stored in the remote control device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a remote control panel. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming system. [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a remote control panel. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system between an image forming apparatus and a remote control panel. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a transition of communication between the image forming apparatus and the remote operation panel in the Wi-Fi Direct system. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing coordinate display on the display of a remote control panel. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display screen displayed on a display of a remote operation panel. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display screen displayed on a display of a remote operation panel. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display screen displayed on a display of a remote operation panel. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a table that stores setting information relating to a method of displaying information. [Figure 13] 13 is a flowchart of a restoration sequence. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] <Image forming system> First, the overall configuration of an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, together with the operation during image formation of the image forming apparatus 1. Note that unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, and the like of the components described below are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to only those.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming system A equipped with an image forming apparatus 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming system A is composed of the image forming apparatus 1 that forms an image on a sheet S, a post-processing device 16 that performs post-processing such as stapling and punching on the sheet S on which the image has been formed by the image forming apparatus 1, and a remote control panel 50, which will be described later. In addition, a reader 14 is provided on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus 1 that optically reads an image of a document placed on a glass surface (not shown) and converts the image into image data.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a seesaw-type main power switch 79 for switching the main power on and off. The image forming apparatus 1 is also provided with a display panel 71 for displaying lamps and error codes to inform a user of the status of the image forming apparatus 1, such as when the image forming process is in progress, when it is stopped due to an error, or when it is in a standby state. The image forming apparatus 1 is also provided with a tower-type lamp 72 for notifying a user at a remote location of the status of the image forming apparatus 1 by turning on, off, or blinking the light source.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a remote control panel 50 configured to be detachable from the panel mounting section 73. The remote control panel 50 is configured to be capable of wireless communication with the image forming apparatus 1, and can be operated from a location away from the image forming apparatus 1. When the remote control panel 50 is mounted on the panel mounting section 73, a charging connector 55 (FIG. 2) of the remote control panel 50 is connected to a power supply connector 73a (FIG. 5) of the panel mounting section 73. This allows the image forming apparatus 1 to charge a battery 57 (FIG. 5) of the remote control panel 50.

[0015] Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the remote control panel 50. As shown in Fig. 2, the remote control panel 50 has a power switch 52 for switching the power of the remote control panel 50 on and off, a speaker unit 53 for outputting sound, and a lighting unit 54 made up of LEDs for indicating the state of the remote control panel 50 by turning on, off, or blinking.

[0016] The remote control panel 50 also has a reset button 60 for returning (initializing) the remote control panel 50 to its factory settings. If the remote control panel 50 is dropped or otherwise subjected to an impact that damages the system or data, the user can press the reset button 60 to return the remote control panel 50 to its factory settings. The reset button 60 is provided deep inside a small hole to prevent it from being pressed accidentally. The user can press the reset button 60 by inserting a thin-tipped object such as a pin into the hole.

[0017] The remote control panel 50 also has a touch panel display 51 in which a display unit for displaying images and an operation unit for inputting information are integrated. A user can perform settings related to image formation of the image forming apparatus 1, such as the number of images to be formed and the size of the sheet S, and settings related to image reading, such as the size of a document, by touching the keys displayed on the display 51 with a finger to input numerical values. Note that, although the present embodiment has been described with a configuration in which the remote control panel 50 is equipped with a touch panel display 51, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which hard keys such as a numeric keypad and a reset key are separately provided as an operation unit for inputting information may also be used. Also, a configuration in which the reset button 60 is displayed as a soft key on the display 51 instead of a hard key may also be used.

[0018] Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming system A. As shown in Fig. 3, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 15 that forms an image on a sheet S. The image forming unit 15 includes photosensitive drums 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K, charging devices 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, and developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K. The image forming unit 15 also includes primary transfer rollers 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K, a laser scanner unit 3, an intermediate transfer belt 6, a secondary transfer roller 7, a secondary transfer opposing roller 8, and the like.

[0019] When an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 1, first, an image formation job signal is input to the control unit 10 shown in Fig. 4. As a result, the sheet S stored in either the sheet cassette 75a or 75b is sent to a conveying path 94. Thereafter, the sheet S passes through the conveying path 94 and is sent to a secondary transfer unit formed by a secondary transfer roller 7 and a secondary transfer opposing roller 8.

[0020] Meanwhile, in the image forming unit 15, the surface of the photosensitive drum 9Y is first charged by the charging device 2Y. Thereafter, the laser scanner unit 3 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 9Y with laser light in accordance with image data of the document read by the reader 14 or image data transmitted from an external device (not shown) via a network, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 9Y.

[0021] Next, yellow toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 9Y by the developing device 4Y, forming a yellow toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 9Y. The toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 9Y is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 6 by applying a primary transfer bias to the primary transfer roller 5Y.

[0022] By a similar process, magenta, cyan and black toner images are formed on the photosensitive drums 9M, 9C and 9K. Then, by applying a primary transfer bias to the primary transfer rollers 5M, 5C and 5K, these toner images are transferred and superimposed on the yellow toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 6. As a result, a full-color toner image corresponding to the image signal is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6.

[0023] Thereafter, the intermediate transfer belt 6 rotates, whereby the full-color toner image is sent to a secondary transfer section. Then, in the secondary transfer section, a secondary transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller 7, whereby the full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 6 is transferred to the sheet S. The sheet S onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 70 by the conveyor belt 95. Then, in the fixing device 70, the toner image is fixed to the sheet S by heat and pressure treatment.

[0024] Next, the sheet S on which the toner image has been fixed passes through a discharge path 97 and is sent to the post-processing device 16. If the user has specified post-processing such as stapling, punching, or bookbinding, the sheet S sent to the post-processing device 16 is discharged to the discharge tray 16a after the specified post-processing is performed. If the user has not specified post-processing, the sheet S sent to the post-processing device 16 is discharged directly to the discharge tray 16b without being subjected to post-processing.

[0025] <System configuration of image forming device> Next, the system configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

[0026] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in Fig. 4, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10 having a CPU 11, a ROM 12 (second storage unit), and a RAM 13. A reader 14, an image forming unit 15, a post-processing device 16, a display panel 71, and the like are connected to the control unit 10. A network connection unit 84 is also connected to the control unit 10, which connects with an external device (not shown) via a network.

[0027] The ROM 12 stores various programs and various data related to the control of the image forming apparatus 1. The CPU 11 performs various arithmetic processing based on the control programs stored in the ROM 12. The RAM 13 temporarily stores data. That is, the CPU 11 uses the RAM 13 as a working area based on the control programs stored in the ROM 12, and controls the reader 14, image forming unit 15, post-processing device 16, and the like connected to the control unit 10 to perform the image forming operation described above.

[0028] Further, a panel connection unit 80 that establishes a connection with the remote operation panel 50 is connected to the control unit 10. The panel connection unit 80 has a power supply connector 73a and is equipped with a panel mounting unit 73 to which the remote operation panel 50 is connected, and a wireless communication unit 81 that establishes wireless communication with the remote operation panel 50. The charging connector 55 of the remote operation panel 50 is connected to the power supply connector 73a of the panel mounting unit 73.

[0029] The wireless communication unit 81 has a command communication unit 82 and an image transmission unit 83. The CPU 11 reads out an image stored in the ROM 12, and transmits the image to the remote operation panel 50 via the image transmission unit 83 of the wireless communication unit 81. The CPU 11 also generates instructions for the remote operation panel 50, and transmits the instructions to the remote operation panel 50 via the command communication unit 82. The CPU 11 also receives notifications and instructions generated by the remote operation panel 50 via the command communication unit 82. Note that, although the command communication unit 82 and the image transmission unit 83 are configured separately in this embodiment, they may be configured to be integrated into a single communication line.

[0030] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 and the remote operation panel 50 perform wireless communication via an access point 86 (FIG. 6) such as a Wi-Fi router, and then perform wireless communication by Wi-Fi Direct communication, which is a communication format that directly connects apparatuses. Miracast, which is a display transmission technology that applies the Wi-Fi Direct communication method, is used in, for example, mobile phones, displays, and projectors. Note that the wireless communication may be performed by other methods such as Bluetooth and NFC instead of Wi-Fi wireless communication.

[0031] A power supply device 17 is also connected to the control unit 10. The power supply device 17 receives power from a commercial power source via an outlet plug 19, converts the power into power used by each device, and supplies the power to each device. Specifically, the power supply device 17 first supplies power to the control unit 10 when the main power switch 79 is switched from off to on. Thereafter, the power supply device 17 supplies power to the reader 14, the image forming unit 15, the post-processing device 16, the display panel 71, the remote operation panel 50 mounted on the panel mounting unit 73, the wireless communication unit 81, the network connection unit 84, and the like, based on an instruction from the control unit 10.

[0032] <Remote control panel system configuration> Next, the system configuration of the remote control panel 50 will be described.

[0033] Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the remote operation panel 50. As shown in Fig. 5, the remote operation panel 50 includes a control unit 20 having a CPU 21 (display control unit), a ROM 22 (first storage unit), a RAM 23, and a timer 24. The timer 24 measures time when the control unit 20 performs various processes. In addition, a network connection unit 96 is connected to the control unit 20, which connects with an external device (not shown) via a network.

[0034] The ROM 22 stores various data such as programs related to the control of the remote operation panel 50 and image data to be displayed on the display 51. The CPU 21 performs various arithmetic processing based on the control programs stored in the ROM 22. The RAM 23 temporarily stores data. That is, the CPU 21 controls the display 51, the speaker unit 53, the lighting unit 54, and the like connected to the control unit 20 based on the control programs stored in the ROM 22, while using the RAM 23 as a working area.

[0035] The remote control panel 50 also includes a connection unit 90 for connection with the image forming apparatus 1. The connection unit 90 includes a charging connector 55 connected to the power supply connector 73a of the image forming apparatus 1, and a wireless communication unit 91 for wireless communication with the image forming apparatus 1.

[0036] The wireless communication unit 91 has a command communication unit 92 connected to the CPU 21, and an image receiving unit 93 connected to the display 51. The CPU 21 generates instructions and notifications for the image forming apparatus 1, and transmits them to the command communication unit 82 of the image forming apparatus 1 via an antenna (not shown) of the command communication unit 92. The CPU 21 also receives instructions and information transmitted from the command communication unit 82 of the image forming apparatus 1 via the command communication unit 92.

[0037] The image receiving unit 93 receives image data transmitted from the image transmitting unit 83 of the image forming apparatus 1 via an antenna (not shown), converts the image data into image data to be displayed on the display 51, and displays the image data on the display 51. Note that, although the command communication unit 92 and the image receiving unit 93 are configured separately in the present embodiment, they may be configured to be integrated into a single communication line.

[0038] The remote control panel 50 also includes a panel power supply unit 56. The panel power supply unit 56 includes a battery 57 and a power generation unit 58. The battery 57 is the main power source of the remote control panel 50 and is composed of a rechargeable battery. When the charging connector 55 is connected to the power supply connector 73a of the image forming apparatus 1, power is supplied from the power supply device 17 of the image forming apparatus 1 to the battery 57, and the battery 57 is charged. The power generation unit 58 also adjusts the power of the battery 57 to a voltage that can be used by each device included in the remote control panel 50. When the power switch 52 is switched from off to on, the battery 57 is charged, and the power adjusted by the power generation unit 58 is supplied to the control unit 20, the display 51, the speaker unit 53, the lighting unit 54, and the connection unit 90.

[0039] <Communication system between image forming device and remote control panel> Next, a description will be given of a communication system between the image forming apparatus 1 and the remote operation panel 50. Here, a description will be given of a communication system between one remote operation panel 50 and two image forming apparatuses 1 (1a, 1b).

[0040] 6(a) is a schematic diagram of a communication system between the image forming apparatus 1 and the remote operation panel 50 via an access point 86. As shown in FIG. 6(a), the remote operation panel 50, two image forming apparatuses 1 (1a, 1b), and a PC 35 are connected via the access point 86. When a user turns on the power of the remote operation panel 50, the remote operation panel 50 notifies the image forming apparatuses 1 (1a, 1b) connected via the access point 86 of identification information of the remote operation panel 50 called an SSID stored in the ROM 22.

[0041] The image forming apparatus 1 compares the identification information notified from the remote operation panel 50 with the identification information list stored in the ROM 12. If there is a match, the image forming apparatus 1 responds to the remote operation panel 50 that the remote operation panel 50 can connect to the image forming apparatus 1. If there is no match, the image forming apparatus 1 responds to the remote operation panel 50 that the remote operation panel 50 cannot connect to the image forming apparatus 1.

[0042] The remote operation panel 50 displays on the display 51 a list of image forming devices 1 that have responded that they are connectable (see FIG. 9(a)). The user operates the remote operation panel 50 to select an image forming device 1 to be used from the list of connectable image forming devices 1 displayed on the display 51.

[0043] Fig. 6(b) is a schematic diagram of a Wi-Fi Direct connection between the image forming apparatus 1 and the remote operation panel 50. As shown in Fig. 6(b), when the image forming apparatus 1 to be used is selected from the remote operation panel 50, the connection between the image forming apparatus 1 and the remote operation panel 50 is switched from the connection via the access point 86 to the Wi-Fi Direct method by a connection sequence described later. This is because the Wi-Fi Direct method connection is superior in responsiveness of image display and operability compared to the connection via the access point 86.

[0044] In this embodiment, the remote control panel 50 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 via the access point 86, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the remote control panel 50 and the image forming apparatus 1 may be directly connected to each other without going through the access point 86, as in the WiFi Direct method.

[0045] <Wi-Fi Direct communication between image forming device and remote control panel> Next, communication between the image forming apparatus 1 and the remote operation panel 50 using the Wi-Fi Direct method will be described.

[0046] Fig. 7 is a transition diagram of communication in the Wi-Fi Direct system between the image forming apparatus 1 and the remote operation panel 50. As shown in Fig. 7, when a user selects an image forming apparatus 1 to be used from among the image forming apparatuses 1 connected to the remote operation panel 50 via the access point 86, a connection sequence for establishing communication in the Wi-Fi Direct system is started (S21, S31).

[0047] When the connection sequence is started, first, a negotiation request is transmitted from the command communication unit 92 of the remote operation panel 50 to the command communication unit 82 of the image forming apparatus 1 (S22). Next, the command communication unit 82 of the image forming apparatus 1 transmits a response signal to the command communication unit 92 of the remote operation panel 50 (S32). When the remote operation panel 50 receives the response signal, the connection sequence ends, and the remote operation panel 50 logs in to the image forming apparatus 1. This establishes communication via the Wi-Fi Direct method between the image forming apparatus 1 and the remote operation panel 50, enabling transmission and reception of information via the Wi-Fi Direct method.

[0048] Next, conditions for wireless communication such as communication speed and image compression rate are mutually set between image forming apparatus 1 and remote operation panel 50 via command communication units 82, 92 (S23, S33). After this setting is completed, a signal of the image stored in ROM 22 of image forming apparatus 1 is transmitted from image transmission unit 83 of image forming apparatus 1 to image reception unit 93 of remote operation panel 50 in response to an instruction from CPU 11 of image forming apparatus 1 (S34).

[0049] Next, the image receiving unit 93 of the remote operation panel 50 converts the received image signal and displays the image on the display 51. The remote operation panel 50 can display on the display 51 either an image stored in the ROM 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 or an image stored in the ROM 22 of the remote operation panel 50 in response to an instruction from the CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 1. Thereafter, when the user operates the display 51, the CPU 21 of the remote operation panel 50 transmits operation information of the display 51 to the command communication unit 82 of the image forming apparatus 1 via the command communication unit 92 (S24).

[0050] Here, CPU 21 transmits operation information of display 51 to image forming apparatus 1 as coordinate information. This will be described below. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing coordinate display on display 51 of remote operation panel 50. As shown in Fig. 8, display 51 is divided in both the X and Y directions. The number of divisions depends on the type of touch panel, etc., but in the resistive touch panel of this embodiment, it is divided into 2048 in the X direction and 1024 in the Y direction.

[0051] Coordinates are expressed as (X, Y) based on the origin (0, 0) according to the distance from the origin. For example, position P shown in FIG. 8 is located at a position 1024 away from the origin in the X direction and 512 away in the Y direction, and is expressed as coordinates (1024, 512). The coordinate data is transmitted from the touch panel 59 (FIG. 5) of the display 51 to the CPU 21 of the remote operation panel 50, and is transmitted from the command communication unit 92 to the image forming apparatus 1 in response to an instruction from the CPU 21. In this embodiment, since the communication between the image forming apparatus 1 and the remote operation panel 50 is 8 bits long, the numerical value of the coordinate data is divided by eight and transmitted. That is, when the coordinate is (1024, 512), it is replaced with (128, 64) and transmitted.

[0052] Based on the input coordinate data, the CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 determines which position the user has touched on the display 51 of the remote operation panel 50. Then, depending on the touched position, the CPU 11 issues instructions to the remote operation panel 50, such as sending image data, instructing the lighting unit 25 to turn on and off the sound from the speaker unit 53 (S35, 36).

[0053] <Remote control panel display screen> Next, the display screen of the remote control panel 50 will be described.

[0054] When the remote operation panel 50 is started, a device connection menu screen 40 shown in Fig. 9(a) is displayed on the display 51. The device connection menu screen 40 is a screen for establishing a connection with the image forming apparatus 1. The device connection menu screen 40 is stored in the ROM 22 in advance.

[0055] The device connection menu screen 40 is provided with a connection destination selection button 40d for selecting an image forming device 1 to which the remote operation panel 50 is to be connected. The connection destination selection button 40d is displayed with the device name of the image forming device 1 that the user has set by operating each image forming device 1. In this embodiment, the image forming device 1 with the device name "T1" and the image forming device 1 with the device name "T2" are image forming devices 1 to which the remote operation panel 50 can be connected, so two buttons displaying these device names are displayed.

[0056] The user selects the connection destination selection button 40d, which displays the device name of the image forming device 1 to which the user wishes to connect, and then selects the connection button 40b. This causes the remote operation panel 50 to connect to the image forming device 1 selected by the connection destination selection button 40d. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the remote operation panel 50 will connect to an image forming device 1 with a device name of "T1." When the user selects the non-connection button 40a on the device connection menu screen 40, the display screen of the display 51 transitions to another screen, and when the user selects the shutdown button 40c, the remote operation panel 50 is shut down.

[0057] Next, when the remote operation panel 50 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1, the main menu screen 41 shown in FIG. 9(b) is displayed on the display 51. The main menu screen 41 is stored in advance in the ROM 22. On the main menu screen 41, buttons for selecting functions that are generally installed in the image forming apparatus 1 are displayed. In this embodiment, a scan button 41a for instructing the image forming apparatus 1 to scan using the reader 14, a copy button 41b for instructing copying, and a fax button 41c for instructing fax transmission are displayed. Also displayed are a maintenance button 41d for a maintenance worker to perform maintenance, and a login button 41e for a user to log in to the remote operation panel 50 and the image forming apparatus 1.

[0058] When the user selects the copy button 41b, the display screen of the display 51 transitions to a copy setting screen (not shown). On the copy setting screen, the user can make settings related to the formation of images in the image forming apparatus 1, such as image density adjustment, color adjustment, and other image quality adjustments, and the number of copies. On the other hand, when the user selects the scan button 41a, the display screen of the display 51 transitions to a scan setting screen (not shown). On the scan setting screen, the user can make settings related to image reading, such as setting the resolution of the image to be read by the reader 14.

[0059] Furthermore, when the user selects the login button 41e, the login screen 42 shown in Fig. 9(c) is displayed on the display 51. The login screen 42 is pre-stored in the ROM 22. The login screen 42 is provided with an ID input section 42a where the user inputs an ID (user identification information) and a password input section 42b where the user inputs a password (user authentication information). The user inputs values ​​set by each user into the ID input section 42a and password input section 42b, and selects the login button 42c.

[0060] When the login button 42c is selected, the CPU 21 of the remote operation panel 50 compares the ID and password entered by the user with the list of IDs and passwords stored in the ROM 22. If the two match, the CPU 21 completes the login process for the user to the remote operation panel 50. This results in a login state in which authentication has been performed between the user and the remote operation panel 50. In other words, the CPU 21 is an authentication unit that authenticates the user who uses the remote operation panel 50.

[0061] After the login state is established between the user and the remote operation panel 50, the remote operation panel 50 transmits the ID and password entered by the user to the connected image forming apparatus 1. The CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 compares the ID and password transmitted from the remote operation panel 50 with the list of IDs and passwords stored in the ROM 12. If the two match, the CPU 11 completes the user's login process and responds to the remote operation panel 50 that the login was successful. This brings about a login state in which authentication has been performed between the user and the image forming apparatus 1. In other words, the CPU 11 is another authentication unit that authenticates the user who uses the remote operation panel 50.

[0062] In this embodiment, the user inputs an ID and a password when logging in to the remote operation panel 50 or the image forming apparatus 1, but other information may be input. The user identification information and user authentication information may be information stored in a magnetic card or an IC card, or biometric information such as a fingerprint. When the user selects a logout button 43f shown in Fig. 10(a) displayed on the display 51, the image forming apparatus 1 and the remote operation panel 50 perform a logout process to cancel the logged-in state. When the user selects the cancel button 42d on the login screen 42, the screen returns to the previous screen.

[0063] Next, when the user completes the login process for the remote control panel 50 and the image forming apparatus 1, the main menu screen 43 shown in FIG. 10(a) is displayed on the display 51. The main menu screen 43 is stored in advance in the ROM 22. The main menu screen 43 is a screen in which the login button 41e is deleted and a logout button 43f and a customize button 43e are added to the main menu screen 41 shown in FIG. 9(b). That is, the scan button 43a, the copy button 43b, the FAX button 43c, and the maintenance button 43d displayed on the main menu screen 43 are substantially the same as the scan button 41a, the copy button 41b, the FAX button 41c, and the maintenance button 41d displayed on the main menu screen 41. The main menu screen 43 is a screen that reflects settings related to the information display method described later.

[0064] Next, when the user selects the customize button 43e, a customize screen 44 shown in Fig. 10(b) is displayed on the display 51. The customize screen 44 is pre-stored in the ROM 22. The customize screen 44 is a screen for the user to make settings related to the display method of information to be displayed on the display 51.

[0065] Button 44a for setting the number of buttons, button 44b for setting the allocation of buttons, button 44c for selecting a background screen, button 44d for setting the button layout, and button 44e for setting the button shape are displayed on customization screen 44. By selecting any of buttons 44a to 44e, the user can make settings related to the display method of information to be displayed on display 51.

[0066] For example, when the user selects button 44d for setting the button layout, a button layout setting screen 45 shown in Fig. 11(a) is displayed on display 51. On button layout setting screen 45, three types of buttons 45a to 45c showing different button layouts, an OK button 45d, and a cancel button 45e for returning to customization screen 44 are displayed.

[0067] The user selects one of buttons 45a to 45c that displays the desired button layout, and selects OK button 45d. Here, it is assumed that the user selects button 45b. As a result, a save screen 46 shown in FIG. 11(b) is displayed on display 51. Save screen 46 is pre-stored in ROM 22. Save screen 46 displays a button 46a for saving the selected button layout settings in remote operation panel 50, a button 46b for saving the selected button layout settings in remote operation panel 50 and image forming apparatus 1, and a cancel button 46c for returning to the previous screen.

[0068] When the user selects button 46a, the button layout setting selected by the user on button layout setting screen 45 is saved in ROM 22 of remote operation panel 50. Specifically, the setting is saved in table T, which stores setting information related to the information display method shown in Fig. 12 and is generated in ROM 22. Note that although the case where the user selects button 44d for setting the button layout on customization screen 44 has been described here, the same process is performed when other buttons 44a, 44b, 44c, and 44e are selected.

[0069] In table T, the default settings and user settings are stored for each setting item. Table T can also store setting information for a number of users regarding the information display method, and each user's setting information is stored in association with an ID. For example, if a user with ID "5X5X" changes the button shape from the default setting, a value different from the default value and corresponding to the setting selected by the user, "2," is entered in table T. Also, if a user with ID "6X6X" changes the button assignment from the default setting, a value different from the default value and corresponding to the setting selected by the user, "2," is entered in table T. In this way, by storing the value corresponding to each item as setting information instead of storing the image itself, the capacity used to store setting information can be reduced.

[0070] Furthermore, the CPU 21 causes the display 51 to display information according to the numerical value stored in the table T. For example, when the numerical value of the button shape stored in the table T is different from a default value, the CPU 21 causes the display 51 to display information in a button shape that is different from the default button shape and that corresponds to this numerical value. In this embodiment, the CPU 21 refers to the table T at the time when the user logs in to the remote operation panel 50, and causes the display 51 to display the main menu screen 43 that reflects the setting regarding the method of displaying information associated with the user's ID.

[0071] Furthermore, when the user selects button 46b on save screen 46, CPU 21 rewrites the values ​​of table T in ROM 22 as described above, and then transmits the information of table T to command communication unit 82 of image forming apparatus 1 via command communication unit 92. CPU 11 of image forming apparatus 1 stores the received information of table T in ROM 12. As a result, the same information as the setting information related to the information display method stored in ROM 22 of remote operation panel 50 is stored in ROM 12 of image forming apparatus 1. In other words, table T, which is the setting information related to the information display method stored in remote operation panel 50, is backed up in the connected image forming apparatus 1.

[0072] Note that the CPU 21 may be configured to transmit the next information instead of transmitting all the information when transmitting the information of table T to the image forming apparatus 1. That is, the CPU 21 may be configured to compare the information of table T previously transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 with the information of table T currently stored in the ROM 22, and transmit only the information that differs between the two to the image forming apparatus 1. This reduces the amount of data communication and shortens the communication time.

[0073] In the present embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the table T, which is setting information, is stored in the ROM 12 of the image forming apparatus 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the table T may be stored in a storage area of ​​a server or the like provided outside the image forming apparatus 1.

[0074] <Restore sequence> As described above, if the remote operation panel 50 is dropped or otherwise subjected to an impact, damaging the system or data, the user presses the reset button 60 to return the remote operation panel 50 to its factory settings. In this case, the information on table T stored in ROM 22, i.e., the setting information on the information display method, is deleted. If the user were to reconfigure the information display method, this would impose a workload on the user. Therefore, the CPU 21 of the remote operation panel 50 executes a restoration sequence in response to an instruction from the user, thereby restoring the information on table T previously stored in ROM 22. The restoration sequence will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 13.

[0075] 13, first, when the CPU 21 receives from the touch panel 59 information that the user has selected the button 44f to be called from the main body on the customization screen 44, the CPU 21 transmits information that the button 44f has been selected to the image forming apparatus 1 (S1, S2). When the CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 receives the information that the button 44f has been selected, the CPU 11 determines whether or not there is setting information on the method of displaying information associated with the ID of the logged-in user in the table T stored in the ROM 12.

[0076] When the CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 determines that the setting information related to the information display method associated with the ID of the logged-in user does not exist in the table T of the ROM 12, it transmits a message to that effect to the remote operation panel 50. When the CPU 21 of the remote operation panel 50 receives information from the image forming apparatus 1 that the setting information related to the information display method is not stored, it displays a message to that effect on the display 51 and then ends the restoration sequence (S3, S4).

[0077] On the other hand, when the CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 determines that the setting information related to the display method of the information associated with the ID of the logged-in user exists in the table T of the ROM 12, the CPU 11 performs the following control. That is, the CPU 11 transmits the part of the information in the table T associated with the ID of the logged-in user to the remote operation panel 50.

[0078] When the CPU 21 of the remote operation panel 50 receives the information associated with the ID of the logged-in user in the table T from the image forming apparatus 1, the CPU 21 temporarily stores the received information in the RAM 23 (S5). After that, the CPU 21 displays on the display 51 a message for confirming whether or not to display a screen reflecting the setting information related to the information display method transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 (S6). If the user does not permit the display of the screen reflecting the setting related to the information display method, the CPU 21 ends the restoration sequence (S7).

[0079] Furthermore, if the user permits the display of a screen reflecting the setting regarding the information display method, CPU 21 causes display 51 to display information according to the setting information regarding the information display method stored in RAM 23 (S7, S8). In other words, CPU 21 changes the method of displaying information, such as the button shape, according to the setting information regarding the information display method transmitted from image forming apparatus 1.

[0080] Next, CPU 21 causes display 51 to display a message for confirming whether or not setting information regarding the display method of information transmitted from image forming apparatus 1 is to be stored in remote operation panel 50 (S9). If the user does not permit storage of setting information regarding the display method of information transmitted from image forming apparatus 1 in remote operation panel 50, CPU 21 ends the restoration sequence (S10).

[0081] Furthermore, when the user permits storage of setting information on the information display method transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 in the remote operation panel 50, the CPU 21 stores the setting information on the information display method stored in the RAM 23 in the table T of the ROM 22 (S10, S11). This restores the setting on the information display method previously set by the user. Note that the user can select the button 44f to be called from the main body even if the remote operation panel 50 has not been initialized. Therefore, when setting information on the information display method associated with the ID of the logged-in user is already stored in the table T, the CPU 21 confirms with the user whether or not to overwrite and then overwrites and saves. Thereafter, the CPU 21 ends the restoration sequence.

[0082] Thus, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the remote operation panel 50 can execute the restoration sequence to receive setting information related to the information display method stored in the ROM 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 and store it in the ROM 22. Therefore, even if the previously set setting related to the information display method is lost, the workload of the user to make the setting related to the information display method again can be reduced.

[0083] In the present embodiment, the number of buttons, button assignment, background screen, button arrangement, and button shape can be set as the setting related to the display method of information displayed on the display 51 of the remote operation panel 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which other display methods can be set is also possible.

[0084] In the present embodiment, the restoration sequence is started by the user selecting the button 44f to be called from the main body, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, for example, when the user logs in to the remote operation panel 50 and the image forming apparatus 1 for the first time after pressing the reset button 60, a screen for confirming whether or not to execute the restoration sequence may be displayed on the display 51. In addition, when the setting information regarding the display method of the information of the logged-in user is not stored in the ROM 22 of the remote operation panel 50 but is stored in the ROM 12 of the image forming apparatus 1, a screen for confirming whether or not to execute the restoration sequence may be displayed on the display 51. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1...Image forming device 11...CPU (other authentication unit) 12...ROM (second storage) 21...CPU (authentication section) 22...ROM (display control unit, first storage unit) 50...Remote control panel 51...Display (operation unit, display unit) A: Image forming system

Claims

1. an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet; a remote control device having a display unit for displaying information and an operation unit for inputting information, the remote control device being capable of setting an image formed by the image forming device by transmitting and receiving information to and from the image forming device via wireless communication; In an image forming system comprising: the remote control device includes a first storage unit that stores setting information related to a display method of information to be displayed on the display unit, the setting information being set by the operation unit; and a display control unit that causes the display unit to display information in accordance with the setting information stored in the first storage unit; the image forming apparatus includes a second storage unit configured to store the setting information transmitted from the remote control apparatus via wireless communication; when receiving an acquisition instruction from a user to acquire the setting information stored in the second storage unit, the remote control device is capable of receiving the setting information stored in the second storage unit from the image forming apparatus and storing the setting information in the first storage unit, When the setting information stored in the second storage unit is received, the display control unit displays on the display unit a confirmation screen for confirming whether or not to reflect the setting of the received setting information on the display unit.

1. An image forming system comprising:

2. the remote control device includes an authentication unit that authenticates a user who uses the remote control device, 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the first storage section stores a user authenticated by the authentication section and the setting information set by the user in association with each other.

3. The image forming system according to claim 2, characterized in that, when the authentication unit authenticates a user, the display control unit displays information on the display unit according to the setting information stored in the first storage unit in association with the user.

4. 4. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the first storage section is capable of storing a plurality of pieces of setting information set by a plurality of users authenticated by the authentication section.

5. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the image forming device is provided with another authentication unit that authenticates a user who uses the remote control device, and when the other authentication unit determines that the user who transmitted the setting information stored in the second memory unit from the remote control device to the image forming device is the same as the user who uses the remote control device, the image forming device transmits the setting information stored in the second memory unit to the remote control device.

6. An image forming system as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that when the remote control device transmits the setting information stored in the first memory unit to the image forming device, it transmits to the image forming device only the information that differs between the setting information transmitted last time and the setting information stored in the first memory unit.

7. when the display control unit receives the acquisition instruction from a user, the display control unit transmits, to the image forming apparatus, information indicating that the acquisition instruction has been received; when the image forming apparatus receives the information indicating that the acquisition instruction has been accepted, the image forming apparatus checks whether the setting information exists in the second storage unit.

2. The image forming system according to claim 1,

8. When the setting information does not exist in the second storage unit, the image forming device transmits information indicating that the setting information does not exist to the remote control device, when receiving information indicating that the setting information does not exist from the image forming apparatus, the display control unit displays a notification screen on the display unit to notify a user that the setting information is not stored.

8. The image forming system according to claim 7.

Images