Information display device and computer program

Abstract

To provide an information display device that informs a user of information to be confirmed with priority when displaying information regarding settings of processing to be executed by an operation target device on an operation screen displayed on a user interface.SOLUTION: An information display device 10 comprises a CPU 11. The CPU 11 executes processing for: determining priority information for prioritizing display from among contents that are not displayed on an operation screen that is displayed on a user interface and that contains a region that receives the execution of processing from a user; and displaying the determined priority information in the region in the operation screen.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information display device and a computer program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a user interface control device that controls an operation screen displayed on a user interface based on the settings of the operation screen, accepts input for changing the settings of the operation screen, and displays information regarding erroneous operation of the operation screen on the user interface when a setting change is made based on the input. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-237820 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In order to effectively utilize the operation screen displayed on the user interface, when information regarding the settings of the process to be executed by the device to be operated is displayed in the area that accepts the execution of the process, depending on the content of the displayed information, the intention of the information may not be correctly conveyed to the user.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an information display device and a computer program that conveys to the user information that should be checked first when displaying information regarding settings for processing to be executed by the device to be operated on an operation screen displayed in a user interface. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information display device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a processor, which determines priority information to be displayed from among content not displayed on an operation screen that includes an area displayed on a user interface that accepts processing execution from a user, and executes processing to display the determined priority information in the area on the operation screen.

[0007] An information display device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the information display device according to the first aspect, wherein the processor dynamically determines the priority information in response to changes in the content displayed on the operation screen.

[0008] An information display device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the information display device according to the second aspect, wherein the processor dynamically determines the priority information in response to a screen transition operation on the user interface.

[0009] An information display device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the information display device according to the third aspect, wherein the processor dynamically determines the priority information in response to a scroll operation on the user interface.

[0010] An information display device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the information display device according to the third aspect, wherein the processor dynamically determines the priority information in response to switching of screens based on a selection operation on the user interface.

[0011] An information display device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is an information display device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the processor determines the priority information based on values ​​specified for the settings of the process that the user intends to execute.

[0012] An information display device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is an information display device according to the sixth aspect, wherein the processor dynamically determines the priority information based on values ​​specified for the settings of the process that the user intends to execute.

[0013] An information display device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is an information display device according to the sixth aspect, wherein the processor determines the priority information using values ​​specified for the settings that are not displayed on the operation screen.

[0014] An information display device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is an information display device according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects, wherein the value is set based on the impact of the content on the cost required for the processing, the impact on the time required for the processing, and the impact on the security of the processing.

[0015] An information display device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is an information display device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the processor dynamically determines the priority information based on an order specified for the settings of the process that the user intends to execute.

[0016] A computer program according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention causes a computer to determine priority information to be displayed from content not displayed on an operation screen that includes an area displayed on a user interface that accepts processing execution from a user, and to execute a process to display the determined priority information in the area on the operation screen. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow the user to grasp the content that should be checked with priority from among the content that is not displayed on the operation screen.

[0018] According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make the user aware of the content that should be checked with priority in accordance with changes in the content displayed on the operation screen.

[0019] According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow the user to understand the content that should be checked with priority in accordance with the screen transition operation.

[0020] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow the user to grasp the content that should be checked with priority in response to the scroll operation.

[0021] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make the user understand the content that should be checked with priority in accordance with the screen switching.

[0022] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow the user to understand the content that should be checked with priority, based on the value designated for the setting.

[0023] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow the user to dynamically grasp the content that should be checked with priority.

[0024] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow the user to understand the contents that should be checked with priority, based on the values ​​specified for the settings that are not displayed on the operation screen.

[0025] According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, priority information determined using values ​​set based on the impact of the set content on the cost required for processing, the impact on the time required for processing, and the impact on the safety of the processing can be made to be understood by the user as the content whose settings should be checked with priority.

[0026] According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow the user to understand the contents that should be checked with priority based on the order specified for the settings.

[0027] According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow the user to grasp the content that should be checked with priority from among the content that is not displayed on the operation screen. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information display device according to an embodiment of the disclosed technology. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the information display device. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of information display processing by the information display device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed on a display unit. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed on a display unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed on a display unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface displayed on a display unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a table to be referenced when determining priority information. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a table to be referenced when determining priority information. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to designate identical or equivalent components and parts. The dimensional proportions of the drawings are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0030] 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an information display device 10 according to this embodiment. The information display device 10 has a printing function and a facsimile function, and may be an information processing device such as an image forming device that displays a graphical user interface (GUI), a smartphone, or the like.

[0031] 1, the information display device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a storage 14, an input unit 15, a display unit 16, and a communication interface (I / F) 17. Each component is connected to each other via a bus 19 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0032] The CPU 11 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each component. That is, the CPU 11 reads programs from the ROM 12 or storage 14 and executes the programs using the RAM 13 as a work area. The CPU 11 controls the above components and performs various arithmetic processing in accordance with the programs recorded in the ROM 12 or storage 14. In this embodiment, the ROM 12 or storage 14 stores an information display program that displays a graphical user interface.

[0033] The ROM 12 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 13 temporarily stores programs or data as a working area. The storage 14 is configured with a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), or flash memory, and stores various programs including the operating system and various data.

[0034] The input unit 15 includes a pointing device such as a mouse and a keyboard, and is used to perform various inputs.

[0035] The display unit 16 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various information. In this embodiment, the display unit 16 employs a touch panel system and also functions as the input unit 15.

[0036] The communication interface 17 is an interface for communicating with other devices, and uses standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), FDDI, and Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0037] When executing the information display program, the information display device 10 uses the hardware resources described above to realize various functions. The functional configuration realized by the information display device 10 will be described.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the information display device 10. As shown in FIG.

[0039] 2, the information display device 10 has, as its functional components, a collection unit 101, an acquisition unit 102, and a display control unit 103. Each functional component is realized by the CPU 11 reading and executing an information display program stored in the ROM 12 or the storage 14.

[0040] The collection unit 101 collects information about the information display device 10. The information to be collected may vary depending on the type of device the information display device 10 is. For example, if the information display device 10 is an image forming device, the collection unit 101 acquires, for example, the display status of the information on the display unit 16, print settings, transmission settings, the status of consumables, log information such as transmission records or setting records, and environmental information such as temperature or time. The environmental information may be acquired by a sensor provided in the information display device 10. The print settings may include, for example, the number of copies to be printed, paper size, printing side (single-sided or double-sided), number of pages per sheet, color settings (color or black and white), etc. The transmission settings may include the facsimile destination, paper size, transmission quality, etc. The collection unit 101 also acquires the status of the user interface displayed on the display unit 16.

[0041] The acquiring unit 102 acquires priority information to be displayed based on the information collected by the collecting unit 101. The priority information is, for example, an event that is currently occurring in the information display device 10, and is information that is not shown in the user interface displayed on the display unit 16.

[0042] More specifically, the acquiring unit 102 compares the information collected by the collecting unit 101 with information stored in the storage 14 or the like. Then, the acquiring unit 102 compares the information with the information to acquire priority information that is to be given priority for display.

[0043] The acquisition unit 102 may determine the priority information by dynamically acquiring the priority information in response to a change in the content displayed on the display unit 16. For example, the acquisition unit 102 may determine the priority information by dynamically acquiring the priority information in response to a screen transition operation on a user interface displayed on the display unit 16. Alternatively, for example, the acquisition unit 102 may determine the priority information by dynamically acquiring the priority information in response to a scroll operation on the user interface. Alternatively, for example, the acquisition unit 102 may determine the priority information by dynamically acquiring the priority information in response to a screen switching based on a selection operation on the user interface.

[0044] The acquisition unit 102 may acquire and determine priority information based on values ​​specified for the settings of a process that the user intends to execute through a user interface. In this case, the acquisition unit 102 may dynamically acquire and determine priority information based on values ​​specified for the settings of the process.

[0045] The acquiring unit 102 may also acquire and determine priority information using values ​​specified for settings not displayed on the operation screen. The values ​​may be set based on the impact of the contents on the cost required for processing executed by the information display device 10, the impact on the time required for processing, and the impact on the security of the processing. The impact on the cost required for processing includes, for example, the setting of the number of pages printed per sheet and the setting of whether or not to print in color. The impact on the time required for processing includes, for example, the setting of the number of copies to be printed and the setting of the number of copies to be sent. The impact on the security of processing includes, for example, whether the facsimile destination is registered in an address book and whether the facsimile destination exists in the past transmission history.

[0046] The display control unit 103 controls the display of the user interface on the display unit 16. Specifically, the display control unit 103 displays the acquired priority information in a predetermined area on the operation screen displayed on the user interface. Specific examples of the priority information displayed on the display unit 16 will be described later.

[0047] With this configuration, the information display device 10 according to this embodiment can display the information that should be given the highest priority from among the contents that are not displayed in the user interface displayed on the display unit 16. By displaying the information that should be checked with priority from among the contents that are not displayed in the user interface displayed on the display unit 16, the information display device 10 according to this embodiment can clearly communicate to the user the information that should be checked with priority.

[0048] Next, the operation of the information display device 10 will be described.

[0049] 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of information display processing by the information display device 10. The CPU 11 reads out an information display program from the ROM 12 or storage 14, loads it into the RAM 13, and executes it, thereby performing the information display processing.

[0050] The CPU 11 collects information of the information display device 10 (step S102) while displaying information on the display unit 16 (step S101). When the information display device 10 is an image forming device, the CPU 11 acquires, for example, the display state of the information on the display unit 16, print settings, transmission settings, the state of consumables, log information such as transmission records or setting records, and environmental information such as temperature or time, as described above.

[0051] Following step S102, CPU 11 acquires priority information that prioritizes display based on the information collected in step S102 (step S103). The priority information is, for example, information about an event that occurs when a process based on an operation instruction from a user to information display device 10 is executed. The priority information is also, for example, information about an event that is currently occurring in information display device 10.

[0052] Following step S103, the CPU 11 displays the acquired priority information in a predetermined area on the operation screen displayed on the user interface displayed on the display unit 16 (step S104).

[0053] Here, an example of a user interface displayed on the display unit 16 by the CPU 11 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the display unit 16 by the CPU 11. FIG. 4 shows an example of a user interface displayed on the display unit 16 in a state where the user is not performing any operation on the display unit 16 (default state). In this embodiment, a user interface is displayed on the display unit 16 such that the user can execute a predetermined process, such as printing or facsimile transmission, by touching a designation area 201 with their finger and sliding their finger to the right. Then, in the default state, the CPU 11 displays, in the designation area 201, settings that have been determined as priority information from among settings not displayed in the user interface. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the CPU 11 determines the print side setting as priority information and the print side setting is displayed in the designation area 201.

[0054] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on display unit 16 by CPU 11. FIG. 5 shows an example of a user interface displayed on display unit 16 when the setting for the number of copies displayed in FIG. 4 is no longer displayed due to a user scrolling operation of the user interface. When the setting for the number of copies displayed in FIG. 4 is no longer displayed and CPU 11 determines the setting for the number of copies as the priority information, CPU 11 displays the setting for the number of copies as the priority information in designation area 201 instead of the setting for the print side. In the example of FIG. 5, the setting for the print side is displayed on display unit 16, but even when the setting for the number of copies is no longer displayed, the setting for the print side continues to be displayed. When CPU 11 determines the setting for the print side as the priority information, the setting for the print side is displayed in designation area 201, as in FIG. 4.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on display unit 16 by CPU 11. FIG. 6 shows an example of a user interface displayed on display unit 16 when the setting for the number of copies displayed in FIG. 4 is no longer displayed due to a user scrolling operation of the user interface. When the setting for the number of copies displayed in FIG. 4 is no longer displayed and CPU 11 determines that information about the remaining amount of toner is the priority information, CPU 11 displays the information about the remaining amount of toner as the priority information in designation area 201 instead of the setting for the print side. In the example of FIG. 6, the setting for the print side is displayed on display unit 16, but even when the setting for the number of copies is no longer displayed, the setting for the print side continues to be displayed. When CPU 11 determines that the setting for the print side is the priority information, the setting for the print side is displayed in designation area 201, as in FIG. 4.

[0056] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the display unit 16 by the CPU 11. Fig. 7 shows an example in which the content of information displayed in the designation area 201 changes as the user scrolls the user interface. Fig. 7(A) shows an example in which the CPU 11 determines the print side setting as priority information, and the print side setting is displayed in the designation area 201, similar to Fig. 4.

[0057] When the user's hand U scrolls the user interface displayed on the display unit 16 upward from the state shown in Fig. 7(A) and the setting for the number of copies displayed in Fig. 7(A) disappears as shown in Figs. 7(B) and (C), the CPU 11 displays, in place of the setting for the print side as shown in Fig. 7(D), a setting for whether to print two pages per sheet (whether to perform 2-up printing) as priority information in the instruction area 201. When changing the information displayed in the instruction area 201, the CPU 11 may also scroll the display in the instruction area 201 in response to the scroll operation, as shown in Figs. 7(C) and (D).

[0058] Next, an example of a table that the CPU 11 refers to when determining priority information is shown. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a table that the CPU 11 refers to when determining priority information. Fig. 8 shows an example of a table set for copy function settings. In the example of Fig. 8, the importance of the functions increases in order of number of copies setting, double-sided copy setting, color / monochrome setting, paper quality setting, and remaining toner amount, and a table is shown in which a score is set for each of them.

[0059] The CPU 11 assigns a score of 0 to setting items currently displayed on the display unit 16, and calculates scores for setting items not displayed according to the table in FIG. 8. In the case of a tie, the CPU 11 gives priority to the item with the higher importance of the function. In the case of a tie, the CPU 11 may display all applicable items. In this case, the CPU 11 may switch the display in order of importance at regular intervals.

[0060] For example, if the settings displayed on display unit 16 are the number of copies, double-sided printing, and 2-up printing, and the CPU 11 acquires the items not displayed on display unit 16 and the status of information display device 10, it finds that the remaining toner is more than 10%, the paper quality of the printing paper is plain paper, and the color / monochrome setting is color printing. In this case, CPU 11 displays the information about the color / monochrome setting in designation area 201 because the score for the color / monochrome setting being color printing is 10 points, which is higher than the scores set for the other settings.

[0061] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a table that the CPU 11 refers to when determining priority information. The table shown in Fig. 9 is an example of a table set for the settings of the facsimile function. The example in Fig. 9 shows a table in which scores are set for each of the following functions, with the order of importance considered to be increasing: the number of destinations, whether or not there are overseas destinations, and whether or not there are numbers not in the address book.

[0062] The CPU 11 assigns a score of 0 to setting items currently displayed on the display unit 16, and calculates scores for setting items that are not displayed according to the table in FIG. 9. In the case of a tie, the CPU 11 gives priority to the item with the higher importance of the function. In the case of a tie, the CPU 11 may display all applicable items. In this case, the CPU 11 may switch the display in order of importance at regular intervals.

[0063] For example, suppose that the number of destinations displayed on display unit 16 is the number of destinations, and CPU 11 retrieves an item not displayed on display unit 16 and finds that the destinations include a fax number not in the address book and an overseas destination. In this case, CPU 11 assigns a score of 10 points to both the case where the destinations include a fax number not in the address book and the case where the destinations include an overseas destination. Therefore, CPU 11 displays information in designation area 201 indicating that the destinations include a fax number not in the address book, which is a high level of functional importance. In this case, CPU 11 may alternate between displaying information indicating that the destinations include a fax number not in the address book and information indicating that the destinations include an overseas destination, at regular intervals, in designation area 201.

[0064] 8 and 9 show examples of tables in which scores are predetermined for function settings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. CPU 11 may predetermine the priority of information to be displayed in designation area 201. For example, CPU 11 may display in designation area 201 the setting item with the highest priority from among setting items not displayed on the screen.

[0065] In the above embodiments, the information display process executed by the CPU after reading the software (program) may be executed by various processors other than the CPU. Examples of such processors include programmable logic devices (PLDs) such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), whose circuit configuration can be changed after fabrication, and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), which are dedicated electrical circuits that are processors with circuit configurations specifically designed to execute specific processes. The information display process may be executed by one of these processors, or by a combination of two or more processors of the same or different types (e.g., multiple FPGAs, or a combination of a CPU and an FPGA). The hardware structure of these processors is, more specifically, an electrical circuit that combines circuit elements such as semiconductor devices.

[0066] In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the information display processing program is described as being pre-stored (installed) in a ROM or storage, but this is not limiting. The program may be provided in a form recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory), or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. The program may also be downloaded from an external device via a network.

[0067] In each of the above embodiments, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0068] Furthermore, the operations of the processor in each of the above embodiments may be performed not only by a single processor but also by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments and may be changed as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 10 Information display device 201 Instruction area

Claims

1. a processor; The processor: determining priority information to be displayed based on a score or ranking from among contents not displayed on an operation screen including an area displayed on a user interface that accepts execution of a process in response to a slide operation from a user; The determined priority information is displayed in the area on the operation screen. An information display device that executes processing.

2. The information display device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor dynamically determines the priority information in response to a change in content displayed on the operation screen.

3. The information display device according to claim 2 , wherein the processor dynamically determines the priority information in response to a screen transition operation on the user interface.

4. The information display device according to claim 3 , wherein the processor dynamically determines the priority information in response to a scroll operation on the user interface.

5. The information display device according to claim 3 , wherein the processor dynamically determines the priority information in response to a screen switching based on a selection operation on the user interface.

6. 6. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the processor determines the priority information based on a value specified for a setting of a process that the user intends to execute.

7. The information display device according to claim 6 , wherein the processor dynamically determines the priority information based on a value specified for a setting of a process that the user intends to execute.

8. The information display device according to claim 6 , wherein the processor determines the priority information using a value designated for the setting that is not displayed on the operation screen.

9. An information display device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the value is set based on the impact of the content on the cost required for the processing, the impact on the time required for the processing, and the impact on the safety of the processing.

10. 10. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the processor dynamically determines the priority information based on an order specified for a setting of a process that the user is to execute.

11. On the computer, determining priority information to be displayed based on a score or ranking from among contents not displayed on an operation screen including an area displayed on a user interface that accepts execution of a process in response to a slide operation from a user; The determined priority information is displayed in the area on the operation screen. A computer program that executes a process.

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