Image processing device, control method thereof, and program

Abstract

To solve the problem in which: from a plurality of buttons, a button desired by a user can be preferentially displayed to improve usability, but that is not necessarily effective for all the users.SOLUTION: Setting means is provided which sets a function to preferentially display a button effective or ineffective.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Image processing devices display a menu screen on the operation unit that contains multiple buttons for executing the device's functions, such as copying and scanning. Users can change the settings and execute functions by pressing the buttons on the menu screen. As the number of functions available to image processing devices continues to increase, the number of buttons displayed on the menu screen is also increasing.

[0003] A technique has been disclosed for rearranging buttons displayed on a menu screen according to the state of the image processing device to make it easier for users to find the desired button on the menu screen (Patent Document 1). For example, when a document of a specific paper size is placed on the scanner of the image processing device, the image processing device rearranges buttons related to processing the document to the top of the menu screen. There is also a method for giving priority to displaying buttons desired by the user based on the user's button usage history, etc. (Patent Document 2).

[0004] By preferentially displaying buttons that the user may desire in this way, the user can more easily find the desired button from among a large number of buttons. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-117158 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-236028 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As described above, automatically rearranging buttons based on the user's button usage history, etc., makes it easier for the user to find the desired button. However, depending on the user and the environment in which the device is used, rearranging the buttons may actually be irritating to the user. For example, if a user memorizes the button order before using the device, rearranging the buttons based on the usage history, etc., will confuse the user because the buttons are displayed in an order different from the memorized order. In other words, while automatically rearranging buttons can improve convenience, it may also reduce convenience. These issues have not been considered in the past.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for improving the convenience of a device that automatically rearranges buttons. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] an image processing device having a plurality of functions including a plurality of image processing functions, wherein a display control means displays a plurality of buttons for executing functions corresponding to the plurality of functions on a predetermined screen of the image processing device; a storage means for storing the settings received on the predetermined screen; a sorting means for automatically sorting the plurality of buttons, The display control means a setting means for setting the rearrangement of the plurality of buttons by the rearrangement means to be valid or invalid; include the predetermined screen of Display, the storage means stores a setting for enabling or disabling the rearrangement of the plurality of buttons by the rearrangement means as a device setting common to users of the image processing device; The image processing device is characterized in that the rearrangement means rearranges the buttons when the setting means is set to enable rearrangement, and does not rearrange the buttons when the setting means is set to disable rearrangement. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the convenience of a device that automatically rearranges buttons is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the software configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 6 is a flowchart illustrating a screen display process according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an order update process according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a user information table according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing when a switching button is pressed in the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing when a switching button is pressed in a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which a user can select a button arrangement order in the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an order update process according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a user information table according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, an image processing device will be used as an example of an information processing device, but this does not limit the scope of the present invention as claimed. Furthermore, not all of the combinations of features described in this embodiment are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention.

[0012] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of an image processing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] The control unit 10 controls the operation of each unit of the image processing device 1. The control unit 10 includes a CPU 100, a communication unit 101, a RAM 102, a HDD 103, a ROM 104, a timer 105, and a FAX unit .

[0014] The CPU 100 controls the entire control unit 10. The communication unit 101 transmits and receives data via a LAN 11. The LAN 11 is a network for exchanging data with external devices, and the image processing device 1 is connected to the Internet via this LAN 11.

[0015] The RAM 102 provides a system work memory for the CPU 100 to operate. The HDD 103 is a hard disk drive, and may be other storage devices such as a magnetic disk, optical media, or flash memory, or a combination of these. The HDD 103 can store job data, setting data, and the like. The HDD 103 does not have to be located within the image processing device 1. For example, an external server, personal computer, or the like may be used as a storage device via the communication unit 101.

[0016] The ROM 104 is a boot ROM that stores a boot program for the system. The CPU 100 uses the boot ROM of the ROM 104 to load a program installed in the HDD 103 into the RAM 102, and performs various controls based on the program.

[0017] The timer 105 counts time in accordance with instructions from the CPU 100, and when the specified time has elapsed, notifies the CPU 100 by an interrupt or the like. The fax unit 106 transmits and receives fax data via the telephone line 14.

[0018] The display / operation unit 12 is controlled by the control unit 10 and includes a display unit 120 and an input unit 121. The display unit 120 is a display for displaying information about the image processing device to the user. The input unit 121 accepts input from the user through an interface such as a touch panel, a mouse, a camera, a voice input, or a keyboard. The input unit 121 may also be a non-contact user interface that allows input operations to be performed without touching the operation unit.

[0019] The image processing unit 13 is controlled by the control unit 10 and includes an image analysis unit 130 , an image generation unit 131 , and an image output unit 132 .

[0020] The image analysis unit 130 analyzes the structure of the document image and extracts necessary information from the analysis results.

[0021] The image generation unit 131 reads (for example, scans) an original document, digitizes the image of the original document, generates image data, and stores the image data in the HDD 103. The image generation unit 131 can also generate original image data in a different format using information analyzed by the image analysis unit 130.

[0022] The image output unit 132 outputs image data stored in the HDD 103, etc. Examples of the output method include printing the image data of the original on paper, transmitting it to an external device, server, facsimile machine, etc. connected to the network via the communication unit 101, or saving it in a storage medium connected to the image processing device 1.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a software configuration that is a function of the image processing device 1. As shown in FIG.

[0024] The image processing device 1 has, as its functional modules, an authentication processing unit 201, a user information management unit 202, a job processing unit 203, an operation processing unit 204, a device information management unit 205, and an order change processing unit 206. Each of these functional units is realized when the CPU 100 loads a program installed in the HDD 103 into the RAM 102 using the boot ROM of the ROM 104 and executes the program.

[0025] The authentication processing unit 201 executes login / logout processing received from the user. When input of a user ID and password is received from the user, authentication is performed based on the received information. If authentication is successful, processing previously associated with the authenticated user is performed.

[0026] The user information management unit 202 manages information about users authenticated by the authentication processing unit 201 for each user. For example, by managing the language (e.g., English, Japanese, etc.) used when using the image processing device 1, the language to be used can be switched for each user. Furthermore, print jobs received from an external device via the communication unit 101 can be managed for each user who submitted the job. Furthermore, the user information management unit 202 can manage, for each user, information about the order of buttons displayed on the menu screen (e.g., 602) and / or information used when changing the order of buttons (e.g., information about the user's button usage history). Information about the user's past button order is also stored. Here, the menu screen refers to a portal screen on which multiple buttons are arranged for executing various functions, including the image processing function of the image processing device 1. The order of the buttons can be automatically changed according to the user's button usage history, etc. Furthermore, the user information management unit 202 manages, for each user, information about whether to automatically change the order of buttons displayed on the menu screen. That is, the setting of whether to change the order of buttons according to the button usage history, etc., is managed for each user.

[0027] The job processing unit 203 processes various jobs to be executed by the image processing device 1. Specifically, the job processing unit 203 controls the image generation unit 131 to execute a scan job, controls the image output unit 132 to execute a print job, and controls the communication unit 101 to execute a transmission job.

[0028] The operation processing unit 204 controls the display unit 120 to display various information for the user. The operation processing unit 204 also receives and processes operation instructions input from the user via the input unit 121.

[0029] The device information management unit 205 manages information relating to the entire image processing device 1. Specific examples of information managed by the device information management unit 205 include an IP address assigned to the device, setting values ​​common to all users who use the device, etc. Note that the device information management unit 205 can also manage the same type of information as the information managed by the user information management unit 202.

[0030] The order change processing unit 206 performs processing to change the order of buttons displayed on the menu screen. For example, it determines the display priority of buttons based on the user's button usage history (for example, it displays buttons with a higher frequency of use at the top). The method of determining the display priority of buttons is not limited to this, and multiple methods may be used. For example, it may be possible to determine the display priority of buttons depending on the state of the image processing device 1 (for example, if paper is placed on the scanner of the image processing device 1, a button for performing a scan process is displayed preferentially). The following description will be given taking as an example a case where the display order of buttons is determined based on the button usage history, but the method of determining the button order is not limited to this. As described above, the button order may be determined depending on the state, or the button order may be determined taking into account the state of the image processing device 1 and the button usage history.

[0031] Here, the image processing device 1 may have a configuration that does not include the authentication processing unit 201 and the user information management unit 202. In that case, however, the device information management unit 205 performs the same processing as the user information management unit 202, and all users are treated as one user without distinction.

[0032] Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the process of displaying the menu screen. Each step in Fig. 3 is realized by the CPU 100 of the image processing device 1 executing a program. The program to be executed is called from the ROM 104 and executed.

[0033] In S301, the operation processing unit 204 receives a display instruction for a menu screen from a user. Here, the display instruction may be detection of the presence of a user in front of the image processing device 1, the user operating the display / operation unit 12, or user authentication. When the screen display instruction is received, the process proceeds to S302.

[0034] In S302, the order change processing unit 206 performs processing to update the order of buttons displayed on the menu screen (details of the processing will be described later with reference to FIG. 5). After the button order update processing, the process proceeds to S303.

[0035] In S303, the operation processing unit 204 displays the menu screen according to the button order changed in S302. An example of the displayed menu screen is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4(a) shows the first page of the menu screen, and FIG. 4(b) shows the second page. Here, the buttons are displayed so that the buttons most frequently used by the user are at the top of the order. When the user presses the page forward button 405, lower-order buttons are displayed, and when the user presses the page backward button 406, higher-order buttons are displayed. In this embodiment, the further to the left a button is, the higher its display priority is. The page forward button 405 and the page backward button 406 are hidden if there are no lower-order or higher-order buttons, respectively. The function buttons 401 to 403 and 407 to 409 are used to execute processes using functions possessed by the image processing device 1. Pressing these buttons opens a setting screen or executes a process. As shown in the button table 620 in FIG. 6, the device information management unit 205 manages information about the buttons displayed on the menu screen. The button ID 621 column is a column that defines an identifier for uniquely identifying a button. The button name 622 column is a column that defines the name of the button. The call function 623 column is a column that defines the function that is executed when the button is selected by the user. The setting value 624 column is a column that defines the setting value that is assigned as a parameter when the function is executed. The buttons defined in the button table 620 are displayed in a predetermined order on a menu screen consisting of multiple pages. Also, it is not necessary for all of the buttons defined in the button table 620 to be displayed on the menu screen. Some buttons may be stored as button information but not displayed on the menu screen.

[0036] Furthermore, when the user presses the switch button 406, the user can switch between enabling and disabling automatic button rearrangement by the system. In other words, the user can switch between changing and disabling the button rearrangement depending on the user's button usage history. The setting of enabling / disabling automatic button rearrangement is stored for each user as an automatic rearrangement setting.

[0037] 5 is a flowchart when the system performs the sorting order update process (S302). Each step in FIG. 5 is processed by the CPU 100 of the image processing device 1 executing a program. The program to be executed is called from the ROM 104 and executed.

[0038] In S501, the automatic sorting setting 601 of the user who has logged in to the image processing device 1 is read from the user information management table 600 ( FIG. 6 ) managed by the user information management unit 202, and the process proceeds to S502. The automatic sorting setting 601 is switched between enabled and disabled, for example, by operating the switch button 406. As shown in the user information management table 600, the user information management unit 202 stores a button order 602 indicating the display order of buttons on the menu screen and the automatic sorting setting 601, in association with each user. Buttons are displayed on the menu screen in the display order indicated by the button order 602. For example, in the case of User A, the buttons are most frequently used in the order of Copy button, Scan and Send button, Fax button, Print All button, and Send to Me button, and are displayed on the menu screen in this order.

[0039] In S502, if the automatic sorting setting 601 read out in S501 indicates "enabled", the process proceeds to S503, and if it indicates "disabled", the sort order update process ends.

[0040] In S503, processing is performed to change the order of buttons displayed on the menu screen. Specifically, the button order 602 of the user who is logged in to the image processing device 1 is updated based on the button usage history stored in the user information management unit 202.

[0041] For more detailed explanation, an operation history table 610 will be used. The operation history table 610 is a table showing the number of times each user has used a button. Here, the operation history table for user B is shown. Each row indicates one job execution, and the identifier of the executed button is stored in association with the execution date and time, etc. The number of times each job is executed, i.e., the number of times each button is used, is counted, and the button order 602 is updated so that the button used more frequently is displayed at the top. In other words, if a job is executed multiple times on the image processing device 1, the button used more frequently is automatically reordered to the front. This update process in S503 does not need to be performed at this timing; it may be updated each time a user uses a button on the menu screen. For a user who has never executed a job on the image processing device 1, the menu screen is displayed in the default order (e.g., the factory default order). If this user uses the image processing device 1 with automatic order reordering disabled, the buttons will always be displayed in the default order.

[0042] Through the processing of the above flowchart, users who have enabled the automatic sorting setting can have frequently used buttons displayed preferentially on the menu screen, eliminating the need to search for the desired button. On the other hand, when the automatic sorting setting is disabled, the button order is fixed regardless of the button usage history, which is convenient for users who memorize the button display positions when selecting a button. In this way, the user can decide whether or not to change the button display order depending on the operation history. Furthermore, the process for changing the button order is not limited to a method based on the button usage history. For example, the button order 602 may be updated based on the device status (e.g., status information such as whether a document is loaded on the scanner) held by the device information management unit 205.

[0043] 7 is a flowchart illustrating details of processing when a user operates the switching button 406. Each step in FIG. 7 is processed by the CPU 100 of the image processing device 1 executing a program. The program to be executed is called from the ROM 104 and executed.

[0044] In S701, a user operation to switch between enabling and disabling automatic rearrangement of buttons displayed on the menu screen is accepted. Here, the switching operation may be performed by operating the switching button 406, or the switching operation may be accepted on a settings screen different from the menu screen, a dialog box, or the like. When a user switching operation is accepted, the process proceeds to S702.

[0045] In S702, the automatic sorting setting is recorded in the user information table 600 as a result of the switching operation accepted in S701, and the process proceeds to S703.

[0046] In S703, it is determined whether the user operation accepted in S701 enables or disables automatic sorting, and if it is disabled, the process ends, and if it is enabled, the process proceeds to S704. Here, if the user disables automatic sorting, it is possible not to record the number of times the button is used using the operation history table 610 thereafter. This makes it possible to save storage capacity in the image processing device 1.

[0047] In S704, a button order update process is performed when automatic sorting is enabled. In the order change process in S704, the order of buttons displayed on the menu screen is changed based on the button usage history stored in the user information management unit 202. Specifically, the operation history table 610 is referenced to count the number of times each button has been used, and the button order is changed so that buttons used more frequently are displayed at the top. The operation history referenced here may refer to all usage history up to the time automatic sorting was enabled this time, or may refer to only usage history from before the last time automatic sorting was disabled. By referencing usage history from before the last time automatic sorting was disabled, the button order from the last time automatic sorting was disabled can be restored. In this case, as shown in 611 in the operation history table 610, the button usage history and the enable / disable information of the automatic sorting setting are stored in association with each other.

[0048] For example, suppose a user who has a set of frequently used buttons for routine tasks enables automatic sorting and uses a menu screen that prioritizes the display of the frequently used buttons. If the user is assigned a task other than the routine task for a certain month and the frequently used buttons are changed, the display priority of the frequently used buttons for the routine task will decrease. Then, when the user resumes the routine task, the frequently used buttons will not be displayed with priority, which is inconvenient for the user. Taking such cases into consideration, automatic sorting can be disabled and the button order will not be changed only for the month in which the user performs a task other than the routine task. Then, when the user resumes the routine task, automatic sorting can be enabled and the user can use a menu screen that prioritizes the display of the frequently used buttons for the routine task. Furthermore, when automatic sorting is enabled, the default button order stored in the device information management unit 205 may be applied without using the operation history.

[0049] By performing the processing of the above flowchart, the user can switch whether or not to automatically change the order of buttons at the desired timing. Here, an example has been shown in which the setting to enable or disable automatic rearrangement can be set for each user, but this is not limiting, and the setting to enable or disable may also be provided as a device setting common to the image processing device 1.

[0050] (Second embodiment) In the first embodiment, when automatic sorting is enabled, a process for changing the button order is performed. In the second embodiment, an example is shown in which, when the process for changing the button order is performed, multiple patterns of order are presented to the user, allowing the user to select a desired order. Since the basic configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the differences are shown.

[0051] The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the flowchart in FIG. 7 is changed to the processing in the flowchart in FIG.

[0052] Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the details of processing performed when a user operation to switch whether automatic sorting is enabled is received in this embodiment. Each step in Fig. 8 is processed by the CPU 100 of the image processing device 1 executing a program. The program is called from the ROM 104 and executed. The difference from Fig. 7 is that S704 has been changed from S801 to S803.

[0053] In S801, if the user operation accepted in S701 is an operation to enable automatic sorting, the operation processing unit 204 presents a plurality of button order candidates to the user. Fig. 9 shows an example of a screen presenting button order candidates. Two order candidates 902 are displayed in a dialog 901.

[0054] To explain the button order presented here, we will use the order history table 630 in Fig. 6. The order history table 630 is a table for storing the user's past button order. As an example, it stores the button order the last time the user disabled automatic button rearrangement, the button order the last time the user enabled automatic button rearrangement, etc. Each time automatic button rearrangement is enabled or disabled, the button order on the menu screen at that time is stored in the order history table 630.

[0055] Examples of button order candidates to be presented include a default order held by the device information management unit 205, a button order based on the number of times all buttons have been used up until the current automatic sorting is enabled, and a button order when automatic sorting was previously disabled or enabled. Other examples include an order preset by the user or an order set by an administrator of the image processing device 1. At least two of these are displayed on the display unit 120 so that the user can compare them, and the process proceeds to S802. The user may be able to set in advance which candidate order to present.

[0056] In S802, the operation processing unit 204 determines whether or not a user selection operation has been accepted for the sort order candidates displayed on the display unit 120 in S801. Specifically, it detects whether or not the apply button 1103 has been pressed. If a user selection operation has been accepted, the process proceeds to S803; if not, the process of S802 is repeated.

[0057] In S803, the button order candidate selected by the user in S802 is reflected in the button order displayed on the menu screen. Here, all button usage history other than that corresponding to the selected button order candidate may be deleted. For example, if the default order is selected, all previous button usage history may be deleted and a new count of button usage may be started.

[0058] By performing the above processing, when the user enables automatic sorting, the user can select a button order that is closer to their intention, improving user convenience. Here, an example is shown in which candidates are presented when automatic sorting is enabled, but candidates may also be presented when automatic sorting is disabled. This allows the user to choose whether to fix the button order in the current button order, or to fix the button order after changing to the default order.

[0059] (Third embodiment) In the third embodiment, a method for restoring buttons to their original order before they were rearranged based on the number of times they were used will be described. For example, if the user continues to use the image processing device 1 without disabling automatic rearrangement after the desired button order has been achieved, and an unexpected task or the like causes the number of times a button that is not normally used to be used to increase, causing the desired order to be changed, the desired order can still be restored. The basic configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, so only the differences will be described.

[0060] Fig. 10 shows an example of the menu screen of this embodiment. The difference from Fig. 4 is that a return to previous button 1007 is displayed. When the return to previous button 1007 is pressed, the button order can be restored to the order before the button rearrangement.

[0061] The processing performed when the undo button 1007 is pressed will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 11. Each step in Fig. 11 is processed by the CPU 100 of the image processing device 1 executing a program. The program to be executed is called from the ROM 104 and executed.

[0062] In S1101, the operation processing unit 204 accepts an operation on the back button 1007 from the user, and the process proceeds to S902.

[0063] In S1102, the order change history stored in the user information management unit 202 is read. Here, the order change history is information indicating the past order of buttons. In this embodiment, in order to store this history, when the button order is changed in S503, information indicating the order of buttons before the change is stored in the user information management unit 202. After the order change history is read, the process proceeds to S1103.

[0064] In S1103, the order change processing unit 206 displays buttons on the menu screen based on the order change history read in S1102. In other words, the button order before the rearrangement is restored. At this time, the button usage history from the previous rearrangement to the current rearrangement may be deleted.

[0065] By performing the above process, even if the button order is not what the user desires, the order can be restored.

[0066] (Fourth embodiment) In the above embodiments, the order of buttons displayed on the menu screen was changed based on the usage history of the buttons on the menu screen. However, it is also possible to use factors other than the usage history of the buttons as factors for changing the order of the buttons. For example, the state of the device. If paper is loaded on the scanner of the image processing device 1, it is possible to rearrange the buttons so that buttons for scanning are displayed preferentially. The fourth embodiment shows an example in which, in a device that automatically rearranges buttons based on multiple elements, it is possible to set whether or not to enable automatic button rearrangement for each element. The basic configuration of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, so only the differences will be shown.

[0067] A setting screen 1401 in FIG. 14 shows an example of a setting screen related to button rearrangement in this embodiment. Buttons 1403 for switching whether or not to rearrange buttons on the menu screen automatically, button 1404 for switching whether or not to rearrange buttons based on the button usage history, and button 1405 for switching whether or not to rearrange buttons based on the device status are displayed. In other words, it is possible to set whether or not to rearrange buttons for each element for rearranging buttons. For example, if both button 1404 for switching whether or not to rearrange buttons based on the button usage history and button 1405 for switching whether or not to rearrange buttons based on the device status are enabled, the buttons on the menu screen are rearranged based on both the usage history and the device status. If one is disabled, the buttons are rearranged based on the other element. The elements for rearrangement are not limited to the two shown here.

[0068] Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing when the system performs the sorting order update processing (S302). Each step in Fig. 12 is processed by the CPU 100 of the image processing device 1 executing a program. The program is called from the ROM 104 and executed. Here, two elements, A (button usage history) and B (state of the image processing device 1), are provided as elements for rearranging buttons, and the image processing device 1 will be described as executing sorting change processing A (arranging buttons based on usage history) and B (arranging buttons according to the state of the image processing device 1).

[0069] In S1201, the sort order change processing unit 206 reads out the sorting settings set on the setting screen 1401, and the process proceeds to S1202. The sorting settings set on the setting screen 1401 are managed in 1301 of the user information management table 1300 in FIG.

[0070] In S1202, the order change processing unit 206 checks whether the order change processing A is valid from the information read out in S1201, and if it is valid, the process proceeds to S1203, and if it is invalid, the process proceeds to S1204 and subsequent steps.

[0071] In S1203, the order change processing unit 206 executes the order change processing A, and after the execution, the process proceeds to S1204.

[0072] In S1204, the order change processing unit 206 checks whether order change processing B is valid from the information read out in S1201, and if it is valid, the process proceeds to S1205, and if it is not valid, the process ends. In S1205, the order change processing unit 206 executes order change processing B and ends the process. If the process of S1203 has been performed at this time, the order change processing B is further applied to the order after order change processing A has been performed. Alternatively, the button order is determined taking into account both elements of order change processing A and order change processing B.

[0073] By performing the above process, it becomes possible to provide a button order change process that is closer to the user's intention, thereby improving user convenience.

[0074] In the first embodiment, as an example of a menu screen, as shown in FIG. 4, function buttons 401 to 403 associated with functions of the image processing apparatus and a switching button 406 are displayed on the same screen. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, when a menu button 1401 or a similar button is pressed, switching buttons 1403 to 1405 may be displayed on a different screen or dialog, and a user's switching operation may be accepted on that screen / dialog. Similarly, not only the switching button 406 but also the order restore button 1007 may be displayed on a different screen or dialog from the function buttons 401 to 403. The switching button 406 and the order restore button 1007 may be displayed on the same screen or dialog, or may be displayed on different screens or dialogs.

[0075] (Other embodiments) In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which buttons on the menu screen were rearranged based on the number of times the buttons were used, but the configuration for displaying buttons with priority is not limited to rearranging the buttons. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which frequently used buttons are displayed larger or highlighted based on the number of times the buttons are used. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which only frequently used buttons are displayed on the menu screen and the other buttons are hidden.

[0076] The present invention can also be realized by executing the following process: This process involves supplying software (programs) that realize the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and having the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device read and execute the programs.

Claims

1. An image processing device having multiple functions including multiple image processing functions, a display control means for displaying a plurality of buttons for executing functions corresponding to the plurality of functions on a predetermined screen of the image processing device; a storage means for storing the settings received on the predetermined screen; a sorting means for automatically sorting the plurality of buttons; Equipped with the display control means displays the predetermined screen including a setting means for setting whether the rearrangement of the plurality of buttons by the rearrangement means is enabled or disabled; the storage means stores a setting for enabling or disabling the rearrangement of the plurality of buttons by the rearrangement means as a device setting common to users of the image processing device; The sorting means sorts the buttons when the setting means has set the sorting to be enabled, and does not sort the buttons when the setting means has set the sorting to be disabled.

1. An image processing device comprising:

2. further comprising an authentication means for authenticating a user who operates the image processing device; The storage means stores information indicating the user authenticated by the authentication means in association with the settings.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein:

3. The rearrangement means performs control so that at least one button among the plurality of buttons is displayed at the top of the rearrangement order.

3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device is a computer.

4. The sorting means automatically sorts the plurality of buttons based on the number of times the plurality of buttons are used.

4. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device is a computer.

5. The storage means stores the number of times the plurality of buttons are used when the setting means has set the sorting to be enabled, and does not store the number of times the plurality of buttons are used when the setting means has set the sorting to be disabled.

5. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device is a computer.

6. When the setting is made to enable the sorting of buttons by the sorting means, the display control means presents a plurality of screen candidates with different button sort orders to the user, and displays a screen corresponding to the candidate selected by the user.

6. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device is a computer.

7. The candidate screens include at least one of a screen on which the plurality of buttons are displayed in a default order and a screen on which the plurality of buttons are displayed in an order determined at least based on the number of times the plurality of buttons are used.

7. The image processing device according to claim 6,

8. The candidate screens include at least a screen on which the plurality of buttons are displayed in the order in which they were arranged when the setting unit previously set the rearrangement of the plurality of buttons to be disabled.

7. The image processing device according to claim 6,

9. The display control means displays, on the predetermined screen, a button for displaying a screen before the rearrangement of the plurality of buttons by the rearrangement means.

9. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device is a computer.

10. The sorting means sorts the plurality of buttons based on a plurality of factors including the number of times the plurality of buttons have been used.

10. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device is a computer.

11. The setting means can set rearrangement of the plurality of buttons to be valid or invalid for each of the plurality of elements.

11. The image processing device according to claim 10.

12. The sorting means controls the order of the buttons so that the buttons that are used more frequently are displayed at the top.

12. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device is a computer.

13. The predetermined screen is a screen including at least a button for executing a copy function and a button for executing a scan function.

13. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device is a processor.

14. A control method executed by an image processing device having multiple functions including multiple image processing functions, a display control step of displaying a plurality of buttons corresponding to the plurality of functions on a predetermined screen of the image processing device; a storage step of storing the settings received on the predetermined screen; a sorting step of automatically sorting the plurality of buttons; Equipped with the display control step displays the predetermined screen including a setting means for setting whether the rearrangement of the plurality of buttons performed by the rearrangement step is enabled or disabled; the storing step stores a setting for enabling or disabling the rearrangement of the plurality of buttons performed by the rearrangement step as a device setting common to users of the image processing device; In the case where the setting means is set to enable sorting, the sorting step The rearrangement of the buttons is performed in the rearrangement step, and if the setting means has set the rearrangement to be disabled, the rearrangement of the buttons is not performed in the rearrangement step. A control method comprising:

15. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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