Information processing device and program

Abstract

To facilitate management of common setting information compared with a case where a general user using an apparatus admits registration of individual setting information as common setting information.SOLUTION: When a control unit 35 displays, on a display 33, a setting screen including individual setting information storing a setting value in executing processing for every setting item and available only for a specific user, and common setting information available for a plurality of users, the control unit receives an operation to register the individual setting information as the common setting information only from an administrator user having a broader authority than a general user using an own apparatus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a job history management device that, when managing job histories of multiple devices, stores the job histories for multiple devices, and, upon receiving a job history sent from one of the multiple devices, modifies the received job history so that it can be reused by devices other than the one device that sent the job history.

[0003] Patent document 2 discloses an image forming device that stores job parameters shared by a group including multiple image forming devices, and if the job parameters cannot be executed with the capabilities of the device itself, corrects the job parameters to job parameters that can be executed with the capabilities of the device itself. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-28019 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-59136 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] A function is available that stores the setting values ​​for each setting item of a process executed in the past as setting information, and by using the stored setting information, it is possible to execute a process with the same setting contents as the process executed in the past. In such a function, if setting information frequently used by multiple users is registered as shared setting information, multiple users can use the same setting information.

[0006] However, if general users who use the devices are allowed to freely register personal setting information as shared setting information, there is a risk that unnecessary shared setting information will be added.

[0007] When this happens, the administrator user in charge of managing the device must later check the shared setting information and delete or change it as necessary, which is a cumbersome process for managing the shared setting information.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device and program that make it easier to manage shared setting information compared to when general users who use the device are allowed to register their personal setting information as shared setting information. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a processor, and the processor displays a setting screen including setting information in which setting values ​​for executing processing are stored for each setting item, and personal setting information that can be used only by a specific user, and shared setting information that can be used by multiple users; Only an administrator user who has broader authority than a general user who uses the device itself can register personal setting information as shared setting information.

[0010] An information processing device of a second aspect of the present invention is the information processing device of the first aspect, wherein the processor displays an operator for registering personal setting information as shared setting information only for an administrator user.

[0011] An information processing device of a third aspect of the present invention is the information processing device of the first aspect, wherein the processor does not display to a general user an operator for registering personal setting information as shared setting information.

[0012] An information processing device of a fourth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of any one of the first to third aspects, in which the processor executes a pre-set authentication process for an administrator user, thereby permitting operations that cannot be performed by general users, including the operation of registering personal setting information as shared setting information.

[0013] An information processing device of a fifth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the processor receives from an administrator user an upper limit number of pieces of shared setting information that can be registered, and controls the device so as not to accept registration of shared setting information that exceeds the received upper limit.

[0014] An information processing device of a sixth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein when the processor displays the settings screen, in an initial setting state, the shared settings information is displayed above the personal settings information.

[0015] A seventh aspect of the information processing device of the present invention is the information processing device of the sixth aspect, wherein when displaying a settings screen, the processor accepts a setting as to whether shared setting information or personal setting information is to be displayed at the top based on the operation of the administrator user or the general user.

[0016] An eighth aspect of the information processing device of the present invention is the information processing device of the sixth aspect, wherein when displaying the settings screen, the processor accepts settings for whether to display or hide shared setting information, personal setting information, and history information when processing is executed based on operations by the administrator user or the general user.

[0017] An information processing device of a ninth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the processor accepts operations from the administrator user or the general user and displays multiple pieces of shared setting information, multiple pieces of personal setting information, and multiple pieces of history information when processing is executed together as a single piece of setting information or history information.

[0018] An information processing device of a 10th aspect of the present invention is the information processing device of the 9th aspect, wherein the processor accepts an operation from the administrator user or the general user and displays multiple shared setting information, multiple personal setting information, or multiple history information that have been displayed together as one setting information or history information in their original, separate state.

[0019] An eleventh aspect of the information processing device of the present invention is an information processing device of any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein when shared setting information is deleted, the processor stores the deleted shared setting information in a temporary storage area.

[0020] A twelfth aspect of the information processing device of the present invention is the information processing device of the eleventh aspect, wherein the processor deletes the shared setting information stored in the temporary storage area after a predetermined time has elapsed, or when the number of pieces exceeds a predetermined upper limit, deletes the number of pieces of shared setting information that exceeds the upper limit, in order from the oldest deletion date and time.

[0021] An information processing device of a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device of any one of the first to twelfth aspects, wherein when the processor receives an operation to copy shared setting information as personal setting information, the processor registers setting information having the same setting content as the setting content of the shared setting information that received the operation as the personal setting information of the user who performed the operation.

[0022] In a fourteenth aspect of the information processing device of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect, the processor accepts an operation to copy shared setting information as personal setting information not only from an administrator user but also from a general user.

[0023] A program according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention includes a step of displaying a setting screen including setting information in which setting values ​​for executing processing are stored for each setting item, and including personal setting information that can be used only by a specific user, and shared setting information that can be used by multiple users; and accepting an operation to register personal setting information as shared setting information only from an administrator user who has broader authority than a general user who uses the device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the information processing device of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make it easier to manage shared setting information compared to when general users who use the device are allowed to register their personal setting information as shared setting information.

[0025] According to the information processing device of the second aspect of the present invention, only the administrator user can perform the operation to register the shared setting information.

[0026] According to the information processing device of the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent general users from performing an operation to register shared setting information.

[0027] According to the information processing device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the operation of registering shared setting information can be limited to an administrator user who has the authority to perform an operation that cannot be performed by a general user.

[0028] According to the information processing device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to limit the number of pieces of shared setting information that can be registered.

[0029] According to the information processing device of the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make shared setting information used by a plurality of users easier to view than personal setting information.

[0030] According to the information processing device of the seventh aspect of the present invention, the display order of the shared setting information and the personal setting information can be changed to suit the usage pattern of each user.

[0031] According to the information processing device of the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent information that is unnecessary for each user from being displayed.

[0032] According to the information processing device of the ninth aspect of the present invention, even if the amount of any of the shared setting information, personal setting information, and history information becomes large, it is possible to prevent the other information from becoming difficult to see.

[0033] According to the information processing device of the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to restore information that has been collected into one piece to its scattered state.

[0034] According to the information processing device of the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally deleting shared setting information.

[0035] According to the information processing device of the twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the storage capacity of the temporary storage area from increasing beyond a certain amount.

[0036] According to the information processing device of the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the shared setting information can be used privately as personal setting information.

[0037] According to the information processing device of the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, even a general user can use the shared setting information for personal use as personal setting information.

[0038] According to the program of the 15th aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make it easier to manage shared setting information compared to when general users who use the device are allowed to register their personal setting information as shared setting information. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]10 is a diagram showing an example of a personal setting information management table stored in a setting information storage unit 37. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a shared setting information management table stored in a setting information storage unit 37. FIG. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a display screen that is displayed when a user touches an icon for using a quick function. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a user executes a job and registers job history information of the job as shared setting information or personal setting information. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a user selects and deletes certain setting information. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed when a user performs an operation to display a list screen of setting information. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of an operation performed when a general user pins job history information to register it as personal setting information. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen after job history information 64 has been pinned and changed to personal setting information 65. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation menu when user A operates the operation menu button 60 of personal setting information 66 in a pinned state. [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of an operation performed when an administrator user registers new sharing setting information. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen after job history information 67 has been changed to shared setting information 68. [Figure 15] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of an operation performed when an administrator user deletes already registered shared setting information. [Figure 16] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of initial setting values ​​when display settings in a list display of setting information are switched for each user. [Figure 17]10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example in which display settings in a list display of setting information are changed from initial setting values. [Figure 18] 10 is a flowchart for explaining a control operation by the control unit 35 when the display order of the setting information is individually set. [Figure 19] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of an operation when a plurality of pieces of shared setting information are folded and displayed together as one piece of shared setting information. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating how a user operates the operation menu button 60 in the shared setting information in a folded state to expand one piece of shared setting information in a folded state into the original six pieces of shared setting information. [Figure 21] This figure explains how a user operates the pinned mark 70 in landscape orientation to expand one piece of shared setting information from a folded state into the original six pieces of shared setting information. [Figure 22] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in which the display order of the setting information list display screen is changed from the initial setting value. FIG. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a situation in which an administrator user operates the operation menu button 60 of the shared setting information 71 named "Support Center" and mistakenly selects the operation item "Delete." [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how the shared setting information 71 named "Support Center" is deleted from the setting information list display screen. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating how an administrator user restores the deleted shared setting information 71 named "support center" from the shared setting information save area. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a setting example when shared setting information temporarily saved in a save area is completely deleted. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation performed when a general user changes shared setting information into his or her own personal setting information. [Figure 28]This figure shows how personal setting information 72 with the same settings as the shared setting information 69 is newly created and added to the list display screen, while the shared setting information 69 itself remains as it is. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0041] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 1, an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured with an image forming apparatus 10 and a terminal apparatus 20, which are interconnected via a network 30. The terminal apparatus 20 generates print data and transmits the generated print data to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network 30. The image forming apparatus 10 receives the print data transmitted from the terminal apparatus 20 and outputs an image on paper in accordance with the print data. The image forming apparatus 10 is a so-called multifunction device that has multiple functions, such as printing, scanning, copying, and facsimile functions.

[0043] Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 in the image forming system of this embodiment is shown in FIG.

[0044] 2, the image forming apparatus 10 has a CPU 11, a memory 12, a storage device 13 such as a hard disk drive, a communication interface (abbreviated as IF) 14 that transmits and receives data to and from external devices via a network 30, a user interface (abbreviated as UI) device 15 that includes a touch panel or liquid crystal display and a keyboard, a scanner 16, and a print engine 17. These components are connected to one another via a control bus 18.

[0045] The print engine 17 prints an image on a recording medium such as printing paper through processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing.

[0046] The CPU 11 is a processor that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 by executing predetermined processes based on a control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13. While the present embodiment has been described as the CPU 11 reading and executing the control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13, this is not limiting. The control program may be provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. For example, the program may be provided in a form recorded on an optical disc such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or in a semiconductor memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a memory card. The control program may also be obtained from an external device via a communication line connected to the communication interface 14.

[0047] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 realized by executing the above control program.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming device 10 of this embodiment includes an authentication unit 31, an operation input unit 32, a display unit 33, a data transmission / reception unit 34, a control unit 35, an image reading unit 36, a setting information storage unit 37, and an image output unit 38.

[0049] The authentication unit 31 executes authentication processing for a user who attempts to use the image forming apparatus 10. The display unit 33 is controlled by the control unit 35 and displays various information to the user. The operation input unit 32 inputs various operation information performed by the user.

[0050] The data transmitter / receiver 34 transmits and receives data to and from external devices such as the terminal device 20 .

[0051] The control unit 35 controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 10, and performs various functions, such as generating print data based on a print job received from the terminal device 20 via the data transmission / reception unit 34, controlling the output of the generated print data from the image output unit 38, and controlling the reading of an original image by the image reading unit 36. The setting information storage unit 37 stores job history information indicating the execution history of various jobs, such as print jobs, scan jobs, copy jobs, and fax transmission jobs, executed by the control unit 35, as well as setting information in which setting values ​​used when executing processing are stored for each setting item. Here, the job history information is history information on the processing content of jobs executed in the past.

[0052] The image output unit 38 outputs an image onto a recording medium such as printing paper under the control of the control unit 35. The image reading unit 36 ​​reads an original image from a set original under the control of the control unit 35.

[0053] Here, the setting information storage unit 37 stores a personal setting information management table for managing personal setting information that is available only to specific users, in which setting values ​​for executing processing are stored for each setting item, and a shared setting information management table for managing shared setting information that is available to multiple users.

[0054] An example of the personal setting information management table stored in the setting information storage unit 37 is shown in FIG.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 4, the personal setting information management table manages job history information consisting of the name, job type, setting contents, and last used date and time of each job executed in the past, and personal setting information pinned by user operation from this job history information. When a user wants to execute a job with the same settings as the settings of a job executed in the past, the user can execute the job with the same settings as the setting contents, such as the setting values, in the job history information by selecting the job history information. Note that job history information is also included in personal setting information that is available only to specific users. In other words, job history information is personal setting information in an unpinned state. However, in the following description, pinned setting information available only to specific users will be referred to as personal setting information, and unpinned setting information available only to specific users will be referred to as unpinned setting information. Condition The state setting information is called job history information.

[0056] When a user uses the image forming apparatus 10 to execute a job, new job history information is generated each time the job is executed. However, there is a limit to the data storage area, and storing all the job history information may result in insufficient data storage area. For this reason, an upper limit is set, such as keeping job history information for only the most recent 200 jobs, and job history information exceeding the upper limit is deleted starting with the oldest execution date and time.

[0057] Therefore, you can pin job history that you do not want to delete so that it will not be deleted. Pinned job history is managed as personal setting information and will remain without being deleted even if the number of jobs executed later exceeds the upper limit.

[0058] For example, referring to the personal setting information management table in Figure 4, we can see that setting information named "General Affairs Department" and "Fax to Travel Agency" is pinned and managed separately from regular job history information. In other words, this pinned personal setting information remains and continues to be displayed on the operation screen regardless of the number of jobs executed later. Therefore, if you register frequently used job history information as personal setting information by pinning it, you can use that personal setting information multiple times to execute jobs with the same settings.

[0059] Here, the personal setting information and job history information shown in Fig. 4 are setting information that can only be used by a specific user, such as user A. However, there are cases where such setting information is desired to be used by multiple users. For this reason, the personal setting information can be changed to shared setting information. Note that shared setting information is available to all logged-in users.

[0060] FIG. 5 shows an example of a shared setting information management table for managing such shared setting information.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 5, the shared setting information management table manages information such as the name of each job, the job type, and setting contents.

[0062] For example, referring to the shared setting information management table in Fig. 5, the shared setting information named "recommended copy settings" has a job type of "copy" and its settings are stored. For example, in the shared setting information named "recommended copy settings," the setting value "1 copy" is set for the setting item "number of copies," and the setting value "100%" is set for the setting item "magnification."

[0063] However, if general users who use devices are allowed to freely register their personal setting information as shared setting information, there is a risk that shared setting information with similar settings will be registered by each user, resulting in the addition of unnecessary shared setting information.Furthermore, if a large number of shared setting information is registered, it may become difficult to know which shared setting information to select, making it difficult to use.

[0064] When this happens, the administrator user in charge of managing the device must later check the shared setting information and delete or change it as necessary, which is a cumbersome process for managing the shared setting information.

[0065] Therefore, when the control unit 35 displays a setting screen including the above-mentioned personal setting information and shared setting information on the display unit 33, it accepts an operation to register the personal setting information as shared setting information only from an administrator user who has broader authority than a general user who uses the device.

[0066] Here, a general user is a user who is permitted to use the device but is not permitted to change the settings of the device, and an administrator user, also known as a machine administrator, is a user who is granted broader authority than a general user by requiring authentication such as entering a special password, and is a user who is entrusted with managing the device.

[0067] In other words, only the administrator user who is the administrator of the image forming apparatus 10 can register, delete, and edit the shared setting information. However, other general users can also select the shared setting information and execute a job based on the processing content of the shared setting information.

[0068] In order to implement the above-mentioned restrictions, the control unit 35 displays an operator for registering personal setting information as shared setting information only to the administrator user. In other words, the control unit 35 does not display an operator for registering personal setting information as shared setting information to general users.

[0069] In addition, the control unit 35 executes a preset authentication process for the administrator user, thereby permitting operations that cannot be performed by general users, including the operation of registering personal setting information as shared setting information.

[0070] Note that if too many pieces of shared setting information are registered, it becomes difficult to know which shared setting information to select. Therefore, the control unit 35 may receive from the administrator user a maximum number of pieces of shared setting information that can be registered, and may control the system so that registration of shared setting information exceeding the received maximum number is not accepted. Note that this maximum number can be changed by the administrator user. For example, even if the initial maximum number of pieces of shared setting information is 10, the administrator user can increase this maximum number to 12 or decrease it to 8.

[0071] In addition, when the control unit 35 displays a setting screen including personal setting information and shared setting information on the display unit 33, in the initial setting state, the shared setting information is displayed above the personal setting information.

[0072] Here, when displaying the settings screen, the control unit 35 may accept a setting as to whether to display shared setting information or personal setting information at the top based on the operation of an administrator user or a general user.

[0073] Furthermore, when displaying the setting screen, the control unit 35 may accept settings for whether to display or hide the shared setting information, personal setting information, and job history information when processing is executed based on operations by an administrator user or a general user.

[0074] Furthermore, if the number of pieces of shared setting information, personal setting information, and job history information increases, the setting screen becomes difficult to see, and it becomes difficult to know which piece of setting information or job history information to select. Therefore, the control unit 35 may accept an operation from an administrator user or a general user and collectively display multiple pieces of shared setting information, multiple pieces of personal setting information, and multiple pieces of job history information as a single piece of setting information or job history information.

[0075] In this case, the control unit 35 accepts the operation of an administrator user or a general user and displays multiple shared setting information, multiple personal setting information, or multiple job history information that were displayed together as one setting information or job history information in their original separate state.

[0076] As described above, the administrator user can delete shared setting information. However, if the administrator user mistakenly deletes shared setting information that should be kept, the administrator user must restore the shared setting information to its original state. However, if the deleted shared setting information is completely erased with a single operation, the shared setting information cannot be restored to its original state. Therefore, when the shared setting information is deleted, the control unit 35 may store the deleted shared setting information in a temporary storage area. In this case, the administrator user can select the shared setting information stored in the temporary storage area to restore the original shared setting information.

[0077] Furthermore, if deleted shared setting information were to be stored indefinitely, it would result in unnecessary consumption of storage capacity. Therefore, the control unit 35 may delete the shared setting information stored in the temporary storage area after a preset time has elapsed, for example, 24 hours. Alternatively, when the number of shared setting information stored in the temporary storage area exceeds a preset upper limit, for example, 20, the control unit 35 may delete the information in order from the oldest deleted information until the upper limit is reached.

[0078] Furthermore, if a general user frequently uses a specific piece of shared setting information among the registered shared setting information, the general user may want to keep that shared setting information under his or her own control. Therefore, when the control unit 35 receives an operation to copy the shared setting information as personal setting information, the control unit 35 may register setting information having the same setting content as the shared setting information that has been subjected to the operation as the personal setting information of the user who performed the operation.

[0079] In this case, the control unit 35 may accept an operation to copy the shared setting information as personal setting information not only from an administrator user but also from a general user.

[0080] Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0081] In the image forming device 10 of this embodiment, a quick function is provided that allows a new job to be executed using the settings of a previously executed job by selecting the above-mentioned job history information, personal setting information, and shared setting information.

[0082] Figure 6 shows an example of the display screen that appears when the user touches an icon to use a quick function.

[0083] In the example display screen shown in FIG. 6, it can be seen that shared setting information 61, personal setting information 62, and job history information 63 are displayed in a list.

[0084] The example of the display screen for the quick function shown in Fig. 6 is an example of a display screen that is displayed when user A logs in in a state in which the personal setting information management table shown in Fig. 4 and the shared setting information management table shown in Fig. 5 are stored in the setting information storage unit 37. However, due to display space limitations, some of the job histories displayed on the job history list display screen are omitted.

[0085] In the example display screen shown in FIG. 6, the shared setting information 61 and the personal setting information 62 are displayed with a pinned mark 50 indicating that they are in a pinned state.

[0086] As new jobs are executed, the oldest job history information 63 is deleted in order. However, the shared setting information 61 and personal setting information 62 with pinned marks 50 are not affected even when new jobs are executed, and continue to be displayed in the same location without changing the display position.

[0087] When a user wishes to execute a job with the same content as a job executed in the past, the user can execute the job with the desired settings without having to specify detailed settings by simply selecting the setting with the same or similar content as the setting of the job to be executed from the list of shared setting information 61, personal setting information 62, and job history information 63 displayed in this manner.

[0088] For example, a user can simply select shared setting information named "Support Center" to perform scan transmission to the same destination as usual without having to enter destination information or various setting values.

[0089] Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

[0090] First, the operation of registering the job history information of a job executed by a user as shared setting information or personal setting information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0091] In step S101, the control unit 35 executes a job in response to an instruction from the user, and in step S102, the control unit 35 displays job history information of the executed job on the display screen of the quick function.

[0092] Here, in step S103, if the user performs an operation to instruct pinning of the job history information, the control unit 35 determines in step S104 whether the user is an administrator user.

[0093] In step S103, if the user does not perform an operation to instruct pinning of the job history information, the control unit 35 ends the process.

[0094] If it is determined in step S104 that the user is an administrator user, the control unit 35 checks in step S105 whether the number of currently registered pieces of shared setting information is equal to or less than the set upper limit. If it is determined in step S105 that the number of currently registered pieces of shared setting information is equal to or less than the set upper limit, the control unit 35 registers the job history information for which the pinning operation was performed as shared setting information in step S106.

[0095] In addition, if it is determined in step S105 that the number of currently registered shared setting information items is not equal to or less than the set upper limit number, the control unit 35 does not register the job history information for which the pinning operation was performed as shared setting information, as shown in step S107.

[0096] If it is determined in step S104 that the user is not an administrator user, i.e., a general user, the control unit 35 checks in step S108 whether the number of currently registered pieces of personal setting information is equal to or less than the set upper limit. If it is determined in step S108 that the number of currently registered pieces of personal setting information is equal to or less than the set upper limit, the control unit 35 registers the job history information for which the pinning operation was performed as personal setting information in step S109.

[0097] In addition, if it is determined in step S108 that the number of currently registered personal setting information items is not equal to or less than the set upper limit number, the control unit 35 does not register the job history information for which the pinning operation was performed as personal setting information, as shown in step S107.

[0098] As described above, in the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment, only the administrator user, who has broader authority than a general user, is granted the authority to register shared setting information. This allows the administrator user to centrally manage the shared setting information, and prevents the occurrence of a situation in which new shared setting information is registered without the administrator user's knowledge.

[0099] Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment, only the administrator user has the authority to delete shared setting information.

[0100] Next, the operation when the user selects and deletes certain setting information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0101] In step S201, when the control unit 35 receives an instruction from a user to delete certain setting information, in step S202 it determines whether the setting information for which the deletion instruction was given is shared setting information or personal setting information.

[0102] If it is determined in step S202 that the setting information for which the deletion instruction has been given is shared setting information, the control unit 35 determines in step S204 whether the user is an administrator user.

[0103] If it is determined in step S204 that the user is an administrator user, the control unit 35 deletes the shared setting information for which the deletion instruction has been issued in step S205. Specifically, the control unit 35 deletes the shared setting information for which the deletion instruction has been issued from the shared setting information management table shown in FIG.

[0104] If it is determined in step S204 that the user is not an administrator user, that is, a general user, the control unit 35 does not delete the shared setting information for which the deletion instruction has been issued, as shown in step S206.

[0105] In addition, if it is determined in step S202 that the setting information for which the deletion instruction has been given is not shared setting information, that is, is personal setting information, the control unit 35 deletes the personal setting information for which the deletion instruction has been given in step S203.

[0106] Next, the operation when the user performs an operation to display the list screen of setting information will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 9. Note that, for simplicity, the operation related to the display of job history information will be omitted here.

[0107] When the control unit 35 receives an operation to display a list screen of setting information from a user in step S301, the control unit 35 determines in step S302 whether the user is an administrator user.

[0108] If it is determined in step S302 that the user is an administrator user, the control unit 35 displays a list of shared setting information on the display screen in step S303.

[0109] Then, if it is determined in step S302 that the user is not an administrator user, i.e., a general user, the control unit 35 displays a list of shared setting information and personal setting information on the display screen in step S304.

[0110] In this way, only the list of shared setting information is displayed to the administrator user, while both the shared setting information and personal setting information are displayed to the general user.

[0111] Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be described using an example of an actual operation on the display screen.

[0112] First, an example of an operation when a general user pins job history information and registers it as personal setting information is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG.

[0113] In the operation screen shown in FIG. 10, an operation menu button 60 is displayed on the right edge of the shared setting history, personal setting information, and job history information, allowing various operations to be performed.

[0114] For example, FIG. 10 shows an operation menu that is displayed when user A, a general user, operates the operation menu button 60 displayed in the job history information 64.

[0115] 10, an operation menu consisting of the operation items "Pin" and "Delete" is displayed. When the user selects the operation item "Pin" from this operation menu, the job history information 64 is pinned and changed to personal setting information.

[0116] FIG. 11 shows an example of the operation screen after the job history information 64 has been pinned and changed to personal setting information 65.

[0117] Referring to FIG. 11, it can be seen that new personal setting information 65 with a pinned mark 50 attached has been created by pinning the job history information 64 in FIG.

[0118] FIG. 12 shows an example of an operation menu when user A operates the operation menu button 60 of the pinned personal setting information 66.

[0119] 12, when user A operates the operation menu button 60 for personal setting information that is already pinned, operation items "Unpin" and "Delete" are displayed in the operation menu. When user A selects the operation item "Unpin" from this operation menu, the pinned state of this personal setting information 66 is released, and the information returns to normal job history information. When user A selects the operation item "Delete" from this operation menu, this personal setting information 66 is deleted.

[0120] Next, an example of operations when an administrator user logs in to the image forming apparatus 10 and registers new sharing setting information is shown in FIGS.

[0121] 13, when the administrator user operates the operation menu button 60 for job history information named "user3@sample.com" while logged in to the image forming apparatus 10, operation items "Make Shared" and "Delete" are displayed in the operation menu. When the administrator user selects the operation item "Make Shared" from this operation menu, this job history information 67 is registered as shared setting information.

[0122] FIG. 14 shows an example of the operation screen after the job history information 67 has been changed to the shared setting information 68.

[0123] Referring to FIG. 14, it can be seen that new shared setting information 68 with a pinned mark 50 attached has been created as a result of an operation to share the job history information 67 in FIG.

[0124] Next, an example of operations when an administrator user logs in to the image forming apparatus 10 and deletes already registered shared setting information is shown in FIG.

[0125] 15, when the administrator user operates the operation menu button 60 of the registered shared setting information 69, the operation menu displays operation items "Unpin" and "Delete." When the administrator user selects the operation item "Delete" from this operation menu, this shared setting information 69 is deleted.

[0126] As described above, the operation item "Make Shared", which is an operator for registering job history information as shared setting information, is displayed in the operation menu only when the administrator user is logged in. In other words, the control unit 35 does not display the operation item "Make Shared" in the operation menu for general users.

[0127] Similarly, when the operation menu for the shared setting information is displayed, the operation item "Delete," which is an operator for deleting the shared setting information, is displayed in the operation menu only when the administrator user is logged in. In other words, when the operation menu for the shared setting information is displayed for a general user, the control unit 35 does not display the operation item "Delete" in the operation menu.

[0128] As a result, the administrator user can register new shared setting information or delete registered shared setting information, which prevents situations such as new shared setting information being registered or registered shared setting information being deleted without the administrator user's knowledge, and enables the administrator user to centrally manage shared setting information.

[0129] Note that the above does not explain the operations required to change the settings in registered shared setting information, but even if the settings in the shared setting information can be changed, naturally only the administrator user will be able to change the settings in the shared setting information.

[0130] The shared setting information created and registered by the above operations is displayed on the quick function display screen of all users, allowing all users to execute jobs with the same setting contents.

[0131] Since this shared setting information is intended for use by all users, when the quick function display screen is displayed, in the initial setting state, the shared setting information is displayed above the personal setting information.

[0132] Specifically, on the display screen shown in FIG. 6, it can be seen that the shared setting information 61 is displayed above the personal setting information 62 and the job history information 63.

[0133] Furthermore, since it is conceivable that some users will use their own pinned personal setting information more often than the shared setting information, if the shared setting information is always displayed above the personal setting information, it may be difficult for some users to operate. Also, if the shared setting information is displayed above the personal setting information, if there are too many shared setting information registered, the personal setting information will be displayed below, which may make it difficult to use the personal setting information.

[0134] Furthermore, some users may not need to display job history information, and may want to display only shared setting information and personal setting information.

[0135] Therefore, the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment allows the display order of the shared setting information and the personal setting information to be switched for each user. Also, the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment allows the shared setting information, the personal setting information, and the job history information to be switched between normal display, hidden display, and collapsed display. Here, collapsed display means that multiple pieces of setting information are displayed together as one piece of setting information. Also, normal display means that multiple pieces of setting information are displayed without being collapsed.

[0136] FIG. 16 shows an example of the initial setting values ​​for switching such display settings for each user. In the example of the initial setting values ​​in FIG. 16, the display order of the shared setting information and the personal setting information is set to "1" and the display order of the personal setting information to "2." In other words, the display order of the shared setting information is set to be higher than the display order of the personal setting information. Also, in the example of the initial setting values ​​in FIG. 16, the setting value of the foldable display setting for all of the shared setting information, the personal setting information, and the job history information is set to "2." The setting value "2" for this foldable display setting means "normal display." The setting value "0" for the foldable display setting means "hidden," and the setting value "1" for the foldable display setting means "folded display."

[0137] If the foldable display setting for a certain setting information is set to "Hide," the setting information will not be displayed on the display screen. If the foldable display setting for a certain setting information is set to "Folded display," the setting information will be folded on the display screen and displayed together as a single piece of setting information.

[0138] An example of a case where the display settings of such setting information have been changed from the initial settings is shown in Fig. 17. Fig. 17 shows an example of the display settings of user A's setting information.

[0139] 17, the display order of shared setting information is set to "2," and the display order of personal setting information is set to "1." In other words, the display order of shared setting information is set to be lower than the display order of personal setting information.

[0140] 17, the setting value for the foldable display setting for shared setting information is "1," which indicates "foldable display." The setting value for the foldable display setting for personal setting information is "2," which indicates "normal display." And the setting value for the foldable display setting for job history information is "0," which indicates "hidden."

[0141] In this way, each user can individually set the display order in the list display of setting information.

[0142] Next, the control operation by the control unit 35 when individually setting the display order of the setting information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0143] First, when attempting to display a list of setting information, the control unit 35 determines in step S401 whether or not there is a display order setting for personal settings.

[0144] If it is determined in step S401 that a personal display order setting exists, the control unit 35 reads out the display order setting of the user in step S402. If it is determined in step S401 that a personal display order setting does not exist, the control unit 35 reads out the initial setting value of the display order setting in step S403.

[0145] Next, in step S404, the control unit 35 determines whether or not there is a folding setting in the personal settings.

[0146] If it is determined in step S404 that there is a personal folding setting, the control unit 35 reads out the folding setting of the user in step S405. If it is determined in step S404 that there is no personal folding setting, the control unit 35 reads out the initial setting value of the folding setting in step S406.

[0147] Then, in step S407, the control unit 35 displays a list screen of setting information based on the read display order setting and folding setting.

[0148] An example of a list display screen of setting information displayed by the above control will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0149] FIG. 19 shows the operation when multiple pieces of shared setting information are folded and displayed together as one piece of shared setting information.

[0150] Referring to FIG. 19, it can be seen that when the user operates the operation menu button 60 for the shared setting information, an operation menu including a setting item "Collapse Group" is displayed. FIG. 19 also shows how, when the user selects the setting item "Collapse This Group," six pieces of shared setting information are displayed together as a single piece of shared setting information. In the single piece of shared setting information that is in a collapsed state, the pin mark 70 indicating the pinned state is in a horizontal position, indicating that multiple pieces of shared setting information are in a collapsed state. In addition, the name of the single piece of shared setting information in a collapsed state is displayed as the name of the shared setting information that was at the top before it was folded.

[0151] Next, the operation for restoring a plurality of pieces of shared setting information from the state where the information has been folded into one piece of shared setting information to the original state is shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. FIG.

[0152] 20, when the user operates the operation menu button 60 in the shared setting information in a collapsed state, an operation menu including a setting item "Expand group" is displayed. In addition, FIG. 20 shows how, when the user selects the setting item "Expand this group," the single shared setting information in a collapsed state is expanded into the original six shared setting information and displayed.

[0153] Referring to Figure 21, when the user operates the pinned mark 70 in a landscape orientation, one piece of shared setting information that was in a folded state is expanded and displayed as the original six pieces of shared setting information.

[0154] Next, an example of a display screen when the display order on the setting information list display screen is changed from the initial setting is shown in FIG.

[0155] The example display screen shown in Fig. 22 shows how the order is changed when pinned personal setting information is displayed above shared setting information and job history information is hidden. On the setting information list display screen after the order change in Fig. 22, it can be seen that the two personal setting information are displayed above the six shared setting information and the job history information is hidden.

[0156] In the image forming device 10 of this embodiment, as described above, only the administrator user can delete shared setting information. However, even the administrator user may accidentally delete shared setting information that should not be deleted. If the administrator user deletes shared setting information that is used by many users, the administrator user must recreate and register the same shared setting information as the deleted shared setting information.

[0157] In order to enable the administrator user to restore the deleted shared setting information with a simple operation even in such a case, the image forming device 10 of this embodiment stores the deleted shared setting information in a temporary storage area.

[0158] An example of the operation when restoring deleted shared setting information will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0159] First, it is assumed that the administrator user operates the operation menu button 60 of the shared setting information 71 named "Support Center" on the display screen shown in FIG. 23 and mistakenly selects the operation item "Delete."

[0160] Then, as shown in FIG. 24, the shared setting information 71 named "Support Center" is deleted from the setting information list display screen.

[0161] However, the administrator user, realizing that this shared setting information 71 should not have been deleted, displays a shared setting information save area that can only be operated by the administrator user, as shown in Fig. 25. The administrator user then operates the operation menu button 60 for the deleted shared setting information 71 named "Support Center" and selects the operation item "Restore." This restores the deleted shared setting information 71 named "Support Center," and the shared setting information 71 is displayed in its original state on the setting information list display screen.

[0162] This shared setting information backup area is a storage area for temporarily storing the setting information of deleted shares. However, if the setting information of deleted shares were to be stored permanently, it would consume storage capacity. Therefore, the setting information of deleted shares must be sequentially deleted from the backup area, which is a temporary storage area.

[0163] For example, the control unit 35 may delete the shared setting information stored in the save area after a preset time has elapsed, for example, 24 hours. Alternatively, when the number of pieces of shared setting information stored in the save area exceeds a preset upper limit, for example, 20, the control unit 35 may delete the pieces of shared setting information that exceed the upper limit, in order from the oldest deleted information.

[0164] The administrator user may select a setting that determines under what conditions the shared setting information temporarily stored in the save area is to be completely deleted. For example, as shown in Fig. 26, if the administrator user selects setting 1, the temporarily stored shared setting information is deleted in order from the oldest to the newest when the number of temporarily stored shared setting information exceeds the upper limit, and if the administrator user selects setting 2, the temporarily stored shared setting information is deleted in order after a certain period of time has passed.

[0165] Finally, the operation performed when a general user changes the shared setting information to his / her own personal setting information will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0166] For example, if a general user uses shared setting information 69 named "recommended copy settings" under his / her own management, he / she operates the operation menu button 60 of this shared setting information 69, as shown in Fig. 27. Then, in the example display screen of Fig. 27, a setting item "Copy as personal setting information" is displayed, and it is assumed that this general user selects this setting item.

[0167] As a result, as shown in FIG. 28, the shared setting information 69 itself is left as it is, and new personal setting information 72 with the same settings as the shared setting information 69 is created and added to the list display screen.

[0168] The general user can also modify some of the settings in the newly added personal setting information 72, and can also delete it if it is no longer needed.

[0169] 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.).

[0170] 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.

[0171] [Variations] In the above embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be similarly applied to any information processing device, such as a personal computer or mobile terminal device, that stores setting information in which setting values ​​are stored for each setting item and executes processing using the stored setting information. [Explanation of symbols]

[0172] 10 Image forming device 11 CPU 12 Memory 13 Storage device 14 Communication Interface 15 User Interface Device 16 Scanner 17 Print Engine 18 Control Bus 20 Terminal equipment 30 Network 31 Authentication Section 32 Operation input section 33 Display section 34 Data transmission / reception unit 35 Control Unit 36 Image reading unit 37 Setting information storage unit 38 Image output unit 40 Operation Panel 50 Pinned Mark 60 Operation menu button 61 Shared settings information 62 Personalized Settings Information 63, 64 Job history information 65, 66 Personal settings information 67 Job history information 68, 69 Shared settings information 70 Pinned Mark 71 Shared settings information 72 Personalized Settings Information

Claims

1. a processor; The processor: Setting information in which a setting value when executing a process is stored for each setting item, a shared configuration list that is available to multiple users and is a list of pinned configurations; A personal settings list, which is a list of pinned settings available only to the currently logged in user; and a job history information list, which is a list of setting information when the currently logged-in user executed a process in the past and is a list of setting information that is not pinned; Display them side by side, Only an administrator user having broader authority than a general user who uses the device accepts an operation to register setting information included in the displayed job history information list of the administrator user in the shared setting information list by pinning the setting information. Information processing device.

2. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor displays an operator for registering the setting information included in the job history information list in the shared setting information list only to an administrator user.

3. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor does not display, to a general user, an operator for registering the setting information included in the job history information list in the shared setting information list.

4. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the processor executes a pre-set authentication process for an administrator user to allow operations that cannot be performed by a general user, including the operation of registering setting information included in the job history information list in the shared setting information list.

5. 5. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the processor receives from an administrator user an upper limit number of setting information that can be registered in the shared setting information list, and controls the processor so as not to accept any operation to register setting information that exceeds the received upper limit in the shared setting information list.

6. 6. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein when the processor displays the settings screen, in an initial setting state, the processor displays the shared setting information list above the personal setting information list.

7. The information processing device of claim 6, wherein the processor accepts a setting of whether to display the shared setting information list or the personal setting information list at the top when displaying the setting screen based on the operation of the administrator user or the general user.

8. 7. The information processing device according to claim 6, wherein the processor accepts settings for whether to display or hide the shared setting information list, the personal setting information list, and the job history information list when displaying the setting screen based on the operation of the administrator user or the general user.

9. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the processor accepts operations of the administrator user or the general user and displays a plurality of setting information contained in the shared setting information list, a plurality of setting information contained in the personal setting information list, and a plurality of setting information contained in job history information together as a single setting information.

10. The information processing device of claim 9, wherein the processor accepts an operation from the administrator user or the general user and displays the multiple setting information included in the shared setting information list, the multiple setting information included in the personal setting information list, and the multiple setting information included in the job history information, which are displayed together as a single piece of setting information, in their original, separate state.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when setting information included in the shared setting information list is deleted, the processor stores the deleted setting information in a temporary storage area.

12. The information processing device according to claim 11, wherein the processor deletes the setting information stored in the temporary storage area after a predetermined time has elapsed, or when the number of pieces of setting information exceeds a predetermined upper limit, deletes the number of pieces of setting information that exceed the upper limit, in order from the oldest deletion date and time.

13. An information processing device described in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein when the processor receives an operation to copy setting information included in the shared setting information list to the personal setting information list, it registers setting information with the same setting content as the setting information included in the shared setting information list that received the operation in the personal setting information list of the user who performed the operation.

14. 14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the processor accepts an operation to copy the setting information included in the shared setting information list to the personal setting information list not only from an administrator user but also from a general user.

15. a step of displaying side by side a shared setting information list, which is setting information in which setting values ​​for executing processing are stored for each setting item and is available to multiple users, a personal setting information list, which is available only to the currently logged-in user and is a list of pinned setting information, and a job history information list, which is a list of setting information used when the currently logged-in user executed processing in the past and is a list of unpinned setting information; accepting an operation from only an administrator user who has broader authority than a general user who uses the apparatus to register setting information included in the displayed job history information list of the administrator user in the shared setting information list by pinning the setting information; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

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