Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image formation device that can increase the convenience for a user when the user is executing a short-circuit registered function.SOLUTION: A controller 11 displays an input screen for receiving an input operation of specifying a set value for a priority setting item in a user interface when information showing the priority setting item is included in short-circuit information 20 related to a short-cut image, and receives an input operation of specifying the set value for the priority setting item through the displayed input screen.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for executing image forming processing.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an apparatus capable of registering an image forming process in association with a shortcut image and executing the associated image forming process by operating on the shortcut image. In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, all setting values related to the registered image forming process are registered collectively. Thereafter, the user can execute an image forming process using the preset setting values simply by operating the shortcut image to call the registered image forming process.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The applicant has noticed that it may be convenient for the user to not only use the saved setting values but also easily make individual settings every time the image forming process is executed. Patent Document 1 does not describe anything from this perspective.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of enhancing the convenience of the user when executing a function registered as a shortcut.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus disclosed in this embodiment comprises a user interface, an image forming unit, a controller, and a memory. The controller can cause the image forming unit to perform image forming processing using setting values ​​corresponding to each of a plurality of setting items. The controller can perform a registration process in which, in response to instructions received via the user interface, it registers in memory as shortcut information indicating the type of image forming processing and the setting values ​​used for said image forming processing, associated with a shortcut image. The controller can also perform a shortcut execution process in which, in response to an operation on the shortcut image, it causes the image forming unit to perform the type of image forming processing indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut image, using the setting values ​​indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut image. In the registration process, when a user interface specifies preferred settings, it is possible to register information indicating multiple preferred settings in the shortcut information and store it in memory. Preferred settings are settings that correspond to the settings that should be prioritized in the input operation, among the setting values ​​used in the type of image formation process indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut image. In the shortcut execution process, depending on the operation on the shortcut image, if the shortcut information associated with the shortcut image includes information indicating preferred settings, an input screen is displayed on the user interface to accept an input operation to specify the setting value corresponding to the preferred setting. Through the displayed input screen, an input operation to specify the setting value corresponding to multiple preferred settings is accepted. For preferred settings, if the corresponding setting value is specified by the input operation, the specified setting value is used, and for settings other than preferred settings, the setting value indicated in the shortcut information is used to cause the image formation unit to execute the image formation process.

[0007] In the above configuration, when an operation on a shortcut image triggers an instruction to execute a registered image formation process, if the shortcut information includes information indicating multiple priority settings, an input screen is displayed. Through the displayed input screen, the system accepts input of setting values, and uses the input values ​​for priority settings, while using the settings included in the shortcut information for settings other than priority settings, to execute the image formation process in the image formation unit. This allows the user to change the setting values ​​of priority settings among the settings in the image formation process each time they execute an image formation process associated with a shortcut image, thereby improving user convenience. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that enhances user convenience when performing a specific image forming process by manipulating shortcut images. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram of the MFP (Multi-Function Programming Device). [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing the screen transitions when registering shortcut images. [Figure 3] This is a diagram explaining shortcut information. [Figure 4] This is a diagram showing the screen transitions when registering shortcut images. [Figure 5] This is a diagram showing the screen transitions when registering shortcut images. [Figure 6] This is a diagram showing the screen transitions when registering shortcut images. [Figure 7] This is a diagram showing the screen transitions when registering shortcut images. [Figure 8] This is a screen transition diagram illustrating the execution of functions registered as shortcuts. [Figure 9] This is a screen transition diagram illustrating the execution of functions registered as shortcuts. [Figure 10] This is a screen transition diagram for registering shortcut images according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] This is a diagram showing the screen transitions when registering shortcut images. [Figure 12] This is a diagram showing the screen transitions when executing a function registered as a shortcut. [Figure 13] This is a diagram showing the screen transitions when executing a function registered as a shortcut. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] (First Embodiment) An embodiment of the image forming apparatus will be described using an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral). As shown in Figure 1, the MFP 10 includes a controller 11, memory 12, printer 13, FAX IF 14, scanner 15, user IF 16, USB IF 17, and communication IF 18. These components are connected to each other via a bus so that they can communicate with one another.

[0011] The communication IF18 connects the MFP10 to the network. This allows the MFP10 to communicate with a PC (not shown) connected to the network via the network, according to a predetermined protocol. The scanner 15 has a reading sensor such as a CCD or CIS, and generates image data according to the reading of the document. Image data generation is one example of image formation. The printer 13 performs a printing operation to print the image onto a recording medium such as a sheet or a disc. A sheet is also called paper. Printing is one example of image formation. The printer 13 can employ an inkjet method or an electrophotographic method as its recording method.

[0012] User IF 16 is an interface that can receive various operations on the MFP 10 by the user. The user IF 16 includes a touch panel including a liquid crystal display, various switches, and the like. The USB IF 17 reads and writes data in accordance with the USB standard with respect to a detachable USB-compatible storage medium. The USB-compatible storage medium is, for example, a USB memory or the like. The communication IF 18 performs, for example, wireless LAN communication and communicates with a PC and a server (not shown) connected to the wireless LAN. The printer 13, the FAX IF 14, and the scanner 15 are an example of an image forming unit and execute copy processing, scan processing, FAX transmission processing, and FAX reception processing in accordance with an instruction from the controller 11.

[0013] The memory 12 is configured by combining a volatile memory such as a RAM, a non-volatile memory such as an NVRAM, a ROM, and the like. As the non-volatile memory, an SSD, an HDD, or the like may be used. A buffer provided in the controller 11 used when executing various programs may also be regarded as a part of the memory 12. Note that the memory 12 may be a storage medium readable by the controller 11. A storage medium readable by the controller 11 is a non-transitory medium. Non-transitory media include recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs in addition to the above examples. Also, non-transitory media are tangible media. On the other hand, an electrical signal that conveys a program downloaded from a server on the Internet or the like is a computer-readable signal medium, which is a kind of computer-readable medium, but is not included in non-transitory computer-readable storage media.

[0014] Controller 11 is composed of a CPU and internal memory. In this embodiment, the processing of Controller 11 according to instructions written in the program is mainly shown. That is, the processes such as "judgment," "extraction," "selection," "calculation," "decision," "identification," "acquisition," "reception," and "control" in the following description represent the processing of Controller 11. Note that "acquisition" is used as a concept that does not necessarily require a request. That is, the process of Controller 11 receiving data without a request is also included in the concept of "Controller 11 acquiring data." Also, "data" in this specification is represented by a bit string that can be read by the controller. Data that has the same substantial meaning but different formats will be treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in this specification. Note that Controller 11 is not limited to one, but may be composed of multiple controllers. In this case, each of the processes described later that are executed by Controller 11 may be distributed and executed by multiple controllers.

[0015] When the MFP10 is powered on, the controller 11 displays the standby screen 40 shown in Figure 2(a) to the user IF 16. The standby screen 40 includes icons 41A, 41B, and 41C that accept commands to execute the "FAX," "Copy," and "Scan" functions that the MFP10 can perform in its initial state. The standby screen 40 consists of multiple pages, and in this embodiment, by operating tabs 43A to 43C displayed at the bottom of the screen, the user IF 16 can display the page corresponding to the operated tab 43. Figure 2(a) shows the "Basic1" page corresponding to tab 43A. When tab 43B is operated, the controller 11 displays the "Basic2" page, shown in Figure 10(a) and other figures described later, to the user IF 16.

[0016] When the user operates the icon 41A related to the FAX function, the controller 11 executes the FAX transmission function using the FAXIF 14. The FAX transmission function transmits the scan data generated by the scanner 15 reading, the transmission data transmitted from, for example, a PC via the communication IF 18, and the recorded data read from a USB memory or the like via the USBIF 17 to the destination device via the FAXIF 14. In addition to this, when the user operates the icon 41A, the FAX reception process using the FAXIF 14 can be performed. In the FAX reception process, the FAX reception data received via the FAXIF 14 is printed on a sheet by the printer 13, transmitted to another external device via the communication IF 18, and further written to a USB memory via the USBIF 17.

[0017] When the user operates the icon 41B related to the copy function, the controller 11 executes the copy function using the printer 13 and the scanner 15. The copy function is a function that causes the printer 13 to print the scan data generated by the scanner 15 reading a document. When the user operates the icon 41C related to the scan function, the controller 11 executes the scan function using the scanner 15. The scan function is a function that transmits the scan data generated by the scanner 15 reading a document to, for example, a PC or a server via the communication IF 18, or writes it to a USB memory via the USBIF 17. The copy function executed by the printer 13 and the scanner 15, the scan function executed by the scanner 15, the FAX transmission process executed by the FAXIF 14, and the FAX reception process are examples of image formation processing. Before executing the functions corresponding to the icons 41A to 41C included in the standby screen 40, the controller 11 can display a confirmation screen 107 (Fig. 8(d)) corresponding to the function to be executed as described later, allowing the user to confirm the current setting value and accept an operation to change the setting value. In this case, when the controller 11 detects an operation of the start button 103 included in the confirmation screen 107, it executes the function.

[0018] The standby screen 40 includes unregistered keys 42A and 42B to which shortcut images can be assigned. The shortcut images are images that associate the functions of the MFP 10 and the various settings used by those functions. The controller 11 can perform a registration process to store shortcut information 20, which registers the functions of the MFP 10 and the settings used by those functions, in memory 12 in response to instructions received via the user IF 16, in association with the shortcut images. When the user operates a shortcut image, the controller 11 can execute the functions and various settings of the MFP 10 associated with the operated shortcut image, omitting a series of function selection operations and setting operations for various settings. Hereinafter, associating the functions of the MFP 10 and the settings used by those functions with a shortcut image will also be referred to as "shortcut registration".

[0019] Next, we will explain the process of adding a shortcut image to an unregistered key 42A on the standby screen 40 and registering a shortcut. When a user operates an unregistered key 42A on the standby screen 40, the controller 11 temporarily stores a record in the volatile memory of the memory 12. The record includes the following setting items in the shortcut information 20, which correspond to the function to be registered as a shortcut: ShortCut display name 21, registration position number 22, function 23, initial value 24, setting each time 25, display order 26, text input target 27, OneTouch 28, last text input value 29, and display mode 30. Each piece of information in the record corresponds to the record in the shortcut information 20 shown in Figure 3. The shortcut information 20 and records will be described later. The controller 11 also writes the value of the registration position number corresponding to the operated unregistered key 42 as the registration position number 22 of the record. The registration position number corresponding to the unregistered key 42A is "4". Furthermore, the controller 11 displays the major category selection screen 50 shown in Figure 2(b) to the user interface 16. The major category selection screen 50 is a screen that accepts the user's selection operation for major categories in order to roughly identify the functions to be registered as shortcuts. The major category selection screen 50 shown in Figure 2(b) includes multiple buttons 51 corresponding to the major categories: button 51A indicating "copy function", button 51B indicating "FAX function", button 51C indicating "scan function", button 51D indicating "network connection", and button 51E indicating "run application".

[0020] When the controller 11 detects that any of the buttons 51 on the main category selection screen 50 has been operated, it displays the sub-category selection screen 52 to the user interface 16. The sub-category selection screen 52 is a screen that accepts the specification of sub-categories to specify the function identified by the operation of the main category selection screen 50 in more detail. In this example, when the user operates button 51C, which indicates "scan function" as the main category, the controller 11 displays the sub-category selection screen 52, which accepts the specification of the destination for saving scan data as a sub-category, as shown in Figure 2(c), to the user interface 16. The sub-category selection screen 52 includes several buttons 53A to 53E that indicate the destination for saving scan data, specifically, button 53A for specifying a USB memory, button 53B for specifying a PC, button 53C for specifying an E-mail server, button 53D for specifying an FTP server or SFTP server, and button 53E for specifying a connected device on the network. Note that by operating the scroll bar on the sub-category selection screen 52, buttons corresponding to sub-categories other than buttons 53A to 53E can be displayed.

[0021] When a user operates any of the buttons 53A to 53E on the subcategory selection screen 52, the controller 11 writes the function specified by the category selected on each screen 50, 52 as the function 23 of the temporarily stored record. Here, function 23 is information indicating the function to be registered as a shortcut. In this example, "Scan Processing" is selected on the main category selection screen 50 and "Save to E-mail Server" is selected on the subcategory selection screen 52, so the controller 11 writes "Scan to E-Mail Server" as the function 23 of the temporarily stored record and writes the initial values ​​of each setting item corresponding to the predetermined "Scan to E-Mail Server" to the initial value 24. Note that "temporary storage" is the process of storing information before "registration" in the volatile area of ​​memory 12 for working purposes. "Temporary storage" includes temporary storage of records and temporary storage of information separately from records. "Registration" is the process of storing the temporarily stored information in the non-volatile area of ​​memory 12.

[0022] The controller 11 writes "OFF" as the value of setting 25 corresponding to each setting item in the temporarily stored record, and writes a value indicating a predetermined order as the value of display order 26 corresponding to each setting item. For setting items that are subject to text input, a blank space is written as the value of text input target 27, and a blank space is written as the value of final text input value 29. "OFF" is written as the value of OneTouch 28, and a blank space is written as the value of display mode 30.

[0023] Next, the controller 11 displays the setting selection screen 55 shown in Figure 2(d) to the user interface. The setting selection screen 55 includes a first button 56A, a second button 56B, and a third button 56C. When the first button 56A is pressed on the setting selection screen 55, the priority item setting screen 60 shown in Figure 4(a) is displayed to the user interface 16. The priority item setting screen 60 includes buttons 61A to 61E corresponding to the "Scan to Email Server" setting items: "Brightness," "Contrast," "Filename," "Filename Format," and "File Size." Buttons for other setting items can be displayed on the priority item setting screen 60 by operating the scroll bar. In Figure 4(a), each of the buttons 61A to 61E on the priority item setting screen 60 displays "OFF" for all setting items, according to the value of the setting 25 corresponding to each setting item in the temporarily stored record, indicating that the setting item is not designated as a priority setting item.

[0024] When a user operates any of the buttons 61A to 61E on the priority item setting screen 60, the controller 11 displays a detailed settings screen on the user IF 16 to accept the user's operation to change the value of the setting 25 corresponding to each setting item from the temporarily stored records. For example, when the user operates button 61C, the controller 11 displays the detailed settings screen 63 shown in Figure 4(b) on the user IF 16. On the detailed settings screen 63, if the enable button 64A is operated, the value of the setting 25 for the setting item "filename" is temporarily stored as "ON". On the other hand, if the disable button 64B is operated on the detailed settings screen 63, the value of the setting 25 for the setting item "filename" is temporarily stored as "OFF". When either the enable button 64A or the disable button 64B is selected, the controller 11 returns the display on the user IF 16 to the priority item setting screen 60 shown in Figure 4(c). Here, we will continue the explanation assuming that the enable button 64A has been selected.

[0025] In the priority item setting screen 60 shown in Figure 4(c), unlike the priority item setting screen 60 shown in Figure 4(a), the button 61C corresponding to the setting item "filename" displays "ON" to indicate that the setting 25 is enabled. In the priority item setting screen 60 shown in Figure 4(c), if a button 61 corresponding to another setting item is operated, the controller 11 displays a detailed setting screen similar to that in Figure 4(b) to the user IF 16 for the setting item indicated by the operated button 61, and accepts an operation to change the value of the setting 25 corresponding to this setting item. When the controller 11 detects that the confirmation button 62 on the priority item setting screen 60 has been operated, it rewrites the value of the setting 25 in the temporarily stored record to the "ON" or "OFF" value temporarily stored for each setting item according to the operation on the priority item setting screen 60. Then, the controller 11 returns the display on the user IF 16 to the setting content selection screen 55 shown in Figure 2(d). Furthermore, if setting 25 is set to "ON" for each setting item that is a text input target, the controller 11 will overwrite the value of the text input target 27 in the temporarily stored record for the setting item that has been set to "ON" to "Preset".

[0026] In the setting selection screen 55 shown in Figure 2(d), the second button 56B is assumed to have been operated. When the controller 11 detects that the second button 56B has been operated, it displays the order setting screen 65 shown in Figure 5(a) to the user IF 16. The order setting screen 65 is a screen that accepts operations to change the value of the display order 26 (i.e., the display order) corresponding to each setting item in the temporarily stored record. The arrangement order of each item field 66 in the order setting screen 65 is displayed in the order according to the value of the display order 26 corresponding to each setting item in the temporarily stored record. When the down button 67 is operated once, the arrangement order of the corresponding item field 66 is moved down by one. On the other hand, when the up button 68 is operated once, the arrangement order of the corresponding item field is moved up by one. In the examples of Figures 5(a) and 5(b), when the down button 67 in item field 66B or the up button 68 in item field 66C is operated only once, the arrangement order of item field 66B is changed to be after item field 66C.

[0027] When the controller 11 detects the operation of the confirmation button 62 on the order setting screen 65, it overwrites the display order 26 values ​​corresponding to each setting item in the temporarily stored record with the values ​​corresponding to the order on the order setting screen 65. Then, the controller 11 returns the display of the user IF 16 to the setting content selection screen 55 shown in Figure 2(d).

[0028] When the third button 56C is pressed on the setting selection screen 55, the controller 11 displays the initial value setting screen 70 shown in Figure 6(a) to the user interface 16. The initial value setting screen 70 includes buttons 71A to 71E corresponding to each setting item of the function indicated by function 23 in the temporarily stored record. In the example screen shown in Figure 6(a), buttons 71A to 71E corresponding to the setting item "Scan to Email Server" are included.

[0029] The settings used when executing a shortcut vary depending on the function to which the shortcut is registered. For example, if the function is related to copying, the settings for "Output Size," "Quality," and "Color," as well as the settings for "Number of Copies" and "Double-Sided Printing," will be used. Similarly, if the function is related to scanning, the settings for "Save Location," "Scan Size," "Output Size," "Quality," and "Color," as well as the setting for "Scale," will be used. In this case, the function "Scan to E-mail Server" is a type of scanning function, so the settings for "Address" (a type of "Save Location"), "Scan Size," "File Size" (a type of "Output Size"), and "Brightness" (a type of "Quality") and "Contrast" (a type of "Contrast") will be used. Furthermore, the "Scan to E-mail Server" function uses the settings for the following items: "File Name" which indicates the saved file name, "File Name Style" which indicates the style of the file name, and "Skip Blank Page" which indicates whether or not to exclude blank documents from being saved as scanned data. For the "Scan to E-mail Server" function, the predetermined settings are, for example, "Address" is blank, "Scan Size" is "A4", "Brightness" is "0", "File Name" is "mail", "Contrast" is "0", "File Name Style" is "Name_Counter", "File Size" is "Medium", and "Skip Blank Page" is "Of".

[0030] When the controller 11 detects that any of the buttons 71 corresponding to setting items that are not text input targets, such as buttons 71A, 71B, 71D, or 71E, has been operated on the initial value setting screen 70, it displays a detailed setting screen to the user IF 16 in a manner that indicates that a value for the initial value 24 has been set, allowing the user to change the value of the initial value 24 corresponding to the target setting item. For example, if either buttons 71A or 71B corresponding to "Brightness" or "Contrast" are operated, the controller 11 displays a detailed setting screen for inputting a setting value from 0 to 10. If button 71D corresponding to "Filename Style" is operated, the controller 11 displays a detailed setting screen for selecting and inputting a string to add to the string that is the setting value of the setting item "Filename" in order to use as the filename of each scan data to be saved, from options such as "Name_Counter" which is a string indicating a sequential number, or "Name_Time" which is a string indicating the date, time, minutes, and seconds. Furthermore, although not shown in Figure 6(a), if the button 71 corresponding to "Skip Blank Page" is operated, the controller 11 displays a detailed settings screen for selecting "ON" or "OFF," as shown in Figure 8(c) later. If the buttons 71 corresponding to "2-sided Scan," "Colour Setting," "Resolution," or "File type" are operated, the controller 11 displays a detailed settings screen for selecting the setting value for each setting item, as shown in Figures 12(b), 12(c), and 12(d) later.

[0031] Input on each detailed settings screen can be done by entering a numerical value as described above, or by selecting a value from an option. The controller 11 temporarily stores the values ​​entered on the detailed settings screen in volatile memory. When the controller 11 receives an operation indicating the end of input, it overwrites the initial value 24 corresponding to the setting item in the temporarily stored record with the value temporarily stored in memory 12. Then, it returns the display of the user IF 16 to the initial value setting screen 70 shown in Figure 6(a).

[0032] When the controller 11 detects that a button 71 corresponding to a setting item that is subject to text input, for example, button 71C corresponding to the setting item "filename", has been operated on the initial value setting screen 70, it displays the initial value mode setting screen 72 shown in Figure 6(b) to the user IF 16. When the controller 11 detects that a button 73 has been operated on the initial value mode setting screen 72, it temporarily stores the value of the text input target 27 for the corresponding setting item in memory 12. For example, when it detects that buttons 73A, 73B, and 73C have been operated, it temporarily stores "Blank", "Last input value", and "Preset value", respectively, as the values ​​of the text input target 27. Subsequently, the controller 11 displays the detailed setting screen 74 shown in Figure 6(c) in a mode that shows the initial value 24 temporarily stored in the record, for the user to input the setting value to be used as the initial value of the corresponding setting item. The screen illustrated in Figure 6(c) shows the mode that shows "mail", which is the initial value 24 for the setting item "filename". Furthermore, the initial value 24 corresponding to the relevant setting item is temporarily stored in memory 12. When a setting value is entered via the detailed setting screen 74, the controller 11 overwrites the setting value temporarily stored in memory 12 with the entered setting value. When the controller 11 receives an operation indicating the end of input via the confirmation button 62, it overwrites the initial value 24 and the final text input value 29 corresponding to the relevant setting item in the record to the temporarily stored settings. Then, the display of user IF 16 is returned to the initial value setting screen 70 shown in Figure 6(a).

[0033] When the controller 11 detects that the confirmation button 62 on the initial value setting screen 70 has been operated, it returns the display on the user IF 16 to the setting content selection screen 55 shown in Figure 2(d). When the controller 11 detects that the save button 57 on the setting content selection screen 55 has been operated, it displays the name setting screen 77 shown in Figure 7(a) on the user IF 16. The name setting screen 77 is a screen that accepts operation to change the value of the Short Cut display name 21 in the temporarily stored record. The display field 78 of the name setting screen 77 displays the temporarily stored record in a manner that shows a predetermined value as the Short Cut display name 21. In this embodiment, the predetermined value for the Short Cut display name 21 is a string combining "Shortcut" and a number. In addition to this, the predetermined value for the Short Cut display name 21 may be blank. The user can change the name displayed in the display field 78 by operating the input key 79. When the user operates the confirmation button 62, the controller 11 overwrites the setting value indicated by the Short Cut display name 21 in the temporarily stored records with the name entered in the display field 78. Then, the controller 11 displays the mode setting screen shown in Figure 7(b).

[0034] The mode setting screen 80 shown in Figure 7(b) is a screen that accepts operations to change the enabled ("ON") or disabled ("OFF") state of the one-touch shortcut indicated by OneTouch28 among the temporarily stored records. In the mode setting screen 80, the explanatory display field 81 displays text indicating that the mode selection button 82 should be operated when enabling the one-touch shortcut. The mode selection button 82 is displayed in a manner that indicates a predetermined value for OneTouch28 among the temporarily stored records. In this embodiment, the predetermined value for OneTouch28 is disabled ("OFF").

[0035] Each time the controller 11 detects that the mode selection button 82 has been operated by the user, it toggles the checkbox status of the mode selection button 82 between checked and unchecked. When the user operates the confirmation button 62, the controller 11 temporarily stores the value of the OneTouch 28 as follows: "ON" if the mode selection button 82 is checked, and "OFF" if it is unchecked.

[0036] The controller 11 registers the value of the temporarily stored record into the shortcut information 20 stored in memory 12. The controller 11 displays the shortcut image associated with the function "Scan to E-mail Server" on the standby screen. Specifically, the standby screen 40 shown in Figure 7(c) displays a shortcut image 90 for calling the registered shortcut function "Scan to E-mail Server" in the location where the unregistered key 42A was previously displayed, compared to the standby screen 40 shown in Figure 2(a). The shortcut image added to the standby screen 40 displays "Short Cut 13," which is specified by the Short Cut display name 21 included in the record associated with this shortcut image 90 from the shortcut information 20.

[0037] Figure 3 shows the shortcut information 20 in a state where a record corresponding to the function "Short Cut 13" is registered. In the shortcut information 20 shown in Figure 3, the information such as Short Cut display name 21, registration position number 22, function 23, initial value 24, setting each time 25, display order 26, text input target 27, OneTouch 28, last text input value 29, and display mode 30 correspond to the respective setting items of the record temporarily stored when the shortcut was registered as described above. Note that the shortcut information 20 shown in Figure 3 also includes a record for "Short Cut 15". The values ​​of each record registered in the shortcut information 20 can be changed. For example, when the controller 11 receives a long press operation on the shortcut image 90, it displays a screen for receiving changes to each value in the record, and after receiving input to instruct the user to change the value, the value of the record corresponding to the shortcut image 90 in the shortcut information 20 can be changed. Furthermore, when the controller 11 changes the initial value 24 of a setting item that is subject to text input, it also changes the value of the final text input value 29 to match the changed initial value 24. For example, if the initial value 24 of "filename" is changed from "mail" to "jobdata", the controller 11 also changes the value of the final text input value 29 to "jobdata".

[0038] Furthermore, although the details of shortcut execution will be described later, when executing a shortcut based on a record included in the shortcut information 20, a screen may be displayed to accept input values ​​other than those in the record, and the accepted values ​​may be used to execute the function. For example, for the setting item "filename," which is a text input item and whose initial value 24 is "mail," the detailed settings screen 100 shown in Figure 8(b) may be displayed to accept input of "mail602," and "mail602" may be used to execute the function. In this case, the controller 11 leaves the initial value 24 in the record of the setting item "filename," which is a text input item, as "mail," and changes the value of the final text input value 29 in the record to "mail602."

[0039] When executing a function corresponding to shortcut information 20, a screen may be displayed to accept input values ​​different from those in the record. Even if the values ​​accepted on this screen are used to execute the function, the initial values ​​24 in the record for the setting items that are subject to text input may not be changed, and the value of the final text input value 29 in the record may be changed to the accepted value. Note that shortcut information 20 may contain records other than "Short Cut 13" and "Short Cut 15," which are Short Cut display names 21 shown in Figure 3. In this case, the records may include records registered at the time of manufacturing of the MFP10, as well as records registered by the vendor selling the MFP10, the MFP10 administrator, and the administrator of the system including the MFP10.

[0040] Next, we will explain the shortcut execution process that executes the registered shortcut function "Scan to E-mail Server" by manipulating the shortcut image 90 included in the standby screen 40. When the controller 11 detects an operation on the shortcut image 90 in the standby screen 40 shown in Figure 8(a), it reads the record from the shortcut information 20 where the registration position number 22 is "4", that is, the record where the Short Cut display name 21 is "Short Cut 13". The controller 11 then determines whether the setting item whose value is set to enabled "ON" is included in the setting item 25 of the read record. In the shortcut information 20 shown in Figure 3, in the record where the Short Cut display name 21 is "Short Cut 13", the setting items in the value of the setting item 25 whose setting item 25 is set to enabled "ON" are "File name" and "Skip blank page".

[0041] If a record contains a setting item whose value in setting 25 is set to "ON", it is determined whether the value of display mode 30 indicates wizard format (sequential display) or list format (priority list display). In wizard format, the detailed setting screen corresponding to the first priority setting item specified in display order 26 is displayed, and then the detailed setting screen corresponding to the next priority setting item is displayed. In list format, a screen is displayed in which images (specifically, buttons) for accepting input operations for each of the multiple priority setting items are arranged in a list. In this embodiment, the first display mode is the mode in which the detailed setting screen is displayed in wizard format, and the second display mode is the mode in which images for displaying the detailed setting screen are displayed in a list. The value of display mode 30 is an example of display mode setting information. The following describes the case in which display mode 30 in a record indicates wizard format.

[0042] The controller 11 extracts the display order 26 of priority setting items whose setting 25 value is set to "ON" from the display order 26 of the read record, and displays the detailed setting screen corresponding to the setting item that is displayed earliest on the user IF 16. Here, the detailed setting screen 100 corresponding to the setting item "filename" is displayed on the user IF 16. When the controller 11 displays the detailed setting screen on the user IF 16, it determines whether the setting item to be displayed is a text input item, for example, whether it is a setting item shown in the text input item 27 of the record, and if it is not a text input item, it displays the detailed setting screen with the initial value 24 corresponding to the setting item set. On the other hand, if the setting item to be displayed is a text input item, the controller 11 determines the value of the text input item 27 of the record. If the value of the text input item 27 is "Blank", the controller 11 temporarily stores a value indicating blank and displays the detailed setting screen with blank set. If the controller 11 is set to "Last input value", it temporarily stores the value of the last text input value 29 and displays the detailed settings screen with the value of the last text input value 29 set. If the controller 11 is set to "Preset", it temporarily stores the value of the initial value 24 and displays the detailed settings screen with the value of the initial value 24 set. In this example, the setting item "filename" is a text input target, and the value of the text input target 27 is "Preset", so the detailed settings screen 100 shown in Figure 8(b) is displayed with the value of the initial value 24 "mail" set.

[0043] The controller 11 is configured to include the values ​​of the text input target 27 and the last text input value 29 in the record, even for setting items that are not text input targets. The detailed settings screen may be displayed in one of the following modes based on the value of the text input target 27: that is, a mode where a blank value is set, a mode where the value of the last text input value 29 is set, or a mode where the value of the initial value 24 is set.

[0044] On the detailed settings screen 100, the user can change the initial value 24 "mail" displayed in the display field 101 to another string, for example, "mail 0602," by operating the input key 102. When the controller 11 detects the operation of the confirmation button 104, it temporarily stores a value corresponding to the content displayed in the display field 101 on the detailed settings screen 100. That is, if the controller 11 has received input for "mail 0602" on the detailed settings screen 100, it temporarily stores the value "mail 0602." If the controller 11 has not received input to change the initial value 24 "mail" on the detailed settings screen 100, it will continue to temporarily store the value "mail" as it was.

[0045] The controller 11 displays the detailed settings screen corresponding to the next earliest item in the priority settings order to the user IF16. In this example, the next earliest item in the priority settings order to be displayed is "Skip Blank Page," so the controller 11 temporarily stores the initial value 24 corresponding to the setting item "Skip Blank Page" as shown in Figure 8(c), and displays the detailed settings screen 105 to the user IF16 in a state where the initial value 24 is set.

[0046] When controller 11 detects operation of the enable button 106A, it temporarily stores the setting value "On" corresponding to the setting item "Skip Blank Page". On the other hand, when controller 11 detects operation of the disable button 106B, it temporarily stores the setting value "Off" corresponding to the setting item "Skip Blank Page".

[0047] When the controller 11 detects the operation of the confirmation button 104 on the detailed settings screen 100, if there is a priority setting item that will be displayed earlier next, it will display the detailed screen for that priority setting item. In this embodiment, the detailed settings screen is an example of an input screen. If there is no priority setting item that will be displayed earlier next from the record display order 26, the controller 11 determines whether the value indicated by OneTouch 28 is enabled "ON".

[0048] If OneTouch28 is set to disabled ("OFF"), the controller 11 displays the confirmation screen 107 shown in Figure 8(d) to the user IF16. The confirmation screen 107 shown in Figure 8(d) has the same configuration as the initial value setting screen 70 shown in Figure 6(a). On the confirmation screen 107, buttons 108A to 108E are the same buttons as buttons 71A to 71E on the initial value setting screen 70. For setting items among the priority setting items for which a detailed setting screen such as Figures 8(b) and (c) is displayed, the controller 11 displays the value temporarily stored in response to the operation on the detailed setting screen, and for setting items for which a detailed setting screen is not displayed, it displays the value of the initial value 24. This allows the user to confirm the setting value used when executing a shortcut. If the user operates buttons 108A to 108E, the detailed setting screen for the corresponding setting item can be displayed, similar to when buttons 71A to 71E are operated. However, if button 108C is operated, unlike when button 71C is operated, the detailed settings screen is displayed without displaying the initial value setting screen. When the controller 11 receives input to change a setting value via the detailed settings screen, it temporarily stores the setting value according to the input.

[0049] When the controller 11 detects the operation of the start button 103 on the confirmation screen 107, it executes the function "Scan to E-Mail Server" using the temporarily stored values. Specifically, for setting items where the detailed settings screen is displayed after the shortcut image has been operated and an operation to change the setting value has been accepted, the controller 11 executes the function using the changed setting value. On the other hand, for setting items where the detailed settings screen is displayed after the shortcut image has been operated but an operation to change the setting value has not been accepted, the controller 11 uses the setting value temporarily stored when the detailed settings screen was displayed. For setting items where the detailed settings screen has not been displayed after the shortcut image has been operated, the controller 11 executes the function using the initial value 24. At this time, the controller 11 displays the execution screen 120 shown in Figure 8(e) to the user IF 16 to indicate to the user that the shortcut-registered function is being executed. After the function is executed, the controller 11 returns to displaying the standby screen 40 shown in Figure 8(a).

[0050] On the other hand, the controller 11 detects the operation of the confirmation button 104 on the detailed settings screen 105 shown in Figure 8(c). If there is a priority setting item that is displayed earlier in the sequence, and the value indicated by OneTouch 28 is set to disabled ("OFF"), the controller 11 executes the function "Scan to E-Mail Server" using the setting value temporarily stored in memory 12 without displaying the confirmation screen 107 shown in Figure 8(d) to the user interface 16. In this case as well, the controller 11 displays the execution screen 120 shown in Figure 8(e) to the user interface 16, and after executing the function "", returns to displaying the standby screen 40 shown in Figure 8(a).

[0051] Furthermore, when the controller 11 is displaying each detailed settings screen in wizard format and detects the operation of the start button 103, it executes the function "Scan to E-Mail Server" using the setting values ​​temporarily stored in memory 12 without displaying the detailed settings screen corresponding to the priority setting items that appear earlier in the sequence. In this case as well, the controller 11 displays the execution screen 120 shown in Figure 8(e) to the user interface 16, and after the function is executed, it returns to displaying the standby screen 40 shown in Figure 8(a). If the value of OneTouch 28 is "OFF" when the start button 103 is operated, the confirmation screen 107 shown in Figure 8(d) may be displayed. In this case, the processing after the display of the confirmation screen 107 is as described above. Note that the detailed settings screen 107 does not necessarily have to include the start button 103.

[0052] Next, if the record corresponding to the read "Short Cut13" does not contain any items for which the setting 25 value is enabled "ON", the controller 11 determines whether OneTouch28 is set to enabled "ON". If OneTouch28 is set to disabled "OFF", the controller 11 displays the confirmation screen 107 shown in Figure 8(d) to the user interface 16. The process for displaying the confirmation screen 107 and executing the "Scan to E-Mail Server" function is the same as described above. On the other hand, if OneTouch28 is set to enabled "ON", the controller 11 starts the "Scan to E-Mail Server" function using the setting value temporarily stored in memory 12 without displaying the confirmation screen 107 shown in Figure 8(d) to the user interface 16.

[0053] Next, we will explain the case where the retrieved record contains a setting item whose value in setting 25 is set to "ON" each time, and the display mode 30 is set to list display format. In this example as well, we will explain assuming that the items "File name" and "Skip blank page" in the shortcut information 20 are set as priority setting items.

[0054] When the controller 11 detects an operation on the shortcut image 90 on the standby screen 40 shown in Figure 9(a), it reads the record associated with the shortcut image 90 from the shortcut information 20. The controller 11 determines whether there is a priority setting item with "ON" enabled in the setting 25 in the read record. If the controller 11 determines that a priority setting item exists, it extracts the display order of each priority setting item from the display order 26 value in the record. The controller 11 displays the input selection screen 110 shown in Figure 9(b) to the user IF 16. The input selection screen 110 shown in Figure 9(b) includes input buttons 111A and 111B, which are input images representing the priority setting items specified in the setting 25. The arrangement order of each input button 111 follows the order shown in the display order 26 of the priority setting item. In this example, since the order in which the "Filename" priority setting item is displayed is earlier than the order in which the "Skip Blank Page" priority setting item is displayed, the input button 111A corresponding to "Filename" and the input button 111B corresponding to "Skip Blank Page" are arranged in this order.

[0055] When the controller 11 detects that the input button 111 has been operated, followed by the confirmation button 104, it displays the detailed settings screen 100 corresponding to the operated input button 111 to the user IF 16. The process for displaying the detailed settings screen 100 is the same as the process for displaying the detailed settings screen in wizard format. That is, when the controller 11 displays the detailed settings screen 100 to the user IF 16, it determines whether the setting item to be displayed is a text input item or not. If it is not a text input item, the controller 11 displays the detailed settings screen in a manner in which the initial value 24 is set. On the other hand, if it is a text input item, the controller 11 displays the detailed settings screen in a manner in accordance with the value of the text input item 27 in the record. However, the detailed settings screen 100 in list view format does not include the start button 103. For example, when the input button 111A is operated, the controller 11 performs the same process as for displaying the detailed settings screen 100 shown in Figure 8(b), and displays the detailed settings screen 100 shown in Figure 9(c). When the input button 111B is pressed, the controller 11 performs processing corresponding to setting items that are not text input items and displays the detailed settings screen 105 shown in Figure 9(d). Processing such as temporarily storing setting values ​​in response to operations performed via the displayed detailed settings screen is the same as the processing corresponding to operations performed via the wizard-style detailed settings screen. When the controller 11 detects that the confirmation button 104 has been pressed, it returns to displaying the input selection screen 110 shown in Figure 9(b).

[0056] If the start button 103 is pressed on the input selection screen 110 and OneTouch 28 is set to disabled ("OFF"), the controller 11 displays the confirmation screen 107 shown in Figure 9(e) on the user interface 16. The process for displaying the confirmation screen 107 and executing the "Scan to E-Mail Server" function is the same as described above. On the other hand, if OneTouch 28 is set to enabled ("ON"), the controller 11 executes the "Scan to E-Mail Server" function using the setting value temporarily stored in memory 12 without displaying the confirmation screen 107 shown in Figure 9(e) on the user interface 16.

[0057] Alternatively, the detailed settings screens 100 and 105 shown in Figures 9(c) and (d) may also be configured to include a start button 103. In that case, the controller 11 can execute the "Scan to E-Mail Server" function using the settings temporarily stored in memory at the time the start button 103 is pressed.

[0058] (Modified version of the first embodiment) In the first embodiment described above, the detailed settings screen for accepting changes to the setting values ​​of priority setting items could be switched between two display modes. The display modes of the detailed settings screen are not limited to two; there may be two or more display modes, or the display target may not be changeable.

[0059] Furthermore, the shortcut information 20 does not necessarily have to include the display order 26. In this case, each detailed settings screen may be displayed in a predetermined order according to the operation of the buttons. Also, the shortcut information 20 does not include information on the text input target 27 and the final text input value 29. The setting items for the text input target mentioned above may also be configured to be displayed in a manner that shows the initial value 24 temporarily stored in the record when the corresponding detailed settings screen is displayed, similar to the setting items that are not text input targets.

[0060] (Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, the configuration that differs from that of the first embodiment will be mainly described. In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for parts that are the same as in the first embodiment, and their descriptions will not be repeated. In this embodiment, compared to the first embodiment, the display mode of the detailed settings screen is switched according to whether the one-touch shortcut is enabled or disabled, which is a different configuration.

[0061] The standby screen 40 shown in Figure 10(a) has a different number and type of icons, but it has the same functionality as the standby screen shown in Figure 2(a), and the function of the unregistered key 42 is basically the same. The differences in specifications between the standby screen 40 shown in Figure 10(a) and the standby screen 40 shown in Figure 2(a) will be described later.

[0062] When the controller 11 detects the operation of an unregistered key 42C, it temporarily stores in volatile memory one record to be added to the shortcut information 20 shown in Figure 3, corresponding to the operation of the unregistered key 42C. In this example, it is assumed that the button 131C corresponding to the Scan function, a major category, is operated on the major category selection screen 130 shown in Figure 10(b), and then the button 133D corresponding to the "to USB" subcategory is operated on the subcategory selection screen 132 shown in Figure 10(c). Therefore, the controller 11 writes "Scan to USB" as the value of function 23 in the temporarily stored record, and writes the number 20 corresponding to the unregistered key 42C as the registration position number 22. The controller 11 also writes predetermined values ​​to the initial value 24, set each time 25, display order 26, text input target 27, OneTouch 28, last text input value 29, and display mode 30 values ​​corresponding to "Scan to USB" in the temporarily stored record.

[0063] The controller 11 displays the initial value setting screen 134 shown in Figure 10(d) to the user interface 16. The initial value setting screen 134 shown in Figure 10(d) is basically the same screen as the initial value setting screen 70 shown in Figure 6(a), but instead of the button 71 in Figure 6(a), it includes buttons 135A to 135D corresponding to the setting items "double-sided scan", "color", "resolution", and "file type" for the function "Scan to USB".

[0064] When a button corresponding to each setting item is operated on the initial value setting screen 134, the controller 11 displays a detailed setting screen for selecting and inputting the setting value for each setting item. The detailed setting screen and the processing related to the detailed setting screen are basically the same as those in the first embodiment. The controller 11 temporarily stores the setting values ​​entered on the detailed setting screen, and when it receives an operation indicating the end of input, it overwrites the corresponding initial value 24 for the relevant setting item with the temporarily stored setting value and returns to displaying the initial value setting screen 134.

[0065] When the confirmation button 136 on the initial value setting screen 134 is pressed, the controller 11 displays the priority item setting screen 137 shown in Figure 10(e) to the user IF 16. The priority item setting screen 137 includes buttons 138A to 138D for setting the value of setting 25 each time, which is either "ON" or "OFF", similar to the priority item setting screen 60 shown in Figure 4(a). When any of the buttons 138 is pressed, the controller 11 displays the detailed setting screen 139 shown in Figure 10(f), which corresponds to the pressed button, similar to when button 61 in Figure 4(a) is pressed. The controller 11 accepts input to specify the value of setting 25 each time by pressing buttons 140A and 140B on this detailed setting screen 139, temporarily stores the received value, and returns to the display shown in Figure 10(e). When the controller 11 detects that the forward button 139 has been operated on the priority item setting screen 137, it displays the sequence setting screen 141, as shown in Figure 11(a), to the user IF 16.

[0066] The order setting screen 141 shown in Figure 11(a) has different functions from the order setting screen 65 shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), although it differs in the number and types of setting items corresponding to the display order 26 setting, as well as the shape of the up and down buttons. The controller 11 changes the display order in response to the operation of the up and down buttons, similar to the operation of the order setting screen 65 shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b). When the forward button 143 is operated, the value of the record display order 26 is rewritten, similar to when the confirmation button 62 in Figure 5 is operated.

[0067] When the controller 11 rewrites the record display order 26, it displays the confirmation screen 144 shown in Figure 11(b) to the user interface 16. The display fields 145 of the confirmation screen 144 display text in a manner that indicates each setting value in the temporarily stored record.

[0068] When the controller 11 detects that the confirmation button 146 has been pressed on the confirmation screen 144, it displays the name setting screen 147 shown in Figure 11(c) on the user interface 16. The name setting screen 147 shown in Figure 11(c) is the same screen as the name setting screen 77 shown in Figure 7(a). As explained in Figure 7, when the controller 11 accepts an operation to change the value of the Short Cut display name 21 via the name setting screen 147, it temporarily stores it in non-volatile memory. When the confirmation button 146 on the name setting screen 147 is pressed, the controller 11 displays the mode setting screen 150 shown in Figure 11(d). The mode setting screen 150 shown in Figure 11(d) is the same screen as the mode setting screen 80 shown in Figure 7(b). When the confirmation key 146 is pressed on the mode setting screen 150, the temporarily stored record is registered in the shortcut information 20, and the shortcut image 91 is displayed on the standby screen 40 as shown in Figure 11(e). Details of the shortcut image 91 displayed on the standby screen 40 have already been explained in Figure 7, so they will be omitted here.

[0069] In this embodiment as well, if each setting item is specified as a text input target 27 or a final text input value 29, the setting value will be displayed in each detailed setting screen in the following manner. Specifically, each detailed setting screen will display the setting value in the manner specified by the text input target 27, for example, the manner in which a blank space is set, or in the manner specified by the final text input value 29, for example, the manner in which the value of the initial value 24 is set.

[0070] Next, we will explain the process of executing the shortcut-registered function "Scan to USB" by operating the shortcut image 91 displayed on the standby screen 40 corresponding to "Basic 2" shown in Figure 12(a). First, we will explain using the example where the setting items "Color setting," "Resolution," and "File type" are set as priority setting items in the record corresponding to the function "Scan to USB" in the shortcut information 20.

[0071] When the shortcut image 91 is operated on the standby screen 40, the controller 11 reads the record associated with the function "Scan to USB" from the shortcut information 20. Then, it determines whether the OneTouch 28 included in the record is set to "ON". If the OneTouch 28 is set to "ON", it extracts the display order of the priority setting items from the display order 26 of the read record and displays the detailed setting screen corresponding to the item displayed earliest on the user interface 16.

[0072] In this embodiment, if OneTouch28 is set to "ON" in the record, the controller 11 displays the detailed settings screen in a wizard-like display format. In other words, by sequentially displaying the detailed settings screen for multiple priority setting items, the burden on the user to operate the user IF16 is reduced. Here, since "color settings" is the earliest item to be displayed among the priority setting items, the controller 11 displays the detailed settings screen 160 corresponding to "color settings" shown in Figure 12(b) on the user IF16. Changing the setting value using the detailed settings screen 160 shown in Figure 12(b) is the same as changing the setting value using the detailed settings screen described in the first embodiment. That is, when the controller 11 detects the operation of any of the buttons 161A to 161C on the detailed settings screen shown in Figure 12(b), it temporarily stores the setting value specified by the operated button 161 in non-volatile memory.

[0073] Since the next priority setting item to be displayed is "resolution," the controller 11 displays the detailed settings screen 165, which accepts the operation to change the "resolution" setting value, as shown in Figure 12(c), to the user interface 16. When the controller 11 detects the operation of any of the buttons 166A to 166C on the detailed settings screen 165 shown in Figure 12(c), it temporarily stores the setting value specified by the operated button in the memory 12. Since the next priority setting item to be displayed is "file type," the controller 11 displays the detailed settings screen 168, which accepts the operation to change the "file type" setting value, as shown in Figure 12(d), to the user interface 16. When the controller 11 detects the operation of any of the buttons 169A to 169D on the detailed settings screen 168 shown in Figure 12(d), it temporarily stores the setting value specified by the operated button in the memory 12.

[0074] If there are no priority setting items that will be displayed next, the controller 11 executes the "Scan to USB" function using the setting values ​​of the records stored in memory 12. In this embodiment as well, when the controller 11 executes the "Scan to USB" function, it displays the execution screen 170 shown in Figure 12(e) to the user IF 16. Furthermore, if the controller 11 detects the operation of the start button 103 on each of the screens 160 and 165, it skips the display of the detailed setting screen that will be displayed next and executes the "Scan to USB" function.

[0075] On the other hand, when the shortcut image 91 is operated on the standby screen 40 shown in Figure 13(a), the controller 11 determines that the OneTouch 28 of the record corresponding to the function "Scan to USB" read into the memory 12 is set to disabled "OFF", and extracts the display order of each priority setting item from the display order 26. In this embodiment, if the OneTouch 28 is set to disabled "OFF", the controller 11 displays the detailed settings screen in a list display format. The controller 11 displays the input selection screen 180 shown in Figure 13(b) to the user IF 16. The input selection screen 180 is the same screen as the input selection screen 110 shown in Figure 9(b).

[0076] When controller 11 detects an operation of button 181A corresponding to color setting, it displays the detailed settings screen 160 shown in Figure 13(c) on the user IF 16, similar to the one shown in Figure 12(b), and accepts an operation to change the setting value. When controller 11 detects an operation of button 181B corresponding to resolution, it displays the detailed settings screen 165 shown in Figure 13(d) on the user IF 16, similar to the one shown in Figure 12(c), and accepts an operation to change the setting value. When controller 11 detects an operation of button 181C corresponding to file type, it displays the detailed settings screen 168 shown in Figure 13(e) on the user IF 16, similar to the one shown in Figure 12(d), and accepts an operation to change the setting value.

[0077] When an operation to change a setting value is performed on any of the detailed settings screens 160, 165, or 168, the controller 11 temporarily stores the changed setting value in the memory 12 and returns the display on the user interface 16 to the input selection screen 180 shown in Figure 13(b). Also, when the controller 11 detects the operation of the start button 104 on the input selection screen 180, it displays the execution screen 170 shown in Figure 13(f) and executes the "Scan to USB" function using the temporarily stored setting value. Alternatively, each input screen 160, 165, or 168 may be equipped with a confirmation button 143 and a start button 104. In this case, when the start button is operated on each input screen 160, 165, or 168, the display of the other input screens is skipped and the execution screen 170 shown in Figure 13(f) is displayed on the user interface 16.

[0078] In the embodiment described above, the display mode of the input screen that accepts changes to the setting value of a setting item can be changed according to the value specified in "OneTouch28" of the shortcut information 20. This makes it possible to change the display mode of the input screen according to the selected mode, thereby improving user convenience.

[0079] The embodiments described above can achieve the following effects. If the shortcut information 20 associated with the shortcut image includes a priority setting item, the controller 11 displays a detailed settings screen corresponding to this priority setting item to the user IF 16 and accepts input operations to change the setting value via the displayed detailed settings screen. This allows the user to have the opportunity to set the setting value for the priority setting item when executing the function associated with the shortcut image, thereby improving user convenience.

[0080] The controller 11 displays an advanced settings screen corresponding to the priority setting item in response to an operation on a shortcut image. Once the user has finished entering the setting value on the displayed advanced settings screen, it displays the advanced settings screen corresponding to the next priority setting item. This allows the user to enter the setting value for the priority setting item while sequentially switching the display of the advanced settings screen, thereby improving the convenience of changing the setting value for the user.

[0081] In response to an operation on a shortcut image, the controller 11 displays the detailed settings screen according to the display order 26 if the shortcut information 20 associated with the shortcut image includes a display order 26 corresponding to the priority setting items. This allows for faster display of priority setting items that require input, for example, and improves the convenience of user operations to change setting values.

[0082] In response to an operation on a shortcut image included in the standby screen 40, the controller 11 displays a detailed settings screen corresponding to multiple priority setting items in the manner shown in the display mode 30 if the shortcut information 20 associated with the shortcut image includes a display mode 30. This allows the detailed settings screen to be displayed according to the display mode, enabling users to input priority setting items on the detailed settings screen according to their preferences, for example.

[0083] In response to an operation on a shortcut image, if the shortcut information associated with the shortcut image includes information indicating the display order of priority setting items, and a wizard-style display mode is registered in memory 12, the controller 11 will sequentially display the detailed setting screens in a wizard format according to the display order of the priority setting items. On the other hand, if a list-style display mode is registered in memory 12, the controller 11 will display an input selection screen 110 including input buttons 111 arranged according to the display order of the priority setting items. This allows the detailed setting screen that accepts operations to change priority setting items to be displayed in a display mode according to the user's preference, further enhancing user convenience.

[0084] When the controller 11 detects the operation of the start button while the detailed settings screen is displayed, if there are any priority setting items for which input of a setting value has not been accepted, the controller 11 will use the inputted setting value for items for which input of a setting value has been accepted, and for items for which input of a setting value has not been accepted, it will skip the display of the detailed settings screen and execute the shortcut-registered function. This makes it possible to start the shortcut-registered function even in the middle of inputting information for priority setting items.

[0085] Controller 11 displays a confirmation screen to User IF16 when all priority setting items have been entered on the detailed settings screen. When Controller 11 receives a request to change a setting item on the confirmation screen, it executes the shortcut-registered function using the changed setting value. This makes it possible to change the setting value again after entering the setting value for the priority setting item on the detailed settings screen, thus allowing for flexible setting of the setting value.

[0086] (Other embodiments) The technologies disclosed herein are not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified in various forms without departing from their essence, for example, the following modifications are possible. In the above embodiment, the detailed settings screen, which accepts operation to change setting items, was displayed to the user IF16 when the shortcut image included in the standby screen 40 was operated. Alternatively, the detailed settings screen may be displayed to the user IF16 when the setting icon included in the standby screen 40 was operated and an operation was performed to instruct the user to change the setting items of the function registered as a shortcut.

[0087] The use of an MFP (Multi-Function Printer) in the description of the image forming apparatus is merely an example; the image forming apparatus may also be a device that has only a single function, such as printing or scanning. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 11...Controller, 12...Memory, 13...FAXIF, 14...Printer, 15...Scanner, 20...Shortcut Information, 40...Standby Screen, 100, 105, 160, 165, 168...Advanced Settings Screen, 110...Input Selection Screen

Claims

1. User interface and Image forming unit, Controller and Equipped with memory, The aforementioned controller, It is possible to perform the image forming process by the image forming unit using setting values ​​corresponding to each of the multiple setting items. A registration process that, in response to instructions received via the user interface, registers in the memory, in association with a shortcut image, the type of image formation process and the setting value used for the image formation process, as shortcut information. A shortcut execution process is performed to cause the image forming unit to execute an image forming process of the type indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut image, using the setting value indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut image, in response to an operation on the shortcut image. It is possible to make it run, In the aforementioned registration process, When a user interface accepts the specification of a priority setting item, it is possible to include information indicating multiple priority setting items in the shortcut information and register it in the memory, wherein the priority setting item is a setting item that corresponds to the setting value for which the input operation should be prioritized, among the setting values ​​used in the type of image formation processing indicated in the shortcut information associated with the shortcut image. In the aforementioned shortcut execution process, In response to an operation on the shortcut image, if the shortcut information associated with the shortcut image includes information indicating the priority setting item, an input screen for receiving the input operation to specify the setting value corresponding to the priority setting item is displayed on the user interface. The system accepts the input operation to specify the setting values ​​corresponding to a plurality of priority setting items via the displayed input screen. For the priority setting items, if a corresponding setting value is specified by the input operation, the specified setting value is used to cause the image forming unit to execute the image forming process. For setting items other than the priority setting items, the setting values ​​shown in the shortcut information are used to cause the image forming unit to execute the image forming process. Furthermore, in the shortcut execution process, While the input screen is displayed, it is possible to accept an operation to instruct the execution of the image formation process associated with the shortcut image. An image forming apparatus configured to, when an operation to instruct the execution of the image forming process associated with the shortcut image is received while the input screen is being displayed, if there are any of the priority setting items for which an input operation for the setting value has not been received, to execute the image forming process using the input setting value for the items for which an input operation for the setting value has been received, and without receiving an input operation for the items for which an input operation for the setting value has not been received.

2. In the aforementioned shortcut execution process, The input screen for each of the multiple priority setting items is displayed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, which is configured to display the input screen corresponding to the priority setting item in response to an operation on the shortcut image, and to display the input screen corresponding to the next priority setting item once the input of the setting value on the displayed input screen is completed.

3. In the aforementioned registration process, When the user interface receives a request to specify the display order of multiple priority items, the multiple priority items and information indicating the display order of the multiple priority items can be registered as shortcut information, associated with a single shortcut image. In the aforementioned shortcut execution process, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which is configured such that, in response to an operation on the shortcut image, if the shortcut information associated with the shortcut image includes information indicating the display order of the priority setting items, the input screen is displayed according to the display order of the priority setting items.

4. In the shortcut execution process, The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, which is configured to display an input screen in which, in response to an operation on the shortcut image, input images for receiving input operations for each of the plurality of priority setting items associated with the shortcut image are arranged and displayed in the display order.

5. In the aforementioned registration process, When an instruction is received via the user interface to select a display mode for the input screen for a plurality of priority setting items from a plurality of display modes, the selected display mode can be registered in the memory. In the aforementioned shortcut execution process, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, which is configured such that, in response to an operation on the shortcut image, if the shortcut information associated with the shortcut image includes information indicating the display mode, the input screen corresponding to a plurality of priority setting items is displayed in the registered display mode.

6. In the aforementioned registration process, When an instruction is received via the user interface to select a display mode of the input screen for a plurality of priority setting items from a first display mode and a second display mode, it is possible to register either the selected first display mode or the second display mode in the memory, wherein the first display mode is a mode in which an input screen for inputting a setting value corresponding to one of the plurality of priority setting items is displayed, and then an input screen for inputting a setting value corresponding to any other of the priority setting items is displayed, and the second display mode is a mode in which an input screen is displayed on which input images for receiving input operations for each of the plurality of priority setting items are arranged. In the aforementioned shortcut execution process, In response to the operation on the aforementioned shortcut image, If the first display mode is registered in the memory, the input screen will be displayed in the registered first display mode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, which is configured to display the input screen in the registered second display mode if the second display mode is registered in the memory.

7. In the aforementioned shortcut execution process, When all inputs for the priority setting items have been completed on the displayed input screen, a confirmation screen for the setting values ​​used in the image formation process associated with the shortcut image is displayed. The confirmation screen displays the entered setting value for the priority setting item, and the setting value included in the shortcut information for setting items other than the priority setting item. While the aforementioned confirmation screen is displayed, it is possible to accept a change operation to modify the aforementioned setting value. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which is configured such that when a change operation for the setting item is received on the confirmation screen, the image forming unit executes the image forming process using the changed setting value.

Images