Dynamic Button Ranking for Image Processing Menu Screens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in finding desired buttons on a cluttered home screen of image processing apparatuses, as conventional techniques arrange numerous buttons without consideration for the device's state or user preferences.
Innovation Solution
The image processing apparatus dynamically rearranges buttons on the menu screen based on the device's state, prioritizing buttons relevant to the current state or user activities, such as availability of FAX, presence of documents, or accumulated print jobs, to create a 'smart home screen' with a reduced number of intuitively arranged buttons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If many buttons are arranged on the home screen to provide comprehensive function selection, then the device offers high adaptability and versatility, but the screen becomes cluttered and difficult for users to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic button arrangement on the home screen, where buttons automatically reorder based on the current device state (e.g., FAX availability, document presence, print job status). This dynamic reorganization maintains comprehensive function access while optimizing visibility and ease of operation for relevant functions at any given moment
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the arrangement parameter (button order/position) on the home screen based on detected device states. By modifying this visual parameter dynamically, the system provides state-relevant functions prominently without requiring users to search through a static, cluttered layout
2Adaptability or versatility
If the home screen displays all available functions, then users have access to complete device capabilities, but the interface complexity increases and usability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface dynamically adjusts its complexity by reordering buttons based on device state rather than displaying all functions in a fixed, equally-prominent layout. This reduces perceived complexity while maintaining access to all capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions or positions on the screen are assigned different levels of prominence based on relevance. State-relevant buttons are placed in more visible or accessible positions, while less relevant buttons are positioned less prominently, creating local quality variations that guide user attention
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus provides a user with a menu screen having a button arrangement that is easy for the user to find a desired button. Accordingly, a rank of a button for executing processing related to a state of the image processing apparatus is changed to be high in an arrangement order of buttons.