Dynamic Interface Filtering for Electronic Paper Coordination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multifunctional image forming apparatuses that coordinate with electronic paper face challenges in managing increasing numbers of screens, leading to user complexity and development costs, as users must navigate various settings and options, including those irrelevant to electronic paper, which complicates operations and design processes.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a display device that hides or omits unrelated objects on screens when interacting with electronic paper, based on detected medium types, simplifying user interfaces and reducing development burdens by tailoring settings to the specific medium used for input or output, such as electronic paper or traditional paper.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the image forming apparatus is equipped with functions to coordinate with electronic paper, then the versatility and functionality are improved, but the number of screens increases leading to increased device complexity and user operation difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a single screen template that serves multiple functions - it can display both paper-related settings and electronic paper-related settings, and dynamically adapts its content based on the detected medium type. This eliminates the need for separate screens for different media, reducing the overall number of screens while maintaining full functionality for both paper and electronic paper operations
2Adaptability or versatility
If the image forming apparatus is equipped with functions to coordinate with electronic paper, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users must navigate more screens and remember more operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the screen content adaptive and changeable based on the detected medium type. The screen dynamically hides or displays specific objects (settings/options) depending on whether paper or electronic paper is detected, rather than presenting all possible settings statically. This dynamic adaptation simplifies the user interface by showing only relevant options, making operation easier while maintaining coordination capability
3Loss of information
If the image forming apparatus displays all screen objects regardless of medium type, then the completeness of information is maintained, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to irrelevant options cluttering the interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by selectively removing (hiding) irrelevant screen objects based on the detected medium type. When electronic paper is detected, paper-related settings objects are extracted (hidden) from the screen. When paper is detected, electronic paper-related settings objects are extracted. This selective extraction maintains information completeness for the relevant medium while improving interface clarity by eliminating distracting irrelevant options
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for outputting an image is provided. The apparatus includes a printer; a storage to store screen data on a screen in which a plurality of objects are provided and on which settings regarding a process for printing an image onto paper with the printer are made; an obtaining portion to obtain image data on a target image to be outputted; a display device to display, if a medium to which the target image is outputted is electronic paper, the screen based on the screen data in a manner to hide or not to place an unrelated object which is included in the objects and is not related to the electronic paper; and an output portion to output the image data to the electronic paper based on conditions designated on the screen displayed in such a manner that the unrelated object is hidden or not placed.