Unified Application List Screen for Multifunction Printer SDK Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multifunctional machines with enhanced multi-functionality face challenges in user operability due to the need for additional user operation steps when using applications or macro functions added via SDK, as existing configurations do not account for applications with different system configurations and require pre-registration of macros, making it difficult to display SDK-application screens effectively.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus and screen control method that includes an arrangement information memory for storing icon arrangement details of standard and extension applications, a list-screen generating unit to create an application list screen, and a screen control unit to identify and request the operation screen of selected applications, improving user operability by displaying icons for both standard and extension applications in a unified list screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pre-registration of macros is required for SDK applications, then application functionality is available, but user operability deteriorates due to additional operation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically registering SDK applications and their macros in advance through the registration unit. This eliminates the need for users to manually pre-register macros, as the system has already prepared the application list and macro registrations before user interaction, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining full application functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing SDK applications to automatically register themselves and their associated macros with the image forming apparatus. The registration unit receives automatic registration requests from SDK applications and processes them without requiring manual user intervention, thus reducing operation steps while preserving adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple application screens are displayed separately, then each application can be accessed, but user operability worsens due to multiple screen transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the display of standard applications and SDK applications into a single unified application list screen. Instead of requiring separate screens for different application types, the display unit presents all applications together in one interface, allowing users to access any application directly without multiple screen transitions, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining application accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The application list screen serves as a universal interface that handles both standard applications and SDK applications through a common display and selection mechanism. This multi-functional approach allows the same screen structure to accommodate different application types, eliminating the need for separate access paths and reducing operational complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If SDK applications with different system configurations are supported, then system versatility improves, but configuration compatibility becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The system handles different SDK application configurations by dynamically adjusting parameters during the automatic registration process. The registration unit receives configuration information from each SDK application and adapts the registration data structure accordingly, allowing the system to accommodate various system configurations while maintaining reliable operation through parameter flexibility rather than rigid structure
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an arrangement information memory to store icon arrangement information in which entries respectively corresponding to standard applications and extension applications are provided, and in which application identification information identifying an application in each entry is associated with information about icon coordinates and information about an icon image, a list-screen generating unit to generate, based on the icon arrangement information, an application list screen in which icons corresponding to the standard applications and the extension applications are displayed, a display unit to display the generated application list screen, an input unit to detect pressing of an icon in the displayed application list screen, and a screen control unit to identify a standard or an extension application corresponding to the pressed icon based on the icon arrangement information and to request the identified application to generate an operation screen, wherein the display unit displays the operation screen.