Unified Touch Panel Interface for Multi-Device Image Formation Settings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display and input devices lack the ability to intuitively and uniformly change set values for image forming operations across different image forming apparatuses, limiting user flexibility and consistency in setting options.
Innovation Solution
A display and input device with a touch panel, communication unit, and control unit that generates image forming instructions based on user operations, allowing for the transmission of customized setting values to image forming apparatuses, enabling users to change default settings through an intuitive interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If default setting values are used for image forming operations, then the operation process is simplified and executed quickly, but user flexibility and customization capability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-fetches and stores setting information including default set values for multiple image forming apparatuses in advance. When a user initiates an image forming operation, the previously stored setting information is immediately displayed, allowing users to quickly review and modify settings without waiting for real-time retrieval, thus simplifying the operation process while maintaining customization flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The display and input device is designed to work with multiple different image forming apparatuses (MFPs, printers, scanners) through a unified interface. The setting information structure is standardized to accommodate various apparatus types, allowing users to access and customize settings across different devices using the same interaction methods, thereby enhancing both ease of operation and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different setting interfaces are used for different image forming apparatuses, then each apparatus can display its specific settings, but user consistency and operational uniformity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The display and input device provides a unified setting interface that can display and manage settings for multiple types of image forming apparatuses (MFPs, printers, scanners) through a consistent user experience. The interface uniformly presents setting items and modification capabilities across different apparatus types, eliminating the need for users to learn different interaction patterns for each device while still supporting apparatus-specific settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system retrieves and displays setting information from multiple image forming apparatuses in a standardized format. By copying the essential setting parameters into a uniform structure, the system allows users to interact with diverse apparatuses through a consistent interface, maintaining operational uniformity while preserving the ability to access device-specific settings.
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive setting options are provided for all image forming apparatuses, then user customization capability is maximized, but interface complexity and information overload increase
Solution Approach 1:
The setting information for image forming apparatuses is segmented into distinct, organized items that can be independently accessed and modified. Each setting item is presented as a separate controllable element, allowing users to focus on only the settings they need to adjust without being overwhelmed by the complete set of available options. This segmentation reduces perceived interface complexity while maintaining full customization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface provides detailed setting options and comprehensive customization capabilities only when and where users need them. The system allows users to access specific setting items on-demand rather than presenting all settings simultaneously, enabling localized access to detailed controls without creating global interface complexity. Users can dive deep into specific settings only when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
A display and input device includes a display unit, a touch panel, an operation reception unit, a display controller, an instruction generation unit, a communication unit, and a communication controller. The communication controller transmits an instruction to provide setting information including a list of items to be set related to image forming and default set values of the items to be set, to an image forming apparatus identified by the instruction generation unit. The display controller displays a setting screen for inputting a change of the set value from the default value, with respect to the items to be set indicated by the setting information received from the image forming apparatus. The instruction generation unit determines the set value of the item to be set according to a user's operation, and generates an image forming instruction based on the determined set value of the item to be set.