JP2008117061A - Operation input device and operation screen customization method - Google Patents

Abstract

An operation input device with improved operability is provided so that even a user who is not familiar with the function or a user who is not familiar with the operation can easily set the function.
The operated setting contents are recorded as an operation history. By calculating the operation frequency from the operation history, only the setting keys with high operation frequency are displayed and the setting keys with low operation frequency are hidden. Filtering means is provided to display a list of settings with high operation frequency for each function. Make the setup flow easier to understand.
[Selection] Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to operability of application programs, OA devices, AV devices, and the like, and in particular, an operation input device that improves user operability by displaying only frequently used setting keys from a user's operation history, and computer programs thereof And the operation screen display format.

Conventional copying machines are becoming more multifunctional and complex, and a plurality of functions are displayed on the operation unit, which can easily cause confusion for the user. As a method of solving this problem, by switching the function setting screen in which a plurality of function setting keys are displayed in a hierarchical manner, and sequentially setting the function setting keys from the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy, Complex settings can be made even on screens of a predetermined size. Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-254624, various function setting keys are arranged in the upper hierarchy, and when it is difficult to determine which setting key should be selected or when the operation becomes complicated, A technique has been proposed in which operability is improved by displaying a function setting key having the highest selection frequency from an operation history at a predetermined position on a function setting screen of each layer.
JP 2005-254624 A

  However, the method for displaying the function setting keys having the highest selection frequency at a predetermined position on the function setting screen of each layer as disclosed in JP-A-2005-254624 has the following problems. Many of the settings desired by the user are the same as those previously operated. By placing the key with the highest selection frequency at a predetermined position, it becomes easier to reproduce the same operation as before, but the user switches the hierarchical screen to set the function and displays the lower level from the higher level. Since it is necessary to set the hierarchy in order, it is necessary to switch between multiple screens to set one function. For this reason, even if a key having the highest selection frequency is arranged at a predetermined position, it is troublesome to perform a plurality of settings because of many operations.

  Also, the screens are layered in order to display detailed settings in an easy-to-understand manner on a screen of a predetermined size, but some settings that users actually use are part of the settings. Depending on the user, the number of settings that can be selected varies, so that the same display may be easy to use or difficult to use depending on the user.

  Furthermore, when a user sets a function, it is difficult to understand what setting can be made with a specific function and in what order. Therefore, it is necessary to provide operability that allows the user to easily understand the setting contents and order of the functions.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an operation input device with improved operability so that even a user who is not familiar with the function or a user who is not familiar with the operation can easily set the function. is there.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the first means has a plurality of settings for each function, and switches and displays the settings on a hierarchical screen in order to perform the plurality of settings on a screen of a predetermined size, An operation input device of an image forming apparatus having a function setting control means for setting details on a lower function setting screen with respect to a function selected on the upper function setting screen. Recording means for recording as a history, means for calculating the operation frequency of the setting key on each screen from the operation history, and filtering means for displaying only the setting key having the high operation frequency and hiding the setting key having the low operation frequency By displaying the setting keys displayed by the filtering means on a single screen for each function, the setting flow can be displayed by listing the function settings up to the detailed settings. It becomes easy.

  The second means is that the setting key to be displayed on the screen is a setting key whose operation frequency is equal to or higher than a specific threshold or a certain number of upper setting keys in the filtering means. The number can be specified by the user. By displaying as many setting keys as the user desires, the screen layout can be changed to a user-friendly screen layout. When the number of displays changes depending on the setting, the screen layout can be changed to a user-friendly screen layout by using a threshold value.

  The third means is that in the filtering means, a setting key that cannot be set even with a setting key having a high operation frequency in the subsequent setting due to exclusion between functions due to the setting in the previous setting or a change in the state of the device. Means is provided for changing the setting keys to be displayed and dynamically displayed. Since both the upper level setting and the lower level setting are displayed on the same screen, if the lower level setting becomes unavailable due to the higher level setting, the disabled setting key is hidden to display the user. Can be easily performed.

  According to the present invention, by displaying a list of settings with a high operation frequency for each function, even a user who is not familiar with the function or a user who is not familiar with the operation can easily set the function.

(Example 1)
FIG. 1 shows an operation unit of the copying machine shown at 202. The operation unit includes a liquid crystal touch panel indicated by 204, a reset button indicated by 205, a user mode button indicated by 206, a numeric keypad button indicated by 207, a start button indicated by 208, a stop button indicated by 209, and a power button indicated by 210. The The liquid crystal touch panel 204 displays a copier function screen and receives a user operation when touched by the user.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the copying machine. 4 operation units, 5 CPU, 6 RAM, 7 operation unit I / F, 8 Network, 9 MODEM, 10 ROM, 11 HDD, 12 ImageBus-I / F, 13 device I / F, 14 scanner image processing, 15 printer image processing, 16 scanners, and 17 printers. The 8 Network is connected to the LAN, and the 9 MODEM is connected to the WAN for network communication such as e-mail transmission.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the module of the copying machine of the present invention. 20 operation units consisting of 21 screen generation units and 22 user operation receiving units, 23 operation frequency calculation, 23 operation content processing units consisting of 25 operation recording units and 26 operation history processing units, 29 device statuses From the monitoring unit, 30 screen creation units, 31 screen display processing units, 28 screen display processing units, 33 user authentication units, 32 user setting processing units, 32 user information processing units, and 35 controllers Composed.

  FIG. 4 is a user mode screen. Enter a threshold value or a higher number to determine whether to display / hide a setting key with a high operation history. When the display threshold key 111 is pressed, the value entered in the field 112 becomes valid. When the display number key 113 is pressed, the value entered in the field 114 becomes valid.

  FIG. 5 is a screen flow of a reduced layout. To set the reduced layout, the 41 reduced layout key is pressed on the 40 application mode screens. Next, on the 42 original size screen displayed, the 43 paper size key is selected, and the 44 next key is pressed. Next, on the 45 layout screen displayed, select 46 layout setting keys and press the 47 next key. Next, when a paper size of 49 is selected on the output paper selection screen displayed at 48 and the OK key of 50 is pressed, the setting of the reduced layout is completed.

  FIG. 6 is a table summarizing operation histories in the reduced layout flow of FIG. 100 is the setting name of the screen, 101 indicates the number of times the setting indicated by 100 is selected, and 102 is the total number of setting times for each screen.

  FIG. 7 shows a screen in which setting keys with high operation frequency are combined into one screen by the reduced layout function. Reference numeral 70 denotes a screen for displaying all the reduced layout settings, and reference numeral 71 denotes 72 setting keys that are frequently operated in the document size settings. The setting frequency is obtained by calculating the operation frequency from the operation history indicated by 101 and 102. If the operation frequency is set to display the operation frequency of 30% or more at 112, “A4” and “A3” are displayed. Below that, an “other” key indicated by 73 is displayed. When the “Other” key 73 is pressed, the screen changes to an 80 original size screen in order to select a non-displayed key. 74 shows 75 setting keys that are frequently operated in the layout setting. When the “Other” key of 76 is pressed, a transition is made to the layout screen of 81 in order to select a hidden key. Reference numeral 77 indicates 78 setting keys that are frequently operated in the output paper selection setting. When the “other” key 79 is pressed, the screen shifts to an output paper selection screen 81 in order to select a hidden key.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of operation history registration. When a user operation is received in F1-1, it is determined whether the operation is a setting key in F1-2, and if it is a setting key, it is registered in the operation history in F1-3. If it is not a setting key, it is not registered in the history and the screen changes to the next screen with F1-4, and it is determined whether or not the function setting is completed with F1-5.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for displaying the function setting screen. In F2-1, display conditions specified by the user are acquired from the user mode information. Read the operation history with F2-2, read the key information of F2-4, calculate the operation frequency of F2-5, determine the display condition of F2-6 for each setting key, set the keys above the display condition with F2-7 Display on the screen.

(Example 2)
The 2nd Example of this invention is shown.

  FIG. 10 is a screen flow for finishing. To set finishing, select 61 finishing type keys on the 60 finishing type screen and press the 62 OK key. When the staple sort key is selected in 61, 64 staple position keys are selected in the 63 staple position screen displayed next, and the 65 next key is pressed. When saddle stitching is selected at 64, 68 paper size is selected on the paper selection screen displayed at 66, and when the 67 OK key is pressed, the setting of the reduced layout is completed.

  FIG. 11 shows a screen in which setting keys having a high operation frequency are combined into one screen using a finishing function. In 132, the setting key with the highest operation frequency among the finishing types is displayed. Since staples are selected in 131, 133 setting keys for stapling positions are displayed. Since the staple position is not selected in 133, the next setting is not displayed. When saddle stitching is selected at 133, a screen indicated by 140 is displayed. Since the saddle stitching is selected in 141, a paper selection setting key 142 is displayed.

  FIG. 12 is a screen in which the display 140 is changed due to a change in the state of the device. Since there is paper at 140, “A3” is displayed at 144. However, when the sheet A3 runs out, “A3” cannot be selected, so even if the operation frequency is high, it is not displayed, and “A5R” having the next highest operation frequency as indicated by 151 is displayed.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart of screen switching when the user operates the screen. The screen shown in FIG. 11 will be described as an example. When the screen 130 is displayed, the saddle stitch key at 133 is pressed at F3-1. Although it is determined in F3-2 whether it is a setting key, since the saddle stitch key is a setting key, the process proceeds to F3-3 to determine whether there is a change in the next setting group. The next setting group will be paper selection, so there is a change and go to F3-4. F3-4 acquires user-specified display conditions (the top two display conditions), F3-5 reads the operation history of the specified setting group, F3-7 key information is read for each setting key, F3- Operation frequency calculation of 8, discriminating display conditions of F3-9, setting keys above display conditions are displayed on the screen with F3-10. On the screen of 140, the operation from F3-6 to F3-10 is performed on all the setting keys, and the top two “A4” and “A3” are displayed on the paper selection setting keys.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart in the case where the setting is disabled due to the state of the device by screen switching when the user operates the screen. F4-1 obtains user-specified display conditions from user mode information. Read the operation history with F4-2 and read the key information of F4-4, calculate the operation frequency of F4-5, and display conditions of F4-6 for each set key. If the display condition is exceeded, F4-7 acquires the device status, F4-8 determines whether the setting can be used from the device status, and F4-10 displays the available setting keys on the screen. .

Operation part. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. Operation input device module diagram. User mode screen. Reduced layout flow diagram. Operation history. Reduced layout list screen. Operation history registration flowchart. The screen generation flowchart. Finishing flow diagram. Finishing list screen. Finishing list screen saddle stitch selection. The screen switching flowchart. The screen switching flowchart by an apparatus state.

Claims (3)

  There are multiple settings for each function, and the function setting control means is provided to switch and display the settings on a hierarchical screen and to make detailed settings on the lower function setting screen for the function selected on the upper function setting screen An operation input device of an image forming apparatus, a recording unit that records operation contents of a user operation as a history, a unit that calculates an operation frequency from the operation history, and a filtering unit that displays only a setting key with a high operation frequency And an operation input device having a screen generation means for displaying a plurality of setting keys for each function on a single screen.   2. The operation input device according to claim 1, wherein the setting key to be displayed is determined by the operation frequency being equal to or higher than a threshold value or a fixed number of higher numbers, and the user can specify the threshold value and the upper display number.   2. The filtering means according to claim 1, further comprising means for hiding a setting key for a lower setting that cannot be set due to exclusion of a function due to a change in the state of the device or a higher setting even if the setting key has a high operation frequency. An operation input device comprising means for dynamically switching display of setting keys displayed on the screen.

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