JP2010258590A - Operation processing system for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus or system that does not require a complicated operation for a file or folder when a user performs an operation of opening a normal folder in an operation processing system of an image forming apparatus having an operation unit.
In an operation processing system of an image forming apparatus having an operation unit, means for storing a printable or transmittable document, means for managing at least one document collectively, and a screen displayed on the operation unit If the selected target is a folder, means for opening the folder; if the selected target is a file on the screen displayed on the operation unit, processing means for setting the file to a selected state [Selection figure] consisting of Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for setting processing of an operation unit included in a composite image forming apparatus such as a printer.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses, not only a single apparatus but also network copy and network print, have been linked to each other to provide new functions, and the types and complexity of functions have been increasing. Tracing.

  For example, a print document or a copy document can be recorded in the image forming apparatus, and a desired document can be printed or transmitted to another image forming apparatus or PC on the network as necessary. Yes.

  In order to realize such a function, for example, a recorded print document or copy document is stored as a file in the image forming apparatus, and its hierarchy is similar to a folder hierarchy like an information processing apparatus such as a PC. It is also known that it is stored in Further, a browse screen for selecting a predetermined folder or file is provided to allow the user to select a desired saved document.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, when a plurality of hierarchical folder information is displayed and a folder to be displayed is designated, lower-level eyebrow folder information or file information of the designated folder is acquired. Further, the parent folder information of the upper hierarchy that is the parent of the designated folder and the folder information of the lower hierarchy including the designated folder that is a child of the parent folder are acquired. And the technique which displays each information according to each hierarchy is known.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-338604

  However, in the above-described method, a folder or file is first selected on a browse screen for selecting a predetermined folder or file. After that, in the case of selecting a folder, it is necessary to specify operations such as opening the folder, deleting the folder, and changing the folder name as operations for the folder. Therefore, when the user performs an operation of opening a normal folder, the user must first select the folder and then perform an operation of opening the folder, which requires a complicated operation.

  In the case of file selection, it is necessary to perform operations such as file printing, file transmission, file deletion, and file name change as operations for the file. Furthermore, depending on the file, there is a file that cannot be printed or transmitted, and an operation on the file may be uniquely determined. Therefore, even when the user performs a unique operation, the user must first select a file and then perform an operation on the file, which requires a complicated operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems,
In an operation processing system of an image forming apparatus having an operation unit, storage means for storing printable or transmittable documents, folder management means for collectively managing at least one of the documents,
When the selected target is a folder on the screen displayed on the operation unit, the folder display processing means for opening the folder and the selected target on the screen displayed on the operation unit are a file. In this case, the file display processing means for selecting the file,
I will provide a.

further,
The folder display processing means provides a folder display processing means for canceling the file selection state and displaying the folder when the file has been selected immediately before.

further,
After the file display processing means, there is provided file setting processing means for an operator to designate and operate the operation setting of the display processed file.

Furthermore, when the file can only be set for a specific purpose in the file display processing means, a file display processing means for displaying a screen for performing the target setting operation for the file instead of the file selection state is provided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the display method when selecting a file or folder is controlled, it is possible to open the folder or perform an operation on the file without requiring a complicated operation on the file or folder. become.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a side sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 3 is an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a table showing the folder management state in this invention. It is an example of the UI screen in the present invention. It is an example of the UI screen which expanded the folder in this invention. 4 is an example of a UI screen for print settings according to the present invention. It is an example of a UI screen for folder operation in the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process outline | summary in the Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the relative arrangement, numerical values, and the like of the constituent elements described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified.

[Basic description of image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus includes a controller unit 2000, to which a scanner 2070 as an image input device and a printer 2095 as an image output device are connected, and an operation unit 2012 is connected. The controller unit 2000 performs control for realizing a copy function in which image data read by the scanner 2070 is printed out by the printer 2095. At the same time, by connecting to the LAN 1006 or the public line 1008 (WAN), control for inputting / outputting image information and device information is performed.

  Specifically, the controller unit 2000 includes a CPU 2001, and the CPU 2001 starts up an operation system (OS) by a boot program stored in the ROM 2003. On this OS, an application program stored in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 2004 is executed, thereby executing various processes. A RAM 2002 is used as a work area of the CPU 2001. The RAM 2002 provides a work area and an image memory area for temporarily storing image data. The HDD 2004 stores the application program and image data.

  An operation unit I / F 2006, a network I / F 2010, a modem 2050, and an image bus I / F 2005 are connected to the CPU 2001 through a system bus 2007 together with a ROM 2003 and a RAM 2002.

  An operation unit I / F 2006 is an interface with an operation unit 2012 having a touch panel, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 2012 to the operation unit 2012. Further, the operation unit I / F 2006 sends information input by the user through the operation unit 2012 to the CPU 2001.

  Next, the network I / F 2010 is connected to the LAN 1006 and inputs / outputs information to / from each device on the LAN 1006 via the LAN 1006. The modem 2050 is connected to the public line 1008 and inputs / outputs information via the public line 1008.

  An image bus I / F 2005 is a bus bridge for connecting a system bus 2007 and an image bus 2008 that transfers image data at high speed and converting the data format. The image bus 2008 is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394. On the image bus 2008, a raster image processor (hereinafter referred to as “RIP”) 2060, a device I / F 2020, a scanner image processing unit 2080, a printer image processing unit 2090, an image rotation unit 2030, and an image compression unit 2040 are provided. .

  The RIP 2060 is a processor that develops a PDL code into a bitmap image. A scanner 2070 and a printer 2095 are connected to the device I / F 2020, and the device I / F 2020 performs image data synchronous / asynchronous conversion. A scanner image processing unit 2080 corrects, processes, and edits input image data. A printer image processing unit 2090 performs correction, resolution conversion, and the like according to the printer 2095 for print output image data. The image rotation unit 2030 rotates image data. The image compression unit 2040 compresses multi-valued image data into JPEG data and binary image data into data such as JBIG, MMR, and MH, and performs decompression processing.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the scanner 2070 and the printer 2095 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a hardware configuration of the scanner 2070 and the printer 2095 shown in FIG.

  The scanner 2070 and the printer 2095 are integrally configured as shown in FIG. The scanner 2070 includes a document feeding unit 250. The document feeding unit 250 feeds documents one by one from the top to the platen glass 211 one by one, and each time the scanning operation of each document is completed, the document is fed. Is discharged from the platen glass 211 to a discharge tray (not shown). When the document is fed onto the platen glass 211, the scanner 2070 turns on the lamp 212 and starts moving the moving unit 213. The scanning of the original on the platen glass 211 is performed by the movement of the moving unit 213. During this scanning, the reflected light from the document is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) 218 via each mirror 214, 215, 216 and lens 217, and an image on the document is on the imaging surface of the CCD 218. Is imaged. The CCD 218 converts an image formed on the imaging surface into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal is input to a control device (not shown) after being subjected to predetermined processing.

  The printer 2095 has a laser driver 321, and the laser driver 321 drives the laser emission unit 322 based on image data input from the control device. As a result, laser light corresponding to the image data is emitted from the laser light emitting unit 322, and this laser light is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 323 while being scanned. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 323 by the irradiated laser light, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by the toner supplied from the developing device 324. In synchronization with the irradiation timing of the laser beam, the recording paper is fed from the cassettes 311 and 312 between the photosensitive drum 323 and the transfer unit 325 via the conveyance path, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 323 is transferred to the transfer unit 325. Is transferred onto the recording paper fed.

  The recording paper onto which the toner image has been transferred is sent to a fixing roller pair (heating roller and pressure roller) 326 via a conveyance belt, and the fixing roller pair 326 records the toner image on the recording paper by heat-pressing the recording paper. Fix on paper. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing roller pair 326 is discharged to the paper discharge unit 330 by the paper discharge roller pair 327. The paper discharge unit 330 includes a sheet processing apparatus that can perform post-processing such as sorting and stapling.

  When the duplex recording mode is set, after the recording sheet is conveyed to the discharge roller pair 327, the rotation direction of the discharge roller pair 327 is reversed and guided to the refeed conveyance path 339 by the flapper 328. . The recording paper guided to the refeed conveyance path 339 is fed again between the photosensitive drum 323 and the transfer unit 325 at the timing described above, and the toner image is transferred to the back surface of the recording paper.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the operation unit 2012 shown in FIG.

  The LCD display unit 2013 has a structure in which a touch panel sheet is pasted on the LCD, and displays an operation screen of the image forming apparatus. When a key displayed on the screen is pressed, the position information is displayed on the controller unit 2000. To the CPU 2001. A start key 2014 is used when starting a document image reading operation. A green and red two-color LED 2018 is provided at the center of the start key 2014, and indicates whether or not the start key 2014 can be used depending on the color. A stop key 2015 is operated to stop an operation in operation. The ID key 2016 is used when inputting the user ID of the user. A reset key 2017 is used when initializing settings from the operation unit 2012.

  The USB I / F 2096 performs communication with a USB memory connected to a USB connection port provided in the apparatus.

  Image data read by the scanner 2070 and subjected to predetermined processing by the scanner image processing unit 2080 is stored in a USB memory connected to the apparatus through the USB I / F 2096.

  The USB I / F 2096 reads image data stored in the USB memory, converts it into image data that can be printed by the printer image processing unit 2090, and prints it by the printer 2095.

  A guide key 2019 is a hard key provided with LEDs. When the operation unit 2102 detects that the user presses the guide key 2019 for a long time (3 seconds or longer), the operation unit 2102 generates a key code “0x93” and notifies the CPU 2001 through the operation unit I / F 2006. Similarly, when the operation unit 2102 detects that the user has pressed the guide key 2019 for a short time (less than 3 seconds), it generates a key code “0x92” and notifies the CPU 2001 through the operation unit I / F 2006.

  Next, the operation method of this embodiment will be described with reference to the tables, flowcharts, and UI diagrams of FIGS.

  In this embodiment, a UI screen on which folders and files are listed is displayed on the operation unit 2012. When the operator selects (clicks) a folder, a new UI list in which the contents of the folder are expanded is displayed. To do. Further, when the operator selects a file on the UI screen described above, if the setting item of the file is uniquely determined, the setting screen is displayed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table for managing a folder list displayed on the operation unit 2012.

  Here, it is shown that there are two folders in total. Each is stored together with a folder ID. FIG. 4A shows an example of a folder assigned with a folder ID of 1. In this table, IDs and names of folders and files stored therein are managed. As the type, a value of 0 is stored for a folder, and 1 is stored for a file.

  The size stores the size of the file. The folder does not store the size. In addition, both the folder and file store the date and time of creation or registration.

  As the file attribute, 1 or 2 is stored for the file type. Here, the file attribute of 1 indicates that the setting for the file is uniquely determined, for example. The settings for the file include, for example, settings such as printing the designated file to the printer unit 2095 of the image forming apparatus or transmitting the file to the outside via the network I / F 2010 or the modem 2050. Some files cannot be sent to the outside due to file size limitations. In such a case, for example, only print setting is possible. In such a case, it is determined for each file whether both transmission and printing are possible or only printing is possible. These determinations may be determined in advance, or may be determined and determined each time a file is selected. FIG. 4 shows an example in which 1 is set when only printing is possible, and 2 is set when both transmission and printing are possible.

  Next, the link stores a folder ID indicating a list of contents of the folder when the file type in each table is 0, that is, a folder. In the example of FIG. 4, in FIG. 4A, the file “AAAAAAA” with ID = 1 belonging to folder ID 1 has a type of 0, meaning a folder. 2 is stored in the link. That is, the files developed in the folder “AAAAAAA” are the files listed in the folder ID 2 shown in FIG. In the folder ID 2, three files are stored, and all of them are an example in which the type is 1. Therefore, there is no lower folder. In the folder ID 2 as well, a folder of type 0 can be stored. In this case, similarly, another folder ID that is a link destination of a list included in the folder is stored in the link field.

In the above-described link column, for example, in the ID2 and ID3 of the folder ID1, since the file type is 1, the link column is not stored. (It is NULL)
Next, how the list of each table in FIG. 4 is displayed in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a UI displayed on the operation unit 2012 in FIG.

  In this UI example, reference numeral 501 denotes an example of displaying the list of folder ID 1 shown in FIG. In 501, the name, type, size, and date / time are displayed according to the table of FIG. The type is indicated by an icon. In this example, the type in FIG. 4 is 0, that is, the folder is indicated by “■”, and the file is indicated by “?”. This icon is merely an example and can be displayed as another icon or character string. The selected column displays a check mark, for example, so that when the operator clicks on the column such as a file name, the currently selected file is visually indicated. In the example of 501, the operator has selected the file name “BBBBBBB”.

  Reference numeral 502 denotes an example of a return button for returning to the previous display screen when the button is pressed. Reference numeral 503 denotes an update button for updating the current screen list 501 to the latest information by pressing the button. Reference numeral 504 denotes a folder operation button for performing a folder operation on the folders displayed in the list 501 when the button is pressed. Reference numeral 505 denotes a selection cancellation button for deselecting a file selected by the operator by pressing the button. Reference numeral 506 denotes a detail display button for displaying detailed information of the currently selected file when the button is pressed. Reference numeral 507 denotes an image display button for displaying image information of the currently selected file when the button is pressed. Details on detailed information and image information are omitted here, but are associated with each file in each table of FIG. Similarly, the data is stored in the RAM 20003 or the HDD 2004 in FIG. 1, controlled by the CPU 2001 as necessary, and displayed on the operation unit 2012 via the operation unit I / F 2006.

  Reference numeral 508 denotes other file operation buttons for performing file operations on the files displayed in the list 501 when the button is pressed.

  Reference numeral 509 denotes a button for performing other setting processing for the selected file when the button is pressed. Reference numeral 510 denotes a print button for performing setting processing for printing the selected file when the button is pressed. Reference numeral 511 displays information such as the title of this screen and the current folder hierarchy.

  Further, although not shown in FIG. 5, it is also possible to arrange buttons having other functions on the UI.

  In this embodiment, when the operator selects a folder from the list 501, the contents of the folder are automatically displayed. FIG. 6 is a screen that displays a list that is expanded when the folder “AAAAAAAA” in the list 501 of FIG. 5 is selected. In the figure, reference numeral 601 indicates the contents of the list, which is the contents of the list of the folder ID 2 stored in the link column of the folder “AAAAAAA” described with reference to FIG. Further, various buttons are displayed on the screen of FIG. 6 as in FIG. 5, and the same operation is possible.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen when the button 501 for printing in FIG. 5 is pressed. Although details are omitted on the screen in FIG. 7, various setting screens for printing the file selected by the operator in FIG. 5 and a print start button are displayed.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen displayed when the folder operation button 504 in FIG. 5 is pressed. On the folder operation screen, the same list contents as the above-described list contents 501 are displayed, and the folder is selected and displayed. As operations for the folder, buttons for performing setting processing such as detailed folder display, creation of a new folder, search for a folder, and deletion of a folder are displayed. A cancel button for canceling the work is also displayed. Although not shown in FIG. 8, buttons having other functions can be arranged on the UI.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing this embodiment.

  First, in step S901, the above-described screen of FIG. 5 is displayed as the first screen when explaining the present embodiment. In step S902, the next operator instruction is awaited. Then, the process branches depending on the instruction content of the operator.

  If the operator selects a folder in step S902, the process proceeds to step S903. In step S903, it is determined whether the display mode is the expansion mode or the non-expansion mode. The display mode is a mode for selecting whether to keep a folder in a selected state (non-expansion mode) or to automatically display the list contents of the selected folder (expansion mode) when selecting a folder. For example, the display mode is set to the expansion mode by default, and the mode can be separated on another UI screen. This display mode is also recorded in the ROM 2003 or HDD 2004 of FIG. 1 and is determined and processed by the CPU 2001.

  If the display mode is the expansion mode in step S903, the process advances to step S905 to determine a display folder including the contents of the selected folder. For example, in the example of FIG. 4, when the folder “AAAAAAA” is selected, the link destination is specified from the table 4 (a), and the folder ID 2 is determined as the display folder. In step S906, a list of the selected display folders is displayed. As described above, FIG. 6 is an example of the UI screen displayed in step S906. In step S905, if a file has been selected immediately before and the file selection status is displayed, it is also possible to deselect the approximate file. In this case, in 501 of FIG. 5 described above, for example, processing such as releasing the check mark in the selection column of the file “BBBBBBB” that has been selected just before is performed. When the folder screen is displayed in step S906, the process returns to step S902 to wait for the next operator instruction.

  If it is determined in step S903 that the display mode is the non-development mode, the process advances to step S904, and only the designated folder is displayed in a selected state. The display of the selection state includes, for example, putting a check mark in the selection column of the list 501 in FIG. Then, the process returns to step S902 to wait for the next operator instruction.

  If the operator selects a file in step S902, the process proceeds to step S907. In step S907, the roughly selected file is displayed in a selected state. Similarly to the display of the selection state, there is a check mark in the selection column of the list 501 in FIG. In step S908, the attribute of the selected file is determined, and it is determined whether the setting for the file is uniquely determined. Here, as described with reference to FIG. 4, the roughly selected file determines the file attribute of FIG. Alternatively, in this step, the determination may be made based on the file size limit described above.

  If Yes in step S908 described above, the process proceeds to step S909. In step S909, a button corresponding to the setting uniquely determined in step S908 is determined. For example, when the file “BBBBBBB” is selected in FIG. 5, the file attribute of the approximate file is 1 in the table of FIG. 4. Therefore, since it is determined that the approximate file is, for example, a file in which only print setting is possible, the setting button is confirmed as a print setting button in step S909. Then, in order to automatically display the determined setting button, the process proceeds to step S910 described later. In the case of No in step S908, the process returns to step S902 to wait for an instruction from the next operator.

  Here, it is determined whether or not the setting of the roughly selected file is uniquely determined, and the setting button is determined. However, the determination in step S908 is skipped and only the normal file selection display state is displayed. Is also possible. In this case, after the operator selects a file, the operator presses a desired setting button to open a setting processing screen.

  If the operator selects the setting button in step S902 described above, the process proceeds to step S910. In step S910, the setting screen is displayed according to the roughly selected setting button. For example, if the button selected in step S910 or the button confirmed in step S909 is the button 510 to be printed, the above-described UI screen of FIG. 7 is displayed. Then, the process proceeds to step S911, and the setting process for the displayed UI screen is performed. When each setting process is completed or another screen transition is performed, the process returns to step S902.

  Next, when the folder operation button 504 is selected in step S902, the process proceeds to step S912. In step S912, a folder operation screen is displayed and the process proceeds to step S913. The folder operation screen is, for example, the UI screen shown in FIG. In step S913, a folder operation process is performed on the displayed UI screen. When the process ends or another screen transition is performed, the process returns to step S902.

  Next, when another file operation button 508 is selected in step S902, the process proceeds to step S914. In step S914, another file operation screen is displayed, and the process proceeds to step S915. In step S915, other file operation processing is performed on the displayed UI screen. When the processing is completed or another screen transition is performed, the process returns to step S902.

  Next, when other various buttons are selected in step S902, the process proceeds to step S916, and similarly processing such as setting corresponding to each button is performed. Then, the process proceeds to step S917. In step S917, if the content processed in step S916 is an operation end or a process outside the range of the UI screen displayed in step S901 as another UI screen transition, the processing ends. Otherwise, the process returns to step S902 to wait for the next operator instruction.

2000 Controller unit 1006 LAN
1008 Public line WAN
2001 CPU
2002 RAM
2003 ROM
2004 HDD
2005 Image Bus I / F
2006 Operation unit I / F
2007 System bus 2008 Image bus 2010 Network I / F
2012 Operation unit 2020 Device I / F
2030 Image rotation unit 2040 Image compression unit 2050 Modem 2060 RIP (raster image processor)
2070 scanner 2080 scanner image processing unit 2090 printer image processing unit 2095 printer 2096 USB I / F

Claims (4)

In an operation processing system for an image forming apparatus having an operation unit,
Storage means for storing printable or transmittable documents; (2003, 2004)
Folder management means for collectively managing at least one of the documents;
In the screen displayed on the operation unit, if the selected target is a folder, folder display processing means for opening the folder; (S906)
File display processing means for selecting a file when the selected object is a file on the screen displayed on the operation unit, (S907)
An operation processing system comprising an image forming apparatus having 2. The folder display processing means according to claim 1, wherein if a file has been selected immediately before, the folder display processing means for canceling the file selection state and displaying the folder (S906).
The operation processing system according to claim 1, comprising an image forming apparatus including After the file display processing means of claim 1, file setting processing means (S914) in which an operator designates and operates the operation settings of the display processed file
The operation processing system according to claim 1, comprising an image forming apparatus including 3. The file display processing means according to claim 1, wherein when the file can only be set for a specific purpose, the file display processing means for displaying a screen for performing the target setting operation for the file instead of the file selection state (S908).
The operation processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operation processing system is configured of an image forming apparatus including: