Image forming apparatus having display screen with position configurable icons, information processing method, and computer-readable recording medium

• US 10,129,426 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2016
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Negoro, Shigeo
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Miya J
• Application Number:
  US15/132,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20160316088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00928 Initialisation or control of normal start-up or shut-down, i.e. non failure or error related
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00938 Software related arrangements, e.g. loading applications program loading in general G06F9/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a main body and an operation unit. The main body includes: a first storage storing device information of the apparatus; and a notifying unit notifying the operation unit of the device information when the apparatus starts up. The operation unit includes: a second storage storing placement information of display information associated with an instruction to process an application for the apparatus, and correspondence information of the device information and the placement information; an acquiring unit acquiring the device information; a selecting unit selecting placement information corresponding to the device information from the placement information; a checking unit checking whether an application of placement display information placed based on the placement information, has been installed on the apparatus; a placing unit placing the placement display information on a display information screen; and a display control unit displaying the display information screen with the placement display information.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a display in the image forming apparatus having a home screen divided into a matrix of cells into which displayed icons may be positioned;

a main body of image forming apparatus that supplies power to an operation hardware of the image forming apparatus, wherein

the main body of the image forming apparatus includes a first memory storing computer-readable instructions and device information on the image forming apparatus including at least model identification information of the image forming apparatus; and

one or more processors configured to execute the computer-readable instructions such that the one or more processors are configured to perform operations including notifying the operation hardware of the device information acquired from the main body on startup of the image forming apparatus, and

the operation hardware of the image forming apparatus includes a second memory storing computer-readable instructions and placement information, which is information indicating placement positions of icons on the home screen in a particular cell, and correspondence information in which the device information is associated with the placement information; and

one or more processors configured to execute the computer-readable instructions such that the one or more processors are configured to perform operations including,

acquiring the device information from the main body;

selecting placement information corresponding to the acquired device information from pieces of placement information stored in the second memory;

checking whether an application of placement display information, which is a piece of display information placed based on the selected placement information, has been installed on the image forming apparatus;

placing, when the application of the placement display information has been installed, the icons in accordance with the placement display information and the device information on a display information screen, which is a screen on which one or more pieces of display information are displayed, based on the selected placement information; and

displaying the display information screen with the icons arranged in accordance with the placement display information and the device information placed on the display, wherein

the device information includes destination information, which indicates a location where the image forming apparatus is used, and a model name of the image forming apparatus.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the placement information is placement position information that indicates a placement position of placement display information on the display information screen, and wherein the one or more processors of the operation hardware are further configured to

select placement position information corresponding to at least either one of the destination information and the model name, and

place the placement display information in the placement position on the display information screen indicated by the selected placement position information.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

when the application of the placement display information has not been installed, the one or more processors of the operation hardware are further configured to leave the placement position on the display information screen indicated by the selected placement position information blank.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the placement information is placement order information that indicates the order in which pieces of placement display information are displayed when placed on the display information screen, and

when the application of the placement display information has been installed, the one or more processors of the operation hardware are further configured to determine a blank space on the display information screen in predetermined order, and places the placement display information in a space determined to be blank in accordance with the order indicated by the placement order information.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the display information screen has multiple pages broken down by theme,

the second memory stores therein the placement order information on a page-by-page basis, and

the one or more processors of the operation hardware are further configured to determine a blank space on each page of the display information screen in the predetermined order on a page-by-page basis, and places placement display information in a space determined to be blank in accordance with the order indicated by the placement order information corresponding to the page.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the one or more processors of the operation hardware are further configured to check whether a new application has been installed on the image forming apparatus, and

when a new application has been installed, the one or more processors of the operation hardware are further configured to place display information of the new application in the placement position on the display information screen indicated by placement information attached to the new application.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation hardware is configured to be operatively removable from the main body.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the operation hardware accumulates electric power supplied from the main body via a communication path in a secondary battery, and, when removed from the main body, operates using the electric power accumulated in the secondary battery and performs communication with the main body.

9. An information processing method implemented by operation hardware of an image forming apparatus, the operation hardware including a memory configured to store therein placement information, which is information on placement of display information associated with an instruction to process an application available in the image forming apparatus, and correspondence information in which device information on the image forming apparatus is associated with the placement information, the information processing method comprising:

acquiring the device information including at least model identification information of the image forming apparatus and a location where the image forming apparatus is used;

selecting placement information indicating placement positions of icons on a home screen in a particular cell and corresponding to the acquired device information from pieces of placement information stored in the memory of the operation hardware;

checking whether an application of placement display information, which is a piece of display information placed based on the selected placement information, has been installed on the image forming apparatus;

placing, when the application of the placement display information has been installed, the placement display information in accordance with the placement information and the device information on a display information screen, which is a screen on which one or more pieces of display information are displayed, based on the selected placement information; and

displaying the display information screen with the placement display information placed on a display of the image forming apparatus.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a computer program executed by a computer including a memory configured to store therein placement information, which is information on placement of display information associated with an instruction to process an application available in the computer, and correspondence information in which device information on the computer is associated with the placement information, the program causing the computer to execute:

acquiring the device information including at least model identification information of an image forming apparatus and a location where the image forming apparatus is used;

selecting placement information indicating placement positions of icons on a home screen in a particular cell and corresponding to the acquired device information from pieces of placement information stored in the memory of operation hardware;

checking whether an application of placement display information, which is a piece of display information placed based on the selected placement information, has been installed on the computer;

placing, when the application of the placement display information has been installed, the placement display information in accordance with the placement information and the device information on a display information screen, which is a screen on which one or more pieces of display information are displayed, based on the selected placement information; and

displaying the display information screen with the placement display information placed on a display.