Display control device, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for recommending that a user use a simple screen rather than a normal screen

• US 10,367,958 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Amano, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Ulrich, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US14/989,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20160117178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/34 Recording or statistical evaluation of computer activity, e.g. of down time, of input/output operation ; Recording or statistical evaluation of user activity, e.g. usability assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00472 using a pop-up window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00514 for individual users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A display control device and method configured to recommend, at proper times, that a user use a simple screen rather than a normal screen and increase effective utilization of the simple screen. A normal screen and a simple screen may be displayed for accepting a setting operation. A recommendation may be displayed that a user use the simple screen at proper times, including but not limited to, if every function set by the user on the normal screen is settable on the simple screen, if a setting period exceeds a certain value, if a ratio of functions settable on the simple screen to set functions that is calculated from the operation history regarding the plurality of setting operations is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, if a predetermined number of functions on the normal screen match functions in the operation history information, or by using operation history, acquired information about the set function, a set value, or a setting period.

Claims

1. A display control device comprising:

a first memory configured to store data of a normal screen and data of a simple screen, the normal screen being a screen that displays functions related to a service process provided to a user, the simple screen being a screen that displays a smaller number of functions than the normal screen; and

at least one processor configured to execute;

an operation-display unit configured to display one of the normal screen and the simple screen to the user and to accept a setting operation performed by the user on a function among the displayed functions; and

a display controller configured to control the operation-display unit to display an indication recommending that the user use the simple screen in response to determining that every function set by the user on the normal screen is settable on the simple screen,

wherein the indication comprises a recommendation that the user use the simple screen, and

wherein the display control device further comprises;

a second memory configured to acquire an operation history containing information about a function set by the user, a set value of the function, and a setting period taken to set the function, and to store the acquired operation history in association with the user,

wherein the display controller is further configured to determine whether or not to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen using the operation history.

2. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display controller is further configured to, if the user is using the display control device for a first time:

determine whether to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen using the operation history of a first setting operation of the user, and

control, in response to determining to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen, the operation-display unit so that the indication is displayed after the user finishes the first setting operation.

3. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display controller is further configured to, if the user has used the display control device before, then:

determine whether to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen using the operation history regarding a plurality of setting operations, and

control, in response to determining to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen the operation-display unit so that the indication is displayed before the user starts a setting operation.

4. The display control device according to claim 3, wherein the display controller is further configured to determine that the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen is to be displayed, if a ratio of functions settable on the simple screen to set functions that is calculated from the operation history regarding the plurality of setting operations is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

5. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display controller is further configured to, if information about a function set by the user, a set value of the function, and a setting period taken to set the function is acquired during a setting operation, then:

determine whether to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen using the acquired information about the set function, set value, and setting period; and

control, in response to determining to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen, the operation-display unit so that the indication is displayed during the setting operation.

6. A display control device comprising:

a first memory configured to store data of a normal screen and data of a simple screen, the normal screen being a screen that displays functions related to a service process provided to a user, the simple screen being a screen that displays a smaller number of functions than the normal screen; and

at least one processor configured to execute;

an operation-display unit configured to display one of the normal screen and the simple screen to the user and to accept a setting operation performed by the user on a function among the displayed functions; and

a display controller configured to control the operation-display unit to display an indication recommending that the user use the simple screen in response to determining that every function set by the user on the normal screen is settable on the simple screen,

wherein the indication comprises a recommendation that the user use the simple screen,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute a measuring unit configured to measure a setting period taken by the user to set each function,

wherein the display controller is further configured to control the operation-display unit so that the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen is displayed in response to determining that every function set by the user on the normal screen is settable on the simple screen and the setting period exceeds a certain value,

wherein the display control device further comprises;

a second memory configured to acquire an operation history containing information about a function set by the user, a set value of the function, and a setting period taken to set the function, and to store the acquired operation history in association with the user, and

wherein the display controller is further configured to determine whether or not to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen using the operation history.

7. The display control device according to claim 6, wherein the display controller is further configured to, if the user is using the display control device for a first time:

determine whether to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen using the operation history of a first setting operation of the user; and

control, in response to determining to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen, the operation-display unit so that the indication is displayed after the user finishes the first setting operation.

8. The display control device according to claim 6, wherein the display controller is further configured to, if the user has used the display control device before, then:

determine whether to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen using the operation history regarding a plurality of setting operations, and

control, in response to determining to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen, the operation-display unit so that the indication is displayed before the user starts a setting operation.

9. The display control device according to claim 8, wherein the display controller is further configured to determine that the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen is to be displayed, if a ratio of functions settable on the simple screen to set functions that is calculated from the operation history regarding the plurality of setting operations is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

10. The display control device according to claim 6,

wherein the display controller is further configured to, if information about a function set by the user, a set value of the function, and a setting period taken to set the function is acquired during a setting operation, then:

determine whether or not to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen using the acquired information about the set function, set value, and setting period; and

control, in response to determining to display the indication recommending that the user use the simple screen, the operation-display unit so that the indication is displayed during the setting operation.