Method of and system for dynamically controlling during run time a multifunction peripheral (MFP) touch panel user interface (UI) from an external remote network-connected computer

• US 20030011633A1
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tungsten Automation Corp.
• Original Assignee: eCopy, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Hansen, Eric, Conley, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,418,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00509 Personalising for a particular user or group of users, e.g. a workgroup or company
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

In a system for dynamically and remotely providing user interface (UI) display and processing information to a touch panel embedded within a multifunction peripheral (MFP) such as a digital copier having an internal computer for controlling the touch panel, a method that comprises linking the internal computer to an external data communication network having an external remote computer on the network; and upon the inputting of desired selections by a user at the UI and communicating the same over the network to the external computer, providing information from the external computer via the network back to the internal computer that enables dynamically changing or updating the UI display and behavior during run time of the MFP.

Claims

1. A system for providing user interface (UI) display and processing information to a touch panel provided with a multifunction peripheral (MFP) device and controlled by a computer disposed internally of the MFP and connected to an external data communication network, the system having, in combination, an external computer connected on the network remotely of the MFP device;

and the external computer being provided with software adapted for remotely providing information data back to the MFP device internal computer, via the network, for dynamically changing the UI display and behavior during run time of the system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said data for dynamic changing of the UI display and behavior comprises XML data relating to UI display content and data for providing rules for processing the updating of the UI display touch panel in accordance with MFP user selections.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the MFP device is a digital document copier enhanced to support functions including document scanning, printing and faxing;

and the touch panel serves as the user interface for controlling said functions.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the communicating of XML data between the MFP device internal computer and the external network computer provides integration of document scanning and enterprise applications.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein user interface display information communicated over the network between the MFP device internal computer and the external network computer is provided in the form selected from the group consisting of a) XML data describing the UI display and rules for processing MFP user requests, b) HTML, c) binary data, and d) text.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein, once an MFP device user has made a selection by inputting data on the UI touch panel and such data has been sent via the network to the external network computer, said software is adapted to send additional XML data back to the MFP device internal computer required to update the UI in order to enable the user to supply additional data.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein software operating the network computer enables providing a description of how to display or present UI controls on the touch panel.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein software operating the network computer enables providing a low resolution image of pages of the document being scanned, and display information for displaying these images on the touch panel.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein software operating the network computer enables providing a description of default data values for each UI control displayed on the touch panel.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein software operating the network computer enables providing a description of the processing rules used by a computer program running on the MFP device internal computer to process the data within each UI control.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein software operating the network computer enables providing an updated description of default data values.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein software operating the network computer enables providing UI descriptions that are unique for each MFP device user, providing for personalized touch panel presentations and capabilities, and adapted to be dynamically changed.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein the MFP device internal computer processes UI selections made thereat by the MFP device user that results in the MFP device internal computer sending the user-selected data to the network computer for further processing.

14. The system of claim 3 wherein the touch panel is provided with a display and a pointing device for use by MFP users to access said document scanning and enterprise applications.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the MFP is a digital document copier enhanced to support multifunctions including document scanning, printing and faxing;

and the touch panel serves as the user interface for controlling said functions.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the information provided from the remote computer comprises XML data relating to UI display content and data for providing rules for processing the updating of the UI display touch panel.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said updating is effected in response to the interactive data communication via the network between the internal and external computers and in accordance with MFP user selections on the touch panel communicated to the external computer.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the MFP user selection is effected by using the touch panel and sending XML data as to the same via the network back to the network computer.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the network computer thereupon sends additional XML data to the MFP internal computer required to update the UI in order to afford the MFP user the capability to supply additional data and selection.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the interactive communicating of data betweens the internal and external computers over the network provides integration of document scanning and enterprise applications.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the network external computer provides a description of how to display or present UI controls on the touch panel.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the network external computer provides a low resolution image of pages of the documents being scanned, and display information, for displaying these images on the touch panel.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the network external computer provides a description of default data values for each UI control displayed on the touch panel.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the network external computer provides a description of the processing rules used by a computer program running on the MFP internal computer to process the data within each UI control.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the network external computer provides an updated description of default data values.

27. The method of claim 16 wherein the network external computer provides UI descriptions that are unique for each MFP user, providing for personalized touch panel presentations and capabilities.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein such personalized presentations and capabilities are dynamically changed, as desired, under control of the external computer.

29. The method of claim 16 wherein the MFP internal computer processes UI selections made thereat by the MFP user that results in the internal computer sending the user-selected data to the network external computer for further processing.

15. A method of dynamically and remotely providing user interface (UI) display and processing information to a touch panel embedded within a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having an internal computer for controlling the touch panel, the method comprising linking the internal computer to a data communication network having an external remote computer on the network;

and providing information from the remote computer via the network back to the MFP internal computer that dynamically changes the UI display and behavior during run-time of the MFP.

30. In a system for dynamically and remotely providing user interface (UI) display and processing information to a touch panel embedded within a multifunction peripheral (MFP) such as a digital copier having an internal computer for controlling the touch panel, a method that comprises linking the internal computer to an external data communication network having an external remote computer on the network;

and upon the inputting of desired selections by a user at the UI and communicating the same over the network to the external computer, providing information from the external computer via the network back to the internal computer that enables dynamically changing or updating the UI display and behavior during run time of the MFP.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the MFP is a digital document copier enhanced to support multifunctions including document scanning, printing and faxing, and the touch panel serves as the UI for controlling said functions.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the external computer sends additional XML data to the copier internal computer required to update the UI in order to afford the copier user the capability to supply additional data and selection.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the interactive communicating of data between the internal and external computer over the network provides integration of the document scanning and enterprise applications.