Image forming apparatus, operation history storage method and control method, and storage medium

• US 20050139673A1
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yokoyama, Noboru
• Granted Patent: US 7,270,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00435 arranged in a predetermined sequence, e.g. using next and previous buttons
• 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 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32496 Changing the task performed, e.g. reading and transmitting, receiving and reproducing, copying facsimile mode changing H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3202 of communication or activity log or report
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID

Abstract

In order to realize both the security and convenience upon using the image forming apparatus, whether or not to store an operation history is selected for each operation mode. A desired one of a plurality of operation modes is designated. When the designated operation mode is selected to store the operation mode, the operation history is stored in accordance with the operation of the operation mode.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:

selection means for selecting for each operation mode whether or not to store an operation history;

designation means for designating a desired operation mode from the plurality of operation modes; and

operation history storage means for, when the designated operation mode is selected to store the operation history, storing the operation history in accordance with an operation of the operation mode.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for, when the designated operation mode is selected to store the operation history, displaying a message indicating that the operation history is going to be stored.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

agreement request means for, when the designated operation mode is selected to store the operation history, requesting an agreement about storage of the operation history; and

inhibition control means for, when storage of the operation history is not agreed, inhibiting execution of the designated operation mode.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising item setting means for setting at least one item to be stored as the operation history commonly for all or some of the plurality of operation modes or independently for each of the plurality of operation modes, and wherein said operation history storage means stores only the item set for the designated item as the operation history.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising level setting means for setting a plurality of storage levels upon storing the operation histories and setting the plurality of storage levels to store different numbers of items as the operation history, and wherein said operation history storage means stores the operation history in accordance with the storage level set for the designated operation mode.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for reading contents stored in an IC card, and wherein said operation history storage means stores the contents read from the IC card as the operation history.

6. An operation history storage method for an image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:

a step of selecting for each operation mode whether or not to store an operation history;

a step of designating a desired operation mode from the plurality of operation modes; and

a step of storing, when the designated operation mode is selected to store the operation history, the operation history in accordance with an operation of the operation mode.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of displaying, when the designated operation mode is selected to store the operation history, a message indicating that the operation history is going to be stored.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

a step of requesting, when the designated operation mode is selected to store the operation history, an agreement about storage of the operation history; and

a step of inhibiting, when storage of the operation history is not agreed, execution of the designated operation mode.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of setting at least one item to be stored as the operation history commonly for all or some of the plurality of operation modes or independently for each of the plurality of operation modes, and wherein the operation history storage step includes a step of storing only the item set for the designated item as the operation history.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a level setting step of setting a plurality of storage levels upon storing the operation histories and setting the plurality of storage levels to store different numbers of items as the operation history, and wherein the operation history storage step includes a step of storing the operation history in accordance with the storage level set for the designated operation mode.

22. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

a step of reading contents stored in an IC card; and

a step of storing the contents read from the IC card as the operation history.

23. A computer-readable storage medium for executing an operation history storage method of claim 6.

11. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:

display means for displaying at least information associated with the operation modes;

display control means for making display control that controls said display means to display a selection window used to select whether or not an operation history is stored for each operation mode, and a designation window used to designate a desired operation mode from the plurality of operation modes; and

operation history storage means for, when the operation mode designated on the designation window is selected to store the operation history, storing the operation history in accordance with an operation of the operation mode.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising warning display means for, when the designated operation mode is selected to store the operation history, displaying a warning indicating that the operation history is going to be stored.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

agreement window display means for, when the designated operation mode is selected to store the operation history, displaying a window used to request an agreement about storage of the operation history; and

inhibition display means for, when storage of the operation history is not agreed, displaying a message indicating that execution of the designated operation mode is inhibited.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising item display means for displaying an item setting window used to set at least one item to be stored as the operation history commonly for all or some of the plurality of operation modes or independently for each of the plurality of operation modes, and wherein said operation history storage means stores only the item set for the designated item as the operation history.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising level display means for setting a plurality of storage levels upon storing the operation histories and displaying a window used to set the plurality of storage levels to store different numbers of items as the operation history, and wherein said operation history storage means stores the operation history in accordance with the storage level set for the designated operation mode.

16. An operation history storage method for an image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:

a display step of displaying at least information associated with the operation modes;

a step of displaying a window used to select whether or not an operation history is stored for each operation mode;

a step of displaying a window used to designate a desired operation mode from the plurality of operation modes; and

operation history storage step of storing, when the operation mode designated on the designation window is selected to store the operation history, the operation history in accordance with an operation of the operation mode.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of displaying, when the designated operation mode is selected to store the operation history, a warning indicating that the operation history is going to be stored.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

a step of displaying, when the designated operation mode is selected to store the operation history, a window used to request an agreement about storage of the operation history; and

a step of displaying, when storage of the operation history is not agreed, a message indicating that execution of the designated operation mode is inhibited.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of displaying an item setting window used to set at least one item to be stored as the operation history commonly for all or some of the plurality of operation modes or independently for each of the plurality of operation modes, and wherein the operation history storage step includes a step of storing only the item set for the designated item as the operation history.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising a step of setting a plurality of storage levels upon storing the operation histories and displaying a window used to set the plurality of storage levels to store different numbers of items as the operation history, and wherein the operation history storage step includes a step of storing the operation history in accordance with the storage level set for the designated operation mode.

24. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes including at least an operation mode for performing a print process of input image data, and an operation mode for transmitting input image data to an external apparatus, comprising:

means for, when an operator designates an operation mode to be executed from the plurality of operation modes, notifying the operator of a message indicating that log information is going to be recorded; and

means for controlling to permit execution of the designated operation mode under a condition that the operator agrees with recording of the log information, and to inhibit execution of the designated operation mode when the operator does not agree with recording of the log information.

25. A control method suited to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes including at least an operation mode for performing a print process of input image data, and an operation mode for transmitting input image data to an external apparatus, comprising:

notifying, when an operator designates an operation mode to be executed from the plurality of operation modes, the operator of a message indicating that log information is going to be recorded; and

controlling to permit execution of the designated operation mode under a condition that the operator agrees with recording of the log information, and to inhibit execution of the designated operation mode when the operator does not agree with recording of the log information.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

controlling, when the operator designates the operation mode to be executed, a console to execute a first display process for notifying the operator of the message indicating the log information is going to be recorded;

permitting, when the console is controlled to execute the first display process and the operator makes an input indicating agreement about recording of the log information via the console, execution of the designated operation mode; and

inhibiting, when the console is controlled to execute the first display process and the operator does not make any input indicating agreement about recording of the log information via the console, execution of the designated operation mode.

27. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

controlling, when the operator designates the operation mode to be executed, a console to execute a first display process for notifying the operator of the message indicating the log information is going to be recorded, to execute a second display process for inputting a first instruction required to input agreement associated with recording of the log information, and to execute a third display process for inputting a second instruction required to input disagreement associated with recording of the log information;

permitting, when the first display process is executed, and the first instruction is input in association with the second display process, execution of the designated operation mode; and

inhibiting, when the first display process is executed, and the second instruction is input in association with the third display process, execution of the designated operation mode.

28. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

controlling a console of the image forming apparatus to execute the first, second, and third display processes.

29. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

controlling a console of an external apparatus that outputs image data which can be printed by the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus to execute the first, second, and third display processes.

30. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes including first and second operation modes, comprising:

a selector adapted to select one of the plurality of operation modes; and

a controller adapted to inform an operator of a message indicating that information associated with an operation state of the operator is going to be stored using a notification unit and permit said image forming apparatus to execute the first operation mode when said selector selects the first operation mode, and to permit said image forming apparatus to execute the second operation mode without notifying the message using the notification unit when said selector selects the second operation mode.

31. A control method for an image forming apparatus which can selectively execute a plurality of operation modes including first and second operation modes, comprising:

a step of informing an operator of a message indicating that information associated with an operation state of the operator is stored using a notification unit and permitting the image forming apparatus to execute the first operation mode when said selector selects the first operation mode; and

a step of permitting the image forming apparatus to execute the second operation mode without notifying the message using the notification unit when said selector selects the second operation mode.