Information processing device, method for displaying icon, program, and storage medium

• US 20070171450A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Mayuko
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.130
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1207 resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1243 Variable data printing, e.g. document forms, templates, labels, coupons, advertisements, logos, watermarks, transactional printing, fixed content versioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1256 User feedback, e.g. print preview, test print, proofing, pre-flight checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1264 by assigning post-processing resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device

Abstract

A host device includes: a scroll display processing section which moves and serially displays, in a predetermined area of a setting screen, expanded function icons indicating respective plural expanded functions which are available when a printing process is executed; a switching icon determination section which specifies the reference number of the expanded function icon which has reached a display type switching means which is a predetermined position or a position specified by an input by the user; and a display type switching section which switches the display type of the expanded function icon corresponding to the reference number specified by the switching icon determination section. With this, it is possible to provide an information processing device which moves and serially displays plural icons, and to display an eye-friendly setting screen.

Claims

1. An information processing device which causes a display device to display a setting screen for setting a processing condition of a setting target device, the information processing device comprising:

scroll display processing means for moving and serially displaying, in a predetermined area of the setting screen, respective icons indicating plural functions which are available when the setting target device executes a process;

icon specifying means for specifying, as a specified icon, at least one of the icons having reached a predetermined position or a specified position which is specified by a user, in the predetermined area; and

display type switching means for switching a display type of the specified icon specified by the icon specifying means.

2. The information processing device as defined in claim 1,

wherein, the display type switching means switches the display type of the specified icon from a still image to an animated image.

3. The information processing device as defined in claim 1,

wherein, the icons are animated images, and the display type switching means switches the display type of the specified icon so that the specified icon is played back from a first frame image.

4. The information processing device as defined in claim 1,

wherein, the display type switching means further changes at least one of brightness, color saturation, and size of the specified icon specified by the icon specifying means to be different from that of the other icons.

5. The information processing device as defined in claim 1,

wherein, the display type switching means further changes at least one of brightness and color saturation of a background of the specified icon specified by the icon specifying means to be different from that of backgrounds of the other icons.

6. The information processing device as defined in claim 3,

wherein, the display type switching means further causes a playback speed of frame images of the specified icon, which has been specified by the icon specifying means, to be slower than playback speeds of the other icons.

7. The information processing device as defined in claim 2,

wherein, after switching the display type of the specified icon and playing back the specified icon for one cycle, the display type switching means returns the display type of the specified icon to an original type.

8. The information processing device as defined in claim 6,

wherein, after switching the display type of the specified icon and playing back the specified icon for one cycle, the display type switching means returns the display type of the specified icon to an original type.

9. The information processing device as defined in claim 1,

wherein, the scroll display processing means slows travel speeds of all of the icons for a predetermined rate or stops all of the icons, while the display type switching means is switching the display type of the specified icon.

10. The information processing device as defined in claim 1, further comprising validation/invalidation means for switching validation/invalidation of a function of the display type switching means, in response to an input by the user.

11. The information processing device as defined in claim 1, further comprising function setting means for setting, in response to an input by the user, a processing condition of a function corresponding to an icon to which a setting instruction has been made,

the icon specifying means specifying, as the specified icon, only an icon which has not been set by the function setting means, among the icons having reached the specified position.

12. The information processing device as defined in claim 1, further comprising calculating means for calculating frequency of use of each function,

the icon specifying means specifying, as the specified icon, only an icon corresponding to a function whose frequency of use is not higher than a predetermined threshold, among the icons having reached the specified position.

13. The information processing device as defined in claim 1,

wherein, the specified position is at one of a center and edges of the predetermined area.

14. A method of displaying icons in an information processing device, for causing a display device to display a setting screen by which a processing condition of a setting target device is set,

the method comprising the steps of:

moving and serially displaying, in a predetermined area of the setting screen, the icons indicating plural functions which are available when the setting target device executes a process;

specifying, as a specified icon, at least one of the icons which has reached a predetermined position or a specified position specified by a user, in the predetermined area; and

switching a display type of the specified icon.

15. A program for operating an information processing device which causes a display device to display a setting screen for setting a processing condition of a setting target device, the information processing device including:

scroll display processing means for moving and serially displaying, in a predetermined area of the setting screen, respective icons indicating plural functions which are available when the setting target device executes a process;

icon specifying means for specifying, as a specified icon, at least one of the icons having reached a predetermined position or a specified position which is specified by a user, in the predetermined area; and

display type switching means for switching a display type of the specified icon specified by the icon specifying means,

the program causing a computer to function as the scroll display processing means, the icon specifying means, and the display switching means.

16. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for operating an information processing device which causes a display device to display a setting screen for setting a processing condition of a setting target device, the information processing device including:

scroll display processing means for moving and serially displaying, in a predetermined area of the setting screen, respective icons indicating plural functions which are available when the setting target device executes a process;

icon specifying means for specifying, as a specified icon, at least one of the icons having reached a predetermined position or a specified position which is specified by a user, in the predetermined area; and

display type switching means for switching a display type of the specified icon specified by the icon specifying means,

the program causing a computer to function as the scroll display processing means, the icon specifying means, and the display switching means.