Information Processing Apparatus

• US 20070226619A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Ikeno, Takahiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,381,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/700
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/502 relating to the structure of the control menu, e.g. pop-up menus, help screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00389 Programmable function keys, e.g. for one-touch operation H04N1/00387 takes precedence; for automation of transmitter jobs H04N1/32058
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00427 using a menu list H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00429 using a navigation tree
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• 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 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a display, an operation unit that allows a user to input commands, a storage unit that stores a plurality of setting items and setting values of the setting items required for carrying out a function of the apparatus, and a controller that is operable to control the display to display on a setting item display region of the display the setting items, accept a command for changing the setting values of one of the plurality of setting items while controlling the display to display on the setting item display region the plurality of setting items, and change the setting values in accordance with the command for changing the setting values of the setting items.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a display,

an operation unit that allows a user to input commands;

a storage unit that stores a plurality of setting items and setting values of the setting items required for carrying out a function of the apparatus; and

a controller that is operable to;

control the display to display on a setting item display region of the display the setting items;

accept a command for changing the setting values of one of the plurality of setting items while controlling the display to display on the setting item display region the plurality of setting items; and

change the setting values in accordance with the command for changing the setting values of the setting items.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the controller changes a mode of the apparatus to a mode for accepting the command for changing the setting values of one of the plurality of setting items when a first command is input to the operation unit, the first command comprising an input operation to buttons provided to be associated with respective setting items, and

wherein the controller controls the display to display the setting items associated with the buttons.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller is further operable to:

select a target setting item that accepts the command for changing the setting values when a second command is input to the operation unit; and

control the display to display selectable setting values for the target setting item when the second command is input.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the controller selects the setting values from the selectable setting values when the second command is input.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the controller selects the setting values from the selectable setting values when the first command is input.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the buttons comprise general-purpose input portions, and

wherein the controller is further operable to switch the setting items associated with the buttons when a third command is input to the operation unit.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the associated item display unit controls the display to display on a associated item display region the setting items associated with the buttons, and

wherein the general-purpose input portions are provided adjacent to the associated item display region of the display.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 51 wherein the controller is further operable to:

control the display to display the setting values in a switchable manner when the first command is input.

9. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a display;

an operation unit that allows a user to input commands;

a storage unit that stores a plurality of setting items and setting values of the setting items required for carrying out a function of the apparatus; and

a controller that is operable to;

control the display to display on a setting value display region of the display the setting values of the setting items;

accept a command for changing the setting values of one of the plurality of setting items while controlling the display to display on the setting value display region the setting values of the plurality of setting items setting items; and

change the setting values in accordance with the command for changing the setting values of the setting items.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the controller changes a mode of the apparatus to a mode for accepting a command for changing the setting values of one of the plurality of setting items, the first command comprising an input operation to buttons provided to be associated with respective setting items, and

wherein the controller controls the display to display the setting items associated with the buttons.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the controller controls the display to display on the setting value display region of the display the setting values of all the setting items required for carrying out the function when the command is input to the operation unit.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further operable to:

select a target setting item that accepts the command for changing the setting values when a second command is input to the operation unit; and

control the display to display selectable setting values for the target setting item when the second command is input.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the controller selects the setting values from the selectable setting values when the second command is input.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the controller selects the setting values from the selectable setting values when the first command is input.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the controller is further operable to:

control the display to display the setting values in a switchable manner when the first command is input.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the buttons comprise general-purpose input portions, and

wherein the controller is further operable to switch the setting items associated with the buttons when a third command is input to the operation unit.

17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein the associated item display unit controls the display to display on a associated item display region the setting items associated with the buttons, and

wherein the general-purpose input portions are provided adjacent to the associated item display region of the display.

18. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a display;

an operation unit that allows a user to input commands;

a storage unit that stores a plurality of setting items and setting values of the setting items required for carrying out a function of the apparatus;

a constant setting menu display unit that controls the display to display a constant setting menu for making settings for permanently storing the setting values of the setting items;

a temporary setting menu display unit that controls the displays to display a temporary setting menu for temporarily changing the setting values of the setting items;

a display control unit that controls the display to display a menu in a different manner between the constant setting menu and the temporary setting menu; and

an operation control unit that changes a mode of the apparatus to a setting value changing mode when a command is input to the operation unit, the command differing between the constant setting menu and the temporary setting menu.

19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:

buttons associated with respective setting items; and

an associated item display unit that controls the display to display the setting items associated with the buttons, and

wherein the temporary setting menu display unit displays the temporary setting menu when a pressing operation is performed on the buttons.

20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a controller that is operable to:

in the constant setting menu,

change a mode of the apparatus to the setting value changing mode for accepting a command for changing the setting values of the setting items when the first command is input;

accept the command for changing the setting values when a second command is input; and

control the display to display selectable setting values for the target setting item every time when the setting item is selected, and in the temporary setting menu,

change a mode of the apparatus to the setting value changing mode for accepting a command for changing the setting values of the setting items when a general-purpose input portion is operated;

switch the setting items associated with the operation of the general-purpose input portion when a third command is input; and

controls the display to display the associated setting items.