Image forming device

• US 20080016450A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Aono, Yoshiko
• Application Number:
  US11/820,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20080016450A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/747
• 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 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00432 using tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00472 using a pop-up window
• 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 1/00509 Personalising for a particular user or group of users, e.g. a workgroup or company
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4426 involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4433 to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function

Abstract

An image forming device is disclosed that allows plural users to efficiently customize an operation screen as desired by the users. The image forming device includes an operational unit having a display unit for displaying an operation screen; a setting data storage unit for storing plural operation screen setting data sets corresponding to plural users; and a screen generation unit, which, in response to a request from a user for setting the operation screen, acquires one of the operation screen setting data sets corresponding to the user from the setting data storage unit, generates a setting screen, displays the setting screen on the display unit for performing operation screen setting, and stores results of the operation screen setting in the setting data storage unit.

Claims

1. An image forming device, comprising:

an operational unit that has a display unit for displaying an operation screen for operating the image forming device;

a setting data storage unit that stores a plurality of operation screen setting data sets corresponding to a plurality of users; and

a screen generation unit that, in response to a request for setting the operation screen from a user, acquires one of the operation screen setting data sets corresponding to said user from the setting data storage unit, generates a setting screen, displays the setting screen on the display unit for performing operation screen setting, and stores results of the operation screen setting in the setting data storage unit.

2. The image forming device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setting data storage unit is provided in a common storage device separate from the operational unit.

3. The image forming device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setting data storage unit is provided in a main body of the image forming device.

4. The image forming device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setting data storage unit is provided in a server device located on a network.

5. The image forming device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a user authentication determination unit that, before storing the operation screen setting results obtained by the screen generation unit in the setting data storage unit, determines whether the operation screen setting results are within an allowed range specified for said user,

wherein

the operation screen setting results are stored in the setting data storage unit when the operation screen setting results are within the allowed range of said user.

6. The image forming device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a function storage unit that stores a summary of functions available in the image forming device,

wherein

the screen generation unit acquires functions available to said user from the function storage unit before generating the setting screen, and generates the setting screen based on the acquired functions available to said user.

7. The image forming device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the setting screen together with the operation screen.

8. The image forming device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the display unit displays the setting screen together with the operation screen, and

the screen generation unit updates the operation screen in real-time to maintain the operation screen to be the same as the setting screen.

9. The image forming device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the display unit displays a summary of the operation screens corresponding to respective users registered in the setting data storage unit,

the screen generation unit displays one operation screen, selected by one of the registered users, on the display unit, and

in response to a request from the one of the registered users, the screen generation unit stores a setting data set of the displayed operation screen in the setting data storage unit as a setting data set corresponding to said one of the registered users.

10. A method of customizing a user interface of an image forming device including an operational unit, said operational unit having a display unit for displaying an operation screen for operating the image forming device, said method comprising:

a screen generation step of, in response to a request from a user for setting the operation screen, acquiring an operation screen setting data set corresponding to said user from a setting data storage unit, and generating a setting screen, said setting data storage unit storing a plurality of operation screen setting data sets corresponding to a plurality of users;

a step of displaying the setting screen on the display unit for performing operation screen setting; and

a step of storing results of the operation screen setting in the setting data storage unit.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the setting data storage unit is provided in a main body of the image forming device, or in a server device located on a network.