ADMINISTRATION DEVICE FOR IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE USES PLUG-IN APPLICATION

• US 20090144758A1
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Murakawa, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 8,336,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

When a plug-in application “HDD Backup Utility” is designated by the user from the start menu, an administration program is started. The administration program receives information as to which plug-in application was designated, and based on the received information, places a function button for the designated plug-in application (here, “backup” and “restore” buttons corresponding to HDD Backup Utility) in a “HOME” display area. The user can readily find and select the button in the HOME display area. In this manner, the function button for the designated plug-in application is displayed in the position easily accessible by the user.

Claims

1. An administration device for an image processing device, comprising:

an administration program starting unit to start an administration program when a plug-in application of said administration program is designated by a user;

an acquiring unit to acquire information for specifying said plug-in application designated by the user;

a display unit to display an operation area for allowing the user to select a desired one of a plurality of installed plug-in applications; and

a modification unit to modify a user interface for selecting the plug-in application such that said plug-in application designated by the user can readily be selected by the user.

2. The administration device for an image processing device according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of said image processing devices,

the administration device further comprising:

an accepting unit to accept, from the user, selection of one of said plurality of image processing devices as a target of operation;

an application starting unit to start a plug-in application when the plug-in application is selected in said displayed operation area; and

a providing unit to provide, at the time of startup of said plug-in application, information of said selected device to the plug-in application being started.

3. The administration device for an image processing device according to claim 1, wherein said administration program starting unit starts said administration program when a plug-in application to be operated with said administration program is designated from a start menu.

4. The administration device for an image processing device according to claim 1, wherein said modification unit causes a function button associated with said plug-in application designated by the user to be displayed in a location readily accessible by the user.

5. The administration device for an image processing device according to claim 1, wherein said modification unit sets said plug-in application designated by the user to a default plug-in application.

6. The administration device for an image processing device according to claim 1, wherein said modification unit changes the order in which said plug-in application designated by the user is selected by a Tab key.

7. The administration device for an image processing device according to claim 1, wherein said modification unit changes a display manner such that a function button associated with said plug-in application designated by the user is conspicuous.

8. The administration device for an image processing device according to claim 1, wherein when another plug-in application other than said plug-in application designated by the user is started, a button for starting said plug-in application designated by the user is displayed on a screen for the other plug-in application.

9. The administration device for an image processing device according to claim 1, wherein when another plug-in application other than said plug-in application designated by the user is started, a button for displaying a screen in which said plug-in application designated by the user can be started is displayed on a screen for the other plug-in application.

10. A method for administrating an image processing device, comprising:

an administration program starting step of starting an administration program when a plug-in application of said administration program is designated by a user;

an acquiring step of acquiring information for specifying said plug-in application designated by the user;

a display step of displaying an operation area for allowing the user to select a desired one of a plurality of installed plug-in applications; and

a modification step of modifying a user interface for selecting the plug-in application such that said plug-in application designated by the user can readily be selected by the user.

11. The method for administrating an image processing device according to claim 10, wherein there are a plurality of said image processing devices,

the method further comprising:

an accepting step of accepting, from the user, selection of one of said plurality of image processing devices as a target of operation;

an application starting step of starting a plug-in application when the plug-in application is selected in said displayed operation area; and

a step of providing, at the time of startup of said plug-in application, information of said selected device to the plug-in application being started.

12. The method for administrating an image processing device according to claim 10, wherein said administration program starting step includes the step of starting said administration program when a plug-in application to be operated together with said administration program is designated from a start menu.

13. The method for administrating an image processing device according to claim 10, wherein said modification step includes the step of displaying a function button associated with said plug-in application designated by the user in a location readily accessible by the user.

14. The method for administrating an image processing device according to claim 10, wherein said modification step includes the step of setting said plug-in application designated by said user to a default plug-in application.

15. The method for administrating an image processing device according to claim 10, wherein said modification step includes the step of changing the order in which said plug-in application designated by the user is selected by a Tab key.

16. The method for administrating an image processing device according to claim 10, wherein said modification step includes the step of changing a display manner such that a function button associated with said plug-in application designated by the user is conspicuous.

17. The method for administrating an image processing device according to claim 10, wherein when another plug-in application other than said plug-in application designated by the user is started, a button for starting said plug-in application designated by the user is displayed on a screen for the other plug-in application.

18. The method for administrating an image processing device according to claim 10, wherein when another plug-in application other than said plug-in application designated by the user is started, a button for displaying a screen in which said plug-in application designated by the user can be started is displayed on a screen for the other plug-in application.

19. An administration program for an image processing device stored in a computer readable medium, the program being started when a plug-in application of said administration program is designated by a user, to cause a computer to execute processing comprising the steps of:

acquiring information for specifying said plug-in application designated by the user;

displaying an operation area for allowing the user to select a desired one of a plurality of installed plug-in applications; and

modifying a user interface for selecting the plug-in application such that said plug-in application designated by the user can readily be selected by the user.