IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20120147411A1
• Filed: 12/01/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: MORI, Shinya
• Application Number:
  US13/308,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20120147411A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• 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 3/1255 Settings incompatibility, e.g. constraints, user requirements vs. device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1257 by using pre-stored settings, e.g. job templates, presets, print styles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1271 Job submission at the printing node, e.g. creating a job from a data stored locally or remotely G06F3/1238 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• 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 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0048 Indicating an illegal or impossible operation or selection to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• 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 image forming apparatus includes a function validity information storing unit that stores function validity information including identification information of functions and configurations of the functions that are available or valid in the image forming apparatus; a receiving unit that receives identification information of requested functions to be executed on the image forming apparatus and configuration information of the requested functions from a computer; a determining unit that determines whether the requested functions are valid by examining the identification information and the configuration information of the requested functions with reference to the function validity information stored in the function validity information storing unit; and a display control unit that displays, on a display unit, an option corresponding to a valid function determined to be valid such that the option corresponding to the valid function is distinguishable from an option corresponding to an invalid function determined to be invalid.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a function validity information storing unit configured to store function validity information including identification information of functions available in the image forming apparatus and configurations of the functions that are valid in the image forming apparatus;

a receiving unit configured to receive identification information of requested functions to be executed on the image forming apparatus and configuration information of the requested functions from a computer connected via a network to the image forming apparatus;

a determining unit configured to determine whether the requested functions are valid by examining the identification information and the configuration information of the requested functions with reference to the function validity information stored in the function validity information storing unit; and

a display control unit configured to display, on a display unit, an option corresponding to a valid function of the requested functions that is determined to be valid such that the option corresponding to the valid function is distinguishable from an option corresponding to an invalid function of the requested functions that is determined to be invalid.

2. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a searching unit configured to search for an alternative image forming apparatus that supports the invalid function and the configuration information of the invalid function,

wherein the display control unit is configured to display, on the display unit, identification information of the alternative image forming apparatus found by the searching unit in association with the option corresponding to the invalid function.

3. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display control unit is configured to dim the option corresponding to the invalid function.

4. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display control unit is configured to not display the option corresponding to the invalid function on the display unit.

5. A method performed by an image forming apparatus,

the image forming apparatus storing function validity information including identification information of functions available in the image forming apparatus and configurations of the functions that are valid in the image forming apparatus,

the method comprising:

receiving identification information of requested functions to be executed on the image forming apparatus and configuration information of the requested functions from a computer connected via a network to the image forming apparatus;

determining whether the requested functions are valid by examining the identification information and the configuration information of the requested functions with reference to the function validity information; and

displaying, on a display unit, an option corresponding to a valid function of the requested functions that is determined to be valid such that the option corresponding to the valid function is distinguishable from an option corresponding to an invalid function of the requested functions that is determined to be invalid.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

searching for an alternative image forming apparatus that supports the invalid function and the configuration information of the invalid function,

wherein identification information of the alternative image forming apparatus found in the searching step is displayed on the display unit in association with the option corresponding to the invalid function.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the option corresponding to the invalid function is dimmed.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the option corresponding to the invalid function is not displayed on the display unit.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program code for causing an image forming apparatus to perform a method,

the image forming apparatus storing function validity information including identification information of functions available in the image forming apparatus and configurations of the functions that are valid in the image forming apparatus,

the method comprising:

receiving identification information of requested functions to be executed on the image forming apparatus and configuration information of the requested functions from a computer connected via a network to the image forming apparatus;

determining whether the requested functions are valid by examining the identification information and the configuration information of the requested functions with reference to the function validity information; and

displaying, on a display unit, an option corresponding to a valid function of the requested functions that is determined to be valid such that the option corresponding to the valid function is distinguishable from an option corresponding to an invalid function of the requested functions that is determined to be invalid.

10. The storage medium as claimed in claim 9, the method further comprising:

searching for an alternative image forming apparatus that supports the invalid function and the configuration information of the invalid function,

wherein identification information of the alternative image forming apparatus found in the searching step is displayed on the display unit in association with the option corresponding to the invalid function.

11. The storage medium as claimed in claim 9, wherein the option corresponding to the invalid function is dimmed.

12. The storage medium as claimed in claim 9, wherein the option corresponding to the invalid function is not displayed on the display unit.