Reprographic system for arranging presets locations in a multi-level user interface

• US 5,880,727 A
• Filed: 04/15/1997
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Martin, Andrew T., Barrett, Michael W., Emerson, William C., May, Christie A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Katbab, A.
• Application Number:
  US08/838,106
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 399/81, 345/965, 345/356, 345/357, 345/352, 345/353
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/502 relating to the structure of the control menu, e.g. pop-up menus, help screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1297 Printer code translation, conversion, emulation, compression; Configuration of printer parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00427 using a menu list H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00432 using tabs
• 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 1/00477 Indicating status, e.g. of a job for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N2201/3219
• 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 1/00501 Tailoring a user interface [UI] to specific requirements

Abstract

A method and system enables an assignment of a feature value from a set of preset feature values for a copy operation to be performed on a reprographic system The system displays a first screen on a user interface associated with the reprographic system, the first screen displaying a plurality of activatable areas corresponding to a subset of the set of preset feature values and an activatable area corresponding to a second screen associated with the set of preset reduction enlargement values. The system further determines if the activatable area corresponding to the second screen is engaged and displays the second screen on the user interface associated with the reprographic system the activatable area corresponding to the second screen is engaged, the second screen displaying a plurality of activatable areas such that each preset feature value within the set of preset feature values has an activatable area associated therewith.

Claims

1. A method for enabling an assignment of a feature value from a set of preset feature values for a copy operation to be performed on a reprographic system, comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a first screen on a user interface associated with the reprographic system, the first screen displaying a plurality of navigational activatable areas each corresponding to another screen associated with other functions and a plurality of feature activatable areas such that selected feature activatable areas correspond to a preset feature value, the feature activatable areas including a set of reduction/enlargement activatable areas each corresponding to a preset reduction/enlargement value and a navigational reduction/enlargement activatable area corresponding to a second screen associated with the reduction/enlargement function;

(b) determining if the navigational reduction/enlargement activatable area corresponding to the second screen is engaged; and

(c) displaying the second screen on the user interface associated with the reprographic system when said step (b) makes a positive determination, the second screen displaying a plurality of activatable areas such that selected activatable areas have associated therewith a displayed preset reduction/enlargement value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(d) determining if a feature activatable area has been engaged; and

(e) setting a feature attribute of the copying operation associated with the feature activatable area determined to be engaged by said step (d).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein preset feature values displayed on the first screen are customizable such that a user can change the preset feature values being displayed on the first screen.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second screen displaying an activatable area corresponding to a third screen associated with custom programming of the reduction/enlargement function.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

(d) determining if the activatable area corresponding to the third screen is engaged; and

(e) displaying the third screen on the user interface associated with the reprographic system when said step (d) makes a positive determination.

6. A reprographic system comprising:

a marking system;

a scanning system;

a user interface; and

a controller;

said user interface displaying a first screen on a user interface associated with the reprographic system;

said first screen displaying a plurality of navigational activatable areas each corresponding to another screen associated with other functions and a plurality of feature activatable areas such that selected feature activatable areas correspond to a preset feature value;

said feature activatable areas including,

a set of reduction/enlargement activatable areas each corresponding to a preset reduction/enlargement value, and

a navigational reduction/enlargement activatable area corresponding to a second screen associated with the reduction/enlargement function;

said controller determining if said navigational reduction/enlargement activatable area corresponding to said second screen is engaged;

said user interface displaying said second screen in response to engagement of said navigational reduction/enlargement activatable area corresponding to said second screen;

said second screen displaying a plurality of activatable areas such that selected activatable areas have associated therewith a displayed preset reduction/enlargement value.

7. The reprographic system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said controller determines if a feature activatable area has been engaged;

and

said controller sets a feature attribute of a copying operation associated with the engaged activatable area.

8. The reprographic system as claimed in claim 6, wherein preset feature values displayed on the first screen are customizable such that a user can change the preset feature values being displayed on the first screen.

9. The reprographic system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second screen displaying an activatable area corresponding to a third screen associated with custom programming of the reduction/enlargement function.

10. The reprographic system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said controller determines if said activatable area corresponding to said third screen is engaged;

and

said user interface displays said third screen in response to engagement of said activatable area corresponding to said third screen.

11. The reprographic system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said user interface is a touch sensitive video screen.

12. The reprographic system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said user interface includes a video display screen and a point/clicking device.

13. The reprographic system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said user interface is a light sensitive video screen.

14. The reprographic system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said user interface is a magnetic sensitive video screen.

15. A digital scanning system, comprising:

a scanning system;

a user interface; and

a controller;

said user interface displaying a first screen on a user interface associated with the reprographic system;

said first screen displaying a plurality of navigational activatable areas each corresponding to another screen associated with other functions and a plurality of feature activatable areas such that selected feature activatable areas correspond to a preset feature value;

said feature activatable areas including,

a set of reduction/enlargement activatable areas each corresponding to a preset reduction/enlargement value, and

a navigational reduction/enlargement activatable area corresponding to a second screen associated with the reduction/enlargement function;

said controller determining if said navigational reduction/enlargement activatable area corresponding to said second screen is engaged;

said user interface displaying said second screen in response to engagement of said navigational reduction/enlargement activatable area corresponding to said second screen;

said second screen displaying a plurality of activatable areas such that selected activatable areas have associated therewith a displayed preset reduction/enlargement value.

16. The scanning system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said controller determines if a feature activatable area has been engaged;

and

said controller sets a feature attribute of a copying operation associated with the engaged activatable area.

17. The scanning system as claimed in claim 15, wherein preset feature values displayed on the first screen are customizable such that a user can change the preset feature values being displayed on the first screen.

18. The scanning system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said second screen displaying an activatable area corresponding to a third screen associated with custom programming of the reduction/enlargement function.

19. The scanning system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said controller determines if said activatable area corresponding to said third screen is engaged;

and

said user interface displays said third screen in response to engagement of said activatable area corresponding to said third screen.

20. The scanning system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said user interface is a touch sensitive video screen.