Soft labels for MFP panel display

• US 6,292,271 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1998
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba America Information Systems Incorporated (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba America Information Systems Incorporated (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Phan, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carter, Tia A
• Application Number:
  US09/146,550
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.08, 379/355, 379/368, 379/356, 379/96, 358/402, 358/440, 358/1.15, 358/400, 395/166, 382/209, 341/23, 364/900, 399/8, 345/354, 345/146, 345/173
• US Class Current: 358/440
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• 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 1/00474 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 1/32037 Automation of particular transmitter jobs, e.g. multi-address calling, auto-dialing

Abstract

In a machine having facsimile capabilities, a method for programming soft speed buttons which includes determining whether a number is associated with a given speed button; and if a number is associated with that speed button, providing for a facsimile message to be transmitted to the associated phone number. However, if no number is associated with the given speed button, then allowing a user to create a label for that speed button, and also to associate a number with that speed button.

Claims

1. A method of sending a document by facsimile from a first facsimile-capable machine to at least one recipient facsimile-capable machine, the first facsimile-capable machine comprising a touch screen, a short term memory and a long term memory;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) loading a plurality of facsimile recipient records into a database in the long term memory, each facsimile recipient record including a label and at least one recipient identifier, wherein the label is user-programmable;

(b) the first facsimile-capable machine loading an image of the document into the short term memory;

(c) the first facsimile-capable machine displaying one or more soft one-touch keys, each soft one touch key having an associated facsimile recipient record, wherein the label of the associated facsimile recipient record is displayed in association with the respective soft one-touch key;

(d) selecting at least one recipient by touching the one or more soft one-touch keys;

(e) the first facsimile-capable machine correlating the selected soft one-touch key with a respectively associated facsimile recipient record;

(f) the first facsimile-capable machine loading the at least one recipient identifier of the respectively associated facsimile recipient record, wherein each recipient identifier identifies a recipient facsimile-capable machine;

(g) the first facsimile-capable machine connecting to the at least one recipient facsimile-capable machine; and

(h) the first facsimile-capable machine transmitting a scanned image of the document to the at least one recipient facsimile-capable machine.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one recipient identifier includes telephone number information associated with a recipient facsimile-capable machine.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one recipient identifier includes a pointer to an address record in an address book, wherein at least one address record includes a telephone number associated with a recipient facsimile-capable machine.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first facsimile-capable machine has a program mode for programming the labels displayed in association with respective soft one-touch keys, wherein said program mode includes the steps of:

the first facsimile-capable machine displaying one or more soft one-touch keys on the touch screen;

selecting one soft one-touch key from those displayed on the touch screen by touching the one soft one-touch key and activating a soft one-touch key program mode;

the first facsimile-capable machine correlating the selected soft one-touch key with the facsimile recipient record associated therewith;

the first facsimile machine providing a user with a data entry space on the touch screen for inputting the label and the at least one recipient identifier of the facsimile recipient record; and

the first facsimile machine storing the label and the at least one recipient identifier entered by the user.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first facsimile-capable machine is coupled to a computer network, wherein plural address books are stored in one or more general purpose computers on the network, the method further comprising the steps of:

entering a user identifier into the first facsimile-capable machine; and

the first facsimile machine obtaining one or more facsimile recipient records from at least one of the one or more general purpose computers, wherein access to said one or more facsimile recipient records is determined by said user identifier.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the one or more general purpose computers store facsimile recipient records in an address book, wherein the label of the facsimile recipient record includes a recipient name.

7. A facsimile-capable machine comprising:

(a) a fax/modem;

(b) a short term memory;

(c) a long term memory;

(d) a touch screen;

(e) a processor coupled to the fax/modem, the short term memory, the long term memory and the touch screen;

(f) a program having instructions for the processor to interact with the fax/modem, the short term memory, the long term memory and the touch screen, the program including instructions for;

(i) loading a plurality of facsimile recipient records into a database in the long term memory, each facsimile recipient record including a label and at least one recipient identifier, wherein the label is user-programmable;

(ii) loading an image of a document into the short term memory;

(iii) displaying one or more soft one-touch keys, each soft one-touch key having an associated facsimile recipient record, wherein the label of the associated facsimile recipient record is displayed in association with the respective soft one-touch key;

(iv) correlating the touch of a soft one-touch key with a respectively associated facsimile recipient record;

(v) loading the at least one recipient identifier of the respectively associated facsimile recipient record, wherein each recipient identifier identifies a recipient facsimile-capable machine;

(vi) connecting to the at least one recipient facsimile-capable machine;

(vii) transmitting a scanned image of the document to the at least one recipient facsimile-capable machine; and

(viii) transmitting a scanned image of the document to the recipient'"'"'s facsimile machine.

8. The facsimile-capable machine of claim 7, wherein at least one recipient identifier includes telephone number information associated with a recipient facsimile-capable machine.

9. The facsimile-capable machine of claim 7, wherein at least one recipient identifier includes a pointer to an address record in an address book, wherein at least one address record includes a telephone number associated with a recipient facsimile-capable machine.

10. The facsimile-capable machine of claim 7 further comprising a soft one-touch key program mode, wherein the first facsimile-capable machine has a program mode for programming the labels displayed in association with respective soft one-touch keys, wherein said program mode includes the steps of:

displaying one or more soft one-touch keys on the touch screen;

activating a soft one-touch key program mode for a one-touch key, in response to selection of the one-touch key by touching the one soft one-touch key;

correlating the selected soft one-touch key with the facsimile recipient record associated therewith;

providing a user with a data entry space on the touch screen for receiving the label and the at least one recipient identifier of the facsimile recipient record; and

storing the received label and the at least one recipient identifier.

11. The facsimile-capable machine of claim 7, wherein the facsimile-capable machine is coupled to a computer network, wherein plural address books are stored in one or more general purpose computers on the network, the program further comprising instructions for:

entering a user identifier into the facsimile-capable machine;

obtaining one or more facsimile recipient records from at least one of the one or more general purpose computers on the computer network, wherein access to said one or more facsimile recipient records is determined by said user identifier.

12. The facsimile-capable machine of claim 11, wherein the one or more general purpose computers stores facsimile recipient records in an address book, wherein the label of the facsimile recipient record includes a recipient name.

13. The facsimile-capable machine of claim 7 further comprising:

(a) a malfunction peripheral comprising a paper tray, the touch screen, a first processor, a first memory for long term storage and a second rewritable memory for short term storage, a first communications interface and first user interface software stored in the first memory for controlling the touch screen in accordance with user interface definitions, wherein displays on the touch screen are generated by the processor according to the user interface software; and

(b) a host comprising a second processor, a third memory for long term storage and a fourth memory for short term storage, a second communications interface coupled to the first communications interface, the fax/modem, a network adapter for communicating with a computer network, and user interface definitions stored in the third memory for facsimile functions, wherein the host can upload the user interface definitions to the multifunction peripheral unit via the communications interface of the host for user interaction with the multifunction peripheral through the display and user input device for printer functions.