Operating unit with user accounts for an electro-photographic printing system or copying system

• US 7,050,735 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Bardolatzy, Ulrich, Hirn, Andreas, Flexeder, Michael, Sorgenfrei, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, Arthur T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GLEITZ, RYAN M
• Application Number:
  US10/692,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20040131377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 399 79- 81, 713/182
• US Class Current: 399/79
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5016 User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/502 relating to the structure of the control menu, e.g. pop-up menus, help screens

Abstract

In an operating unit for an electrophotographic printing or copying system, the operating unit has a graphical user interface with input and/or output fields, with help of which an operation of the electrophotographic printing or copying system occurs. A user account is selectable from at least two preset user accounts. A setting of at least one input and/or output field of the graphical user interface is adjustable for at least one user account.

Claims

1. An operating unit for an electrophotographic printing or copying system, comprising:

a graphical user interface with input or output fields with help of which the electrophotographic printing or copying system is operated;

at least two preset user accounts;

upon establishing or configuring a user account, possible input or output fields, that can be displayed with help of the user interface, are activated or deactivated;

the input or output fields to be displayed with the help of the graphical user interface are preset and assigned to every user account;

the input or output fields comprising graphical shift regulators and check boxes;

a user account being selectable from at least said two preset user accounts;

according to the user account selected, a graphical user interface having the assigned input or output fields is output; and

with help of the user accounts, different access rights to operating functions of the printing or copying system are obtained.

2. The operating unit according to claim 1 wherein presetting concerns at least one of display, write authorization, language, activation/deactivation, or display manner of the input or output field.

3. The operating unit according to claim 1 wherein a name of a currently set user account or a name of a user assigned to the user account are displayed in a portion of the graphical user interface.

4. The operating unit according to claim 1 wherein the user account is selected with help of the user name.

5. The operating unit according to claim 4 wherein an operating personnel inputs or selects the user name so that the operating personnel has access to operating elements of the graphical user interface.

6. The operating unit according to claim 1 wherein the user account is selectable after checking an authentication code.

7. The operating unit according to claim 6 wherein the authentication code is provided in data of a storage card, in biometric features of the operating personnel, or in a password.

8. The operating unit according to claim 1 wherein for generating a user account, a user name is assignable to a preset user account type, so that a preset authorization level is assigned to the user account.

9. The operating unit according to claim 8 wherein depending on the authorization level assigned to the user account, display or input fields are deactivated, wherein input fields, output fields, or menu fields are shown deactivated.

10. The operating unit according to claim 9 wherein given a deactivated display, a deactivated field or a deactivated menu item are shown in a low-contrast color in comparison to a surrounding field of the menu item.

11. The operating unit according to claim 1 wherein the input or output fields also comprise graphical function keys or menu items.

12. A method for operating an electrophotographic printing or copying system, comprising the steps of:

operating the electrophotographic printing or copying system with help of a graphical user interface having input or output fields;

providing at least two preset user accounts;

upon establishing or configuring a user account, possible input or output fields are displayable with help of the user interface;

presetting and assigning to every user account the input or output fields to be displayed with help of the graphical user interface, said input or output fields comprising graphical shift regulators and check boxes;

selecting a user account from the at least two preset user accounts;

according to the user account selected, outputting a graphical user interface having the assigned input or output fields; and

with help of the user accounts, obtaining different access rights to operating functions of the printing or copying system.

13. A graphical user interface for operating an electrophotographic printing or copying system, comprising:

input or output fields with help of which the electrophotographic printing or copying system is operated;

at least two presettable user accounts;

upon establishing or configuring a user account, possible input or output fields which are activated or deactivated are displayed with the graphical user interface;

the input or output fields displayed with the graphical user interface are preset and assigned to every user account;

said input or output fields comprising graphical shift regulators and check boxes;

a user account selectable from the at least two presettable user accounts;

according to the user account selected, the graphical user interface having the assigned input or output fields is generated and output; and

with the user accounts, different access rights to operating functions of the printing or copying system are obtained via the user interface.

14. A graphical user interface according to claim 13 wherein an input field of the graphical user interface is shown deactivated when, due to an operating state of the printing or copying system, a display value is not available, and an input field is shown deactivated when, due to an operating state of the printing or copying system, no input can be made.

15. A method for operating an electrophotographic printing or copying system, comprising the steps of:

operating the electrophotographic printing or copying system with help of a graphical user interface having input or output fields;

providing at least two preset user accounts;

upon establishing or configuring a user account, activating or deactivating possible input or output fields that are displayable with help of the user interface;

presetting and assigning to every user account the input or output fields to be displayed with help of the graphical user interface, said input or output fields comprising graphical shift regulators and check boxes;

selecting a user account from the at least two preset user accounts;

according to the user account selected, outputting a graphical user interface having the assigned input or output fields;

with help of the user accounts, obtaining different access rights to operating functions of the printing or copying system; and

individually determining for every user account which menu items and display elements are to be provided in the graphical user interface.

16. A method of claim 15 wherein for every user account in addition to an authorization level, the input or output fields to be displayed with aid of the graphical user interface are assigned and preset.