Image forming apparatus, operation history storage method and control method, and storage medium

• US 7,380,716 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yokoyama, Noboru
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/785,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20070187480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/382, 235/385, 235/487, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00435 arranged in a predetermined sequence, e.g. using next and previous buttons
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00472 using a pop-up window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32496 Changing the task performed, e.g. reading and transmitting, receiving and reproducing, copying facsimile mode changing H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3202 of communication or activity log or report
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID

Abstract

In order to realize both the security and convenience upon using the image forming apparatus, whether or not to store an operation history is selected for each operation mode. A desired one of a plurality of operation modes is designated. When the designated operation mode is selected to store the operation mode, the operation history is stored in accordance with the operation of the operation mode.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:

a memory unit configured to store information indicating whether or not to store an operation history, each of the information corresponding to any one of the operation modes;

a designation unit configured to designate an operation mode from the plurality of operation modes;

a determination unit configured to determine, based on the information stored in said memory unit, whether or not to store an operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode;

an operation history storage unit configured to, in a case where said determination unit determines to store the operation history, store the operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode;

an informing unit configured to inform an operator of storing an operation history in the case where said determination unit determines to store the operation history; and

a processing unit configured to execute a process associated with the designated operation mode after an instruction is input by the operator who is informed of storing an operation history by said informing unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said informing unit informs the operator of storing an operation history by displaying a message on a display unit.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to restrict execution of the designated operation mode until said informing unit informs the operator of storing an operation history.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an agreement request unit configured to, in the case where said determination unit determines to store the operation history, request an agreement about the storage of the operation history; and

an control unit configured to restrict execution of the designated operation mode when the storage of the operation history is not agreed.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an item setting unit configured to set at least one item to be stored as the operation history commonly for all or a part of the operation modes or independently for each of the operation modes, and wherein said operation history storage unit stores only the item set for the designated item as the operation history.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a level setting unit configured to set a plurality of storage levels upon storing the operation histories and set the plurality of storage levels to store different numbers of items as the operation history, and wherein said operation history storage unit stores the operation history in accordance with the storage level set for the designated operation mode.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reading unit configured to read contents stored in an IC card, and wherein said operation history storage unit stores the contents read from the IC card as the operation history.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes at least an operation mode for performing a print process of input image data or an operation mode for transmitting input image data to an external apparatus.

9. An operation history storage method for an information processing apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising the steps of:

storing information indicating whether or not to store an operation history in a memory unit, each of the information corresponding to any one of the operation modes;

designating an operation mode from the plurality of operation modes;

determining, based on the information stored in said memory unit, whether or not to store an operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode;

storing, in a case where said determination unit determines to store the operation history in an operation history storage unit, the operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode;

informing an operator of storing an operation history in the case where it is determined to store the operation history; and

executing a process associated with the designated operation mode after an instruction is input by the operator who is informed of storing an operation history in said step of informing.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said step of informing comprising the step of informing the operator of storing an operation history by displaying a message on a display unit.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of restricting execution of the designated operation mode until the operator is informed of storing an operation history.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

requesting, in the case where said determination unit determines to store the operation history, an agreement about the storage of the operation history; and

restricting execution of the designated operation mode when the storage of the operation history is not agreed.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of item-setting at least one item to be stored as the operation history commonly for all or a part of the operation modes or independently for each of the operation modes, and wherein said operation history storage unit stores only the item set for the designated item as the operation history.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of level-setting a plurality of storage levels upon storing the operation histories and setting the plurality of storage levels to store different numbers of items as the operation history, and wherein said operation history storage unit stores the operation history in accordance with the storage level set for the designated operation mode.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of reading contents stored in an IC card, and wherein said operation history storage unit stores the contents read from the IC card as the operation history.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of operation modes includes at least an operation mode for performing a print process of input image data or an operation mode for transmitting input image data to an external apparatus.

17. A computer program, stored in a computer-readable medium, having instructions configured to cause a computer to an information processing apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, including instructions for:

storing information indicating whether or not to store an operation history in a memory unit, each of the information corresponding to any one of the operation modes;

designating an operation mode from the plurality of operation modes;

determining, based on the information stored in said memory unit, whether or not to store an operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode;

storing, in a case where said determination unit determines to store the operation history in an operation history storage unit, the operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode; and

informing an operator of storing an operation history in the case where it is determined to store the operation history; and

executing a process associated with the designated operation mode after an instruction is input by the operator who is informed of storing an operation history by said instruction for informing.

18. A computer-readable medium storing a computer program having instructions configured to cause a computer to an information processing apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, including instructions for:

storing information indicating whether or not to store an operation history in a memory unit, each of the information corresponding to any one of the operation modes;

designating an operation mode from the plurality of operation modes;

determining, based on the information stored in said memory unit, whether or not to store an operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode;

storing, in a case where said determination unit determines to store the operation history in an operation history storage unit, the operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode;

informing an operator of storing an operation history in the case where it is determined to store the operation history; and

executing a process associated with the designated operation mode after an instruction is input by the operator who is informed of storing an operation history by said instruction for informing.