Configurable printer menu structure

• US 7,554,684 B1
• Filed: 02/17/2000
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Senoo, Masumi, Aoyama, Kazuo, Bhatti, Shahzad H.
• Primary Examiner(s): EBRAHIMI DEHKORDY, SAEID
• Application Number:
  US09/506,407
• Time in Patent Office: 3,421 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.13, 358/1.1, 358/1.14, 358/1.16, 400/61, 400/70, 400/615.2, 399/75, 399/81, 399/1, 709/321, 709221-222, 345/156, 345/590, 345/593, 345/810, 345/825, 347/29, 347/33, 347/42, 715/738, 715/821
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5087 for receiving image data
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host

Abstract

A printer is configured by creating a printer menu structure and installing the printer menu structure on the printer. The printer menu structure is installed on an erasable storage device in the printer. The installation of the printer menu structure replaces or extends any menu structure previously installed on the printer. Prior to installing the printer menu structure on the printer, the system simulates operation of the printer menu structure. The printer menu structure has a hierarchy of menu elements, each of which has an associated menu element type and an associated action. An icon may be associated with one or more of the menu elements.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a printer, the method comprising:

creating a printer menu structure; and

installing the printer menu structure on the printer, wherein the printer menu structure is installed on an erasable storage device in the printer.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein installing the printer menu structure replaces any menu structure previously installed on the printer.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein installing the printer menu structure extends any menu structure previously installed on the printer.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising simulating operation of the printer menu structure prior to installing the printer menu structure on the printer.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein creating a printer menu structure includes creating a hierarchy of menu elements.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein each menu element has an associated menu element type and an associated action.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein creating a printer menu structure includes associating an icon with at least one menu element in the printer menu structure.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the method is performed by an end-user of the printer.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein creating a printer menu structure includes determining the arrangement of a plurality of menu elements on a printer display panel.

10. A computer-readable memory containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 1.

11. A printer comprising:

a display panel to display a plurality of menu elements;

a user interface coupled to the display panel to allow a user to select among the plurality of menu elements; and

a data communication interface coupled to the display panel to allow the printer to receive a printer menu structure from a remote device.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the data communication interface is a network interface.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the printer is a laser printer.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the user interface is a touch-sensitive screen positioned proximate the display panel.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 further comprising a memory device coupled to the data communication interface to store a printer menu structure received from the remote device.

16. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program comprising the following steps:

creating a printer menu structure; and

installing the printer menu structure on a printer, wherein the printer menu structure is installed on an erasable storage device in the printer.

17. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16 wherein installing the printer menu structure replaces any menu structure previously installed on the printer.

18. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16 further comprising simulating operation of the printer menu structure prior to installing the printer menu structure on the printer.

19. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16 wherein creating a printer menu structure includes creating a hierarchy of menu elements.

20. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16 wherein creating a printer menu structure includes creating a hierarchy of menu elements, and each menu element has an associated menu element type and an associated action.