Information processing apparatus

• US 8,381,128 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ikeno, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, DAEHO D
• Application Number:
  US11/690,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20070226619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: 715/765, 715/810, 715/835, 345/156
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/502 relating to the structure of the control menu, e.g. pop-up menus, help screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00389 Programmable function keys, e.g. for one-touch operation H04N1/00387 takes precedence; for automation of transmitter jobs H04N1/32058
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00427 using a menu list H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00429 using a navigation tree
• 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 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a display, an operation unit that allows a user to input commands, a storage unit that stores a plurality of setting items and setting values of the setting items required for carrying out a function of the apparatus, and a controller that is operable to control the display to display on a setting item display region of the display the setting items, accept a command for changing the setting values of one of the plurality of setting items while controlling the display to display on the setting item display region the plurality of setting items, and change the setting values in accordance with the command for changing the setting values of the setting items.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a display;

an operation unit that allows a user to input commands;

a storage unit that stores a plurality of setting items and setting values of the setting items required for carrying out a function of the apparatus; and

a controller configured to;

control the display to selectively display one of a constant setting menu and a temporary setting menu, each of the constant setting menu and the temporary setting menu comprising setting items positioned in a setting item display region of the display, wherein the constant setting menu comprises setting items for permanently storing the setting values and the temporary setting menu comprises setting items for temporarily changing the setting values, and the setting values of the setting items displayed in the temporary setting menu are the same as the setting values of the setting items displayed in the constant setting menu;

accept a command for changing the setting values of one of the plurality of setting items while controlling the display to display on the setting item display region the plurality of setting items; and

change the setting values in accordance with the command for changing the setting values of the setting items,

wherein the controller controls the display to display the temporary setting menu when a first key is pressed and the controller controls the display to display the constant setting menu when a second key is pressed, and the second key is different from the first key, and

wherein a first procedure is performed to change a setting value of a particular setting item after operation of a third key as a command to enter a changing mode for changing the setting value of the particular setting item when the temporary setting menu is displayed, and a second procedure is performed to change the setting value of the particular setting item after operation of a fourth key as a command to enter a changing mode for changing the setting value of the particular setting item when the constant setting menu is displayed, the particular setting item is displayed in both the temporary setting menu and the constant setting menu, the second procedure is different from the first procedure, and the fourth key is different from the first key,

wherein, in the first procedure, when the third key is further pressed after entering the changing mode, the setting value of the particular setting item is changed, and

wherein, in the second procedure, at least two keys different from the fourth key are pressed to change the setting value of the particular setting item after entering the changing mode.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller changes a mode of the apparatus to a mode for accepting the command for changing the setting values of one of the plurality of setting items when a first command is input to the operation unit, the first command comprising an input operation to buttons provided to be associated with respective setting items, and wherein the controller controls the display to display the setting items associated with the buttons.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to:

select a target setting item that accepts the command for changing the setting values when a second command is input to the operation unit; and

control the display to display selectable setting values for the target setting item when the second command is input.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller selects the setting values from the selectable setting values when the second command is input.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller selects the setting values from the selectable setting values when the first command is input.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the display to display the setting values in a switchable manner when the first command is input.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the buttons comprise general-purpose input portions, and wherein the controller is further operable to switch the setting items associated with the buttons when a third command is input to the operation unit.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the associated item display unit controls the display to display on an associated item display region the setting items associated with the buttons, and wherein the general-purpose input portions are provided adjacent to the associated item display region of the display.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the controller controls the display to display the temporary setting menu for temporarily changing the setting values of the setting items when the controller accepts a first command in a standby state,

wherein the controller controls the display to display the constant setting menu for permanently storing the setting values of the setting items when the controller accepts a second command after receiving the first command in the standby state.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the first procedure is performed to change the setting values of the setting items when the temporary setting menu is displayed, the setting values of the setting items revert to their previous values without further pressing operations of the buttons.

11. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a display;

an operation unit that allows a user to input commands;

a storage unit that stores a plurality of setting items and setting values of the setting items required for carrying out a function of the apparatus; and

a controller configured to;

control the display to selectively display one of a constant setting menu and a temporary setting menu, each of the constant setting menu and the temporary setting menu comprising setting values of the setting items positioned in a setting value display region of the display, wherein the constant setting menu comprises setting items for permanently storing the setting values and the temporary setting menu comprises setting items for temporarily changing the setting values, and the setting values of the setting items displayed in the temporary setting menu are the same as the setting values of the setting items displayed in the constant setting menu;

accept a command for changing the setting values of one of the plurality of setting items while controlling the display to display on the setting value display region the setting values of the plurality of setting items; and

change the setting values in accordance with the command for changing the setting values of the setting items,

wherein the controller controls the display to display the temporary setting menu when a first key is pressed and the controller controls the display to display the constant setting menu when a second key is pressed, and the second key is different from the first key, and

wherein a first procedure is performed to change a setting value of a particular setting items item after operation of a third key as a command to enter a changing mode for changing the setting value of the particular setting item when the temporary setting menu is displayed, and a second procedure is performed to change the setting value of the particular setting item after operation of a fourth key as a command to enter a changing mode for changing the setting value of the particular setting item when the constant setting menu is displayed, the particular setting item is displayed in both the temporary setting menu and the constant setting menu, the second procedure is different from the first procedure and the fourth key is different from the first key,

wherein, in the first procedure, when the third key is further pressed after entering the changing mode, the setting value of the particular setting item is changed, and

wherein, in the second procedure, at least two keys different from the fourth key are pressed to change the setting value of the particular setting item after entering the changing mode.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller changes a mode of the apparatus to a mode for accepting a first command for changing the setting values of one of the plurality of setting items, the first command comprising an input operation to buttons provided to be associated with respective setting items, and wherein the controller controls the display to display the setting items associated with the buttons.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller controls the display to display on the setting value display region of the display the setting values of all the setting items required for carrying out the function when the first command is input to the operation unit.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to:

select a target setting item that accepts the command for changing the setting values when a second command is input to the operation unit; and

control the display to display selectable setting values for the target setting item when the second command is input.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the controller selects the setting values from the selectable setting values when the second command is input.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller selects the setting values from the selectable setting values when the first command is input.

17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the display to display the setting values in a switchable manner when the first command is input.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the buttons comprise general-purpose input portions, and wherein the controller is further configured to switch the setting items associated with the buttons when a third command is input to the operation unit.

19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the associated item display unit controls the display to display on a associated item display region the setting items associated with the buttons, and wherein the general-purpose input portions are provided adjacent to the associated item display region of the display.

20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the controller controls the display to display the temporary setting menu for temporarily changing the setting values of the setting items when the controller accepts a first command in a standby state,

wherein the controller controls the display to display the constant setting menu for permanently storing the setting values of the setting items when the controller accepts a second command after receiving the first command in the standby state.

21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the first procedure is performed to change the setting values of the setting items when the temporary setting menu is displayed, the setting values of the setting items revert to their previous values without further pressing operations of the buttons.

22. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a display;

an operation unit that allows a user to input commands;

a storage unit that stores a plurality of setting items and setting values of the setting items required for carrying out a function of the apparatus;

a constant setting menu display unit that controls the display to display a constant setting menu comprising setting items for permanently storing the setting values;

a temporary setting menu display unit that controls the display to display a temporary setting menu comprising setting items for temporarily changing the setting values, wherein the setting values of the setting items displayed in the temporary setting menu are the same as the setting values of the setting items displayed in the constant setting menu;

a display control unit that controls the display to display a menu in a different manner between the constant setting menu and the temporary setting menu; and

an operation control unit that changes a mode of the apparatus to a setting value changing mode when a command is input to the operation unit, the command differing between the constant setting menu and the temporary setting menu,

wherein the temporary setting menu display unit controls the display to display the temporary setting menu when a first key is pressed and the constant setting menu display unit controls the display to display the constant setting menu when a second key is pressed, the second key is different from the first key, and

wherein a first procedure is performed to change a setting values value of a particular setting item after operation of a third key as a command to enter a changing mode for changing the setting value of the particular setting item when the temporary setting menu is displayed, and a second procedure is performed to change the setting value of the particular setting item after operation of a fourth key as a command to enter a changing mode for changing the setting value of the particular item when the constant setting menu is displayed, the particular setting item is displayed in both the temporary setting menu and the constant setting menu, the second procedure is different from the first procedure, and the fourth key is different from the first key,

wherein, in the first procedure, when the third key is further pressed after entering the changing mode, the setting value of the particular setting item is changed, and

wherein, in the second procedure, at least two keys different from the fourth key are pressed to change the setting value of the particular setting item after entering the changing mode.

23. The information processing apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising:

buttons associated with respective setting items; and

an associated item display unit that controls the display to display the setting items associated with the respective buttons, and wherein the temporary setting menu display unit displays the temporary setting menu when a pressing operation is performed on the buttons.

24. The information processing apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a controller that is configured to:

in the constant setting menu, change a mode of the apparatus to the setting value changing mode for accepting a first command for changing the setting values of the setting items when the first command is input;

accept the first command for changing the setting values when a second command is input; and

control the display to display selectable setting values for the target setting item every time when the setting item is selected, and in the temporary setting menu,

change a mode of the apparatus to the setting value changing mode for accepting a command for changing the setting values of the setting items when a general-purpose input portion is operated;

switch the setting items associated with the operation of the general-purpose input portion when a third command is input; and

controls the display to display the associated setting items.

25. The information processing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the constant setting menu display unit displays the constant setting menu when a menu key is pressed after the pressing operation is performed on the buttons.

26. The information processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein when the first procedure is performed to change the setting values of the setting items when the temporary setting menu is displayed, the setting values of the setting items revert to their previous values without further pressing operations of the buttons.