Operation apparatus, image forming apparatus provided with the same, and shortcut acceptance method

• US 8,860,966 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2012
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Arakawa, Hiroki, Sekiguchi, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): SINGH, SATWANT K
• Application Number:
  US13/534,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20130003099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 358/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

An operation apparatus includes a touch panel, a help unit, a shortcut inquiry unit, and a shortcut acceptance unit. The shortcut inquiry unit, upon detection, by the touch panel, of an input operation of the setting condition in a state in which the setting condition input window, which has been switched by the help unit, is being displayed, inquires about whether registration of a shortcut key used for directly switching to the setting condition input window corresponding to the setting item is desired or not, and accepts the registration of the shortcut key used for directly switching to the setting condition input window corresponding to the setting item, if the input operation for registration of the shortcut key is accepted by way of the touch panel.

Claims

1. An operation apparatus comprising:

a touch panel that can display a plurality of kinds of window including an operation window displaying a HELP key for guiding input of a setting condition of a predetermined setting item, such that an input operation, including an operation on a plurality of software keys including the HELP key, can be detected;

a help unit that switches, either directly or via another window, the display window that is displayed on the touch panel from the operation window to a setting condition input window in which the setting condition of a predetermined setting item among a plurality of setting items can be input, upon detection of the operation on the HELP key displayed on the operation window by the touch panel;

a shortcut inquiry unit that inquires about whether registration of a shortcut key used for directly switching to the setting condition input window corresponding to the setting item is desired or not, upon detection by the touch panel of an input operation of the setting condition in a state in which the settin condition in s ut window havin been switched by the help unit is being displayed, and that accepts the registration of the shortcut key if the input operation for registration of the shortcut key is accepted by way of the touch panel; and

a shortcut acceptance unit that displays the shortcut key on the operation window on the touch panel such that an operation on the shortcut key can be detected, if the shortcut key is registerd by the shortcut inquiry unit,

wherein;

the operation apparatus has a predetermined processing unit or the operation apparatus is connected to the predetermined processing unit; and

the shortcut inquiry unit displays a registration prompt window for prompting the registration of the shortcut key on the touch panel in a case in which a predetermined process is in progress in the predetermined processing unit based on the setting condition thus input.

2. The operation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shortcut acceptance unit displays the shortcut key so as to be adjacent to the HELP key on the operation window.

3. The operation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shortcut acceptance unit switches the display window displayed on the touch panel to an operation window displaying the shortcut key if the shortcut key is registered by the shortcut key inquiry unit.

4. The operation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the help unit:

displays a setting item selection window displaying a plurality of setting item keys on the touch panel, upon detection of an operation on the HELP key by way of the touch panel; and

switches the display window displayed on the touch panel from the setting item selection window to the setting condition input window corresponding to the setting item corresponding to a particular setting item key, upon detection of an operation of the particular setting item key by way of the touch panel.

5. The operation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the help unit displays a setting item key that is displayed on a lower layer window than the operation window, on the setting item selection window on the touch panel, such that an operation on the setting item key can be detected.

6. An operation apparatus comprising:

a touch panel that can display a plurality of kinds of window including an operation window displaying a HELP key for guiding input of a setting condition of a predetermined setting item, such that an input operation,including an operation on a plurality of software keys including the HELP key, can be detected;

a help unit that switches, either directly or via another window, the display window that is displayed on the touch panel from the operation window to a setting condition input window in which the setting condition of a predetermined setting item among a plurality of setting items can be input, upon detection of the operation on the HELP key displayed on the operation window by the touch panel;

a shortcut inquiry unit that inquires about whether registration of a shortcut key used for directly switching to the setting condition input window corresponding to the setting item is desired or not u on detection b the touch panel of an input operation of the setting condition in a state in which the setting condition input window having been switched b the hell unit is being displayed, and that accepts the registration of the shortcut key if the input operation for registration of the shortcut key is accepted by way of the touch panel; and

a shortcut acceptance unit that displays the shortcut key on the operation window on the touch panel such that an operation on the shortcut key can be detected, if the shortcut key is registered by the shortcut inquiry unit,

wherein;

the operation apparatus has a predetermined processing unit or the operation apparatus is connected to the predetermined processing unit; and

the shortcut inquiry unit displays a registration prompt window for prompting the registration of the shortcut key on the touch panel after completion of a predetermined process in a case in which the predetermined process is in progress in the predetermined processing unit based on the setting condition thus input.

7. The operation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the shortcut inquiry unit displays the registration prompt window for a predetermined amount of time.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an operation apparatus including;

a touch panel that can display a plurality of kinds of windows including an operation window displaying a HELP key for guiding input of a setting condition of a predetermined setting item, such that an input operation, including an operation on a plurality of software keys including the HELP key, can be detected;

a help unit that switches, either directly or via another window, a display window displayed on the touch panel from the operation window to a setting condition input window in which the setting condition of a predetermined setting item among a plurality of setting items can be input, upon detection of the operation on the HELP key displayed on the operation window by way of the touch panel;

a shortcut inquiry unit that inquires about whether registration of a shortcut key used for directly switching to the setting condition input window corresponding to the setting item is desired or not, upon detection by the touch panel of an input operation of the setting condition in a state in which the setting condition input window having been switched by the help unit is being displayed, and that accepts the registration of the shortcut key if the input operation for registration of the shortcut key is accepted; and

a shortcut acceptance unit that displays the shortcut key on the operation window on the touch panel such that an operation on the shortcut key can be detected, if the shortcut key is registered by the shortcut inquiry unit,

wherein;

the operation apparatus has a predetermined processing unit or the operation apparatus is connected to the predetermined processing unit and

the shortcut inquiry unit displays a registration prompt window for prompting the registration of the shortcut key on the touch panel in a case in which a predetermined process is in progress in the predetermined processing unit based on the setting condition thus input.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the shortcut acceptance unit displays the shortcut key so as to be adjacent to the HELP key on the operation window.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the shortcut acceptance unit switches the display window displayed on the touch panel to an operation window displaying the shortcut key, if the shortcut key is registered by the shortcut key inquiry unit.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the help unit:

displays the setting item selection window displaying a plurality of setting item keys on the touch panel, upon detection of an operation on the HELP key by way of the touch panel; and

switches the display window displayed on the touch panel from the setting item selection window to a setting condition input window corresponding to the setting item corresponding to a particular setting item key, upon detection of an operation of the particular setting item key by way of the touch panel.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the help unit displays a setting item key that is displayed on a lower layer window than the operation window, on the setting item selection window on the touch panel, such that an operation on the setting item key can be detected.

13. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an operation apparatus including;

a touch panel that can display a plurality of kinds of windows including an operation window displaying a HELP key for guiding input of a setting condition of a predetermined setting item, such that an input operation, including an operation on a plurality of software keys including the HELP key, can be detected;

a help unit that switches, either directly or via another window, a display window displayed on the touch panel from the operation window to a setting condition input window in which the setting condition of a predetermined setting item among a plurality of setting items can be input, upon detection of the operation on the HELP key displayed on the operation window by way of the touch panel;

a shortcut inquiry unit that inquires about whether registration of a shortcut key used for directly switching to the setting condition input window corresponding to the setting item is desired or not, upon detection by the touch panel of an input operation of the setting condition in a state in which the setting condition input window having been switched by the help unit is being displayed, and that accepts the registration of the shortcut key if the input operation for registration of the shortcut key is accepted; and

a shortcut accepted unit that displays the shortcut key on the operation window on the touch panel such that an operation on the shortcut key can be detected, if the shortcut key is registerd by the shortcut inquiry unit,

wherein;

the operation apparatus has a predetermined processing unit or the operation apparatus is connected to the predetermined processing unit; and

the shortcut inquiry unit displays a registration prompt window for prompting the registration of the shortcut key on the touch panel after completion of a predetermined process in a case in which the predetermined process is in progress in the predetermined processing unit based on the setting condition thus input.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the shortcut inquiry unit displays the registration prompt window for a predetermined amount of time.

15. A shortcut acceptance method for an operation apparatus including a touch panel that can display a plurality of kinds of windows including an operation window displaying a HELP key for guiding input of a setting condition of a predetermined setting item, such that an input operation, including an operation on a plurality of software keys including the HELP key, can be detected,

the shortcut acceptance method displaying a shortcut key on the operation window on the touch panel, such that an operation on the shortcut key can be detected, the method comprising:

a help step of switching, either directly or via another window, a display window displayed on the touch panel from the operation window to a setting condition input window in which the setting condition of a predetermined setting item among a plurality of setting items can be input, upon detection of the operation on the HELP key displayed on the operation window by way of the touch panel;

a shortcut inquiry step of inquiring, via the operation apparatus, about whether registration of a shortcut key used for directly switching to a setting condition input window corresponding to the setting item is desired or not, upon detection by the touch panel of an input operation of the setting condition in a state in which the setting condition input window having been switched in the help step is being displayed, and accepting, via the operation apparatus, the registration of the shortcut key if the input operation for registration of the shortcut key is accepted; and

a shortcut acceptance step of displaying, via the operation apparatus, the shortcut key on the operation window on the touch panel such that an operation on the shortcut key can be detected, if the shortcut key is registered in the shortcut inquiry step,

wherein;

the operation apparatus has a predetermined processing unit or the operation apparatus is connected to the predetermined processing unit; and

the shortcut inquiry step displays a registration prompt window for prompting the registration of the shortcut key on the touch panel in a case in which a predetermined process is in progress in the predetermined processing unit based on the setting condition thus input.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program including instructions to implement the shortcut acceptance method according to claim 15.