Image forming apparatus and image forming method

• US 9,769,339 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2016
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ono, Zentaroh
• Primary Examiner(s): Worku, Negussie
• Application Number:
  US15/159,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20160366293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 709204, 709248, 709223, 709245, 713176, 715738, 715802, 358 113, 358 112, 358 114, 358 115, 358 19, 358906, 3589091
• 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 1/00474 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 image forming apparatus includes: an operation unit that includes a display unit where a screen is displayed and a first operating system, and accepts an operation; and a main body unit that includes a second operating system, and acts according to an operation accepted by the operation unit, wherein the operation unit includes: an operation accepting unit that accepts, when an always-displayed screen for using a specific function is pressed, activation of a first application running on the first operating system to use the specific function associated with the screen; a synchronization processing unit that performs synchronization between a second application running on the first operating system and a third application running on the second operating system; an app-activation control unit that activates the first application after performing the synchronization; and a display control unit that displays an operation accepting screen of the first application on the display unit.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a first processor configured to control a display unit and configured to implement a first operating system, the display unit being configured to display a screen, the first processor being further configured to accept an operation; and

a second processor configured to implement a second operating system, the second processor being configured to act according to an operation accepted by the first processor, wherein

the first processor being-further-configured to,

accept, when an always-displayed screen for using a specific function has been pressed, activation of a first application running on the first operating system to use the specific function associated with the screen;

perform a synchronization process of synchronizing a second application running on the first operating system and a third application running on the second operating system;

activate the first application after performing the synchronization process; and

perform control of displaying an operation accepting screen of the first application on the display unit.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, the first processor is configured to perform, when a specific application is activated, the synchronization process of synchronizing the second application and the third application.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the specific application is an application newly added to the first processor.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the specific application is an application that does not use a function of the second processor.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the application that does not use a function of the second processor is either a browser app or a gallery app.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization process is a process of synchronizing a second application that activates an initial screen of the first processor on the display unit to call the operation accepting screen for using multiple functions and a third application of the second processor that corresponds to the second application of the first processor.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the second application is a home application that activates the initial screen of the first processor, and

the third application is a home application of the second processor that corresponds to the home application of the first processor.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the second processor is further configured to

perform, when having received a notification of stop of an application, control of stopping a job of a currently active application on the second operating system of the second processor, and

accept, when a STOP key on an always-displayed screen for using a specific function has been pressed, stop of an application and notifies the second processor of the stop of the application,

check, when having received a notification of the stop of the application, a currently active application on the second operating system of the second processor and suspends a job of the application, and then transmits an app suspension completion notification, which informs that the job of the application has been suspended, to an application of the first processor,

the first processor is further configured to generate, when having received the app suspension completion notification, a stop screen of the application and transmit the generated stop screen to the display unit, and

the display unit is further configured to display the stop screen.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a first processor configured to control a display unit and configured to implement a first operating system, the display unit being configured to display a screen, the first processor being further configured to accept an operation; and

a second processor configured to

implement a second operating system,

act according to an operation accepted by the first processor and, when notified of the stop of an application accepted by the first processor, and

control a process of checking a currently active application on the second operating system and stopping a job of the application, wherein the first processor being configured to,

accept, when an always-displayed screen for using a specific function has been pressed, activation of a first application running on the first operating system to use the specific function associated with the screen;

perform a synchronization process of synchronizing a second application running on the first operating system and a third application running on the second operating system;

activate the first application after has performing the synchronization process; and

perform control of displaying an operation accepting screen of the first application on the display unit.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first processor is further configured to perform, when a specific application is activated, the synchronization process of synchronizing the second application and the third application.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the specific application is an application newly added to the first processor.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the specific application is an application that does not use a function of the second processor.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the application that does not use a function of the second processor is either a browser app or a gallery app.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the synchronization process is a process of synchronizing a second application that activates an initial screen of the first processor on the display unit to call the operation accepting screen for using multiple functions and a third application of the second processor that corresponds to the second application of the first processor.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein

the second application is a home application that activates the initial screen of the first processor, and

the third application is a home application of the second processor that corresponds to the home application of the first processor.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the second processor is further configured to

perform, when having received a notification of stop of an application, control of stopping a job of a currently active application on the second operating system of the second processor,

accept, when a STOP key on an always-displayed screen for using a specific function has been pressed, stop of an application and notifies the second processor of the stop of the application,

check, when having received a notification of the stop of the application, a currently active application on the second operating system of the second processor and suspends a job of the application, and

transmit an app suspension completion notification, which informs that the job of the application has been suspended, to an application of the first processor,

the first processor is further configured to generate, when having received the app suspension completion notification, a stop screen of the application and transmit the generated stop screen to the display unit, and

the display unit is further configured to display the stop screen.

17. An image forming method implemented by an image forming apparatus that includes a first processor configured to control a display unit and configured to implement a first operating system, the display unit being configured to display a screen, the first processor being further configured to accept an operation, and a second processor configured to implement a second operating system, the second processor being configured to act according to an operation accepted by the first processor, the image forming method comprising:

accepting, when an always-displayed screen for using a specific function has been pressed, activation of a first application running on the first operating system to use the specific function associated with the screen;

performing a synchronization process of synchronizing a second application running on the first operating system and a third application running on the second operating system;

activating the first application after the synchronization process has been performed; and

performing control of displaying an operation accepting screen of the activated first application on the display unit.