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

• US 7,270,271 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• 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:
  US11/011,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20050139673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 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 image forming 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; and

an operation history storage unit configured to store the operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode;

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

a control unit configured to cause said operation history storage unit to store the operation history and permit execution of the designated operation mode under a condition that storage of the operation history is agreed, and to inhibit execution of the designated operation mode when storage of the operation history is not agreed.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to, in the case where said determination unit determines to store the operation history, displaying a message indicating that the operation history is going to be stored.

3. 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 some of the plurality of operation modes or independently for each of the plurality of operation modes, and wherein said operation history storage unit stores only the item set for the designated item as the operation history.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a level setting unit configured to set 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.

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

6. An operation history storage method for an image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:

a step of storing information indicating whether or not to store an operation history based on the selection, the information corresponding to any one of the operation modes;

a step of designating an operation mode from the plurality of operation modes;

a step of determining, based on the stored information, whether or not to store an operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode; and

an operation history storage step of storing, in the case where storing the operation history is determined, the operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode;

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

a step of causing the operation history to be stored and permitting execution of the designated operation mode under a condition that storage of the operation history is agreed, and inhibiting execution of the designated operation mode when storage of the operation history is not agreed.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of displaying, in the case where storing the operation history is determined, a message indicating that the operation history is going to be stored.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of setting at least one item to be stored as the operation history commonly for all or some of the plurality of operation modes or independently for each of the plurality of operation modes, and wherein the operation history storage step includes a step of storing only the item set for the designated item as the operation history.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising a level setting step of 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 the operation history storage step includes a step of storing the operation history in accordance with the storage level set for the designated operation mode.

10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

a step of reading contents stored in an IC card; and

a step of storing the contents read from the IC card as the operation history.

11. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program for executing an operation history storage method of claim 6.

12. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:

a display unit configured to display at least information associated with the operation modes;

a display control unit configured to make display control that controls said display unit to display a designation window used to designate a desired operation mode from the plurality of operation modes;

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

an operation history storage unit configured to store the operation history, storing the operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation modes;

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

a control unit configured to cause said operation history storage unit to store the operation history and permit execution of the designated operation mode under a condition that storage of the operation history is agreed, and to inhibit execution of the designated operation mode when storage of the operation history is not agreed.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising warning display unit configured to, in the case where said determination unit determines to store the operation history, displaying a warning indicating that the operation history is going to be stored.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an item display unit configured to display an item setting window used to set at least one item to be stored as the operation history commonly for all or some of the plurality of operation modes or independently for each of the plurality of operation modes, and wherein said operation history storage unit stores only the item set for the designated item as the operation history.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a level display unit configured to set a plurality of storage levels upon storing the operation histories and displaying a window used to 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.

16. An operation history storage method for an image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:

a display step of displaying at least information associated with the operation modes;

a step of storing information indicating whether or not to store an operation history based on the selection, the information corresponding to any one of the operation modes;

a step of displaying a window used to designate an operation mode from the plurality of operation modes;

a step of determining, based on the stored information, whether or not to store an operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode; and

an operation history storage step of storing the operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode;

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

a step of causing the operation history to be stored and permitting execution of the designated operation mode under a condition that storage of the operation history is agreed, an inhibiting execution of the designated operation mode when storage of the operation history is not agreed.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of displaying, in the case where storing the operation history is determined, a warning indicating that the operation history is going to be stored.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising a step of displaying an item setting window used to set at least one item to be stored as the operation history commonly for all or some of the plurality of operation modes or independently for each of the plurality of operation modes, and wherein the operation history storage step includes a step of storing only the item set for the designated item as the operation history.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising a step of setting a plurality of storage levels upon storing the operation histories and displaying a window used to set the plurality of storage levels to store different numbers of items as the operation history, and wherein the operation history storage step includes a step of storing the operation history in accordance with the storage level set for the designated operation mode.

20. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes including at least an operation mode for performing a print process of input image data, and an operation mode for transmitting input image data to an external apparatus, comprising:

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

a determination unit configured to, when an operator designates an operation mode to be executed from the plurality of operation modes, determine whether or not to store an operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode based on the stored information;

a notification unit configured to notify the operator of a message indicating that log information is going to be recorded in the case where storing an operation history is determined; and

a control unit configured to permit execution of the designated operation mode under a condition that the operator agrees with recording of the log information, and to inhibit execution of the designated operation mode when the operator does not agree with recording of the log information.

21. A control method suited to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes including at least an operation mode for performing a print process of input image data, and an operation mode for transmitting input image data to an external apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

storing information indicating whether or not to store an operation history, the information corresponding to any one of the operation modes;

determining, when an operator designates an operation mode to be executed from the plurality of operation modes, whether or not to store the operation history in accordance with an operation of the designated operation mode based on the stored information;

notifying the operator of a message indicating that log information is going to be recorded in a case where storing the operation history is determined; and

controlling to permit execution of the designated operation mode under a condition that the operator agrees with recording of the log information, and to inhibit execution of the designated operation mode when the operator does not agree with recording of the log information.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

controlling, when the operator designates the operation mode to be executed, a console to execute a first display process for notifying the operator of the message indicating the log information is going to be recorded;

permitting, when the console is controlled to execute the first display process and the operator makes an input indicating agreement about recording of the log information via the console, execution of the designated operation mode; and

inhibiting, when the console is controlled to execute the first display process and the operator does not make any input indicating agreement about recording of the log information via the console, execution of the designated operation mode.

23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

controlling, when the operator designates the operation mode to be executed, a console to execute a first display process for notifying the operator of the message indicating the log information is going to be recorded, to execute a second display process for inputting a first instruction required to input agreement associated with recording of the log information, and to execute a third display process for inputting a second instruction required to input disagreement associated with recording of the log information;

permitting, when the first display process is executed, and the first instruction is input in association with the second display process, execution of the designated operation mode; and

inhibiting, when the first display process is executed, and the second instruction is input in association with the third display process, execution of the designated operation mode.

24. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

controlling a console of the image forming apparatus to execute the first, second, and third display processes.

25. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

controlling a console of an external apparatus that outputs image data which can be printed by the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus to execute the first, second, and third display processes.

26. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of operation modes including first and second operation modes, comprising;

a memory adapted to store information indicating that an operation history according to an operation of the first operation mode is to be stored;

a selector adapted to select one of the plurality of operation modes; and

a controller adapted to request an agreement about storage of the operation history and permit said image forming apparatus to execute the first operation mode under a condition that storage of the operation history is agreed when said selector selects the first operation mode, and to permit said image forming apparatus to execute the second operation mode without requesting the agreement about storage of the operation history when said selector selects the second operation mode.

27. A control method for an image forming apparatus which can selectively execute a plurality of operation modes including first and second operation modes, comprising:

a step of storing information indicating that an operation history according to an operation of the first operation mode is to be stored;

a step of requesting an agreement about storage of the operation history and permitting the image forming apparatus to execute the first operation mode under a condition that storage of the operation history is agreed when the first operation mode is selected; and

a step of permitting the image forming apparatus to execute the second operation mode without requesting the agreement about storage of the operation history when the second operation mode is selected.