Methods and systems for user interface customization

• US 7,978,618 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Finnegan, Ginger Marie, Richardson, Tanna Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson; Robert W
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAMARA, MOHAMED A
• Application Number:
  US11/562,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20070091010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,694 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 399 80- 81, 399/8, 705/28, 713/176, 715/840, 709/220
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/36 Software reuse
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for user interface customization.

Claims

1. A method for interacting with an imaging device, said method comprising:

a. sending user-specific login data from said imaging device to a remote computing device;

b. receiving, at said imaging device from said remote computing device, user-interface information for an application residing on said remote computing device, wherein said user-interface information is associated with said user-specific login data, said user-interface information is related to generating a custom user interface for said application, and said user-interface information is related to at least one user-interface customization preference selected from a group consisting of a user-interface display format, a user-interface language, a user-interface parameter, a user-interface display preference, a user-interface display component, a user-interface display-component layout, a user-interface screen, a user-interface associated with at least one function associated with said imaging device, wherein said at least one function is a most recently accessed function associated with said user-specific login data and a user-interface format; and

c. displaying, on a local display panel associated with said imaging device, formatted user-interface content, wherein said formatted user-interface content is determined by said user-interface information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said display panel is a touch panel.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said display panel is integral to said imaging device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said display panel is separate from said imaging device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said user-interface information comprises at least one web page.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said at least one web page is written in a markup language.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising detecting a user input at said imaging device.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising sending an indication of said user input from said imaging device to said remote computing device.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising receiving application data from said remote computing device at said imaging device, wherein said application data is data processed by said application on said remote computing device in response to said user input.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said application data initiates an imaging device function.

11. A method for interacting with an imaging device, said method comprising:

a. sending user-specific login data from said imaging device to an authentication server;

b. receiving user-specific permission data at said imaging device from said authentication server, wherein said user-specific permission data is associated with said user-specific login data;

c. sending said user-specific permission data from said imaging device to a remote computing device;

d. receiving user-interface information at said imaging device from said remote computing device, wherein said user-interface information is associated with said user-specific permission data, said user-interface information is related to generating a custom user interface for said application, and said user-interface information is related to at least one user-interface customization preference selected from a group consisting of a user-interface display format, a user-interface language, a user-interface parameter, a user-interface display preference, a user-interface display component, a user-interface display-component layout, a user-interface screen, a user-interface associated with at least one function associated with said imaging device, wherein said at least one function is a most recently accessed function associated with said user-specific login data and a user-interface format; and

e. displaying, on a local display panel associated with said imaging device, formatted user-interface content, wherein said formatted user-interface content is determined by said user-interface information.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said user-interface information comprises at least one web page.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said at least one web page is written in a markup language.

14. The method according to claim 11 further comprising:

a. detecting a user input at said imaging device;

b. receiving application data from said remote computing device at said imaging device, wherein said application data is data processed by an application on said remote computing device in response to said user input; and

c. initiating an imaging device function on said imaging device in response to said application data.

15. A method for interacting with an imaging device, said method comprising:

a. sending user-specific login data from said imaging device to a remote computing device;

b. accessing a database to retrieve a first user-interface information associated with said user-specific login data, wherein said first user-interface information is related to generating a first custom user interface for said application and said first user-interface information is related to at least one user-interface customization preference selected from a group consisting of a user-interface display format, a user-interface language, a user-interface parameter, a user-interface display preference, a user-interface display component, a user-interface display-component layout, a user-interface screen, a user-interface associated with at least one function associated with said imaging device, wherein said at least one function is a most recently accessed function associated with said user-specific login data and a user-interface format;

c. sending said first user-interface information from said remote computing device to said imaging device;

d. receiving said first user-interface information at said imaging device from said remote computing device;

e. displaying, on a local display panel associated with said imaging device, a first formatted user-interface content wherein said first formatted user-interface content is determined by said first user-interface information;

f. detecting a user input at said imaging device, wherein said user input is in response to said first formatted user-interface content;

g. sending an indication of said user input from said imaging device to said remote computing device;

h. determining a second user-interface information in response to said user input, wherein said second user-interface information is associated with said user-specific login data, said second user-interface information is related to generating a second custom user interface for said application, and said second user-interface information is related to at least one user-interface customization preference selected from the group consisting of a user-interface display format, a user-interface language, a user-interface parameter, a user-interface display preference, a user-interface display component, a user-interface display-component layout, a user-interface screen, a user-interface associated with at least one function associated with said imaging device, wherein said at least one function is a most recently accessed function associated with said user-specific login data and a user-interface format;

i. sending said second user-interface information from said remote computing device to said imaging device;

j. receiving said second user-interface information at said imaging device from said remote computing device; and

k. displaying, on said local display panel associated with said imaging device, a second formatted user-interface content wherein said second formatted user-interface content is determined by said second user-interface information.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said first user-interface information comprises at least one web page.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said at least one web page is written in a markup language.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein said display panel is a touch panel.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein said display panel is integral to said imaging device.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein said display panel is separate from said imaging device.