U.S. patent application number 13/021901 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-26 for display control system, image procesing apparatus, and display control method.
This patent application is currently assigned to KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA. Invention is credited to Tsunehiro Motegi, Mahina Nakamura, Yumiko Okuma, Yasutsugu Sasaki, Maki Sato.
Application Number | 20110126137 13/021901 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38758774 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110126137 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakamura; Mahina ; et
al. |
May 26, 2011 |
DISPLAY CONTROL SYSTEM, IMAGE PROCESING APPARATUS, AND DISPLAY
CONTROL METHOD
Abstract
There is provided a technique capable of contributing to an
improvement in operability and working efficiency. A display
control system comprises: an identification information acquisition
section 201 that acquires identification information for
identifying a user who uses a second device 41; an operation
determination section 202 that determines whether there is any
uncompleted job among those for which the relevant operation has
started in the first device 11; an operation history acquisition
section 203 that acquires information concerning the operation
history; a setting information acquisition section 204 that
acquires setting information concerning the display of an interface
screen; and a screen control section 205 that displays the
interface screen on the second device 41 and, at the same time,
reflects the information acquired by the operation history
acquisition section 203 on the interface screen as operation
content.
Inventors: |
Nakamura; Mahina;
(Musashino-shi, JP) ; Sato; Maki; (Yokohama-shi,
JP) ; Motegi; Tsunehiro; (Shinjuku-ku, JP) ;
Okuma; Yumiko; (Nakano-ku, JP) ; Sasaki;
Yasutsugu; (Kawasaki-shi, JP) |
Assignee: |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Tokyo
JP
TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
38758774 |
Appl. No.: |
13/021901 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11736698 |
Apr 18, 2007 |
7908563 |
|
|
13021901 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/764 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00408 20130101;
H04N 2201/3273 20130101; G06F 3/1238 20130101; H04N 1/00233
20130101; G06F 3/1211 20130101; H04N 1/00424 20130101; G06F 9/451
20180201; H04N 1/00482 20130101; H04N 1/00472 20130101; H04N
1/00514 20130101; G06F 3/1261 20130101; H04N 2201/0075 20130101;
H04N 2201/3219 20130101; H04N 1/00222 20130101; H04N 2201/0094
20130101; G06F 3/1288 20130101; G06F 3/1273 20130101; H04N 1/00474
20130101; G06F 3/1222 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/764 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/00 20060101
G06F003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 20, 2006 |
JP |
2006-116715 |
Claims
1. A display control system comprising: an identification
information acquisition section that acquires identification
information for identifying a user who uses a second device
communicably connected to a first device that can execute
predetermined processing to perform a predetermined relevant
operation concerning execution of the predetermined processing; an
operation determination section that determines whether there is
any uncompleted job among those for which the relevant operation
has started in the first device by the user whose identification
information has been acquired by the identification information
acquisition section; an operation history acquisition section that
acquires information concerning the operation history in the
relevant operation for the uncompleted predetermined processing in
the case where it has been determined by the operation
determination section that there is any uncompleted predetermined
processing; a setting information acquisition section that acquires
setting information concerning the display of an interface screen
corresponding to the user whose identification information has been
acquired by the identification information acquisition section; and
a screen control section that displays the interface screen on the
second device based on the information acquired from the setting
information acquisition section and, at the same time, reflects the
information acquired by the operation history acquisition section
on the interface screen as operation content.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No.
11/736,698 filed on Apr. 18, 2007, the entire contents of both of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a display control technique
of objects to be displayed on an interface screen, such as
characters and icons.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0003] There is known a technique that uses a printer driver or the
like to remotely execute predetermined image processing in an image
processing apparatus from an external device such as a PC (refer
to, e.g., Jpn. Pat. Appln. Laid-Open Publications Nos. 2004-312711,
2004-264540, 2003-289419, 2000-349952).
[0004] However, in the above technique, the interface screen of the
printer driver displayed on the external device and that of the
image processing apparatus have no commonality with each other and
entirely differ from each other in terms of design or information
classification scheme.
[0005] As describe above, operation procedures entirely differ
between the image processing apparatus and external device (printer
driver, etc.) even in the case where the same operation is
performed. Therefore, a user needs to learn two types of operation
procedures, i.e., the operation procedure on the image processing
apparatus and that on the external device, adversely affecting
operability and workability.
[0006] Further, the operation procedure in image processing
apparatuses of recent years becomes complicated, which may require
substantial time to perform its operation. However, since an image
processing apparatus installed in an office or the like is shared
by a plurality of users in general, it is not preferable that one
user occupies the image processing apparatus. Thus, in the case
where a given user is performing a complicated setting operation
for some sort of image processing, if there is another user who has
an urgent need to use the image processing apparatus, the user who
is performing the setting operation temporarily cancels the setting
content, allows the another user to use the image processing
apparatus for his or her urgent task, and then restarts the same
setting operation once again. Such a situation is not preferable in
terms of working efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An embodiment of the present invention has been made to
solve the above problems, and an object there of is to provide a
technique capable of reducing time period during which an apparatus
to be shared by a plurality of users is occupied by a specified
user performing a setting operation and contributing to an
improvement in operability and working efficiency.
[0008] To solve the above problems, according to a first aspect of
the present invention, there is provided a display control system
comprising: an identification information acquisition section that
acquires identification information for identifying a user who uses
a second device communicably connected to a first device that can
execute predetermined processing to perform a predetermined
relevant operation concerning execution of the predetermined
processing; an operation determination section that determines
whether there is any uncompleted job among those for which the
relevant operation has started in the first device by the user
whose identification information has been acquired by the
identification information acquisition section; an operation
history acquisition section that acquires information concerning
the operation history in the relevant operation for the uncompleted
predetermined processing in the case where it has been determined
by the operation determination section that there is any
uncompleted predetermined processing; a setting information
acquisition section that acquires setting information concerning
the display of an interface screen corresponding to the user whose
identification information has been acquired by the identification
information acquisition section; and a screen control section that
displays the interface screen on the second device based on the
information acquired from the setting information acquisition
section and, at the same time, reflects the information acquired by
the operation history acquisition section on the interface screen
as operation content.
[0009] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an image processing apparatus capable of executing
predetermined image processing, comprising: an identification
information acquisition section that acquires identification
information for identifying a user who uses an external device
communicably connected to the image processing apparatus to perform
a predetermined relevant operation concerning execution of the
predetermined image processing in the image processing apparatus;
an operation determination section that determines whether there is
any uncompleted job among those for which the relevant operation
has started in the image processing apparatus by the user whose
identification information has been acquired by the identification
information acquisition section; and a transmission section that
transmits information of the operation history in the relevant
operation concerning the uncompleted predetermined processing to
the external device in the case where the it has been determined by
the operation determination section that there is any uncompleted
predetermined processing.
[0010] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a display control method comprising: acquiring
identification information for identifying a user who uses a second
device communicably connected to a first device that can execute
predetermined processing to perform a predetermined relevant
operation concerning execution of the predetermined processing;
determining whether there is any uncompleted job among those for
which the relevant operation has started in the first device by the
user whose identification information has been acquired by the
identification information acquisition step; acquiring information
concerning the operation history in the relevant operation for the
uncompleted predetermined processing in the case where it has been
determined by the operation determination step that there is any
uncompleted predetermined processing; acquiring setting information
concerning the display of an interface screen corresponding to the
user whose identification information has been acquired by the
identification information acquisition step; and then displaying
the interface screen on the second device based on the information
acquired from the setting information acquisition step and, at the
same time, reflecting the information acquired by the operation
history acquisition step on the interface screen as operation
content.
[0011] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a display control system comprising: an identification
information acquisition means for acquiring identification
information for identifying a user who uses a second device
communicably connected to a first device that can execute
predetermined processing to perform a predetermined relevant
operation concerning execution of the predetermined processing; an
operation determination means for determining whether there is any
uncompleted job among those for which the relevant operation has
started in the first device by the user whose identification
information has been acquired by the identification information
acquisition means; an operation history acquisition means for
acquiring information concerning the operation history in the
relevant operation for the uncompleted predetermined processing in
the case where it has been determined by the operation
determination means that there is any uncompleted predetermined
processing; a setting information acquisition means for acquiring
setting information concerning the display of an interface screen
corresponding to the user whose identification information has been
acquired by the identification information acquisition means; and a
screen control means for displaying the interface screen on the
second device based on the information acquired from the setting
information acquisition means and, at the same time, reflecting the
information acquired by the operation history acquisition means on
the interface screen as operation content.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of a display
control system according to an embodiment of the present invention,
including an image processing apparatus 11;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining the outline of
the image processing apparatus 11 according to the present
embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a functional block, diagram for explaining the
display control system according to the present embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of an interface screen
displayed on an interface screen 101 when image read processing
(scan preview processing) is performed in the image processing
apparatus 11;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of an interface screen
displayed on the interface screen 101 when data storage processing
is performed;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a view showing a state where an icon 702 has been
selected;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a view showing a pop-up window A displayed after
data has been stored in a temporary storage folder;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a view showing an example in which a window
notifying existence of temporary storage data has been displayed on
the interface screen displayed on a display 41a of the PC 41 based
on user's setting information;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a view showing an example in which the operating
condition shown in FIG. 5 has been reproduced on the display 41a of
the PC 41;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a view showing an example in which a screen
control section 205 uses "display setting in the case where a user
uses the PC 41" to display the interface screen; and
[0022] FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing
(display control method) performed in the display control system
according to the present embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Am embodiment of the present invention will be described
below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a view
showing a configuration of a display control system according to
the present embodiment, including an image processing apparatus 11.
In the display control system shown in FIG. 1, image processing
apparatuses 11 to 1n, a database 3, PCs (Personal Computers) 41 to
4n, and a server 5 are connected to each other through an electric
communication line such as the Internet 9 in a communicable
manner.
[0024] Although image processing apparatuses 11 to 1n, database 3,
PCs 41 to 4n, and server 5 are communicably connected to each other
through the Internet in this example, a wired or wireless LAN or
WAN may be used to connect them. A user can use the PCs 41 to 4n to
make various settings for image processing performed in the image
processing apparatuses 11 to 1n and to issue an instruction to
execute the image processing to the image processing apparatuses 11
to 1n. The instructions from the PCs 41 to 4n to the image
processing apparatuses 11 to 1n are made through drivers installed
in the respective PCs 41 to 4n. The database 3 serves as a storage
area for storing various setting information used by the PCs 41 to
4n.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining the outline of
the image processing apparatus 11 according to the present
embodiment. In this example, the image processing apparatus 11 is
an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral).
[0026] The image processing apparatus 11 according to the present
embodiment includes an interface screen 101, an ADF (Auto Document
Feeder) 102, an image reader section 103, a manual paper feeder
104, a paper feed cassette 105, an image forming section 106, an
authentication processing section 107, a CPU 801, and a MEMORY
802.
[0027] Operation of the image processing apparatus 11 according to
the present embodiment will be described below briefly. When copy
processing (predetermined image processing) is carried out using
the image processing apparatus 11, user authentication processing
is first performed in the authentication processing section 107.
Subsequently, based on an input operation of a user, who has been
authenticated through the authentication processing, to the
interface screen 101, a document set in the ADF 102 is
automatically fed toward a document read position in the image
reader section (image processing section) 103. The document fed in
this manner is read by the image reader section 103. Subsequently,
a paper is fed from the paper feed cassette 105 or manual paper
feeder 104 according to a paper feed setting selected based on the
use's input operation to the interface screen 101. The fed paper
then reaches the image forming section (image processing section)
106 and is subjected to image forming processing based on the image
read by the image reader section 103, and the copy processing is
completed.
[0028] The interface screen 101 is constituted by, e.g., a touch
panel display and serves also as an operation input section for
receiving a user's input operation made based on the content
displayed on the interface screen 101.
[0029] In the image processing apparatus 11, predetermined
processing such as "data transmission", "call up bookmark list",
"scan preview", "print", "data save", and "data call-up" can be
performed. Further, in the image processing apparatus 11, a
plurality of objects to be displayed such as characters or icons
corresponding to the abovementioned respective predetermined
processing are displayed on the interface screen 101. The term
"character" used here includes "symbol", and "icon" includes
"figure". Although the image processing apparatus according to the
present embodiment can display at least one of the character or
icon as the object to be displayed, the object to be displayed is
merely referred to as "icon" in the following description for the
sake of simplification. As an object to be processed by
predetermined processing performed in the image processing
apparatus 11, a document in a sheet form, a document in a book
form, and image data can be taken as an example.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram for explaining the
display control system according to the present embodiment. In the
present embodiment, the image processing apparatuses 11 to 1n have
the same configuration as each other, and PCs 41 to 4n have the
same configuration as each other. The display control system
according to the present embodiment can be realized by any of image
processing apparatuses 11 to 1n and any of PCs 41 to 4n, so that it
is assumed that the display control system includes only the image
processing apparatus 11 and PC 41 in the following description.
[0031] The display control system according to the present
embodiment is constituted by: the image processing apparatus 11
including an identification information acquisition section 201, an
operation determination section 202, a transmission section 206, a
CPU 801 and a MEMORY 802; and PC 41 including an operation history
acquisition section 203, a setting information acquisition section
204, a screen control section 205, a CPU 901 and a MEMORY 902. The
PC 41 further has a display 41a (see FIG. 1) that can display an
interface screen like the interface screen 101 in the image
processing apparatus 11.
[0032] The identification information acquisition section 201
acquires identification information for identifying a user who uses
the PC 41 (second device) communicably connected to the image
processing apparatus 11 (first device) that can execute
predetermined processing such as image read processing, image
forming processing, and copy processing to perform a predetermined
setting operation (relevant operation) concerning execution of the
predetermined image processing. More specifically, when a user of
the PC 41 uses a driver to perform a setting operation for allowing
the image processing apparatus 11 to execute, e.g., print
processing, the identification information acquisition section 201
acquires through the network identification information concerning
the user based on login information of the PC 41 or login
information from the PC 41 to image processing apparatus 11.
[0033] The operation determination section 202 determines whether
there is any uncompleted job (processing that has been suspended)
among those for which the setting operation has started in the
first device by the user whose identification information has been
acquired by the identification information acquisition section 201.
The term "any uncompleted job among those for which the setting
operation has started" means a state where, although various
settings for, e.g., copy processing such as "number of copies" or
"print density" have been made to the image processing apparatus
11, the setting operation has been suspended before start of the
copy processing.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of an interface screen
displayed on the interface screen 101 when image read processing
(scan preview processing) is performed in the image processing
apparatus 11. On the interface screen shown in FIG. 4, icons that
indicate detailed setting items concerning the scan preview
processing are arranged in a circular ring-like icon display area,
and icons 601 to 606 concerning predetermined processing other than
the scan preview processing that can be executed in the image
processing apparatus 11 are arranged vertically on the right side
of the circular ring-like icon display area. A user makes an input
operation on the interface screen 101 of the image processing
apparatus 11 to start execution of the image read processing, and
an image of a document is read by the image reader section 103. In
FIG. 4, an image P of the document that has been read through the
image read processing performed by the image processing apparatus
11 is displayed in the innermost position of the multi-ringed icon
display area.
[0035] When the user wants to store the document that has been read
through the image read processing performed by the image processing
apparatus 11 in a desired storage area as image data, he or she
selects an icon 605 for switching a screen mode to a data storage
processing mode. FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of an
interface screen displayed on the interface screen 101 when the
data storage processing is performed. The user selects on this
screen an icon corresponding to his or her desired storage location
from icons 701 to 709 which represent a plurality of data storage
location candidates and stores the image data read through the
image read processing in a location corresponding to the selected
icon.
[0036] Assume that there is another user who has an urgent need to
use the image processing apparatus 11 in a state where the screen
of FIG. 5 is displayed. In this case, the user who is performing a
setting operation of the data storage processing (predetermined
processing in the first device) selects an icon 702 corresponding
to "temporary storage processing (predetermined data storage
operation executed before execution of predetermined processing)"
to temporarily store data to be stored in association with the
identification information of the user in a storage area provided
in the database 3. FIG. 6 is a view showing a state where the icon
702 has been selected. When the user selects the icon 702, a pop-up
window is displayed to indicate that the data to be stored has
temporarily been stored in a temporary storage folder in the
database 3. FIG. 7 is a view showing a pop-up window A displayed
after the data has been stored in the temporary storage folder. In
the case where the user's setting operation has been canceled in
the image processing apparatus 11, the transmission section 206
transmits operation log information concerning the setting
operation in association with the identification information of the
user (who has canceled the setting operation) to the database 3 or
PC 41.
[0037] The user who has allowed the another user having an urgent
task to use the image processing apparatus 11 as described above
can continue, on the PC 41, the setting operation of the data
storage processing that has been performed in the image processing
apparatus 11. The abovementioned acquisition of the user
identification information is acquired from ID information of a
user who has logged-in the PC 41 when the operation that has been
canceled is resumed as described above.
[0038] The operation history acquisition section 203 activates a
driver for controlling the image processing apparatus 11 from the
PC 41 so as to perform a desired setting operation. Then, in the
case where it has been determined by the operation determination
section 202 that there is any uncompleted processing (data storage
processing in the above example), the operation history acquisition
section 203 acquires information concerning the operation history
in the relevant operation for the uncompleted processing. The term
"information concerning the operation history in the relevant
operation for the uncompleted processing" used here means
information indicating the content of input information concerning
the setting operation required for execution of the predetermined
image processing, selection information concerning icons or
characters, screen scroll amount (information indicating which
portion of the display target area has been displayed by scrolling
the screen to the unseen display target area), and information
concerning zoom setting. In this example, the user performs the
temporary storage processing as an operation relevant to the data
storage processing, so that the operation history acquisition
section 203 acquires operation log information concerning the
temporary storage processing from the database 3 or image
processing apparatus 11.
[0039] Then, the setting information acquisition section 204
acquires from the database 3 setting information concerning the
display of the interface screen corresponding to the user whose
identification information has been acquired by the identification
information acquisition section 201. The setting information
acquired by the setting information acquisition section 204 is the
same as the setting information concerning the display of the
interface screen on the image processing apparatus 11 which
corresponds to the user whose identification information has been
acquired by the identification information acquisition section 201.
Further, the interface screens of the PC 41 and image processing
apparatus 11 are displayed in the same design. The term "setting
information concerning the display of the interface screen" used
here means information concerning a degree of highlight of objects
to be displayed such as icons or arrangement of icons on the
screen. Note that, the user identification information utilized for
acquisition of the information in the operation history acquisition
section 203 and setting information acquisition section 204 need
not be acquired from the image processing apparatus 11 but the
identification information acquired at the login time to the PC 41
may be utilized.
[0040] The screen control section 205 displays the interface screen
on the display 41a of the PC 41 based on the information acquired
from the setting information acquisition section 204 and, at the
same time, reflects the information acquired by the operation
history acquisition section 203 on the interface screen as
operation content.
[0041] Based on the setting information acquired as described
above, the screen control section 205 changes at least any of the
contents of characters, font thereof, line weight thereof, tilt
thereof, shape of figures, line weight, brightness, size, motion,
saturation, and contrast value to thereby highlight the objects to
be displayed.
[0042] Further, in the case where the user for which the operation
history has been acquired has performed data temporary storage
processing, the screen control section 205 performs a notification
N concerning the predetermined data storage operation on the
interface screen displayed on the display 41a of the PC 41 based on
the information acquired by the operation history acquisition
section 203. FIG. 8 is a view showing an example in which a window
notifying existence of the temporary storage data has been
displayed on the interface screen displayed on the display 41a of
the PC 41 based on user's setting information.
[0043] When the user selects a button icon "YES" for calling up
temporary storage data on the screen shown in FIG. 8, the screen
control section 205 displays the interface screen representing the
operating condition at the time when the data is temporarily
stored. FIG. 9 is a view showing an example in which the operating
condition shown in FIG. 5 has been reproduced on the display 41a of
the PC 41. The user can restore the temporary storage data in a
desired storage location without being influenced by another user's
urgent task. As described above, based on the information acquired
by the operation history acquisition section 203, the screen
control section 205 displays a notification for prompting the user
to access the data temporarily stored in the database 3
(predetermined storage area) on the interface screen displayed on
the display 41a of the PC 41.
[0044] Although the screen control section 205 uses the operating
condition and "display setting in the case where the user uses the
image processing apparatus 11" to display the interface screen in
the screen example shown in FIG. 9, the display method is not
limited to this. For example, the screen control section 205 may
use "display setting in the case where the user uses the PC 41" to
display the interface screen. The term "display setting in the case
where the user uses the image processing apparatus 11" means the
display setting on which, e.g., the frequency at which the user
selects a given icon on the image processing apparatus 11 is
reflected, and "display setting in the case where the user uses the
PC 41" means the display setting on which, e.g., the frequency at
which the user selects a given icon on the PC 41 is reflected. FIG.
10 is a view showing an example in which the screen control section
205 uses the "display setting in the case where the user uses the
PC 41" to display the interface screen.
[0045] The CPU 801 and CPU 901 have a role of performing various
processing in the image processing apparatus 11 and PC 41 and also
have a role of executing programs stored in the MEMORY 802 and
MEMORY 902 to implement various functions. The MEMORY 802 and
MEMORY 902, which are each constituted by a RAM or ROM, have a role
of storing various information or programs used in the image
processing apparatus 11 and PC 41.
[0046] FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing
(display control method) performed in the display control system
according to the present embodiment.
[0047] The identification information acquisition section 201
acquires identification information for identifying a user who uses
the PC 41 (second device) communicably connected to the image
processing apparatus 11 (first device) that can execute
predetermined processing to perform a predetermined relevant
operation concerning execution of the predetermined image
processing (identification information acquisition step) (S101).
The term "predetermined relevant operation concerning execution of
predetermined image processing" means a setting operation
concerning execution of predetermined image processing.
[0048] Further, as a relevant operation concerning the
predetermined image processing performed in the image processing
apparatus 11, a predetermined data storage operation to be
performed ahead of execution of the predetermined image processing
can be taken. The term "predetermined storage operation" used here
is an operation to store data to be stored in a predetermined
storage area corresponding to a user whose identification
information has been acquired by the identification information
acquisition step.
[0049] The operation determination section 202 determines whether
there is any uncompleted job among those for which the relevant
operation has started in the image processing apparatus 11 by the
user whose identification information has been acquired by the
identification information acquisition step (operation
determination step) (S102).
[0050] Then, in the case where it has been determined by the
operation determination step that there is any uncompleted
predetermined image processing, the operation history acquisition
section 203 acquires information concerning the operation history
in the relevant operation for the uncompleted predetermined image
processing (operation history acquisition step) (S103). The
operation history acquisition section 203 can also acquire
information concerning the operation history in the data storage
operation that the user whose identification information has been
acquired by the identification information acquisition step
performs on the image processing apparatus.
[0051] The setting information acquisition section 204 acquires
setting information concerning the display of the interface screen
101 corresponding to the user whose identification information has
been acquired by the identification information acquisition step
(setting information acquisition step) (S104). The term "setting
information" used here means information concerning a degree of
highlight of objects to be displayed on the interface screen. The
setting information acquired by the setting information acquisition
step is the same as the setting information concerning the display
of the interface screen 101 on the image processing apparatus 11
which corresponds to the user whose identification information has
been acquired by the identification information acquisition step.
The objects to be displayed used here include characters or
icons.
[0052] The screen control section 205 displays the interface screen
on the PC 41 based on the information acquired from the setting
information acquisition step and, at the same time, reflects the
information acquired by the operation history acquisition step on
the interface screen as operation content (screen control step)
(S105). Further, in the screen control step, based on the
information acquired by the operation history acquisition step, a
notification for prompting a user to access data stored in a
predetermined storage area is displayed on the interface screen on
the PC 41. Further, in the screen control step, based on the
setting information acquired by the setting information acquisition
step, at least any of the contents of characters, font thereof,
line weight thereof, tilt thereof, shape of figures, line weight,
brightness, size, motion, saturation, and contrast value is changed
to thereby highlight the objects to be displayed.
[0053] The above respective steps in the processing performed in
the display control system are realized by the CPU 801 and CPU 901
executing a display control program stored in the MEMORY 802 and
MEMORY 902.
[0054] In the embodiment, there has been explained the case where
the function for implementing the present invention is previously
stored inside the apparatus, but the present invention is not
limited thereto, and a similar function may be downloaded from the
network into the apparatus or a recording medium on which a similar
function is stored is installed in the apparatus. The recording
medium may be any form of recording medium such as CD-ROM which can
store programs and is readable by the apparatus. The function which
can be previously obtained through installing or downloading may be
realized in cooperation with the OS (operating system) inside the
apparatus.
[0055] As described above, according to the present embodiment,
even in the case where an operation performed on the image
processing apparatus needs to be interrupted, it is possible to
quickly access stored data from the PC when resuming the
interrupted operation on the PC 41 side without consciousness of
the location of data temporarily stored. Further, the interface
screen of a printer driver of the image processing apparatus 11 and
that of the PC 41 are made in the same design, thus maintaining
operational consistency between the image processing apparatus 11
and PC 11 and enhancing operability thereof.
[0056] In the case where a plurality of documents have been scanned
in the image processing apparatus 11 and thereby there exist a
plurality of temporarily stored data, thumbnails and file names
respectively corresponding to the plurality of temporarily stored
data are displayed on the screen of the PC, which allows a user to
select a desired data based on the thumbnails and the like.
[0057] Although the exemplary embodiment of the present invention
has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those having
ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications,
or alternations to the invention as described herein may be made
within the spirit of the present invention.
[0058] As has been described above in detail, according to the
present invention, it is possible to provide a technique capable of
reducing time period during which an apparatus to be shared by a
plurality of users is occupied by a specified user performing a
setting operation and contributing to an improvement in operability
and working efficiency.
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