Image forming apparatus capable of customizing operation screen based on personal setting information and method for controlling image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9596382-B2
Application number	US-201514747154-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2015
Priority date	Jun 24, 2014
Publication date	Mar 14, 2017
Grant date	Mar 14, 2017

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an obtaining unit that obtains personal setting information about a user who logs into the image forming apparatus from a server apparatus and a display control unit that controls a display unit to display a customized operation screen customized for the user based on the obtained personal setting information. If the personal setting information has been obtained from the server apparatus within a predetermined time, the customized operation screen is displayed. If the personal setting information has been obtained from the server apparatus after the predetermined time elapses, the customized operation screen is not displayed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a memory device that stores a set of instructions; and
at least one processor that executes the instructions to:
input user information for identifying a user;
obtain, from the server apparatus, personal setting information corresponding to the inputted user information;
display, in a case where first personal setting information of a first type has been obtained from the server apparatus within a predetermined time corresponding to the first personal setting information, an operation screen by using the obtained first personal setting information;
display, in a case where the first personal setting information has not been obtained from the server apparatus within the predetermined time, an operation screen by using cache information corresponding to the inputted user information, the cache information being stored in the image forming apparatus before an obtaining of the personal setting information; and
display, without depending on whether the predetermined time has elapsed to obtain second personal setting information of a second type from the server apparatus, an operation screen by using the obtained second personal setting information.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first personal setting information is information relating to display language.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to:
notify the server apparatus of a synchronization time indicating a time when the personal setting information about a logged in user has been synchronized between the image forming apparatus and the server apparatus,
wherein at least one of the first personal setting information and the second personal setting information is information updated by the server apparatus at time later than a latest notified synchronization time.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to:
inquire of the server apparatus whether personal setting information about a corresponding user is present in the server apparatus under at least a condition that an instruction to connect to the server apparatus is received, and
upload the personal setting information about the user to the server apparatus if a result of the inquiry indicates that the personal setting information about the user is not present in the server apparatus.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first or second personal setting information is information of a screen to be displayed initially after login processing.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a printer that prints an image on a sheet, wherein the first or second personal setting information is information relating to a print setting performed by the printer.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first personal setting information obtained from the server apparatus after a laps of the predetermined time, is stored in the image forming apparatus as the cache information.

8. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server apparatus, the method comprising:
inputting user information, into the image forming apparatus, for identifying a user;
obtaining, from the server apparatus, personal setting information corresponding to the inputted user information;
displaying, in a case where first personal setting information of a first type has been obtained from the server apparatus within a predetermined time corresponding to the first personal setting information, an operation screen by using the obtained first personal setting information;
displaying, in a case where the first personal setting information has not been obtained from the server apparatus within the predetermined time, an operation screen by using cache information corresponding to the inputted user information, the cache information being stored in the image forming apparatus before an obtaining of the personal setting information; and
displaying, without depending on whether the predetermined time has elapsed to obtain second personal setting information of a second type from the server apparatus, an operation screen by using the obtained second personal setting information.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that cause at least one processor of an image processing apparatus to execute a method for controlling an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server apparatus, the method comprising:
inputting user information, into the image forming apparatus, for identifying a user;
obtaining, from the server apparatus, personal setting information corresponding to the inputted user information;
displaying, in a case where first personal setting information of a first type has been obtained from the server apparatus within a predetermined time corresponding to the first personal setting information, an operation screen by using the obtained first personal setting information;
displaying, in a case where the first personal setting information has not been obtained from the server apparatus within the predetermined time, an operation screen by using cache information corresponding to the inputted user information, the cache information being stored in the image forming apparatus before an obtaining of the personal setting information; and
displaying, without depending on whether the predetermined time has elapsed to obtain second personal setting information of a second type from the server apparatus, an operation screen by using the obtained second personal setting information.

10. An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a memory device that stores a set of instructions; and
at least one processor that executes the instructions to:
input user information for identifying a user;
notify the server apparatus of a synchronization time indicating a time when personal setting information about a user identified by the inputted user information has been synchronized between the image forming apparatus and the server apparatus;
obtain, from the server apparatus, personal setting information corresponding to the inputted user information;
display, in a case where first personal setting information has been obtained from the server apparatus within a predetermined time corresponding to the first personal setting information, an operation screen by using the obtained first personal setting information;
display, in a case where the first personal setting information has not been obtained from the server apparatus within the predetermined time, an operation screen by using cache information corresponding to the inputted user information, the cache information being stored in the image forming apparatus before an obtaining of the personal setting information,
wherein the first personal setting information is information updated by the server apparatus at time later than a latest notified synchronization time.

11. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with a server apparatus, the method comprising:
inputting user information for identifying a user;
notifying the server apparatus of a synchronization time indicating a time when personal setting information about a user identified by the inputted user information has been synchronized between the image forming apparatus and the server apparatus;
obtaining, from the

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Maeda Ryo
• Kirihata Daiji

Classifications

• H04N1/00506

  Customising to the data to be displayed · CPC title

• H04N1/4426 Primary

  involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card · CPC title

• H04N1/00514 Primary

  for individual users · CPC title

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title

• H04N1/4406

  Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity (mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08) · CPC title