# US 12,086,490 B2 · Image forming apparatus generates folder to store data, appropriately controlling display a folder that satisfy a display condition, and folder display control method

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- Number: US 12,086,490 B2
- Document ID: US12086490B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/371,421
- Filed: 2023-09-21
- Published: 2024-04-18
- Granted: 2024-09-10
- Earliest claimed: 2022-10-17
- Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Mikiya Okada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12086490B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/127: {by using hot folders, e.g. folder for which print settings or print data management rules are set in advance}
- G06F 3/1205: {resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets}
- G06F 3/1222: {Increasing security of the print job}
- G06F 3/1238: {Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs}
- H04N 1/00424: {using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar}
- H04N 1/00946: {Details of actions associated with a hot folder}
- H04N 2201/0094: Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a controller, a storage that stores data, and an image former that forms an image, based on the data. The controller stores data received from an external apparatus, in an individual folder to which a name based on information on the external apparatus is assigned, enables settings for the individual folder, and displays, on a screen that displays the individual folder, the individual folder that is set to satisfy a display condition, regardless of whether or not data is stored in the individual folder.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus comprising:
a controller;
a storage that is capable of storing data; and
an image former that forms an image based on the data, wherein
the storage has an individual folder, and
the controller
stores, if the data has been received from an external apparatus, the data in the individual folder to which a name based on information on the external apparatus is assigned,
enables settings for the individual folder,
displays, on a screen that displays the individual folder, the individual folder that is set to satisfy a display condition, regardless of whether the data is stored in the individual folder, and
hides the individual folder from the screen in a case that the individual folder is an individual folder that does not satisfy a display condition and does not store the data.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the display condition is that a setting is performed to fixedly display the individual folder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the controller further fixedly displays the individual folder in a case that an operation of changing the name of the individual folder is performed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the storage further stores, for each user, a user folder for which the data is managed by the user, and
the controller further allows the individual folder to be movable to the user folder associated with the user when the individual folder is set to be fixedly displayed by the user.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the display condition is that a password is set for the individual folder.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the controller further displays the screen including a first area where the individual folder that is set to satisfy the display condition is displayed, and a second area where the individual folder that is not set to satisfy the display condition is displayed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the controller further groups and displays individual folders, including the individual folder, in which a part of the name is common.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
in a case that the data stored in the individual folder is displayed, the controller displays unprinted data in a mode different from a mode of printed data.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the controller further
authenticates a user, and
displays, on the screen, only the individual folder displayable to the authenticated user.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the external apparatus is a mobile phone, and
the controller further receives the data from the mobile phone, and generates the individual folder to which the name, based on information on the mobile phone, is assigned.

### Claim 11

A folder display control method comprising:
storing, if data has been received from an external apparatus, the data in an individual folder to which a name based on information on the external apparatus is assigned;
enabling settings for the individual folder;
displaying, on a screen that displays the individual folder, the individual folder that is set to satisfy a display condition, regardless of whether the data is stored in the individual folder; and
hiding the individual folder from the screen in a case that the individual folder is an individual folder that does not satisfy a display condition and does not store the data.