US 12,474,876 B2Granted

System including first device copying shortcut information to portable memory, and second device performing shortcut related process based on the shortcut information stored in the portable memory

AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorYutaka Urakawa

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Abstract

A system includes first and second image forming devices including first and second controllers respectively. The first controller displays a shortcut icon on the basis of shortcut information. The shortcut information specifies that an image formation process and a settings value thereof are associated with a shortcut icon. In response to receiving an operation on the shortcut icon, the controller controls a first image formation engine to perform an image formation process specified in the shortcut information using the settings value specified in the shortcut information. In response to receiving an instruction, the first controller copies the shortcut information to the portable memory so that the portable memory stores copied shortcut information. After the portable memory is mounted on the second image forming device, the second controller performs a shortcut process related to the copied shortcut information.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a first image forming device;
and
a second image forming device,
wherein the first image forming device includes:
a first user interface;
a first memory interface to which a portable memory can be detachably mounted;
a first image formation engine configured to form an image;
and
a first controller,
wherein the second image forming device includes:
a second user interface;
a second memory interface to which the portable memory can be detachably mounted;
a second image formation engine configured to form an image;
and
a second controller,
wherein the first controller is configured to perform:
an image formation process to form an image using the first image formation engine;
displaying a shortcut icon on the basis of a piece of shortcut information on the first user interface, the piece of shortcut information specifying an image formation process and a settings value for the image formation process, the piece of shortcut information further specifying that the image formation process and the settings value are associated with the shortcut icon;
in response to receiving an operation on the shortcut icon, controlling the first image formation engine to perform the image formation process specified in the piece of shortcut information using the settings value specified in the piece of shortcut information;
and
in response to receiving an instruction via the first user interface, copying the piece of shortcut information to the portable memory mounted to the first memory interface so that the portable memory stores a copied piece of shortcut information,
wherein the second controller is configured to perform:
an image formation process to form an image using the second image formation engine;
and
after the portable memory is mounted to the second memory interface, a shortcut process related to the copied piece of shortcut information,
wherein the second controller is configured to further perform:
controlling the second user interface to display a first home screen including an m×n matrix area including icon areas arranged in an m×n matrix to define m rows and n columns, m and n being natural numbers, an icon being capable of being arranged in each of the icon areas, an icon associated with an image formation process being arranged in at least one of the icon areas in the first home screen;
in response to receiving an operation on the icon in the first home screen, the image formation process associated with the icon and thereafter redisplaying the first home screen;
after the shortcut process is complete, a displaying process to display on the second user interface a second home screen in which a shortcut icon specified by the copied piece of shortcut information is arranged;
and
in response to receiving an operation on the shortcut icon displayed on the second home screen, the image formation process specified by the copied piece of shortcut information with the settings value specified by the copied piece of shortcut information.

28 more elements

An image forming device comprising:

a user interface;
a memory interface to which a portable memory can be detachably mounted;
an image formation engine configured to form an image;
and
a controller,
wherein the controller is configured to perform:
an image formation process to form an image using the image formation engine;
displaying a shortcut icon on the basis of a piece of shortcut information on the user interface, the piece of shortcut information specifying an image formation process and a settings value for the image formation process, the piece of shortcut information further specifying that the image formation process and the settings value are associated with the shortcut icon;
in response to receiving an operation on the shortcut icon, controlling the image formation engine to perform the image formation process specified in the piece of shortcut information using the settings value specified in the piece of shortcut information;
and
after the portable memory storing a copied piece of shortcut information is mounted to the memory interface, a shortcut process related to the copied piece of shortcut information, the copied piece of shortcut information being a copy of the piece of shortcut information,
wherein the controller is configured to further perform:
controlling the user interface to display a first home screen including an m×n matrix area including icon areas arranged in an m×n matrix to define m rows and n columns, m and n being natural numbers, an icon being capable of being arranged in each of the icon areas, an icon associated with an image formation process being arranged in at least one of the icon areas in the first home screen;
in response to receiving an operation on the icon in the first home screen, the image formation process associated with the icon and thereafter redisplaying the first home screen;
after the shortcut process is complete, a displaying process to display on the user interface a second home screen in which a shortcut icon specified by the copied piece of shortcut information is arranged;
and
in response to receiving an operation on the shortcut icon displayed on the second home screen, the image formation process specified by the copied piece of shortcut information with the settings value specified by the copied piece of shortcut information.

14 more elements

An image forming device comprising:

a user interface;
a memory interface to which a portable memory can be detachably mounted;
an image formation engine configured to form an image;
and
a controller,
wherein the controller is configured to perform:
an image formation process to form an image using the image formation engine;
displaying a shortcut icon on the basis of a piece of shortcut information on the user interface, the piece of shortcut information specifying an image formation process and a settings value for the image formation process, the piece of shortcut information further specifying that the image formation process and the settings value are associated with the shortcut icon;
in response to receiving an operation on the shortcut icon, controlling the image formation engine to perform the image formation process specified in the piece of shortcut information using the settings value specified in the piece of shortcut information;
and
in response to receiving an instruction via the user interface, copying the piece of shortcut information to the portable memory mounted to the memory interface so that the portable memory stores a copied piece of shortcut information,
wherein in a case that the instruction, which is issued through a special operation performed on the piece of shortcut information, is received via the user interface while the portable memory is mounted to the memory interface, the copying the piece of shortcut information to the portable memory is performed,
wherein the controller is configured to further perform:
editing the piece of shortcut information in a case that the portable memory is not mounted to the memory interface and the special operation is performed on the shortcut icon.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/616,290Filed 26 Mar 2024 · continuation
Priority: JP 2022-13794831 Aug 2022
Published: US 2024/0069816 A111 Jul 2024
Granted: 18 Nov 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G06F 3/1204
Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management: resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic…
G06F 3/04817
Based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like…:…
G06F 3/1257
Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client: by using pre-stored settings, e.g. job templates, presets, print styles
H04N 1/00503
Tailoring a user interface [UI] to specific requirements: customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application

Family

Application18/453,402Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Aug 2023
US 2024/0231711 A1Pre-grant publication · published 11 Jul 2024
US 11,989,463 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2024/0069816 A1Published application
US 12,474,876 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.