Building dynamic user interfaces based on interactive query of device and workflow capabilities

A document processing device user interface method having functional controls specified by device attribute querying, comprising:

• querying a plurality of document processing device components in order to obtain operational characteristics, including the functional capabilities, for each of a plurality of document processing device components, the document processing device components including a scanner and a rendering engine;
• receiving the operational characteristics of each of the plurality of document processing device components;
• receiving, via a user interface, an initial document processing operation selection corresponding to a selected document processing operation identified by the operational characteristics, the initial document processing operation selected from the group comprising printing, copying, scanning, emailing or sending via facsimile a document;
• displaying indicia, on the user interface, corresponding to functional controls identified by the operational characteristics associated with the initial document processing operation selection;
• receiving a secondary document processing operation selection corresponding to at least one indicia on the user interface;
• and
• commencing a document processing operation in response to receipt of the initial document processing operation selection and the secondary document processing selection via the user interface.

A document processing device user interface system having functional controls specified by device attribute querying, comprising:

• querying means for generating a query to a plurality of components associated with a document processing device;
• means for receiving device information data corresponding to operational characteristics of each of the plurality of components in response to the query;
• a user interface including a display and data input;
• means for receiving, via the user interface, a selection of a selected document processing operation for completion by the document processing device, the document processing operation selected from the group comprising printing, copying, scanning, emailing or sending via facsimile a document;
• means for generating indicia on the user interface corresponding to controls of a subset of the plurality of components in response to the receipt of the selection;
• means for receiving secondary selection data corresponding to at least one indicia on the user interface, the secondary selection data indicating a subsidiary setting associated with the document processing operation;
• and
• control means for commencing the selected document processing operation in accordance with the secondary selection data.