Electrophotography – Machine operation – Operator interface
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-22
2002-07-16
Chen, Sophia S. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Machine operation
Operator interface
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06421509
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information display system capable of simultaneously displaying a multiple number of frames, and in particular relates to an information display system for an information processing apparatus which, when the apparatus has been previously reserved for a multiple number of information processing jobs, can effect the reserved information processing jobs.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
There have been image processing apparatus which have a display unit (e.g., dot matrix display device) capable of displaying not only numeric characters and symbols, but also Japanese syllabaries, Chinese characters, alphabet and other images. The display unit in such an image processing apparatus is adapted to be able to display the status frame (status confirmation frame) for showing the status of the information processing apparatus and an input setup frame (instruction input frame) with which the processing conditions and processing method are designated. Since these frames can be displayed, it is possible to perform smooth input of the conditions and it is possible for the user to confirm the status of the information processing apparatus, i.e., the contents of the processing job being currently executed and the contents of the processing jobs which are not currently being executed but have been reserved, in a list form.
As an example of techniques of this kind, those disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Hei 8 No.194588 (will be mentioned as prior art 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Hei 10 No.32664 (will be mentioned as prior art 2) can be referred to.
Prior art 1 is to provide a printer and printing job display method which can present the processing status of printing jobs and processing result at any time it is requested by the user and allows the user to readily check what order in the queue of jobs the wanted print job is located. This printer includes a job display control means for displaying on the display individual job information of the print data files sequentially input and the status information of the print result corresponding to each job. This job display control means is adapted to display on the display the list of a predetermined number, dependent upon the display capacity, of the latest job information and the status information of print results, in accordance with the display request.
Prior art 2 is to perform total management of a variety of jobs in an image forming system connected to a network so as to realize efficient use of the image forming system. This image forming system manages the data concerning the system status and the jobs received thereby and displays them on the display means. In this system, the name of the user who has requested the designated job or other information is displayed so as to allow change of the output order and/or other job settings or cancellation of a job by means of key input control.
However, it is impossible for the conventional display means including the above prior arts 1 and 2 to have a large display area because of the structure of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, either the status confirmation frame or the instruction input frame is displayed by switching the display from one to the other as appropriate. When the status needs to be checked, the status confirmation frame is displayed on the display screen while the instruction input frame is displayed when instructions of the conditions and setup etc. are given. That is, the content on the display screen must be completely changed over.
In this case, when many pieces of status information should be handled as in an information processing apparatus connected to a network, or when the information processing apparatus is of a composite type (multi-functional type) which has multiple functions and hence needs to be provided with setup data and instructions of conditions for each function, it is difficult for the user to remember the information displayed on the previously displayed frame, posing the problem of a hold up during the input, etc. of new instructions.
For example, an information processing apparatus which handles multiple pieces of information received via a number of input interfaces via networks, may be supplied with new pieces of information (commands of new processing jobs) after the status of the information processing apparatus has been checked through the status confirmation frame whilst continuing the processing in accordance with the content of the received information. Therefore, in order to realize the grasp of the certain processing job and the inputting of the instruction for the user, the information processing apparatus of this kind needs to continuously provide the user with new information (the progress status of the processing job) so that the user is able to readily access the latest information.
However, as to the conventional information processing apparatus, there is a limit to the frame size of the display means as stated above, so that the status confirmation frame and the instruction input frame should be totally switched from one to the other. As a result, it has been impossible for the user to check the latest information and grasp the status of the information processing apparatus at the same time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised in order to solve the above problems, and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an information display system and image forming apparatus, which are incorporated in an information processing apparatus capable of having multiple information processing tasks to be reserved and executing the reserved information processing tasks and which can display the contents (information outlines) of the multiple frames on the display area, even though it is limited, to provide the user with the displayed information at the same time.
In order to achieve the above object, according to one feature of the present invention, an information display system capable of displaying multiple frames is characterized in that when a subsequent frame is overlaid on a preceding frame, a summary display area that presents the summary of the information displayed in the preceding frame is displayed along with the subsequent frame. According to the present invention having the above feature, even with the subsequent frame displayed, a summary display area that presents the summary of the information displayed in the preceding frame is displayed along with the subsequent frame. Therefore, even with the subsequent frame displayed, it is possible to grasp the content of the preceding frame which is hidden by the subsequent frame. Thus, it is possible to easily grasp the total status of image information being displayed.
The present invention of the above configuration is further characterized in that the preceding frame has as part thereof the summary display area that presents the summary of the information displayed in the frame thereof and when the subsequent frame is displayed, the latter frame is overlaid on-the preceding frame while the summary display area is kept as the background as it is. According to the present invention having this feature, when the subsequent frame is displayed and overlaid on the preceding frame, the summary display area of the preceding frame is kept as the background as it is. Therefore, even with the subsequent frame displayed, it is possible to grasp the content of the preceding frame which is hidden by the subsequent frame. Thus, even when multiple images are displayed laid one over another, it is possible to easily grasp the total status of images being displayed.
The present invention according to each of the above configurations is further characterized in that the summary display area is enabled to disappear and can be displayed again. According to the present invention having this feature, since displaying the summary display area is meaningless if, for example the preceding frame does not have any substantial information displayed
Fukuda Kouki
Nomura Tatsuo
Okamoto Yuji
Okuda Mitsukazu
Yoshiura Syoichiro
Chen Sophia S.
Conlin David G.
Dike Bronstein, Roberts & Cushman IP Group, Edwards & Angell, LL
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
Tucker David A.
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