Device and program for keyboard management

Abstract

A keyboard management method, program product, and system for switching display of keyboards supporting multiple languages for MFPs. An inner keyboard data memory unit stores in advance keyboard data and font data to be displayed on a display panel associated with the keyboard data. An external keyboard data memory unit stores additional keyboard data and additional font data to be displayed associated with the additional keyboard data. An additional keyboard registration control unit controls registration of the additional keyboard data and the additional font data to the external keyboard data memory unit. A display keyboard creation unit creates display keyboard data from keyboard data selected from the internal or external keyboard data memory unit and font data associated with key locations of the selected keyboard data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a conventional image forming device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of a keyboard management device of the present invention on a MFP.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the panel control unit of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating an additional display keyboard (English) example.

FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating an additional display keyboard (German) example.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating an additional display keyboard (Russian) example.

Claims

1. A keyboard management device comprising: a first keyboard data memory unit for storing keyboard layout data and font data to be displayed associated with key locations of the keyboard layout data;a second keyboard data memory unit for storing additional keyboard layout data and additional font data to be displayed associated with key locations of the additional keyboard layout data;an additional keyboard registration control unit for controlling registration of the additional keyboard layout data and the additional font data to the second keyboard data memory unit;and a display keyboard creation unit for, based on an instruction, selecting the keyboard from the first and/or the second keyboard data memory unit(s), and creating display keyboard data from the selected keyboard layout data and font data associated with key locations of the selected keyboard layout data.

2. The keyboard management device of claim 1, further comprising: a modification control unit for, based on an instruction, altering the font data in the first and/or the second keyboard data memory unit(s) to be displayed associated with the key locations of the selected keyboard layout data and controlling output of the altered data to the display keyboard creation unit.

3. The keyboard management device of claim 1, further comprising: a modification control unit for, based on an instruction, modifying a part of the selected keyboard layout data and controlling output of the modified data to the display keyboard creation unit.

4. The keyboard management device of claim 1, wherein: the additional keyboard registration control unit controls registration of additional keyboard layout data and additional font data for a plurality of languages.

5. The keyboard management device of claim 2, wherein: the additional keyboard registration control unit controls registration of additional keyboard layout data and additional font data for a plurality of languages.

6. The keyboard management device of claim 3, wherein: the additional keyboard registration control unit controls registering of additional keyboard layout data and additional font data for a plurality of languages.

7. A program for causing a computer, with respect to a keyboard-layout-data- and font-data-management and -control device that stores and manages keyboard layout data and font data to be displayed associated with key locations of the keyboard layout data at the first keyboard data memory unit, to perform the method steps of: memory processing for storing additional keyboard layout data and additional font data to be displayed associated with key locations of the keyboard layout data to the second keyboard data memory unit; anddisplay keyboard creation processing for, based on an instruction, selecting the keyboard layout data from the first and second keyboard data memory unit, and creating display keyboard data from the selected keyboard layout data and font data associated with key locations of the keyboard layout data.

8. The program of claim 7, further comprising: a modification control unit for, based on an instruction, altering the font data in the first and/or the second keyboard data memory unit(s) to be displayed associated with the key locations of the selected keyboard layout data and controlling output of the altered data to the display keyboard creation unit.

9. The program of claim 7, further comprising: a modification control unit for, based on an instruction, modifying a part of the selected keyboard layout data and controlling output of the modified data to the display keyboard creation unit.

10. The program of claim 7, wherein: the additional keyboard registration control unit controls registration of additional keyboard layout data and additional font data for a plurality of languages.

11. A method for managing a keyboard, comprising: memory processing for storing additional keyboard layout data and additional font data to be displayed associated with key locations of the keyboard layout data to the second keyboard data memory unit; anddisplay keyboard creation processing for, based on an instruction, selecting the keyboard layout data from the first and second keyboard data memory unit, and creating display keyboard data from the selected keyboard layout data and font data associated with key locations of the keyboard layout data.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: a modification control unit for, based on an instruction, altering the font data in the first and/or the second keyboard data memory unit(s) to be displayed associated with the key locations of the selected keyboard layout data and controlling output of the altered data to the display keyboard creation unit.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: a modification control unit for, based on an instruction, modifying a part of the selected keyboard layout data and controlling output of the modified data to the display keyboard creation unit.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein: the additional keyboard registration control unit controls registration of additional keyboard layout data and additional font data for a plurality of languages.