IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

An image-forming apparatus includes a database storing a layout template made up of containers, each representing a display area for a part of a user interface (UI). The user interface is configured by embedding display content in each container of the layout template in the database. On the occurrence of an event for changing arrangement of the user interface, the user interface is reconfigured by calculating arrangement of each container according to the size of the display content in one of the containers and embedding the display content in each container subjected to the calculation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image-forming system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a core unit in the embodiment;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams of a software configuration of a control program in the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an exemplary user interface for a web print application in the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a software configuration of a dynamic layout application in the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an exemplary layout template in the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example in which a component has been inserted into the layout template in the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing exemplary coordinate information about the layout template in the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an exemplary attribute table for the layout template in the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing exemplary components to be inserted into the layout template in the embodiment;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams showing exemplary results of arranging each container in the layout template in the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an exemplary communication sequence in an application level between an information processing apparatus and an image-forming apparatus in the embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing operations of the web print application in the embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing operations of the dynamic layout application in the embodiment; and

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an exemplary UI in which an announcement of network stop as a variable character string is displayed at the bottom of an application display area.

Claims

1. An image-forming apparatus in which a user interface is configured on an operation unit in response to execution of an application, comprising: a storage unit adapted to store a layout template made up of containers, each representing a display area for a part of the user interface;a configuration unit adapted to configure the user interface by embedding display content in each container of the layout template;a calculation unit adapted to calculate arrangement of each container according to the size of the display content in one of the containers on the occurrence of an event for changing arrangement of the user interface; anda reconfiguration unit adapted to reconfigure the user interface by embedding the display content in each container subjected to the calculation by said calculation unit.

2. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a moving range is set for each side of each container in the layout template, and said calculation unit calculates the arrangement of each container within the moving range for the container.

3. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the order of priority in calculation by said calculation unit is further given to each container in the layout template, and the one of the containers is set to first priority.

4. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image of a variable size is placed in the one of the containers.

5. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image is a preview image of a document.

6. The image-forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a character string to be displayed with a variable number of characters or lines is placed in the one of the containers.

7. A method for controlling an image-forming apparatus in which a user interface is configured on an operation unit in response to execution of an application, comprising the steps of: configuring the user interface by embedding display content in each container of a layout template made up of containers, each representing a display area for a part of the user interface;calculating arrangement of each container according to the size of the display content in one of the containers on the occurrence of an event for changing arrangement of the user interface; andreconfiguring the user interface by embedding the display content in each container subjected to the calculation.

8. A computer program for controlling an image-forming apparatus including a computer executing the program, and an operation unit on which a user interface is configured, the program comprising code for performing the following steps: configuring the user interface by embedding display content in each container of a layout template, the layout template being a pattern of arrangement of the user interface made up of containers, each representing a display area for a part of the user interface;calculating arrangement of each container according to the size of the display content in one of the containers on the occurrence of an event for changing arrangement of the user interface; andreconfiguring the user interface by embedding the display content in each container subjected to the calculation.

9. An image-forming system comprising an image-forming apparatus in which a user interface is configured on an operation unit in response to execution of an application, and an information processing apparatus communicatively connected with said image-forming apparatus, said information processing apparatus comprising:a storage unit adapted to store a layout template made up of containers, each representing a display area for a part of the user interface; anda first transmission unit adapted to transmit coordinate information about each container in the layout template to said image-forming apparatus, andsaid image-forming apparatus comprising:a configuration unit adapted to configure the user interface by embedding display content in areas specified by the coordinate information received from said information processing apparatus; anda second transmitting unit adapted to transmit, to said information processing apparatus, identification information about containers to be changed in the configured user interface, and size information about the display content in the containers to be changed, andsaid information processing apparatus further comprising:a changing unit adapted to change arrangement of each container according to the identification information and the size information received from said image-forming apparatus; anda third transmission unit adapted to transmit arrangement information about each changed containers to said image-forming apparatus, andsaid image-forming apparatus further comprisinga reconfiguration unit adapted to reconfigure the user interface by embedding the display content according to the arrangement information about each containers received from said information processing apparatus.