System and method for personalizing an electrical device interface

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to such systems and methods for personalizing an electrical device interface. In one arrangement, personalization involves presenting a variety of different default interface options to the user, the interfaces being configured to control operation of an electrical device, receiving selection of a default interface made by a user, and presenting the selected interface to the user. Several other examples of interface personalization are described in detail in this disclosure.

1 . A method comprising: 
 presenting a variety of different default interface options to a user, the default interface options each being associated with a default graphical user interface that comprises a plurality of interface commands that control operation of a separate electrical device that is one of a printer, a photocopier, a facsimile machine, a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral (MFP) device;    receiving selection of a default graphical user interface made by a user; and    presenting the selected default graphical user interface to the user.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interfaces vary in terms of aesthetics.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interfaces vary in terms of types of commands that are presented with the interfaces and therefore types of control over functionality of the separate electrical device.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the commands most prominently presented to the user with each graphical user interface pertain to a particular mode of operation of the separate electrical device.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the mode of operation comprises one of a business mode, a recreation mode, a children's mode, a visually impaired mode, and a physically impaired mode.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the mode of operation pertains to a skill level of the user using the separate electrical device.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising assigning particular graphical user interfaces to particular users such that interface personalization is provided on a user-by-user basis.  
   
   
       8 . A system comprising: 
 means for presenting a variety of different default interface options to a user, each interface option being associated with a graphical user interface that comprises a plurality of interface commands that control operation of a separate electrical device that is one of a printer, a photocopier, a facsimile machine, a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral (MFP) device;    means for receiving selection of a default graphical user interface made by a user; and    means for presenting the selected default graphical user interface to the user.    
   
   
       9 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A method comprising: 
 presenting to a user a plurality of different electrical device commands that can be added to a graphical user interface used to control a separate electrical device that is one of a printer, a photocopier, a facsimile machine, a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral (MFP) device to enable the user to manually create a personalized graphical user interface for the separate electrical device;    receiving user command selections; and    generating a personalized graphical user interface for use in controlling the separate electrical device, the graphical user interface being based upon the user command selections.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising receiving user selections as to interface aesthetics.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising storing the generated graphical user interface as an interface option that the user can select.  
   
   
       20 . A system comprising: 
 means for presenting to a user a plurality of different electrical device commands that can be added to a graphical user interface used to control a separate electrical device that is one of a printer, a photocopier, a facsimile machine, a scanner, and a multifunction peripheral (MFP) device to enable the user to manually create a personalized graphical user interface for the separate electrical device;    means for receiving user command selections; and    means for generating a personalized graphical user interface for use in controlling the separate electrical device, the graphical user interface being based upon the user command selections.    
   
   
       21 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein presenting the selected default graphical user interface to the user comprises presenting the default graphical user interface to the user with a display of a computer with which the user selected the default graphical user interface.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein presenting the selected default graphical user interface to the user comprises presenting the default graphical user interface to the user in a display of the separate electrical device.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the aesthetics comprise at least one of color schemes, sounds, and themes of the graphical user interfaces.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interfaces vary in terms of modes of operation of the separate electrical device.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the modes include a business mode focused on commands pertinent to document handling.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the modes include a recreation mode focused on commands pertinent to at least one of image processing, uploading, and emailing.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the modes include a children's mode that presents a graphical user interface that includes at least one of vibrant colors, fanciful shapes, and sounds that children may enjoy.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the children's mode removes one or more electrical device commands so as to limit the functionality of the separate electric device when the children's mode is active.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the modes include a visually-impaired mode that presents a graphical user interface that includes one or more of large fonts, oversized buttons, and a simplified layout absent of superfluous imagery.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the modes include a physically-impaired mode that presents a graphical user interface that includes oversized buttons and that applies modified criteria in registering selection of buttons.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the graphical user interfaces vary in terms of aesthetics.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the graphical user interfaces vary in terms of modes of operation of the separate electrical device.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the modes include a business mode focused on commands pertinent to document handling.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the modes include a recreation mode focused on commands pertinent to at least one of image processing, uploading, and emailing.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the modes include a children's mode that presents a graphical user interface that includes at least one of vibrant colors, fanciful shapes, and sounds that children may enjoy.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the children's mode removes one or more electrical device commands so as to limit the functionality of the separate electric device when the children's mode is active.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the modes include a visually-impaired mode that presents a graphical user interface that includes one or more of large fonts, oversized buttons, and a simplified layout absent of superfluous imagery.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the modes include a physically-impaired mode that presents a graphical user interface that includes oversized buttons and that applies modified criteria in registering selection of buttons.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the modes pertain to particular skill levels of the user in using the separate electrical device.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the means for presenting the selected default graphical user interface to the user comprise means for presenting the default graphical user interface to the user with a display of a computer with which the user selected the default graphical user interface.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the means for presenting the selected default graphical user interface to the user comprise means for presenting the default graphical user interface to the user in a display of the separate electrical device.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the interface aesthetics pertain to one or more of a color scheme, a default theme, and the position of the selected commands.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising means for receiving user selections as to interface aesthetics including one or more of a color scheme, a default theme, and the position of the selected commands.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising means for storing the generated user interface as an interface option that the user can select.