Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and executing a function designated from the plurality of functions includes a display device for displaying a function selection image allowing a user to designate any of the plurality of functions. The display device displays a first group of functions of which frequency of use is higher than a prescribed threshold value, and a second group of functions of which frequency of use is not higher than the threshold value, on mutually different function selection images, with a display item indicating that functions are displayed distinguished from each other. The image forming apparatus further includes: a designating device receiving a user input designating any of the plurality of functions displayed by the display device; and an image forming unit executing the function designated by the input received by the designating device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and executing a function designated from said plurality of functions, comprising:
 a display device displaying a function selection image allowing a user to designate any of said plurality of functions, said display device displaying a first group of functions of which frequency of use is higher than a prescribed threshold value, and a second group of functions of which frequency of use is not higher than said threshold value, on mutually different function selection images, with a display item indicating that functions are displayed distinguished from each other;   a designating device, connected to said display device, for receiving a user input designating any of the plurality of functions displayed by said display device;   an extracting unit for extracting, from the first group of functions, a function in the first group of functions to be moved to the second group of functions, while maintaining a function saved in the second group of functions prior to the extraction, in the second group of functions, when a predetermined condition is met; and   an image forming unit, connected to said designating device, for executing the function designated by the input received by said designating device.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said display item includes a UI component allowing transition from the function selection image displaying functions of said first group to the function selection image displaying functions of said second group. 
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a changing device changing, when a function belonging to said second group is designated on said function selection image by said designating device, a manner of display of said display device to have the function displayed together with the functions belonging to said first group.   
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said display device displays said plurality of functions, with higher priority to the functions of said first group than the functions of said second group. 
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said display device includes a device controlling menu transition such that the function selection image of the functions belonging to said second group can be reached only after the function selection image of the functions belonging to said first group is reached. 
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a changing device changing, when any of the functions belonging to said second group is designated by said designating device, a manner of display of said display device to have the function displayed together with the functions belonging to said first group.   
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a changing device changing, when any of the functions belonging to said second group is designated by said designating device, a manner of display of said display device to have the function displayed together with the functions belonging to said first group.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 said changing device includes a restoring device for determining, when a function belonging to said second group is designated by said designating device, whether or not predetermined restore conditions are satisfied, and restoring said function to said first group or maintaining said function in said second group depending on the result of determination; and   said restore conditions relate to the number of designations of said function by said designating device.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an authentication device for authentication of a user who uses said image forming apparatus; wherein   said changing device includes a restoring device for determining, when a function belonging to said second group is designated by said designating device, whether or not predetermined restore conditions are satisfied, and restoring the function to said first group or maintaining said function in said second group depending on the result of determination; and   said restore conditions relate to the user who designated said function using said designating device.   
     
     
         10 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an authentication device for authentication of a user who uses said image forming apparatus; wherein   said changing device includes a restoring device, when a function belonging to said second group is designated by said designating device, for restoring the function to said first group or maintaining the function in said second group based on predetermined restore conditions; and   said restore conditions require that either a condition related to the number of designations of said function by a specific user using said designating device or a condition related to the number of designations of said function by unspecified users using said designating device is satisfied.   
     
     
         11 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a confirming device receiving, when a function belonging to said second group is designated by said designating device, a confirmation input of a user approval on movement of said function to said first group; wherein   said changing device includes a function moving device moving, when the confirmation input is received by the confirming device, the function designated by said designating device to said first group.   
     
     
         12 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a history storage device storing a history of designation of said plurality of functions by said designating device;   a frequency calculating device calculating, in accordance with the history stored in said history storage device, frequency of designation of each of the functions belonging to said first group in a prescribed time period; and   an auto saving device saving any function belonging to said first group of which frequency calculated by said frequency calculating device is not higher than said threshold value to said second group.   
     
     
         13 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein
 a hierarchical structure is defined among said plurality of functions;   said display device makes transition of functions displayed on said function selection image in accordance with said hierarchical structure; and   when a function belonging to said first group is saved to said second group, said auto saving device saves a function belonging to a lower layer of said function in said hierarchical structure to said second group, maintaining the hierarchical structure between said function and the function belonging to the lower layer of said function.   
     
     
         14 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is met when the function in the first group of functions is not used for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         15 . In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and executing a function designated from said plurality of functions, a method of displaying a function selection image, comprising the steps of:
 displaying a function selection image allowing a user to designate any of said plurality of functions, said display step displaying a first group of functions of which frequency of use is higher than a prescribed threshold value, and a second group of functions of which frequency of use is not higher than said threshold value, on mutually different function selection images, with a display item indicating that functions are displayed distinguished from each other;   receiving a user input designating any of the plurality of functions displayed at said display step;   extracting, from the first group of functions, a function to be moved to the second group of functions, while maintaining a function saved in the second group of functions prior to the extraction, in the second group of functions, when a predetermined condition is met; and   executing the function designated by the input received at said receiving step and forming an image on a recording medium.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein
 said display item includes a UI component allowing transition from the function selection image displaying functions of said first group to the function selection image displaying functions of said second group.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of changing, when a function belonging to said second group is designated on said function selection image at said receiving step, a manner of display of said display device to have the function displayed together with the functions belonging to said first group. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein
 said changing step includes the steps of:   determining, when a function belonging to said second group is designated at said receiving step, whether or not predetermined restore conditions are satisfied; and   restoring said function to said first group or maintaining said function in said second group depending on the result of determination; and   said restore conditions relate to the number of designations of said function at said receiving step.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 storing a history of designation of said plurality of functions at said receiving step, in a storage device;   calculating, in accordance with the history stored in said history storage device, frequency of designation of each of the functions belonging to said first group in a prescribed time period; and   saving any function belonging to said first group of which frequency calculated at said calculating step is not higher than said threshold value to said second group.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein
 a hierarchical structure is defined among said plurality of functions;   at said display step, functions displayed on said function selection image are subjected to transition in accordance with said hierarchical structure; and   at said saving step, a function belonging to a lower layer of said function in said hierarchical structure is saved to said second group, maintaining the hierarchical structure between said function and the function belonging to the lower layer of said function.   
     
     
         21 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined condition is met when the function in the first group of function is not used for a predetermined period of time.