Display operation device allocating a plurality of functions to a key, image processing apparatus, and method of receiving user operations

Abstract

A display operation device has a display-integrated operation panel with a display screen, on which a monochrome copy start key and a color copy start key are displayed. When black-toner-out or color-toner-out occurs, on the monochrome copy start key and the color copy start key, another UI component such as black-toner-out key and color-toner-out key is displayed. Such a UI component is displayed at the display position of the monochrome copy start key and the color copy start key, being superposed on these keys.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 : A display operation device, comprising:
 a display-integrated operation panel including a display screen; and   processor circuitry; wherein   said processor circuitry is configured and/or programmed to:
 display a first user interface (UI) component on said display screen; 
 activate, responsive to a user operation of said first UI component displayed on said display screen, a process associated with said first UI component; and 
 responsive to activation of said process, disable a user operation of said first UI component. 
   
     
     
         3 : The display operation device according to  claim 2 , wherein said processor circuitry is configured and/or programmed to display, responsive to activation of said process, a second UI component on said display screen and thereby to disable a user operation of said first UI component. 
     
     
         4 : The display operation device according to  claim 3 , wherein said second UI component is displayed replacing said first UI component. 
     
     
         5 : The display operation device according to  claim 3 , wherein said second UI component is displayed superposed on said first UI component. 
     
     
         6 : The display operation device according to  claim 3 , wherein said second UI component is displayed in a color different from said first UI component. 
     
     
         7 : The display operation device according to  claim 3 , wherein
 said first UI component is a key that instructs a start of said process; and   said second UI component is a key that instructs another process related to said process.   
     
     
         8 : The display operation device according to  claim 3 , wherein said second UI component is a key that instructs cancelling or a stop of said process. 
     
     
         9 : The display operation device according to  claim 3 , wherein if an event hindering said process is occurring when said second UI component is to be displayed, said second UI component includes a message related to said event hindering said process. 
     
     
         10 : The display operation device according to  claim 9 , wherein said message relates to a cause of or a measure against said event hindering said process. 
     
     
         11 : The display operation device according to  claim 9 , mounted on an image processing apparatus being capable of forming an image on a recording medium using toner and/or transmitting image data through a communication device, wherein
 said event hindering said process is a trouble related to any of said toner, said recording medium and a transmission destination.   
     
     
         12 : A method of receiving a user operation using a display-integrated operation panel including a display screen, comprising the steps of:
 displaying a first UI component on said display screen;   activating, responsive to a user operation of said first UI component displayed on said display screen at said step of displaying said first UI component, a process associated with said first UI component; and   responsive to activation of said process, disabling a user operation of said first UI component.   
     
     
         13 : An image processing apparatus, comprising:
 the display operation device according to  claim 2 ;   an image forming device forming image data; and   an image processing unit, connected to said display operation device and said image forming device, for processing the image data formed by said image forming device, based on an instruction from said display operation device.