Patent ID: 8074183
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: B41J,G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image formation device, comprising: a storage management unit that stores and manages a function setting menu constructed in a hierarchical structure, the function setting menu consisting of a plurality of function setting items including a function setting item for one or a plurality of optional devices connectable to the image formation device; a detector that detects a connection of the one or the plurality of optional devices to the image formation device; a first determination unit that determines whether a function setting item for an optional device, a connection of which to the image formation device is detected by the detector, has been set by an operator of the image formation device; a changing unit that changes the hierarchical structure of the function setting menu stored and managed by the storage management unit to position the function setting item for the optional device at a top level of the hierarchical structure when a connection of the optional device is detected by the detector, and it is determined that the function setting item for the optional device has not been set by the first determination unit; and a display controller that sequentially displays and controls on a display each of the function setting items of the function setting menu based on the hierarchical structure for each function setting item so as to initially display the function setting item for the optional device positioned at the top level by the changing unit on the display prior to sequentially displaying other function setting items of the function setting menu on the display, wherein the function setting menu prompts, once the function setting item for the optional device is initially displayed, the operator of the image formation device to set the function setting item for the optional device and the operator sets the function setting item of the optional device in response to the prompt, wherein the first determining unit determines, when a plurality of the optional devices are detected to be connected to the image formation device by the detector, whether the function setting item for each of the plurality of the optional devices has been set, and the changing unit changes the hierarchical structure of the function setting menu stored and managed by the storage management unit to position, at the top level of the hierarchical structure, the function setting item for the each optional device detected by the detector for which the first determining unit determines that the function setting item has not been set.