Patent ID: 7263661
Filing Date: 2007-08-28
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for customizing the graphical user interface of a multi-function device, comprising the steps of: providing a multi-function device including a multi-function unit and a document server, the multi-function device having three or more built-in fractions taken from a group consisting of: copying, printing, scanning, faxing, and e-mailing, and the multi-function unit having a graphical user interface originally configured to display standard icons representing the built-in functions, wherein the user may activate the standard icons to command the multi-function device to perform the associated built-in function; and customizing the graphical user interface of the multi-function unit, wherein the customizing step includes the following steps: accessing an additional function beyond the built-in functions stored on the document server in the form of a set of instructions, the set of instructions defining a sequence of operations to be performed by at least one of the multi-function unit, the document server, a specific application running on the document server, and a specific application accessible by the document server; associating a graphical image with the additional function; transmitting from the document server to the multi-function unit at least a portion of the set of instructions and the graphical image associated with the additional function; storing the portion of the set of instructions and the graphical image by the multi-function unit in memory; and adding an additional icon to the graphical user interface of the multi-function unit, the additional icon including at least a portion of the graphical image transmitted to the multi-function unit from the document server, and linking the additional icon to the portion of the set of instructions stored in memory such that activation of the additional icon initiates execution of the portion of the set of instructions.