Patent ID: 8997010
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. A hardware user interface device which displays an operation key in a display unit using a predetermined design, comprising: a setting operation history storing unit that stores a setting operation history record of a content of a setting operation carried out by a user for each of past jobs that have been executed; a setting operation history retrieving unit that retrieves the setting operation history record of the content of the setting that is the same as a current content of the setting; a total number of operations calculating unit that calculates a total number of operations for each operation key based on the content of the setting recorded in the setting operation history record of the same content of the setting; and an operation key display type determining unit that estimates relative degrees of likelihood to be used by the user of the operation keys based on the total number of operations for each operation key, and determines, based on the estimation, a design to be used to display the operation key out of a group of designs including at least a first design for normal display and a second design for highlighted display, further comprising a level depth weighting unit that executes a weighting calculation by integrating the total number of operations for each operation key with a weight value that increases as a hierarchical level in which the operation key is located becomes deeper, and outputs a total number of operations considering a depth of the hierarchical level and wherein: said display unit is provided with an input screen, the input screen being configured to include operation keys being grouped into a category group and to have a hierarchized structure; and said operation key display type determining unit determines a design for displaying the operation key based on the total number of operations considering the depth of the hierarchical level outputted from said level depth weighting unit.