Electronic apparatus with a display section on which screens are displayed and non-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores a display control program

An electronic apparatus includes a display device, a storage device, and a display control circuit. The storage device stores data for screens to be displayed on the display device. The display control circuit controls the display of the screens by the display device based on the data stored in the storage device. The display control circuit enables switching between a first mode in which data for a plurality of types of screens can be stored in the storage device and a second mode in which data for a single type of screen can be stored in the storage device. The first mode displays a screen on the display device based on only data permitted to be displayed on the display device among the data for the plurality of types of screens in the storage device.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-53457 filed on Mar. 17, 2014 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to an electronic apparatus with a display section on which screens are displayed and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores a display control program.

A typical electronic apparatus that displays screens on its display section is capable of storing data for a plurality of types of screens in a storage section and displaying a screen on the display section based on only data permitted to be displayed among the data for the screens in the storage section. The typical electronic apparatus stores data for a plurality of types of screens that may be possibly displayed on the display section into the storage section in advance and selects data for a screen to be actually displayed on the display section from the data for the plurality of types of the screens stored in the storage section. Therefore, when screens are switched, there is no need to create data for a screen to be displayed after switching screens. Thus, the typical electronic apparatus can switch screens at high speed.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic apparatus includes a display device, a storage device, and a display control circuit. The storage device stores data for screens to be displayed on the display device. The display control circuit controls the display of the screens by the display device based on the data stored in the storage device. The display control circuit enables switching between a first mode in which data for a plurality of types of screens can be stored in the storage device and a second mode in which data for a single type of screen can be stored in the storage device. The first mode displays a screen on the display device based on only data permitted to be displayed on the display device among the data for the plurality of types of screens in the storage device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below.

First, the configuration of a multifunction peripheral (MFP), which is an electronic apparatus according to the embodiment, will be described.

FIG. 1shows the configuration of an MFP10according to the embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 1, the MFP10includes an operation section11, a display section12, a scanner13, a printer14, a fax communication section15, a network communication section16, a storage device17, and a control section20. The operation section11is an input device, such as a button, through which various operations are input by users. The display section12is a display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), used to display various items of information. The scanner13is a reading device that reads image data from an original document. The printer14is a printing device that performs print operation on recording media such as paper. The fax communication section15is a facsimile device that performs fax communication with external facsimile devices via a communication line, such as a public telephone line. The network communication section16is a network communication device that communicates with external devices via a network, such as a local area network (LAN) and the Internet. The storage device17may be an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) or a hard disk drive (HDD) and stores various types of data. The control section20controls the entire MFP10.

The operation section11may be combined with the display section12to be provided in the form of a touch panel.

The storage device17stores a display control program17aexecuted to display screens on the display section12. The display control program17amay be installed into the MFP10at a manufacturing stage of the MFP10, may be additionally installed into the MFP10from a recording medium, such as an SD card and a universal serial bus (USB) memory, or may be additionally installed into the MFP10through a network.

The control section20is a circuit that includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU)21, a read only memory (ROM)22, which stores programs and various items of data, and a random access memory (RAM)23, which is used as a work area for the CPU21. The CPU21runs programs stored in the ROM22or the storage device17.

The RAM23includes a storage section that stores data for screens (hereinafter referred to as “screen data”) to be displayed on the display section12.

FIG. 2shows the configuration of the control section20.

As shown inFIG. 2, the control section20includes a circuit that operates by executing the display control program17a(seeFIG. 1) stored in the storage device17(seeFIG. 1), as a display control unit20athat controls the display of screens by the display section12(seeFIG. 1) based on the screen data stored in the RAM23(seeFIG. 1).

Additionally, the control section20includes a circuit that operates by executing a program stored in the ROM22(seeFIG. 1) or storage device17, as a system-error notification unit20bthat notifies users of system errors of the MFP10(seeFIG. 1).

The system errors may be, for example, an error caused by lack of free space in the RAM23, and an error in the event of firmware anomaly.

Additionally, the control section20includes a circuit that operates by executing a program stored in the ROM22or storage device17, as an authentication unit20cthat performs authentication of users of the MFP10.

Furthermore, the control section20includes a circuit that operates by executing a program stored in the ROM22or storage device17, as a copy unit20dthat performs a copying feature by using the printer14(seeFIG. 1) forming an image on a recording medium based on image data read from an original document by the scanner13(seeFIG. 1), a print unit20ethat performs a printing feature by using the printer14forming an image on a recording medium based on print data received by the network communication section16(seeFIG. 1), and a fax unit20fthat performs facsimile transmission and reception using the fax communication section15(seeFIG. 1).

The display control unit20aenables switching between a performance priority mode, which is a first mode allowing storage of screen data for a plurality of types of screens in the RAM23, and a memory priority mode, which is a second mode allowing storage of screen data for a single type of screen in the RAM23. The performance priority mode displays a screen on the display section12based on only screen data permitted to be displayed on the display section12among the screen data for the plurality of types of screens stored in the RAM23.

In this embodiment, five types of screens will be described as examples of screens displayed on the display section12: a system error screen relating to system errors notified by the system-error notification unit20b; an authentication screen relating to authentication checks performed by the authentication unit20c; a copy screen relating to a copying operation performed by the copy unit20d; a print screen relating to a printing operation performed by the print unit20e; and a fax screen relating to a facsimile operation performed by the fax unit20f. The MFP10can display other types of screens on the display section12.

By the way, copy-relating errors are not displayed on the system error screen, but are displayed on the copy screen. Similarly, print-relating errors and facsimile-relating errors are displayed on the print screen and fax screen, respectively.

Description will be now given about the performance priority mode.

FIG. 3illustrates an example of the RAM23in the performance priority mode.

As shown inFIG. 3, the display control unit20a(seeFIG. 2) in the performance priority mode can store screen data23afor the system error screen, screen data23bfor the authentication screen, screen data23cfor the copy screen, screen data23dfor the print screen, and screen data23efor the fax screen in the RAM23.

Upon detecting an occurrence of a system error, the system-error notification unit20b(seeFIG. 2) instructs the display control unit20ato create screen data23a. Then, the display control unit20acreates screen data23ain response to the instruction from the system-error notification unit20band stores the created screen data23ain the RAM23.

If a user instructs to perform user authentication on the MFP10(seeFIG. 1) through, for example, the operation section11(seeFIG. 1), the authentication unit20c(seeFIG. 2) instructs the display control unit20ato create screen data23b. Then, the display control unit20acreates screen data23bin response to the instruction from the authentication unit20cand stores the created screen data23bin the RAM23.

At the time when the performance priority mode is enabled, the display control unit20acreates screen data23c, screen data23d, and screen data23eand stores the created screen data23c, screen data23d, and screen data23ein the RAM23.

FIG. 4illustrates an example of information organized by the display control unit20a(seeFIG. 2) in the performance priority mode.

As shown inFIG. 4, the display control unit20ain the performance priority mode organizes hierarchy, types, and status of screens.

The screen hierarchy includes a first hierarchy level to which the system error screen belongs, a second hierarchy level to which the authentication screen belongs, and a third hierarchy level to which the copy screen, print screen, and fax screen belong.

Status of screen includes “DISPLAY” and “NON-DISPLAY”. Screen data of a screen in “DISPLAY” status is permitted to be displayed on the display section12(seeFIG. 1). Screen data of a screen in “NON-DISPLAY” status is not permitted to be displayed on the display section12. Specifically, the display control unit20adoes not display screens in “NON-DISPLAY” status on the display section12, even if the RAM23(seeFIG. 1) stores the screen data of screens in “NON-DISPLAY” status. In a case where a plurality of types of screens belong to the same hierarchy level, the display control unit20aassigns “DISPLAY” to only one type of screen at a maximum among the plurality types of screens belonging to the same hierarchy level. The storage device17(seeFIG. 1) owns a table that defines what type of screen is assigned with “DISPLAY” or “NON-DISPLAY” when the MFP10(seeFIG. 1) is in what operational state. The display control unit20asets the status of each screen based on the operational state of the MFP10and the table stored in the storage device17.

The screen that belongs to the first hierarchy level and is in the “DISPLAY” status is laid over the screen that belongs to the second hierarchy level and is in the “DISPLAY” status and the screen that belongs to the third hierarchy level and is in the “DISPLAY” status when those screens are displayed on the display section12. The screen that belongs to the second hierarchy level and is in the “DISPLAY” status is laid over the screen that belongs to the third hierarchy level and is in the “DISPLAY” status when those screens are displayed on the display section12.

In the example shown inFIG. 4, the display control unit20adisplays only a copy screen based on the screen data23con the display section12, even though screen data23aof a system error screen (seeFIG. 3), screen data23bof an authentication screen (seeFIG. 3), screen data23cof a copy screen (seeFIG. 3), screen data23dof a print screen (seeFIG. 3), and screen data23eof a fax screen (seeFIG. 3) are stored in the RAM23.

Next, description will be made about a memory priority mode.

FIG. 5illustrates an example of the RAM23in the memory priority mode.

As shown inFIG. 5, the display control unit20ain the memory priority mode can store screen data for only one type of screen in the RAM23among screen data23afor the system error screen (seeFIG. 3), screen data23bfor the authentication screen (seeFIG. 3), screen data23cfor the copy screen, screen data23dfor the print screen (seeFIG. 3), and screen data23efor the fax screen (seeFIG. 3). In the example shown inFIG. 5, the display control unit20astores only the screen data23cin the RAM23and displays only the copy screen based on the screen data23con the display section12.

Next, description will be made about operation of the MFP10to display screens.

FIG. 6illustrates operational steps performed by the MFP10to display screens.

As shown inFIG. 6, the display control unit20aof the control section20establishes either one of the performance priority mode and memory priority mode, but the one set as a default mode (S51).

Then, the display control unit20adetermines whether or not an instruction to switch the mode has been issued, for example, through the operation section11(S52).

If the display control unit20adetermines that the instruction to switch the mode has been issued in S52, the display control unit20aswitches the current mode to the instructed mode (S53). If the display control unit20ais already in the performance priority mode and an instruction to switch to the performance mode is issued, the display control unit20adoes not switch the mode. Similarly, if the display control unit20ais already in the memory priority mode and an instruction to switch to the memory priority mode is issued, the display control unit20adoes not switch the mode.

When switching from the memory priority mode to the performance priority mode, the display control unit20acontinuously maintains screen data that has been stored in the RAM23since before switching modes. In addition, when switching from the memory priority mode to the performance priority mode, the display control unit20acreates screen data23c, screen data23d, and screen data23eand stores the created screen data23c, screen data23d, and screen data23ein the RAM23at the time when the memory priority mode is switched to the performance priority mode. However, if the screen data that has been stored in the RAM23since before switching modes is any of the screen data23c, screen data23dand screen data23e, the display control unit20adoes not create new screen data the same as the screen data that has been stored in the RAM23since before switching the modes.

In addition, when switching from the memory priority mode to the performance priority mode, the display control unit20asets the status of the screen based on the screen data stored in the RAM23before switching modes to “DISPLAY” as well as setting the status of screens other than the screen based on the screen data stored in the RAM23before switching modes to “NON-DISPLAY”.

Therefore, even after the memory priority mode is switched to the performance priority mode, the display control unit20acan continuously display the screen that has been displayed on the display section12since before switching the modes.

When switching from the performance priority mode to the memory priority mode, the display control unit20acontinuously stores screen data of a screen at the highest hierarchy level among screens in “DISPLAY” status in the RAM23, but deletes the other screen data from the RAM23, except for the screen data of the screen at the highest hierarchy level among the screens in “DISPLAY” status.

Therefore, even after the performance priority mode is switched to the memory priority mode, the display control unit20acan continuously display the screen that has been displayed on the display section12since before switching the modes.

If the display control unit20adetermines that it is not instructed to switch the mode in S52or completes the process in S53, the display control unit20athen determines whether or not the RAM23has free space equal to or greater than a first threshold (S54).

If the display control unit20adetermines that the free space is equal to or greater than the first threshold in S54, the display control unit20aswitches the mode to the performance priority mode (S55). If the display control unit20ais already in the performance priority mode, the display control unit20adoes not switch the mode to the performance priority mode.

If the display control unit20adetermines that the free space is not equal to or greater than the first threshold in S54or completes the process in S55, the display control unit20athen determines whether or not the free space of the RAM23is less than a second threshold (S56). In this embodiment, the second threshold is set to be lower than the first threshold.

If the display control unit20adetermines that the free space is less than the second threshold in S56, the display control unit20aswitches the mode to the memory priority mode (S57). If the display control unit20ais already in the memory priority mode, the display control unit2adoes not switch the mode to the memory priority mode.

If the display control unit20adetermines that the free space is not less than the second threshold in S56or completes the process in S57, the display control unit20athen determines whether or not the operation section11has been operated (S58).

If the display control unit20adetermines that the operation section11has been operated in S58, the display control unit20aswitches the mode to the performance priority mode (S59). If the display control unit20ais already in the performance priority mode, the display control unit20adoes not switch the mode to the performance priority mode.

If the display control unit20adetermines that the operation section11has not been operated in S58or completes the process in S59, the display control unit20athen determines whether or not the operation section11has not been operated for a specified length of time or longer (S60).

If it is determined that the specified length of time has elapsed in S60, the display control unit20aswitches the mode to the memory priority mode (S61). If the display control unit20ais already in the memory priority mode, the display control unit20adoes not switch the mode to the memory priority mode.

If the display control unit20adetermines that the specified length of time has not elapsed in S60or completes the process in S61, the display control unit20aexecutes a process in S52.

As described above, when in the performance priority mode, the MFP10stores not only screen data for screens that are actually being displayed on the display section12, but also screen data for a plurality of types of screens that may be possibly displayed on the display section12in the RAM23in advance, thereby taking up a large amount of storage space in the RAM23for screen display. However, the MFP10in the performance priority mode stores the screen data for the plurality of types of screens that may be possibly displayed on the display section12in the RAM23in advance and selects screen data for screens to be actually displayed on the display section12from the screen data for the plurality of types of screens stored in the RAM23based on the status of the screens as shown inFIG. 4. Therefore, when screens are switched, there is no need to create screen data for screens to be displayed after switching screens. Thus, the MFP10can rapidly change screens in the performance priority mode.

On the contrary, when in the memory priority mode, the MFP10stores screen data for only one type of screen in the RAM23, and therefore switching screens requires the MFP10to perform a process of deleting screen data for screens stored before the switching occurs from the RAM23and a process of creating screen data for screens to be displayed after the switching occurs. Therefore, the MFP10is slow to switch screens. However, the MFP10in the memory priority mode stores screen data for only one type of screen in the RAM23, thereby taking up a small amount of storage space in the RAM23for screen display.

Thus, the MFP10can optimize the space available for screen display in the RAM23and the screen switching speed by appropriately switching between the performance priority mode that requires a large amount of space for screen display in the RAM23, but switches screens at high speed, and the memory priority mode that switches screens at low speed, but requires a small amount of space for screen display in the RAM23(S53, S55, S57, S59, S61).

Since the MFP10automatically switches between the performance priority mode that requires a large amount of space for screen display in the RAM23, but switches screens at high speed, and the memory priority mode that switches screens at low speed, but requires a small amount of space for screen display in the RAM23based on the amount of free space in the RAM23(S54to S57), the space available for screen display in the RAM23and the screen switching speed can be optimized based on the amount of free space in the RAM23.

Since when the operation section11is operated (YES in S58), the MFP10in the performance priority mode that requires a large amount of space for screen display in the RAM23, but switches screens at low speed automatically switches (S59) the mode to the memory priority mode that switches screens at high speed, but requires a small amount of space for screen display in the RAM23, enhancement of the screen switching speed can be achieved when the operation section11is operated, or, in other words, when the possibility of frequently switching the screens is high.

Since when the operation section11has not been operated for a specified length of time or longer (YES in S60), the MFP10in the performance priority mode that requires a large amount of space for screen display in the RAM23, but switches screens at high speed automatically switches the mode to the memory priority mode that switches screens at low speed, but requires a small amount of space for screen display in the RAM23(S61), reduction of the space available for screen display in the RAM23can be achieved when the operation section11has not been operated for a specified length of time or longer or, in other words, when the possibility of frequently switching the screens is low.

The MFP10can omit at least any one of the processes in S52and S53, processes in S54and S55, processes in S56and S57, processes in S58and S59, and processes in S60and S61.

Although the MFP10can execute the processes in S54to S57based on two thresholds, the first threshold and second threshold, the MFP10can execute the processes in S54to S57based on one threshold. In other words, the first threshold and second threshold may have the same value.

The electronic apparatus of the present disclosure is an MFP in this embodiment; however, the electronic apparatus can be any image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile, or can be any electronic apparatuses other than image forming apparatuses, such as a personal computer (PC), as long as the electronic apparatus has a display section on which screens are displayed.