Image forming system with individual mode and standard mode

Claim 2

An image processing apparatus comprising: a connector adapted for connecting an external device to said image processing apparatus; a processor adapted for processing image data using a selected function of a plurality of functions for operating said apparatus; a selection device including a circuit adapted for selecting one of a first mode and a different second mode, wherein a respective plurality of the functions are selectable in each of the two modes, and wherein at least one common function is selectable both in the first mode and in the second mode; a display unit adapted for displaying a selected one of a plurality of different operation screens, the selected operation screen corresponding to the mode selected by said selection device, such that each mode has a respective different operation screen, including a respective different operation screen for the common function, displayed when that mode is selected, and one of the two modes further includes an operation screen for an individual function; an instruction circuit adapted for generating instructions based on respective manual operations performed in accordance with an operation screen currently displayed by said display unit; a receiver adapted for receiving a command from the external device through said connector; and a control circuit responsive to selection of one of the two modes by said selection device in accordance with the command received by said receiver, said control circuit adapted for causing said processor to perform processing using the function according to the operation screen of the selected mode.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the operation screens respectively corresponding to the two modes have different respective layouts.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a touch panel, wherein said display unit displays the selected operation screen on said touch panel and said instruction circuit generates the instructions based on manipulations of said touch panel.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of functions selectable in the first mode includes a function unique to the first mode in addition to all the functions selectable in the second mode.

Claim 6

A control method for a computer that includes a display and that is remotely connected to an image processing apparatus, the apparatus being capable of processing image data using a selected function of a plurality of functions for operating the apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: selecting one of a first mode and a different second mode, wherein a respective plurality of the functions are selectable in each of the two modes, and wherein at least one of the functions is selectable both in the first mode and in the second mode; displaying a selected one of a plurality of different operation screens, the selected operation screen corresponding to the mode selected in said selecting step such that each mode has a respective different operation screen displayed when that mode is selected; generating instructions based on respective manual operations performed in accordance with the operation screen currently displayed in said displaying step, the instructions including a respective instruction for selecting each of the functions; and responsive to selection of the function in accordance with an instruction generated in said generating step in either of the two modes, causing the apparatus remotely connected to the computer to perform processing using the selected function according to the operation screen of the selected mode.

Claim 7

A control method for a computer that includes a display and that is remotely connected to an image processing apparatus, the apparatus being capable of processing image data using a selected function of a plurality of functions for operating the apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: selecting one of a first mode and a different second mode, wherein a respective plurality of the functions are selectable in each of the two modes, and wherein at least one of the functions is selectable both in the first mode and in the second mode; displaying a selected one of a plurality of different operation screens, the selected operation screen corresponding to the mode selected in said selecting step such that each mode has a respective different operation screen displayed when that mode is selected; generating instructions based on respective manual operations performed in accordance with the operation screen currently displayed in said displaying step, the instructions including a respective instruction for selecting each of the functions; and responsive to selection of the function in accordance with an instruction generated in said generating step in either of the two modes, causing the apparatus remotely connected to the computer to perform processing using the selected function according to the operation screen of the selected mode.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 5 , wherein the operation screens corresponding to the two modes have different respective layouts.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 5 , wherein the computer includes a pointing device and an instruction is generated by the pointing device in said generating step.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of causing the apparatus to perform in the mode selected in said selecting step.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of functions selectable in the first mode includes a function unique to the first mode in addition to all the functions selectable in the second mode.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 5 , wherein said displaying step includes displaying information to identify the selected mode.

Claim 13

An image processing system that includes an image processing apparatus and a computer remotely connected to the apparatus, said system comprising: in the apparatus: a processor adapted for processing image data using any of a plurality of functions for operating the apparatus; and a control circuit adapted for causing said processor to perform processing using a selected function of the plurality of functions; and in the computer: a selection device including a circuit adapted for selecting one of a first mode and a different second mode, wherein a respective plurality of the functions are selectable in each of the two modes, and wherein at least one of the functions is selectable both in the first mode and in the second mode; a display unit adapted for displaying a selected one of a plurality of different operation screens, the selected operation screen corresponding to the mode selected by said selection device such that each mode has a respective different operation screen displayed when that mode is selected; and an instruction circuit adapted for generating instructions based on respective operations performed in accordance with an operation screen currently displayed by said display unit, the instructions including a respective instruction for selecting each of the functions, wherein said control circuit is responsive to selection of the function in accordance with an instruction generated by said instruction circuit in either of the two modes for causing said processor, remotely connected to said instruction circuit, to perform processing using the selected function according to the operation screen of the selected mode.

Claim 14

An image processing system that includes an image processing apparatus and a computer remotely connected to the apparatus, said system comprising: in the apparatus: a processor adapted for processing image data using any of a plurality of functions for operating the apparatus; and a control circuit adapted for causing said processor to perform processing using a selected function of the plurality of functions; and in the computer: a selection device including a circuit adapted for selecting one of a first mode and a different second mode, wherein a respective plurality of the functions are selectable in each of the two modes, and wherein at least one of the functions is selectable both in the first mode and in the second mode; a display unit adapted for displaying a selected one of a plurality of different operation screens, the selected operation screen corresponding to the mode selected by said selection device such that each mode has a respective different operation screen displayed when that mode is selected; and an instruction circuit adapted for generating instructions based on respective operations performed in accordance with an operation screen currently displayed by said display unit, the instructions including a respective instruction for selecting each of the functions, wherein said control circuit is responsive to selection of the function in accordance with an instruction generated by said instruction circuit in either of the two modes for causing said processor, remotely connected to said instruction circuit, to perform processing using the selected function according to the operation screen of the selected mode.

Claim 15

A system according to claim 11 , wherein the operation screens respectively corresponding to the two modes have different respective layouts.

Claim 16

A system according to claim 11 , wherein the computer further comprises a circuit adapted for informing the apparatus of the mode selected by said selecting device.

Claim 17

A control method according to claim 11 , further comprising the step of, in the computer, informing the apparatus of the mode selected in said selecting step.

Claim 18

A system according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of functions selectable in the first mode includes a function unique to the first mode in addition to all the functions selectable in the second mode.

Claim 19

A system according to claim 11 , wherein said display unit displays information to identify the selected mode.

Claim 20

A system according to claim 11 , wherein the computer includes a pointing device and the instructions generated by said instruction circuit are generated according to the pointing device.

Claim 21

A control method for an image processing apparatus capable of processing image data using a selected function of a plurality of functions for operating the apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: connecting an external device to the image processing apparatus via a connector; selecting one of a first mode and a different second mode, wherein a respective plurality of the functions are selectable in each of the two modes, and wherein at least one common function is selectable both in the first mode and in the second mode; displaying a selected one of a plurality of different operation screens, the selected operation screen corresponding to the mode selected in said selecting step, such that each mode has a respective different operation screen, including a respective different operation screen for the common function, displayed when that mode is selected, and one of the two modes further includes an operation screen for an individual function; generating instructions based on respective manual operations performed in accordance with an operation screen currently displayed in said displaying step; receiving a command from the external device through the connector; and responsive to selection of one of the two modes in said selecting step in accordance with the command received in said receiving step, causing the apparatus to perform processing using the function according to the operation screen of the selected mode.

Claim 22

A control method for an image processing apparatus capable of processing image data using a selected function of a plurality of functions for operating the apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: connecting an external device to the image processing apparatus via a connector; selecting one of a first mode and a different second mode, wherein a respective plurality of the functions are selectable in each of the two modes, and wherein at least one common function is selectable both in the first mode and in the second mode; displaying a selected one of a plurality of different operation screens, the selected operation screen corresponding to the mode selected in said selecting step, such that each mode has a respective different operation screen, including a respective different operation screen for the common function, displayed when that mode is selected, and one of the two modes further includes an operation screen for an individual function; generating instructions based on respective manual operations performed in accordance with an operation screen currently displayed in said displaying step; receiving a command from the external device through the connector; and responsive to selection of one of the two modes in said selecting step in accordance with the command received in said receiving step, causing the apparatus to perform processing using the function according to the operation screen of the selected mode.

Claim 23

A control method according to claim 18 , wherein the operation screens corresponding to the two modes have different respective layouts.

Claim 24

A control method according to claim 18 , wherein said displaying step includes displaying the selected operation screen on a touch panel of the image processing apparatus.

Claim 25

A control method according to claim 18 , wherein the plurality of functions selectable in the first mode includes a function unique to the first mode in addition to all the functions selectable in the second mode.

Claim 26

A control method of an image processing system that includes an image processing apparatus and a computer remotely connected thereto, said method comprising the steps of: in the apparatus: processing image data using any of a plurality of functions for operating the apparatus; and controlling said processing step to perform processing using a selected function of the plurality of functions; and in the computer: selecting one of a first mode and a different second mode, wherein a respective plurality of the functions are selectable in each of the two modes, and wherein at least one of the functions is selectable both in the first mode and in the second mode; displaying a selected one of a plurality of different operation screens, the selected operation screen corresponding to the mode selected in said selecting step such that each mode has a respective different operation screen displayed when that mode is selected; and generating instructions based on respective operations performed in accordance with an operation screen currently displayed in said displaying step, the instructions including a respective instruction for selecting each of the functions, wherein said controlling step is responsive to selection of the function in accordance with an instruction generated in said generating step in either of the two modes for causing said processing step to perform processing using the selected function according to the operation screen of the selected mode, said generating step being performed remotely from said controlling step.

Claim 27

A control method of an image processing system that includes an image processing apparatus and a computer remotely connected thereto, said method comprising the steps of: in the apparatus: processing image data using any of a plurality of functions for operating the apparatus; and controlling said processing step to perform processing using a selected function of the plurality of functions; and in the computer: selecting one of a first mode and a different second mode, wherein a respective plurality of the functions are selectable in each of the two modes, and wherein at least one of the functions is selectable both in the first mode and in the second mode; displaying a selected one of a plurality of different operation screens, the selected operation screen corresponding to the mode selected in said selecting step such that each mode has a respective different operation screen displayed when that mode is selected; and generating instructions based on respective operations performed in accordance with an operation screen currently displayed in said displaying step, the instructions including a respective instruction for selecting each of the functions, wherein said controlling step is responsive to selection of the function in accordance with an instruction generated in said generating step in either of the two modes for causing said processing step to perform processing using the selected function according to the operation screen of the selected mode, said generating step being performed remotely from said controlling step.

Claim 28

A control method according to claim 22 , wherein the operation screens corresponding to the two modes have different respective layouts.

Claim 29

A control method according to claim 22 , wherein the plurality of functions selectable in the first mode includes a function unique to the first mode in addition to all the functions selectable in the second mode.

Claim 30

A control method according to claim 22 , wherein said displaying step includes displaying information to identify the selected mode.

Claim 31

A control method according to claim 22 , wherein the computer includes a pointing device and the instructions generated in said generating step are generated according to the pointing device.

Claim 32

A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a control method for an image processing apparatus capable of processing image data using a selected function of a plurality of functions for operating the apparatus, the program comprising: code for connecting an external device to the image processing apparatus via a connector; code for selecting one of a first mode and a different second mode, wherein a respective plurality of the functions are selectable in each of the two modes, and wherein at least one common function is selectable both in the first mode and in the second mode; code for displaying a selected one of a plurality of different operation screens, the selected operation screen corresponding to the mode selected by said code for selecting such that each mode has a respective different operation screen, including a respective different operation screen for the common function, displayed when that mode is selected, and one of the two modes further includes an operation screen for an individual function; code for generating instructions based on respective manual operations performed in accordance with an operation screen currently displayed by said code for displaying; code for receiving command from the external device; and responsive to selection of one of the two modes by said code for selecting in accordance with the command received by said code for receiving, code for causing the apparatus to perform processing using the function according to the operation screen of the selected mode.

Claim 33

A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a control method for an image processing apparatus capable of processing image data using a selected function of a plurality of functions for operating the apparatus, the program comprising: code for connecting an external device to the image processing apparatus via a connector; code for selecting one of a first mode and a different second mode, wherein a respective plurality of the functions are selectable in each of the two modes, and wherein at least one common function is selectable both in the first mode and in the second mode; code for displaying a selected one of a plurality of different operation screens, the selected operation screen corresponding to the mode selected by said code for selecting such that each mode has a respective different operation screen, including a respective different operation screen for the common function, displayed when that mode is selected, and one of the two modes further includes an operation screen for an individual function; code for generating instructions based on respective manual operations performed in accordance with an operation screen currently displayed by said code for displaying; code for receiving command from the external device; and responsive to selection of one of the two modes by said code for selecting in accordance with the command received by said code for receiving, code for causing the apparatus to perform processing using the function according to the operation screen of the selected mode.