Method and apparatus for displaying a user interface in an image forming apparatus

1. A method of displaying a user interface in an image forming apparatus capable of displaying user interfaces on a display unit, comprising:

(a) simultaneously displaying a plurality of user interfaces, which are included in one or more layers together on a display unit;

(b) selecting one user interface from the plurality of user interfaces;

(c) configuring one or more functions displayed on the selected user interface; and

(d) performing the configured function;

wherein the layers comprise functional screen layers or display screen layers; and

wherein the one or more functions comprises one or more functions selected from the group comprising a printing function, a copying function, a faxing function, a scanning function, and a data sending/receiving function.

2. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 1 , further comprising enlarging and displaying the selected user interface.

3. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of user interfaces in step (a) is in a first layer and comprises user options, each user option having a corresponding user interface for display in a different layer wherever that user option is selected.

4. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 3 , wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed whenever a layer of a user interface displayed in step (a) is modified.

5. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of user interfaces correspond to main screens in an uppermost layer of respective functions in the image forming apparatus, and wherein at least one of the main screens comprises user options, each user option having a corresponding user interface for display in a different layer wherever that user option is selected.

6. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 5 , wherein, when a function displayed on a user interface included in a lowermost layer is configured, the configured function is performed.

7. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 1 , wherein the number of user interfaces displayed together in step (a) is variable.

8. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 1 , wherein, in step (a), if all of the plurality of user interfaces are not displayed on a single screen, the user interface displayed on the single screen is changed through a key operation for a user to observe all of the plurality of user interfaces.

9. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 1 , wherein the selected user interface is displayed in a visually distinctive manner with respect to other, unselected user interfaces.

10. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 1 , wherein the display unit comprises an operation panel of an image forming apparatus.

11. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of user interfaces are displayed on a first region of the display unit, and the selected user interface is displayed on a second region of the display unit.

12. A method of displaying a user interface on a display unit, comprising:

(a) simultaneously displaying a plurality of user interfaces, which are included in one or more layers together on a display unit;

(b) receiving a selection of one user interface from the plurality of user interfaces;

(c) displaying the selected one user interface in a visually distinctive manner; and

(d) receiving configuration information for one or more functions displayed on the selected one user interface;

wherein the layers comprise functional screen layers or display screen layers; and

wherein the one or more functions comprises one or more functions selected from the group comprising a printing function, a copying function, a faxing function, a scanning function, and a data sending/receiving function.

13. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 12 , wherein the step of displaying the selected one user interface in a visually distinctive manner comprises displaying the selected user interface in an enlarged state.

14. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 12 , wherein the number of user interfaces displayed simultaneously in step (a) is variable.

15. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 12 , further comprising receiving an input from a user to observe additional user interfaces that are not displayed on the display unit.

16. The method of displaying a user interface of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of user interfaces are displayed on a first region of the display unit, and the selected user interface is displayed on a second region of the display unit.

17. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an interface information storage unit for storing interface information regarding user interfaces displayed by the image forming apparatus;

a screen layout information storage unit for storing screen layout information;

a searching unit for searching for interface information corresponding to screen layout information; and

a user interface unit for displaying a plurality of user interfaces based on interface information found by the searching unit, wherein the plurality of user interfaces are displayed simultaneously;

wherein the plurality of user interfaces represents one or more data processing functions that can be performed by the image forming apparatus; and

wherein the one or more data processing functions comprises one or more functions selected from the group comprising a printing function, a copying function, a faxing function, a scanning function, and a data sending/receiving function.

18. The image forming apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the user interface unit comprises an LCD touch-screen for receiving selection information for selecting one user interface from among the plurality of displayed user interfaces.

19. The image forming apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the user interface unit displays the selected one user interface in a visually distinctive manner.

20. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a searching unit that searches for interface information corresponding to predetermined screen layout information from among interface information prepared in advance; and

a user interface unit that displays a plurality of user interfaces indicated by the found interface information simultaneously;

wherein the plurality of user interfaces are included in one or more layers;

wherein the plurality of user interfaces represents one or more data processing functions that can be performed by the image forming apparatus; and

wherein the one or more data processing functions comprises one or more functions selected from the group comprising a printing function, a copying function, a faxing function, a scanning function, and a data sending/receiving function.

21. The image forming apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of user interfaces represent one or more data processing functions which can be performed by the image forming apparatus.

22. A method of displaying a user interface performed in an image forming apparatus capable of displaying a user interface, comprising:

searching for interface information corresponding to predetermined screen layout information from among interface information prepared in advance; and

displaying a plurality of user interfaces indicated by the found interface information simultaneously;

wherein the plurality of user interfaces represents one or more data processing functions that can be performed by the image forming apparatus; and

wherein the one or more data processing functions comprises one or more functions selected from the group comprising a printing function, a copying function, a faxing function, a scanning function, and a data sending/receiving function.

23. The image forming apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of user interfaces are included in one or more layers.