Automatic detection of user preference for copy or scan setting
A method is described for automatically predicting user-preferred copy or scan settings based on past user behavior. The method is implemented in a management section of a copier, scanner, or multifunction devices that combine copy, scan and print functions, or on a server connected with such a device. The management section maintains a copy/scan/user (CSU) settings database that stores copy and/or scan settings associated with user IDs. Each time a copy or scan job is initiated, the management section analyzes the CSU database to determine a predicted user-preferred setting. The user may manually change the setting and confirm it, and the management section stores the user confirmed setting in the CSU database for future use. The CSU database may be transferred from one copier/scanner/multifunction device to another.
1. A method for controlling an image reproduction device, comprising:
(a) obtaining a first user ID associated with a user of the image reproduction device;
(b) determining a predicted user-preferred setting for the image reproduction device associated with the first user ID by analyzing a frequency of past uses of the setting stored in a settings database, the settings database containing one or more copy or scan settings recorded from users' past uses, each setting associated with a user ID and a frequency value indicating the frequency of past uses;
(c) allowing the user to optionally change and confirm the predicted user-preferred setting;
(d) updating the frequency value in the settings database using the confirmed setting and the first user ID; and
(e) performing copying or scanning using the confirmed setting.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
before step (b), determining a function to be performed by the image reproduction device,
wherein in step (b), the determination of the predicted user-preferred setting is based on the function to be performed, and
wherein each copy or scan setting in the database is associated with a function.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the function is a copy function.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the function is a scan function.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the function is a specialized copy or scan function.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein in step (b) the predicted user-preferred setting is determined based on correlations among setting parameters.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises:
if the settings database contains no setting associated with the first user ID, using a default setting as the predicted user-preferred setting.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: before step (a), creating the settings database.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: transferring the settings database to or from the image reproduction device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image reproduction device is a copier.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image reproduction device is a scanner.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image reproduction device is a multifunction device.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein each copy or scan setting in the settings database is further associated with a parameter indicating a model or class of the image reproduction device.
14. An image reproduction device, comprising:
(a) a scanning section for generating digital image data by scanning a physical medium;
(b) a user interface for receiving input from a user and displaying information to the user;
(c) a memory for storing a settings database containing one or more copy or scan settings recorded from users' past uses, each setting associated with a user ID and a frequency value indicating a frequency of past uses; and
(d) a management section for determining a predicted user-preferred setting for the image reproduction device associated with a first user ID by analyzing the frequency of past uses of the setting stored in the settings database, for allowing the user to optionally change and confirm the predicted user-preferred setting using the user interface, and for updating the frequency value in the settings database using the confirmed setting and the first user ID.
15. The image reproduction device of claim 14 , further comprising a printing section for forming an image on a physical medium from digital image data.
16. The image reproduction device of claim 15 , wherein the management section further determines a function to be performed by the image reproduction device, wherein the predicted user-preferred setting is determined based on the function to be performed, and wherein each copy or scan setting in the database are associated with a function.
17. A computer program product comprising a non transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable code embodied therein for controlling a data processing system including an image reproduction device, the computer readable program code configured to cause the data processing system to execute a process comprising the steps of:
(a) obtaining a first user ID associated with a user of the image reproduction device;
(b) determining a predicted user-preferred setting for the image reproduction device associated with the first user ID by analyzing a frequency of past uses of the setting stored in a settings database stored in the image reproduction device, the settings database containing one or more copy or scan settings recorded from users' past uses, each setting associated with a user ID and a frequency value indicating the frequency of past uses;
(c) allowing the user to optionally change and confirm the predicted user-preferred setting; and
(d) updating the frequency value in the settings database using the confirmed setting and the first user ID.
18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the process further comprises:
before step (b), determining a function to be performed by the image reproduction device,
wherein in step (b), the determination of the predicted user-preferred setting is based on the function to be performed, and
wherein each copy or scan setting in the database is associated with a function.
19. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein in step (b) the predicted user-preferred setting is determined based on correlations among setting parameters.
20. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein step (b) comprises:
if the settings database contains no settings associated with the first user ID, using a default setting as the predicted user-preferred setting.
21. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the process further comprises: before step (a), creating the settings database.
22. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein each copy or scan setting in the settings database is further associated with a parameter indicating a model or class of the image reproduction device.