LCD panel controlled by two process elements

Claim 1

A method of providing user interface displays for a multifunction peripheral system, the multifunction peripheral system comprising a hard output unit communicatively coupled to a control unit, the control unit having a network adapter coupled to a computer network for receiving print and fax jobs from computers on the computer network, the hard output unit for performing a first peripheral function originated locally and a second peripheral function originated from the computer network via the control unit, the hard output unit including a display and a processor, memory, user interface software for controlling the display, and first user interface definitions for the first peripheral function fixed in the memory of the hard output unit; the method comprising the steps of: storing second user interface definitions for the peripheral function in the control unit, wherein the control unit receives the second user interface definitions from a source other than the hard output unit; during an initialization process between the control unit and the hard output unit, downloading the second user interface definitions from the control unit to the hard output unit; storing the second user interface definitions for the second peripheral function in the hard output unit, whereby the first user interface definitions are unaffected; during use of the hard output unit, if a user desires to use the first peripheral function, then using the first user interface definitions for the first peripheral function stored in the hard output unit; and during use of the hard output unit, if a user desires to use the second peripheral function, then using the second user interface definitions for the second peripheral function stored in the hard output unit, wherein the hard output unit can perform the first peripheral function irrespective of whether the second user interface definition has bee stored in the hard output unit; and the first peripheral function comprisingly copying of documents using only the hard output unit; the second peripheral function comprising printing, when the multifunction peripheral processes a print job, the control unit rasterizes the print job and then transmits the rasterized print job to the hard output unit.

Claim 2

A method of providing user interface displays for a multifunction peripheral system, the multifunction peripheral system comprising a hard output unit communicatively coupled to a control unit, the control unit having a network adapter coupled to a computer network for receiving print and fax jobs from computers on the computer network, the hard output unit for performing a first peripheral function originated locally and a second peripheral function originated from the computer network via the control unit, the hard output unit including a display and a processor, memory, user interface software for controlling the display, and first user interface definitions for the first peripheral function fixed in the memory of the hard output unit; the method comprising the steps of: storing second user interface definitions for the peripheral function in the control unit, wherein the control unit receives the second user interface definitions from a source other than the hard output unit; during an initialization process between the control unit and the hard output unit, downloading the second user interface definitions from the control unit to the hard output unit; storing the second user interface definitions for the second peripheral function in the hard output unit, whereby the first user interface definitions are unaffected; during use of the hard output unit, if a user desires to use the first peripheral function, then using the first user interface definitions for the first peripheral function stored in the hard output unit; and during use of the hard output unit, if a user desires to use the second peripheral function, then using the second user interface definitions for the second peripheral function stored in the hard output unit, wherein the hard output unit can perform the first peripheral function irrespective of whether the second user interface definition has bee stored in the hard output unit; and the first peripheral function comprisingly copying of documents using only the hard output unit; the second peripheral function comprising printing, when the multifunction peripheral processes a print job, the control unit rasterizes the print job and then transmits the rasterized print job to the hard output unit.

Claim 9

A method of loading a first user interface definition for a first peripheral function of a multifunction peripheral system coupled to a LAN, the LAN including a workstation and a file server, the multifunction peripheral system comprising a control unit and a hard output unit, the control unit comprising a server computer communicatively coupled to the hard output unit, the hard output unit comprising a device for generating hard output for the first peripheral function and a second peripheral function, the second peripheral function comprising job processing performed only by the hard output unit, the hard output unit including a relatively unchangeable second user interface definition for the second peripheral function, the method comprising the steps of: (a) logging on to the LAN from the workstation and activating user interface definition update software; (b) from the workstation, selecting a source of the first user interface definition, wherein the source is either on the workstation or the file server; (c) from the workstation, selecting the first user interface definition from the source; (d) loading the first user interface definition from the source to a long term memory in the control unit; (e) loading the first user interface definition from the long term memory in the control unit to a short term memory in the control unit; (f) enabling communication between the control unit and the hard output unit; (g) transmitting the first user interface definition from the short term memory in the control unit to a short term memory in the hard output unit, whereby the second user interface definition is unaffected; wherein the hard output unit can perform the second peripheral function irrespective of whether the first user interface definitions have been stored in the hard output unit; and the first peripheral function comprising copying of documents using only the hard output unit; the second peripheral function comprising printing; when the multifunction peripheral processes a print job, the control unit rasterizes the print job and then transmits the rasterized print job to the hard output unit.

Claim 10

A method of loading a first user interface definition for a first peripheral function of a multifunction peripheral system coupled to a LAN, the LAN including a workstation and a file server, the multifunction peripheral system comprising a control unit and a hard output unit, the control unit comprising a server computer communicatively coupled to the hard output unit, the hard output unit comprising a device for generating hard output for the first peripheral function and a second peripheral function, the second peripheral function comprising job processing performed only by the hard output unit, the hard output unit including a relatively unchangeable second user interface definition for the second peripheral function, the method comprising the steps of: (a) logging on to the LAN from the workstation and activating user interface definition update software; (b) from the workstation, selecting a source of the first user interface definition, wherein the source is either on the workstation or the file server; (c) from the workstation, selecting the first user interface definition from the source; (d) loading the first user interface definition from the source to a long term memory in the control unit; (e) loading the first user interface definition from the long term memory in the control unit to a short term memory in the control unit; (f) enabling communication between the control unit and the hard output unit; (g) transmitting the first user interface definition from the short term memory in the control unit to a short term memory in the hard output unit, whereby the second user interface definition is unaffected; wherein the hard output unit can perform the second peripheral function irrespective of whether the first user interface definitions have been stored in the hard output unit; and the first peripheral function comprising copying of documents using only the hard output unit; the second peripheral function comprising printing; when the multifunction peripheral processes a print job, the control unit rasterizes the print job and then transmits the rasterized print job to the hard output unit.