JP2006211102A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can inhibit a setting mistake in a copy mode by urging a caution by warning a user, decreases the setting mistake, and, moreover, since the caution is urged on the individual conditions by the user, which does not issue an unwanted warning and does not spoil a user interface. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus which has a means for memorizing the user's setting content and document data read by the user's operation by associating them. The apparatus includes a means for comparing a group of the content of the setting which the user performed and the read document data with the group of the content of setting performed by this user from it before with the group of the read document data, and guessing whether it is what depends on the same original; and a means for matching and memorizing the setting before moving and the group after moving, if the content of the setting is changed when the read original is guessed that it is the same original. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs processing specified by a user and outputs document data, and more particularly, to a technique for preventing mistakes when a user makes settings.

  As a conventional technique, there has been an image forming apparatus as disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  In the image forming apparatus in which the user designates an output format of image data registered in advance and forms an image, the output format of the image data selected by the user and the printing apparatus that outputs the image data Analyzing whether the output format is an output format that can be executed by the printing apparatus, and changing the output format to an output format that can be selected by the user based on the determination result. It is a feature.

Another feature of the prior art is that the image data and the output destination of the image data in an image forming apparatus that performs image formation by specifying a format for outputting pre-registered image data. Execution by the printing apparatus based on the image data analyzing means for analyzing the function information possessed by the printing apparatus, the image data analyzed by the image data analyzing means and the contents of the function information possessed by the printing apparatus Output format determining means for determining a possible output format, and output format changing means for changing to an output format selectable by the user according to an executable output format determined by the output format determining means. It is a feature.
JP 2003-029951 A

  However, the conventional example has the following problems.

  That is, in the conventional example, in an image forming apparatus that performs image formation by designating an output format of image data registered in advance, the output format of the image data selected by the user and the image data are output. Analyzing the function information of the printing apparatus to determine whether or not the output format is an output format that can be executed by the printing apparatus, and based on the determination result, change the output format to be selectable by the user However, even if the user sets an output format that is not intended by the user, there is a problem in that an output format that can be executed by the printing apparatus is output.

  Moreover, although the content of the setting mistake seems to be related to each user, there is a problem in that it is impossible to take individual measures for each user.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and it is possible to prevent a mistake in setting the copy mode by alerting the user with a warning, reducing the setting mistake, and individually by the user. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that has an effect of not giving unnecessary warnings and not impairing a user interface.

  The present invention provides the following means in order to solve such problems.

  That is, the first is a means for guessing that the user has corrected the setting and re-outputted, and the second is that when the re-output is presumed by the means, the output format before correction is saved. After that, when the user sets a similar output format, it is a means for notifying the user of a warning.

  The means for inferring that the user has corrected the setting and re-output includes means for determining the identity of the document. The means for determining the document identity will be described in more detail in the section of the embodiment of the invention.

  More preferably, the image forming apparatus has a memory that associates the means for authenticating the user, the output format of the user before correction, and the user identification information, and the user is stored in association with the user. Means for notifying the user when the output format is set again.

  In more detail, the present invention can solve the above problems by the following configuration.

(1) In an image forming apparatus having means for storing a setting content of a user and document data read by the user's operation in association with each other,
Compare the settings made by the user with the set of read document data and the settings made by the user before that and the set of read document data to determine whether they are from the same manuscript. An analogy means,
Image forming comprising: means for storing the setting before change and the set after change in association with each other if the setting contents are changed when the read original is the same original apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a mistake in setting a copy mode, which could not be detected in the conventional example, by alerting the user with a warning, and there is an effect of reducing the setting mistake.

  In addition, since the user is alerted under individual conditions, there is an effect that an unnecessary warning is not given and the user interface is not impaired.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a digital multi-function peripheral equipped with a black and white print recording print engine 21 and its accessories embodying the present invention. In FIG. 2, when a document is placed face up on a document feeder (DF) 22 and a start key is pressed, the document is conveyed to the upper surface of the document reading unit 23.

  Then, the original is irradiated by the light source 24, the reflected light is read by the CCD 25, converted into a digital signal, and subjected to desired image processing to be converted into a laser recording signal. The recording signal is converted into a recording laser by the laser recording unit 26 and irradiated to the photoconductor 27 to form a latent image on the photoconductor 27. Then, the toner is developed, and the toner is transferred onto the transfer paper fed from the paper cassette 28, and the toner is fixed by the fixing unit 29 and discharged to the finisher 210.

  The finisher 210 performs various operations according to functions designated by the operator. Specifically, it has various functions such as stapling (for example, one or two bindings), punching (for example, two or three holes), and saddle stitching. There are two paper discharge trays 211, and the paper discharge tray 211 can be distributed for each function of copy, printer, and FAX according to the setting of the operator.

  The print engine 21 is a monochrome printer, but may be a color recording printer engine. When used as a printer, the driver can set the following functions as an output format in the printer. For example, various output formats such as black-and-white print or color print, paper size, Nin1, double-sided, staple, punch, bookbinding saddle stitching, slip sheet, front cover, and back cover can be set.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a controller unit that controls the printing unit, reading unit, and the like in a digital multi-function peripheral embodying the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a CPU, which comprehensively controls a digital multi-function peripheral embodying the present invention according to a program stored in a ROM 103.

  A random access memory 102 is used as a work memory for the CPU 103. Further, it is used as an area for buffering image data transferred from the scanner IF unit 104, an area for high-speed access by the image processing unit 105, the printer IF unit 106, and the feature extraction unit 111.

  Reference numeral 103 denotes a read-only memory which stores an operation program including the operation procedure shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. It also has a font memory and the like for use when the digital multi-function peripheral is used as a printer.

  A scanner interface unit 104 receives the image data by reading one or both sides of the document by controlling the reading unit including the document feeder 22, the light source 24, the CCD 25, etc. The received image data is stored in the RAM 102 as described above. The

  Reference numeral 105 denotes an image processing unit, which has means for performing processing such as enlargement, reduction, filtering, rotation, masking, binarization, etc. on the image data stored in the RAM 102 and writing it back to the RAM 102. Output image data is generated so as to be in the output format.

  A printer interface unit 106 controls the print engine 21 and the finisher 210 according to the output format. In addition, predetermined printing is realized by reading out the printing image data prepared in the RAM 102 and outputting it to the print engine 21.

  Reference numeral 107 denotes a panel controller, which performs various settings by the user, and interfaces between the panel unit 108 and the CPU 101 for displaying various states of the digital multifunction peripheral to the user. With the panel controller 107 and the panel 108, warning means described later is realized.

  Reference numeral 109 denotes a hard disk controller that interfaces between the hard disk 110 capable of storing nonvolatile information in a large capacity and the CPU 101. In addition to being used for storing additional operation programs and for spooling when handling a large amount of document data, in this embodiment, when it is estimated that the user has re-set, the setting is made. Information is stored in association with user identification information.

  A feature extraction unit 111 scans image data stored in the RAM 102 for each page, extracts feature data for image identity determination, and stores the feature data in a predetermined area of the RAM 102. Various known techniques can be applied as the technique for determining the identity of images. For example, a feature extraction technique for determining the identity of fingerprint images may be used.

  A document copying operation in which the present invention is implemented based on the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Flowchart FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation. In the figure, in step 301, the user sets a copy mode via the panel 108. The copy mode is a combination of a reading format for single-sided or double-sided reading and an output format such as stapling (for example, one or two-point binding), punch (for example, two or three holes), and bookbinding saddle stitching.

  In step 302, when the user depresses the start button on the panel 108, the CPU 101 searches whether or not the copy mode is stored in the HD 110 corresponding to the user. If it does not exist, the process proceeds to the document data reading process of step 306. If it exists, that is, if the user has previously copied in the copy mode and further changed only the settings, the same document is copied again. The CPU 101 displays a warning via the panel 108.

  The user reviews the copy mode setting as 305, and if there is a setting mistake, the user can return to step 301 to correct the setting.

  If the document data is read in step 306, the document data is stored in the RAM 102, and in step 307, the feature extraction unit 111 generates feature data for each page. The generated feature data is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 102 and is retained at least until the next document is copied.

  In step 308, the feature data is compared with the feature data generated in the immediately preceding copying process to determine the identity of the document. This step will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 because the processing method branches depending on the reading format.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the step 308 for checking the identity of the document data. The step for branching into four types of paths according to the combination of the reading format in the previous copying operation and the reading format in the latest latest copying operation. Branches by 401, 402, and 403.

  In step 404 when the previous copying operation is single-sided reading and the latest reading is single-sided reading, or in step 406 when the previous copying operation reading is double-sided reading and the latest reading is double-sided reading, Document identity is determined by comparing corresponding feature data of the corresponding pages.

  On the other hand, in step 405 when the reading of the immediately preceding copying operation is single-sided reading and the latest reading is double-sided reading, the feature data of page k of the immediately preceding document and the 2k-1 page of the latest document are compared. To determine document identity. Here, k is a natural number from 1 to n. In step 407 when the previous copying operation is duplex scanning and the latest scanning is single-sided scanning, the feature data of page k of the previous document and the 2k-1 page of the latest document are compared. To determine document identity.

  When the reading mode is different, that is, when passing through step 405 and step 407, the corresponding k-th image acquired at the time of single-sided reading corresponds to the 2k-1th of the image acquired at the time of double-sided reading. It is clear from FIG. In FIG. 5, a document in which character images of “a”, “b”, “c”, “d”, “e”, “f”, “g”, and “h” are written on four double-sided originals. The images acquired in the respective reading modes are described.

  By the above process, it is determined whether the document to be processed in the immediately preceding copying operation and the latest copying operation are the same. Here, although omitted in the flowchart of FIG. 4, it goes without saying that the identity of the document is immediately denied when the number of read documents differs between the previous copy operation and the latest copy operation. .

  Returning to FIG. 3, in step 309, when the document is the same in the previous copy operation and the latest copy operation, and the copy mode is different between the previous copy operation and the latest copy operation, the copy mode Therefore, the process proceeds to step 310. Note that it is better not to determine that the copy mode has changed even if the number of copies has been changed. This is because the test printing is performed first and then the additional number of copies is printed.

  In step 310, the user identification number, the copy mode setting at the previous copy operation, and the copy mode setting at the latest copy operation are associated with each other and stored in the HD 110. Since the HD 110 is a non-volatile storage device, the information is not lost when the power is turned off. Therefore, the HD 110 is suitable as a storage device for this information.

  In this embodiment, the paper document is copied again. However, it should be noted that the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where the digital multi-function peripheral operates as a printing apparatus. As an assumed embodiment, the user operates a personal computer connected to the network, and sends the document information data to the digital multi-function peripheral connected to the network together with the print output format via the network for printing. It is a case. In such an environment, the user designates the print output format from the personal computer terminal, but there are cases where the initial setting value of the output format differs for each of the plurality of digital multifunction peripherals. For example, there is a case where the output is performed in 2in1 and the paper is output in a normal format although it is desired to save paper. The present invention is also useful in such embodiments. Here, in order to determine the identity of the document, the identification information of the document data may be compared, and the feature extraction unit in the embodiment of the copying operation may be omitted.

It is a figure explaining the structure of the controller part of the digital multi-functional peripheral which implemented this invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a digital multi-function peripheral embodying the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure when copying a document with the digital multi-function peripheral embodying the present invention. An operation procedure by disassembling the processing 308 for determining the identity of the document read immediately before copying the document with the digital multi-function peripheral embodying the present invention and the newly read document into more detailed processing. It is a flowchart figure explaining these. A non-read document that supplementarily explains the contents of processing 308 for determining the identity of a document read immediately before copying a document with the digital multi-functional peripheral embodying the present invention and a newly read document. It is a figure explaining the correspondence with the acquired data.

Explanation of symbols

101 CPU (central processing unit)
102 RAM (Random access memory) Random access memory 103 ROM (read only memory)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 104 Scanner interface part 105 Image processing part 106 Printer interface part 22 Document feeder 23 Original reading part 24 Light source 25 CCD (charge coupled device)
26 Laser recording unit 27 Photoconductor 28 Paper cassette 29 Fixing unit 210 Finisher 211 Paper discharge tray

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus having means for storing user setting contents and document data read by the user's operation in association with each other,
Compare the settings made by the user with the set of read document data and the settings made by the user before that and the set of read document data to determine whether they are from the same manuscript. An analogy means,
Image forming comprising: means for storing the setting before change and the set after change in association with each other if the setting contents are changed when the read original is the same original apparatus. A means of authenticating the user;
In the image forming apparatus having means for storing the user setting contents and the document data read by the user's operation in association with each other,
Compare the settings made by the user with the set of read document data and the settings made by the user before that and the set of read document data to determine whether they are from the same manuscript. An analogy means,
Means for storing the user identification information, the setting before the change and the set after the change in association with each other if the setting contents are changed when the read document is the same document. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for notifying a user of a warning if there is a setting stored as the setting before the change that is equal to the setting when the user performs the setting. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a means for notifying a user of a warning if there is a setting associated with the user equal to the setting and stored as the setting before the change when the user performs the setting.

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