JP2011193139A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of more easily and more exactly accepting a user's instruction. <P>SOLUTION: A digital complex machine, which accepts setting of execution conditions of a job concerning the image formation to execute the job based on the execution conditions, includes: a storage part which stores candidates of setting items which should be accepted in execution of the job by grouping them according to degrees of detail of the setting; a voice output part which outputs candidates of any group stored by the storage part by voice; and a voice acceptance part which selectively accepts any of the candidates of the group outputted by the voice output part. The voice acceptance part accepts the candidates of the setting items based on the candidates of the setting items outputted by the voice output part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that accepts setting of an execution condition for a job related to image formation and executes the job based on the execution condition.

  Recent technological development has realized enhancement of functions as well as multi-functionality in various electric devices. With such multi-functionality, when the user causes the electric device to execute one function, first, the user recognizes a large number of functions of the electric device and selects one of them. This increases the burden on the user and increases the possibility of selection error.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device operation device for a device having a hierarchical menu having a multi-hierarchical tree structure in which all operation items are classified by function and the classification is further subdivided into final setting items. If the user utters a keyword, after creating an operation support information file of operation support information in which operation items of the device including the same keyword are associated with audio information explaining the operation items, A device operating device is disclosed that performs voice recognition on the keyword and performs a search process for searching for an operation item corresponding to the keyword based on the recognition result and the operation support information file.

JP 2003-131773 A

  However, the device operation device of Patent Document 1 requires the creation of the operation support information file in a search process for searching for a corresponding operation item from a keyword uttered by a user. Since candidate operation items including the same keyword are collected from the menu, the number of candidate operation items is increased, and many candidate operation items having the same keyword but having virtually no relevance are included. Furthermore, since the search process is performed based on such an operation support information file, there is a problem that there is a high possibility that an operation item different from the operation item desired by the user is searched.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to accept the setting of job execution conditions related to image formation and perform image execution based on the execution conditions. In the apparatus, storage means for storing candidate setting items to be accepted when the job is executed, grouped according to the level of detail of setting, and any group candidate stored in the storage means Output means for outputting by voice; and accepting means for selectively accepting any of the group candidates outputted by the output means, wherein the accepting means sets the setting items based on the setting item candidates outputted by the output means By accepting the candidate, it is not necessary to create the operation support information file described above, and accepts a setting item candidate different from the setting item candidate desired by the user. Potential can be suppressed, easier, and to provide an image forming apparatus capable of receiving an instruction to more accurately user.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention receives setting of an execution condition of a job related to image formation, and a setting item candidate to be received when executing the job in the image forming apparatus that executes the job based on the execution condition Is stored in groups according to the level of detail of setting, output means for outputting any group candidate stored in the storage means by voice, and output by the output means Receiving means for selectively receiving any of the group candidates.

  In the present invention, the output means outputs any of the group candidates stored in the storage means by voice, and the accepting means outputs any of the group candidates output by the output means. Accept. That is, the acceptance of candidates by the accepting means is performed based on the group candidates output by the output means.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the receiving means includes a voice recognition means for recognizing a voice.

  In the present invention, since the accepting unit has a voice recognition unit, if the user pronounces any of the group candidates output by the output unit, the pronounced candidate can be accepted. .

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: a determination unit that determines whether the candidate received by the reception unit belongs to a group with the highest level of detail; and the candidate received by the reception unit is assigned to the group with the highest level of detail. In the case where the candidate does not belong, a reading means for reading a group candidate having a higher level of detail than the group to which the accepted candidate belongs is read from the storage means, and the output means outputs the candidate read by the reading means by voice. It is characterized by being.

  In the present invention, when the determination unit determines that the candidate received by the reception unit does not belong to the group with the highest level of detail, the reading unit determines that the group has a higher level of detail than the group to which the received candidate belongs. Are read from the storage means, and the output means outputs the candidates read by the reading means by voice.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an execution instructing unit that instructs execution of the job when the candidate received by the receiving unit belongs to a group with the highest degree of detail.

  In the present invention, when the determination unit determines that the candidate received by the reception unit belongs to the group with the highest degree of detail, the execution instruction unit instructs execution of the job.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a re-output instruction unit that causes the output unit to output the candidate received by the receiving unit again.

  In the present invention, when the accepting means accepts a candidate, the re-output instruction means instructs the output means to output the candidate again.

  According to the present invention, since the accepting unit accepts any of the setting item candidates based on the setting item candidates output by the output unit, the user does not need to create the operation support information file. The possibility of accepting a setting item candidate different from the desired setting item candidate can be suppressed, and the user's instruction can be accepted more easily and more accurately.

1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the configuration of a storage area of a storage unit of the digital multi-function peripheral according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a control unit of the digital multi-function peripheral according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of execution of a predetermined job by the digital multifunction peripheral according to the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, taking as an example a case where the image forming apparatus is applied to a digital multifunction peripheral.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention receives the setting of execution conditions for a predetermined job, and executes the job based on the execution conditions. Also, setting item candidates that should be accepted when the job is executed are stored in advance, and the stored setting item candidates are output and listed by voice, and the user selects one of the candidates. By selecting and sounding, the setting item of the execution condition can be received.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a digital multifunction machine as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
The digital multifunction device 1 includes an image reading unit 2, an image processing unit 3, an image output unit 6, a storage unit 4 (storage unit), a communication unit 5, an audio output unit 7 (output unit), an operation panel 8, and an audio reception unit 9. Hardware such as (accepting means) is provided, and these hardware are connected to the control unit 10 by a bus N. The control unit 10 controls the hardware to constitute the digital multifunction device 1 of the present invention as a whole.

  The image reading unit 2 optically reads image data of a document that is a job target. In addition, the image reading unit 2 includes an optical unit having a light source that irradiates light to a reading document, for example, an image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD). The image reading unit 2 forms a reflected light image from the original set at a predetermined reading position on the image sensor, and outputs RGB (R: Red, G: Green, B: Blue) analog electrical signals. . The analog electric signal output from the image reading unit 2 is input to the image processing unit 3.

  For example, the image processing unit 3 generates digital image data based on an analog electrical signal input through the image reading unit 2, or reads out the image data stored in the storage unit 4, and sets each image type. After performing the corresponding processing, output image data is generated. The output image data generated by the image processing unit 3 is output to the image output unit 6 or the communication unit 5.

  The communication unit 5 includes a network card, a modem, and the like for transmitting the output image data processed by the image processing unit 3 to the outside. For example, the output image data is set by attaching the output image data to a mail. Send to destination.

  The image output unit 6 forms an image on a sheet such as recording paper or an OHP film based on the output image data output from the image processing unit 3, and outputs a document. For this reason, the image output unit 6 emits an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum by emitting a laser beam in accordance with the photosensitive drum, a charger for charging the photosensitive drum to a predetermined potential, and image data received from the outside. Laser writing device to be generated, developing device for supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum for development, transfer device for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum onto paper, etc. (Not shown), and an image desired by the user is formed on the sheet by electrophotography. In addition to image formation by an electrophotographic method using a laser writing apparatus, an image formation may be performed by an inkjet method, a thermal transfer method, a sublimation method, or the like.

  Further, the operation panel 8 includes function buttons such as “FAX”, “COPY”, “PRINT”, “MAIL”, etc. related to important functions of the digital multifunction device 1, a numeric keypad, an enter key for confirming received instructions, And a display unit 81 such as a liquid crystal display.

  The voice output unit 7 includes a speaker 71 and a voice synthesizing unit 72, and outputs a predetermined group of setting item candidates read by the candidate reading unit 16, which will be described later, via the speaker 71. The voice synthesizer 72 performs voice output by reading out text data representing setting item candidates to be output via the speaker 71 by voice synthesis, for example.

  The voice reception unit 9 includes a microphone 91 and a voice recognition unit 92, and receives voice instructions from the user. The microphone 91 accepts a sound generated by the user, converts the sound into a sound signal, and outputs the sound signal to the sound recognition unit 92. The voice recognition unit 92 recognizes the content of the voice based on the input voice signal, and outputs specific data based on the recognition result.

  The storage unit 4 includes, for example, a non-volatile semiconductor memory, and stores in advance image data for image processing, setting item candidates related to execution conditions of the job to be received when a predetermined job is executed, and the like. Note that text data corresponding to each candidate is stored together, and the speech synthesizer 72 performs speech output using the text data.

  The storage unit 4 stores the setting item candidates in groups according to the degree of detail of setting. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the storage area of the storage unit 4 of the digital multifunction peripheral 1 of the present invention. For example, the storage unit 4 divides the setting item candidates for each main group and stores them using a so-called hierarchical structure according to the degree of detail of setting. Each main group is further divided into one or a plurality of subgroups according to the type of setting. In the hierarchical structure, the level of detail for setting job execution conditions increases from the upper level to the lower level main group. That is, setting items for detailed execution condition setting are stored as the lower main group is reached.

  For example, in an example of a job for copying an original by scaling, the main group 2 has a setting item candidate of “magnification setting”, and the subgroup of the lower main group 3 has “magnification setting”. Candidates for setting items “enlarge” and “reduce”, which are detailed setting item candidates, belong. The subgroup of the main group 4 includes setting item candidates for “magnification ratio” and setting item candidates for “reduction ratio”, which are more detailed setting item candidates than “enlargement” and “reduction”. Belong to different subgroups.

  In addition, when there is no lower-level main group in the sub group, in other words, when there are no more detailed setting items, the lowest-level specification indicating that the main group to which the sub-group belongs is the lowest level. Data is being written. That is, depending on the setting item candidates, it is different for each of the two main groups, for the three main groups, and so on. It is possible to determine whether or not.

  Therefore, for example, even when the lowest main group is relatively higher than the others as in the example of the group 3-3 which is a subgroup of the main group 3, the presence / absence of the lowest specific data is confirmed. As a result, it can be accurately determined that it belongs to the lowest main group.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of the control unit 10 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 of the present invention. The control unit 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an attribute determination unit 14 (determination unit), a re-output instruction unit 15 (re-output instruction unit), a candidate reading unit 16 (read unit), and an execution instruction. Unit 17 (actual instruction means).

  Various control programs are stored in the ROM 12 in advance, and the RAM 13 stores a plurality of data, and can be read out regardless of the storage order, storage position, or the like. The RAM 13 temporarily stores, for example, a program read from the ROM 12, data generated by executing the program, data received from the outside, and the like. The RAM 13 appropriately reads various data stored in response to a read instruction from the CPU 11.

  The CPU 11 loads the control program stored in advance in the ROM 12 onto the RAM 13 and executes it, thereby controlling the various hardware described above, and operating the digital multi-function peripheral 1 as a playback device according to the present invention.

  The affiliation determining unit 14 has the highest degree of detail among the group setting candidates stored in the storage unit 4 as candidates for setting items related to the audio received by the audio receiving unit 9 when executing a predetermined job. It is determined whether it belongs to a group (main group), in other words, whether it belongs to the lowest group (main group). Such determination is performed by checking whether or not the lowest specific data is written in the subgroup to which the candidate belongs, as described above.

  When the voice receiving unit 9 receives a setting item candidate related to voice, the re-output instruction unit 15 reads out text data corresponding to the setting item candidate by voice synthesis through the speaker 71 through the voice synthesis. The voice output unit 7 is instructed to output the voice again.

  If the candidate reading unit 16 determines that the setting item candidate related to the voice received by the voice receiving unit 9 does not belong to the main group having the highest degree of detail, as a result of the determination by the affiliation determining unit 14, A candidate for a main group lower than the main group to which the setting item candidate belongs is read from the storage unit 4. That is, the candidate reading unit 16 reads, from the storage unit 4, the main group candidate having a higher degree of detail than the main group to which the setting item candidate related to the voice received by the voice receiving unit 9 belongs.

  For example, when the execution instruction unit 17 determines that the setting item candidate related to the voice received by the voice receiving unit 9 belongs to the main group having the highest degree of detail, as a result of the determination by the affiliation determination unit 14, Based on the received setting item, the execution of the predetermined job is instructed.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an execution example of a predetermined job by the digital multi-function peripheral 1 of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the user sets execution conditions for enlarging and copying a document at a predetermined magnification, and the document is copied according to the execution condition settings. The description will be made based on the description of FIG.

  The user places the document on a document table (not shown) of the image reading unit 2. Thereafter, the user pronounces “detailed setting” toward the microphone 91 of the voice receiving unit 9. Thereby, CPU11 receives a user's directions via microphone 91 (Step S101).

  Next, the CPU 11 instructs the voice recognition unit 92 to perform voice recognition of the received voice (step S102). Thereafter, the CPU 11 determines whether the received instruction is a “copy” instruction based on the result of the voice recognition by the voice recognition unit 92 and the candidate of the main group 1 of the hierarchical structure stored in the storage unit 4. Determination is made (step S103).

  When the CPU 11 determines that the received instruction is a “copy” instruction (step S103: YES), the CPU 11 moves to the process of step S112, instructs the image reading unit 2 to start reading the document, and sets the image processing unit. 3 is instructed to output image data for output, and the image output unit 6 is instructed to perform image copy based on the output image data, thereby instructing execution of copying of the original.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S103 that the received instruction is not a “copy” instruction (step S103: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether or not the received instruction is a “clear” instruction (step S103). S104).

  If the CPU 11 determines that the received instruction is a “clear” instruction (step S104: YES), the CPU 11 invalidates the instruction received in step S101, returns to the first processing, and waits until the next instruction is received.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 11 determines that the received instruction is not a “clear” instruction (step S104: NO), the candidate reading unit 16 is a candidate for the setting item of the main group 2 that is lower than the main group 1 of the hierarchical structure. (Step S105), and is written in the RAM 13.

  Next, the CPU 11 instructs the audio output unit 7 to output the setting item candidates of the main group 2 written in the RAM 13 (step S106). The voice synthesizer 72 of the voice output unit 7 performs voice synthesis in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 11, and outputs and lists voices representing candidates of the setting items of the main group 2 through the speaker 71.

In such a case, the user selects one of the setting item candidates enumerated by voice. The selection is performed when the user pronounces one of the listed setting item candidates.
For example, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 (audio output unit 7) enumerates the output of “magnification setting”, “finishing setting”, “paper setting”, and “editing setting”, which are candidates for setting items of the main group 2. After that, the voice guidance “Please select one” is further performed. At this time, the user who desires enlarged copy selects the setting item candidate of “magnification setting” by pronouncing “magnification setting”.

  In this way, the CPU 11 accepts the setting item candidate (voice) that is pronounced by the user via the microphone 91 of the voice receiving unit 9 (step S107). Next, the CPU 11 instructs the voice recognition unit 92 to perform voice recognition of the received voice (step S108). In accordance with an instruction from the CPU 11, the voice recognition unit 92 performs voice recognition against the setting item candidates of the main group 2 written in the RAM 13. That is, voice recognition is performed based on the setting item candidates output in voice in step S106.

  Thus, since voice recognition is performed based on setting item candidates in units of groups, it is possible to reduce the possibility of erroneous recognition as compared with the case where voice recognition is performed based on setting item candidates for the entire hierarchical structure. I can do it. For example, even when used in a workplace with high noise, it is possible to suppress erroneous recognition of a user's pronunciation (instruction) due to ambient noise.

  After that, the re-output instruction unit 15 instructs the voice output unit 7 to output again any setting item candidate of the main group 2 corresponding to the voice recognition result by the voice recognition unit 92 (step S109). In accordance with the instruction from the re-output instruction unit 15, the audio output unit 7 again reproduces the audio representing the setting item candidates received by the audio receiving unit 9 and representing the setting item candidates related to the audio recognition result by the audio recognition unit 92. Output.

  For example, when the setting item candidate of the main group 2 corresponding to the voice recognition result by the voice recognition unit 92 is “magnification setting”, the digital multifunction device 1 (voice output unit 7) outputs the “magnification setting” again as voice. Later, the voice guidance “Are you sure?” Is further performed. This allows the user to confirm his choice.

  Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the user has confirmed based on the recognition result of the voice recognition unit 92 (step S110). When it is determined that the user has not confirmed the user (step S110: NO), for example, based on the recognition result of the voice recognition unit 92, the CPU 11 determines that the voice such as “No” or “No” is received. Returning to the process of step S106, the audio output unit 7 is instructed to output the setting item candidates of the main group 2, and the setting item candidates of the main group 2 are output by voice and enumerated again.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 11 determines that the user has confirmed (step S110: YES), for example, “Yes”, “Yes”, “Good”, “Good” based on the recognition result of the voice recognition unit 92. If it is determined that a voice such as the above is accepted, the accepted setting item candidates are stored in the RAM 13. Accordingly, the affiliation determination unit 14 determines whether the accepted setting item candidate belongs to the lowest main group (step S111). In other words, the affiliation determination unit 14 determines whether or not the “magnification setting” belongs to the group with the highest degree of detail. As described above, this determination is made by the presence / absence determination unit 14 confirming the presence / absence of the lowest specific data for the subgroup to which the setting item candidate of the “magnification setting” belongs.

  When it is determined by the affiliation determination unit 14 that it does not belong to the lowest main group (step S111: NO), the CPU 11 returns the process to step S105, and the candidate reading unit 16 sets the setting item of the “magnification setting”. The candidate for the setting item in the lower group than the main group to which the candidate belongs is read (step S105) and written in the RAM 13. That is, the candidate reading unit 16 reads the setting item candidates stored in the group 3-1 of the lower-level main group 3 having a higher level of detail than the main group to which the setting item candidate of the “magnification setting” belongs, and stores it in the RAM 13. Write.

  Thereafter, as described in detail, the processing from step S105 to step S111 is repeated. Thus, the setting item candidates are received, and the received setting item candidates, in other words, job execution conditions are stored in the RAM 13.

  On the other hand, when it is determined by the affiliation determination unit 14 that the accepted setting item candidate belongs to the lowest main group (step S111: YES), that is, the accepted setting item candidate has the highest level of detail. When the CPU 11 determines that it belongs to the above, the CPU 11 proceeds to the process of step S112, and instructs execution of the enlarged copy of the document based on the job execution conditions (setting item candidates) stored in the RAM 13.

  As described above, in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 according to the present invention, no operation by the user's hand is required for executing a job desired by the user. Therefore, it is not necessary for ordinary people to visually recognize the operation keys, and operation mistakes can be suppressed. Further, even the visually handicapped person or the physically handicapped person can freely use the digital multifunction peripheral 1 of the present invention.

  In the above description, a copy of a document has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the case of finishing a document, setting paper for copying, and the like, it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained in the case of reading a document and transmitting image data of the read document.

  In the above description, the case where the storage unit 4 stores setting item candidates in a hierarchical structure has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each group may have a structure in which the degree of detail is different and the groups are arranged in parallel.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 1 of the present invention is not limited to the configuration described above. When setting item candidates for a predetermined group are output as audio via the speaker 71 of the audio output unit 7, the setting item candidates for the group may be displayed on the display unit 81 at the same time.

  In addition, when a touch panel is provided on the display unit 81 and candidates for setting items of a predetermined group are output as audio via the speaker 71 of the audio output unit 7, the setting item candidates for the group are formed as soft keys on the display unit 81. The setting item candidate corresponding to the soft key may be received by touching the soft key.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital multifunction device 4 Memory | storage part 7 Audio | voice output part 9 Audio | voice reception part 14 Attribute determination part 15 Re-output instruction | indication part 16 Candidate reading part 17 Execution instruction | indication part

Claims (5)

In an image forming apparatus that accepts setting of an execution condition for a job related to image formation and executes the job based on the execution condition,
Storage means for storing candidate setting items to be accepted when executing the job, grouped according to the degree of detail of setting;
Output means for outputting any of the group candidates stored in the storage means by voice;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a receiving unit that selectively receives any of the group candidates output by the output unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit includes a voice recognition unit that recognizes a voice. A determination unit that determines whether the candidate received by the reception unit belongs to the group with the highest level of detail;
If the candidate accepted by the accepting means does not belong to the group with the highest degree of detail, the candidate for the group with a higher degree of detail than the group to which the accepted candidate belongs, and a reading means for reading from the storage means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs the candidate read by the reading unit by voice.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an execution instruction unit that instructs execution of the job when the candidate received by the reception unit belongs to a group with the highest degree of detail.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a re-output instruction unit that causes the output unit to output the candidate received by the reception unit again.

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