JP5256952B2 - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing image processing by extracting and quoting appropriate setting information from accumulated history information.

  Recent image processing apparatuses (multifunction peripherals) have become multifunctional, and items to be set for performing one-time image processing are increasing. Therefore, it is desired to realize a highly convenient image processing apparatus that can reduce the operation burden on the user as much as possible. As a conventional image processing apparatus in response to such a request, a function that can register setting information that is frequently used in a storage medium in the apparatus in advance and can call the setting information registered when necessary ( Some have a program registration function.

Further, in Patent Document 1, in order to reduce the troublesome setting operation by the user, every time the setting operation occurs, the operation is temporarily stored as a history, and the history stored in the subsequent operations is called and this call is performed. A technique for quoting history as setting information has been released.
JP 2005-212137 A

  However, in the above technique, the setting information related to the entire image processing is targeted, and a setting operation cannot be performed by partially quoting a part of the setting information, and it is desired to use a part of the past setting history. In some cases, there is a problem that it cannot be applied or it takes time to change the setting.

  Further, in the above technique, for example, the setting history related to the copy function can be cited only when the copy function is executed, and there is a problem that the convenience is low.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention can extract only necessary information from the accumulated setting history, and can save time and effort by quoting it as setting information. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program that are highly convenient and do not depend on an application to be used.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus having an input unit for image data is input, a processing unit that performs processing on the image data, and an output processing unit for outputting the image data Setting information for storing setting information having settings applied to all of the image data input to the image processing apparatus and settings applied to a page unit that is the input image data unit storage means, from among the setting information stored in the past in the setting information storage unit, a setting information extraction means for extracting the setting information based on the selection by the user, the setting information extracted by the setting information extracting unit And an extraction information application unit that causes the input processing unit, the processing processing unit, and the output processing unit to execute image processing .

  In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the setting information extraction unit extracts the setting information related to any one of the input processing unit, the processing processing unit, and the output processing unit.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the setting information extraction unit extracts the setting information for each destination when performing image processing for transmitting image data to the destination.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention further includes an extraction information display unit that displays setting information based on the selection by the user extracted by the setting information extraction unit on a display device included in the image processing apparatus. To do.

In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the extraction information application means, the setting information based on selection by the user extracted by the setting information extracting unit, wherein before applying the setting information based on selection by the user It is added to setting information.

In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the extraction information application unit is setting information based on the selection by the user extracted by the setting information extraction unit, and the setting information before applying the setting information based on the selection by the user. The setting information is overwritten.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention having the above-described features can save time and effort by extracting only necessary information from the accumulated operation history and citing it as setting information. Convenience can be improved without depending on the application.

  In the present invention, only necessary information is extracted from the accumulated setting history, and it is possible to save the trouble of operation by quoting it as setting information, and it is highly convenient not depending on the application to be used. An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program can be provided.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Hardware Configuration Example of Image Processing Device According to this Embodiment>
An example of the hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus 100.

  The image processing apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 210, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 220, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 230, a HDD (Hard Disc Drive) 240, a communication I / F (InterFace) 250, and a scanner 260. A plotter 270 and a display device 280.

  The CPU 210 is a device that executes a program stored in the ROM 220. The CPU 210 performs arithmetic processing on the data expanded (loaded) in the RAM 230 in accordance with an instruction of the program, and controls the entire image processing apparatus 100. The ROM 220 stores programs executed by the CPU 210 and data. When the CPU 210 executes a program stored in the ROM 220 by the CPU 210, the program or data to be executed is expanded (loaded), and temporarily holds the operation data during the operation. The HDD 240 is a device that stores an OS (Operating System) that is basic software, an application program according to the present embodiment, and the like together with related data.

  The communication I / F 250 is an interface for transmitting / receiving information (data) to / from peripheral devices (PC terminals and other image processing apparatuses) having other communication control functions connected via a wireless or wired communication network. is there. The image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is connected to a LAN via a communication I / F 250 and communicates with other apparatuses connected to the LAN according to a communication protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). Transmit / receive image data to be processed. The image processing apparatus 100 is connected to a telephone line via the communication I / F 250 to realize a facsimile function.

  The scanner 260 is a device for acquiring image data of a document. The plotter 270 is a device for outputting image data on a print medium. The display device 280 includes a key switch using a hard key, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and the like, and functions as a user interface when the user uses the functions of the image processing apparatus 100 or when performing various settings. .

  Each unit included in the image processing apparatus 100 may be realized by causing the CPU 210 to execute a program corresponding to each unit stored in the ROM 220 or the HDD 240, and the processing related to each unit may be realized by hardware. It is good also as a form to do.

<Software Configuration of Image Processing Device According to the Present Invention>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration example of the image processing apparatus (multifunction peripheral) 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, the multifunction peripheral refers to an image processing apparatus that realizes a plurality of functions such as a printer, a copy, a scanner, or a FAX in a single casing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the software in the image processing apparatus 100 includes a user interface layer 10, a control layer 20, an application logic layer 30, a device service layer 40, and a device control layer 50. In addition, the vertical relationship of each layer in the drawing is based on the calling relationship between layers. That is, basically, the upper layer in the figure calls the lower layer.

  The user interface layer 10 is a part on which a function for receiving an execution request for a function (for example, copying, printing, scanning, FAX transmission) is mounted. For example, the communication server unit 11 and a local UI (User Interface) unit 12 are included. The communication server unit 11 receives a request from a client PC (Personal Computer) (not shown) via a network, for example. For example, the local UI unit 12 receives a request input via an operation panel (not shown). The request accepted by the user interface layer 10 is transmitted to the control layer 20.

  The control layer 20 is a part on which a function for controlling processing for realizing the requested function is mounted. Specifically, each filter in the application logic layer 30 is connected according to the requested function, and the execution of the function is controlled based on the connected filter.

  In this embodiment, the “function of the image processing apparatus 100” refers to a single unit provided by the image processing apparatus 100 to the user (until a request is input and a final output is obtained). It is synonymous with service, and in terms of software, it is synonymous with an application that provides a single unit of service.

  The application logic layer 30 is a part on which a group of components that realize part of the functions provided in the image processing apparatus 100 is mounted. That is, one function is realized by combining components in the application logic layer 30. In the present embodiment, each component is referred to as a “filter”. This is because the software architecture of the image processing apparatus 100 is based on a concept called “pipe & filter”.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for illustrating the concept of a pipe and filter. In FIG. 3, “F” indicates a filter, and “P” indicates a pipe. As shown in the figure, each filter is connected by a pipe. The filter converts the input data and outputs the result. The pipe transmits the data output from the filter to the next filter.

  That is, in the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, each function is regarded as a series of “conversions” for a document (data). Each function of the image processing apparatus 100 can be generalized as being configured by document input, processing, and output. Therefore, “input”, “processing”, and “output” are regarded as “conversion”, and a software component that realizes one “conversion” is configured as a filter. A filter that realizes input is particularly called an “input filter”. A filter that realizes processing is particularly referred to as a “processing filter”. Further, a filter that realizes output is particularly referred to as “output filter”. Note that. Each filter is independent, and basically there is no dependency relationship (call relationship) between the filters. Therefore, addition (installation) or deletion (uninstallation) is possible in units of filters.

In FIG. 2, the application logic layer 30 includes a read filter 301, a mail reception filter 302, a FAX reception filter 303, and a PC document reception filter 304 as input filters 300.
The reading filter 301 controls reading of image data by the scanner and outputs the read image data. The mail reception filter 302 receives an email and outputs data included in the email. A FAX reception filter 303 controls FAX reception and outputs received data. The PC document reception filter 304 receives print data from a client PC (not shown) and outputs the received print data.

In FIG. 2, the application logic layer 30 includes a document processing filter 311 and a document conversion filter 312 as processing filters 310.
The document processing filter 311 performs predetermined image conversion processing (aggregation, enlargement, reduction, etc.) on the input data and outputs it. The document conversion filter 312 executes a rendering process. That is, the input PostScript data is converted into bitmap data and output.

In FIG. 2, the application logic layer 30 includes a print filter 321, a mail transmission filter 322, a FAX transmission filter 323, and a PC document transmission filter 324 as output filters 320.
The print filter 321 causes the plotter to output (print) the input data. The mail transmission filter 322 transmits the input data attached to the e-mail. The FAX transmission filter 323 transmits the input data by FAX. The PC document transmission filter 324 transmits the input data to the client PC.

  The device service layer 40 is a portion in which lower functions commonly used by the filters in the application logic layer 30 are mounted, and includes, for example, an image pipe 41 and a data management unit 42. The image pipe 41 realizes the above-described pipe function. That is, output data from a certain filter is transmitted to the next filter. The data management unit 42 represents various databases. For example, it corresponds to a database in which user information is registered, a database in which documents or image data are stored, and the like.

  The device control layer 50 is a part in which a group of program modules called a driver that controls a device (hardware) is mounted. For example, a scanner control unit 51, a plotter control unit 52, a memory control unit 53, a telephone line control unit 54 and a network control unit 55. Each control unit controls a device attached to the name of the control unit.

The filter will be described in more detail. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the components of the filter. As shown in FIG. 4, each filter includes a filter setting UI, filter logic, filter-specific lower services, and permanent storage area information.
The filter setting UI is a program for causing the operation panel (display device 280) to display a screen for setting filter execution conditions. For example, in the case of a reading filter that is one of input filters, a screen for setting resolution, density, and image type corresponds. In view of the fact that the operation panel can be displayed based on HTML (HyperText Markup Language) data or a script, the filter setting UI may be HTML data or a script.

The filter logic is a program in which logic for realizing the filter function is mounted. For example, in the case of a reading filter, the logic for document reading control by the scanner corresponds.
The filter-specific lower service is a lower function (library) necessary for realizing the filter logic. For example, a reading filter corresponds to a function for controlling the scanner.
The permanent storage area information corresponds to a schema definition of data that needs to be saved in a nonvolatile memory, such as setting information for a filter (for example, a default value of an execution condition). The schema definition is registered in the data management unit 42 when the filter is installed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a combination of filters for realizing each function (application) in the MFP according to the present embodiment.
For example, the copy function is realized by connecting the reading filter 301 and the print filter 321. This is because the image data read from the document by the reading filter 301 may be printed by the print filter 321. When processing such as aggregation, enlargement, or reduction associated with the copy function is requested, a document processing filter 311 that realizes these processing is inserted between the reading filter 301 and the print filter 321.

The printer function (print function from the client PC) is realized by connecting the PC document reception filter 304, the document conversion filter 312, and the print filter 321. A scan-to-email function (a function for transferring scanned image data by e-mail) is realized by connecting a reading filter 301 and a mail transmission filter 322. The FAX transmission function is realized by connecting the reading filter 301 and the FAX transmission filter 323. The FAX reception function is realized by connecting the FAX reception filter 303 and the print filter 321.
The application logic layer 30 includes a copy activity 31, a printer activity 32, and a multi-document activity 33. Here, the activity is software that realizes one function (one unit of service or application provided to the user by the multi-function device 100) by a combination of fixedly defined filters. For functions that are frequently used, such as copying, it is cumbersome for the user to issue an execution instruction by selecting a filter each time, so it is prepared to eliminate this complexity by defining filter combinations in advance. Is.
The copy activity 31 is an activity that realizes a copy function (copy application) by combining the reading filter 301, the document processing filter 311, and the print filter 321.
The printer activity 32 is an activity for realizing a print function (printer application) by combining the PC document reception filter 304, the document conversion filter 312, and the print filter 321.
The multi-document activity 33 is an activity that can be freely combined with each of the input filter, the processing filter, and the output filter.
Each activity is independent, and there is basically no dependency relationship (call relationship) between the activities. Therefore, addition (installation) and deletion (uninstallation) can be performed for each activity.

  For example, FIG. 6 shows that “multi-document activity UI” and “multi-document activity” constitute one component as a set. Here, the request definition is an application that provides a user with a CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) function for macro information / history information possessed by the repository service as a service. In addition, the request definition repository service manages information (macro information / history information) for allowing the user to recognize the conditions stored in the storage device (for example, HDD 240) in the image processing apparatus 100 as a macro or history (macro information / history information). CRUD). Further, data management is a component that manages information that is stored in the HDD 240, RAM 230 (which may be NV-RAM) or the like in the image processing apparatus 100 and is stored permanently in order to control the image processing apparatus 100. is there.

  Since the configuration shown in FIG. 6 is a configuration specific to a component called an application, just because it is not the configuration shown in FIG. 4 as in data management or a request definition repository service, it is not a component. Absent.

<Operation Principle of Image Processing Device According to this Embodiment>
The operation principle of the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation principle of the image processing apparatus 100. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the image processing apparatus 100 includes a setting information storage unit 110, a setting information extraction unit 120, a setting information display unit 130, and a setting information application unit 140.

  After receiving an image processing execution request, the image processing apparatus 100 executes image processing related to the execution request. The image data related to the image processing may be acquired from the HDD 240 or may be acquired via the communication I / F 250. Furthermore, it may be a form that is read and acquired by the scanner 260.

  Then, in response to the execution request, the image processing apparatus 100 sets setting information that defines the operations of the input filter 300, the processing filter 310, and the output filter 320. Under the set setting information, the input filter 300, the processing By operating each of the filter 310 and the output filter 320, image processing related to the execution request is executed.

  The setting information storage unit 110 stores setting information that defines the operations of the input filter 300, the processing filter 310, and the output filter 320 in a storage device (for example, the HDD 240) each time the image processing apparatus 100 executes image processing. , Will accumulate. That is, the setting information storage unit 110 creates a setting information database (hereinafter, a setting information database).

  In addition to this, the setting information storage means 110 may be configured to store setting information defining the operations of the activities 31, 32, and 33 in a storage device. The timing at which the setting information storage unit 110 stores the setting information may be any of the timing for ending the image processing, the timing for starting the image processing, and the timing during execution of the image processing.

  The setting information extraction unit 120 extracts setting information desired by the user from the setting information accumulated by the setting information storage unit 110. That is, the setting information extraction unit 120 receives a search key for searching / extracting specific setting information from the setting information database, searches the setting information database using the received search key, and sets the corresponding setting information. To extract. In this way, it is possible to save the setting operation by using setting information relating to image processing performed in the past.

  The setting information extraction unit 120 may extract setting information regarding any one of the input filter 300, the processing filter 310, and the output filter 320 from a setting information database. By doing so, it is possible to save the setting operation by using a part of the setting information related to the image processing performed in the past.

  Here, the setting information includes setting information for each job set for each of the input filter 300, the processing filter 310, and the output filter 320, and for each of the input filter 300, the processing filter 310, and the output filter 320. It is assumed that it includes setting information in units of pages set in units of image data to be processed.

  In this case, the setting information extraction unit 120 extracts setting information desired by the user from the accumulated setting information by using a search key called the setting information for each job or the setting information for each page. By doing so, the setting information can be searched and extracted at the cut-off point of job unit or page unit, and the user's trouble when setting the operation condition can be saved.

  In addition, when performing image processing for transmitting image data to a selected destination, the setting information extraction unit 120 uses the destination as a search key to set the desired setting from the stored setting information (setting information database). Extract information. For example, the setting information extraction unit 120 extracts the transmission setting set for each destination from the setting information database using the destination as a search key. Thus, when performing image processing for transmitting image data to a selected destination, setting information determined for each destination can be cited and set by a simple procedure.

  The extracted information display unit 130 displays the setting information extracted by the setting information extraction unit 120 on the display device 280. The search key input by the user based on the setting information displayed on the display device 280 may be received, and the setting information extraction unit 120 may extract information corresponding to the search key from the setting information database again. .

  The setting information application unit 140 applies the setting information extracted by the setting information extraction unit 120 to each of the input filter 300, the processing filter 310, and the output filter 320, and causes each filter to execute image processing.

  The setting information application unit 140 may be configured to store the result of the image processing (image data on which image processing has been performed) in a storage device (for example, the HDD 240), and may be externally transmitted via the communication I / F 250. The plotter 270 may output the data on a print medium.

  The setting information application unit 140 applies the setting information extracted by the setting information extraction unit 120 to the setting information related to the input filter 300, the processing filter 310, and the output filter 320 at the previous stage by the setting information extraction unit 120. The configuration may be such that the extracted setting information is added.

  The setting information application unit 140 applies the setting information extracted by the setting information extraction unit 120 to the setting information related to the input filter 300, the processing filter 310, and the output filter 320 at the previous stage by the setting information extraction unit 120. The extracted setting information may be overwritten. By having a plurality of methods for applying the setting information extracted from the setting history (setting information database) accumulated in this way, the convenience related to the setting operation can be improved.

  The image processing apparatus 100 according to the present invention can save time and effort by extracting only necessary information from the accumulated setting history and quoting it as setting information based on the above operating principle. In addition, the convenience can be improved without depending on the application to be used.

<Example of Processing by Image Processing Device According to this Embodiment>
Hereinafter, an example of processing performed by the image processing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.
(1) Basic operation when executing image processing The basic operation when the image processing apparatus 100 executes image processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram for explaining the basic operation of the image processing apparatus 100.

  First, in S10 to S80, the operation unit device generates conditions for each activity and filter for generating an operation screen. In S90 to S120, the operation unit device performs screen drawing after conditions are returned from all the logics as a response for generating conditions. The conditions and functions here are synonymous.

  Next, when a function is set from the display device 280 by the user, a UI having the function sets its own logic in S130 to S180, and from the activity UI instructed to be executed from the display device 280 by the user. An execution request is received for the activity logic.

  In S190 to S220, the activity logic determines a job to be generated according to the execution conditions, and generates a necessary job. In S230 to S250, the activity logic associates an image request source with a request destination according to the generated job configuration (filter connection).

  In S260-460, the activity logic makes an execution request to each filter logic, and the filter that has received the execution instruction makes an image acquisition request to the associated request destination filter via the pipe, and all the images When processing is completed and the request source filter has been processed, the job ends.

  The progress status of the activity and filter jobs is notified to each UI, and the status is displayed on the screen. The progress status includes a display of the number of documents for input, a display of the number of copies for output, other error states, notification of job start and end status, and the like.

(2) Data structure of setting information stored by setting information storage means The data structure of setting information stored by the setting information storage means 110 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a data structure of setting information managed by request definition will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the data structure of the setting information managed in the request definition has “history information” as the major classification, and “identifier”, “activity name”, “filter name”, “activity condition”, “icon” as the minor classification. "Registration date" and "User".

  Here, “identifier” indicates a unique ID locally in the device, “activity name” indicates the name of the executed activity, and “filter name” indicates a column of names of executed filters (corresponding to a plurality of filters). It is shown. “Activity condition” indicates information for specifying the operation condition of the stored activity, “Icon” indicates an icon indicating the activity, “Registration date / time” indicates the date / time when the information was created (generated by copying or importing) The date and time is set when the user is selected, and “user” indicates the name of the user who executed the image processing.

  A data structure of setting information managed by an activity will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the data structure of the setting information managed by the activity has “activity condition” as a major classification, and “storage identifier”, “filter condition”, “filter name”, “stored data identifier”, “minor classification” It has “input processing order”, “output processing order”, and “setting items held in each activity”.

  Here, the “storage identifier” is a value for specifying data, and is assigned when the data is stored (permanently) in the storage device. “Filter conditions” are all conditions set as input, output, and machining conditions, and are set for each function. “Filter name” is the name of the filter, and “stored data identifier” is information for specifying the operating condition of the stored filter. “Input processing order” is used to set whether or not the processing functions are executed in order. “Setting items held by each activity” are setting items held by each activity as operation conditions, and are set for each function.

  The data structure of the setting information managed by the filter will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the data structure of the setting information managed by the filter has “filter condition” as the major classification, and “storage identifier” and “setting value group held by each filter” as the minor classification.

  Here, the “storage identifier” is a value for specifying data, and is assigned when the data is stored (permanently) in the storage device. The “set value group held by each filter” is all setting items set as conditions, and is set for each function.

  9-11 is associated with the minor category “activity condition” in FIG. 9 and the major category “activity condition” in FIG. 10, and the minor category “filter” in FIG. The “condition” and the major classification “filter condition” in FIG. 11 are linked and stored in the storage device.

  An example of setting information managed by the filter will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting information managed by the input filter 300. As shown in FIG. 12, the setting items include “original surface”, “original type”, “finished stamp”, “mass original mode”, and “size mixed loading”. The setting item “Original Side” has “Single Side” and “Double Side” as setting values, and the “Original Type” setting item has “Text”, “Character Chart”, and “Text Photo” as setting values. The items “Done Stamp”, “Large Document Mode”, and “Size Mixed” have “None” and “Yes” as setting values.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting information managed by the print filter 320. As shown in FIG. 13, the setting items include “staple”, “sort”, “punch”, “Z-fold”, “print color”, and “tray”. The setting item “staple” includes “none”, “upper right”, “lower left”, and “upper two places” as setting values, and the setting item “sort” includes “none”, “normal”, and “shift” as setting values. There is “Rotation”, the setting item “Punch” has “None”, “Left”, “Right”, “Up”, “Upper left”, and the setting item “Z Fold” has “None” as the setting value “There is”, “print color” of the setting item has “full color” and “monochrome” as setting values, and “tray” of the setting item has “paper feed stage number” as the setting value.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the setting information includes information regarding whether each setting item is a job unit “Job” or a page unit “Page”.

(3) Storage of Setting Information by Setting Information Storage Unit An example of processing for storing setting information by the setting information storage unit 110 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram according to a processing example in which setting information is stored by the setting information storage unit 110.

  When the document operation job ends, the multi-document activity 33 stores the filter conditions held by itself. First, in step S <b> 470, the multi-document activity 33 performs processing for storing the conditions of the reading filter 301, which are conditions related to input.

  In step S <b> 480, the reading filter 301 converts the setting item of the condition held by the reading filter 301 into a storable state (filter condition storage information). If storable data can be created, the read filter 301 passes the data to data management and stores the data in S490. In S500, the data management stores the passed data and returns an identifier for specifying the stored data.

  In step S <b> 510, the reading filter 301 returns the identifier for specifying the received stored data to the multi-document activity 33 as it is. In step S520, the multi-document activity 33 records the received identifier as activity condition storage information for use when reading out the filter condition.

  The processing performed in S470 to S520 is performed on the editing filter 311 in S530 to S580, and subsequently performed on the print filter 321 in S590 to S640.

  After the multi-document activity 33 stores the filter conditions for all the filters in S650 to S670, the multi-document activity 33 can store the setting items of the conditions held by the activity conditions in S680 to S710 (activity conditions The activity name and activity condition are set as history information (information other than the activity name and activity condition is generated and set in the request definition when the data is stored).

  When setting of parameters necessary for storage is completed, the multi-document activity 33 creates history information in S720 to S770. When the history information is stored, an ID for the history information is generated and the creation of the history information is completed.

  The timing for executing the history creation process may not be after the job is finished. In addition to the end of the job, parallel processing or the like can be considered at an arbitrary timing during the start of the document operation job or during the processing of the document operation job. The selection may be made in consideration of the performance of the execution timing device.

(4) Processing Example of Setting Information Extraction Unit, Setting Information Display Unit, and Setting Information Application Unit A processing example of the setting information extraction unit 120, the setting information display unit 130, and the setting information application unit 140 will be described with reference to FIGS. To do. FIG. 15 shows an operation screen flow diagram of the image processing apparatus 100, FIG. 16 shows a sequence diagram relating to processing for extracting and displaying setting information, and FIG. 17 shows a sequence diagram relating to processing for extracting and applying setting information.

  When the main power supply of the image processing apparatus 100 is turned on, an operation screen indicated by 1 in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display device 280. Here, a list of applications that can be used in the image processing apparatus 100 is displayed. For example, when “COPY” is selected, an application that reads and prints an original with the scanner 260 is executed.

  The application list 1 in FIG. 15 displays a list of applications managed by application management on the overall configuration diagram, and each application key corresponds to an activity component in the overall configuration diagram. The copy activity 31 corresponds to “COPY”, the transmission activity corresponds to “SENDER”, and the multi-document activity 33 corresponds to “MULTI”.

  Here, when the “HISTORY” key (2 in FIG. 15) is pressed, the operation unit device notifies the application management UI of the key press (S780), and the application management UI requests the request definition UI to display a history list. . The search key at this time is “ALL” (S790).

  The history list indicated by 4 in FIG. 15 is displayed by the request definition UI, and when one piece of history information is selected from this, the display device 280 becomes an operation screen indicated by 5 in FIG. In FIG. 15, “SCAN” key, “READ” key, “PRINT” key, “SEND” key, and “STORE” key are displayed. These are multi-application operation screens.

  By pressing the “SCAN” key and selecting “ON” on the operation screen 5 shown in FIG. 15, the document reading operation setting can be performed (not shown). When the “READ” key is pressed and “ON” is selected on the operation screen 5 shown in FIG. 15, a list of files stored in the image processing apparatus 100 is displayed, and a file to be output is selected. (Not shown).

  When the “PRINT” key is pressed and “ON” is selected on the operation screen 5 shown in FIG. 15, the image data group obtained by the above-described data input processing (“SCAN” “READ”) is printed. Printing operation settings can be made (not shown).

  When the “SEND” key is pressed and “ON” is selected on the operation screen 5 shown in FIG. 15, the operation screen 24 shown in FIG. 15 is displayed, and the data input process (“SCAN” “READ”) described above is displayed. The transmission operation setting for transmitting the image data group obtained in step S1 to the outside of the image processing apparatus 100 can be set.

  When the “STORE” key is pressed and “ON” is selected on the operation screen 5 shown in FIG. 15, the image data group obtained by the above-described data input processing (“SCAN” “READ”) is made into one file. Operation settings for accumulating in the image processing apparatus 100 can be made.

  The history information selected on the operation screen 4 shown in FIG. 15 is extracted from the data management by the request definition, and the history information for the activity corresponding to the “activity name” in the history information data via the request definition UI. Is notified (S940). When user authentication is set in the image processing apparatus 100, the log-in user is “Owner” in the history list 4 in FIG.

  When the “MULTI” key (3 in FIG. 15) is pressed on the operation screen 1 shown in FIG. 15, a multi-application operation setting screen is displayed on the display device 280 (6 in FIG. 15). When the “HISTORY” key (7 in FIG. 15) is pressed on the operation screen 6 in FIG. 15, the operation unit device notifies the multi-document activity UI of the key press (S800), and the multi-document activity UI requests the request definition UI. Is required to display a history list. The search key at this time is the category “APP” and the name “multi-document activity” (S810).

  By doing so, the display on the display device 280 becomes as indicated by 8 in FIG. 15, and all the history information displayed here is the history of executing the multi-document activity. When history information is designated from these, the display device 280 becomes an operation screen indicated by 9 in FIG. The upper part 9 in FIG. 15 is an operation for determining what setting item is used in the operation condition stored as history information.

  When the “ALL” key (10 in FIG. 15) is pressed on the operation screen indicated by 9 in FIG. 15, the operation settings stored in the history information are expanded on the display device 280. When this operation is performed, “ALL” is notified from the request definition UI to the multi-document activity UI (S940), and the multi-document activity UI is notified to the multi-document activity (S950). In the multi-document activity, the storage ID of its own activity condition stored in the history information is extracted, and the activity condition is read from data management (not shown).

  Since the multi-document activity is notified that the search key is “ALL”, in the multi-document activity, all the filter conditions in the activity condition are expanded as operation settings.

  When the “JOB” key (11 in FIG. 15) is pressed on the operation screen indicated by 9 in FIG. 15, only the operation setting for each job is expanded on the display device 280 among the operation settings stored as history information. The When the “PAGE” key (12 in FIG. 15) is pressed on the operation screen indicated by 9 in FIG. 15, only the operation settings for each page among the operation settings stored in the history information are expanded on the display device 280. The

  Here, the operation setting for each job and the operation setting for each page will be described. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the setting items “sort” and “staple” are operation settings for each job, and the setting items “tray” and “print color” are operation settings for each page. In other words, the operation setting for each job is applied to all the original images to be read, and the operation setting for each page is a setting that can be changed for each original image to be read.

  The history information may be used in the case where the same document or a similar document is input / output again with the past operation setting, or in the case where the document is different but may have the same finish as the past. By pressing the “PAGE” key (12 in FIG. 15) on the screen, the former needs are answered, and by pressing the “JOB” key (11 in FIG. 15), the latter needs are answered.

  The information of “PAGE” and “JOB” is notified from the request definition UI to the multi-document activity UI and multi-document activity in the same manner as when the “ALL” key (10 in FIG. 15) is pressed. This information is notified to each filter in S1030, S1050, and S1070, and the setting item only for “JOB” or the setting item only for “PAGE” is expanded as an operation setting according to the definition of the setting information that each filter has.

  When the “IN-OUT” key (13 in FIG. 15) is pressed on the operation screen indicated by 9 in FIG. 15, the operation screen indicated by 16 in FIG. Here, it is possible to specify which input / output part is expanded as the operation setting from the history information. This information is also notified from the request definition UI to the multi-document activity UI as described above, and is notified to the multi-document activity.

  In the multi-document activity, it is determined which filter operating condition should be developed based on this information, and the processes in S1030, S1050, and S1070 are executed only for the filter for which “ON” is selected. .

  In the operation screen indicated by 16 in FIG. 15, “YES” is displayed for “filter name” held as history information, and “NO” is displayed for other items. Since “NO” here is not included in the history information, these cannot be set to “YES”, but “YES” is set for “YES”. , “YES” can be operated.

  The operation settings on the operation screen indicated by 9 in FIG. 15 are not all selectable, and combinations occur in the selection operations. Only one of “JOB” and “PAGE” can be selected. When it is desired to develop both types of operation conditions of “JOB” and “PAGE” from the history information, both of them should be left in a non-selected state.

  In addition, “IN-OUT” and “ALL” that set which filter function in the activity condition is used cannot be selected at the same time. Although “ALL” is selected as an initial state, when “IN-OUT” is selected, the “ALL” key is not selected. On the other hand, when the “ALL” key is pressed, the “IN-OUT” key is not selected.

  When the “OK” key (14 in FIG. 15) is pressed on the operation screen indicated by 9 in FIG. 15, an operation screen indicated by 20 in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display device 280. Here, whether to overwrite or replace the operation condition of the history information with the current operation setting is designated. Here, a process for adding an operating condition for history information is performed by pressing the “Overwrite” key (21 in FIG. 15), and an operating condition for history information is pressed by pressing the “Replace” key (22 in FIG. 15). Thus, the process of overwriting the conventional operating condition is performed.

  For example, if the READ function is already set to “ON” before the history information is expanded, the process for adding the history information to the operating condition is set from the history information having the setting to set the READ function to “OFF”. Even if deployed, the READ function remains “ON”. On the other hand, the process of overwriting the conventional operating condition with the operating condition of the history information is, for example, the setting that sets the READ function to “OFF” if the READ function is already “ON” before the history information is expanded. When the operating condition is developed from the history information, the READ function is “OFF”.

  Information on pressing the “Overwrite” and “Replace” keys is notified from the request definition UI to the multi-document activity UI, and is notified to the multi-document activity. In the multi-document activity, selection of “ON / OFF” information regarding the filter function stored as history based on this information is performed.

  In addition, information on pressing these “Overwrite” and “Replace” keys is notified from the multi-document activity to the filter, and whether or not the operation setting stored as history information is used as it is when the operation condition of the filter is restored. Judging.

  The operation screen indicated by 9 in FIG. 15 and the operation screen indicated by 20 in FIG. 15 are both displayed by the request definition UI. The multi-document activity UI is notified, but in order for the request definition UI to display the operation screen indicated by 9 in FIG. 15, the category of the search keyword for the request definition UI may be “ALL” or “APP”. When the category of the search keyword is “FILTER” or “PARAM”, the operation screen as indicated by 9 in FIG. 15 is not displayed in the request definition UI. Further, the operation screen indicated by 20 in FIG. 15 may be that the category of the search keyword received by the request definition UI is “APP”, “FILTER”, or “PARAM”.

  When the “SEND” key is pressed on the operation screen indicated by 6 in FIG. 15, an operation screen indicated by 26 in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display device 280. When the “HISTORY” key (27 in FIG. 15) is pressed on this operation screen, the operation unit device notifies the transmission filter UI (S820), and the transmission filter UI requests the request definition UI to display a history list.

  The category of the search key at this time is “FILTER” and the name is “transmission filter” (S830). As a result, the operation screen indicated by 30 in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display device 280, and all the history information displayed here is the history when the transmission filter is used. When history information is designated from these, an operation screen indicated by 31 in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display device 280.

  On the operation screen indicated by 31 in FIG. 15, one of “JOB” and “PAGE” can be selected. When the “JOB” key (32 in FIG. 15) is selected, only the operation setting for each job among the operation settings stored as history information is developed on the display device 280. On the other hand, when the “PAGE” key (33 in FIG. 15) is pressed, only the operation setting for each page among the operation settings stored as history information is developed on the display device 280. On the other hand, if neither “JOB” nor “PAGE” is selected, all the filter conditions are expanded regardless of the job unit or page unit.

  When the “OK” key (34 in FIG. 15) is pressed on the operation screen 31 in FIG. 15, an operation screen indicated by 36 in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display device 280. Here, when expanding the filter condition stored as history information, “Overwrite” or “Replace” can be selected.

  When the “OK” key (39 in FIG. 15) is pressed on the operation screen 31 in FIG. 15, the setting state of “JOB / PAGE”, the setting state of “Overwrite / Rplace”, and the search keyword are displayed from the request definition UI. The multi-document activity UI is notified (S940), and the multi-document activity is notified (S950). These pieces of information are notified to the related filter from the multi-document activity, and are referred to by the filter when expanding the filter condition (S1160).

  When the “HISTORY” key (28 in FIG. 15) is pressed on the operation screen indicated by 26 in FIG. 15, this is notified from the operation unit device to the transmission filter UI (S840), and the history is sent from the transmission filter UI to the request definition UI. List display is requested. The search key category at this time is “PARAM”, and the name is “transmission filter + destination” (S850). As a result, an operation screen indicated by 30 in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display device 280, and all of the displayed history information is a history using the transmission filter.

  When history information is selected from these, an operation screen indicated by 42 in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display device 280. Here, when expanding the filter condition stored as history information, “Overwrite” or “Replace” can be designated.

  When the “OK” key (45 in FIG. 15) is pressed on the operation screen indicated by 42 in FIG. 15, the setting state and search keyword of “Overwrite / Replace” are notified from the request definition UI to the multi-document activity UI (S940). ), The multi-document activity is notified (S950). These pieces of information are notified to the related filter from the multi-document activity, and are referred to by the filter when expanding the filter condition (S1190). As a result, the transmission filter develops only the destination selection information as the operation condition among the operation conditions stored as history information (S1200, S1210).

<Summary>
According to the present invention, only necessary information is extracted from the accumulated setting history, and it is possible to save the trouble of operation by quoting it as setting information, and it is highly convenient not depending on the application to be used. An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program can be provided.
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. Deformation / change is possible.

It is a figure which shows the software structural example of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline of the image processing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the concept of a pipe & filter. It is a figure for demonstrating the component of a filter. It is a figure which shows the example of the combination of the filter for implement | achieving each function of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the software structural example of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation principle of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the basic operation | movement of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the data structure of the setting information managed by the request definition which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the data structure of the setting information managed by the activity which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the data structure of the setting information managed with the filter which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the setting information managed with the filter which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the setting information managed with the filter which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the process example by the setting information storage means which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an operation screen flowchart for demonstrating the process example of the setting information extraction means, setting information display means, and setting information application means which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the process example of the setting information extraction means, setting information display means, and setting information application means which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the process example of the setting information extraction means, setting information display means, and setting information application means which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image processing apparatus 110 Setting information storage means 120 Setting information extraction means 130 Extraction information display means 140 Extraction information application means 210 CPU
220 ROM
230 RAM
240 HDD
250 Communication I / F
260 Scanner 270 Plotter 280 Display device

Claims (13)

An image processing apparatus having an input processing unit for inputting image data, a processing unit for processing image data, and an output processing unit for outputting image data,
A setting information storage that stores setting information having settings that are applied to all of the image data input to the image processing apparatus and settings that are applied to a page unit that is the input image data unit. Means,
Setting information extraction means for extracting the setting information from the setting information stored in the past in the setting information storage means based on a selection by a user;
By applying the setting information extracted by the setting information extracting unit, wherein the input processing unit, an image characterized by having a extraction information application unit for executing the processing unit and image processing to the output processing unit Processing equipment.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting information extraction unit extracts the setting information related to any one of the input processing unit, the processing processing unit, and the output processing unit. The setting information extracting unit, when the image processing for transmitting the image data to a destination, the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the extracting the setting information for each the destination. The setting information based on selection by the user extracted by the setting information extracting means, to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has an extraction information display means for displaying on a display device included in the the image processing apparatus The image processing apparatus described. The extraction information application unit adds setting information based on the selection by the user extracted by the setting information extraction unit to the setting information before applying the setting information based on the selection by the user. Item 5. The image processing apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 4 . The extracted information applying unit overwrites the setting information before applying the setting information based on the selection by the user with the setting information based on the selection by the user extracted by the setting information extracting unit. Item 5. The image processing apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 4 . An image processing method for an image processing apparatus, comprising: an input processing unit for inputting image data; a processing unit for processing image data; and an output processing unit for outputting image data.
Setting information having setting information storage means having settings applied to all of the image data input to the image processing apparatus and settings applied to page units that are the input image data units The step of memorizing
A step of extracting setting information based on a selection by a user from the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit in the past ;
Extracting information application means applies the setting information extracted by the setting information extracting unit, wherein the input processing unit, and a step of executing the processing unit and image processing to the output processing section, to have a A featured image processing method. The image processing method according to claim 7 , wherein the setting information extraction unit extracts the setting information related to any one of the input processing unit, the processing processing unit, and the output processing unit. The image processing method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the setting information extraction unit extracts the setting information for each destination when performing image processing for transmitting image data to the destination. Extracting information display means, a setting information based on selection by the user extracted by the setting information extracting unit, according to claim 7 to 9, characterized in that it comprises the step of displaying on a display device included in the the image processing apparatus The image processing method according to any one of the above. The extracted information applying unit adds setting information based on the selection by the user extracted by the setting information extracting unit to the setting information before applying the setting information based on the selection by the user. the image processing method according to any one of claims 7 to 10. The extraction information application unit overwrites the setting information before applying the setting information based on the selection by the user with the setting information based on the selection by the user extracted by the setting information extraction unit. the image processing method according to any one of claims 7 to 10. An image processing program executed in an image processing apparatus having an input processing unit for inputting image data, a processing processing unit for processing image data, and an output processing unit for outputting image data,
The image processing apparatus ;
A setting information storage that stores setting information having settings that are applied to all of the image data input to the image processing apparatus and settings that are applied to a page unit that is the input image data unit. Means ,
Setting information extracting means for extracting the setting information from the setting information stored in the past in the setting information storage means based on a selection by a user;
An image processing program for applying the setting information extracted by the setting information extraction unit to cause the input processing unit, the processing unit, and the output processing unit to function as an extraction information application unit .

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