JP2003276272A - Imaging apparatus, portable information terminal, storage medium and method for printing document utilizing portable information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a user from being puzzled at operations by displaying an always constant operation layout set by the user irrespective of kinds of imaging apparatuses. <P>SOLUTION: In the imaging apparatus 34 constituted to include a means 36 for connecting to a portable storage medium such as a memory, a data processing means 38, a display means 40, an input selecting means and a printing means 44, operation layout information and document information stored in the storage medium are read by the data processing means 38. The operation layout information is displayed to the display means 40, and the document information is displayed with thumbnails. The document information selected by the input selecting means corresponding to the operation layout information is sent to the printing means 44 and printed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for printing a document using a separately portable storage medium such as a memory card, a personal digital assistant,
The present invention relates to a document printing system using a storage medium and a mobile information terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDs)
A system for directly printing data of a portable information terminal device such as A) by a printer without using a personal computer (PC) has been developed.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-320977 discloses a system in which a mobile phone and a printer are directly connected to each other and character data or voice data stored in the mobile phone is converted into bitmap data by a printing device and printed. It is disclosed.

In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-126724, a plurality of thumbnail images from a digital camera are aligned and displayed on a video monitor, and a cursor is displayed so that the cursor can be freely moved within the screen of the video monitor and its position ( Coordinate),
The image at the position where the cursor is stopped is used as a print output image candidate, and when there is a confirmation input, the corresponding high-resolution image is loaded from the digital camera into the memory and displayed on the video monitor. There is disclosed a direct printer adapter having a function of indexing.

However, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-320977.
According to the one described in Japanese Patent Publication, in order to select and print specific data from a plurality of data stored in a mobile phone, it is necessary to select using a small display screen of the mobile phone and input keys or dial keys. Therefore, there is a problem in operability and visibility. In addition, JP-A-11-126724
The device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication has an external video monitor, so that the visibility is good, but there is a problem in that a separate place for installing the video monitor is required and the cost is high.

In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable to provide a display means on the printer itself. For example, the system described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-356887 is shown in FIG. The system illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a mobile terminal device 101, a connection unit 104 connectable to the mobile terminal device 101, and a connection unit that provides a list of index information related to printable data stored in the mobile terminal device 101. 1
04, an index information acquisition unit 103 having a function of acquiring the index information, a display unit 106 displaying a list of index information, and an input unit having a function of allowing a user to select at least one index information from the index information list. 107 and a printable data acquisition unit 105 that is stored inside the mobile terminal device 101 and has a function of acquiring printable data related to each information selected by the user via the input unit 107 via the connection unit 104, A printing device (hereinafter, referred to as “printer”) including a printing unit 108 that prints the acquired printable data is provided.

In the system, a large LCD panel is used as the display unit 106 and a pressure-sensitive device incorporated in the LCD panel as the input unit 107, so that it functions to receive a user's input instruction. Then, a predetermined display screen is displayed on the display unit, and a predetermined process is selected by operating the input unit 107 according to the display screen so that the print unit 108 prints predetermined information. There is.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-53520 discloses a digital copying machine capable of accumulating image data. This system is shown in FIG. The digital copying machine includes a scanner unit 110 and a printer unit 120, and has a scanner function, a printer function, a storage function such as a memory, a serial interface,
It also has a card connector, which stores the previously processed image data and uses it to print out.
Various functions such as a function of serially transferring the stored image to the personal computer section 130, a function of receiving image data from the personal computer section 130 serially, storing and printing out, a function of writing to a memory card, a function of reading from a memory card, etc. It is something that can be fulfilled.

In this system, application software for setting the function of the scanner unit 110 by the main CPU 131 of the personal computer unit 130, the scanner unit 11
0, a scanner driver for issuing an operation instruction to the printer unit 120 and a printer driver for issuing an operation instruction to the printer unit 120 are read from the hard disk 133 and executed on the RAM 132, and the application software includes a scanner mode setting function, a print instruction function, Scan instruction function,
It has a copy instruction function, an editing function, a display function, and the like.

However, in the systems described in these cited publications, the operation layout on the display section of the printer is in the printing apparatus (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-3568).
87) or the application software of a personal computer (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-53520), and the user of the mobile terminal device sets and uses these operation layouts on his / her own mobile terminal. I couldn't.

Since the portable terminal device is one type of small computer, it has the ability to execute various programs, and the user can create an operation layout of his choice or the operation layout of the program originally installed. Various processes can be performed by using the.
The portable information terminal device is carried by the user and can be carried around freely, but the printer installed at the base location and the printer installed at the destination are not necessarily the same model. From that,
The operation layout and display contents are different for each, and even if you try to print out the document stored in the storage medium of the mobile terminal device, the contents cannot be displayed accurately, and in recent years the flow of multifunctionalization and high functionality has become possible. Since the display of the operation panel is complicated, the operation is often confusing.

[0012]

Therefore, the present inventors
As a result of various studies to solve the above problems, the functions of the mobile terminal device are used to create an operation layout of the display unit of the printer on the mobile terminal device, and the information related to the operation layout is separated to carry the data. A storage medium that can be stored in an available storage medium, and the storage medium is connected to a printer device to display the operation layout stored in the storage medium on the display unit of the printer device. It has been found that the above problems can be solved if the processing of (1) can be performed, and the present invention has been completed.

That is, an object of the present invention is to read the operation layout information and the document information stored in the portable storage medium, display the operation layout information on the display means, and display the document information in the thumbnail form. To do. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus adapted to send the document information selected by the input selection means corresponding to the operation layout information to the printing means for printing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal device which can be effectively used in combination with the image forming apparatus.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable storage medium that can be effectively used in combination with the image forming apparatus and the mobile terminal device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a document printing system in which the image forming apparatus, the portable terminal device and the storage medium are combined.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable storage medium that stores operation layout information and document information to be displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus, or a program that executes the information.

[0017]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by adopting the following configuration.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus comprising at least a connecting means for connecting to a portable storage medium, a data processing means, a display means, an input selecting means and a printing means. There is provided an image forming apparatus for reading the operation layout information and the document information stored in the storage medium by the data processing means, displaying the operation layout information on the display means, and displaying the document information as thumbnails. .
Then, there is provided an image forming apparatus configured to send the document information selected by the input selection unit corresponding to the operation layout information to the printing unit to print the document information.

According to this aspect, the operation layout of the display unit of the image forming apparatus is displayed in accordance with the operation layout information defined by the user stored in the storage medium.
Since a constant operation layout is always displayed regardless of the model of the image forming apparatus, the user will not be confused about the operation when displaying or printing a document.

In the image forming apparatus, the portable storage medium may be a memory card, and
The display means may be a touch panel type display means and also serve as an input selection means.
The thumbnail display of the document information may be the thumbnail display of each first page of the plurality of document information. It is preferable that the thumbnail display of the entire document selected by the input selection means can be performed among the thumbnail display of the first page of each document.

More preferably, the image forming apparatus is
It is desirable that the multi-function peripheral has at least one of a copying function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a portable information terminal device having a separately portable storage medium, the portable information terminal edits the operation layout displayed on the display means of the image forming apparatus. There is provided means for storing the edited operation layout information in the storage medium and also storing the document information in the storage medium.

According to this structure, the operation layout of the display unit of the image forming apparatus is displayed according to the operation layout information set by the user and stored in the storage medium via the portable information terminal. There is no confusing operation when displaying or printing a document in the image forming apparatus. Preferably, in the mobile information terminal device, the storage medium may be a memory card.

Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable storage medium in which the operation layout information and the document information to be displayed on the display means of the image forming apparatus are stored.

According to this structure, the user defines the combination of the image forming apparatus and the portable information terminal, and the operation layout of the display section of the image forming apparatus is stored in the storage medium via the portable information terminal. Since the image is displayed according to the operation layout information, the user will not be confused by the operation when displaying or printing the document on the image forming apparatus.

According to yet another aspect of the invention,
(1) A portable information terminal device having a separately portable storage medium, the portable information terminal including means for editing an operation layout displayed on the display means of the image forming apparatus, A portable information terminal configured to store the operation layout information in the storage medium and the document information in the storage medium, and (2) at least a connecting means for connecting to the portable storage medium. And an image forming apparatus including a data processing unit, a display unit, an input selection unit and a printing unit, the operation processing unit reads the operation layout information and the document information stored in the storage medium by the data processing unit, and displays the operation layout information and the document information on the display unit. The operation layout information is displayed and the document information is displayed as thumbnails, and the operation layout is displayed. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that the document information selected by the input / selection means corresponding to the information is sent to the printing means for printing, and a document printing system using a portable information terminal .

According to this aspect, since the operation layout of the display section of the image forming apparatus is displayed according to the operation layout information defined by the user stored in the storage medium, it is always constant regardless of the model of the image forming apparatus. Since the operation layout is displayed, a constant operation layout is displayed regardless of the model of the image forming apparatus regardless of the model of the image forming apparatus, so that the user is not confused about the operation when displaying or printing a document. Disappear.

According to this aspect, the operation layout of the display unit of the image forming apparatus is displayed according to the operation layout information set by the user stored in the storage medium.
Since a constant operation layout is always displayed regardless of the model of the image forming apparatus, the user will not be confused about the operation when displaying or printing a document.

In the document printing system, the portable storage medium can be a memory card, and the display means of the image forming apparatus is a touch panel type display means which also serves as an input selection means. Further, the thumbnail display of the document information can be the thumbnail display of each first page of the plurality of document information. It is preferable that the thumbnail display of the entire document selected by the input selection means can be performed among the thumbnail display of the first page of each document. More preferably, it is desirable that the image forming apparatus of the document printing system is an all-in-one multifunction machine that further includes at least one of a copying function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function.

Since the storage medium stores the operation layout information and the document information to be displayed on the display means of the image forming apparatus and the program for executing the information, only the storage medium can store the information therein. It is possible to display or print by the image forming apparatus.

[0031]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of the document printing system 10 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the outline of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are the image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure showing the outline of a storage medium, FIG. 7 is a figure showing the operation layout information of this invention, and FIG. 8 is a figure showing the display state of the document information of this invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a document normally used in a company, for example, a personal computer 12 is used.
Documents recorded therein, scanned documents obtained by scanning the handwritten document 13 with the scanner 14, photo documents captured by the digital camera 16 and the like, fax documents captured by the facsimile 18, and mobile phones Centralized management of Web documents and the like fetched from the portable information terminal device 20, etc. is accumulated in the in-house document server 22 and is used by employees.

In order to allow employees to access the document server 22 from outside the company, the document server 22 is connected to the Internet 26 via the WWW server 24, and a mobile phone capable of connecting to the Internet of each communication company. Various documents can be browsed by accessing the document server 22 via the Internet 26 by a portable information terminal device such as 28 or PDA 30.

When it is necessary to print the viewed document, various communication means such as a universal serial bus (between the portable information terminal such as the mobile phone 28 and the PDA 30 and the image forming apparatus 34 having the print function are used. US
B), an infrared (IR) communication system or a wireless communication system can be used for connection, but the amount of data is large, the communication speed is low, and the mobile phone 28 or PD
In order to avoid incorporating a special communication means into the A30, the present invention uses a small memory card 32 that is usually attached to a mobile information terminal such as a mobile phone 28 or a PDA 30, and uses the memory card 32. Is connected to the image forming apparatus 34 having a printing function so that a desired document is printed.

This small memory card has recently been
A large capacity B is also commercially available, and it is possible to record a considerable amount of documents. In the system of the present invention, the mobile phone 28 or PDA 30 has a function of editing the operation layout to be displayed on the display means (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 34 having the printing function by the user himself, and for example, any function. The operation layout can be edited by allowing the user to freely set the operation keys to be displayed and how to arrange the operation keys, and to store the operation layout information in the memory card 32. You can do it.

It is desirable that the program for editing the operation layout is less dependent on the model and is created in the programming language that is currently the standard language of the Internet.

On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 34 having the printing function, as shown in FIG. 2, stores the interface 36 for connecting to the memory card 32, the operation layout information and the document information stored in the memory card. Information processing means 38 for processing, and display means 4 for displaying a predetermined operation layout according to the operation layout information and for displaying document information.
0, a printer control unit for printing a predetermined document in accordance with a command instructed by the display unit 40, and a printing unit 44 controlled by the printer control unit for printing the predetermined document on a sheet. .

FIG. 5 shows the relationship of interaction between the image forming apparatus and the storage medium. The storage medium has document information () and operation layout information () (FIG. 5 (A)). Here, the document information is
Text data, image data, and the like. The operation layout information includes the output start coordinates, the magnification, the resolution, the display time, the display color, the document information display method, the display time, the display color, the font, and the character decoration shown in FIG. 7. The program (applet) that executes the information is, for example, a language corresponding to a programming language. FIG. 5 shows the relationship between a storage medium having document information and operation layout information and an image forming apparatus having a program (applet) for executing the information. in this case,
When the user makes the storage medium access the image forming apparatus (FIGS. 5A and 5A), a program (applet) on the image forming apparatus side accesses the operation layout information of the storage medium (see FIG. A) (b)), understanding the arrangement, and displaying the document information on the display unit 106,
Printing is performed (FIGS. 5A and 5B).

FIG. 6 shows document information, operation layout information, and a program (applet) for executing the information.
2 shows a relationship between a storage medium having a and a (general-purpose) image forming apparatus. In this case, when the user makes the storage medium access the image forming apparatus (FIG. 6B).
(A)), program (applet) on the image forming apparatus side
Is downloaded to the image forming apparatus (FIG. 6B).
(B)). Then, the downloaded program (applet) accesses the operation layout information of the storage medium (FIGS. 6B and 6C), understands the layout, and displays the document information on the display unit 106. Or
Printing is performed (FIGS. 6B and 6D).

FIG. 7 shows a data table of operation layout information. The data table displayed on the display unit includes data names, output start coordinates, magnification (resolution), output color, display time, font, character decoration, and the like. The data table that is directly output to the paper includes data name, magnification (resolution), output color, double-sided presence / absence, aggregate copy, font, character decoration, and the like. Here, a case of displaying on the display unit will be described with reference to FIGS.
Operation layout information of FIG. 7 (output start coordinates, resolution, etc.)
Is read and executed by a program. Figure 8
It is the figure which showed the area 106 of a display part. The maximum area 106 that can be displayed is understood to determine the paper start coordinates.
(0, 0) for A data, (1 for B data
00, 0). And each resolution (magnification)
Figure out. 70% for A data and 50% for B data. Display is performed based on this data. Other operation layout information (display method, display time, display color, font, character decoration) is also referred to. Further, when printing out, the same processing is performed.

Normally, an LCD display is used as the display means of the image forming apparatus 34, but a touch panel type LCD display is preferable in the present invention. By doing so, the predetermined processing can be instructed without being affected by the difference in the arrangement of the various operation keys or the difference in the number thereof due to the difference in the model of the image forming apparatus 34. Also,
When displaying the document information on the display means, it is possible to display a plurality of documents on the memory card,
It is desirable to display the cover page or first page of each document as a thumbnail so that a predetermined document can be selected. As a matter of course, after selecting a predetermined document, all pages of the selected document can be displayed as thumbnails, and in this way, only the required pages of the required document can be printed. The image forming apparatus may have at least a print function, but an integrated multi-function machine further having at least one of a copying function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function is used. It is natural that you can.

An example of the usage of the above system of the present invention is shown below. First, the user uses the mobile phone 28
Alternatively, a portable terminal device such as a PDA 30 is used to access the in-house document server 22 via the Internet, search for a required document, download it, and store it in the memory card 32. At that time, although each document is recorded in a predetermined format for each document, PDF (Portable Doc)
ument Format. Post Scri developed by Adobe Systems
pt-based document file format. ) File, TIFF (Tagged Image File Format. Format file for bitmap graphics) developed by Aldus (currently merged with Adobe Systems), or PS (Post Script. Page description language developed by Adobe Systems) It is desirable to store in a printable data format such as. By doing so, many image forming apparatuses are provided with printing means corresponding to those formats, and thus the time required for processing again can be shortened. Next, the user newly edits the operation layout required for printing or selects a predetermined operation layout from the operation layouts used in the past, and stores it in the memory card 32 together with the document file.

After that, the user inserts the memory card into the image forming apparatus 34 at a place where the image forming apparatus 34 exists, for example, a visit place, a convenience store, etc., and the operation layout stored in the memory card 32. Is displayed, and the front cover or first page of each document is displayed as a thumbnail, a predetermined document is selected, and if necessary, all pages of the selected document are further displayed as thumbnails to display a predetermined document or a predetermined document. To print the page.

[0044]

If the image forming apparatus as described above is installed in, for example, the Shinkansen, the user can use the portable terminal device to create a predetermined document while traveling on the Shinkansen,
Not only can the user access the Internet to search for and download a predetermined document, but also it is possible to print the document. Therefore, it is not necessary to print the document on paper and carry it around, and since the operation layout of the image forming apparatus is edited by the user himself, the user can easily operate the image forming apparatus without being confused to display a predetermined document. It becomes possible to print.

Further, the present invention has an excellent effect that a desired document file can be printed without preparing a separate personal computer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a document printing system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example of a conventional technique in which a printer itself has a display unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional digital copying machine capable of accumulating image data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a storage medium of the present invention and an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a storage medium of the present invention and an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data table of operation layout information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display state of the display unit of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Document printing system 12: Personal computer (PC) 13: Handwritten documents, etc. 14: Scanner 16: Digital camera, etc. 18: Facsimile 20: Mobile information terminal device 22: Document server 24: Server 26: Internet 28: Mobile phone 30: Mobile information terminal 32: Memory card 34: Image forming apparatus 36: Interface 38: Information processing means 40: Display means 44: Printing department 101: Mobile terminal device 103: Index information acquisition unit 104: Connection part 105: printable data acquisition unit 106: display unit 107: Input section 108: printing section 110: Scanner unit 120: printer section 130: PC department

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AP07 BB10 CQ04                       CQ24 CQ34 HN11 HN15                 2C187 AD03 AD04 AD14 AE01 BF41                       CC06 CC11 CD12 CD14 CD17                       CD20                 5B021 AA01 PP05 PP08                 5C062 AA05 AB10 AB12 AB17 AB23                       AF00 BA04                 5E501 AA02 AA06 AA07 AB03 BA03                       BA05 CA04 CB05 DA11 EB05                       FA14 FB04

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising a connection means for connecting to at least a portable storage medium, a data processing means, a display means, and an input selection means, and the data processing means stores the data in the storage medium. An image forming apparatus for reading the operation layout information and the document information, displaying the operation layout information on the display unit, and displaying the document information. 2. An image forming apparatus comprising a connection means for connecting to at least a portable storage medium, a data processing means, an input selection means and a printing means, and the data processing means stores the data in the storage medium. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that the operation layout information and the document information are read, and the document information selected by the input selecting means corresponding to the operation layout information is sent to the printing means for printing. 3. An image forming apparatus comprising at least a connecting means for connecting to a portable storage medium, a data processing means, a display means, an input selecting means, and a printing means, the storage medium being provided by the data processing means. The operation layout information and the document information stored in are read, the operation layout information is displayed on the display unit, the document information is displayed, and the document information selected by the input selection unit corresponding to the operation layout information is printed. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to send to a means for printing. 4. The thumbnail display of the document information is a thumbnail display of each first page of a plurality of document information.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1. 5. The image according to claim 4, wherein among the thumbnails of the first page of each document, thumbnails of the entire document selected by the input selecting means can be displayed. Forming equipment. 6. The image according to claim 1, wherein the operation layout information further comprises at least one of output start coordinates, magnification, resolution, display time, and display color. Forming equipment. 7. A portable information terminal device having a separately portable storage medium, wherein the portable information terminal comprises means for editing an operation layout displayed on a display means of an image forming apparatus, and the edited operation layout is edited. A portable information terminal characterized in that the operation layout information can be stored in the storage medium and the document information can also be stored in the storage medium. 8. The portable information terminal according to claim 7, wherein the storage medium is a memory card or a compact flash. 9. (1) A portable information terminal device having a separately portable storage medium, the portable information terminal including means for editing an operation layout displayed on a display means of an image forming apparatus. A portable information terminal which is provided with the edited operation layout information stored in the storage medium and the document information can be stored in the storage medium, and (2) at least connected to the portable storage medium. In the image forming apparatus including a connection unit for performing the operation, a data processing unit, a display unit, an input selection unit, and a printing unit, the operation layout information and the document information stored in the storage medium are read by the data processing unit, The operation layout information is displayed on the display means and the document information is displayed, and the operation layout information is displayed. A document printing method using a portable information terminal, comprising: an image forming apparatus configured to send document information selected by an input / selection unit corresponding to print information to a printing unit for printing. 10. The document printing method using a portable information terminal according to claim 9, wherein the thumbnail display of the document information of the image forming apparatus is a thumbnail display of a cover of a plurality of document information. 11. A thumbnail display of a first page of each document of the image forming apparatus, wherein a thumbnail display of the entire document selected by the input selection means can be displayed. Document printing method using the portable information terminal of. 12. The portable information terminal comprises means for editing the operation layout displayed on the display means of the image forming apparatus, stores the edited operation layout information in the storage medium, and stores the document information. 12. The document printing method using the portable information terminal according to claim 9, wherein the document printing method can be stored in the storage medium. 13. A portable storage medium storing operation layout information and document information to be displayed on the display means of the image forming apparatus. 14. A portable storage medium storing operation layout information and document information to be displayed on the display means of the image forming apparatus, and a program for executing the information.