JP2006001242A - Image processor, search method, and search program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor which enables a user to easily search a setting item and which enables the bidirectional setting of a setting purpose and a set object, a search method, and a search program. <P>SOLUTION: Keywords are set for the setting purpose indicating a purpose of a setting menu, and the set object which is set by the setting purpose; the setting purpose or the set object, desired to be searched, among the set keywords is selected by pressing down a setting-purpose selecting button 12-2 and a set-object selecting button 12-3; the setting purpose or the set object, corresponding to the selected keyword, is narrowed down so as to be displayed on an LCD 12-1; and the desired setting purpose and the desired set object are determined from displayed details by means of a determination button 12-4, so that the desired setting item can be set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, method, and program, and in particular, an image processing apparatus, a search method, and a search method that allow a user to easily set by setting each of a setting purpose to be set and a setting target to be set as keywords. Relating to the search program.

  In recent years, the types of functions equipped in an image processing apparatus have been greatly increasing, and in accordance with this, the number of items set in advance by the user has increased, and the setting menu items have a tendency to become multi-tiered. Therefore, in order for the user to set items, it is difficult to reach the item to be set unless a thick manual is used.

  For this reason, it takes time for the initial setting until the image processing apparatus starts to be used and the customization setting of each function, etc., and not only the operability is not satisfactory, but also the maintainability after the setting cannot be satisfied.

  Therefore, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, an operation pattern with each manual switch installed in the printer is managed in association with a printing function of the printer, and the user performs an operation using the manual switch. At the same time, it is easy to reach the item you want to set directly by detecting the operation details.

In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2, an operation history with a large number of setting items operated with operation keys provided in the printer is stored as an operation history, and an item to be set based on the stored operation history. We are trying to improve work efficiency by getting to.
JP 2000-43366 A JP 2003-131526 A

  However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, various printing functions can be directly designated and changed by manual switch operation patterns, but there are very few opportunities to change all printing functions. Since it was created by thinking, there is a problem that if a setting item that is not registered in the operation pattern is to be changed, the setting item must be reached by following the conventional hierarchy.

  In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is easy to reach an item in order to set an item with a large number of operations. However, items that are not normally used or have a low setting frequency can be easily reached. Hierarchical and difficult to get to.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing apparatus, a search method, and a search program that enable a user to easily search for setting items, and that enables a setting purpose and a setting target to be set in both directions. .

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is directed to an image processing apparatus that realizes a plurality of functions by setting a desired setting item among a plurality of setting items. Keyword setting means for setting a first keyword and a plurality of second keywords corresponding to a setting target by the setting item, and a desired first of the plurality of first keywords set by the keyword setting means Keyword selecting means for selecting one keyword and selecting a desired second keyword from among a plurality of second keywords, and the first keyword and the second keyword selected by the keyword selecting means And a search means for searching for the desired setting item.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, at least one of the setting purposes corresponding to the first keyword can be set corresponding to the selection of the first keyword by the keyword selection means. Further comprising setting target keyword narrowing means for narrowing down the second keyword corresponding to one setting target, wherein the keyword selection means is selected from the second keywords narrowed down by the setting target keyword narrowing means. A desired second keyword is selected.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, at least one of the setting targets corresponding to the second keyword can be set in response to the selection of the second keyword by the keyword selection means. A setting purpose keyword narrowing means for narrowing down the first keywords corresponding to one setting purpose, wherein the keyword selecting means is selected from the first keywords narrowed down by the setting purpose keyword narrowing means. A desired first keyword is selected.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in an image processing method of an image processing apparatus that realizes a plurality of functions by setting a desired setting item among a plurality of setting items, a plurality of second items corresponding to the setting purpose of the setting item. One keyword and a plurality of second keywords corresponding to the setting target by the setting item are respectively set by the keyword setting means, and a desired first among the plurality of first keywords set by the keyword setting means. And a desired second keyword from among the plurality of second keywords is selected by the keyword selection means, and based on the first keyword and the second keyword selected by the keyword selection means The desired setting item is searched.

  The invention of claim 5 further comprises, in the invention of claim 4, further narrowing down at least one other keyword that can be set based on any keyword selected by the keyword selection means by the narrowing-down means. And selecting a desired keyword from the keywords narrowed down by the narrowing means.

The invention of claim 6 is an image processing program for causing a computer to execute image processing of an image processing apparatus that realizes a plurality of functions by setting desired setting items among a plurality of setting items.
Setting a plurality of first keywords corresponding to a setting purpose of the setting item and a plurality of second keywords corresponding to a setting target by the setting item, and a plurality of first keywords set Selecting a desired first keyword from among the plurality of second keywords and selecting the desired second keyword from among the plurality of second keywords, and based on the selected first keyword and second keyword And searching for the desired setting item.

  According to the present invention, in order to set complicated setting items, the target set according to the setting purpose and the setting purpose is set as a keyword, and a desired setting item is searched. There is an effect that it is possible for the user who performs the operation to easily reach the desired setting item without referring to the manual and perform the setting.

  Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus, method, and program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The image processing apparatus, method, and program of the present invention are applied to a printer that performs print output, a scanner that reads an image printed on paper, an OCR (Optical Character Reader) that optically reads characters, and the like. A printer that performs print output will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a printer according to the present invention.

  1, the printer 10 includes a printing unit 11, a setting unit 12, a hopper (13-A, 13-B, 13-C, 13-D), and a paper discharge tray (14-A, 14-B, 14). -C, 14-D, 14-E) and paper feed trays (15-A, 15-B).

  The printing unit 11 prints print document data transmitted from a personal computer or the like, which is a host device. The printing unit 11 is a main part that realizes a printer function.

  The setting unit 12 sets a keyword corresponding to the setting purpose of the setting item and a keyword corresponding to the setting target by the setting item, and confirms the contents of the setting item.

  The hoppers (13-A, 13-B, 13-C, 13-D) store designated paper sizes, respectively.

  For example, A4 paper is stored in hopper 1 (13-A), A3 paper is stored in hopper 2 (13-B), and B4 paper is stored in hopper 3 (13-C). If the sheet is stored and the B5 sheet is stored in the hopper 4 (13-D), the setting unit 12 indicates that the A4 sheet is stored in the hopper 1 (13-A). And can be set in the printing unit 11.

  The paper discharge trays (14-A, 14-B, 14-C, 14-D, and 14-E) are trays that discharge and store sheets printed by the printing unit 11, and are hoppers (13-A). , 13-B, 13-C, 13-D) are discharged to different discharge trays depending on the type of printing paper stored in each. As the types of trays, there are a face-down tray in which the surface of the printed paper is discharged downward, and a face-up tray in which the surface of the printed paper is discharged upward.

  Different paper discharge trays (14-A, 14-B, 14-C) are stored on the hoppers (13-A, 13-B, 13-C, 13-D) based on preset setting information. , 14-D, 14-E), and can be separately ejected by a printed matter or a printer.

  The paper feed trays (15-A, 15-B) store printing paper.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the details of the setting unit 12 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 shows an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 12-1, a setting purpose selection button 12-2, a setting object selection button 12-3, a determination button 12-4, an initialization button 12-5, and a change button 12. -6, a menu IN button 12-7, and a menu OUT button 12-8.

  The LCD 12-1 is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for performing various settings.

  The setting purpose selection button 12-2 is a button for selecting a setting purpose keyword to be set. When the menu mode is switched to the menu mode by the menu IN button 12-7, the keyword can be selected by pressing the setting purpose selection button 12-2. By pressing the button a plurality of times, the keyword for setting can be switched sequentially.

  The setting target selection button 12-3 is a button for selecting a setting target keyword for the setting target keyword selected by the setting purpose selection button 12-2. Similar to the setting purpose selection button 12-2, the setting target keywords can be sequentially switched by pressing a plurality of times.

  Furthermore, the setting purpose selection button 12-2 and the setting target selection button 12-3 can perform mutual setting in both directions. That is, after selecting a setting target keyword with the setting purpose selection button 12-2, the setting target keyword can be selected with the setting target selection button 12-3, and with the setting target selection button 12-3, the setting target keyword can be selected. After selecting a keyword, the setting purpose selection button 12-2 may be used to select a setting purpose keyword.

  At this time, when the setting purpose selection button 12-2 is selected, the setting target keywords that can be set by the setting target selection button 12-3 are narrowed down for the selected setting purpose keyword, and the setting target selection is also performed. When the button 12-3 is selected before the setting purpose selection button 12-2, the setting purpose keywords that can be set by the setting purpose selection button 12-2 with respect to the selected setting target keyword are narrowed down. Is done.

  As a result, the item setting intended by the user can be set in both directions of the setting purpose or setting target, and can be performed more easily.

  The decision button 12-4 is pressed to select each keyword by the setting purpose selection button 12-2 or the setting target selection button 12-3 and determine a setting item. In addition to displaying the setting content currently set for the LCD 12-1, each keyword is also fixed to another keyword (if the fixed keyword is a setting target keyword, the setting target keyword is fixed). If the selected keyword is a keyword to be set, a setting target keyword) can be selected.

  The initialization button 12-5 cancels the narrowed-down state and selects both keywords when it is narrowed down by the keyword selected by the setting purpose selection button 12-2 or the setting target selection button 12-3. This button allows you to do it freely.

  The change button 12-6 is a button to be pressed when changing the contents of the current setting item. After pressing the change button 12-6, by pressing either the setting purpose selection button 12-2 or the setting target selection button 12-3, the keyword of the pressed button is selected with respect to the keyword of the other button not pressed. You will be able to choose.

  The menu IN button 12-7 is a button for shifting from a state for performing normal printing to a menu mode for setting a printer.

  The menu OUT button 12-8 is a button for shifting from a menu mode for setting the printer to a state for performing normal printing.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to shift to the menu mode in which the printer is set by pressing the menu IN button 12-7. When the mode is shifted to the menu mode, the setting purpose and setting target setting item set last. The content of the setting item is displayed, and the content of the setting item can be changed by pressing the change button 12-6.

  A keyword for a setting purpose or a keyword for a setting target can be selected by pressing the setting purpose selection button 12-2 or the setting target selection button 12-3 from a state where the contents of the setting item can be changed. At this time, the setting can be made for another keyword that has not been pressed by either the setting purpose selection button 12-2 or the setting target selection button 12-3.

  That is, since the other keywords that are not pressed are in a fixed state, the keyword that is pressed can be changed. Incidentally, the keywords that can be selected are keywords narrowed down by the keyword that was not pressed. To cancel this, the initialization button 12-5 is pressed, and the item keyword and the setting target keyword can be switched independently.

  To determine the keyword, the determination button 12-4 is pressed. At this time, the relationship between the setting target keyword and the setting target keyword is determined.

  Finally, by pressing the menu OUT button 12-8, it is possible to shift from the menu mode for setting the printer to a state for performing normal printing.

  With such a configuration, when setting a hierarchical function in many stages, it becomes possible to search for the setting item of the input keyword by inputting any keyword of the setting purpose or setting target. .

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing types of keywords for setting and keywords to be set displayed on the LCD 12-1 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, “Iss, relay, group” or the like is displayed as a setting target keyword, and “hopper, manual feed tray, interface” or the like is displayed as a setting target keyword.

  By pressing the setting purpose selection button 12-2 shown in FIG. 2 a plurality of times, “Iss, relay, group” and the like set for the setting purpose keyword are sequentially displayed. Similarly, by pressing the setting target selection button 12-3 a plurality of times, “hopper, manual feed tray, interface” and the like are sequentially displayed as setting target keywords.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing a screen showing the existing setting contents according to the present invention.

  FIG. 4 shows the contents displayed on the LCD 12-1 of FIG. 2 when the setting purpose selection button 12-2 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed and “Ishi” is selected as the setting purpose keyword.

  In the example shown here, “Ishi” is set as the setting target keyword, and the setting target keyword that has already been set is “hopper 1”, and the setting target keyword is “invalid” (OFF) ”.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen for setting a setting target keyword for a setting purpose keyword according to the present invention.

  FIG. 5 shows a relationship with a setting target keyword set for a setting target keyword.

  In the example shown here, “hopper 1” that is the keyword to be set is associated with “Ishi” that is the keyword for setting.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which narrowing by a keyword for setting purposes is performed in the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, when “Ishi” is set as a setting target keyword, “hopper 1, hopper 2, hopper 3, hopper 4, hopper 5, hopper 6, manual feed tray” is selected as a setting target keyword. It shows that it is possible.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which narrowing by a keyword in a setting target according to the present invention has been performed.

  In FIG. 7, contrary to the example shown in FIG. 6, when “hopper 1” is set as the keyword to be set, “Ishi, relay, group, paper shred, take guy, bigeye” is selected as the setting target keyword. It shows that it is possible to do.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, keywords can be set from both a setting purpose keyword and a setting target keyword.

  Through the above processing, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention can set the setting purpose and the setting target as keywords, and directly specify the keyword without specifying the setting of the multifunctional printer through the hierarchy. It becomes possible to set.

  Therefore, by applying the present invention, it can be expected that the setting items of recent multifunctional printers can be easily reached by using intuitive keywords without referring to a thick manual. .

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope not changing the gist thereof.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applicable to an image processing apparatus, a search method, and a search program that can easily perform various settings in an apparatus equipped with a large number of functions. Thus, it is useful for easily performing various settings of an image processing apparatus equipped with many functions.

1 is a diagram showing an overview of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. The figure which shows the content of the setting part 12 of the image processing apparatus concerning this invention. The figure which shows the example of the list of the keywords which can be set of the image processing apparatus concerning this invention. The figure which shows the screen showing the content of the existing setting item concerning this invention. The figure which shows the screen which sets the keyword of the setting object with respect to the keyword of the setting objective concerning this invention. The figure which shows the state by which the keyword of the setting object by the keyword of the setting objective in this invention was narrowed down. The figure which shows the state by which the keyword of the setting objective by the keyword of the setting object in this invention was narrowed down.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 11 Printing part 12 Setting part 12-1 LCD
12-2 Setting purpose selection button 12-3 Setting target selection button 12-4 Determination button 12-5 Initialization button 12-6 Change button 12-7 Menu IN button 12-8 Menu OUT button 13-A, 13-B, 13-C, 13-D Hopper 14-A, 14-B, 14-C, 14-D, 14-E Paper discharge tray 15-A, 15-B Paper feed tray

Claims (6)

In an image processing apparatus that realizes a plurality of functions by setting a desired setting item among a plurality of setting items,
A keyword setting means for setting a plurality of first keywords corresponding to a setting purpose of the setting item and a plurality of second keywords corresponding to a setting target by the setting item;
Keyword selecting means for selecting a desired first keyword from among the plurality of first keywords set by the keyword setting means and selecting a desired second keyword from among the plurality of second keywords;
An image processing apparatus comprising: search means for searching for the desired setting item based on the first keyword and the second keyword selected by the keyword selection means. Setting target for narrowing down the second keyword corresponding to at least one setting target corresponding to the first keyword corresponding to the selection of the first keyword by the keyword selection means Further comprising keyword narrowing means,
The keyword selection means includes
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a desired second keyword is selected from the second keywords narrowed down by the setting target keyword narrowing means. Setting purpose for narrowing down the first keyword corresponding to at least one setting purpose capable of setting the setting target corresponding to the second keyword in response to selection of the second keyword by the keyword selection means Further comprising keyword narrowing means,
The keyword selection means includes
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a desired first keyword is selected from the first keywords narrowed down by the setting purpose keyword narrowing means. In an image processing method of an image processing apparatus that realizes a plurality of functions by setting a desired setting item among a plurality of setting items,
A plurality of first keywords corresponding to a setting purpose of the setting item and a plurality of second keywords corresponding to a setting target by the setting item are respectively set by the keyword setting means,
Selecting a desired first keyword among the plurality of first keywords set by the keyword setting means and selecting a desired second keyword among the plurality of second keywords by the keyword selection means;
An image processing method, wherein the desired setting item is searched based on the first keyword and the second keyword selected by the keyword selection means. Further comprising: narrowing down at least one other keyword that can be set based on any one of the keywords selected by the keyword selection means, using a narrowing means;
The image processing method according to claim 4, wherein a desired keyword is selected from the keywords narrowed down by the narrowing-down means. An image processing program for causing a computer to execute image processing of an image processing apparatus that realizes a plurality of functions by setting desired setting items among a plurality of setting items,
Setting each of a plurality of first keywords corresponding to a setting purpose of the setting item and a plurality of second keywords corresponding to a setting target by the setting item;
Selecting a desired first keyword among the plurality of set first keywords and selecting a desired second keyword among the plurality of second keywords;
And a step of searching for the desired setting item based on the selected first keyword and second keyword.

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