JP2006135630A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor capable of counting the number of prints individually when a user indicates use of an N-up function and when the user does not indicate the use since the number of prints of image data can be counted by different counters according as prints using the N-up function are based upon determination of a determining means. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor with the N-up function of printing image data of a plurality of pages side by side on one sheet medium includes an indication reception section 23 which receives an indication for use of the N-up function, a printer control section 24 which determines the use of the N-up function according to the indication, a counter section 26 having a plurality of counters counting the number of prints of image data, and a count control section 27 which judges whether prints using the N-up function are based upon the determination by a printer control section 24 when image data are printed by using the N-up function and then controls counting operations of the counter section 26 based upon the judgment result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a multifunction peripheral, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus having an N-up function for printing image data for a plurality of pages side by side on a single sheet medium.

  In general, as a service for printing image data (including a copy service and a print service), the number of prints is counted for each type of image data (color / monochrome), and the count result is used, for example, in the usage details of the copy service or print service. For example, it is known to display on a panel of a device or a report on a paper medium. In addition, as one of print functions provided in an image processing apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a multifunction peripheral, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 below, image data for a plurality of pages is stored on one sheet medium. A function of printing side by side (hereinafter also referred to as “N-up function”) is known.

  In the N-up function, N (N is an integer of 2 or more) pages of image data are arranged and combined (allocated) so as to fit within one page, and the combined image data is stored on one sheet medium (paper, etc.). Print. When printing image data using the N-up function, image reduction processing and rotation processing are performed as necessary. When the N-up function is used in copy processing, a plurality of image data read from a plurality of originals are printed side by side on a single sheet medium.

  Copy services and print services using the N-up function are basically performed based on user instructions. Therefore, conventionally, the number of sheets printed using the N-up function is counted by a dedicated counter (hereinafter also referred to as “N-up print counter”). When displaying the count result as a service usage statement on a panel or report, an item clearly indicating the use of the N-up function is provided, and the number of prints counted by the N-up print counter is displayed there. It was.

JP 2004-102712 A

  However, in recent years, a function for setting various media in an image processing apparatus and printing has been provided, and N-up is automatically performed in a specific print mode (for example, index print mode) without any specific instruction from the user. A function is activated to print a plurality of pages of image data on a single sheet medium. In such a case, the user himself / herself does not instruct the use of the N-up function, but counts the number of prints with the same N-up print counter as instructed, and displays the count result on a panel or report. Become. Therefore, there is a discrepancy between the user's recognition and the actual count information, and there is a possibility that the user who sees the usage details of the service may feel uncomfortable.

  Incidentally, as a specific case of printing image data using the N-up function even when there is no instruction from the user, for example, a case of operating in the index print mode can be considered. In addition to the index print mode, for example, when the user designates the sheet size to be used for printing as one of the print conditions, the N-up function is automatically activated from the size relationship between the image size and the sheet size. Then, a case where image composition processing is performed can be considered. More specifically, when there are six A5 size image data to be printed and the sheet size designated by the user is A3 size, how many A5 size image data can be arranged on the A3 size sheet. There is a case where six image data of A5 size are collectively printed on two sheets of A3 size sheets by performing calculation and performing image composition processing (allocation processing) based on the calculation result.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus having an N-up function that prints image data for a plurality of pages side by side on a single sheet medium, and receives an instruction to use the N-up function and receives the instruction Determination means for determining use of the N-up function, and whether or not printing using the N-up function is based on the determination of the determination means when printing image data using the N-up function And a counting unit having a plurality of counters for counting the number of prints of the image data, and when the determining unit determines that the print using the N-up function is based on the determination of the determining unit, The number of prints is counted by a first counter provided in the counting means, and printing using the N-up function is based on the determination by the determining means If it is determined in the Most determination means is for counting the number of prints with a second counter provided in the counting means.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, when image data is printed using the N-up function, the print using the N-up function is determined by the deciding means (instruction to use the N-up function). The number of prints of the image data is counted by a separate counter depending on whether or not it is based on the above.

  According to the present invention, the number of prints of the image data is counted by a separate counter depending on whether or not the print using the N-up function is based on the determination by the determining means. The number of prints can be counted separately for the case of instructing and the case of not instructing. Therefore, it is possible to individually manage the number of prints according to the difference in the user instruction form. As a result, even when the print count result is displayed on a panel or report, the user's recognition and the actual count information can be matched so that the user does not feel uncomfortable.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated image processing apparatus is a multi-function device having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a scan function, a print function, and a facsimile function, and mainly includes a controller 1, a user interface (UI) 2, and a scanner unit. 3, a printer unit 4, and a post-processing unit 5.

  The controller 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 6, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 7, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 8, a nonvolatile memory (NVRAM; Non-Volatile RAM) 9, and a hard disk (HDD; Hard Disk Drive) 10, image processing unit 11, UI interface (UI IF) 12, communication interface (communication IF) 13, device interface (device IF) 14, LAN (Local Area Network) connection unit 15 A serial connection unit 16, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection unit 17, and a modem 18 are provided.

  Inside the controller 1, the CPU 6, ROM 7, RAM 8, nonvolatile memory 9, hard disk 10, image processing unit 11, UI interface 12, communication interface 13, and device interface 14 are respectively connected to a common bus. 19 are connected to each other via 19. The bus 19 includes a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect Bus) bus, a memory bus, and the like. The LAN connection unit 15, the serial connection unit 16, the USB connection unit 17, and the modem 18 are individually connected to the communication interface 13. On the other hand, the user interface 2 includes a display unit 20 and an operation unit 21.

  The controller 1 comprehensively controls the operation of the image processing apparatus, and is constructed on, for example, one controller board. The CPU 6 performs various control processes according to the control program and control data stored in the ROM 7. The ROM 7 may be configured such that data can be rewritten (erased and written) like a flash memory, for example. The RAM 8 is used as a temporary data storage location such as a system memory for program operation by the CPU 6 and a page memory for image processing. The non-volatile memory 9 is used to store non-volatile data, image quality adjustment, various setting parameters, and data related to various histories. The hard disk 10 is used for storing image data and data relating to various histories. The image processing unit 11 performs various types of image processing such as image data compression / decompression processing, rotation processing, gradation correction processing, and color correction processing.

  The UI interface 12 is for electrically connecting the user interface 2 so that the controller 1 can control the user interface 2 via the bus 19. When the controller 1 directly controls the user interface 2, it is not necessary to provide the UI interface 12 in particular. The communication interface 13 is an interface for connecting various external devices and networks for communication. The device interface 14 is an interface for connecting various functional devices (in this example, the scanner unit 3 and the printer unit 4) constituting the multifunction peripheral.

  The LAN connection unit 15 is for connecting the own apparatus to a network, and includes LAN connection such as 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, and various wireless LANs. The network to be connected is not limited to a LAN, and may be another network such as a WAN (Wide Area Network). The serial connection unit 16 is used to connect various external peripheral devices corresponding to the serial transfer method.

  The USB connection unit 17 is for connecting a device that conforms to the USB standard such as USB 1.1 and USB 2.0, and the media reader 22 is connected as an example here. The media reader 22 reads various information (including image data, text data, etc.) stored in a storage medium such as a memory card, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a magneto-optical medium. The modem 18 includes a modem control unit for connecting to a public line such as a facsimile, and provides various facsimile functions.

  The user interface 2 exchanges various information between the user and the controller 1. For example, the user interface 2 includes a display unit 20 including a liquid crystal display with a touch panel and an operation unit 21 including various buttons, switches, and keys. Consists of including control panels. The touch panel functionally belongs to the operation unit 21.

  The scanner unit 3 optically reads an image of a document and generates image data based on the reading result. The printer unit 4 includes a printer engine that transports sheet media such as paper media one by one and prints out image data as visible images on the sheet media. The post-processing unit 5 performs post-processing such as, for example, half-folding processing, stapling processing (binding processing), punching processing (punching processing) on the printed sheet medium.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of main functional units of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Each functional unit shown in FIG. 1 has a hardware system configuration shown in FIG. 1 (particularly, a CPU 6, a ROM 7, a RAM 8, a nonvolatile memory 9, a hard disk 10, a user interface 2, a printer unit 4, a medium included in the controller 1). This is realized using a reader 22 or the like.

  In FIG. 2, an instruction receiving unit 23 receives a print instruction from the user when printing image data, and notifies (provides) the received print instruction content to the print control unit 24. The instruction receiving unit 23 is configured by the user interface 2, for example. The print instruction contents received by the instruction reception 23 include, for example, a print start or copy start instruction, an instruction relating to image data to be printed (instruction of data storage location), a print mode instruction, a scan mode instruction, Scan resolution instructions, number of prints (number of copies) and number of copies (number of copies), print image quality (normal image quality, high image quality) instructions, print density instructions, print (copy) magnification instructions, sheet size instructions , N-up function instructions, post-processing mode instructions (half-fold mode, staple mode, punching mode), and the like. In addition, the instruction receiving unit 23 is provided with an independent selection item (selection button or the like) called “N-up function”. When the user selects this “N-up function” by a button operation or the like, the N-up function is provided. The user is instructed to use it directly.

  Among the print instruction contents described above, double-sided printing, media printing, index printing, and the like can be considered as an example of the printing mode. Index printing refers to printing a plurality of images taken by a digital camera or the like in a thumbnail format on a single sheet medium (such as paper). Media printing refers to reading and printing image data stored on a medium. As a typical case of media printing, when a media such as a memory card is attached to the camera body of the digital camera, the image data taken with the digital camera is stored in the media, and when the image data is printed, the camera body In some cases, the media is removed from the media and attached to the media reader of the image processing apparatus, and the media reader reads the image data from the media for printing. As an example of the scan mode, double-sided scan, high-speed scan, color scan, black and white scan, auto color selection (ACS), and the like can be considered.

  The print control unit 24 inputs (transfers) image data to be printed from the image input unit 25 to the image processing unit 11 based on the print instruction content notified from the instruction receiving unit 23, and this image processing unit 11. The printer unit 4 is operated by applying the image data subjected to the image processing. The content of the image processing employed in the image processing unit 11 is determined by the print control unit 24 based on the print instruction content notified from the instruction receiving unit 23. The image data that can be printed includes image data (scan data) read from a document by the scanner unit 3, image data read from a medium by the media reader 22, image data read by the CPU 6 from the hard disk 10, and Image data transmitted from the network communication device connected to the LAN connection unit 15 to the own apparatus and image data (facsimile data) received by the modem 18 are included. Therefore, the image input unit 25 includes the scanner unit 3, the CPU 6, the media reader 22, the LAN connection unit 15, or the modem 18 according to the generation source of the image data to be printed.

  The counter unit 26 counts the number of prints (number of sheets) of image data executed by the printer unit 4. The counter unit 26 is provided with a plurality of counters. A plurality of counters constituting the counter unit 26 are provided in, for example, the nonvolatile memory 9. The counter control unit 27 counts a plurality of counters provided in the counter unit 26 based on the print instruction content notified from the instruction receiving unit 23 to the print control unit 24 and the print operation executed by the printer unit 4. Are controlled individually. The output unit 28 outputs the result of counting the number of printed sheets by the counter unit 26.

  Next, an image processing method using the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, since a user who wants to print image data issues various print instructions using the instruction receiving unit 23 when obtaining a desired print result, the print instruction is received by the instruction receiving unit 23 ( Step S1).

  Next, when the user gives an instruction to start printing at the instruction receiving unit 23, the instruction receiving unit 23 notifies the print control unit 24 of the contents of the printing received by the instruction receiving unit 23 (step S2). Then, image data is input from the image input unit 25 to the image processing unit 11 in accordance with the print instruction content from the instruction receiving unit 23 (step S3). At this time, in the print instruction content notified from the instruction receiving unit 23, if the user has instructed (selected) the media print as the print mode instruction, the print control unit 24 based on the instruction content The image data to be printed is read from a medium such as a memory card by the media reader 22 in accordance with the processing instruction, and the read image data is transferred to the image processing unit 11.

  Subsequently, the print control unit 24 determines whether or not an instruction to use the N-up function is included in the print instruction content notified from the instruction receiving unit 23 (step S4). When it is determined that an instruction to use the N-up function is included, the use of the N-up function is determined according to the content of the instruction, and based on this determination, an image corresponding to the N-up function is determined. Image processing for printing including the synthesis processing (first image processing in the figure) is performed by the image processing unit 11 (step S5). The image processing for printing is image processing (for example, color conversion processing, color correction processing, gradation correction processing, screen generation) required for printing the image data input from the image input unit 11 by the printer unit 4. Processing). In this case, the image composition processing is performed based on the instruction of the N-up function notified from the instruction receiving unit 23.

  In general, the N-up function is classified into 2 up, 4 up, 8 up,... According to the number of pages of image data to be printed (composited) side by side on one sheet medium. FIG. 4 shows an example of print processing using the N-up function. FIG. 4A shows a case where a 2-up print process is performed, and FIG. 4B shows a case where a 4-up print process is performed. Among these, the printing process shown in FIG. 4A is applied when, for example, two A4 size image data D1 and D2 are printed side by side on a single sheet medium P of A3 size. The printing process shown in FIG. 4B is applied when, for example, four A5 size image data D1, D2, D3, and D4 are printed side by side on one A3 size sheet medium P. .

  Next, the print control unit 24 determines whether or not index printing is instructed (selected) as one of the print modes in the print instruction content notified from the instruction receiving unit 23 (step S6). If it is determined that index printing has been instructed, the image processing unit 11 performs image processing for printing (second image processing in the figure) including image synthesis processing corresponding to index printing (step S7). ). The image composition processing in this case is not performed based on the instruction of the N-up function received by the instruction receiving unit 23, but is performed based on an index print instruction provided as an option different from the N-up function. It is what is said. FIG. 5 shows an example of print processing in the index print mode. In FIG. 5, 24 photographic images (reduced versions) No. 1 to No. 20 photographed by a digital camera or the like are printed side by side on one sheet.

  If the print control unit 24 determines that the use of the N-up function is not instructed and the index print is not instructed in the print instruction content notified from the instruction accepting unit 23, the image data It is determined whether the sheet size to be used for printing is instructed (step S8). If it is determined that the sheet size is not instructed, the image processing unit 11 performs image processing for printing (third image processing in the figure) excluding the image composition processing (step S9). If it is determined that the sheet size is instructed, the image on one sheet is determined based on the size relationship between the size of the image data to be printed (image size) and the sheet size received by the instruction receiving unit 23. The number of data that can be arranged is calculated, and image processing (fourth image processing in the figure) including image synthesis processing based on the calculation result is performed by the image processing unit 11 (step S10). The image composition processing in this case is not performed based on the instruction of the N-up function received by the instruction receiving unit 23, but is performed based on the sheet size instruction provided as an option different from the N-up function. It is what is said.

  Here, as an example, when the sheet size is instructed in the print instruction content notified from the instruction accepting unit 23, the image processing unit 11 always performs image composition processing based on the calculation result. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when there is one image data that can be arranged on one sheet as a result of the above calculation, the image processing unit 11 does not need to perform image synthesis processing.

  Subsequently, the image data image-processed by the image processing unit 11 is transferred to the printer unit 4, and the printer unit 4 prints out the image data as a visible image on a sheet medium (step S11). Next, it is confirmed whether or not the printing of the image data for one sheet has been completed (step S12). When the completion of printing for one sheet is confirmed, the number of printed sheets is counted at that time (step S13). Thereafter, it is confirmed whether or not printing of all the image data has been completed (step S14), and a series of processing is completed when the completion of printing is confirmed.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the print number counting process. This counting process is performed by the counter control unit 27. First, whether or not the printing for one sheet performed in step S11 is performed based on the instruction of the N-up function received by the instruction receiving unit 32 before (just before) the count process. Is determined (step S131). If it is determined that the operation is performed based on the instruction of the N-up function, the value of the N-up print counter provided in the counter unit 26 is counted up (incremented by 1) (step S132).

  Next, it is determined whether the printing for one sheet performed in step S11 is performed based on the index print instruction received by the instruction receiving unit 32 (step S133). If it is determined that the printing is performed based on the index printing instruction, the value of the index printing counter provided in the counter unit 26 is counted up (step S134).

  If it is determined that the printing for one sheet performed in step S11 is not performed based on the N-up function instruction and is not performed based on the index print instruction. Then, the value of the normal printing counter provided in the counter unit 26 is counted up (step S135). In step S13, the counting process is repeated until printing of all image data is completed. Further, the count result of the number of prints counted by the counter unit 26 according to the counting process is output by the output unit 28 as necessary (for example, according to an output instruction from the user). As an output form of the count result, display output to the display unit 20 of the user interface 2 or print output to a paper medium using the printer unit 4 can be adopted.

  As described above, in the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the image data is printed by using (starting up) the N-up function, printing using the N-up function is performed by the instruction receiving unit 23. Depending on whether the received N-up function is used or not based on a clear instruction to use the N-up function, the number of prints of the image data is counted by a separate counter. Therefore, the number of prints can be counted separately when the user instructs to use the N-up function and when the user does not instruct. Therefore, it is possible to individually manage the number of prints according to the difference in the user instruction form. Further, when printing using the N-up function, the number of prints is counted by another counter depending on whether or not an index print instruction is included in the print instruction contents notified from the instruction receiving unit 23. . Therefore, it is possible to manage the number of prints more finely according to the difference in the user instruction form.

  In the above embodiment, the number of prints of the image data processed in step S9 and the number of prints of the image data processed in step S10 are counted by a common counter (normal print counter). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and after step S133 in FIG. 6, a determination step for determining whether or not an image composition process has been performed in the image processing of each image data is added, and based on the determination result of this determination step. If it is determined that the image composition processing has been performed, the counter A may be used, and if it is determined that the image composition processing has not been performed, the counter B may be used to count separately. Further, it may be counted separately for color print (color copy) and black and white print (black and white copy).

1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the main function parts of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the image processing method using the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of print processing using an N-up function. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of print processing in an index print mode. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a count process.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Controller, 2 ... User interface, 3 ... Scanner part, 4 ... Printer part, 6 ... CPU, 7 ... ROM, 8 ... RAM, 9 ... Non-volatile memory, 10 ... Hard disk, 11 ... Image processing part, 22 ... Media Reader, 23 ... Instruction receiving unit, 24 ... Print control unit, 25 ... Image input unit, 26 ... Counter unit, 27 ... Counter control unit, 28 ... Output unit

Claims (3)

An image processing apparatus having an N-up function for printing image data for a plurality of pages side by side on a single sheet medium,
A determination unit that receives an instruction to use the N-up function and determines the use of the N-up function;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the print using the N-up function is based on the determination of the determination unit when the image data is printed using the N-up function;
And a counting means having a plurality of counters for counting the number of printed image data,
When the determination unit determines that the print using the N-up function is based on the determination by the determination unit, the number of prints is counted by a first counter provided in the count unit, and the N When the determination unit determines that the print using the up function is not based on the determination of the determination unit, the number of prints is counted by a second counter provided in the counting unit. Image processing device. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit configured to output a result of counting the number of printed sheets by the counting unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second counter includes a counter that counts the number of sheets printed in the index print mode.

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