JP2008046366A - Image processing apparatus, image processing system and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a complicated-processing explanation display for a user. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing system 10 can carry out a series of processing to an image or paper which is processing including image processing for the paper as indicated by Fig. (a) to (e), for example. Then, the user can set the processing which become subjects for execution by making an instruction. The image processing apparatus 10 includes a function to display an animation simulating the series of processing. That is, the animation containing each scene from (a) to (e) can be displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing system, and a control program.

  In many cases, an image processing apparatus is provided with a description function using characters and images for a user.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-228561 discloses a technique for displaying a still image corresponding to the state of a printer and a technique for sequentially displaying a series of still images. This document describes a technique for changing the display speed of a series of still images according to the operation speed, such as increasing the display speed when the printing speed of the printer being printed is high, and the number of pages printed by the printer being printed. There is also described a technique for changing a still image to be displayed according to an operation amount, such as reducing the display of the remaining page amount according to the amount of movement.

  Patent Document 2 below shows a graphic user interface for instructing printing from a personal computer. And the technique which displays a message for the predetermined time at the position where a user's gaze is likely is disclosed.

  Patent Document 3 below discloses a technique for performing slow motion display on a display device. In this technology, slow motion is performed by displaying a copy of the original frame.

  Patent Document 4 below discloses a technique regarding a method for dynamically displaying a plurality of still images. Specifically, the time interval is changed according to the scenario, zooming, vibration, rotational motion is added, coloring, saturation, lightness is added.

  In addition, as documents describing related technologies, the following patent documents 5 to 7 can be cited.

JP 7-237339 A JP-A-6-230918 JP 7-222114 A JP 2001-13939 A JP 2000-123159 A JP 2003-125125 A JP 2001-111751 A

  An object of the present invention is to improve the explanation display of complicated processing for a user of an image processing apparatus.

  Another object of the present invention is to improve the usability of the user in the explanation display of the image processing apparatus.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a processing unit that includes image processing for paper, a processing unit that performs a series of processing on an image or paper, and a setting unit that sets a process to be executed based on a user instruction. And display means for displaying a moving image simulating the flow of processing.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the display means has a function of changing a moving image to be displayed.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the display means changes the moving image based on a user instruction.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the display unit changes the moving image based on a history instructed by the user to set processing.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the display means displays a moving image based on an instruction from the user, and changes the moving image based on a history of the user instructing to display the moving image.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the display means changes to a moving image that emphasizes part or all of the processing.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the display means has a function of interrupting the display of the moving image and performing a display for instructing the user to make a setting regarding the process for which the display is interrupted.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the display means displays the display interrupted process or the setting based on the instructed process when the user instructed the setting for the display interrupted process. A function for determining a restart position and restarting display of a moving image is provided.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the display means displays a moving image that compares two or more different image processes.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the display unit displays a moving image regarding the process set by the setting unit.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the display means displays a moving image based on a user instruction, and the image processing apparatus displays the moving image on the display means when the set processing is complicated. Means for prompting the user to display an instruction is provided.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the display means displays a moving image regarding the process inquired by the user.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the processing includes dynamic processing on an image.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the processing includes mechanical processing for paper.

  In one aspect of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the processing includes image transmission processing.

  An image processing system according to an aspect of the present invention includes the image processing device and a reading device that reads an image from a sheet, and the image processing for the sheet is a process in which the reading device reads an image from the sheet.

  An image processing system according to an aspect of the present invention includes the image processing device and a printing device that prints an image on paper, and the image processing on the paper is processing in which the printing device prints an image on paper.

  The control program of the present invention is a process including an image process for a sheet, a processing unit that performs a series of processes for an image or a sheet, and a setting unit that sets a process to be executed based on a user instruction. The computer is caused to function as an image processing apparatus including display means for displaying a moving image simulating the processing flow.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to intuitively understand a series of processing including image processing for paper.

  According to the present invention of claim 2, various moving images can be changed.

  According to this invention of Claim 3, a moving image can be changed according to a user's request.

  According to this invention of Claim 4, a moving image can be changed according to the track record which the user performed process setting.

  According to this invention of Claim 5, a moving image can be changed according to the degree to which the user is looking at a moving image.

  According to the present invention of claim 6, it is possible to improve the understanding of the user.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the user's setting instruction becomes easy.

  According to the present invention of claim 8, it is possible to eliminate redundancy in the moving image display after setting.

  According to the present invention of claim 9, the difference in setting becomes clear.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, confirmation of the setting is facilitated.

  According to the present invention of claim 11, it is possible to display a moving image when necessity is high.

  According to the present invention of claim 12, an understanding of unknown processing is facilitated.

  According to the present invention of claim 13, the user can easily grasp the setting procedure.

  According to the present invention of claim 14, the movement of the image can be visually confirmed.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to visually confirm the processing for the paper.

  According to the present invention of claim 16, the transmission mode can be visually confirmed.

  According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to confirm a method for setting a sheet to be read.

  According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to confirm the output mode to the paper, and to suppress wasteful printing.

  According to the present invention of claim 19, it is possible to intuitively understand a series of processing including image processing for paper.

  This embodiment will be exemplified below.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image processing system 10 according to the present embodiment. The image processing system 10 performs program control on operations of computer hardware such as an arithmetic control device (for example, a CPU) and a storage device (for example, a semiconductor memory and a magnetic disk) and dedicated hardware for image processing such as a scanner and a printer. Can be built. Each hardware may be distributed and set to be communicable, or may be stored in a single casing. In addition, the program may be installed at the time of factory shipment, or may be installed via a storage medium or a network after the factory shipment.

  The image processing system 10 is provided with a bus 12 that is a communication path for data and instructions, and each functional element is connected to the bus 12. The scanner 14 is a reading device that reads a sheet and generates scanned image data. The printer 16 is a printing device that performs printing on paper based on print image data. The printer 16 can perform double-sided printing, Nup printing (reduction of N pages of image data and printing on the same page), and the like.

  The paper supply / discharge unit 18 is hardware that performs mechanical processing on paper, and performs feeding, discharging, rotation, reversing, and the like of paper used by the scanner and printer, bending of paper discharged from the printer, Stapling, sorting, etc.

  The image processing unit 20 performs image processing for generating or processing image data. Image processing includes dynamic processing on image data, that is, image rotation, inversion, enlargement / reduction, division, composition, and the like.

  The transmission unit 22 is a device that transmits image data to the outside by FAX or electronic mail. The control unit 24 performs communication on the bus 12 and controls each functional element.

  The UI (user interface) 26 is constructed using a display, a touch input device on the display surface, and the like. A screen for displaying information to the user (user) and a screen for receiving an instruction from the user are displayed on the display. The UI 26 includes a setting input unit 28, an explanation instruction unit 30, and a moving image display unit 32.

  The setting input unit 28 is used by the user to instruct processing to be executed by the image processing system 10. The explanation instruction unit 30 is used by the user to give an instruction for requesting a function explanation, and is sometimes called a “help function”. The explanation instruction unit 30 can instruct execution and re-execution of the explanation, and specify a process to be explained, or designate an annotation that emphasizes the explanation (in other words, gives an instruction). Can do. The moving image display unit 32 displays a moving image for explaining the processing (a moving image explaining user settings may be included). Typically, the moving image processing unit 32 displays (simulates) a mode virtually executed for the process. Here, the moving image refers to an image that is dynamically displayed, and may be a continuous reproduction of a still image or a reproduction of an image in a moving image format. The user authentication unit 34 authenticates a user who uses the image processing system 10. The authentication may be password authentication, card authentication or biometric authentication.

  The history database 36 is a database for managing history data for each user. The history database 36 includes setting history data 38 recorded on the process set (and executed) by the user from the setting input unit 28, and explanation history data 40 recorded on the explanation given by the user from the explanation instruction unit 30. It is. The moving image database 42 is a database for managing various explanation data 44 for displaying moving images on the moving image display unit 32.

  Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 will be briefly described. The user inputs the user ID and password through the UI 26, receives authentication from the user authentication unit 34, and logs into the image processing system 10. Then, the setting to be executed is set from the setting input unit 28. In setting, the user can instruct to explain the processing through the explanation instruction unit 30. For example, it is possible to explain a setting for which the processing function is not known, or to explain when a setting has been made but the specific operation is uncertain. The moving image display unit 32 displays a moving image for performing an instruction instructed by the instruction instructing unit 30. Specifically, the moving image display unit 32 retrieves the explanation data from the moving image database 42 and displays it.

  Note that the user can set the processing that the user wants to emphasize and explain in the explanation instruction unit 30. In this case, the moving image display unit 32 performs slow motion playback (displays at a speed slower than the standard speed), changes in brightness and saturation (coloring or blinking of an emphasis target), and simplification of a background image ( Highlight) and change the display size. The emphasis can be performed in all time zones (all processes) or in some time zones (part of processes). In addition, the user can select a process for omitting the description or fast-forwarding. Such a selection may be made during the moving image display.

  Based on the setting history data, the moving image display unit 32 emphasizes the settings that the user has little experience of setting (for example, the number of experiences is less than a certain number of times, or the setting time has elapsed since the previous setting). It is also possible to perform a normal explanation for a setting with abundant user setting experience. Further, the moving image display unit 32 is based on the explanation history data, and is frequently rewinded by the user or displayed so as to be rewound many times (these are extracted when the frequency and the number of times are not less than a predetermined value. Can also be set to be highlighted. Alternatively, when the processing set from the setting input unit 28 is complicated (for example, whether there are one or more predetermined processes that are difficult to understand such as the number of processing steps and rotation / combination in the image / paper) It is also possible to make a display on the UI 26 prompting the user to receive an explanation.

  The user can change the setting by switching the screen to the setting input unit 28 while the moving image display unit 32 displays the moving image. When an addition or change is made through the setting input unit 28, a moving image display for the added or changed setting is displayed at a place where the addition or change is made (or an interruption place where the screen is switched) or a place immediately before that (for example, , A predetermined time before or a previous process). Of course, you may make it start a moving image from the beginning. Further, the user can actually execute the processing during the moving image display even during the display as well as after the moving image is displayed by the moving image display unit 32.

  When there is an execution instruction, the scanner 14, the printer 16, the paper supply / discharge unit 18, and the image processing unit 20 perform the instructed processes. The processes in the scanner 14, the printer 16, the paper supply / discharge unit 18, and the image processing unit 20 are often set and executed as a series of processes.

  Next, a specific example of moving image display will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing typical scenes in moving image display as (a) to (e) for a series of processes from copying (scanning and printing) to booklet creation. In FIG. 2A, a plurality of sheets such as the first sheet 50 with “A” and the second sheet 52 with “I” are placed at the sheet setting position of the image processing system 10. , Placed sideways. FIG. 2B shows a landscape paper 54 to be printed out. The paper 54 has 2up printing in which “A” written on the paper 50 is arranged vertically on the left side and “I” written on the paper 52 is arranged vertically on the right side (two pages of image data are one sheet of paper) Is printed). In FIG. 2C, staples 56 are fastened at two locations along the center line of the paper 54 (staple processing). In FIG. 2D, the center line that is stapled is used as a folding line 58, and the surface on which “A” and “I” are printed is bent inward. FIG. 2E shows a state in which the folded paper 54 is output.

  By viewing this series of moving images, the user can understand in which direction and in what order the paper 50 and the paper 52 should be set. In addition, the user can also confirm in advance whether or not the stapling position, the bending direction, and the like are appropriate.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an aspect in which the moving image display is interrupted and switched to the setting screen during the moving image processing illustrated in FIG. 2. FIGS. 3A to 3C show the same scene of the same moving image as FIGS. 2A to 2C. Here, the user sees that the staple 56 has been fastened in the scene of FIG. 3C and notices that an unintended setting has been made. Then, the user gives a switching instruction to display the window 60 shown in FIG. Here, the window refers to one or more display sections provided in the display, and can be displayed side by side or overlaid with other display sections.

  In the window 60, there is a display “Ready to copy” indicating that the current setting can be executed immediately, and a display for inputting a “booklet creation” setting. In other words, the booklet creation setting can be selected from “No”, “Left / Top Binding”, and “Right Binding”. Currently, “Left / Top Binding” is selected. This is indicated by the mark. In the booklet creation, whether or not “fold” processing and “stapling” processing are “checked” can be set by a check mark, and both “folding” processing and “stapling” processing are “yes” at present. It is set to.

  FIG. 3E shows a window 60 after the user has changed the setting. Here, only the check mark “Yes” for “fold” processing is deleted. That is, a setting is made such that “folding” processing is not performed and only “stapling” processing is “performed”. In the window 60 of FIG. 3 (e), the message “Can be copied” is still displayed, and the user can immediately execute the process according to this setting.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the moving image display is resumed after the setting in FIG. FIG. 4 (a) represents the same scene as FIG. 3 (e). 4B to 4D show scenes of a moving image that are displayed when the user instructs to resume the moving image in the scene of FIG. 4A.

  In (b) to (d) of FIG. 4, the movie shown in (c) to (e) of FIG. 2 which is the movie before the setting change is displayed on the right side, and the corresponding movie after setting is displayed on the left side. ing. In addition, the restart of the moving image is performed from a stapled scene, which is a process in which the moving image is interrupted before and a process in which the setting change is reflected. Specifically, FIG. 4B shows that a process for fastening a staple on the left side of the paper 54 is performed instead of the process for fastening the staple 56 at the center of the paper 54. In FIGS. 4C and 4D, it is displayed that the sheet 54 is output without being bent after the setting.

  In addition, although the aspect which displays before and after a setting change in contrast is shown here, the case where there is a setting and the case where it does not exist (for example, the case where a staple setting exists, and the case where it does not exist) are compared. It is also possible to compare the user setting with the standard setting. Further, the display for comparison can be performed not by displaying them side by side but by displaying them in a superimposed manner.

  Next, an example of changing the display will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

  FIG. 5A shows an example of instructing to change the moving image display in the window 80 for setting the processing to be executed. FIG. 5B shows a moving image display changing window 90 displayed as a result. Show. In the window 80 shown in FIG. 5A, the fact that the current setting can be executed at any time is indicated by “Can copy”, and setting items for basic copying are shown. Specifically, “select magnification” can be selected from “automatic”, “100%”, “141%”, “70%”, and “detailed setting”, and is currently set to “141%”. ing. In addition, “paper selection” can be selected from “automatic”, “tray 1”, “tray 2”, “tray 3”, and “tray 4”, and is currently set to “automatic”. . Further, a “close” button for the window 80, a button for switching “double-sided / single-sided” printing, and a button for performing “density adjustment” are displayed. As for the moving image display, a button for instructing execution of “explanation” and a “description setting” button for instructing annotation for explanation are displayed.

  In FIG. 5A, when the “explain instruction” button is pressed, the window 90 in FIG. 5B is displayed. The window 90 displays “Annotation can be specified” indicating that the window is an annotation setting window. In the window 90, items “select magnification”, “paper selection”, “double-sided / single-sided”, and “density adjustment” that can be checked are shown as a “setting function list”. Checks can be put into multiple items. Here, “Select magnification” is checked. This indicates that in the moving image display, an instruction to highlight the magnification selection portion is given. The user presses the “explanation” button of the window 90 or returns to the window 80 by pressing the “return” button and then presses the “explanation” button of the window 80 to display the highlighted video description about the magnification selection. Can be made. The highlighting is performed, for example, by performing slow motion playback or highlight display of the set part of the magnification display.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing display change control. When an instruction to display a moving image is given, such as when the user presses the “explain” button, first, the presence / absence of the annotation setting shown in FIG. 5 is checked (S10). When there is an annotation designation, the moving image display method is changed to perform highlighting according to the annotation (S12), and the moving image is displayed (S16). Further, even when no annotation is specified, if the user has performed setting for the processing to be explained only a predetermined number of times or less in the past (S14), the moving image is displayed so that the whole is highlighted. The display method is changed (S12), and the moving image is displayed (S16). On the other hand, if the process has been set many times by the user in the past, the moving image is displayed in a standard manner without changing the display method (S16).

  If there is an instruction to perform a resetting operation during the display of a moving image (S18), the screen shifts to a screen for setting the processing displayed at the time when the instruction is given (S20). Such a screen may be displayed as a window that occupies only a part of the display, or may be displayed so as to occupy the entire surface of the display.

  If there is an instruction to set an additional process while displaying a moving image (S22), the screen shifts to a screen showing a list of processes that can be added (S24). The process that can be added is a process that can be set repeatedly without conflicting with the process that is currently set.

  Furthermore, if there is an instruction to start execution during the display of the moving image (S26), the execution is started and the screen shifts to a screen for monitoring the execution state (S28).

It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of an image processing system. It is a figure which shows the example of a moving image display. It is a figure which shows the example which transfers to a setting screen during a moving image display. It is a figure which shows the example which restarts a moving image display after a setting. It is a figure which shows the example of the annotation setting for an emphasis display. It is a flowchart which shows the example of control of a display change.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image processing system, 12 bus | bath, 14 Scanner, 16 Printer, 18 Feeding / discharging part, 20 Image processing part, 22 Transmission part, 24 Control part, 26 UI, 28 Setting input part, 30 Description instruction part, 32 Movie display part , 34 User authentication unit, 36 History database, 38 Setting history data, 40 Explanation history data, 42 Movie database, 44 Explanation data, 50, 52, 54 Paper, 56 Stapling, 58 Folding line, 60 windows, 80 windows, 90 windows .

Claims (19)

Processing including image processing on paper, and processing means for performing a series of processing on images or paper;
A setting means for setting a process to be executed based on a user instruction;
Display means for displaying a video simulating the flow of processing;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The display means is an image processing apparatus having a function of changing a moving image to be displayed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2,
The display means is an image processing apparatus that changes a moving image based on a user instruction. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2,
The display means is an image processing device that changes a moving image based on a history instructed by a user to set processing. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2,
The display means is an image processing device that displays a moving image based on a user's instruction, and changes the moving image based on a history in which the user instructs to display the moving image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2,
An image processing apparatus in which the display means changes to a moving image that emphasizes part or all of the processing. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The display means is an image processing apparatus having a function of interrupting the display of a moving image and performing a display for instructing a user to make a setting regarding a process for which the display is interrupted. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7.
The display means determines a display resuming position based on a process for which the display is interrupted or a process for which the setting is instructed when the user instructs a setting regarding the process for which the display is interrupted, and restarts the display of the moving image. An image processing apparatus having a function. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 8,
The display means is an image processing apparatus that displays a moving image that contrasts two or more different image processes. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The display means is an image processing apparatus that displays a moving image for the process set by the setting means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10.
The display means displays a video based on a user instruction,
The image processing apparatus is provided with means for prompting a user to instruct the display means to display a moving image when the set processing is complicated. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The display means is an image processing apparatus that displays a moving image about the process inquired by the user. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
An image processing apparatus in which a moving image displayed by the display unit includes a moving image that simulates a flow of a user's instruction procedure. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The processing is an image processing apparatus including dynamic processing on an image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The processing is an image processing apparatus including mechanical processing for paper. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The processing is an image processing apparatus including image transmission processing. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1;
A reading device for reading an image from paper;
With
Image processing for paper is an image processing system in which a reading device reads an image from paper. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1;
A printing device for printing an image on paper;
With
The image processing for the paper is an image processing system in which the printing apparatus prints an image on the paper. Processing including image processing on paper, and processing means for performing a series of processing on images or paper;
A setting means for setting a process to be executed based on a user instruction;
Display means for displaying a video simulating the flow of processing;
A control program for causing a computer to function as an image processing apparatus.

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