JP2010068196A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an image which cannot be printed to be eliminated from an object to be printed in advance because of the following problem: selected images including images which cannot be printed are also printed when some of images stored in a removable medium are in the form which is not supported by an MFP or have a damaged file and such a removable medium is used to perform media direct printing. <P>SOLUTION: When performing preview display of an image before printing the image, the image is decoded. Then, it is determined that the image in which decode processing is failed cannot be printed. As a result, regarding the images which at least preview display is performed among images to be objects of printing, the images are automatically removed from the objects before the printing is executed when the images cannot be printed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for automatically canceling selection of images that cannot be printed in a “media direct print” function for directly printing an image file on a removable medium from an information processing apparatus.

  In recent years, an increasing number of information devices can access removable media without going through a PC. For example, an MFP having a port for accessing a file in a removable medium and a function for inputting and outputting an image has appeared on the market.

  Since removable media are used in digital cameras, PCs, and other information devices, there are various image formats stored in the media. Therefore, when trying to print an image in a removable medium using the media direct print function of the MFP, the selected image may be in a format not supported by the MFP. The image may have an unprintable compression rate or resolution, or the file may be damaged in the first place. Even in such a case, in the conventional MFP, the user may accidentally specify an image that cannot be printed and execute printing.

  Conventionally, in such a case, printing is generally performed by skipping images that cannot be printed, or an error display is performed during printing.

In addition, in the prior art of index printing, an image that could not be printed is replaced with a predetermined image for printing (Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-96688 A

  For images that cannot be printed, it is desirable to exclude them from printing before starting printing.

  A method of performing a print check (decode check) of all images in advance so that an image that cannot be printed cannot be selected at the time of list display is also conceivable. However, in that case, in order to perform the processing in a short time, hardware for performing image analysis is required, and this method cannot be solved in an inexpensive MFP that does not have these resources.

  In addition, in the related art, there is no mention of a method of canceling selection before starting printing when an image that cannot be printed is selected.

In order to solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention provides:
Has an interface for reading removable media,
In an information processing apparatus having an operation unit panel capable of displaying image information stored in an inserted removable medium, and capable of printing a plurality of images selected from the operation unit panel.
The information processing apparatus includes:
"List display" that displays a list of file names of images stored on removable media and "Preview display" that displays images in a reduced size are possible.
During the “list display” or the “preview display”, it is possible to select an image to be printed. The selected image is displayed as being selected, and the list display and the preview display are switched. However, the selected state of the image is maintained,
An information processing device that performs decoding determination of an image to be displayed at the time of preview display, and automatically cancels selection of an image that has become decoded NG even if the image is being selected. is there.

  For an image that has been displayed for preview, the selection is automatically canceled when printing is not possible, so printing is not performed for that image. In addition, since the cancellation of the selection is displayed, the user can recognize in advance that the image is not printed, and the user can be prevented from being confused.

  Next, details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Further, an image forming apparatus (MFP) will be described as an example of information equipment.

<Description of Image Forming Apparatus>
An overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  A reader unit (image input device) 200 optically reads a document image and converts it into image data. The reader unit 200 includes a scanner unit having a function for reading a document and a document feeding unit having a function for transporting a document sheet. However, the document feeding unit is not essential in the present invention.

  A printer unit (image output device) 300 conveys a recording sheet, prints image data as a visible image thereon, and discharges the recording paper out of the apparatus. The printer unit 300 includes a paper feed unit 360 having a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes, a marking unit 310 having a function of transferring and fixing image data to the recording paper, and sorting and stapling the printed recording papers. And a paper discharge unit 370 having a function of outputting to

  The control unit 100 is electrically connected to the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300, and is further connected to the host computer 15 via a network.

  The control unit 100 provides a copy function by controlling the reader unit 200 to read image data of a document and controlling the printer unit 300 to output the image data to a recording sheet. Also, a scanner function that converts image data read from the reader unit 200 into code data and transmits it to various servers via a network, and converts code data received from a host computer via a network into image data, and a printer unit Provides printer function to output to 300.

<Description of control unit>
The function of the control unit 100 will be described based on the block diagram shown in FIG.

  Main controller 110 mainly includes CPU 111, memory control unit 112, bus control unit 113, scan I / F 114, printer I / F 115, panel I / F 116, scan image processing unit 117, printer image processing unit 118, compression / decompression unit. 119, magnification / rotation unit 120, and serial I / F unit 121.

  The CPU 111 and the memory control unit 112 control the entire operation of the control unit 100, and the CPU 111 operates based on a program stored in the memory 131. The program also interprets PDL (page description language) code data received from the host computer and develops it into raster image data. The CPU 111 processes the interpretation of the code data and raster image data. To do.

  The memory control unit 112 controls data transfer input / output from each I / F, and performs arbitration at the time of bus contention and control of DMA data transfer.

  The bus control unit 113 controls access to the Boot ROM 132, ROM 133, and modem 134.

  The scan I / F 114 receives image data input from the reader unit 200 and transfers the image data to the memory 131 and the scan image processing unit 117.

  The scan image processing unit 117 has a function of performing predetermined image processing on the image received from the scan I / F 114. Examples of image processing include line pitch correction, offset correction, nonlinear correction, color space matching, MTF correction, spatial filter, and achromatic color determination.

  The printer I / F 115 creates a control signal based on the video control signal sent from the printer unit, and outputs a video signal in accordance with the control signal.

  The printer image processing unit 118 has a function of inputting raster image data from the memory 131 and outputting data subjected to image processing to the memory 131. Image processing includes color space compression, background removal, log conversion, nonlinear color space conversion, random number addition, gamma conversion, error diffusion processing, screen processing, and the like.

  The compression / decompression unit 119 compresses the raster image data stored in the memory 131 by a method such as MH / MR / MMR / JBIG / JPEG, and conversely decompresses the code data stored by compression into raster image data. Store in the memory 131.

  The scaling / rotation unit 120 has a function of enlarging / reducing raster image data stored in the memory 131 and performing 90, 180, and 270 ° rotation processing.

  The BootROM 132 stores the program of the CPU 111.

  The ROM 133 is used to store the user mode and various setting information, and the Font ROM and the like are also stored in the ROM 133.

  Panel I / F 116 communicates with panel 140. The panel 140 has a liquid crystal display unit and a plurality of hard keys. The signal input by the hard key is transmitted to the CPU 111 via the panel I / F 116 described above, and the data sent from the panel I / F 116 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit. Functions and the like in the operation of the image forming apparatus are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit.

  The serial I / F 121 performs communication with the host computer and communication with various devices via the connector 138. USB is generally used as the serial bus.

  The serial I / F 121 is used for I / F that receives PDL data from a host computer, command communication with a recording medium on which digital image data is recorded, image data transfer, and the like.

  The modem 134 and the NCU 135 are connected to a public line and perform FAX communication control.

  The real time clock module 136 is for updating / saving the date and time managed in the device, and is backed up by a backup battery.

  The network controller 137 is connected to an external network. The network is generally a LAN having a bus structure, and is used for receiving PDL data from a host computer, transmitting a scanner image, remote management, and the like.

<Description of Print Image Processing Unit>
The print image processing unit 118 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 shows a detailed block diagram of the print image processing unit 118.

  Image data input from the memory control unit 112 is first input to the data input unit 150. The data input unit 150 converts the data format input from the memory control unit 112 and transfers image data to the linear interpolation unit 151.

  The linear interpolation unit 151 performs image enlargement / reduction processing.

  The color space compression unit 152 compresses the input image data in the printer color reproduction color, and performs saturation adjustment, color phase adjustment, background adjustment, and black area adjustment. When the input color space is YUV, the color space compression unit 152 performs conversion to the RGB color space.

  The background removal / monochrome conversion unit 153 performs a non-linear operation on the RGB image data to remove the background of the image, and if the scanned image processing unit 117 determines that the color is achromatic, the image data is changed from RGB to Monochrome. It has a color / monochrome conversion function for conversion.

  The LOG conversion unit 154 performs non-linear conversion using a one-dimensional look-up table to convert image data from RGB signals to CMY signals.

  The CMYK conversion unit 155 converts a CMY signal into a CMYK signal using a three-dimensional Look-Up Table.

  When the color space of the image data input from the memory control unit 112 is CMYK, the input data is output as it is from the color space compression unit 152 to the CMYK conversion unit 155.

  The color balance correction unit 156 performs image brightness adjustment.

  The γ correction unit 157 adjusts the density of each input CMYK signal independently using a one-dimensional Look-Up Table.

  The multi-value screen processing unit 158 performs screen processing on the input multi-value image data and converts it into 4/2 / 1-bit gradation.

  The error diffusion processing unit 159 performs error diffusion processing on the input multi-valued image data and converts it into 4/2 / 1-bit gradation.

  Here, when screen processing is performed on the input image, the multi-value screen processing unit 158 performs processing, and the error diffusion processing unit 159 outputs the input data as it is.

  When performing error diffusion processing, the multi-value screen processing unit 158 outputs the input data as it is, and the error diffusion processing unit 159 performs processing.

  In the SST unit 160, the edge portion of the image data is detected and converted by pattern matching, and the jaggy is reduced and smoothed.

  The trimming unit 161 performs image data frame removal and masking processing.

  The data output unit 162 outputs the processed image data to the memory control unit 112.

<Description of operation unit>
The operation unit will be described. FIG. 5 shows a detailed block diagram of the panel 140.

  Panel I / F 116 is connected to panel control unit 171. The panel control unit 171 monitors the hard key unit 173 and controls the liquid crystal display unit 172. When a key input is generated in the hard key unit 173, it notifies the CPU 111 via the panel I / F 116. Further, display is performed on the liquid crystal display unit 172 based on the control input from the panel I / F 116.

  The serial I / F 121 is connected to the image storage media control unit 174. The image storage media control unit 174 connects to the image storage media via the image storage media I / F 175.

  Examples of the image storage medium generally include an SDCard (trademark) and a USB memory.

<Description of print processing of image data>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for printing out the image data stored in the image recording medium in the present embodiment. S601 to S607 in the figure indicate each step.

  When printing out the image data stored in the image recording medium, in S601, the user selects and prints the image on the panel 140. Here, in order to select an image, a file / directory name on the removable medium is acquired. Create map tables as needed. Details of the file / directory name acquisition processing performed in S601 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Then, based on the acquired file / directory name, the user selects the image (specifically, the file / directory name registered in the display file list secured on the memory 131 is displayed). Details of the file list display will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The print setting contents are the number of copies, paper size, image processing selection, and the like.

  When a print start instruction is given on the operation unit 140, the CPU 111 reads image data from the image recording medium attached to the image recording medium I / F via the serial I / F 121 and stores it in the memory 131 in S602. . Here, the image is read based on the selected file / directory name. Details of the image reading process using the file / directory name in S602 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In S603, when the image data stored in the memory 131 is compressed, it is decompressed and stored in the memory 131.

  In step S604, the print image processing unit 118 performs image conversion / processing on the basis of the image processing setting set in step S601 and stores the image in the memory 131.

  In S605, the image stored in the memory 131 is printed out from the printer I / F 115 in synchronization with the control signal from the printer unit 300.

  In S606, if the printing process of all the image data set in S601 has not been completed, the process returns to S602, and if the printing process has been completed, the process is terminated. If the print processing of all the image data set in S601 has been completed, the process proceeds to S607, and if the map table has been created in S601, deletion is performed.

<Description of list display screen>
701 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a list display screen. The file / directory name in the removable media acquired in S601 is displayed in 703. A check box 702 is arranged next to the file name, and indicates whether or not the image is selected. Printing is performed on images with this selection check.

<Description of preview screen>
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the image preview display screen in the embodiment of the present invention.

  801 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a preview display screen. An area 804 displays image previews one by one. It should be noted that the display can be switched to the previous or next image by using the “Previous” button 805 and the “Next” button 806. Reference numeral 802 denotes an area for displaying an image file name being displayed in preview and a selection state thereof. Reference numeral 803 denotes a display of the total number of currently selected images.

<Description of the selection cancellation process flow during image preview>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for canceling selection of an image that cannot be printed at the time of image preview in the present embodiment. S901 to S906 in the figure indicate each step.

  In S901, the file / directory name on the removable medium is acquired, and a list is displayed on the panel 140. Thereafter, in S902, the user selects an image to be printed. When a preview display instruction is received from the user in S903, the screen is switched to a screen 801 for displaying the selected images on the panel 140 one by one. An image decoding check S904 is performed on the preview display screen. If the image cannot be decoded, printing cannot be performed. If an image has been selected, the selection is automatically canceled (S905). If decoding can be performed normally, it is determined that printing is possible, and the selection state is not changed.

  When preview display is not performed in S903, the selection state is not automatically changed.

  When the user gives a print instruction, the selected image is printed (S906).

<Description of screen display when selection is automatically canceled>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating screen display after automatic selection cancellation in the embodiment of the present invention.

  On the list display screen 701, a selection check is displayed for the selected image (1001). The selection is automatically canceled when preview display is performed for those images that cannot be printed (S905). This is indicated by the selection check on the preview display screen 801 being removed (1002). It should be noted that the items that have been deselected at this time remain unchecked even when the list display screen 701 is switched (1003).

It is a figure explaining the screen display after selection automatic cancellation in the example of the present invention. It is a block diagram of this invention in the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the system configuration | structure of the system which implements this invention in the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the printing image process in the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the operation part in the Example of this invention. FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart for printing image data stored on an image recording medium in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the structure of the image list display screen in the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the structure of the image preview display screen in the Example of this invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of selection release processing at the time of image preview in the embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (1)

Has an interface for reading removable media,
In an information processing apparatus having an operation panel capable of displaying information of an image stored in an inserted removable medium, and capable of printing a plurality of images selected from the operation panel.
The information processing apparatus includes:
"List display" to display a list of file names of images stored on removable media and "Preview display" to display a reduced image are possible.
During the “list display” or the “preview display”, it is possible to select an image to be printed. The selected image is displayed as being selected, and the list display and the preview display are switched. However, the selected state of the image is maintained,
An information processing apparatus that performs decoding determination of an image to be displayed at the time of preview display, and automatically cancels selection of an image that has been decoded as NG even if the image is being selected.

Images