JP2010093457A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance operability of processing for storing image data read in a copy mode, in an image processing apparatus capable of operating in an image reading mode or the copying mode. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus provided with an image reading means and a printing means and connected to an information processing apparatus includes: a job processing means, capable of operating in the image reading mode in which image data read by the image reading means is converted into an image format which can be handled by the information processing apparatus, and the format-converted image data are stored or the copy mode in which the image data read by the image reading means is converted into a printing format which can print out the image data by the printing means and the format-converted image data are stored; and an operation mode selection receiving means, which when the image reading mode is selected, urges a user to select whether a storage format is to be a format capable of being handled by the information processing means or a format printable by the printing means; and when receiving the former selection from the user, makes the job processing means operate as the copying mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus that includes an image reading mechanism and a printing mechanism and that can operate as a plurality of modes including either an image reading mode or a copying mode.

  As described in Patent Document 1, an image processing apparatus that stores image data read by an image reading mechanism in a predetermined storage area is known. When saving image data read by the image reading mechanism, there are a case where the image data is saved in a format that can be handled by an information processing apparatus such as a PC, and a case where the image data is saved in a printing format that can be printed as it is by the printing mechanism. .

As formats that can be handled by the information processing apparatus, PDF (trademark), JPEG, GIFF, and the like are typically used. On the other hand, since the printing format depends on the processing unit of the printing mechanism, it cannot be handled universally.
JP 2007-288621 A

  By the way, as an operation using the image reading mechanism in the image processing apparatus, there are an image reading process (scanning process) and a copying process (copying process). Generally, the image processing apparatus operates as a scanner mode when performing an image reading process, and operates as a copy mode when performing a copying process. Transition to these operation modes is performed in accordance with an instruction from the user.

  The image reading process in the scanner mode is often intended to handle the read image data by an information processing apparatus such as a PC, and therefore it is desirable to store the image data in an image format that can be handled by an information processing apparatus such as a PC. On the other hand, in the copying process in the copy mode, the read image data is often printed as it is, so it is desirable to convert the read image data into a print format and handle it.

  In recent years, an image processing apparatus having a function of storing image data of a read original in a storage area called a box and performing copy printing without re-reading the original by calling the image data stored in the box is practical. It has become. Such a process is basically a copying process, and image data is not assumed to be handled by an information processing apparatus such as a PC, and thus is stored in a print format. Therefore, the operation is performed in the copy mode.

  However, from the user's point of view, it is easy to recognize that storing the read image data is an image reading process, and therefore, the user tends to specify the scanner mode. In such a case, the intended process cannot be performed and the operability is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and improves the operability of processing for storing read image data performed in the copy mode in an image processing apparatus operable in the image reading mode and the copy mode. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus that includes an image reading unit and a printing unit, and is connected to an information processing device, and the image data read by the image reading unit is Operation as an image reading mode for converting to an image format that can be handled by the information processing apparatus and saving, and converting the image data read by the image reading means into a printing format that can be printed by the printing means and saving A job processing means capable of operating as a copy mode; and an operation mode selection accepting means for accepting selection of an operation mode including an image reading mode and a copy mode from a user. When the selection of the image reading mode is accepted, the file format that can be handled by the information processing apparatus is saved as the storage format. When the user is prompted to select a storage format, which is a format for printing or a printing format that can be printed by the printing unit, and receives a selection of a file format that can be handled by the information processing apparatus, the job processing unit The copy mode is operated.

  According to the present invention, even when the user selects the image reading mode even though the saving as the print format is an operation to be instructed as the copy mode, the user can perform an appropriate process. Can be performed. For this reason, in an image processing apparatus operable in the image reading mode and the copying mode, the operability of the processing for storing the read image data performed in the copying mode is improved.

  More specifically, the job processing unit uses the RGB color representation when operating as the image reading mode, and uses the CMYK color representation when operating as the copying mode. Can be performed.

  Further, it is desirable that the operation mode selection receiving means can be set so as not to prompt the user to select the storage format. This is because if the user can appropriately instruct the mode, the storage format selection is not necessary.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability of the processing for storing the read image data performed in the copy mode in the image processing apparatus operable in the image reading mode and the copy mode.

<System configuration>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is an example in which the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a printing apparatus. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a network printing system according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the network printing system is configured by connecting a printing apparatus 10 and a plurality of personal computers (PCs) 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d (hereinafter represented by the PC 20) to a computer network 70. . The computer network 70 can typically be a LAN (Local Area Network). However, the present invention is not limited to the network printing system, but can also be applied to a stand-alone printing system in which the PC 20 and the printing apparatus 10 are locally connected, or a printing system configured by the printing apparatus 10 alone.

  The printing apparatus 10 is a so-called multi-function machine, and in addition to a printer function for performing printing based on print data sent from the PC 20, a copy function and a document table for performing copy printing by reading an image of a document placed on the document table. Is provided with a scanner function for reading an image of an original placed on the PC and outputting it to the PC 20. Further, a facsimile function for transmitting and receiving image data by connecting to a telephone line may be further provided.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of the printing apparatus 10 and the PC 20 in the network printing system according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the printing apparatus 10 includes a print execution unit 110, an image reading unit 120, an image processing unit 130, a setting management unit 140, a job management unit 150, an operation panel 160, a communication processing unit 170, and an IC card reader 180. I have. The image processing unit 130, the setting management unit 140, and the job management unit 150 that perform control processing in the printing apparatus 10 are functional modules such as a CPU, a memory, an image processing apparatus, and a hard disk device provided in the printing apparatus 10, for example. Can be configured.

  The print execution unit 110 has a printing mechanism that performs a printing operation by forming an image on printing paper using an image forming medium. In this embodiment, it is assumed that an ink jet printing mechanism is used in which ink is used as an image forming medium and ink is ejected line by line from a print head having a width covering a printing paper. However, a serial ink jet printing mechanism may be employed, or an electrophotographic printing mechanism may be employed in which toner is used as an image forming medium and printing is performed by fixing the toner onto a sheet. The print execution unit 110 also includes a printing paper supply / discharge mechanism and a transport mechanism.

  The image reading unit 120 includes a document table, a light receiving element, a light source, a lens, a scanning mechanism, and the like, reads image data of a document placed on the document table, converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it to the image processing unit 130. The image reading unit 120 may be installed inside the casing of the printing apparatus 10 or may be installed independently outside the casing of the printing apparatus 10. The image reading unit 120 includes a color conversion processing unit 121 that converts read RGB format image data into CMYK format image data used for printing.

  The image processing unit 130 performs image processing on print data sent from the PC 20 or image data read by the image reading unit 120. The image processing performed by the image processing unit 130 is, for example, print data expansion processing, image data color conversion processing, binarization processing, halftone processing, and the like. In addition, a format conversion unit 131 that converts image data read by the image reading unit 120 into a format that can be handled by the PC 20, for example, a PDF format, a JPEG format, a GIFF format, or the like is provided.

  The setting management unit 140 is a functional unit that manages various settings related to the printing apparatus 10 and various settings related to the user of the printing apparatus 10. The setting management unit 140 can accept these settings via a setting screen displayed on the operation panel 160. Also, the setting screen can be output as a web page and accepted via the browser unit 230 of the PC 20 described later. Details of the setting management unit 140 will be described later.

  The job management unit 150 manages jobs received from the user by the printing apparatus 10. The job includes a print job using a print function, an image reading job using a scanner function, a copy job using a copy function, and the like. Job management includes, for example, control of job execution order, error handling, log recording, and the like. Details of the job management unit 150 will be described later.

  As the operation panel 160, for example, a touch panel display device can be used. The operation panel 160 displays an operation menu and setting contents of the printing apparatus 10, and receives an instruction from the user via the operation menu.

  The communication processing unit 170 performs protocol processing corresponding to the connection form in order to communicate with the PC 20 via the computer network 70. For example, in the case of LAN connection, communication processing by TCP / IP is performed.

  The IC card reader 180 reads information recorded on the IC card 40. In the present embodiment, user identification information registered as a user is recorded on the IC card 40, and the IC card 40 is read by the IC card reader 180, whereby user authentication can be performed. However, the medium for recording user identification information used for user authentication is not limited to the IC card 40. For example, a USB memory, an RF tag, or other recording medium can be used. In this case, the printing apparatus 10 uses a reading device corresponding to the recording medium.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the PC 20 includes a printer driver unit 210, a scanner driver unit 220, a browser unit 230, and a communication processing unit 240. The PC 20 has basic operations such as a user interface, file management, and user management defined by an operating system (not shown). Generally, an operating system has a login function, and a user of the PC 20 can be specified by a login ID or the like.

  The printer driver unit 210 is formed by the CPU of the PC 20 executing a printer driver program developed for the printing apparatus 10. Based on an instruction from the user, the printer driver unit 210 generates print data based on a document to be printed and outputs the print data to the printing apparatus 10.

  The scanner driver unit 220 is formed by the CPU of the PC 20 executing a scanner driver program developed corresponding to the image reading unit 120 of the printing apparatus 10. The scanner driver unit 220 performs processing for acquiring image data read by the image reading unit 120 of the printing apparatus 10 based on an instruction from the user.

  The browser unit 230 has a function of displaying a Web page. In the present exemplary embodiment, the browser unit 230 displays a setting screen provided by the setting management unit 140 and the job management unit 150 of the printing apparatus 10 and a user on the setting screen. Is received and output to the setting management unit 140 and the job management unit 150.

  The communication processing unit 240 performs protocol processing corresponding to the connection form in order to communicate with the printing apparatus 10 via the computer network 70. For example, in the case of LAN connection, communication processing by TCP / IP is performed.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of the setting management unit 140 of the printing apparatus 10. As shown in the drawing, the setting management unit 140 includes a printing apparatus setting management unit 141, a setting table 142, a user information management unit 143, a user information management table 144, and a usage history management table 145.

  The printing apparatus setting management unit 141 functions as an apparatus setting management unit, receives various settings regarding the printing apparatus 10 from the administrator user, and records them in the setting table 142. The various settings related to the printing apparatus are, for example, network settings such as an IP address, settings related to optional functions, and the like. Each printer function, copy function, and scanner function includes a setting for whether or not login is necessary or not.

  In the printing apparatus 10, users are classified into general users and administrator users, and various settings relating to the printing apparatus 10 can be performed only by the administrator user. However, in the printing apparatus 10, the administrator user can have two login states: login as an administrator and login as a general user. In the login state as an administrator, in addition to various settings relating to the printing apparatus 10, user information registration change processing, job management processing, and the like can be performed, while in the login state as a general user, the printer function, copy function, and scanner function Only normal processing using can be performed.

  The user information management unit 143 receives information about a user who uses the printing apparatus 10 from a logged-in administrator user as an administrator, records the information in the user information management table 144, and uses the printing apparatus 10 for each user. Information on the situation is recorded in the use history management table 145. The user information management unit 143 also functions as a user authentication unit, and performs user authentication by login processing.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the user information management table 144 includes a user name 144a, a password 144b, a PC login ID 144c, a belonging group 144d, an administrator authority 144e, a printer mode permission 144f, a copy mode permission 144g, and a scanner mode permission 144h. For each user.

  Here, the password 144 b is authentication information used when logging in to operate the printing apparatus 10. The PC login ID 144c is authentication information when logging in to the printing apparatus 10 via the PC 20, and user identification information when logging in to the operating system of the PC 20 can be used. The affiliation group 144d is a category for managing users by group. The user information management unit 143 may manage information related to the group with another table (not shown). The administrator authority 144e is information indicating whether or not the user is an administrator user. The administrator user is not limited to one person, and a plurality of administrator users can be set.

  The printer mode permission 144f, the copy mode permission 144g, and the scanner mode permission 144h are information indicating whether the printer function is used, the copy function is used, and the scanner function is used. That is, the printing apparatus 10 can independently set whether or not to permit use of the printer function, use of the copy function, and use of the scanner function for each user. Further, detailed use restrictions such as a restriction on the number of printed sheets and a restriction on a color printing function may be set.

  The usage history management table 145 records the usage history of the printing apparatus 10 for each user. The contents of the usage history can be, for example, the total number of times of printing, the total number of times of copying, the total number of times of document reading, etc. during a predetermined counting period. However, a more detailed usage history may be recorded. For example, the use time, color / monochrome, page number, number of copies, etc. may be recorded for each use.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of the job management unit 150 of the printing apparatus 10. As shown in the figure, the job management unit 150 includes a job reception unit 151, a job processing unit 152, and a log information management unit 154.

  The job reception unit 151 receives a job from the user. If the job is a new print job, the job is accepted by receiving print data from the PC 20. If the job content is a copy job or an image reading job, the job is accepted via the operation panel 160. At this time, setting of printing conditions and the like can be accepted. The printing apparatus 10 has a box function for storing image data, and accepts a print job via the operation panel 160 if the print job is stored image data.

  The job processing unit 152 controls execution of the received job. The job processing unit 152 can perform an operation as a printer mode, an operation as a copy mode, and an operation as a scanner mode. Therefore, a printer mode processing unit 155 that performs processing in the printer mode, a copy mode processing unit 156 that performs processing in the copy mode, and a scanner mode processing unit 157 that performs processing in the scanner mode are provided.

  The copy mode processing unit 156 has a function of storing the image data read by the image reading unit 120 in a predetermined storage location (box) based on a user instruction. By calling the data stored in the box, the copy printing process can be performed again without rereading the document. For this reason, the copy mode processing unit 156 includes a box storage unit 1561 that converts the image data read by the image reading unit 120 into a CMYK print format that can be printed by the print execution unit 110 and stores the converted data.

  The scanner mode processing unit 157 includes a PC data storage unit 1571 that converts image data read by the image reading unit 120 into an RGB file format that can be handled by the PC 20 and stores the converted data.

  Further, the job reception unit 151 functions as an operation mode selection reception unit. When the selection of the scanner mode is received, the job reception unit 151 is a file format that can be handled by the PC 20 as a storage format, or for printing that can be printed by the print execution unit 110. When the user is prompted to select a storage format as a format and the user selects a file format that can be handled by the PC 20, the job processing unit 152 is operated in the copy mode.

  The log information management unit 154 functions as a history management unit and records a log relating to a job executed by the printing apparatus 10. The log information management unit 154 includes a log information recording area 1541 for storing a log. The log information recording area 1541 can be configured using, for example, a hard disk device.

  The log information recording area 1541 can record a log corresponding to the job content. If the job content is a print job, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a job name 1541a, a status 1541b, an owner name 1541c, a printing time 1541d, a total page number 1541e, a copy number 1541f, and a reception date 1541g are recorded. When the job content is a copy job or an image reading job, items corresponding to the job are recorded.

Here, the job name 1541a can be, for example, the name of a file to be printed, and the status 1541b can be, for example, normal termination, abort termination, error termination, etc., depending on the status at the end. The owner name 1541a is the name of the user who instructed the job. The printing apparatus 10 can specify the user name by the login process. As will be described later, for a job using a function that does not require login processing, log information is recorded without specifying an owner name. The reception date and time 1541g is the date and time when the print job is received.
<Login process>
Next, login processing in the printing apparatus 10 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, it is assumed that several users have already been registered by the administrator user.

  First, in the standby state, the printing apparatus 10 displays a standby screen 510 as shown in FIG. Note that when the printing apparatus 10 is accessed using the browser unit 230 of the PC 20, the same display is made on the display apparatus of the PC 20.

  On the standby screen 510, a login button 511, a printer button 512, a copy button 513, and a scanner button 514 are arranged. A printer button 512, a copy button 513, and a scanner button 514 are buttons that are selected when using the printer function, the copy function, and the scanner function, respectively.

  In this example, since the administrator user performs the setting that the login is necessary for using the printer function and the scanner function in the printing apparatus setting management unit 141 and the login is not necessary for using the copy function. In the non-logged-in state, buttons 512 and 514 for selecting the printer function and the scanner function are marked with a lock mark, indicating that they cannot be used. The button 513 for selecting the copy function can be used without being marked with a lock mark. The effect is shown.

  When the login button 511 is pressed on this screen (S101), the printing apparatus 10 displays a user selection screen 520 as shown in FIG. 9 on the operation panel 160 (S102). On the user selection screen 520, a list of user names 521 registered in the user information management table 144 is displayed in a selectable state, and a user who has pressed the login button 511 has a button on which his / her user name is written. Can be pressed.

  When receiving the selection of the user name, the printing apparatus 10 displays a password input screen 530 as shown in FIG. 10 on the operation panel 160 (S103). A key button group 531 is displayed on the password input screen 530, and the user who presses the login button 511 can input his / her password.

  Upon receiving the password input, the printing apparatus 10 determines whether or not authentication is possible by collating the password 144b recorded in the user information management table 144 with the input password (S104). Instead of inputting a password, authentication may be performed using an IC card 40 in which user identification information is recorded. In this case, by holding the IC card 40 over the IC card reader 180, information recorded on the IC card 40 can be read and authentication can be performed. Further, when logging in using the browser unit 230 of the PC 20, authentication may be performed by acquiring the login ID of the PC 20 via the operating system. In these cases, it is not necessary to enter a password.

  If the passwords do not match and authentication is not possible (S104: No), the user is prompted to input the password again. On the other hand, if the passwords match and are authenticated (S104: Yes), the administrator authority 144e of the authenticated user is acquired with reference to the user information management table 144, and the authenticated user is the administrator user. Is determined (S105).

  As a result, if the user is not an administrator user (S105: No), login is permitted as a general user (S111). FIG. 11 shows an example of a general user login screen 540 displayed on the operation panel 160 when logging in as a general user. On the general user login screen 540, a logout button 541, an icon 542 indicating a general user, a printer button 543, a copy button 544, and a scanner button 545 are arranged. The general user in this example is permitted to use the printer function and the copy function by the administrator user, and is not permitted to use the scanner function. For this reason, the scanner button 545 is grayed out and cannot be selected. The general user can select a function to be used on the general user login screen 540 and perform processing. After the processing is completed, when the logout button 541 is pressed (S112: Yes), the logout is performed and the printing apparatus 10 returns to the display of the standby screen 510 (S101).

  On the other hand, if the user is an administrator user (S105: Yes), first, the administrator is normally logged in (S106). The administrator normal login state is a state in which operations relating to administrator settings cannot be performed, and is a state in which the printer function, the copy function, and the scanner function can be used in the same manner as a general user. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a complicated menu for administrator setting that is unnecessary in normal operation from being displayed or inadvertently changing the setting of the printing apparatus 10.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of the administrator normal login screen 550 displayed on the operation panel 160 in the administrator normal login state. The administrator normal login screen 550 has a logout button 551, an icon 552 having the same shape as an icon 542 indicating that the user is not logged in as an administrator, a printer button, a copy button, a scanner button, and a management button. An administrator login button 553 and an administrator setting button 554 are arranged. Even an administrator user need only select a function to be used on the administrator normal login screen 550 and perform processing when performing a normal operation of the printer / copy / scanner. After the processing is completed, when the logout button 551 is pressed (S107: Yes), the logout is performed and the printing apparatus 10 returns to the display of the standby screen 510 (S101).

  The administrator login button 552 is a button that is pressed when logging in as an administrator, and the administrator setting button 534 is a button that is pressed when performing an administrator setting operation. Even if an administrator user is logged in as a general user and cannot perform administrator setting operations in the normal administrator login state, the administrator setting button 534 is grayed out and cannot be pressed. It has become.

  When the administrator login button 553 is pressed on the administrator normal login screen 550 (S108: Yes), an administrator management login state, which is a login as an administrator, is entered (S109). In order to further increase security, when the administrator log-in button 553 is pressed, a password as an administrator may be further requested and authentication as the administrator may be performed. In this case, a password for the administrator is separately determined and recorded in the user information management table 144.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of an administrator management login screen 560 displayed on the operation panel 160 in the administrator management login state. The administrator management login screen 560 includes a logout button 561, an icon 562 having a different shape from the icon 542 indicating that the user is a general user to indicate login as an administrator, a printer button, a copy button, a scanner button, An administrator login button 563 and an administrator setting button 564 are arranged. The administrator login button 563 is highlighted to indicate that the login is as an administrator. Further, since the login is as an administrator who can perform the administrator setting operation, the administrator setting button 564 can be pressed.

  An administrator user who has logged in as an administrator can perform various administrator setting operations by pressing the administrator setting button 564. Further, it is possible to access the job management unit 100 to display or delete jobs of general users. After the administrator setting operation is completed, when the logout button 561 is pressed (S110: Yes), the logout is performed and the printing apparatus 10 returns to the display of the standby screen 510 (S101). Further, the administrator login button 563 may be pressed again to cancel the login state as the administrator and return to the normal administrator login state (S106).

As described above, in this embodiment, the login state of the administrator user is distinguished into the login state as the administrator and the login state as a general user, and the administrator setting operation is performed in the initial login state. You are logged in as a general user who cannot. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the administrator user from displaying even a menu unnecessary for normal processing, and it is possible to prevent the administrator user from performing an administrator setting operation unnecessarily.
<Administrator setting operation>
Next, an administrator setting operation performed by the administrator user in the administrator management login state will be described. When the administrator setting button 564 is pressed on the administrator management login screen 560 shown in FIG. 13, the printing apparatus 10 displays an administrator setting screen 570 as shown in FIG. 14 on the operation panel 160.

  On the administrator setting screen 570, a user setting button 571, a login setting button 572, a log management button 573, and a network setting button 574 are arranged.

  The user setting button 571 on the administrator setting screen 570 is a button for the administrator user to make settings relating to the user. When the user setting button 571 is pressed, the printing apparatus 10 displays a user setting screen 580 as shown in FIG. On the user setting screen 580, a list 581 of user names registered in the user information management table 144 is displayed in a selectable state, and an add button 582, a change button 583, and an erase button 584 are arranged. . For example, when changing the registration information of a user, the administrator user who is logged in as an administrator may select the target user from the user name list 581 and press the change button 583.

  When the change button 583 is pressed, the printing apparatus 10 displays a change screen 590 as shown in FIG. The change screen 590 displays user information related to the selected user recorded in the user information management table 144. The user information includes, for example, usage permission for each function. An administrator user logged in as an administrator can change arbitrary user information on the change screen 590. The changed user information is reflected in the user information management table 144.

  A login setting button 572 on the administrator setting screen 570 is a button for setting whether login processing is necessary for use for each of the printer function, the copy function, and the scanner function. When the login setting button 572 is pressed, the printing apparatus 10 displays a login setting screen 600 as shown in FIG. On the login setting screen 600, it is possible to arbitrarily set whether or not login is necessary for each of the printer function, the copy function, and the scanner function. For example, when an administrator user who is logged in as an administrator allows the unspecified user to use the printer function without logging in, set “unnecessary” and do not pass user authentication. If you do not want to use it, you can set “Necessary”. For functions that do not require login, users who are prohibited from using each function set for each user can be used. However, in order to improve the convenience of the administrator user In addition, it is desirable that the use permission setting for each user is automatically made unnecessary for the function that login is unnecessary.

In the present embodiment, when login is required for the printer function, the user performs login processing on the printing apparatus 10 after transmitting print data from the PC 20 in order to further enhance security, and user authentication is performed. When it is done, actual printing is started. At this time, it is possible to select whether printing is started automatically after user authentication by the printing apparatus 10 or whether printing is started by a user's button operation or the like.
<Scanner mode operation>
Next, the scanner mode operation in the printing apparatus 10 will be described. In the scanner mode, an image reading instruction can be received through a scan instruction screen 610 as shown in FIG. On the scan instruction screen 610, the storage destination of the read image can be specified by the storage destination menu 611, and the hard disk device built in the printing apparatus 10 is selected in the initial state. The image data read in the scanner mode operation is converted into a format that can be handled by the PC 20. The user can specify what format to convert using the save format menu 612. In the save format menu 612, for example, a PDF format, a JPEG format, or a GIFF format can be selected. These formats are general-purpose image formats in RGB format that can be used in the PC 20.

When image reading is executed in the scanner mode, the read image data is converted into the format designated by the save format menu 612 and saved in the save destination designated by the save destination menu 611. The stored image data can be imported into the PC 20 and edited.
<Copy mode operation>
Next, a copy mode operation in the printing apparatus 10 will be described. In the printing apparatus 10, in addition to a normal copying process for printing the read image data as it is, a box storage process for storing the read image data in a box can be performed. The box saving process can be instructed by a box saving instruction screen 620 as shown in FIG. In the box saving instruction screen 620, a box for saving image data can be selected from a saving destination selection menu 623. In the save destination selection menu 623, a personal box registered in advance by an administrator user and a shared box are displayed. Note that an external storage device may be connected to the outside of the printing apparatus 10 so that image data can be stored in a predetermined area of the external storage device.

  The user can save the read image data in the designated box by selecting the save destination from the save destination selection menu 623 and pressing the “save” button 621. At this time, the image data is stored in a CMYK print format that can be printed by the print execution unit 110.

Further, by pressing a “save and copy” button 622, the read image data can be copied and printed, and the image data can be saved in the designated box. Also at this time, the image data is stored in a CMYK printing format that can be printed by the print execution unit 110.
<Operation when scanner mode is selected>
Next, the operation when the scanner mode is selected in the printing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the user selects the scanner mode on the mode selection screen 550 shown in FIG. 12 (S201), in this embodiment, the confirmation screen 630 as shown in FIG. The information is displayed on the operation panel 160 (S202).

  On the confirmation screen 630, either a “format that can be used on a personal computer” 631 or a “format that can be printed by this apparatus (stored in a box)” 633 can be selected. When “format usable on personal computer” 631 is selected, the format can be designated with the format selection button 632.

  When “format usable on personal computer” 631 is selected on the confirmation screen 630 (S203: Yes), the scanner mode is operated in accordance with the user's selection instruction, and the screen shifts to the scan instruction screen 610 shown in FIG. S204). At this time, the format specified by the format selection button 632 is displayed on the storage format menu 612.

  Then, the image data read by the image reading unit 120 is converted into a format designated by the save format menu 612 and saved in the save destination designated by the save destination menu 611. The stored image data can be imported into the PC 20 and edited.

  On the other hand, when “format that can be printed by this machine (stored in a box)” 633 is selected on the confirmation screen 630 (S203: No), the scanner mode is instructed on the mode selection screen 550. The operation is performed as the copy mode, and the process proceeds to the box save instruction screen 620 shown in FIG. 19 (S205). That is, saving as a print format is a process that should be instructed as the copy mode, but the user can perform an appropriate process even when the user has instructed the scanner mode. become able to.

  The user can save the read image data in the designated box by selecting a save destination from the save destination selection menu 623 on the box save instruction screen 620 and pressing a “save” button 621. it can. At this time, the image data is stored in a print format that can be printed by the print execution unit 110.

  Further, by pressing a “save and copy” button 622, the read image data can be copied and printed, and the image data can be saved in the designated box. Also at this time, the image data is stored in a print format that can be printed by the print execution unit 110.

  The confirmation screen 630 is a screen for leading to the original operation mode when an operation mode different from the operation mode to be specified is specified due to a user's misunderstanding. Therefore, it is not necessary when the user understands the operation mode to be specified. Therefore, it is desirable to operate in the scanner mode without displaying the confirmation screen 630 according to the setting of the administrator user. In this case, when the printing apparatus 10 is operated in the scanner mode, a scan instruction screen 610 as shown in FIG. 18 is displayed. In order to display the box saving instruction screen 620, the user may operate the printing apparatus 10 in the copy mode and perform a predetermined menu operation.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the operability of the processing for storing the read image data performed in the copy mode in the printing apparatus operable in the scanner mode and the copy mode.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the network printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the printing apparatus and PC in a network printing system. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of a setting management unit of the printing apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a user information management table. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of a job management unit of the printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of the log which a log information recording area memorize | stores. 6 is a flowchart for describing login processing in the printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the standby screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the user selection screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the password input screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the general user login screen displayed on an operation panel when logging in as a general user. It is a figure which shows an example of the administrator normal login screen displayed on an operation panel in an administrator normal login state. It is a figure which shows an example of the administrator management login displayed on an operation panel in an administrator management login state. It is a figure which shows an example of the administrator setting screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the user setting screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the change screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the login setting screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the scanning instruction | indication screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a figure which shows an example of the box preservation | save instruction | indication screen displayed on an operation panel. It is a flowchart explaining a process when a scanner mode is selected. It is a figure which shows an example of the confirmation screen displayed on an operation panel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing apparatus, 20 ... PC, 40 ... IC card, 70 ... Computer network, 110 ... Print execution part, 120 ... Image reading part, 121 ... Color conversion processing part, 130 ... Image processing part, 131 ... Format conversion part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 140 ... Setting management part, 141 ... Printing apparatus setting management part, 142 ... Setting table, 143 ... User information management part, 144 ... User information management table, 145 ... Usage history management table, 150 ... Job management part, 151 ... Job reception , 152: Job processing unit, 154: Log information management unit, 155 ... Printer mode processing unit, 156 ... Copy mode processing unit, 157 ... Scanner mode processing unit, 160 ... Operation panel, 170 ... Communication processing unit, 180 ... IC Card reader 210 ... Printer driver unit 220 ... Scanner driver unit 230 ... Browser unit 40 ... communication processing unit, 1561 ... box storage unit, 1571 ... PC for data storage unit

Claims (3)

An image processing apparatus comprising an image reading unit and a printing unit and connected to an information processing apparatus,
Operation as an image reading mode in which image data read by the image reading means is converted into an image format that can be handled by the information processing apparatus and stored, and image data read by the image reading means is printed by the printing means Job processing means capable of operating as a copy mode for converting to a print format that can be stored, and
An operation mode selection receiving means for receiving selection of an operation mode including an image reading mode and a copy mode from a user,
When the operation mode selection accepting unit accepts the selection of the image reading mode as the operation mode, the saving mode is a file format that can be handled by the information processing apparatus, or a print format that can be printed by the printing unit. Prompts the user to select a storage format
An image processing apparatus, wherein when the selection of a file format that can be handled by the information processing apparatus is received from a user, the job processing unit is operated in the copy mode. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The job processing means uses RGB color expression when operating as the image reading mode, and stores data using CMYK format color expression when operating as the copying mode. An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation mode selection receiving means can be set so as not to prompt the user to select the storage format.