JP2011113132A - Image processing method, program therefor, and image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the labor of the maintenance/management of an image for display of each language of each country, and to present more easily confirmable display content. <P>SOLUTION: A user PC20 (image processor) reads an item image corresponding to the valid item of the self-model (printer 50) of a first country print driver 30 from a common resource 38 for the first country (common setting item storage data) created in the language of a prescribed country by using the information of valid items stored in first model setting information 31, and arranges the item images of the valid items by filling the spaces of the items which are not the valid items included in the common resource 38 for the first country, and creates and display-outputs an image for display. All item images created in the language of the first country of electronic equipment in the same manufacturing company are stored in the common resource 38 for the first country. Thus, it is possible to separately create the image for display for every model in the language of the prescribed country. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing method, a program thereof, and an image processing apparatus.

  Conventionally, when a display to a user occurs, an image processing apparatus searches a national language resource for display according to the type of acquired display language information, and extracts a library that matches the display language to be used. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-142600 A

  As in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, application programs corresponding to a plurality of languages often provide a display image for each language. However, there may be a difference in setting contents in terms of functionality for each model of the image processing apparatus, and it becomes necessary to provide an image to be displayed for each function corresponding to each model. That is, it is necessary to prepare another display image due to the difference in function, and further, it is necessary to prepare another display image for each language, and the number of the display images dramatically increases, and maintenance and management become difficult. There was a problem. In addition, when switching the display image for each language, it is necessary to make the display contents easier to see.

  The present invention provides an image processing method, a program thereof, and an image processing apparatus that can further reduce the burden of maintenance and management of display images for each language and can present display contents that are easier to confirm. Main purpose.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the main object described above.

The image processing method of the present invention includes:
Display means for displaying an image, setting information storing valid items that are setting items associated with the own model, information on a plurality of setting items created in a language of a predetermined country and corresponding to a plurality of models, and the setting items An image processing method using an image processing apparatus comprising: storage means for storing common setting item storage data storing item images that are images,
(A) reading the setting item information from the common setting item storage data;
(B) Using the read setting item information and the valid item information stored in the setting information, the space of the non-valid items included in the common setting item storage data is packed to arrange the valid items Setting the position;
(C) arranging the item image at the set arrangement position to create a display image and displaying the created display image on the display means;
Is included.

  In this image processing method, the setting item information is read from the common setting item storage data, and the valid setting information included in the common setting item storage data is read using the read setting item information and the valid item information stored in the setting information. The effective item placement position is set by filling the space of the non-item items, the display image is created by placing the item image at the set placement position, and the created display image is displayed and output. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the creation of display images separately for each model in a language of a predetermined country. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the burden of maintenance and management of display images for each language. In addition, since the item images are arranged by filling the space of items that are not valid items, it is possible to present display contents that are easier to confirm. Here, the “own model” may be the image processing apparatus itself or a predetermined model of a predetermined electronic device that the image processing apparatus communicates and displays on the screen. The “setting item information” may include information such as the total number of setting items, the overall image size, and the basic arrangement position of each setting item.

  In the image processing method of the present invention, the storage means stores setting information storing valid items for which a predetermined electronic device is its own model, and (d) status information of the predetermined electronic device is stored in the electronic device. Based on the acquired status information, among the setting items included in the setting information, the setting item that has become usable is changed to the valid item, and the setting item that has become unusable is the valid item. And a step of updating the setting information by changing to a non-item. By doing so, the item image reflecting the state of the electronic device is displayed, so that more reliable display contents can be presented.

  In the image processing method of the present invention, in the step (b), the upper end of the item image of the effective item is aligned with the lower end of the immediately preceding item image, and the upper end of the item that is not the effective item is aligned with the upper end of the immediately preceding item image. By performing the processing, it is possible to narrow the space of the items that are not the effective items and set the arrangement positions of the effective items in the vertical direction. In this way, it is possible to reduce the space for items that are not valid items with relatively simple processing, and it is easy to reduce the burden of maintenance and management of display images.

  In the image processing method of the present invention, in the step (b), the left end of the item image of the effective item is aligned with the right end of the immediately preceding item image, and the left end of the item that is not the effective item is aligned with the left end of the immediately preceding item image. By performing the processing, the space for items that are not the effective items may be reduced, and the arrangement position of the effective items may be set in the left-right direction. In this way, it is possible to reduce the space for items that are not valid items with relatively simple processing, and it is easy to reduce the burden of maintenance and management of display images.

  In the image processing method of the present invention, the common setting item storage data stores information on an arrangement sequence of each item image in the display image, and in the step (b), the stored arrangement sequence is stored. The arrangement positions of the effective items may be set in order. In this way, it is possible to arrange item images with relatively simple processing, and it is easy to reduce the burden of maintenance and management of display images. At this time, the common setting item storage data may be set such that setting items arranged in the vertical direction on the screen and setting items arranged in the horizontal direction are determined as basic arrangement positions in a matrix.

  In the image processing method of the present invention, the storage means is created by using the setting information storing valid items, which are setting items related to printing processing to the printing apparatus associated with the own model, and a language of the predetermined country. A plurality of setting items related to the printing process corresponding to the printing apparatus of the model, and the common setting item storage data storing the item image, and in step (c), display related to the printing process to the printing apparatus A working image may be created and displayed on the display means. In this way, it is possible to reduce the burden of maintenance / management of display images for each language for the settings related to the printing process on the printing apparatus, and to present display contents that are easier to confirm.

  In the image processing method of the present invention, the storage means stores setting information storing valid items for which the predetermined electronic device is its own model. In the step (c), the storage device stores the setting information. A display image in which corresponding item images are arranged may be displayed and output. In this way, it is possible to present display contents that are easier to confirm on the electronic device.

  The program of the present invention is for causing one or more computers to realize each step of the above-described image processing method. This program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium (for example, hard disk, ROM, FD, CD, DVD, etc.) or from a computer via a transmission medium (communication network such as the Internet or LAN). It may be distributed to another computer, or may be exchanged in any other form. If this program is executed by a single computer or if each step is shared and executed by a plurality of computers, each step of the above-described image processing method is executed. Therefore, the same effect as this image processing method can be obtained. can get.

The image processing apparatus of the present invention
Display means for displaying an image;
Setting information storing valid items that are setting items associated with the own model, information on a plurality of setting items created in a language of a predetermined country, and item images that are images of the setting items are stored. Storage means for storing common setting item storage data;
The setting item information is read from the common setting item storage data, and the effective item included in the common setting item storage data using the read setting item information and the effective item information stored in the setting information. The arrangement position of the effective item is set by filling the space of the non-item, the item image is arranged at the set arrangement position, a display image is created, and the created display image is displayed on the display means. Control means;
It is equipped with.

  In this image processing apparatus, similarly to the image processing method described above, it is possible to further reduce the burden of maintenance and management of display images for each language, and to present display contents that are easier to confirm. In this image processing apparatus, various aspects of the above-described image processing method may be adopted, or a configuration that realizes each function of the above-described image processing method may be added.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a printer system 10. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the common resource 38 for 1st countries. The flowchart showing an example of a display screen creation process routine. Explanatory drawing of the arrangement method of the item image of an up-down direction. Explanatory drawing of the creation step of the display image 80. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the image 80 for a display. Explanatory drawing of the image 82 for a display. Explanatory drawing of image creation by model setting information and a common UI processing program. Explanatory drawing of the arrangement | positioning method of another item image. The flowchart showing an example of a model setting information update routine.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a printer system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer system 10 according to the present embodiment includes a user personal computer (PC) 20 that processes data and displays a screen, and printers 50 and 60 that receive a print job from the user PC 20 and execute print processing. It has. The user PC 20 stores item images used for display images of the printer 50 and the printer 60 (electronic device of the present invention) in the HDD 25, and displays display images in which setting item images corresponding to these electronic devices are arranged. The image processing apparatus is configured to display and output. In the printer system 10, a plurality of printers (not shown) are connected to a LAN (not shown), and printing processing can be executed by selecting one of the plurality of printers including the printers 50 and 60.

  The user PC 20 is a personal computer configured as an image processing apparatus used by the user. This user PC 20 is a large-capacity memory for storing various application programs and various data files, and a controller 21 having a CPU 22 for performing various controls, a flash ROM 23 for storing various control programs, a RAM 24 for temporarily storing data, and the like. HDD25. The HDD 25 stores a first country print driver 30 that is activated when printing with a first model printer (for example, the printer 50) and is displayed on the screen in a predetermined first country language (for example, Japanese). Yes. Further, the HDD 25 stores a first country print driver 40 that is activated when printing with a printer of a second model different from the first model (for example, the printer 60) and is displayed on the screen in a first country language. Yes. The HDD 25 stores a second country print driver 42 that is activated when printing with a first model printer and is displayed on a screen in a second country language (for example, English) different from the first country. Yes. The HDD 25 also stores a second country print driver 44 that is activated when printing with a second model printer and is displayed on the screen in the language of the second country. That is, the user PC 20 is set to be able to use multiple types of printers in multiple languages.

  The first country print driver 30 includes first model setting information 31, a common user interface (UI) processing program 32, a first country common resource 38, a print execution program 39, and the like. The first model setting information 31 stores setting items associated with the own model as valid items. That is, the first model setting information 31 stores information on setting items corresponding to functions that can be used in the own model. Here, “setting items” include, for example, items set when performing print processing, items related to help, items related to maintenance, items related to printer status acquisition, and the like. The common UI processing program 32 uses the first model setting information 31 and the first country common resource 38 to display a print driver display screen in a language of a predetermined country. The common UI processing program 32 includes a reading module 33, a setting module 34, an arrangement module 35, an output module 36, and the like. The reading module 33 has a function of reading information related to the setting items stored in the first country common resource 38 and valid items stored in the first model setting information 31. The information on the setting items stored in the first country common resource 38 includes, for example, the total number of setting items arranged on one screen in each screen, the overall image size of each screen, and the basics of each setting item. Information such as an arrangement position may be used. The setting module 34 has a function of calculating the amount of movement when filling the space of items that are not valid items and setting the arrangement position of valid items. The arrangement module 35 has a function of arranging item images and creating a display screen. The output module 36 has a function of displaying and outputting a display image on the display 26. The first model setting information 31 and the common UI processing program 32 are created regardless of the language of the predetermined country of the first country print driver 30. The first country common resource 38 stores a plurality of item images corresponding to a plurality of models created in the language of the first country. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the first country common resource 38 stored in the HDD 25. As shown in FIG. 2, in the first country common resource 38, items A1 to A4, B1 to B3, C1 to C4, D1 to D2, which are setting items, and input values that are special items are determined. “OK” and “Cancel” for canceling the input value are stored as one screen. In this first country common resource 38, items arranged in the vertical direction and items arranged in the horizontal direction on the screen are defined as basic arrangement positions in a matrix. The first country common resource 38 includes information such as the number of items in a matrix (jmax, imax), the overall size of an image to be displayed, and the basic arrangement position and size of each stored item image. Information is stored together with each item image. Here, it is assumed that the first country common resource 38 stores all the item images created in the first country language of the printer at the same manufacturing company that were released at the time of the release of the printer 50. Therefore, in the first country language, if there is the first country common resource 38, it is possible to support all models released at the same time. The print execution program 39 exchanges information related to print execution with the printer 50 using the contents set on the display screen of the common UI processing program 32.

  The first country print driver 40 includes second model setting information 41, a common UI processing program 32, a first country common resource 38, a print execution program 49, and the like. Here, the common UI processing program 32 includes the item images of all models regardless of the language of the first country common resource 38, and the first country common resource 38 includes the first country print driver. 40 shares the common UI processing program 32 and the first country common resource 38 with the first country print driver 30 (see the dotted line in FIG. 1). The second model setting information 41 stores valid item information corresponding to the function of the printer 60 (second model), and the print execution program 49 is configured to exchange information regarding print execution with the printer 60. Yes. The second model setting information 41 and the print execution program 49 have the same basic content as the first model setting information 31 and the print execution program 39. The second country print driver 42 includes first model setting information 31, a common UI processing program 32, a second country common resource 48, a print execution program 39, and the like. Here, the second country print driver 42 is different from the first country print driver 30 in the language to be displayed, but the printer model is the same and the corresponding function is the same. Therefore, the first model setting information 31, the common UI processing program 32 and the print execution program 39 are shared with the first country print driver 30 (see the dotted line in FIG. 1). It is assumed that the second country common resource 48 stores item images created in the second country language of all printers of the same manufacturing company that were released at the time when the printer 60 was released. The second country common resource 48 has a basic structure in common with the first country common resource 38, such as a basic arrangement position being defined in a matrix. The second country print driver 44 includes second model setting information 41, a common UI processing program 32, a second country common resource 48, a print execution program 49, and the like. Here, the second country print driver 44 sends the second model setting information 41, the common UI processing program 32, the second country common resource 48, and the print execution program 49 to the first country print driver 30, for the reason described above. This is shared with the first country print driver 40 and the second country print driver 42.

  In addition, the user PC 20 includes a display 26 that displays various types of information on a display screen 27, an input device 28 such as a keyboard and a mouse for the user to input various commands, and the like. The user PC 20 has a function of executing an operation corresponding to the input operation when the user inputs the cursor or the like displayed on the display 26 via the input device 28. The controller 21, the HDD 25, the display 26, and the input device 28 are electrically connected by a bus 29 so that various control signals and data can be exchanged. The user PC 20 instructs the printers 50 and 60 to perform print processing and displays information on the printers 50 and 60 by the installed program.

  The printer 50 includes a ROM that stores various processing programs and a RAM that temporarily stores data, and a controller 51 that controls the entire apparatus as a microprocessor centered on the CPU, and prints images on the recording paper S. And a printing mechanism 52. The controller 51 and the printing mechanism 52 are electrically connected by a bus (not shown). Although not shown, the printing mechanism 52 is an ink jet mechanism that applies a pressure to each color ink and discharges the pressurized ink onto the recording paper S to execute a printing process. The mechanism for applying pressure to the ink may be due to deformation of the piezoelectric element or due to the generation of bubbles due to the heat of the heater. Alternatively, the printing mechanism 52 may be any one of a dot impact system, an electrophotographic system, a thermal transfer system, and the like.

  The printer 60 includes a ROM that stores various processing programs and a RAM that temporarily stores data, and a controller 61 that controls the entire apparatus as a microprocessor centered on the CPU, and prints images on the recording paper S. And a reading mechanism 64 that reads a document and creates image data. The reading mechanism 64 is configured to be able to read and read a document while fixing a reading sensor, and to read and place a document by moving the reading sensor. Note that the controller 61, the printing mechanism 62, and the like of the printer 60 have the same configuration as the printer 50, and a description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the printer system 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, particularly the operation when the print driver is activated to display the screen will be described. Here, the case where the first country print driver 30 is activated to display a screen when the user PC 20 issues a print command to the printer 50 will be specifically described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a display screen creation processing routine executed by the CPU 22. This routine is stored in the first country print driver 30 stored in the HDD 25, and is executed by the CPU 22 after the first country print driver 30 is activated.

  When this routine is executed, the CPU 22 first uses the reading module 33 to store information on the setting items stored in the first country common resource 38 and information on valid items stored in the first model setting information 31. Is read (step S100). Here, information such as the number of items (jmax, imax) in a matrix form, the overall size of the image to be displayed, the basic arrangement position and size of each stored item image is read from the first country common resource 38. did. As the number of items, the number of items in each column included in the first country common resource 38 is read. For example, in the first country common resource 38 shown in FIG. 2, the number of items is read out such that the first column includes four items A1 to A4 and the second column includes three items B1 to B3. Next, the CPU 22 initializes the item number (j, i), sets a value “1” for each item (step S110), registers a table for grasping the arrangement position of the item in the RAM 24, and sets the end position of this table. Is initialized (step S120). This table stores the amount of movement when packing items that are not valid items, the arrangement position of the item images of each valid item, and the like. The initialization of the end position is performed by setting the left end and the upper end position as the initial value of the end position. Here, “i” in the item number (j, i) corresponds to the number in the vertical direction, and “j” corresponds to the number in the horizontal direction. Therefore, in the first country common resource 38 of FIG. 2, the item number (1, 1) corresponds to the item A1, and the item number (1, 2) corresponds to the item A2.

  Next, the CPU 22 uses information on valid items stored in the first model setting information 31 to determine whether or not the item (j, i) stored in the first country common resource 38 is a valid item. (Step S130). When the currently processed item (j, i) is a valid item, the setting module 34 calculates a movement amount in which the upper end of the item (j, i) is the same as the lower end of the previous item image, and the calculated value Are stored in the table (step S140). On the other hand, when the currently processed item (j, i) is not a valid item, a movement amount is calculated so that the upper end of the item (j, i) is the same as the upper end of the immediately preceding item image (step S150). Next, the CPU 22 updates the table for the arrangement position (upper end, lower end) of the item currently being processed, and stores the arrangement state of the item currently being processed (step S160). Here, the item arrangement state includes information on validity / invalidity of the item (j, i). In the initial state, the upper end position and the lower end position of the arrangement position are also set at the top of the screen. Next, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the item number i is smaller than the item number imax (step S170). That is, in the first country common resource 38, it is determined whether or not the current column is completed. When the item number i is smaller than the item number imax, the item number i is incremented by 1 on the assumption that the current column is not finished (step S180), and the processing after step S130 is repeatedly executed.

  Here, the processing of steps S100 to S180 will be specifically described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a method for arranging item images in the vertical direction. In FIG. 4, valid items are indicated by solid lines, and items that are not valid items are indicated by dotted lines. The display image displaying all items included in the first country common resource 38 is the basic arrangement position shown in the upper part of FIG. Since this display image includes functions that cannot be used by the printer 50, here, the available valid items are read from the first model setting information 31, and a display image filled with unnecessary items is created. To do. First, since the item A1 is not a valid item, the CPU 22 calculates the movement amount so that the upper end of the item A1 becomes the upper end (here, the initial position) of the immediately preceding item image, and the coordinates of the upper end position and the lower end position are calculated. Update. Note that the lower end position remains the initial position (the top of the screen). Next, since the item A2 is an effective item, the movement amount is calculated so that the item A2 is the same as the lower end (here, the initial position) of the immediately preceding item image. At this time, the image area reduced by the movement of the item A2 is obtained from the movement amount of the item A2, and is stored in the table as the resize amount of the item A column. Similar processing is repeated until the items A3 and A4 and the items in the column are completed.

  On the other hand, if the item number i is greater than or equal to the item number imax in step S170, it is determined that the current column is completed and whether or not the item number j is smaller than the item number jmax (step S190). That is, it is determined whether or not the entire first country common resource 38 has been completed. When the item number j is smaller than the item number jmax, the item number j is incremented by 1 on the assumption that there is a next column that has not yet been processed (step S200), and the processing after step S130 is repeatedly executed.

  When the item number j is equal to or greater than the number of items jmax, the CPU 22 sets the value “1” to the item number j (step S200), assuming that the entire processing is completed, and the effective item is in the jth column. It is determined based on the information registered in the table whether or not there is (step S220). When there is a valid item in the j-th column, the CPU 22 calculates a movement amount at which the left end of the j-th item is the same as the right end of the immediately preceding item image (step S230). On the other hand, when there is no valid item in the j-th column, a movement amount is calculated so that the left end of the j-th item is the same as the left end of the immediately preceding item image (step S240). Subsequently, the CPU 22 updates the table for the arrangement position (left end, right end) of the item string currently being processed, stores the arrangement state of the item currently being processed (step S250), and the item number j is smaller than the item number jmax. Whether or not the process of closing each column in the left-right direction is finished is determined based on whether or not (step S260). When the item number j is smaller than the number of items jmax, the CPU 22 increments the item number j by 1 on the assumption that the process of filling each column in the left-right direction is not completed (step S270), and repeats the processes after step S220.

  On the other hand, when the item number j is greater than or equal to the number of items jmax in step S260, it is determined that the process of closing each column in the left-right direction is completed, and the movement amount of special items such as the OK button and Cancel button is calculated and the entire resize The amount is calculated, and a display image in which each item image is arranged is created (step S280). The special items are moved by adopting the outermost item based on the movement amount of each column / row stored in the table. Further, the total resize amount can be obtained by subtracting the movement amount of the setting item arranged at the outermost side of each column / row from the initial size of the first country common resource 38. Then, the CPU 22 displays and outputs the created display image on the display 26 by the output module 36 (step S290), and ends this routine. When there is an instruction to switch to the next screen or the previous screen, the processing after step S100 of the display screen creation processing routine is performed according to the screen.

  Here, an outline of the processing of steps S130 to S290 will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the steps for creating the display image 80. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the display image 80, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the display image 82. First, using the upper part of the left column as the initial position, information on the setting items of the first country common resource 38 is acquired (steps S100 to S120, upper part of FIG. 5). Next, the process of determining the arrangement position by narrowing the item images of the effective items upward is performed for each column in the vertical direction while grasping the effective items using the first model setting information 31 (steps S130 to S200). , Second stage of FIG. 5). At this time, the resize amount in the vertical direction of each column is stored in the table (see step S160, second row in FIG. 5, dotted line). Subsequently, a process of narrowing in the left-right direction is performed based on whether the item image is in that column (steps S210 to S270, the third row in FIG. 5). At this time, the resize amount in the horizontal direction of each column is stored in the table (see step S250, the third row in FIG. 5, one-dot chain line). Then, the setting item on the outermost side among the setting items of each column and each row is adopted, and the special item is moved in accordance therewith to create the display image 80 (lower row in FIG. 5). In this way, only necessary item images are arranged in the display image from the first country common resource 38 in which item images of a plurality of models are stored. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, when the printer 50 has the functions of items A2, A4, B1, and D1, and these are valid items, among the data stored in the first country common resource 38, the items A display image is created in which A2 and A4 are arranged vertically and items A, B and D are arranged on the left and right. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, when the printer 60 has the functions of items A2, A3, A4, B1, D1, and D2, and these are valid items, they are stored in the first country common resource 38. Of these data, items A2, A3, A4 and items D1, D2 are arranged vertically, and a display image 82 is created in which items A, B, D are arranged left and right. Note that these item images are associated with processing related to printing according to the item, and when the item image is selected by the cursor 81, processing corresponding to the item image is executed by the print execution program 39. Yes.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for creating a display image using the model setting information and the common UI processing program. In general, since the functions that can be used differ depending on the model, the manufacturing company must prepare a display image for each model. Furthermore, since the language of each country is different, it is necessary to prepare an enormous amount of display images depending on the combination of the model and language. Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the first country common resource storing item images of a plurality of models and the model setting information prepared for each model are used to display each model by the common UI processing program. An image is created. The model setting information and the common UI processing program are created regardless of the language of each country. Therefore, although it is necessary to create a common resource for each language, it is possible to share model setting information and a common UI processing program, thereby further reducing the burden of maintenance and management of display images for each language. it can. In particular, changes to the contents of items do not correspond to each model, and it is often sufficient to modify common resources. Therefore, it is not necessary to correspond to each model and each language, and the burden of maintenance and management is less. In addition, the length of the sentence included in the item image may differ depending on the language of each country, and the size of the item image may differ. However, the item image is arranged by filling the space of items that are not valid items, and a display image is created. Therefore, it is not necessary to consider the size of the item image in each language, and the burden of creating, maintaining, and managing the display image is less. In addition, it is possible to present display contents that can be more easily confirmed by arranging item images in a space that is not an effective item.

  Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The processing of step S100 of the display image creation processing routine of the present embodiment corresponds to the processing of step (a) of the present invention, the processing of steps S110 to S270 corresponds to the processing of step (b) of the present invention, and step S280. , S290 corresponds to the process of step (c) of the present invention. The display 26 of the present embodiment corresponds to the display means of the present invention, the RAM 24 and the HDD 25 correspond to the storage means, and the controller 21, the reading module 33, the setting module 34, the arrangement module 35, and the output module 36 serve as the control means. Equivalent to. The first model setting information 31 and the second model setting information 41 correspond to setting information, and the first country common resource 38 and the second country common resource 48 correspond to common setting item storage data.

  According to the user PC 20 described above, the setting item information is read from the first country common resource 38 (common setting item storage data), and the read setting item information and the valid item read from the first model setting information 31 are read. Using the information, the space of items that are not valid items included in the first country common resource 38 is packed to arrange item images of valid items, and a display image is created and displayed. As described above, the item images of a plurality of models in the first country are stored in the common resource 38 for the first country, and it is necessary to create a common resource for each language. It is possible to suppress it. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the burden of maintenance and management of display images for each language. In addition, since the item images are arranged by filling the space of items that are not valid items, it is possible to present display contents that are easier to confirm.

  In addition, the upper end of the item image of the effective item is aligned with the lower end of the immediately preceding item image, and the upper end of the item that is not an effective item is aligned with the upper end of the immediately preceding item image, and the item image is arranged in the vertical direction. The space for items that are not valid items can be reduced by simple processing, and the burden of maintenance and management of display images can be easily reduced. Furthermore, since the left end of the item image of the effective item is aligned with the right end of the immediately preceding item image and the left end of the item that is not an effective item is aligned with the left end of the immediately preceding item image, the item image is arranged in the left-right direction. The space for items that are not valid items can be reduced by simple processing, and the burden of maintenance and management of display images can be easily reduced. Furthermore, the first country common resource 38 stores information on the vertical and horizontal arrangement columns of each item image in the display image, and arranges the item images in the vertical direction of the stored arrangement column. After that, the process of closing the item images in the horizontal direction of the arrangement row is performed, so that the item images can be arranged by a relatively simple process, and it is easy to reduce the maintenance / management burden of the display image. And since it is the first country print driver 30, it reduces the burden of maintenance and management of the display image for each language for the setting related to the printing process to the printing apparatus, and more easily display contents to be confirmed. Can be presented.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an image for display in which each item is independent is created. However, the present invention may be applied to an image for creating a display image having a small item and a large item. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of another item image arrangement method. In FIG. 9, among the items A to D, the first country common resource stores a plurality of items B <b> 1 to B <b> 3 that are small items in the item B (left of FIG. 9). In this case, the display screen creation processing routine described above is applied to the small item B, and the display image of the item B is created by filling the space of the small items that are not valid items (center of FIG. 9). Next, the display screen creation processing routine described above is applied to the items A to D, and a display image in which item images of valid items are arranged is created (FIG. 9 right). By doing so, the display screen creation processing routine can be further used as a subroutine, so that the burden of maintenance and management of the display image can be further reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the contents of the first model setting information 31 have been described as not being changed. However, the contents of valid items in the first model setting information 31 may be changed according to the state of the printer 50. Here, a specific description will be given using the first country print driver 30 and the printer 50 of the user PC 20. First, the controller 51 of the printer 50 updates the state information including the current state at a predetermined timing. The predetermined timing may be, for example, an irregular timing such as when the power is turned on or a periodic timing such as every hour. The information included in the status information may be, for example, optional mechanism information that can be added or a printing mechanism error. Optional mechanisms include, for example, a duplex printing unit that enables duplex printing, a sheet feeder that automatically feeds recording paper, a sorter that collects printed paper for each copy, an auto cutter that cuts roll paper, and a reading mechanism that reads images Etc. Examples of printing mechanism errors include failure of the printing mechanism, paper jam, and recording paper running out. Next, the CPU 22 of the user PC 20 activates the first country print driver 30. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the model setting information update routine. This routine is stored in, for example, the first country print driver 30 and executed after the first country print driver 30 is activated. When this routine is executed, the CPU 22 acquires the status information of the printer 50 (step S300), and searches the changed setting items included in the first model setting information 31 based on the acquired status information (step S300). S310), the setting item that has become available is changed to an effective item, the setting item that has become unavailable is changed to an item that is not an effective item, and the first model setting information 31 is updated (step S320). finish. Here, for example, the optional mechanism may be newly attached or removed, but even if such a configuration is changed, the setting items ( Function) is stored, the setting of the configuration can be executed. Then, since the item image reflecting the state of the printer is displayed, more reliable display contents can be presented.

  In the embodiment described above, the upper end and the left end of the item image are aligned with the end of the immediately preceding item image. However, the present invention is not limited to this as long as the space of the item image that is not an effective item is reduced. In the above-described embodiment, the display image is created by filling the space in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. However, it is possible to pack at least one space in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Alternatively, the space may be reduced by allowing each item image to be shifted vertically and horizontally. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the item images arranged in the vertical column are packed in the horizontal direction in a single row state. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Also good. In the above-described embodiment, the display image is created by filling the space in the left-right direction after filling the space in the up-down direction. However, after filling the space in the left-right direction, the image is packed in the up-down direction. Also good. In addition, space is filled in order from top to bottom and space is filled in order from left to right. However, space may be packed in order from bottom to top, or space is filled in order from right to left. It is good. The direction and order of processing are not particularly limited.

  In the embodiment described above, the first country common resource 38 in which the setting items are defined as basic arrangement positions in a matrix form in the vertical and horizontal directions is not limited to this. Only the direction may be determined. In the above-described embodiment, the setting item information includes the number of items in a matrix (imax, jmax), the overall size of an image to be displayed, the basic arrangement position and size of each stored item image, and the like. Although it is assumed that the information is stored in the national common resource 38, any one or more of the setting item information may be stored on the first model setting information 31 side.

  In the above-described embodiment, the setting item information and the item image are stored in one file of the first country common resource 38. However, the common setting item storage data and the item image storing the setting item information are used. Like the common setting item storage data that stores the setting information, the setting item information and the item screen may be stored in separate files.

  In the above-described embodiment, the display image in which the item image related to the printing process is arranged has been described. However, the display image is not particularly limited as long as there are a plurality of models and the item image is displayed in each country language. You may apply to a driver screen, a help screen, etc. In addition, although the item image of the printer 50 is displayed on the user PC 20, a function similar to that of the first country print driver 30 is stored in the controller 51, a display image is created by the controller 51, and the display provided in the printer 50 is provided. It may be displayed above. In this case, the printer 50 is the image processing apparatus of the present invention. Further, although the electronic apparatus has been described as a printer, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and may be a communication apparatus such as a FAX apparatus or a mobile phone, a video apparatus such as a digital TV or a recorder, a digital camera, a digital video, or the like. It may be a photographing device, a home and portable game device, or the like. In the above-described embodiment, the user PC 20 (image processing apparatus) has been described. However, an image processing method or a display image creation processing program may be used.

  10 Printer system, 20 User PC, 21 Controller, 22 CPU, 23 Flash ROM, 24 RAM, 25 HDD, 26 Display, 27 Display screen, 28 Input device, 29 Bus, 30, 40 First country printing driver, 31 1st Model setting information, 32 common user interface (UI) processing program, 33 reading module, 34 setting module, 35 placement module, 36 output module, 38 first country common resource, 39, 49 print execution program, 42, 44 second Country printing driver, 48 Second country common resource, 50, 60 Printer, 51, 61 Controller, 52, 62 Printing mechanism, 64 Reading mechanism, 80, 82 Display image, 81 Cursor.

Claims (8)

Display means for displaying an image, setting information storing valid items that are setting items associated with the own model, information on a plurality of setting items created in a language of a predetermined country and corresponding to a plurality of models, and the setting items An image processing method using an image processing apparatus comprising: storage means for storing common setting item storage data storing item images that are images,
(A) reading the setting item information from the common setting item storage data;
(B) Using the read setting item information and the valid item information stored in the setting information, the space of the non-valid items included in the common setting item storage data is packed to arrange the valid items Setting the position;
(C) arranging the item image at the set arrangement position to create a display image and displaying the created display image on the display means;
An image processing method including: The image processing method according to claim 1,
The storage means stores setting information that stores valid items of a predetermined electronic device as its model,
(D) Acquiring status information of the predetermined electronic device from the electronic device, and based on the acquired status information, out of the setting items included in the setting information, an available setting item is the valid item And changing the setting item that has become unusable to an item that is not the effective item and updating the setting information.   In the step (b), the upper end of the item image of the effective item is aligned with the lower end of the immediately preceding item image, and the upper end of the item that is not the effective item is aligned with the upper end of the immediately preceding item image. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein an arrangement position of the effective item is set in a vertical direction by filling a space of an item that is not an item.   In the step (b), the left end of the item image of the effective item is aligned with the right end of the immediately preceding item image, and the left end of the item that is not the effective item is aligned with the left end of the immediately preceding item image. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein an arrangement position of the effective item is set in a left-right direction by filling a space of an item that is not an item. The common setting item storage data stores information on an arrangement column of each item image in the display image,
5. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein in the step (b), an arrangement position of the effective item is set in an order of the stored arrangement row. The storage means stores the setting information storing valid items, which are setting items related to printing processing to a printing apparatus associated with the own model, and printing corresponding to a plurality of types of printing apparatuses created in the language of the predetermined country. A plurality of setting items related to processing and the common setting item storage data storing the item image;
6. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein, in the step (c), a display image relating to a printing process to a printing apparatus is created and displayed on the display unit.   The program which makes one or more computers implement | achieve each step of the image processing method of any one of Claims 1-6. Display means for displaying an image;
Setting information storing valid items that are setting items associated with the own model, information on a plurality of setting items created in a language of a predetermined country, and item images that are images of the setting items are stored. Storage means for storing common setting item storage data;
The setting item information is read from the common setting item storage data, and the effective item included in the common setting item storage data using the read setting item information and the effective item information stored in the setting information. The arrangement position of the effective item is set by filling the space of the non-item, the item image is arranged at the set arrangement position, a display image is created, and the created display image is displayed on the display means. Control means;
An image processing apparatus.

Images