JP2013009067A - Image processing apparatus, macro name determination method, and macro name determination program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically determine an appropriate macro name.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus includes: registration means that registers a macro for invoking set values in respective functions of an application; storage means that stores initial set values in respective functions in a macro; and name determination means that compares the registered set value and the initial set value of the macro for every function, and determines a macro name on the basis of a set value of the macro of a function with difference in comparison.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a macro name determination method, and a macro name determination program for determining a macro name for registering a series of operation contents of an application.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a multi-function peripheral, a technique is known in which a series of operation details can be stored and the operation details can be recalled by a one-touch operation in order to reduce the labor of routine operations. Registering this series of operation contents is called macro registration or program registration.

  As a technique for registering a macro, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of registering a macro using a job history.

  Here, in macro registration of a multifunction machine, a user generally assigns a macro name arbitrarily. In this case, the user can freely determine the name of the macro, but there is a problem that the input is troublesome or a name whose registration content is unknown is given.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus, a macro name determination method, and a macro name determination program that can automatically determine an appropriate macro name. To do.

  An image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a registration unit that registers a macro for calling a setting value in each function of an application, a storage unit that stores an initial setting value in each function of the macro, and the registered A name determination unit that compares a macro setting value and the initial setting value for each function and determines a name of the macro based on the macro setting value of a function having a difference;

  The macro name determination method according to another aspect of the present invention includes a registration step of registering a macro for calling a setting value in each function of an application, and an initial setting value in each function of the registered macro from a storage unit. The acquisition step of acquiring, the registered setting value of the macro and the acquired initial setting value are compared for each function, and the name of the macro is determined based on the setting value of the macro of the function having a difference. The determination step for determining is executed by the computer.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a macro name determination program for registering a macro for calling a setting value in each function of an application, and storing an initial setting value in each function of the registered macro from a storage unit. The acquisition step of acquiring, the registered setting value of the macro and the acquired initial setting value are compared for each function, and the name of the macro is determined based on the setting value of the macro of the function having a difference. A determination step for determining is executed by a computer.

  According to the present invention, an appropriate macro name can be automatically determined.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of hardware of the MFP in the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of functions of the MFP in the embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the screen transition in the case of calling a macro. The figure which shows an example of the screen transition in the case of registering a macro initial setting value. The figure which shows an example of function name information. The figure which shows an example of setting value name information. The figure which shows an example of the present setting value information. The figure which shows an example of macro name information. The figure which shows an example of macro setting value information. The figure which shows an example of name determination method information. The figure which shows an example of difference function information. The figure which shows an example of a screen transition in case a macro name is determined. The figure which shows an example of setting value information (the 1). The figure which shows an example of difference function information (the 1). The figure which shows an example of setting value information (the 2). The figure which shows an example of difference function information (the 2). The figure which shows an example of setting value information (the 3). The figure which shows an example of difference function information (the 3). The flowchart which shows an example of a macro name determination process. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of an MFP according to a second embodiment. The figure which shows an example of priority order information. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of an MFP according to a third embodiment. The figure which shows an example of icon image information. The figure which shows the example (the 1) which represented the macro name with the icon instead of the character string. The figure which shows the example (the 2) which represented the macro name with the icon instead of the character string.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. An image processing apparatus will be described by taking an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) as an example.
[Example 1]
<Hardware>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of hardware of the MFP according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 1 includes a control unit 11, a main storage unit 12, an auxiliary storage unit 13, an external recording device I / F unit 14, a network I / F unit 15, an operation unit 16, a display unit 17, and an engine unit. 18 is included. These components are connected to each other via a bus so as to be able to transmit and receive data.

  The control unit 11 is a CPU that controls each device, calculates data, and processes in a computer. The control unit 11 is an arithmetic device that executes a program stored in the main storage unit 12 or the auxiliary storage unit 13. The control unit 11 receives data from the input device or the storage device, calculates, and processes the output device or the storage device. Output to the device.

  The main storage unit 12 is a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or the like, and a storage device that stores or temporarily stores programs and data such as an OS and application software that are basic software executed by the control unit 11. It is.

  The auxiliary storage unit 13 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like, and is a storage device that stores data related to application software or the like.

  The external recording device I / F unit 14 is an interface between the MFP 1 and a recording medium 19 (for example, a flash memory or an SD card) connected via a data transmission path such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  Further, a predetermined program is stored in the recording medium 19, the program stored in the recording medium 19 is installed in the MFP 1 via the external recording device I / F unit 14, and the installed predetermined program is executed by the MFP 1. It becomes possible.

  The network I / F unit 15 is a peripheral having a communication function connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) constructed by a data transmission path such as a wired and / or wireless line. This is an interface between the device and the MFP 1.

  The operation unit 16 and the display unit 17 include a key switch (hard key) and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) having a touch panel function (including GUI software key: Graphical User Interface), and use functions of the MFP 1. It is a display and / or input device that functions as a user interface (UI).

  The engine unit 18 serves as an input / output unit for image data and reads a paper document and prints it on a transfer sheet. The engine unit 18 further includes a scan engine and the like.

<Function>
Next, functions of the MFP 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the MFP 1 according to the first embodiment. The MFP 1 includes a standard installed application 20, an extended application 40, an extended application control unit 45, an API (Application Program Interface) 50, a system management unit 61, a memory management unit 62, an engine management unit 63, a user management unit 64, and a transmission management unit 65. including. The MFP 1 includes a display unit 70, an input unit 71, a macro registration unit 72, a macro call unit 73, a macro name determination unit 74, a first storage unit 75, a second storage unit 76, and a third storage unit 77.

  The standard installed application 20 is an application installed in the MFP 1 as a standard. For example, the copy application 21, the scanner application 22, the printer application 23, and the FAX (fax) application 24 are the standard installed applications 20.

  The standard application 20 can create an operation screen for the application and execute an application job. The standard application 20 can also execute the macro called from the second storage means 76 by the macro calling means 73. The standard application 20 uses the API 50 to output various data to the display unit 70 and the like.

  The extended application 40 is an application additionally installed by an SDK (Software Development Kit). Further, the extended application 40 creates an operation screen for the extended application and executes an application job.

  The extended application 40 is an application that is created in order to omit unnecessary functions from the standard installed application 20 or to realize what the standard installed application 20 cannot do. The extended application 40 implements functions by using the memory management unit 62, the engine management unit 63, and the like through the extended application control means 45.

  The SDK simple copy application (hereinafter also referred to as simple copy application) 41 is one of applications developed by Java (registered trademark), for example, and can be copied more easily than the copy application 21 of the standard application 20. Is an application.

  The SDK simple scanner application (hereinafter also referred to as simple scanner application) 42 is one of the applications developed by Java (registered trademark), and is an application that can be scanned more easily than the scanner application 22 of the standard application 20. It is.

  The extended application control unit 45 manages the entire SDK application. The extended application control unit 45 is an interface with the extended application 40 for each management unit, the input unit 71, the display unit 70, and the like. Upon receiving a process execution request from the extended application 40, the extended application control unit 45 requests the engine management unit 63 and the like for the process.

  The system management unit 61 manages the state of the entire system. Based on the content notified from the input means 71, the system management unit 61 issues a screen display request to each standard application. The memory management unit 62 performs memory management and creation of scanned file data.

  The engine management unit 63 performs control of document reading. The user management unit 64 performs login user authentication and scanner transmission destination management. The transmission management unit 65 controls data transmission from the MFP 1 to other devices.

  The display unit 70 displays an operation screen created by the standard application 20 or the extended application 40. This operation screen includes a macro registration screen and the like.

  The input means 71 detects pressing of a button on the operation screen or detects pressing of an icon from the home screen. For example, the input unit 71 detects that the setting value of each function has been changed from the operation screens of the standard application 20 and the extended application 40, and in this state, the pressing of the macro registration button is detected.

  The macro registration unit 72 registers a macro for calling a setting value in each function of the application (standard application 20 or extended application 40). For example, the macro registration unit 72 registers the setting value of each function set on the operation screen of the application in the setting content storage unit 761 as a macro. For functions whose settings have not been changed, initial setting values may be used. When registering the macro, the macro registration means 72 notifies the macro name determination means 72 to that effect.

  The macro calling unit 73 calls the initial setting value of each function or each setting value of the macro, and notifies the standard application 20 or the extended application 40 to reflect in the current setting item of each function of the application.

  When notified that the macro has been registered, the macro name determination means 74 compares the registered macro setting value and the macro initial setting value for each function. As a result of the comparison, each set value of a function having different set values (also referred to as a function having a difference) is stored in the difference function storage unit 772.

  The macro name determination unit 74 determines the name of this macro based on the setting value of the function having the difference stored in the difference function storage unit 772. For example, the macro name determination unit 74 concatenates the set values of functions having differences to obtain a macro name. The macro name determination unit 74 stores the determined macro name in the setting content storage unit 761.

  The first storage means 75 is, for example, a ROM, and holds data that is not changed by the user. In the first embodiment, the first storage unit 75 includes a storage unit that holds the next data.

  The function name storage unit 751 holds the name of each function that can be set by each application of the MFP. In the case of a copy application, the function names include “color mode” and “double-sided”.

  The set value name storage means 752 holds the names of the set values that can be taken by each function of each application. Taking the copy application as an example, in the case of the function “color mode”, there are setting value names of “full color” and “monochrome”, and in the case of the function “double-sided”, there are setting value names of “OFF” and “ON”.

  The name determination method storage unit 753 holds a method for determining a macro name for each function in the first embodiment. For example, for the function “color mode”, the macro name is determined by “setting name”. For the function “both sides”, the macro name is determined by “function name” + “setting name”. However, when the set value is “ON”, the set value name is omitted.

  The second storage means 76 is, for example, a nonvolatile RAM, and stores data that is changed by the user and is retained even when the power is turned off. In the first embodiment, the second storage unit 76 includes a storage unit that holds the following data.

  The setting content storage unit 761 holds an initial setting value for each function of the macro and a setting value for each function of each registered macro. The macro initial setting value can be changed using the macro registration means 72.

  The third storage unit 77 is, for example, a RAM, and stores data that is changed by the user and does not need to be retained when the power is turned off. The third storage unit 77 is also used for temporarily holding a value during the operation of the MFP 1. In the first embodiment, the third storage unit 77 includes a storage unit that holds the following data.

  The current setting value storage unit 771 holds setting values of functions in the current application of the MFP 1. When the user changes the set value of a function, the set value of the function is stored in the current set value storage unit 771.

  When a reset operation is performed, the current setting value is replaced with the initial setting value of the macro, and when a registered macro is called, the current setting value is replaced with the setting value of the macro. In addition, the current setting value can be registered as a macro initial setting value or a new macro.

  The difference function storage unit 772 stores the macro setting value and the initial setting value of the function having the difference extracted by the macro name determination unit 74.

  The standard application 20, the extended application 40, the management units 61 to 65, the macro registration unit 72, the macro call unit 73, and the macro name determination unit 74 are the control unit 11, the main storage unit 12 as a work memory, and various programs. This can be realized by the auxiliary storage unit 13 that holds

  The first storage unit 75 is realized by the auxiliary storage unit 13, for example, the second storage unit 76 is realized by the main storage unit 12 and / or the auxiliary storage unit 13, and the third storage unit 77 is realized by the main storage unit 12, for example. Can be done. The display unit 70 can be realized by the display unit 17, for example, and the input unit 71 can be realized by the operation unit 16, for example.

<Calling macro / Registering / Registering default settings>
Next, macro call / registration / initial setting value registration will be described.

(Macro call)
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of screen transition when a macro is called. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, when the “macro registration / call” button is pressed from the top screen 101 of the copy application 21, the screen transitions to the macro selection screen 102.

  When the user presses a macro to be called from the macro selection screen 102, a transition is made to the top screen reflecting the setting value of the macro. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, when the macro “1: full color staple” button is pressed, the macro calling unit 73 acquires each setting value of the macro from the setting content storage unit 761.

  The macro calling unit 73 notifies each setting value of the acquired macro to the copy application 21, and the copy application 21 creates the top screen 103 on which the setting value is reflected. The copy application 21 outputs the created top screen 103 to the display unit 70, and the top screen 103 is displayed. On the top screen 103, the color mode is changed to “full color” and the staple is changed to “ON”, compared to the top screen 101. Thereby, each setting value of the macro is reflected.

(Macro registration)
Next, when registering a macro, the user changes the setting value of each function from the top screen 101 and presses a “macro registration / call” button. Next, by pressing an unregistered button from the macro selection screen 102, the setting value on the top screen is registered as a macro.

  Specifically, when the macro registration unit 72 is notified from the input unit 71 that the unregistered button has been pressed, the macro registration unit 72 acquires the setting value of each function of the top screen before the screen transition from the current setting value storage unit 771. To do.

  The macro registration unit 72 stores the acquired setting values of each function in the setting content storage unit 761 as a macro. At this time, the name of the macro is determined by the macro name determination means 74. A method for determining the name will be described later.

(Registering macro default values)
Next, the case of registering macro initial setting values will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of screen transition when a macro initial setting value is registered. As shown in FIG. 4, when the “Register as initial value” button is pressed from the macro selection screen 102, the screen transitions to the registration confirmation screen 104.

  Specifically, when notified from the input unit 71 that the “register as initial value” button has been pressed, the macro registration unit 72 stores the set values of the functions of the top screen before the screen transition as the current set value. Obtained from means 771.

  The macro registration unit 72 stores the acquired setting values of each function in the setting content storage unit 761 as macro initial setting values. At this time, the name of the macro is not determined because it is an initial setting value.

<Data structure>
Next, the data structure of information used to determine the name of the macro will be described. In the example described below, a macro of a copy application will be described as an example, but the same applies to other applications.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of function name information. The function name information shown in FIG. 5 is stored in the function name storage unit 751.

  The function name information shown in FIG. 5 assigns a function number to each function, and holds the function name for the function number as a character string. For example, function No. “0” indicates the function of “color mode”.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting value name information. The set value name information shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the set value name storage means 752.

  The setting value name information shown in FIG. 6 assigns a setting value No. to a setting value that can be set by each function, and holds the setting value name for the setting value name No as a character string. For example, the setting value No “0” indicates that the setting value is “OFF”. Note that a setting value name is not defined for a function whose setting value is a number, such as “number of copies”.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the current set value information. The current set value information shown in FIG. 7 is stored in the current set value storage unit 771.

  The current setting value information shown in FIG. 7 represents the current setting value of each function set in the MFP 1. As shown in FIG. 7, the current set value information is defined by a set value No or a numerical value for each function No. For example, the setting value of the current function No. “0” (color mode) is “monochrome” indicated by the setting value No. “2”. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, when the function is “number of copies”, the set value is represented by a numerical value, and when the function is other functions, the set value is represented by a set value No.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of macro name information. The macro name information shown in FIG. 8 is stored in the setting content storage unit 761.

  The macro name information shown in FIG. 8 holds a macro name for the macro No of each macro registered by the user. This macro name is determined by the macro name determining means 74. Unregistered macros are held with the name “unregistered”. The macro of the initial setting value is not held in the macro name information because it is not necessary to determine the macro name. For example, a macro whose macro number is “1” is a macro name “full-color staple”.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of macro setting value information. The macro setting value information shown in FIG. 9 is stored in the setting content storage unit 771.

  The macro setting value information shown in FIG. 9 holds initial setting values and setting values of functions for registered macros. In the example shown in FIG. 9 as well, the setting value No or a numerical value is used as the setting value. For example, for the “color mode” of function No. “0”, the setting value is “monochrome” in the initial setting value and macro 2, but the setting value in macro 1 is “full color”. Macro 1 is an abbreviation for macro No. “1”.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of name determination method information. The name determination method shown in FIG. 10 is stored in the name determination method storage means 753.

The name determination method shown in FIG. 10 holds the name determination method for the function No. of each function. The name determination method is a definition for determining a name for each function, and is as follows.
0: Setting value name 1: Function name + Setting value (numerical value)
2: Function name + set value name 3: Function name + set value name (omitted when ON)
The method Nos. 0 to 3 are set for the function No.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the difference function information. The different function information shown in FIG. 11 is stored in the different function storage unit 772.

  The different function information shown in FIG. 11 holds each setting value of a function for a function having a difference between the initial setting value and the registered macro setting value. As a result of the comparison between the initial setting value and the registered macro setting value for each function by the macro name determination means 74, information regarding a function having a difference is extracted and difference function information is generated.

  For example, the different function information shown in FIG. 11 is information generated by the macro name determination unit 74 when the initial setting value shown in FIG. Based on this difference function information, the macro name determination means 74 determines a macro name.

<Macro name determination process>
Next, the macro name determination process will be described. First, the screen transition when the macro name is determined will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of screen transition when a macro name is determined. The macro selection screen 201 shown in FIG. 12 is displayed when “consolidation” is changed to “OFF” and “number of copies” is set to “2” on the top screen, and then the “macro registration / call” button is pressed. Is displayed.

  When the “unregistered” button is pressed on the macro selection screen 201 shown in FIG. 12, this pressing means that a macro is newly registered. At this time, the macro registration means 72 acquires the setting values of the functions of the immediately preceding top screen and performs macro registration.

  At this time, the macro name determination unit 74 compares the set value of each function of the registered macro with the initial set value, and determines the macro name based on the comparison result. In the case illustrated in FIG. 12, it is assumed that the macro name is determined as “copy number 2 aggregation OFF”.

  The macro name confirmation screen 202 shown in FIG. 12 transitions when the “unregistered” button on the macro selection screen 201 is pressed. During this screen transition, the macro name determination means 74 determines the macro name so that the macro name is displayed on the macro name confirmation screen 202.

  If the user wants to change the macro name automatically set by the system, the user presses the “rename” button on the macro name confirmation screen 202. By pressing this button, the screen changes to the change screen 203. The user can also change the macro name using the change screen 203.

  When there is no problem with the macro name automatically set by the system, the user presses a “registration execution” button. By pressing this button, the screen changes to the macro selection screen 204. When the input unit 71 is notified that the “registration execution” button has been pressed, the macro name determination unit 74 registers the macro name in the macro name information in the setting content storage unit 761.

(Processing example 1)
Next, processing example 1 of the macro name determination process will be described. Hereinafter, the macro of the initial setting value is referred to as an initial value macro, and the macro registered by the user is referred to as a registration macro.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting value information (part 1). In the example illustrated in FIG. 13, the setting values of the initial value macro and the registration macro are different for the function numbers “1” (number of copies) and “3” (aggregation). Therefore, the macro name determination means 74 extracts this different functional part and stores it in the different function storage means 772 as different function information.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the difference function information (part 1). The difference function information illustrated in FIG. 14 is obtained by extracting information related to a function having a difference from the setting value information illustrated in FIG. In this case, the macro name determination means 74 determines the macro name according to the function name determination method held in the different function information.

  The macro name determination unit 74 refers to the name determination method information, and the name determination method of the function No. “1” is “function name + setting value (numerical value)”, and the name determination method of the function No. “3”. Is “function name + setting value name (omitted when ON)”.

  The macro name determination means 74 determines the macro name “copy number 2 aggregation OFF” by concatenating “copy number 2” and “aggregation OFF” determined by the name determination method with a space for this registered macro. . The determined macro name is stored in the macro name information.

(Processing example 2)
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting value information (part 2). In the example shown in FIG. 15, the setting values of the initial value macro and the registered macro are different for the function numbers “0” (color mode) and “4” (staple). Therefore, the macro name determination means 74 extracts this different functional part and stores it in the different function storage means 772 as different function information.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of the difference function information (part 2). The difference function information illustrated in FIG. 16 is obtained by extracting information related to a function having a difference from the setting value information illustrated in FIG. In this case, the macro name determination means 74 determines the macro name according to the function name determination method held in the different function information.

  The macro name determination unit 74 refers to the name determination method information, so that the name determination method of the function No “0” is “setting value name”, and the name determination method of the function No “4” is “function name” It can be seen that “+ set value name (omitted when ON)”.

  The macro name determination means 74 determines the macro name “full color staple” by concatenating “full color” and “staple” determined by the name determination method with a space for the registered macro. The determined macro name is stored in the macro name information.

(Processing example 3)
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting value information (part 3). In the example shown in FIG. 17, the setting values of the initial value macro and the registration macro are different for the function numbers “0” (color mode) and “3” (aggregation). Therefore, the macro name determination means 74 extracts this different functional part and stores it in the different function storage means 772 as different function information.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of the different function information (part 3). The difference function information shown in FIG. 18 is obtained by extracting information related to a function having a difference from the setting value information shown in FIG. In this case, the macro name determination means 74 determines the macro name according to the function name determination method held in the different function information.

  The macro name determination means 74 refers to the name determination method information, the name determination method of the function No “0” is “set value name”, and the name determination method of the function No “3” is “function name” It can be seen that “+ set value name (omitted when ON)”.

  The macro name determination unit 74 determines the macro name “full color aggregation OFF” by concatenating “full color” and “aggregation OFF” determined by the name determination method with a space for the registered macro. The determined macro name is stored in the macro name information.

  As another example of the above processing examples 1 to 3, the macro name determination unit 74 may display a change from the initial setting value to the macro setting value in the macro name for a function having a difference in the setting value. .

  For example, in the case of the processing example 3, the macro name determination unit 74 sets “monochrome → full color” for the function No. “0” and “aggregation ON → OFF” for the function No. “3”. By concatenating, “Monochrome → Full Color Aggregation ON → OFF” may be a macro name.

  This makes it easier to understand what setting changes are made when the macro is called for the initial value macro.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the MFP 1 in the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the macro name determination process. The process shown in FIG. 19 is a process executed by the macro name determination unit 74 when a macro is registered by the macro registration unit 72.

  In step S101, the macro name determination unit 74 initializes the variables i and N (i = 0, N = 0). N represents the number of functions that are different between the registered macro and the initial value macro.

  In step S102, the macro name determination unit 74 determines whether or not the set value of the function No = i is different between the initial value macro and the registered macro. If the set values are different (step S102—YES), the process proceeds to step S103. If the set values are the same (step S102—NO), the process proceeds to step S105.

  In step S103, the macro name determination unit 74 registers function No = i, the initial value of the initial value macro of function i, and the setting value of the registered macro of function i in association with No = N of the different function information. .

  In step S104, the macro name determination unit 74 increments N by one (N = N + 1).

  In step S105, the macro name determination unit 74 increments i by 1 (i = i + 1).

  In step S106, the macro name determination unit 74 determines whether i <number of functions. If i <number of functions (step S106—YES), the process returns to step S102, and if i ≧ number of functions (step S106—NO), the process proceeds to step S107. Difference function information is generated by the processes of steps S101 to S106.

  In step S107, the macro name determining unit 74 sets i = 0 and makes Name empty.

  In step S108, the macro name determination unit 74 determines whether N is 0. When N = 0 (step S108—YES), the process proceeds to step S114. When N is not 0 (step S108—NO), the process proceeds to step S109.

  In step S109, the macro name determination unit 74 acquires the function name determination method held in No = i of the different function information from the name determination method storage unit 753.

  In step S110, the macro name determination unit 74 determines a name for the function from the function number and the set value held in the different function information No = i according to the acquired name determination method.

  In step S111, the macro name determination unit 74 adds the determined name to Name. At this time, if Name is not empty, the macro name determination unit 74 adds the determined name after adding a space.

  In step S112, the macro name determination unit 74 increments i by one (i = i + 1).

  In step S113, the macro name determination unit 74 determines whether i <N. If i <N (step S113—YES), the process returns to step S109, and if i ≧ N (step S113—NO), this process ends.

  In step S114, the macro name determination unit 74 requests the display unit 70 to display a warning notifying that the setting value of the macro to be registered is the same as the initial setting value. In step S114, as another process, the user may input a macro name.

  By the processes in steps S109 to S113, an appropriate macro name can be automatically determined based on a function that differs from the initial setting value.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, an appropriate macro name can be automatically determined. Further, according to the first embodiment, the change from the initial setting value can be easily understood by representing the initial setting value and the changed setting value in the macro name.

[Example 2]
Next, the MFP in the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, a priority order is assigned to functions, and a macro name is determined from a function having a higher priority order among functions having differences. Note that the hardware configuration of the MFP in the second embodiment is the same as the hardware configuration of the MFP 1 in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

<Function>
FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the MFP according to the second embodiment. In the function shown in FIG. 20, the same function as that shown in FIG. 2 is denoted by the same reference numeral, and the description thereof is omitted.

  When determining the macro name, the macro name determination unit 80 acquires the priority order of the functions having differences from the priority order storage unit 811 and determines the name of the macro according to the acquired priority order. For example, the macro name determination unit 80 connects names based on functions from the front (top) of the macro name according to the priority order.

  The second storage unit 81 further includes a priority order storage unit 811 as compared with the first embodiment. The priority order information stored in the priority order storage unit 811 defines a priority order for each function.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of priority order information. In the example shown in FIG. 21, the priority order is set in the order of function No. “4” (staple), function No. “5” (punch), function No. “1” (number of copies),.

  The macro name determination unit 80 may sort the function numbers according to the priority order of the priority order information with respect to the difference function information.

<Macro name determination process>
The macro name determination process in the second embodiment will be described using the different function information described in FIG. 16 of the first embodiment. The example illustrated in FIG. 16 is an example in which the macro name determining unit 80 extracts the function No “0” (color mode) and the function No “4” (staple) as being different.

  Next, the macro name determination unit 80 refers to the priority order information in the priority order storage unit 811 and acquires the priority order of the function numbers “0” and “4”. In the priority order information shown in FIG. 21, the priority order of function No. “0” is “4”, and the priority order of function No. “4” is “1”.

  The macro name determination unit 80 leaves a space for the name “full color” determined by the function No. “0” having the next highest priority in the name “staple” determined by the function No. “4” having the highest priority. Connect and determine “staple full color” as the macro name. As described above, the macro name determination unit 80 determines the arrangement order of the macro setting values in the macro name according to the priority order of the functions having differences.

<Operation>
Next, the macro name determination process in the second embodiment will be described. Basically, it is the same as the macro name determination process in the first embodiment described in FIG. As a different process, there is a process of sorting the different function information in the priority order before step S109, and the other processes are the same as the processes shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the setting content of the function of the macro in which the function with high priority is changed is represented in front (top) of the macro name, the user selects the macros in order of priority. The contents of the set value can be recognized.

  Note that the priority order of the priority order information shown in FIG. 21 may be set by the user.

  Also, if there are many functions with differences, the macro name will become long, and the characteristics of the macro will be difficult to understand. Therefore, the macro name determination unit 80 may set the number of functions represented in the macro name to a predetermined value (L) or less. The predetermined value is, for example, 3. As a result, only the top L functions with higher priority need be reflected in the macro name.

  Note that setting the number of functions reflected in the macro name to a predetermined value L or less can also be applied to the first embodiment.

[Example 3]
Next, an MFP according to the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the macro names described in the first and second embodiments are represented by icon images instead of character strings. Note that the hardware configuration of the MFP in the third embodiment is the same as the hardware configuration of the MFP 1 in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

<Function>
FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the MFP according to the third embodiment. In the functions shown in FIG. 22, the same functions as those shown in FIG.

  When determining the macro name, the macro name determination unit 90 acquires an icon image corresponding to a setting value of a function having a difference from the icon image storage unit 911, and determines a macro name based on the acquired icon image.

  The first storage unit 91 further includes an icon image storage unit 911 as compared with the first embodiment. The icon image storage unit 911 holds icon image information for each function setting value.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of icon image information. As shown in FIG. 23, the icon image information holds an icon image indicating the set value content of the function. For example, an icon image indicating black and white and an icon image indicating full color are held.

  The second storage unit 92 includes setting content storage unit 921. The macro name information held by the setting content storage unit 921 is different from that in the first embodiment. The macro name information stored in the setting content storage unit 921 holds an icon image instead of a character string with respect to the macro name.

<Specific example>
FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example (part 1) in which a macro name is represented by an icon instead of a character string. As shown in FIG. 24, the macro names of macros 1 and 2 are represented by icon images indicating setting values.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example (part 2) in which a macro name is represented by an icon instead of a character string. As shown in FIG. 25, the macro names of macros 1 and 2 are represented by icon images indicating the setting values changed from the initial setting values.

<Operation>
Next, the macro name determination process in the third embodiment will be described. Basically, it is the same as the macro name determination process in the first embodiment described in FIG. As a different process, in step S110, the macro name determination unit 90 acquires an icon image corresponding to the function No. and setting value held in the different function information No = i from the icon image storage unit 911.

  In step S111, the macro name determination unit 90 adds the determined icon image to Name. At this time, if the Name is not empty, the macro name determination unit 90 adds the determined icon image after adding a space. Other processes are the same as those shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the macro name is displayed as an icon image instead of a character string, so that an image of a function when the macro is used can be intuitively understood.

[Modification]
The macro name determination program executed in the image processing apparatus of each embodiment is a file in an installable format or an executable format, and is a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). And the like recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

  Further, the macro name determination program executed by the image processing apparatus of each embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. The macro name determination program executed by the image processing apparatus of each embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  Further, the macro name determination program executed by the image processing apparatus of each embodiment may be provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

  The macro name determination program executed by the image processing apparatus of each embodiment has a module configuration including the above-described units. As actual hardware, when the control unit 11 (processor) reads a program from the auxiliary storage unit 13 and executes the program, one or more of the above-described units are loaded onto the main storage unit 12 and 1 or A plurality of means are generated on the main storage unit 12.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the components without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in each embodiment.

1 MFP
11 Control unit 12 Main storage unit 13 Auxiliary storage unit 14 External storage device I / F unit 15 Network I / F unit 16 Operation unit 17 Display unit 20 Standard installed application 40 Extended application 45 Extended application control unit 70 Display unit 71 Input unit 72 Macro registration means 73 Macro call means 74, 80, 90 Macro name determination means 75, 91 First storage means 76, 81, 92 Second storage means 77 Third storage means

JP 2007-208440 A

Claims (7)

A registration means for registering a macro for calling a setting value in each function of the application;
Storage means for storing an initial setting value in each function of the macro;
A name determining means for comparing the registered setting value of the macro and the initial setting value for each function, and determining the name of the macro based on the setting value of the macro of the function having a difference;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The name determination means includes
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a change from the initial setting value to the macro setting value is expressed in a name of the macro for the function having the difference. Further comprising priority order storage means for storing the priority order of the respective functions;
The name determination means includes
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement order of the setting values of the macro in the name of the macro is determined according to a priority order of the functions having the difference. The name determination means includes
The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the number of functions used for the name of the macro is set to a predetermined value or less. An icon image storage means for storing an icon image corresponding to the setting value of each function;
The name determination means includes
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the name of the macro is represented by an icon image corresponding to the set value of the macro. A registration step for registering macros to call the setting values for each function of the application;
An acquisition step of acquiring an initial setting value in each function of the registered macro from a storage unit;
A determination step of comparing the registered setting value of the macro and the acquired initial setting value for each function, and determining the name of the macro based on the setting value of the macro of the function having a difference;
Is a macro name determination method executed by a computer. A registration step for registering macros to call the setting values for each function of the application;
An acquisition step of acquiring an initial setting value in each function of the registered macro from a storage unit;
A determination step of comparing the registered setting value of the macro and the acquired initial setting value for each function, and determining the name of the macro based on the setting value of the macro of the function having a difference;
Macro name determination program that causes a computer to execute.

Images