JP2014078953A - Image display device and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image display device capable of effectively reduce a standby time of a user in association with return of an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An electronic blackboard device 400 is connected with an image forming apparatus 100 that can be operated in switching between a normal mode and an energy-saving mode in which power consumption is suppressed. The electronic blackboard device 400 includes a display panel 212 that displays an image, and a timing unit 420 that measures time while no operation is performed to the electronic blackboard device 400. The electronic blackboard device 400 transmits an activation signal for switching a state of the image forming apparatus from the energy-saving mode to the normal mode to the image forming apparatus 100, in response to the lapse of a constant time while no operation is performed to the electronic blackboard device 400. The electronic blackboard device 400 transmits image data of an image displayed on the display panel 212 to the image forming apparatus 100.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device and an image forming system, and more particularly to an image display device connected to an image forming device that shifts to an energy saving state and an image forming system including the image display device.

  In order to print image data created by an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer on a paper medium, an image forming apparatus such as a printer is introduced in many offices (company, office, etc.). In such an image forming apparatus, an energy saving state in which power consumption is automatically suppressed from a normal energized state when a print job (image data) is not received for a predetermined time in order to reduce power consumption. Is starting to migrate.

  The image forming apparatus can execute printing as soon as a print job is received in a normal energized state. On the other hand, in the energy saving state, even if a print job is received, printing cannot be executed immediately, and it is necessary to return to the normal energized state. It takes a certain amount of time to return from the energy saving state to the normal energized state. Meanwhile, the user will wait.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133620 discloses a technique for returning an energy-saving printer to a normal energized state by transmitting a code or a command that does not affect printing to the printer when the printer driver is activated. To do. In Patent Document 1, since a command or code for returning the printer is transmitted before a print job is transmitted, the waiting time of the user can be shortened.

JP-A-10-235970

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an electronic blackboard device has become widespread as one of image display devices that accepts an instruction input (touch) from a user using a touch panel. The electronic blackboard device is used in, for example, a meeting. An electronic blackboard apparatus that is particularly often used includes a computer system that combines a display device having a large display screen and an input device that detects two-dimensional position coordinates such as a touch panel.

  Generally, an electronic blackboard device sequentially reads position coordinates designated by a pen or the like on a display screen, and displays an input locus on a display device based on the read information. Thus, the electronic blackboard device realizes functions as an electronic blackboard such as handwritten input.

  In such an electronic blackboard apparatus, an image forming apparatus may be connected to the electronic blackboard apparatus for printing the displayed image. If the connected image forming apparatus operates in an energy saving state, the same problem as described above occurs. In this case, as described in Patent Document 1, if a code that does not affect printing is transmitted to the image forming apparatus when the printer driver is activated, the waiting time of the user can be shortened.

  However, starting the printer driver is a stage in which the user executes a command for printing, and therefore, the time until the print job is transmitted after the printer driver is started is not so long. For this reason, even when the printer driver is activated and a print job can be transmitted, the image forming apparatus is still in the process of returning. Although the waiting time of the user is shortened to some extent by using the technique described in Patent Document 1, the user still stands by until the image forming apparatus returns to the normal energized state.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image display apparatus and an image which can effectively shorten a user waiting time associated with the return of the image forming apparatus. It is to provide a forming system.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image display apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is connected to an image forming apparatus capable of switching between a normal energized state and an energy saving state in which power consumption is suppressed. Image display device. The image display device includes a display unit for displaying an image, a detection unit for detecting an operation on the image display device while the display unit displays an image, and an operation by the detection unit is not detected. Time measuring means for measuring the time, and in response to detecting that the fixed time has elapsed by the time measuring means, a start signal for switching the state of the image forming apparatus from the energy saving state to the normal energized state An activation signal transmitting unit for transmitting to the apparatus; and an image data transmitting unit for transmitting image data of an image displayed on the display unit to the image forming apparatus.

  When the image display device is used in a meeting or the like, before attending the meeting, the attendees may be asked whether there are questions or the like and ask for a remark. In such a case, the operation on the image display device may be lost. The image display apparatus transmits an activation signal to the image forming apparatus in response to a state in which no operation is performed on the apparatus itself for a certain period of time. Accordingly, the start signal can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus in advance by predicting the end of the conference. Since the image forming apparatus returns to the normal energized state at the end of the conference, printing by the image forming apparatus can be started immediately at the end of the conference.

  An image forming system according to a second aspect of the present invention can operate by switching between a normal energized state and an energy saving state in which power consumption is suppressed, and an image connected to the image forming apparatus. An image forming system including a display device. In this image forming system, the image display device includes a display unit for displaying an image, a detection unit for detecting an operation on the image display device while the display unit displays an image, and a detection unit. Time measuring means for measuring the time during which no operation is detected, and activation for switching the state of the image forming apparatus from the energy saving state to the normal energized state in response to detecting that a certain time has elapsed by the time measuring means. An activation signal transmitting unit for transmitting a signal to the image forming apparatus; and an image data transmitting unit for transmitting image data of an image displayed on the display unit to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus receives the activation signal transmitted by the activation signal transmission unit, receives the image data transmitted by the image data transmission unit by receiving the image data transmitted by the image data transmission unit and the unit for setting the state of the own apparatus, and based on the image data Means for forming an image.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an image display device and an image forming system capable of effectively shortening the waiting time of the user accompanying the return of the image forming device.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram (simplified example of a screen displayed on a display device) showing the electronic blackboard device shown in FIG. 1 in a simplified manner. It is a control block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the electronic blackboard apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program performed with the electronic blackboard apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a transition diagram for explaining the operation of the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a control block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the electronic blackboard apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which simplifies and shows the electronic blackboard apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program performed by the electronic blackboard apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a control block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the electronic blackboard apparatus which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

  In the following embodiments, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their functions and names are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated. Below, the case where this invention is applied to the electronic blackboard apparatus which is an example of an image display apparatus is demonstrated.

(First embodiment)
[Overall system configuration]
With reference to FIG. 1, an overall configuration of an image forming system 50 according to the present embodiment will be described. The image forming system 50 includes an image forming apparatus 100 and an electronic blackboard apparatus 200 connected to the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 and the electronic blackboard apparatus 200 transmit and receive signals to and from each other.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is a multifunction machine having a copy function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like. This image forming apparatus 100 has a so-called laser (electrophotographic) printing function that uses laser light for exposure. However, other types of printing functions may be provided.

  The image forming apparatus 100 has a normal mode that is a normal energization state and an energy saving mode that is an energy saving mode in which power consumption is suppressed. The image forming apparatus 100 is configured to shift from the normal mode to the energy saving mode to reduce power consumption when a state where there is no instruction such as printing continues for a predetermined time.

  The normal mode is a mode in a standby state until an instruction for printing or the like is received. The image forming apparatus 100 executes printing as soon as a print instruction (print job) is received in the normal mode. The image forming apparatus 100 also shifts from the normal mode to the energy saving mode in order to suppress power consumption when there is no instruction for printing or the like for a predetermined time. In the energy saving mode, electric power is supplied only to necessary portions in order to reduce power consumption. In this energy saving mode, power supply to a fixing device (not shown) to be described later for image formation is also suppressed. Therefore, in the energy saving mode, even when an instruction for printing or the like is received, the process cannot be executed immediately, and it is necessary to return to the normal mode. Normally, when the image forming apparatus 100 receives image data transmitted from an external device such as a personal computer (PC) or a facsimile apparatus in the energy saving mode, the image forming apparatus 100 starts to return to the normal mode. After returning to the normal mode, when a predetermined time elapses, the mode again shifts to the energy saving mode.

  The electronic blackboard device 200 includes a display device 210 having a large display screen and a control device 220 (see FIG. 2) formed of a computer. Details of the control device 220 will be described later. In the image forming system 50, the electronic blackboard apparatus 200 is connected to the image forming apparatus 100, so that an image displayed on the electronic blackboard apparatus 200 can be printed by the image forming apparatus 100.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the electronic blackboard device 200 (image forming system 50) is used in a meeting or the like.

  Referring to FIG. 2, when the electronic blackboard device 200 is used in a meeting or the like, the minutes are created using the electronic blackboard device 200, and the minutes created at the end of the meeting are printed and distributed to the participants. There is. When the meeting is ended after writing the proceedings on the electronic blackboard device 200, for example, the name of the person in charge of promotion is circled (circle) or action item (decided at the meeting, In many cases, the conference is terminated by underlining the character string such as the next work to be performed by the participant. It can be said that the act of enclosing the name of the person in charge of promotion with a circle or drawing an underline in the character string such as the action item or the deadline is an action that has been put into the conference.

  The electronic blackboard apparatus 200 detects such an operation (marking operation), and transmits an activation signal for switching the state of the image forming apparatus 100 from the energy saving mode to the normal mode in response to the detection of the operation. In other words, the electronic blackboard apparatus 200 predicts the end of the meeting by detecting that such a marking operation has been performed (accepted), and prints so that the image forming apparatus 100 enters the normal mode when the minutes are printed. An activation signal is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100 in advance before the start of. When the image forming apparatus 100 receives the activation signal, the image forming apparatus 100 starts recovery (activation) and returns to the normal mode after a predetermined warm-up time has elapsed. When the user performs a print instruction operation to print the created minutes, the electronic blackboard apparatus 200 transmits the image data to the image forming apparatus 100 together with a command for printing the image data of the minutes. When the image forming apparatus 100 receives the command, the image forming apparatus 100 has already returned (started up) and can start printing immediately.

[Hardware configuration]
<< Electronic Blackboard Device 200 >>
Referring to FIG. 3, the electronic blackboard device 200 includes a large screen display device 210 and a control device 220 including a computer.

  The control device 220 includes an information processing device such as a personal computer, and is attached to a predetermined portion such as the back side of the display device 210, for example. The control device 220 executes a predetermined program to thereby realize a central processing unit (CPU) 222 for realizing overall control of the electronic blackboard device 200, and the CPU 222 when the electronic blackboard device 200 is powered on. Read-only memory (ROM) 224 for storing programs read by the CPU, random access memory (RAM) 226 used by the CPU 222 as work memory, and records when the electronic blackboard device 200 is powered off The internal bus controller 230 that controls transmission / reception of data to / from the display device 210 and the image forming apparatus 100 according to the control of the CPU 222, and the data and control between them. A bus 232 that enables communication of signals.

  The control device 220 is further connected to the internal bus controller 230 and connected to the internal bus controller 230 and a device (1) 234 that outputs a signal to the display device 210 according to the control of the internal bus controller 230. And a device (2) 236 which is an interface for providing connection with an external apparatus (image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment) according to control. The device (1) 234 and the device (2) 236 include a connector and its control chip (control circuit). The connector includes, for example, RS232C and USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  The ROM 224 stores a program and data that are executed by the CPU 222 when the electronic blackboard device 200 is turned on and set the entire electronic blackboard device 200 so that the electronic blackboard device 200 performs a predetermined operation. A program for realizing the operation of the electronic blackboard device 200 is also stored in the ROM 224. The recording unit 228 is a non-volatile storage device that retains data even when power is cut off, and is, for example, a hard disk drive or a flash memory. The recording unit 228 may be detachable from the electronic blackboard device 200. The recording unit 228 can also store a part of a program executed by the CPU 222. During normal operation, the CPU 222 loads a program from the ROM 224 or the recording unit 228 onto the RAM 226, and sequentially reads and executes instructions from an address specified by a program counter (not shown). The CPU 222 controls each part of the electronic blackboard device 200 in accordance with programs stored in the ROM 224 and the recording part 228.

  The display device 210 includes a touch panel display, and includes a display panel 212 that displays an image on a predetermined display surface, and a touch panel 214 that detects which position on the display surface of the image of the display panel 212 is touched by the user. The touch panel 214 has a function of detecting a touch and outputting a signal indicating the detection, and a function of outputting coordinate data indicating the touch position at that time. In the present embodiment, touch panel 214 is an infrared cut-off detection method. The display panel 212 is a display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel capable of full color display, and displays an image processed by an image processing unit (not shown) on the display screen under the control of the CPU 222.

  Note that the touch panel 214 may be a touch panel other than the infrared blocking method (capacitance method, surface acoustic wave method, resistive film method, infrared camera method for determining coordinates from camera images, etc.). In the electrostatic capacity method and the infrared camera method, the position can be detected without contact as long as it is close to the sensor.

  The electronic blackboard device 200 can activate various application software, and realizes a function corresponding to the activated application software. The application software includes pen software that realizes drawing with a touch pen (not shown), which is a main function of the electronic blackboard device 200. That is, the electronic blackboard device 200 sequentially reads position coordinates designated by a touch pen or the like on the display screen, and displays an input locus on the display panel based on the read information. Thus, the electronic blackboard device 200 realizes a drawing function such as handwritten input.

  Referring to FIG. 2, in this pen software, a marking icon 250 is prepared in advance on the display screen of the electronic blackboard device 200. The icons 250 include, for example, an icon 250a for displaying a circle (circle), an icon 250b for displaying an underline, and an icon 250c for a summary. When the position where the circle is desired to be displayed after touching the icon 250a is touched, the circle is displayed at the touched position. When the position where the underline is to be displayed is touched after touching the icon 250b, the underline is displayed at the touched position. When the icon 250c is touched, a summary format is displayed. For example, by touching the icon 250c, a frame line, a star, or the like is displayed together with characters “Summary”. Thus, by touching the icon 250, an image (drawn image) corresponding to the icon is pasted on the display screen.

  These icons 250 are used, for example, when creating the minutes. When the electronic blackboard device 200 detects that any one of these icons 250 has been touched, in response to the detection, the electronic blackboard device 200 generates an activation signal for returning (activating) the image forming device 100. Send to. In the present embodiment, the “touch operation” includes a drawing operation such as a handwriting input.

<< Image Forming Apparatus 100 >>
Referring to FIG. 4, image forming apparatus 100 is connected to bus 190, CPU 110 connected to bus 190, ROM 120 connected to bus 190, RAM 130 connected to bus 190, and bus 190. An input IF 150 and a display IF 160 that are connected to an HDD (hard disk drive) 140 and a bus 190 and provide an interface related to the connection with the touch panel display 180, and are connected to the bus 190 and wired or wireless (this embodiment) A communication unit 170 that provides a connection with the electronic blackboard device 200 via a wired connection.

  The bus 190, the ROM 120, the RAM 130, the HDD 140, the input IF 150, the display IF 160, and the communication unit 170 all operate in cooperation under the control of the CPU 110, and realize print processing, copy processing, and the like in the image forming apparatus 100. Note that these processes are executed by the CPU 110 controlling each part of the image forming apparatus 100 (not shown in FIG. 4).

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes, for example, a document reading unit, an image forming unit, a paper feeding unit, and a paper discharge processing device. In the image forming apparatus 100, various image processing is performed on the image data received from the electronic blackboard device 200 by the CPU 110, and this image data is output to the image forming unit.

  The image forming unit prints an image indicated by image data on a recording sheet, and includes, for example, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser scanning unit, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, a fixing device, and a charge eliminating device. Etc. For example, the image forming unit is provided with a conveyance path, and the recording paper fed from the paper feeding unit is conveyed along the conveyance path. The paper feeding unit pulls out the recording paper stored in the paper cassette or the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray one by one, and sends the recording paper to the conveyance path of the image forming unit.

  While the recording paper is being conveyed along the conveyance path of the image forming unit, the recording paper passes between the photosensitive drum and the transfer device, and further passes through the fixing device, and printing on the recording paper is performed. .

  The photosensitive drum rotates in one direction, and its surface is cleaned by a cleaning device and a static eliminator and then uniformly charged by a charging device. The laser scanning unit modulates the laser beam based on the image data to be printed, and repeatedly scans the surface of the photosensitive drum in the main scanning direction with this laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum. To do. The developing device supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum to develop the electrostatic latent image, and forms a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

  The transfer device transfers the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum to a recording sheet passing between the transfer device and the photosensitive drum. The fixing device includes a heating roller for heating the recording paper and a pressure roller for pressing the recording paper. The recording paper is heated by the heating roller and is pressed by the pressure roller, whereby the toner image transferred onto the recording paper is fixed on the recording paper. The recording paper discharged (printed) from the fixing device is discharged to a paper discharge tray.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 receives the activation signal from the electronic blackboard apparatus 200, the image forming apparatus 100 switches from the energy saving mode to the normal mode. That is, the return to the normal mode is started. When the activation signal is received in the normal mode state, the image forming apparatus 100 maintains the normal mode state.

Software configuration
With reference to FIG. 5, a control structure of a computer program executed by electronic blackboard apparatus 200 in image forming system 50 according to the present embodiment will be described. This program is activated when application software having a printing function such as pen software is activated.

  This program determines whether or not a touch operation has been performed with a touch pen or the like, and is executed when it is determined in step S1000 that the touch operation has been performed in step S1000 and step S1000. Step S1010 that accepts an operation (drawing device) to display an image on the display screen and creates image data of the display image, and is executed after step S1010, and whether or not a predetermined marking operation (touch operation) has been detected. Step S1020 for making a determination and branching the flow of control according to the result of the determination, and when it is determined in step S1020 that a predetermined marking operation has been detected, an activation signal for activating the image forming apparatus 100 is generated. Step S1030 that is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100.

  In step S1020, for example, when one of an icon 250a for displaying (drawing) a circle (circle), an icon 250b for displaying (drawing) an underline, and a summary icon 250c is touched, a predetermined value is displayed. It is determined that the marking operation has been performed. That is, a predetermined marking operation is detected. If it is determined in step S1020 that the predetermined marking operation has not been detected, control returns to step S1000.

  This program is further executed after step S1030 to determine whether or not a printing instruction has been issued by the user, and in step S1040 to branch the flow of control according to the determination result, and in step S1040, no printing instruction has been issued. It is determined that a touch operation (drawing apparatus) with a touch pen or the like has been performed, and it is determined in step S1050 that waits until there is a touch operation, and in step S1050 that the touch operation has been performed. Step S1060 that is executed in response to a touch operation with a touch pen or the like, displays an image on the display screen, and creates image data of the display image, and is executed after Step S1060 and detected by a predetermined marking device (touch operation) And determine the flow of control according to the determination result. And a step S1070 for Toki.

  If it is determined in step S1070 that a predetermined marking operation has been detected, control returns to step S1030. If it is determined that a predetermined marking operation has not been detected, control returns to step S1040.

  This program is further executed when it is determined in step S1040 that a print instruction has been issued, and is executed after step S1080 for sending image data to the image forming apparatus 100 together with a command for executing printing, and after step S1080. Step S1090 for determining whether or not the user has performed an end operation and branching the flow of control according to the determination result is included.

  If it is determined in step S1090 that the user has performed an end operation, the program ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1090 that the user has not performed an end operation, the control returns to step S1000. The termination operation by the user includes, for example, an operation for terminating the application software.

[Operation]
The image forming system 50 according to the present embodiment operates as follows. In the following description, only the part related to the present invention in the operation of the electronic blackboard device 200 will be described. Other operations are the same as those of the conventional electronic blackboard device 200.

  Assume that a meeting is being performed using the electronic blackboard device 200. Referring to FIG. 6, when the user performs a drawing operation (image creation) on electronic blackboard apparatus 200 with a touch pen, electronic blackboard apparatus 200 accepts the touch operation by the user and displays a drawn image on the display screen. The electronic blackboard device 200 creates image data of an image (display image) displayed on the display screen (step S1010 in FIGS. 5 and 6). When the user performs a predetermined operation (predetermined touch operation) on the electronic blackboard device 200, the electronic blackboard device 200 transmits an activation signal to the image forming apparatus 100.

  In general, in a meeting, display image data written on the electronic blackboard device 200 with a touch pen or the like is printed as a minutes at the end of the meeting and distributed to attendees of the meeting. In the present image forming system 50, focusing on the operation performed by the user at the end of the meeting, the image forming apparatus 100 is activated using the marking operation in the confirmation of the minutes performed at the end of the meeting as a key.

  Referring to FIG. 2, when the meeting is ended after writing the proceedings on the electronic blackboard device 200, the name of the person in charge is circled or underlined in the character string in order to reconfirm the contents of the meeting. Often ends the meeting by pulling. When the name is surrounded by a circle, if the desired person in charge is touched after touching the circle icon 250a, the person in charge is circled. The size of the circle and the thickness of the line can be arbitrarily changed. Similarly, for example, when an underline is drawn on an action item, a time limit, etc., an underline is drawn when a line is drawn on a desired character string after touching the underline icon 250b. The thickness and color of the underline can be arbitrarily changed.

  Since such a marking operation is performed at the end of the conference, the electronic blackboard apparatus 200 transmits an activation signal to the image forming apparatus 100 when detecting that such a marking operation has been performed as a predetermined operation. Note that marking is not performed only by touching the icon 250a or 250b. However, since the icon 250 is touched when marking is performed, the marking operation in the present embodiment includes the touch operation of the icon 250. .

  Referring to FIG. 6 again, assume that image forming apparatus 100 has shifted to the energy saving mode. Upon receiving the activation signal transmitted from the electronic blackboard device 200, the image forming apparatus 100 switches the mode from the energy saving mode to the normal mode. That is, the return to the normal mode is started. After receiving the activation signal, the image forming apparatus 100 returns to the normal mode after a predetermined warm-up time has elapsed (energy saving return).

  When the user issues a print command (print instruction) to the electronic blackboard device 200, the electronic blackboard device 200 transmits image data to the image forming apparatus 100. Upon receiving the image data, the image forming apparatus 100 forms an image based on the received image data and executes a printing process. Thereafter, when a predetermined time elapses without receiving image data or performing operations on the image forming apparatus 100, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts to the energy saving mode again.

[Effects of the present embodiment]
As is clear from the above description, the following effects can be obtained by using the image forming system 50 according to the present embodiment.

  The electronic blackboard device 200 receives a touch operation and displays a drawn image. The electronic blackboard device 200 further receives an operation of the icon 250 by touching and displays an image corresponding to the icon 250. The electronic blackboard apparatus 200 transmits an activation signal to the image forming apparatus 100 in response to the touch operation of the icon 250 being performed. When the image forming apparatus 100 receives the activation signal from the electronic blackboard apparatus 200, the image forming apparatus 100 starts returning to the normal energized state. Thereby, the image forming apparatus 100 can be easily returned. In addition, when the image (for example, the minutes) displayed on the electronic blackboard device 200 is printed by the image forming apparatus 100, the image forming apparatus 100 is restored before the image data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100. Can be started. Therefore, it is possible to effectively shorten the time from transmission of image data to printing. Furthermore, since it can be easily detected whether or not the icon 250 has been touched, it does not take time to detect that a predetermined touch operation has been performed. For this reason, the activation signal is transmitted quickly. Therefore, it is possible to easily reduce the waiting time of the user when the image forming apparatus 100 is restored.

  A marking operation using the icon 250 to surround the name of the person in charge with a circle or to underline the character string is an operation (action) performed at the end of the conference. By transmitting an activation signal to the image forming apparatus 100 at the timing when such a marking operation is performed, the image forming apparatus 100 can be returned (activated) before the minutes are printed. Therefore, such a marking operation can be said to be an operation performed at a timing that takes into account the time required to return from the energy saving mode to the normal mode. Therefore, by transmitting the activation signal at the timing when the icon 250 is touched, the user standby time associated with the return of the image forming apparatus 100 can be further effectively shortened.

  Further, the marking operation of enclosing the name of the person in charge with a circle or drawing an underline in the character string is often performed before the conference ends. Therefore, the activation signal can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100 without requiring a special operation separately. That is, it is possible to predict the start of printing based on the use of the normal electronic blackboard device 200 and to transmit an activation signal to the image forming apparatus 100 in advance. As a result, the image forming apparatus 100 is in a state of returning to the normal energized state at the end of the conference, so that printing by the image forming apparatus 100 can be started immediately at the end of the conference.

(Second Embodiment)
The image forming system according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the image forming system 50 according to the first embodiment. However, in the present embodiment, the electronic blackboard device transmits an activation signal in response to a drawn image of a predetermined shape being drawn on the electronic blackboard device by handwriting input. In this regard, the electronic blackboard device according to the present embodiment is different from the electronic blackboard device 200 that transmits an activation signal in response to the marking icon 250 being touched.

  In this embodiment, when the user encloses the name of the person in charge displayed on the electronic blackboard device with a circle or draws an underline in a character string such as an action item or a deadline by a drawing operation by handwriting input In addition, the electronic blackboard apparatus accepts these drawing operations and detects that a drawing image such as ◯ or underline has been drawn (the marking operation has been performed) from the difference between the image data before and after the handwritten input.

  When the electronic blackboard apparatus detects that a circle and an underline are drawn by handwriting input, the electronic blackboard apparatus transmits an activation signal for switching the state of the image forming apparatus 100 from the energy saving mode to the normal mode.

  When handwritten input is performed using a touch pen, the electronic blackboard device directly detects the pen operation action of the user (operator). Therefore, the user can perform an image of the activation signal simply by operating the pen on the electronic blackboard device. It can be transmitted to the forming apparatus 100.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, when the drawing image drawn by the drawing operation is a drawing image having a predetermined shape (such as a circle (circle) or an underline), the electronic blackboard device sends an activation signal to the image forming apparatus 100. Send to. Since the activation signal can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100 by drawing a drawing image having a predetermined shape, no special operation is required by the user. Therefore, user convenience improves.

  In the case of minutes, the format is basically determined, so the person in charge is often described in a specific position. In such a case, by registering (setting) the format of the minutes or the description position of the person in charge in advance, the positions of the person in charge, action item, deadline, etc. can be easily specified. For this reason, when the name of the person in charge is surrounded by a circle, it may be detected that a predetermined marking operation has been performed and an activation signal is transmitted. Furthermore, not only the person in charge but also a case where a circle is drawn on a person's name, it may be detected that a predetermined marking operation has been performed.

(Third embodiment)
In the image forming system according to the present embodiment, the electronic blackboard device 300 recognizes the surrounding sound, and transmits a start signal to the image forming device 100 when the time during which the sound is not recognized continues for a certain period of time. When the electronic blackboard device 300 is used in a meeting or the like, there is often no remark at the end of the meeting. Or even if the chairman asks to speak, silent time often continues. In the present exemplary embodiment, paying attention to such points, an activation signal is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100 when a state where there is no speech for a certain period of time is detected. That is, it is predicted that the end of the conference is near by detecting a state where no speech is made for a certain period of time, and the image forming apparatus 100 is activated before printing the minutes or the like.

[Hardware configuration]
<< Electronic Blackboard Device 300 >>
Referring to FIG. 7, electronic blackboard apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as electronic blackboard apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment. However, the electronic blackboard device 300 according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it includes a control device 310 instead of the control device 220. Control device 310 further includes a voice recognition unit 320, a microphone 322, and a timer unit 324 in the configuration of control device 220.

  The voice recognition unit 320 receives voices around the electronic blackboard device 300 installed via the microphone 322. The voice recognizing unit 320 detects whether or not a voice is input, and whether or not a voice having a volume that is recognized as a voice in a meeting is input, and detects the presence or absence of a voice in a meeting or the like.

  The timer unit 324 is a timer, and is turned on as a trigger when the voice recognition unit 320 detects that there is no speech. When speech is detected by the voice recognition unit 320, the time measurement is stopped and the time measurement unit 324 is reset. The CPU 222 transmits an activation signal to the image forming apparatus 100 when the time measured by the time measuring unit 324 passes a certain time.

  Referring to FIG. 8, microphone 322 is attached to a predetermined area on the front side of electronic blackboard device 300.

  Since the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

Software configuration
With reference to FIG. 9, the control structure of the computer program executed by the electronic blackboard apparatus 300 in the image forming system according to the present embodiment will be described. This program is activated when application software having a printing function such as pen software is activated.

  This program determines whether or not an utterance has been detected, and waits until no utterance is detected. When the program determines in step S2000 that no utterance has been detected, the program turns on the timer. Steps S2010 for starting timing and steps S2010 are executed after step S2010, and it is determined whether or not an utterance has been detected. In step S2020 and the flow of control depending on the determination result, an utterance is detected. Step S2030 that is executed when it is determined that the timer is turned off, resets the timer 324 by turning off the timer, and returns the control to Step S2000.

  The program is further executed when it is determined in step S2020 that no utterance has been detected, and it is determined whether or not a certain time has passed in a state where no utterance has been detected, and control is performed according to the determination result. Step S2040 for branching the flow of the process, and Step S2050, which is executed when it is determined in Step S2040 that a certain time has elapsed, and transmits an activation signal for activating the image forming apparatus 100 to the image forming apparatus 100. including. In step S2040, when it is determined that a certain time has not elapsed in a state where no speech is detected, control returns to step S2020.

  This program is further executed after step S2050 to determine whether or not a print instruction has been issued by the user. When it is determined in step S2060 to wait until the print instruction is issued, and in step S2060, it is determined that the print instruction has been issued. Are executed after step S2070 for transmitting the image data to the image forming apparatus 100 together with a command for executing printing, and after step S2070, it is determined whether or not an end operation has been performed by the user, and according to the determination result. Step S2080 that branches the flow of control.

  If it is determined in step S2080 that the user has performed an end operation, the program ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2080 that the user has not performed an end operation, the control returns to step S2000.

[Operation]
The image forming system according to the present embodiment operates as follows. In the following description, only the part related to the present invention in the operation of the electronic blackboard device 300 will be described.

  Assume that a meeting is being performed using the electronic blackboard device 300. When the conference is nearing the end and the number of utterances decreases, the electronic blackboard device 300 detects that there is no utterance (YES in step S2000 shown in FIG. 9). When it is detected that there is no speech, the electronic blackboard device 300 starts measuring time (step S2010). If an utterance is detected on the way (NO in step S2020), the timekeeping is stopped and the timekeeping unit 324 is reset (step S2030). When it is detected again that there is no speech, the electronic blackboard device 300 starts measuring time (step S2010).

  When a certain period of time elapses with no remarks (YES in step S2040), the electronic blackboard device 300 transmits an activation signal to the image forming apparatus 100 (step S2050). Upon receiving the activation signal transmitted from the electronic blackboard device 300, the image forming apparatus 100 switches the mode from the energy saving mode to the normal mode. That is, the return to the normal mode is started. After receiving the activation signal, the image forming apparatus 100 returns to the normal mode after a predetermined warm-up time has elapsed (energy saving return).

  When there are no more comments, the conference ends, and the minutes are printed by the image forming apparatus 100 in order to distribute the minutes to the participants of the conference. When the user gives a print instruction to electronic blackboard apparatus 300 (YES in step S2060), electronic blackboard apparatus 300 transmits image data to image forming apparatus 100 (step S2070). Upon receiving the image data, the image forming apparatus 100 forms an image based on the received image data and executes a printing process.

[Effects of the present embodiment]
As is clear from the above description, the following effects can be obtained by using the image forming system according to the present embodiment.

  When the electronic blackboard device 300 is used in a meeting or the like, there is often no remark before the meeting ends. The electronic blackboard device 300 transmits an activation signal to the image forming apparatus 100 when a state where no speech is made continues for a certain period of time. Accordingly, the start signal can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100 in advance by predicting the end of the conference. Since the image forming apparatus 100 is activated at the end of the conference, printing by the image forming apparatus 100 can be started immediately at the end of the conference.

(Fourth embodiment)
Referring to FIG. 10, the image forming system according to the present embodiment includes an electronic blackboard device 400 instead of the electronic blackboard device 200 according to the first embodiment. In the image forming system according to the present embodiment, when there is no action (operation) for the electronic blackboard device 400 for a certain period of time, the electronic blackboard device 400 transmits an activation signal to the image forming device 100.

  When the electronic blackboard device 400 is used in a meeting or the like, at the end of the meeting, the attendees may be asked whether there are questions or the like and ask for remarks. In such a case, there is no action on the electronic blackboard device 400. In the present embodiment, paying attention to such points, an activation signal is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100 when the no-action time for the electronic blackboard device 400 exceeds a certain time. That is, it is predicted that the end of the meeting is near by detecting that the state of no action on the electronic blackboard device 400 continues for a certain period of time, and the image forming apparatus 100 is activated before the minutes are printed. Keep it.

[Hardware configuration]
<< Electronic Blackboard Device 400 >>
Referring to FIG. 10, electronic blackboard apparatus 400 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as electronic blackboard apparatus 200 according to the first embodiment. However, the electronic blackboard device 400 according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it includes a control device 410 instead of the control device 220. Control device 410 further includes a timer unit 420 in the configuration of control device 220.

  The timer unit 420 is a timer, and is turned on when it is detected that there is no action on the electronic blackboard device 400. That is, when an action on the electronic blackboard device 400 is detected, the timing is stopped, the timing unit 420 is reset, and the timing is restarted. The CPU 222 transmits an activation signal to the image forming apparatus 100 when the time measured by the time measuring unit 420 has passed a certain time. Since the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  In this way, when the no-action state for the electronic blackboard device 400 continues for a certain period of time, it is possible to predict the end of the conference in advance as in the third embodiment by transmitting an activation signal in advance. An activation signal can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100.

(Modification)
In the said embodiment, although the example which applied this invention to the electronic blackboard apparatus which is an example of an image display apparatus was shown, this invention is not limited to such embodiment. The present invention can be applied to an image display device other than the electronic blackboard device as long as the image display device can perform a touch operation such as a marking operation.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a multifunction peripheral is used as the image forming apparatus connected to the electronic blackboard apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. As long as the image forming apparatus has a printing function, the image forming apparatus connected to the electronic blackboard apparatus may be an image forming apparatus other than the multifunction peripheral. For example, an image forming apparatus such as a printer may be connected to the electronic blackboard apparatus.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which a touch pen is used for a touch operation (including a marking operation and a drawing operation) on the electronic blackboard device has been described, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The touch operation on the electronic blackboard device can be performed using a member other than the touch pen. For example, a touch operation with a finger is also possible.

  In the first and second embodiments, the example in which the activation signal is transmitted to the image forming apparatus when a predetermined touch operation is detected at the time of creating the minutes, etc. has been described. It is not limited to the form. In addition to when the minutes are created, for example, when a predetermined touch operation is detected at the time of writing a lecture using an electronic blackboard device, or at the time of presentation presentation, an activation signal is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. Also good.

  In the first embodiment, the example in which the activation signal is transmitted to the image forming apparatus when it is detected that the marking icon is touched has been described. However, the present invention is limited to such an embodiment. Not. For example, after touching one of the marking icons, a start signal is sent to the image forming apparatus when it is detected that the person in charge or the like is circled or underlined in a character string or the like. It may be.

  In the third embodiment, the example in which the activation signal is transmitted to the image forming apparatus when the state where no speech is made for a certain time is detected has been described. In this case, for example, the voice of the chairperson is registered in advance, and the activation signal is transmitted to the image forming apparatus when the voice recognition unit recognizes that the voice is not spoken for a certain time after the chairperson speaks. Good.

  Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the techniques disclosed above are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The embodiment disclosed herein is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The scope of the present invention is indicated by each claim of the claims after taking into account the description of the detailed description of the invention, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the wording described therein are included. Including.

50 Image forming system 100 Image forming apparatus 110, 222 CPU
120, 224 ROM
130, 226 RAM
140 Hard Disk 170 Communication Unit 180 Touch Panel Display 200, 300, 400 Electronic Blackboard Device 210 Display Device 212 Display Panel 214 Touch Panel 220 Control Device 250, 250a, 250b, 250c Icon 320 Speech Recognition Unit 322 Microphone 324, 420 Timekeeping Unit

Claims (2)

An image display device connected to an image forming apparatus capable of operating by switching between a normal energized state and an energy saving state in which power consumption is suppressed,
Display means for displaying an image;
Detection means for detecting an operation on the image display device while the display means is displaying an image;
A time measuring means for measuring a time during which the operation is not detected by the detecting means;
A start signal for transmitting a start signal for switching the state of the image forming apparatus from an energy saving state to a normal energization state to the image forming apparatus in response to detecting that the predetermined time has elapsed by the time measuring means. A transmission means;
An image display device comprising: image data transmission means for transmitting image data of an image displayed on the display means to the image forming apparatus. An image forming system including an image forming apparatus capable of operating by switching between a normal energized state and an energy saving state in which power consumption is suppressed, and an image display device connected to the image forming apparatus,
The image display device includes:
Display means for displaying an image;
Detection means for detecting an operation on the image display device while the display means is displaying an image;
A time measuring means for measuring a time during which the operation is not detected by the detecting means;
A start signal for transmitting a start signal for switching the state of the image forming apparatus from an energy saving state to a normal energization state to the image forming apparatus in response to detecting that the predetermined time has elapsed by the time measuring means. A transmission means;
Image data transmitting means for transmitting image data of an image displayed on the display means to the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Means for receiving the activation signal transmitted by the activation signal transmitting means, and making the state of the own machine an energy saving state;
Means for receiving the image data transmitted by the image data transmitting means and forming an image based on the image data.

Images