JP2015182328A - Layout detection print device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print device capable of reflecting layout which satisfies a taste of a user to plural printed matters.SOLUTION: A layout detection print device comprises: a display part for displaying an address surface; a touch panel input part for allowing a user to input in the address surface; a recognition part for recognizing an inputted area; a layout analysis part for analyzing layout of the address surface on the basis of a recognition result of the recognition part; a control part for executing modification to address print data on the basis of the analysis result of the layout analysis part; and a print part for printing the address on the basis of the print data which is modified by the control part. The layout analysis part extracts a taste of the user, and the taste of the user is stored as data. The method comprises: an input step for acquiring input information of a user; a recognition step for recognizing the input area on the basis of the input information; and a layout analysis step for analyzing the layout on the basis of the input information. The taste of the user is applied to plural pieces of print data.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and method for adjusting a layout by handwriting input and printing.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a printing apparatus that recognizes whether a print object is a postcard or an envelope, and its size, detects a printable range, and adjusts the printable range to be printed. Is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-304225

The prior art is intended to print within the printable range, and does not adjust the layout (for example, the layout of the address, destination, and sender) according to individual user preferences.
An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that can reflect a user's preferred layout for a plurality of printed materials.

The handwritten layout detection and printing apparatus of the present invention includes a display unit that displays an address surface, a touch panel input unit that a user inputs to the address surface, a recognition unit that recognizes an input area, and a recognition result of the recognition unit The layout analysis unit for analyzing the layout of the address surface, a control unit for modifying the address print data based on the analysis result of the layout analysis unit, and the print data that the control unit has modified And a printing unit that performs address printing based on the printing.
The handwritten layout detection printing method of the present invention includes an input process for acquiring user input information, a recognition process for recognizing an input area based on the input information, a layout analysis process for performing layout analysis based on the input information, including.

  When the layout detection printing apparatus of the present invention is used, the layout of a printed matter that the user likes can be detected by handwriting input using a touch panel. And thereby, a favorite layout can be reflected in a large amount of printed matter. Therefore, the trouble of adjusting the layout of the printed material can be avoided.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a program executed by the control unit of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a specific layout for postcard printing. FIG. 3A shows a specific example of a vertically written address surface. FIG. 3B shows a specific example of a horizontal writing address surface. FIG. 3C shows a destination writing position on the vertical writing address surface. FIG. 3D shows the relationship between the address on the vertically written address surface and the size of the address character. FIG. 3 (e) shows destination numbers on the vertical writing address plane. FIG. 3F shows the address writing position on the vertically written address surface. FIG. 3G shows the writing end position of the destination on the address surface of vertical writing. FIG. 3 (h) shows a case where the central alignment is performed in the case of consecutive names of addresses on a vertically written address surface. FIG. 3 (i) shows the case where the heads are aligned in the case of the consecutive names of addresses on the vertically written address surface. FIG. 4 further shows a specific layout in the case of postcard printing. FIG. 4A shows a character size in the case of a long destination on a vertically written address surface. FIG. 4B shows a line break in the case of a long destination on a vertically written address surface. FIG. 4C shows the size of the sender's character on the vertical writing address. FIG. 4 (d) shows the sender's writing and writing end positions on the vertical writing address. FIG. 4E shows the writing end position of the sender on the vertical writing address. FIG. 4 (f) shows the destination / address / sender area in the vertically written address plane. FIG. 4G shows the position of the character “sama” of the address on the vertically written address surface.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
《About block diagram showing device configuration》
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic device configuration of a handwritten layout detection printing apparatus of the present invention. The handwritten layout detection and printing apparatus includes a display control unit 1 that controls screen display, a display unit 2 that displays a layout of characters and printed matter input by handwriting, and touch panel input that allows the user to handwrite the address, destination, and sender on the touch panel. Recognition by the unit 3, the character recognition unit 4 for recognizing characters by capturing data in which the user has handwritten the address, destination, and sender on the touch panel, the layout analysis unit 5 for recognizing the layout from the captured handwritten data, and recognition by 4 and 5 A control unit 6 that determines a user's preferred layout from the character code and layout, an external memory 7 that stores data handwritten by the user on the touch panel, a key input operation unit 7 that inputs characters, and an address It has a printing unit 8 for printing a surface (address / destination / sender).

The control unit 6 includes a CPU (central processing unit) (not shown), a character recognition unit (character recognition engine) 4, and a layout analysis unit (pattern analysis unit) 5. Although it is possible to give the CPU a character recognition function and a layout analysis function, since the character recognition and layout analysis are highly specialized processes and heavy processing, respectively, By having the circuit independently, the load on the CPU is reduced.
The flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a program processed by the CPU included in the control unit 6.

The control unit 6 includes an input device (touch panel input unit 3, key input operation unit 8, etc.), an output device (display control unit 1, display unit 2, printing unit 9, etc.) and a storage device (external memory 7) in the vicinity thereof. Etc.).
Although the touch panel input unit 3 and the display unit 2 can be provided separately, it is also possible to realize that the user touches and inputs the displayed part by arranging them in a stacked manner. The stacked arrangement is preferable in that the user can intuitively recognize the writing area.

The key input operation unit 8 may include a so-called keyboard, or may display a keyboard on a part of the display unit 2 and perform key input by touch panel input.
The printing unit 9 is a so-called printer, and the printing method is not particularly limited. It may be an ink jet printer or an electrophotographic printer using toner. Also, other types of printers such as a thermal printer may be used.

The layout detection printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a control unit 6, a touch panel input unit 3, a key input operation unit 8, an external memory 7, a display control unit 1, and a display unit 2 in a so-called printer casing including a printing unit 9. It is good also as a device put together.
The layout detection printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a so-called personal computer PC (control unit 6, character recognition unit 4, layout analysis unit 5), monitor (display unit 2), touch panel (touch panel input unit 3), keyboard (key input). The operation unit 8) and various external storage devices (external memory 7) may be connected by a necessary cable, or may be configured to communicate with each other by wireless means to constitute a system composed of a plurality of devices.

  The electronic data to be printed can be created by the user by touch panel input by the touch panel input unit 3 using the layout detection printing apparatus according to the present invention.

About the algorithm
The processing algorithm for realizing the “handwritten layout detection printing apparatus” is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

<Display sample image>
First, the address layout required for detecting the user's address layout preference is displayed on the screen. (S20)
For example, the user's selection is waited by displaying a plurality of sample images. As the plurality of sample images, it is possible to display sample images such as vertical writing (FIG. 3A) and horizontal writing (FIG. 3B), and including or not including the sender's notation on the address surface.

<Handwriting input on the touch panel>
When the user selects one of a plurality of sample images (clicks using the touch panel), input becomes possible based on the selected image. The user performs handwriting input on the touch panel. At that time, the user performs handwriting on the touch panel with the layout he / she likes most (S30).
That is, the coordinate data handwritten by the user is not only data that is transferred to the character recognition unit 4 and converted into character information, but is also transferred to the layout analysis unit 5 to determine the layout. It is also treated as. This is possible because the handwritten information has XY coordinate data and also has information on where in the layout image the user has input.

<< Data acquisition and character recognition >>
Next, the control unit 6 captures handwritten touch panel coordinate data into the system (S40).
And the control part 6 hands over the data to the character recognition part 4, and the character recognition part 4 performs the character recognition of the character which the user wrote from the acquired coordinate data (S50). At this time, not only recognizes what each character is, but also information on the location such as where the address area occupied by the character is, and how much area the character occupies. Character recognition is performed in the accompanying state.

《Position of `` Sama '', `` Gochu '' etc.》
When recognizing characters, the positions of “Chinese numerals” and “Kanji used to respect the other party, that is, characters of“ Sama ”,“ Gonchu ”(san, chan, kun, etc.)” are determined (FIG. 4 (g )).
The kanji “sama”, “middle” (san, chan, kun, etc.) used in the respect of the other party is always written at the end of the address and is also included in all the addresses. It can be determined that the character at the bottom of is used in the sense of respecting the other party, and in that case, the line can be determined to be the address. If "sama" is in the middle of the address, respect the partner who came to the bottom of the name or "sama" in the name depending on whether there is a character before or after "sama" (in the case of vertical writing) It is possible to determine whether it is “like” used in meaning (S60).

《Destination, address, sender area determination》
Next, when the address surface is vertical writing (the sample image is displayed in S20 and the user selects and inputs the screen, it is determined whether the writing is vertical writing or horizontal writing). Is determined to be the area where the address is written.
The left side of the destination area is determined as the sender address and sender area (S70).

《When character recognition is difficult》
If character recognition is difficult, a screen prompting the user to rewrite the address is displayed (S80). In response, the user inputs the address / sender by handwriting on the touch panel (S30). Then, the processes from S40 to S60 are repeated to determine the destination, address, sender address, and sender area (S70). FIG. 4F shows a state where the destination, address, and sender areas can be determined as areas surrounded by broken lines.

<Layout analysis>
Next, a layout analysis preferred by the user of the address surface is performed (S90).
The following eight points can be considered as items to be detected.
1. Whether this is vertical writing or horizontal writing As described above, it is possible to determine whether the vertical writing of the sample image has been selected and input as described above or whether the horizontal writing has been selected and input.
Even if there is no distinction between vertical writing and horizontal writing in the sample image, it can be determined by the direction of the character when the character is recognized (see FIGS. 3A and 3B). Character direction analysis can be performed from pattern recognition.
Moreover, if handwritten input data has not only coordinate data but also time information (or order information), it is possible to know the order in which characters were written by analyzing it, and to know whether vertical writing or horizontal writing is used. .

2. Whether the upper character at the time of line feed is aligned at the destination The destination area is determined at S70. Therefore, it can be recognized how many lines are written in the destination area.
It is possible to detect the beginning of writing of characters on each line of the address, and determine whether the height of the characters is aligned on all lines. A line indicated by a broken line in FIG. 3C indicates the start position of the first line of the address. In the example of FIG. 3C, the second line of the address starts from a position lower than the first line.

3. Address numbers are either Chinese or arithmetic numbers? Addresses often contain numbers that indicate street addresses. Whether the number is a Chinese number or an arithmetic number is considered to be a matter of preference of the user. As shown in a part surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 3E, it is possible to determine whether the number is a Chinese numeral or an arithmetic numeral when the character is recognized.

4. Address and margin of destination area (see dotted lines in Fig. 8 and 9)
In the case of vertical writing, it is determined whether there is a top margin, a bottom margin, or a top and bottom margin. FIG. 3F shows a case where there is a margin on the address. FIG. 3G shows a case where there is a margin below the destination. It is thought that where there is a margin depends on each user's preference and customs.

5. Balance of consecutive names For vertical writing, specify whether the height of the characters at the beginning of the consecutive names should be aligned top, centered, top aligned + bottom aligned (for one character, two characters, or three characters) Judging from the height of the beginning and end of writing. FIG. 3 (h) shows a case where the heights of the characters at the start of writing the consecutive names are aligned to the middle. FIG. 3 (i) shows an example in which the characters at the start of writing consecutive names are aligned.

6). Automatic adjustment of the character size when it does not fit on one line When there are many lines at the destination and the number of characters is multiple lines, the line size is kept as it is, and a new line is written to cover two lines, or the characters are reduced to one line Judge whether to list.
FIG. 4A shows an example in which the condominium name and room number are reduced to one line. FIG. 4B shows an example in which the apartment name and the room number are described over two lines.

7). Whether the sender is described on the address side Judge whether the sender information is described on the address surface. The part enclosed with the broken line of FIG.4 (c) has shown the example which has provided the description of the sender in the address surface. On the other hand, FIG. 4G is an example in which no description of the sender is provided.

8). The margin of the sender area With respect to the relationship between the sender's address and the height at the beginning and end of writing the name, it is determined whether there is a margin above, a margin below, or a margin above and below. FIG. 4D shows an example in which there is a margin under the name of the sender. FIG. 4 (e) shows an example in which the writing end height of the sender's address and the writing end height of the name match.

  Next, the size of one character in each of the destination, address, sender address, and sender areas determined in the destination, address, and sender area determination (S70) is recognized (S100).

《Relationship between address and destination text size》
Since the character sizes of the address and the destination area are detected in S100, the ratio of the character sizes of the two areas is calculated from the character size. FIG. 3D shows that the character size ratios of the first character “Saka” of the address and the first character “East” of the destination are compared.

The user's preference is detected from the relationship between the address on the address surface in S90, the address, the sender address, the layout of the sender and the character size in S100 (S110).
The relationship between the user's preference in the layouts 1 to 8 described above and the character size detected in S100 is reflected in all address faces to be printed (S120). Then, printing is executed (S130).

<How to use>
For example, assuming that there are 300 postcard address prints, the user inputs only the first one in handwriting in order to reflect the user's address writing preference in all of these prints. The user's preference is detected from the single character recognition and layout analysis. Then, the preference information is applied to all address prints of 300 postcards to modify the print data. It can be said that printing is executed. At this time, the operation of modifying the print data and the print execution operation can be performed in parallel.

<Save layout preference information>
The user's layout preference information extracted by the handwritten layout detection and printing apparatus according to the present invention can be stored in, for example, the external memory 7 or sent to another device by communication so that it can be used by another printing apparatus. .
In that case, a program for modifying the existing address print data may be separately prepared based on the layout preference information.

《Comparison with conventional printing device》
The conventional printing device is very troublesome because it is necessary to manually adjust and check the detailed layout of the address, destination, and sender when printing the address.
Also, even if the layout was automatically performed according to manners and rules, the layout did not match the user's preference, so the user must manually adjust and change it to his favorite layout was there. These are not suitable for producing a large amount of printed matter.

<Effect of the invention>
The user's preference for address writing can be extracted by performing handwriting input once.
The extracted user's addressing preference can be reflected in a plurality of addressing data.
Even a large amount of address printing can be performed reflecting the user's preference.

<Summary of invention>
1. 1. The user's preference for layout can be detected by handwriting. 2. The user's layout preference can be detected from the touch panel. 3. The user's layout preference can be automatically reflected in the printed material. 4. A layout can be detected from handwritten data. 5. The size of characters can be detected from handwritten data. 6. A layout can be detected by character recognition. The ability to detect user's layout preference through character recognition

"Effect of the invention"
In the present invention, it is possible to avoid the trouble of adjusting the layout of the printed matter by allowing the desired layout to be reflected in a large amount of printed matter by detecting the layout of the printed matter preferred by the user by handwriting, and the convenience is greatly improved. There is an advantage of doing.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof. For example, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, the layout analysis is performed after the character recognition process is performed. However, a part of the layout analysis may be performed first, and the character recognition process may be performed based on the layout analysis. In addition, when character recognition is not successful, when performing character recognition again, the user may input a delimiter for each character or word and perform the recognition process.
Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims of the present application will be appended.

[Appendix 1]
A display for displaying the address surface;
A touch panel input unit for a user to input to the address surface;
A recognition unit that recognizes the input area;
A layout analysis unit that analyzes a layout of the address plane based on a recognition result of the recognition unit;
Based on the analysis result of the layout analysis unit, a control unit for modifying the address print data;
A layout detection printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that performs address printing based on print data that the control unit has modified.

[Appendix 2]
The layout detection printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the layout analysis unit extracts a preference of a user who performs input.

[Appendix 3]
The layout detection printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the layout analysis unit stores the user preference as data.

[Appendix 4]
An input process for obtaining user input information;
A recognition step of recognizing an input area based on the input information;
A layout analysis printing method including a layout analysis step of performing a layout analysis based on the input information.

[Appendix 5]
The layout detection printing method according to claim 4, wherein the layout analysis step extracts user preferences.

[Appendix 6]
6. The layout detection printing method according to claim 5, wherein the user preference extracted in the layout analysis step is applied to a plurality of print data.

  The present invention is applicable to a printing apparatus that performs address printing of postcards and envelopes.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display control part 2 Display part 3 Touch panel input part 4 Character recognition part 5 Layout analysis part 6 Control part 7 External memory 8 Key input operation part 9 Printing part

Claims (6)

A display for displaying the address surface;
A touch panel input unit for a user to input to the address surface;
A recognition unit that recognizes the input area;
A layout analysis unit that analyzes a layout of the address plane based on a recognition result of the recognition unit;
Based on the analysis result of the layout analysis unit, a control unit for modifying the address print data;
A layout detection printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that performs address printing based on print data that the control unit has modified.   The layout detection printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the layout analysis unit extracts a preference of a user who performs input.   The layout detection printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the layout analysis unit stores the user preference as data. An input process for obtaining user input information;
A recognition step of recognizing an input area based on the input information;
A layout analysis printing method including a layout analysis step of performing a layout analysis based on the input information.   The layout detection printing method according to claim 4, wherein the layout analysis step extracts user preferences.   6. The layout detection printing method according to claim 5, wherein the user preference extracted in the layout analysis step is applied to a plurality of print data.

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