JP2019213101A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To allow a user to easily check previews of a plurality of transmission methods to improve convenience and operability.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus comprises: a transmission unit 103 that can transmit image data with a plurality of different transmission methods, and transmit image data obtained through reading performed by a document reading unit 5 to a destination designated by a user and received by an operation receiving unit 101; and a control unit 100 that, when the operation receiving unit 101 receives a preview instruction from the user for the image data, displays, on a display unit 473, a preview of the image data to be transmitted according to one transmission method of the plurality of transmission methods. While the preview is displayed on the display unit 473, when the operation receiving unit 101 receives a user instruction to change the transmission method to be displayed in preview, the control unit 100 displays the preview on the display unit 473 according to the transmission method designated by the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for displaying a preview of image data on a display unit before transmitting the image data.

  Some image processing apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals having a scan function have a function of displaying a preview of image data on a display unit before the image data of the read original is transmitted to the outside. Thereby, the user can confirm the transmission image before transmitting the image data. Patent Document 1 below describes that a transmission destination and a preview of image data to be transmitted to the transmission destination are displayed in association with each other on the display unit. Patent Document 2 below describes that a preview of image data is displayed on a display unit when a predetermined condition is satisfied. Some of the image processing apparatuses can transmit image data of a read original to the outside by using a plurality of different transmission methods (for example, E-mail, FTP, SMB, facsimile, WebDAV).

JP 2008-148052 A JP 2010-057124 A

  In the image processing apparatus, when the user designates the transmission destination of the image data and then the user instructs display of the preview, the preview of the image data is displayed on the display unit according to the transmission method corresponding to the transmission destination designated by the user. It has come to be. For example, when the user designates a facsimile destination as the transmission destination, the preview according to the facsimile method can be confirmed, and when the user designates an E-mail destination as the transmission destination, E -You can check the preview of the image data when attached to mail.

  By the way, if the transmission method is different, transmission content and transmission image quality may change. For example, when a document to be transmitted is in color, even if it is transmitted as a color image by E-mail, it may be transmitted as a monochrome image by facsimile. Therefore, the user sometimes wants to check the preview of each of the plurality of transmission methods.

  However, if the user wants to check the preview for each of the plurality of transmission methods, the user must specify the destination corresponding to each transmission method, and the user must instruct the display of the preview each time. bad. For example, to send image data to Mr. A, if you want to check the previews of E-mail, FTP, SMB, and facsimile, the user can specify the address for Mr. A's E-mail and display the preview. It is necessary to perform this operation similarly for each of the FTP destination, the SMB destination, and the facsimile destination.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily check previews of a plurality of transmission methods and to improve convenience and operability.

  An image processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is capable of transmitting image data using a display unit, an operation receiving unit that receives an operation input from a user, and a plurality of different transmission methods. When the operation receiving unit receives a preview instruction from the user for the transmission target image data, the transmission unit transmits the image data to be transmitted to the destination specified by the user received by the operation reception unit. A control unit configured to display on the display unit according to any one of the plurality of transmission methods, and further, the control unit performs the operation when the preview is displayed on the display unit. When the reception unit receives a user instruction to switch the transmission method for preview display, the preview is changed to the transmission method specified by the user. It is intended to be displayed on the display unit me.

  According to the present invention, it is possible for the user to switch the transmission method for preview display and to easily check the preview of each of the plurality of transmission methods, so that convenience and operability can be improved. .

1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a main internal configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the operation screen displayed on a display part. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the switching of the operation screen displayed on a display part. It is the figure which showed an example of the operation screen displayed on a display part. It is the figure which showed an example of the operation screen displayed on a display part. It is the figure which showed an example of the operation screen displayed on a display part. (A) and (B) are the figures which showed an example of the operation screen displayed on a display part. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the switching of the operation screen displayed on a display part.

  An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image processing apparatus according to the embodiment is a multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scan function, and a facsimile function. The image processing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a sheet feeding unit 14, an operation unit 47, a facsimile communication unit 71, and a network interface unit 91. Prepare.

  A case where a document reading operation is performed in the image processing apparatus 1 will be described. The document reading unit 5 optically reads an image of a document conveyed by the document feeding unit 6 or a document placed on a contact glass (not shown), and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an unillustrated image memory or the like.

  A case where an image forming operation is performed in the image processing apparatus 1 will be described. The image forming unit 12 performs recording as a recording medium fed from the paper feeding unit 14 based on image data generated by the original reading operation, image data received from a computer as an external device connected to the network, or the like. A toner image is formed on paper.

  The fixing unit 13 heats and presses the recording paper on which the toner image is formed by the image forming unit 12 to fix the toner image on the recording paper. The recording paper on which the fixing process has been performed is not illustrated. It is discharged to the tray. The paper feed unit 14 includes a paper feed cassette.

  The operation unit 47 receives an instruction such as an image forming operation execution instruction from the operator for various operations and processes that can be executed by the image processing apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 that displays operation guidance to the operator.

  The display unit 473 has a touch panel function, and an operator can operate the image processing apparatus 1 by touching buttons and keys displayed on the screen.

  The facsimile communication unit 71 includes an unillustrated encoding / decoding, modulation / demodulation unit, and NCU (Network Control Unit), and performs facsimile transmission using a public telephone network or the like.

  The network interface unit 91 transmits / receives various data to / from the external device 20 such as a terminal device or server in the local area or on the Internet.

  The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a micro processing unit (MPU). The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100, an operation reception unit 101, and a transmission unit 103.

  The control unit 10 functions as the control unit 100, the operation reception unit 101, and the transmission unit 103 by the operation of the processor in accordance with a control program stored in an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) (not shown). However, the control unit 100 and the like can also be configured by hardware circuits independently of the operation according to the control program by the control unit 10. The same applies to each embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  The control unit 100 governs overall operation control of the image processing apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the document feeding unit 6, the document reading unit 5, the image forming unit 12, the fixing unit 13, the paper feeding unit 14, the operation unit 47, the facsimile communication unit 71, and the network interface unit 91. The drive control is performed. For example, the control unit 100 controls the operation of the image processing apparatus 1 according to the user operation received by the operation receiving unit 101.

  The operation receiving unit 101 receives an operation input from the user via the operation unit 47. For example, the operation accepting unit 101 accepts a user operation on a hard key provided in the operation unit 47, and further accepts a user operation on an operation screen displayed on the display unit 473 by a touch panel function included in the display unit 473.

  The destination storage unit 102 is a storage device that is connected to the control unit 10 and includes, for example, an HDD or a memory. The destination storage unit 102 stores a registered destination registered as a transmission destination of data to be transmitted (in this embodiment, image data). For example, the destination storage unit 102 stores the mail address in association with the destination name if the transmission method is E-mail, and the host name or IP address if the transmission method is FTP or SMB. If the transmission method is facsimile, the facsimile number is stored.

  The transmission unit 103 can transmit image data using a plurality of different transmission methods, and transmits the image data obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5 to a destination designated by the user received by the operation reception unit 101. For example, when the user designates an e-mail destination, the transmission unit 103 attaches the image data to the e-mail and transmits the image data to the destination designated by the user via the network interface unit 91.

  When the user designates a destination for FTP or SMB, the transmission unit 103 converts the image data into a file that can be handled by a computer, and transmits the image data to the destination designated by the user via the network interface unit 91. When the user designates a facsimile destination, the transmission unit 103 transmits image data to the destination designated by the user via the facsimile communication unit 71.

  Next, regarding an example of processing operations performed by the control unit 10 of the image processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the operation screens illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 7 and the flowcharts illustrated in FIGS. It explains using. For example, when the operation receiving unit 101 receives a user instruction to execute the transmission function (scanning function), the control unit 100 causes the document reading unit 5 to read the document to be transmitted and is obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5. The image data is stored in an unillustrated image memory, and an operation screen D1 as shown in FIG.

  On the operation screen D1, function selection buttons B1 to B6 for calling functions belonging to the category “simple setting” of the transmission function are displayed. Tags TG1 to TG6 for switching categories are displayed on the operation screen D1, and the user can switch categories by tapping the tags TG1 to TG6.

  The operation screen D1 includes an execution button B7 labeled “Preview”, and a display area E1 for displaying a read image of image data obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5. In the display area E1, an image G1 showing a read image is displayed.

  When the operation screen D1 shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display unit 473, the tag TG1 written as “destination” is tapped by the user, and the operation reception unit 101 transmits the destination image data to be transmitted. Upon receiving a user instruction for requesting designation, the control unit 100 displays an operation screen D2 (FIG. 3) for designating a destination to which the image data is transmitted on the display unit 473. On the operation screen D2 shown in FIG. 3, a selection button B11 labeled “Registered Destination” and a selection button B12 labeled “Direct Input” are displayed.

  When the operation screen D2 is displayed on the display unit 473, when the selection button B11 labeled “Registered destination” is tapped by the user, the user instruction for the operation receiving unit 101 to select a destination from the registered destination Is received, the control unit 100 displays a selection screen D3 (FIG. 3) for selecting a destination from the registered destinations on the display unit 473. In the selection screen D3 illustrated in FIG. 3, a list of registered destinations stored in the destination storage unit 102 is displayed, and the user can select a destination from the registered destinations.

  Here, when the user operates the operation unit 47 to select a destination from the registered destinations, and the operation reception unit 101 receives designation of a destination to which the image data to be transmitted is received, the control unit 100 performs FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the operation screen D11 on which the destination list L1 indicating the destination designated by the user is displayed is displayed on the display unit 473.

  When the operation screen D11 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 473, a not-shown “start” hard key provided in the operation unit 47 is pressed by the user, and the operation reception unit 101 displays a user instruction for transmission. Is received, the transmission unit 103 transmits the image data to be transmitted to a destination designated by the user. For example, when the destination designated by the user is for E-mail, the transmission unit 103 attaches the image data to the E-mail and transmits the image data to the destination designated by the user via the network interface unit 91. To do.

  Further, when the operation screen D11 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 473, the execution button B7 labeled “Preview” formed on the operation screen D11 is tapped, and the operation reception unit 101 transmits it. When receiving the preview instruction of the target image data, the control unit 100 displays the preview of the image data (see FIG. 5) on the display unit 473 according to the transmission method corresponding to the destination designated by the user.

  In FIG. 5, a display area E2 for displaying a transmission image of image data to be transmitted is provided, and an operation screen in which an image image G2 (preview) indicating the transmission image of the image data is displayed in the display area E2. An example of D12 is shown.

  Here, when the user presses the “start” hard key provided in the operation unit 47 and the operation reception unit 101 receives a user instruction for transmission, the transmission unit 103 specifies the image data in the same manner as described above. To the destination.

  On the other hand, when the operation screen D2 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display unit 473, when the selection button B12 labeled “direct input” is tapped by the user, the operation reception unit 101 directly selects the destination. When receiving a user instruction requesting input, the control unit 100 displays an operation screen D4 (FIG. 3) for selecting a transmission method on the display unit 473. On the operation screen D4, a selection button B13 labeled "E-mail", a selection button B14 labeled "FTP", a selection button B15 labeled "SMB", and a selection labeled "FAX" Button B16 is formed.

  When the operation screen D4 is displayed on the display unit 473, the selection button B13 labeled “E-mail” is tapped by the user, so that the operation reception unit 101 inputs an e-mail destination. Upon receipt of the requested user instruction, the control unit 100 displays an E-mail destination input screen D5 (FIG. 3) on the display unit 473.

  Similarly to the above, when the selection button B14 is tapped by the user, the control unit 100 displays the FTP destination input screen D6 (FIG. 3) on the display unit 473, and the selection button B15 is tapped by the user. Then, the control unit 100 displays the SMB destination input screen D7 (FIG. 3) on the display unit 473, and when the selection button B16 is tapped by the user, the control unit 100 selects the facsimile (for FAX) use. The destination input screen D8 (FIG. 3) is displayed on the display unit 473.

  When the operation input unit 101 receives the designation of the destination to which the image data to be transmitted is received by the user inputting the destination through the operation screens D5 to D8, the control unit 100 designates the destination as described above. The operation screen D11 (FIG. 4) on which the destination list L1 indicating the destination is displayed is displayed on the display unit 473. Subsequent processing is the same as that in the case where a destination is designated from “Registered destination”, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  On the other hand, when the operation screen D1 shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display unit 473, the execution button B7 labeled “Preview” is tapped by the user, and the operation reception unit 101 displays the user for the image data to be transmitted. When the preview instruction is received, the control unit 100 displays the preview of the image data in accordance with a predetermined transmission method (default transmission method, here, FTP method) as shown in FIG. 473. In the operation screen D12 shown in FIG. 6, a function selection button B8 for requesting designation of a destination to which image data to be transmitted is requested is displayed and a transmission image (preview) of the image data is displayed. A display area E2 is provided, and an image image G3 showing a transmission image is displayed in the display area E2. Here, the control unit 100 creates a preview image when the image data to be transmitted is transmitted by the FTP method which is a predetermined transmission method, and displays the preview image as a transmission image in the display area E2.

  In addition, tags TG7 to TG10 for switching the transmission method are formed on the operation screen D12, and the user operates the designation of the transmission method associated with each tag by tapping the tags TG7 to TG10. The receiving unit 101 receives and the control unit 100 switches and sets the transmission method of the image data to be transmitted to the transmission method that has received the designation.

  When the operation screen D12 is displayed on the display unit 473 (that is, when the preview of the image data to be transmitted is displayed on the display unit 473), any of the tags TG7 to TG10 is tapped by the user and the operation is accepted. When the unit 101 accepts a user instruction to switch the transmission method for preview display, the control unit 101 creates a preview image of the image data to be transmitted by the transmission method designated by the user, and displays the preview image as a transmission image in the display area E2. To display.

  For example, when the tag TG7 labeled “E-mail” is tapped by the user and the user instruction to switch the transmission method displayed by the operation reception unit 101 to the E-mail method is received, the control unit 100 displays FIG. As shown in A), a preview (image image G4) according to the E-mail method is displayed on the display area E2 as a transmission image.

  Also, when the tag TG9 labeled “SMB” is tapped by the user and a user instruction to switch the transmission method displayed by the operation reception unit 101 to the SMB method is received, the control unit 100 is illustrated in FIG. In this way, a preview (image image G5) according to the SMB method is displayed in the display area E2 as a transmission image. Thereby, the user can easily switch the transmission method for preview display, and the preview of each of the plurality of transmission methods can be easily confirmed.

  Also, for example, when the operation screen D12 shown in FIG. 7A is displayed on the display unit 473, the function selection button B8 labeled “Destination” is tapped by the user, and the operation reception unit 101 transmits When receiving a user instruction requesting designation of a destination to which the target image data is transmitted, the control unit 100 displays an operation screen D2 (FIG. 8) for designating a destination to which the image data is transmitted on the display unit 473. . On the operation screen D2 shown in FIG. 8, a selection button B11 labeled “Registered Destination” and a selection button B12 labeled “Direct Input” are displayed.

  When the operation screen D2 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit 473, when the selection button B11 labeled “Registered destination” is tapped by the user, the operation accepting unit 101 receives the address from the registered destination. When the user instruction to select is received, the control unit 100 displays a selection screen D21 (FIG. 8) for selecting a destination from the registered destinations on the display unit 473.

  The control unit 100 differs from the selection screen D3 shown in FIG. 3 as the selection screen D21, and the transmission method (here, E-mail) used for preview display among the registered destinations stored in the destination storage unit 102. Displays a screen on which a list of destinations corresponding to the (method) is displayed. This selection screen D21 allows the user to select only the destination corresponding to the transmission method from among the registered destinations. That is, the control unit 100 filters the destination list so that the destination list displayed on the selection screen D21 does not include destinations in the FTP format, the SMB format, and the facsimile format.

  Here, when the operation accepting unit 101 accepts designation of the destination to which the image data to be transmitted is received by the user selecting a destination from the registered destinations when the selection screen D21 is displayed, the control unit 100 displays in FIG. As shown, the operation screen D11 on which the destination list L1 indicating the destination designated by the user is displayed is displayed on the display unit 473. Note that the subsequent processing is the same as the processing described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the operation screen D2 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit 473, when the selection button B12 labeled “direct input” is tapped by the user, the operation reception unit 101 directly selects the destination. Upon receiving a user instruction for requesting input, the control unit 100 displays on the display unit 473 an input screen D5 in which only a destination corresponding to the transmission method (here, E-mail method) used for displaying the preview can be input. indicate. Note that the subsequent processing is the same as the processing described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the user can easily check the preview of each of the plurality of transmission methods by switching the transmission method for preview display without specifying a destination. The operability can be improved.

  In addition, when a destination is designated from a registered destination after preview display, a filtering process is performed on the registered destination (registered destination that can be transmitted by the transmission method) corresponding to the transmission method displayed in preview. In addition, when a destination is input by direct input after the preview is displayed, a destination input screen for the transmission method displayed in preview is displayed on the display unit 473. Accordingly, it is possible to further improve convenience and operability.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. In the above-described embodiment, the multifunction apparatus is described as an embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. However, this is only an example, and another image processing apparatus having a scanning function may be used.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the structure and process which were shown by the said embodiment using FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 8 are only one Embodiment of this invention, and are not the meaning which limits this invention to the said structure and process.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 5 Document reading part 100 Control part 101 Operation reception part 102 Destination memory | storage part 103 Transmission part 473 Display part

Claims (3)

A display unit;
An operation accepting unit for accepting an operation input from a user;
A transmission unit capable of transmitting image data by a plurality of different transmission methods, and transmitting image data to be transmitted to a destination designated by a user accepted by the operation accepting unit;
When the operation receiving unit receives a preview instruction from the user for the image data to be transmitted, the preview of the image data to be transmitted is displayed on the display unit according to any one of the plurality of transmission methods. A control unit,
Further, when the control unit receives a user instruction to switch a transmission method to be displayed by the operation reception unit while the preview is displayed on the display unit, the control unit performs the preview according to the transmission method designated by the user. An image processing apparatus for displaying on a display unit. A destination storage unit for storing the registered destination;
When the operation accepting unit accepts a user instruction to select a destination from the registered destination, the control unit displays a selection screen for selecting a destination from the registered destination on the display unit,
When the preview is displayed on the display unit and the operation reception unit receives a user instruction to select a destination from the registered destinations, the transmission method used for displaying the preview among the registered destinations is supported. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection screen is displayed on the display unit so that only a destination to be selected can be selected. The control unit displays an input screen for inputting a destination on the display unit when the operation receiving unit receives a user instruction requesting direct input of the destination,
When the preview is displayed on the display unit and the operation receiving unit receives a user instruction for requesting the direct input, only a destination corresponding to the transmission method used for displaying the preview can be input. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input screen is displayed on the display unit.