JP4539233B2 - Image processing apparatus and parameter setting method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and its parameter setting method, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and parameter setting method for setting parameters using a job memory in which parameters are registered in advance.

  In an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine, it is necessary to set operating conditions as parameters when executing a job. In recent years, image processing apparatuses tend to be multifunctional, which makes operations required for parameter setting complicated.

  For this reason, image processing that allows the user to easily set desired parameters by registering parameters according to various preferences and applications as job memory and calling the registered job memory as necessary There is a device.

  However, the job memory normally has a set of various parameters registered, and is changed to a setting in which all parameters are registered by calling. Therefore, if most of the settings are desired by the user and some of them are not desired by the user, the user has to change some of the parameters. In particular, if the parameters you want to change are determined in advance, for example, if you want to use the parameters set in the job memory for each of the other parameters while deciding where to store the scanned image data in a specific location, It was necessary to call up the job memory and change the image data storage destination each time scanning was performed.

For this reason, when registering job memory, by setting “arbitrary” as the parameter value, parameters that are set to “arbitrary” when the job memory is called In the technology that makes it possible to use the value set in the image processing apparatus in (see, for example, Patent Document 1), when two job memories are called, the setting is made in the job memory that is called first. The parameter is set using the value of the parameter that has been set, and the parameter that is not set in the job memory that was called first is used from the second called job memory (for example, patents) Reference 2) has been proposed.
JP-A-7-134517 JP-A-11-331446

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the value of “arbitrary” is set to the parameter at the time when the job memory is registered, and therefore cannot be flexibly changed when the job memory is actually called. . Also, if the user does not remember which parameter value is “arbitrary”, the user must check the parameter every time the job parameter is used, eliminating the complexity of parameter setting operations. It is not possible.

  Further, although the technique described in Patent Document 2 can eliminate the complexity of parameter setting operations to some extent, it is necessary to prepare a job memory in which a parameter value to be arbitrarily set is prepared in advance. If the parameters and parameters change from time to time, it is necessary to register the job memory with the values and parameters changed each time.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and its parameter setting method capable of making flexible and easy parameter setting by effectively using a pre-registered job memory.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention of claim 1 stores parameters necessary for job execution as a job memory, and is based on parameters set by calling the stored job memory or newly set parameters. In an image processing apparatus that executes a job, a parameter input unit that inputs a parameter value, a fixed setting unit that fixes an arbitrary parameter among parameters that the parameter input unit inputs a value, and each parameter Job memory calling means for calling job memory that is a set of values, and parameters other than the parameters fixed by the fixed setting means are set to the values of the parameters of the job memory called by the job memory calling means , The parameters set by the fixed setting means are Characterized by comprising a parameter setting means for setting the values entered in over data input means.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, further comprising a fixed setting notifying means for notifying a parameter fixedly set by the fixed setting means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the apparatus further comprises input fixing means for setting the value of the parameter input by the parameter input means as the fixed setting.

  The invention of claim 4 further comprises fixed related setting means for fixing the parameter related to the fixed setting parameter to a value not conflicting with the fixed setting parameter in the invention of claim 1. It is characterized by doing.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4, further comprising related setting notification means for notifying a parameter for which the fixed related setting means has set a value.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, image processing for storing a parameter required for job execution as a job memory and executing the job based on a parameter set by calling the stored job memory or a newly set parameter A parameter setting method for an apparatus, wherein a value of an arbitrary parameter among parameters input to the image processing apparatus is fixedly set, and when a job memory which is a set of values corresponding to each parameter is called, A parameter other than the fixed setting parameter is set to the value of each parameter of the job memory, and the fixed setting parameter is set to the input value .

  The invention of claim 7 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 6, the fixed parameter is notified.

  The invention of claim 8 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 6, the value of a newly input parameter is set as the fixed setting.

  The invention of claim 9 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 6, a parameter related to the parameter set to the fixed setting is fixed to a value that does not conflict with the parameter set to the fixed setting.

  The invention of claim 10 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 9, it is notified that the parameter related to the fixed parameter is fixed.

  According to the present invention, any parameter of the set parameter is set as a fixed setting, and when the job memory is called, a parameter other than the fixed parameter is set to the value of the called job memory. It is possible to use the job memory effectively and set the parameters flexibly and easily.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image processing apparatus and a parameter setting method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of an image processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, the image processing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a setting storage unit 11, a job memory storage unit 12, an image input unit 13, an image output unit 14, a file storage unit 15, a display control unit 16, an input A reception unit 17, a network connection control unit 18, and a communication control unit 19 are provided.

  The control unit 10 controls other units and causes the image processing apparatus 1 to execute various jobs. The setting storage unit 11 temporarily stores the value of each parameter when the image processing apparatus 1 executes a job. The job memory storage unit 12 stores one or more parameter value sets when the image processing apparatus 1 executes a job as a job memory.

  The image input unit 13 reads a document placed on a document table (not shown) or a document feeder and generates image data. The image output unit 14 performs print output for forming an image on a sheet based on the image data. The file storage unit 15 stores various files such as image data generated by the image input unit 13 and image data input via a network.

  The display control unit 16 displays various information on a display device such as a touch panel (not shown). The input receiving unit 17 receives instructions and information input from an input device such as a touch panel (not shown). The network connection control unit 18 controls connection with the network and exchanges various files and the like. The communication control unit 19 is connected to a telephone line and transmits / receives a fax.

  The image processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a multifunction machine that executes a plurality of types of jobs such as printing, scanning, copying, and fax transmission / reception. However, the image processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied is a scanner or a copying machine. A single-function device such as

  Next, parameter setting processing in the image processing apparatus 1 will be described. In the image processing apparatus 1, the control unit 10 sets the parameter values stored in the setting storage unit 11 in accordance with the instruction from the user received by the input reception unit 17 and the contents of the job memory called from the job memory storage unit 12. Update.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the control unit 10 when setting parameters. As shown in the figure, the control unit 10 performs parameter setting by the parameter setting unit 100, the instruction input acquisition unit 101, the display screen update unit 102, and the job memory acquisition unit 103.

  The parameter setting unit 100 updates the parameter values stored in the setting storage unit 11 in accordance with a user instruction and the contents of the job memory. The parameter setting unit 100 has a lock mode setting / cancellation unit 110, a lock input mode setting / cancellation unit 111, and a conflict lock mode setting / cancellation unit 112, which are stored in the setting storage unit 11. It is possible to lock the value of any parameter that has been set and prevent the parameter update by the job memory. The processing by each functional unit of the lock mode setting / release unit 110, the lock input mode setting / release unit 111, and the conflict lock mode setting / release unit 112 will be described later.

  The instruction input acquisition unit 101 acquires the content of the instruction from the user received by the input reception unit 17. The display screen update unit 102 updates the screen displayed on a display unit (not shown) based on the parameters set by the parameter setting unit 100, and causes the display control unit 16 to execute display on the display unit. The job memory acquisition unit 103 acquires the value of the parameter of the job memory stored in the job memory storage unit 12 based on the instruction from the user received by the input reception unit 17.

  Next, an outline of the operation of the image processing apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the image processing apparatus 1.

  In the image processing apparatus 1, when there is a parameter setting instruction from the user (YES in step 201), the parameter setting unit 100 (control unit 10) changes the parameter stored in the setting storage unit 11 based on the received instruction. (Step 202). At this time, if there is an instruction to set or release a lock mode, which will be described later, for a given parameter from the user, the parameter setting unit 100 sets or releases the lock mode.

  Further, when the image processing apparatus 1 receives an instruction to call a job memory from the user (step 203), the job memory acquisition unit 103 (control unit 10) reads the user from the job memory stored in the job memory storage unit 12. The value of each parameter of the job memory designated by is acquired (step 204). Then, the parameter setting unit 100 (the control unit 10) updates the parameter values for which the lock mode is not set among the parameters stored in the setting storage unit 11 with the corresponding parameter values of the called job memory. (Step 205).

  In addition, when a job execution instruction is issued from the user (YES in step 206), the image processing apparatus 1 refers to the parameter value stored in the setting storage unit 11 by the control unit 10 and executes the job with the parameter. If it is possible (YES in step 207), the control unit 10 controls the other units and executes the designated job (step 208).

  The image processing apparatus 1 accepts and executes parameter setting instructions, job memory call instructions, and job execution instructions at any time in any order, and when there is no instruction from the user for a certain period of time, or there is an instruction to end the function from the user. In the case (YES in step 209), the image processing apparatus 1 displays the initial screen on a display (not shown) and ends the series of processes described here.

  As is apparent from the processing flow described here, in the image processing apparatus 1, the job is called by executing the job with the user specifying an arbitrary parameter in the lock mode, and another job memory is stored. Operation such as calling and executing a job becomes possible.

  Next, a lock mode setting method will be described with reference to an example of a screen displayed on a display (not shown) of the image processing apparatus 1.

  First, the image processing apparatus 1 displays a screen 300 as shown in FIG. 4 as an initial screen. A screen 300 is a menu screen, and includes a “scan” button 301, a “copy” button 302, a “scan job memory” button 303, a “copy job memory” button 304, and the like. A “scan” button 301 and a “copy” button 302 are buttons for instructing switching to a screen for setting scan job parameters and a screen for setting copy job parameters, respectively. A “copy job memory” button 304 is a button for instructing switching to a screen for calling a scan job memory and a screen for calling a copy job memory.

  Here, when the user presses the “scan” button 301, a screen 310 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display unit of the image processing apparatus 1. A screen 310 is a screen for setting parameters of a scan job. A “main menu” button 311, a “job memory” button 312, a “unlock all” button 313, and a parameter setting tab 314 (314 -A to 314 -C). , Parameter setting buttons 315 (315-A1, 315-A3, 315-A6, 315-A9, etc.), “lock setting” button 316, “unlock” button 317, etc. are arranged.

  The “main menu” button 311 is a button for instructing switching to the screen 300 shown in FIG. 4. When the “main menu” button 311 is pressed, a lock mode arbitrarily set for the parameter is set. Is canceled and the screen 300 is displayed. The “job memory” button 312 is a button for instructing switching to a screen for calling a scan job memory. The “unlock all” button 313 is a button for instructing to release all lock modes arbitrarily set for the parameters.

  The parameter setting tab 314 is a tab for selecting the type of parameter to be set, and the parameter setting button 315 is a screen for setting a parameter or selecting a lower parameter screen. The parameters that can be set in the scan job or the like have a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. 6, and the type “AAA” 401, the type “BBB” 402, and the like can be selected on the parameter setting tab 314. When setting the parameter “A3” 413, the user presses the parameter setting button 315-A3 to display a setting screen (not shown) of the parameter “A3” 413. Further, when setting the parameter “A11” 421, the parameter “A12” 422, etc., the user presses the parameter setting button 315-A1 to display a screen 320 as shown in FIG. The screen 320 includes a setting button 321 -A11 for displaying a setting screen (not shown) for the parameter “A11” 421, a setting button 321 -A12 for displaying a setting screen (not shown) for the parameter “A12” 422, and the like. Has been.

  The “lock setting” button 316 is a button for instructing to set a parameter to the lock mode, and the user presses the parameter setting tab 314 or the parameter setting button 315 after pressing the “lock setting” button 316. The corresponding parameter is set to the lock mode. Also, the “lock setting” button 322 arranged on the screen 320 shown in FIG. 7 is the same button, and the user presses the parameter setting button 321 -A11 and the like after pressing the “lock setting” button 322. As a result, the corresponding parameter is set to the lock mode.

  The lock mode is set in a form including the lower level of the hierarchy shown in FIG. For example, when the parameter “A3” 413 is set to the lock mode, only the parameter “A3” 413 is set to the lock mode, but when the parameter “A1” 411 is set to the lock mode, it is subordinate to it. The parameter “A11” 421 and the parameter “A12” 422 that are positioned are also set to the lock mode. Similarly, when the type “AAA” 401 is set to the lock mode, the parameter “A3” 412, the parameter “A11” 421, the parameter “A12” 422, etc. positioned in the lower order are also set to the lock mode. .

  The “unlock” button 317 is a button for instructing the parameter to be released from the lock mode. The user presses the parameter setting tab 314 or the parameter setting button 315 after pressing the “unlock” button 317. The corresponding parameter is released from the lock mode.

  Setting and release of the lock mode for this parameter is performed by the lock mode setting / release unit 110 of the parameter setting unit 100 shown in FIG. 2, and the display screen updating unit 102 displays a display (not shown) along with this processing. Change the screen displayed on the instrument. For example, when the parameter “A1” 411 is set to the lock mode, the parameter setting button 331-A1 is highlighted and the type “AAA” 401 is set to the lock mode as shown in the screen 330 in FIG. In FIG. 9, the parameter setting tab 341-A is highlighted as shown in a screen 340 shown in FIG. 8 and 9 show that the lock mode is set by reverse display, but the lock mode is set by other methods such as changing the character color even if the reverse display is not used. You may make it show that it is.

  Next, a case where the “job memory” button 312 (see FIG. 5) on the screen 310 is pressed will be described. In this case, a screen 350 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on a display (not shown).

  On the screen 350, job memory selection buttons 351 (351-C, 351-F, etc.) for selecting a job memory are arranged, and a “call in locked state” button 352 and a “call in unlock state” button 353 are arranged. Has been. In this screen 350, when the user presses the “call in locked state” button 352 and then presses the job memory selection button 351 to select a desired job memory, the job memory acquisition unit 103 shown in FIG. The memory is acquired, and the parameter setting unit 100 sets the parameters. At this time, the parameters set in the lock mode remain at the current values, and the parameters not set in the lock mode are processed in the job. Updated to memory value.

  When the user presses the “call when unlocking” button 353 and then presses the job memory selection button 351 to select a desired job memory, the job memory acquisition unit 103 shown in FIG. 2 acquires the job memory. Then, the parameter setting unit 100 sets the parameters. At this time, since all the lock modes that have been set are released, all the parameters are updated to the values in the job memory.

  As described above, the user can set an arbitrary parameter in the lock mode. In the above description, the user selects a parameter and sets the lock mode. However, the lock mode can be set together with the parameter value. This process is performed by pressing the “lock input” button 361 arranged on the screen 360 shown in FIG. 11 to set the image processing apparatus 1 to the lock input mode. In the image processing apparatus 1, the lock input mode setting / release unit 111 shown in FIG. 2 sets and releases the lock input mode.

  In the lock input mode, each time a parameter value is set, the parameter is set to the lock mode. Thereby, the user can set the lock mode together with the setting of the parameter value.

  The lock input mode is released by pressing the “lock input release” button 362. In addition to this, when switching to the screen 300 by pressing the “main menu” button 363, the “reset” button 364 is displayed. The lock input mode is canceled when the parameter setting is reset by pressing. Instead of arranging the “lock input release” button 362, the lock input mode may be released by pressing the “lock input” button 361 again. Further, when the lock input mode is released, the lock release process may be performed at the same time.

  By the way, the lock mode can be set for any parameter as described above. For this reason, there is a possibility that a conflict occurs between the parameter set to the lock mode and the parameter not set to the lock mode. For example, when a parameter that is set to save a scanned image in a monochrome binary-only format is set to the lock mode, an image quality adjustment parameter such as edge processing is set to a value that specifies multi-level gradation processing. If you call, both will contradict.

  Therefore, the image processing apparatus 1 is provided with a conflict lock mode, and the conflict lock mode setting / releasing unit 112 shown in FIG. 2 sets and cancels the conflict lock mode.

  In the conflict lock mode, a parameter that may cause a contradiction is set in the same manner as the lock mode by setting an arbitrary parameter to the lock mode. The conflict lock mode setting / releasing unit 112 sets the lock mode setting / In accordance with the processing of the release unit 110, the corresponding parameter is set or released in the same manner as in the lock mode.

  At this time, the display screen update unit 102 shown in FIG. 2 displays a message 371 on the screen 370 shown in FIG. 12 to notify the user that processing in the conflict lock mode has been performed. Further, an area 381 for displaying the parameter name in the conflict lock mode may be provided on the screen as in the screen 380 shown in FIG. 13 to notify the user which parameter is currently in the conflict lock mode. Furthermore, instead of the message 371, a pop-up 391 may be used to notify the user that there has been a process in the conflict lock mode, as in a screen 390 shown in FIG.

  Here, it has been described that the target parameter is the same as that in the lock mode in the process in the conflict lock mode. However, for example, if the parameter [Compression format] is set to Lock mode with its value set to [JPEG], and only [Color] and [Gray] can be set when [Compression format] is [JPEG]. When [Color Space] is set to Conflict Lock Mode by setting [Compression Format] to Lock Mode, when calling a job memory with [Color Space] set to [Color] or [Gray] Can also perform processing in which the setting of [color space] is updated. In the same case, when a job memory with [Color space] set to [Black and white binary] is called, [Gray] is the closest meaning to [Black and white binary] in the [Color space] range. It is also possible to perform processing that the setting is updated.

  Finally, a usage example of the image processing apparatus 1 by the user will be described. Here, it is assumed that the user inputs a large number of originals and the scan input function settings differ for each original and are registered in the job memory in advance. It is different depending on the case of performing input processing. Also, all parameter values are set in the job memory, and the user performs scan input according to an instruction describing the correspondence between the input document and the job memory.

  The user presses “scan job memory” 303 on the screen 300 and selects a job memory corresponding to the first document specified in the instruction sheet. Since the storage location of the scanned image is changed according to the user, after selecting the job memory and displaying the screen 310, the storage location is changed to the file storage destination server of the own department. At this time, since the user presses a lock input button (corresponding to reference numeral 361), the storage destination parameter is in the lock mode. Therefore, even if the job memory is subsequently called, the save destination parameter is not changed. Then, the user inputs the scan original while sequentially calling and switching the job memory. At this time, the save destination parameter is not changed by calling the job memory. Thereafter, when the work is finished and the user displays the main menu of the screen 300, the lock mode of the storage destination parameter is released.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline of a structure of the image processing apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the control part 10 at the time of setting a parameter. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the image processing apparatus 1. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial screen displayed by the image processing apparatus 1. FIG. It is the figure which showed the example of the parameter setting screen which the image processing apparatus 1 displays. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of a parameter. It is the figure which showed the example of the parameter setting screen which the image processing apparatus 1 displays. It is the figure which showed the example of the parameter setting screen which the image processing apparatus 1 displays. It is the figure which showed the example of the parameter setting screen which the image processing apparatus 1 displays. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job memory call screen displayed by the image processing apparatus 1. FIG. It is the figure which showed the example of the parameter setting screen which the image processing apparatus 1 displays. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed by the image processing apparatus 1 when processing in the conflict lock mode is performed. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed by the image processing apparatus 1 when processing in the conflict lock mode is performed. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed by the image processing apparatus 1 when processing in the conflict lock mode is performed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 10 Control part 11 Setting memory | storage part 12 Job memory memory | storage part 13 Image input part 14 Image output part 15 File storage part 16 Display control part 17 Input reception part 18 Network connection control part 19 Communication control part 100 Parameter setting part 101 Instruction input acquisition unit 102 Display screen update unit 103 Job memory acquisition unit 110 Lock mode setting / canceling unit 111 Lock input mode setting / canceling unit 112 Conflict lock mode setting / canceling unit 300 Screen 301 “Scan” button 302 “Copy” button 303 “Scan Job Memory” Button 304 “Copy Job Memory” Button 310 Screen 311 “Main Menu” Button 312 “Job Memory” Button 313 “Unlock All” Buttons 314-A to 314-C Parameter Setting Tab 15-A1,315-A3,315-A6,315-A9 parameter setting button 316 "lock setting" button 317 "unlocked" button 401 type "AAA"
402 Type “BBB”
411 Parameter “A1”
413 Parameter “A3”
421 Parameter “A11”
422 Parameter “A12”
320 screen 321-A11 setting button 321-A12 setting button 322 “lock setting” button 330 screen 331-A1 parameter setting button 340 screen 341-A parameter setting tab 350 screen 351-C, 351-F job memory selection button 352 “lock” “Call in state” button 353 “Call in unlock” button 360 screen 361 “Lock input” button 362 “Lock input release” button 363 “Main menu” button 364 “Reset” button 370 screen 371 Message 380 screen 381 Area 390 screen 391 Pop-up

Claims (10)

In an image processing apparatus that stores parameters required for job execution as a job memory, and executes a job based on parameters set by calling the stored job memory or newly set parameters,
Parameter input means for inputting parameter values;
A fixed setting means for a fixed set any parameter among the parameters of the parameter input means inputs a value,
Job memory calling means for calling job memory that is a set of values corresponding to each parameter ;
The parameter other than the parameter set by the fixed setting means is set to the value of each parameter of the job memory called by the job memory calling means, and the parameter set by the fixed setting means is the parameter input means. in the image processing apparatus characterized by comprising a parameter setting means for setting the input value.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fixed setting notifying unit that notifies a parameter fixedly set by the fixed setting unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input fixing unit that sets the parameter value input by the parameter input unit as the fixed setting.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fixed related setting unit configured to fix a parameter related to the fixed parameter to a value that does not conflict with the fixed parameter.   5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a related setting notifying unit for notifying a parameter for which the fixed related setting unit has set a value. A parameter setting method for an image processing apparatus that stores parameters required for job execution as a job memory, and executes a job based on a parameter set by calling the stored job memory or a newly set parameter,
The value of an arbitrary parameter among the parameters input to the image processing apparatus is fixedly set. When a job memory that is a set of values corresponding to each parameter is called, parameters other than the fixedly set parameters are set. A parameter setting method for an image processing apparatus , wherein the parameter value of each parameter of the job memory is set, and the fixed parameter is set to the input value .   7. The parameter setting method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the parameter set to the fixed setting is notified.   7. The parameter setting method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a newly input parameter value is set as the fixed setting.   7. The parameter setting method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a parameter associated with the fixed parameter is fixed to a value that does not conflict with the fixed parameter.   10. The parameter setting method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a notification is made that a parameter related to the fixed parameter is fixed.

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