JP5663980B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for controlling an operation screen of an image processing apparatus.

Today, there are many styles of user interfaces (hereinafter referred to as “UI”) for performing various operations in a computer system. As an example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to a multipoint touch screen. According to Patent Document 1,
Based on detection signals of a plurality of touch inputs from the multipoint touch screen, it is possible to realize multitouch operation functions such as zoom, pan, and rotation for the operation target.

Special table 2008-508601 gazette

In the future, in image processing apparatuses such as printers and multifunction peripherals in the market, it is desired to apply a UI having the above-described multi-touch operation function to the image processing apparatus in order to improve the convenience of user operation. .

However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, in order to execute complicated processing such as zoom, pan, and rotation for an operation target based on detection signals of a plurality of touch inputs from a multipoint touch screen, Many resources (CPU processing speed, memory capacity, hard disk capacity, etc. necessary for operating software and hardware) are required. If a UI that requires such complicated processing is installed in an image processing apparatus, resources that can be used to execute other image processing such as printing are limited while the UI is being used. As a result, there is a problem that execution of other image processing is delayed or stopped.

For this reason, the execution of other image processing is not limited by the UI processing, and it is necessary to take measures for efficiently realizing each processing of the image processing apparatus. An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems.

In order to solve this problem, an image processing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a display unit that displays an operation screen, an input unit that receives a user's input operation, and an input that is received by the input unit. A control unit that executes a display process of an operation screen displayed on the display unit according to an operation, and that executes a function processing request regarding at least an image data input or output function, unlike the display process, and the control unit Is based on the processing status of the control unit,
The display unit and the input unit receive a first input operation and perform a first display process according to the first input operation, and a processing load on the control unit from the first input operation Is switched to a second input display mode in which a second input operation is received and a second display process is performed according to the second input operation.

According to this configuration, since the first input display mode and the second input display mode are switched based on the processing status of the control unit, the execution of the function processing request is limited by the processing of the input unit and the display unit. Therefore, each process of the image processing apparatus can be efficiently realized.

An image processing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the input unit is a touch panel, and the display unit is in the first input display form. A multi-touch operation screen for receiving a plurality of input operations in parallel is displayed, and a single touch operation screen for receiving one input operation is displayed in the second input display mode.

According to this configuration, the multi-touch operation screen capable of performing a complex operation and the single touch operation screen capable of performing an operation equivalent to the multi-touch operation screen are switched based on the processing status of the control unit. Therefore, each process of the image processing apparatus can be efficiently realized without restricting the execution of the function process request by the processes of the input unit and the display unit.

An image processing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the control unit includes image data to be subjected to the first input operation. When it is determined that the image processing target of the function processing request is the same, the second input display form is displayed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the image data is not the same, the first input display form is displayed. It is characterized by.

That is, if the image data that is the target of the function processing request and the image data that is the target of the first input operation are the same, it is necessary to perform different processing on the same image data.
The load on the control unit is expected to increase. According to this configuration, the first input operation and the function processing request are performed so that the load on the control unit due to processing on the same image data is not increased.
By switching between the input display mode and the second input display mode, the processing of the input unit and the display unit and the function processing request can be executed in a compatible manner.

An image processing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the control unit is an image whose function processing request is multicolor or high resolution. If it is determined that a request for execution of an input or output function of the data, while switching to the second input display form, that the function processing request requesting execution of an input or output function of the image data of monochrome or low-resolution If it is determined, the first input display form is switched.

That is, if the image data targeted for the function processing request is multicolor or high resolution, it is expected that the load on the control unit will increase because the function processing request is executed. According to this configuration, by switching between the first input display mode and the second input display mode so that the function processing request does not increase the load on the control unit due to processing on multicolor or high resolution image data, the input unit and It is possible to execute both the processing of the display unit and the function processing request at the same time.

An image processing apparatus according to claim 5 of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the control unit includes image data to be subjected to the first input operation. When it is determined that the image processing target of the function processing request is the same, or the function processing request requires execution of an input or output function of multicolor or high resolution image data, the control parts, when attached receives the function processing request During the execution of the first display processing, while switching to the first input display mode, by the input unit in a state in which the function processing request is executed When an instruction is input, the mode is switched to the second input display form.

According to this configuration, based on the order in which the image processing apparatus receives the first display process and the function processing request, the first received process is prioritized, and the first input display form and the second input display form are switched. The process accepted earlier can be executed efficiently without being limited by the process accepted later.

An image processing apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein the control unit includes image data to be subjected to the first input operation. When it is determined that the image data that is the target of the function processing request is the same, or the function processing request requires execution of an input or output function of multi-color or high-resolution image data,
The control unit determines the priority of the function processing request. When the priority of the function processing request is determined to be higher than a reference value, the control unit switches to the second input display form, while the priority of the function processing request When it is determined that the degree is equal to or less than a reference value, the mode is switched to the first input display form.

According to this configuration, based on the priority of the function processing request, priority is given to the execution of the function processing request with high priority, and the function with high priority is switched by switching between the first input display form and the second input display form. The processing request can be efficiently executed without being limited by the processing of the input unit and the display unit.

The image processing apparatus according to claim 7 of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control unit is configured to request the function processing request in the first input display form. And the function processing request is executed without restriction in the second input display mode.

That is, based on the processing status of the control unit, if the first input display form has a large processing load on the control unit, the function processing request is limited, and the processing load on the control unit is smaller than the first input display form. In the two-input display mode, the function processing request is executed without restriction. Therefore, by restricting one of the processing of the input unit and the display unit and the function processing request, the other processing is restricted. And can be executed efficiently.

An image processing apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the control unit is switched to the second input display mode. When the execution of the function according to the function processing request is completed, the second input display form is switched to the first input display form.

That is, the execution of the function in accordance with the function processing request that triggered the switching to the second input display form is considered to be a process that places a load on the control unit. According to this configuration, when the execution of the function processing request that imposes a load on the control unit is completed, the first input with high operability is promptly provided to the user by switching the second input display form to the first input display form. A display form can be provided.

According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, since the configuration is such that the first input display form and the second input display form are switched based on the processing status of the control unit, a function processing request is made by processing of the input unit and the display unit. Each process of the image processing apparatus can be efficiently realized without restricting the execution of.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing an external configuration of an image processing apparatus. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of an image processing apparatus. (A) is a figure which shows the example of a display of a standard operation screen, (B) is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation result with respect to the standard operation screen of (A). (A) is a figure which shows the example of a display of a simple operation screen, (B) is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation result with respect to the simple operation screen of (A). 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of UI execution processing according to the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of JOB execution processing according to the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of UI execution processing according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of JOB execution processing according to the second embodiment. 6 is a timing chart illustrating an example of the second embodiment. (A) is a figure which shows the example of a display of a simple operation screen, (B) is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation result with respect to the simple operation screen of (A).

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
"Configuration of image processing device"
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an external configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of the image processing apparatus.

The image processing apparatus 100 includes various functions such as a fax function, a printer function, a copy function, and a scanner function (hereinafter referred to as “MFP” (Multi Function Per).
abbreviated ipheral).

As shown in FIG. 1, the scanner unit 2 is provided above the MFP 100. The scanner unit 2 reads an image from a document set on a document table and generates image data of the image. The generated image data is printed by the printer unit 3 (copy function), transmitted by the fax unit 1 (fax function), or transmitted to the information processing apparatus 200 via the communication interface 38 (scanner function).

A printer unit 3 for outputting image data is provided below the MFP 100. The printer unit 3 is composed of an ink jet printer for printing on a recording sheet set in a predetermined paper feed tray, and is provided with a recording sheet conveyance motor (not shown) for conveying the recording sheet and the recording sheet. A print head (not shown) for ejecting ink and a carriage motor (not shown) for moving a carriage (not shown) on which the print head is mounted are provided.

The fax unit 1 (FIG. 2) of the MFP 100 receives fax data transmitted from an external communication device to the own device, and transmits fax data to the external communication device. The fax unit 1 transmits image data read by the scanner unit 2 or image data stored in a storage medium as fax data.

On the front surface of the MFP 100, there is a slot unit 37 into which a storage medium such as an SD card (registered trademark) or a CF card (registered trademark) is mounted. Here, as the storage medium, a known medium and format can be appropriately selected. Further, a plurality of slots may be provided so as to be applied to a plurality of types of media.

The MFP 100 includes a plurality of operation keys 4 for executing various functions, and a display unit 6 that is a liquid crystal display that displays various information such as an operation screen. Further, a transparent touch panel 5 may be provided on the front surface of the display unit 6 so that some or all of the functions of the operation keys 4 may be substituted. Moreover, you may comprise so that the touch panel 5 and the operation key 4 can be used together.

As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 100 includes a control unit 30 and various settings in addition to the fax unit 1, scanner unit 2, printer unit 3, operation key 4, touch panel 5, display unit 6, and slot unit 37. Nonvolatile RAMRAM 34 (flash memory)
A USB interface 36 connected to a USB device such as a USB memory, a communication interface 38 connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) connecting an information processing apparatus 200 such as a PC, and a telephone line 300. A telephone line interface 39 for realizing the fax function and an input detection device 4 for detecting an input of the touch panel 5
0.

The control unit 30 includes a CPU 31 that controls the overall operation of the MFP 100, a ROM 32 that stores various control programs executed by the CPU 31 and fixed value data, and a CPU 31.
And a RAM 33 that is a memory for temporarily storing data, programs, and the like necessary for various processes executed by the computer.

The control unit 30 is electrically connected to the fax unit 1, the scanner unit 2, the printer unit 3, and the like. Processing related to input / output of image data of the fax unit 1, the scanner unit 2, and the printer unit 3 is controlled by the control unit 30 and operates independently.

The ROM 32 stores display information necessary for displaying the operation screen on the display unit 6. In the display information, what kind of hierarchical structure the operation screen is displayed on the display unit 6,
This is information indicating what setting items are assigned to the operation screen of each hierarchy, what layout is used to display icons, buttons, characters, symbols, and the like on the operation screen of each hierarchy.
Further, in the ROM 32, for example, in addition to display information for displaying a standard operation screen (an example of a multi-touch operation screen) prepared as a standard shown in FIG. 3, the same as the standard operation screen shown in FIG. Display information for displaying a simple operation screen (an example of a single touch screen) capable of realizing the operation function is stored.

In addition, the said structure is only an example, and it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the said structure. In the above configuration, an apparatus in which all functions are integrated is illustrated, but some functions may be realized by an external apparatus. Furthermore, the internal electrical configuration is merely an example, and it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the internal configuration.

"Operation screen configuration"
In the state where the standard operation screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, one touch input (single touch) to the touch panel 5 by the input detection device 40, a plurality of touch inputs (multi-touch) generated simultaneously, An input (multi-touch) in which one or more touch inputs such as movement are continuously changed is detected, a detection signal is generated based on the detection result, and the generated detection signal is transmitted to the CPU 31. Thereafter, the CPU 31 transmits an instruction corresponding to the display unit 6 based on the detection signal, and updates the display of the display unit 6.

According to the above processing, image data to be processed by a single touch or multi-touch from a single finger, a plurality of fingers, a single stylus, a finger and a stylus, or a plurality of styluses. Various display processes are executed for. In these display processes, for example, tracking, zooming, rotation, scrolling, panning, and the like are performed on the displayed image. Further, for example, it is possible to rotate the image while zooming.

As described above, the display unit 6 displays a standard operation screen (an example of a multi-touch operation screen), and the input detection device 40 indicates a state in which a single-touch operation and a multi-touch operation on the touch panel 5 are accepted. An example of a one-input display form).

On the other hand, when the simple operation screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed, the input detection device 4
0 detects only a single touch on the touch panel 5. Based on the detection signal, the CPU 31 performs selection of an image displayed at the touched position and display processing corresponding to the key displayed at the touched position. In this way, the display unit 6 displays the simple operation screen (
A state in which an example of a single touch screen is displayed and the input detection device 40 accepts only a single operation on the touch panel 5 is referred to as a single touch mode (an example of a second input display form).

Further, even when the user performs an input operation on the touch panel 5 with a plurality of fingers on the simple operation screen, the input detection device 40 generates an invalid signal for all multi-touches, and transmits the generated invalid signal to the CPU 31. The CPU 31 does not update the image on the display unit 6 with the invalid signal.

"Operation of image processing device"
The operation of the MFP 100 is switched between the standard operation screen and the simplified operation screen according to the processing status of the control unit 30 including the CPU 31 and causes the display unit 6 to display one of them.

The processing status of the control unit 30 includes the usage rate of the CPU 31, the degree of CPU 31 resource waiting for processing, the usage status of the ROM 32 and RAM 33, and the like. For example, when the usage rate of the CPU 31 is high, the resource of the control unit 30 becomes insufficient (hereinafter referred to as “Busy state”), and a phenomenon in which a significant delay occurs in the processing of the MFP 100 occurs. Needless to say, the input operation in the multi-touch mode requires more load on the control unit 30 than the input operation in the single touch mode.

Hereinafter, a procedure of execution processing of MFP 100 that realizes the operation screen switching operation described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the UI execution process, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the JOB execution process. Note that the MFP 100 performs UI execution processing and JOB execution processing in parallel when the power is turned on. What is UI execution processing?
This is a process of detecting an input operation from the user with respect to the operation key 4 or the touch panel 5 and updating the display of the display unit 6 in accordance with the detected input operation. The job execution process is the above-described fax function, printer function, etc. when a job (an example of a function processing request) is received.
This is a process for executing either the copy function or the scanner function.

"UI execution process"
First, when the power of the MFP 100 is turned on, the CPU 31 reads the standby screen display information prepared in advance from the ROM 32, and displays the standby screen on the display unit 6 based on the read display information (S101). Here, the standby screen may be a display screen in which a plurality of functions provided in MFP 100 can be selected as a menu.

Next, the CPU 31 determines whether or not a user input operation on the touch panel 5 has been received (S102). When it is determined that an input operation has not been received (S102: No)
Wait until the input operation is received.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the input operation by the user has been received (S102: Yes), the CP
U31 determines whether or not the control unit 30 is in the Busy state (S103).

Here, the CPU 31 determines Yes in S <b> 103 when the control unit 30 is already in the Busy state in other processing such as JOB execution processing. At this time, the job is being executed in the job execution process. Further, when executing a job execution process, for example, a job (printing, faxing, reading, etc.) is received via the communication interface 38, and the received job is of high quality (multicolor, high resolution, etc.). If it is to be executed, it is determined that the control unit 30 is in the Busy state. In addition, even if the job execution process is not executed, if the job received via the communication interface 38 is of high quality (multicolor, high resolution, etc.), the control unit 30 determines that it is in the Busy state. The job received at this time is executed in the JOB execution process.

On the other hand, even if other processing such as JOB execution processing is executed, it is not in the Busy state, the job is not received, or the received job is low quality (single color, low resolution, etc.)
If printing is to be performed, the control unit 30 determines that it is not in the Busy state.

CPU31 judges that control part 30 is a Busy state (S103: Yes)
In this case, the simple operation screen is displayed on the display unit 6 and the mode shifts to the single touch mode in which only a single touch is accepted (S104). By doing so, it is possible to predict that the control unit 30 is in the Busy state and switch the operation screen before simultaneously receiving and displaying the job and the input operation. As a result, the load on the control unit 30 can be reduced, and the job and the input operation can be received and displayed simultaneously.

On the other hand, when the CPU 31 determines that the control unit 30 is not in the busy state (S1
03: No), the standard operation screen is displayed on the display unit 6, and the mode is shifted to the multi-touch mode for accepting single touch and multi-touch (S105).

In S104 and S105, an input operation by the user is accepted in a state where either the standard operation screen or the simple operation screen is displayed (S106). Here, single touch and multi-touch are accepted when the standard operation screen is displayed, and only single touch is accepted when the simple operation screen is displayed. The CPU 31 processes the received input operation and updates the display on the display unit 6 based on the processing result (S107).

For example, on the standard operation screen shown in FIG. 3A, an image to be operated, an operation method in the multi-touch mode, and the like are displayed. The user follows the displayed operation method.
When a zoom-out operation is performed in which the two touch positions are moved away from each other while touching two points with a finger, the image is enlarged and displayed as shown in FIG.
On the other hand, in a state where an enlarged image is displayed as shown in FIG. 3B, a zoom-in operation is performed in which the user touches two points and moves up and down so that the touch positions of the two points approach each other. Then, the image is reduced and displayed as shown in FIG.

In addition, for example, in the simple operation screen shown in FIG. 4A, in the single touch mode, operation buttons such as “enlarge”, “reduced”, “up / down / left / right direction keys” and the like are displayed. Is also displayed. By displaying such a button, an operation equivalent to that of the standard operation screen can be performed. Further, in order to notify the user that the screen has been switched to the simple operation screen, a message such as “Since it is functioning and has been replaced with a simple operation” is displayed on the screen of FIG. When the user operates the “enlarge” button with respect to FIG. 4A, the image is enlarged and displayed as shown in FIG.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the input operation is completed on the touch panel 5 (S108). When the input operation is completed (S108: Yes), a standby screen is displayed and waits until a new input operation is received (S108). S101). Here, the case where the input operation is completed means that the input operation is completed when the operation end button is pressed on the operation key 4 or the touch panel 5 or when the input operation is not received for a certain period of time in S106. to decide.

If the input operation is not completed on the touch panel 5 (S108: No), the process proceeds to S103, and it is determined again whether the control unit is in the Busy state. Here, for example, when the execution of the job is completed first in a state where the simple operation screen is displayed on the display unit 6 in S104 based on the previous determination result, the CPU 31 determines that the control unit 30 is not in the Busy state. (S103: N
o) Switch to the standard operation screen to display on the display unit 6 and shift to the multi-touch mode (
S105). If the job is still being executed, the CPU 31 displays the simple operation screen and continues the single touch mode (S104).

"Job execution process"
When the power of the MFP 100 is turned on, the CPU 31 displays, for example, the communication interface 38.
It is determined whether or not a job has been received via (S201). If it is determined that no job has been received (S201: No), it waits until a job is received. If it is determined that a job has been received (S201: Yes), the job is received (S202) and executed (S203).

Next, it is determined whether or not the job has been executed (S204). If the job has not been executed (S204: No), the process proceeds to S203, and the job is continuously executed. When the execution of the job is completed (S204: No), the process proceeds to S201 and waits until a new job is received.

"Effect of this embodiment"
According to the above-described embodiment, the MFP 100 is based on the processing status of the control unit 30 including the CPU 31, and includes a multi-touch mode (that is, a standard operation screen that accepts a multi-touch operation) and a single touch mode (standard operation screen). Since a simple operation screen that accepts a single touch operation that can perform an input operation equivalent to the above is displayed, the job execution is limited by the input operation process accepted by the touch panel 5. Each process of the MFP 100 can be realized efficiently.

Further, if the image data to be processed by the job is of high quality, the MFP 100 is expected to increase the load on the control unit because the job is executed. By switching between the multi-touch mode and the single touch mode so that the job does not increase the load on the control unit 30 due to processing of high-quality image data, the input operation process accepted by the touch panel 5 and the job are executed at the same time. I can do it.

In addition, the execution of a job that triggers the MFP 100 to switch to the single touch mode is considered to be a process that places a load on the control unit 30. When execution of a job that puts a load on the control unit 30 is completed, the multi-touch mode with good operability can be promptly provided to the user by switching the single touch mode to the multi-touch mode.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the UI execution process, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the JOB execution process. In the following description of the second embodiment, the configuration of the MFP 100 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. Further, in the operations of the UI execution process and the JOB execution process, the same processes as those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals added. In the second embodiment, the control unit 30 is B
In the case of the usy state, it is different from the first embodiment in that it is determined at the timing of starting each process whether the UI execution process is prioritized or the JOB execution process is prioritized.

"UI execution process"
In S102 of FIG. 7, when the CPU 31 receives an input operation of the touch panel 5 (S
102: YES), it is determined whether the control unit is in a Busy state (S103).

CPU31 judges that control part 30 is not in a Busy state (S103: No)
The standard operation screen is displayed (S105).

When it is determined that the control unit 30 is in the Busy state (S103: Yes), and S30
1, when the job is not being executed without restriction, that is, when the job is being executed at a speed lower than the normal processing speed described later (S301: No), the CPU 31 displays the standard operation screen and shifts to the multi-touch mode ( S105). At this time, in the job execution process, the job is executed with a limited process (described later).

On the other hand, the control unit 30 is in the Busy state (S103: Yes), but the job is not limited.
In other words, if it is being executed at the normal speed (S301: Yes), the CPU 31 displays the simple operation screen on the display unit 6 and shifts to the single touch mode (S104). At this time JOB
In the execution process, the job is executed as usual (described later).

Thereafter, when the CPU 31 determines in S108 that the input operation has been completed (S108:
Yes), the process returns to S101 and waits until a new input operation is received.

If the input operation is not completed (S108: No), the process proceeds to S103, and it is determined again whether the control unit is in the Busy state.

In addition, execution of the process between S103-S104 (or S105) is an exclusive process.

"Job execution process"
If it is determined that the job has been received in S201 of FIG. 8 (S201: Yes), the CP
U31 accepts the job (S202), and determines whether the control unit 30 is in the Busy state (S103).

When the CPU 31 determines that the control unit 30 is not in the busy state (S103: No),
The received job is executed without restriction (S203).

CPU31 judges that control part 30 is a Busy state (S103: Yes)
When the standard operation screen is displayed, that is, when an input operation in the multi-touch mode is being executed (S401: Yes), the accepted jobs are limited and executed (S402).
). For example, the job is executed at a lower speed than the processing speed executed in S203. As a result, priority is given to the execution of the input operation accepted earlier,
When executing an input operation in the multi-touch mode, the job and the input operation can be executed simultaneously at the same time by restricting execution of a job that does not place a large load on the control unit 30.

On the other hand, when the control unit 30 is in the Busy state (S103: Yes), but the standard operation screen is not displayed, that is, when the input operation in the multi-touch mode is not accepted (S401: No), the job is executed. Execute without restriction (S203). That is, when the input operation has not been received first, the simplified operation screen is displayed in the UI execution process (S104). Therefore, when the job received first is prioritized and executed at a normal processing speed, the job and the input operation can be performed by accepting the input operation in the single touch mode in which the load on the control unit 30 due to the UI execution processing is not so great. It can be executed at the same time.

When the job execution is completed (S204: Yes), the process proceeds to S201 (S403).
Wait until a new job is accepted.

If the execution of the job has not ended (S204: No), the process proceeds to S103, and it is determined again whether the control unit is in the Busy state.

Similarly, the execution of the process between S103 to S402 (or S203) is an exclusive process.

A specific operation of MFP 100 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing an example of the above process. The horizontal axis indicates the flow of time t after the MFP 100 is turned on or from a certain standby time. According to the flow of time t, “UI input / absence”, “JOB presence / absence”, “screen displayed on display unit 6”,
And the status of “whether or not JOB is restricted” is changed. It should be noted that the state where there is a UI input is a time during which the processing of S103 to S108 in FIG. 7 is repeated and the state where JOB is present means that the processing of S103 to S204 in FIG. 8 is repeated. It is during execution. JOB1 to JOB3 are, for example, high-quality jobs, and JOB1 is input during UI input.
When JOB3 is executed, it is assumed that the control unit 30 is in the Busy state.

As shown in FIG. 9, first, at t1, the CPU 31 receives and executes JOB1. Here, JOB1 is executed at a normal processing speed.

If the UI input 1 of the touch panel 5 is accepted during execution of JOB1 at t2, the CPU 31 displays a simple operation screen because the job has been accepted first. At this time, JOB1 is executed at a normal processing speed without limitation.

When execution of JOB1 is completed in a state where UI input 1 has not been completed at t3, the CPU 31 determines that the control unit 30 is not in the Busy state and switches to the standard operation screen for display.

At time t4, when JOB2 is accepted while UI input 1 is being executed, the input operation is accepted first, so the CPU 31 executes JOB2 while limiting JOB2. At this time, the CPU 31 continues to display the standard operation screen.

When execution of UI input 1 is completed during execution of JOB2 at t5, the CPU 31 determines that the control unit 30 is not in the Busy state, and executes JOB2 at a normal processing speed. Then, a standby screen is displayed on the display unit 6.

At time t6, when UI input 2 is accepted during execution of JOB2, since the job is accepted first, the CPU 31 switches to and displays the simplified operation screen. Then, JOB2 is executed at a normal speed.

When the UI input 2 is completed during execution of JOB2 at t7, the CPU 31 displays a standby screen on the display unit 6 and executes JOB2 at a normal processing speed.

When the execution of JOB2 is completed at t8, the CPU 31 displays the standby screen,
The job is waiting.

When the UI input 3 is received at t <b> 9, the CPU 31 displays a standard operation screen on the display unit 6.

When JOB3 is received during execution of UI input 3 at t10, since UI input 3 is input first, CPU 31 restricts and executes JOB3 while the standard operation screen is displayed on display unit 6.

When the job 3 is completed while the UI input 3 is being executed at t11, the CPU 31 enters a job standby state with the standard operation screen displayed on the display unit 6.

When the execution of the UI input 3 is completed at t12, the CPU 31 displays a standby screen on the display unit 6 in a job standby state.

"Effect of this embodiment"
According to the above-described embodiment, MFP 100 prioritizes processing that has been received first based on the input operation in multi-touch mode and the order in which jobs are received, and switches between multi-touch mode and single touch mode to receive first. The received process can be efficiently executed without being limited by the process received later.

Further, based on the processing status of the control unit 30 including the CPU 31, the MFP 100 restricts jobs when the processing load of the control unit 30 is large and the processing load of the control unit 30 is higher than that of the multi-touch mode. In the single touch mode with a small size, the job is executed without restriction. Therefore, by restricting one process of the input operation received from the touch panel 5 and the job, the other process is restricted. And can be executed efficiently.

<Other embodiments>
The above embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the present invention. Therefore, the present invention can naturally be improved and modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the present invention is not limited to an MFP, and can be applied to any apparatus that processes image data, such as a printer or a fax machine. The image forming method of the printer unit 3 is not limited to the ink jet method,
An electrophotographic method may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the MFP 100 includes the USB interface 37,
You may comprise so that the direct print which reads and prints image data from a recording medium via the slot part 37 may be performed. In this case, it is assumed that the image of the image data in the external memory is displayed during direct printing and the user performs an input operation. In such a case, if the image data to be processed by direct printing and the image data to be input are the same, it is necessary to execute different processing on the same image data. It is expected that the load will increase. Therefore, S10 in the above-described embodiment.
In the determination of 3, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the busy state is performed by executing a high-quality job or the like. Instead, image data that is a target of direct printing is an image that is a target of an input operation. If it is the same as the data, the control unit 30 may determine that it is in the Busy state.
With this configuration, before the job and the input operation are simultaneously processed on the same image data, the simplified operation screen is displayed, thereby reducing the load on the control unit 30 and making the job and the input operation compatible. Can be executed simultaneously.

Further, as a modified example of the determination in S103 in the above-described embodiment, it may be determined that the Busy state is always performed during execution of the job.

In the determination of S301 in FIG. 7 and S401 in FIG.
31 determines whether to restrict UI execution processing or job execution by displaying a simple operation screen based on whether or not the input operation is ahead of the job. Alternatively, the determination may be made based on the priority of the received job. If the job has a high priority, a simple operation screen is displayed on the display unit 6 while executing the job at a normal processing speed. If the job has a low priority, the job is limited and executed while displaying the standard operation screen. With this configuration, a job request with a high priority can be immediately executed, and the simplified operation screen is displayed before the job and the input operation are executed simultaneously, thereby reducing the load on the control unit 30 and the job. And input operations can be performed simultaneously.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the operation screen for accepting single touch as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed as an example of the simple operation screen. Instead, the operation screen for accepting the operation of only the operation key 4 is displayed. It may be displayed. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen for accepting an operation of the operation key 4. As shown in FIG. 10, the display unit 6 displays an image to be processed and a cursor for displaying an image to be processed currently. Information on an operation method for performing processing equivalent to that on the standard operation screen with the operation keys 4 is displayed. By performing such display, similarly to the simplified operation screen shown in FIG.
Can reduce the load.

100: MFP (an example of an image processing apparatus)
30 ... Control unit 31 ... CPU
32 ... ROM
33 ... RAM
6 ... Display unit 5 ... Touch panel (an example of an input unit)
4. Operation keys (example of input unit)

Claims (8)

A display for displaying the operation screen;
An input unit that accepts user input operations;
While performing display processing of the operation screen displayed on the display unit according to the input operation received by the input unit,
Unlike the display process, and at least a control unit that executes a function processing request related to an input or output function of image data;
The control unit receives a first input operation from the display unit and the input unit based on a processing status of the control unit, and performs a first display process according to the first input operation. Switching between a form and a second input display form that accepts a second input operation with a smaller processing load on the control unit than the first input operation and performs a second display process according to the second input operation An image processing apparatus. Before entry input unit is a touch panel,
The display unit
In the first input display mode, a multi-touch operation screen for receiving a plurality of input operations in parallel is displayed,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a single touch operation screen for receiving one input operation is displayed in the second input display form. When the control unit determines that the image data targeted for the first input operation and the image data targeted for the function processing request are the same, the control unit switches to the second input display form,
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus switches to the first input display mode when it is determined that they are not the same. 4. When the control unit determines that the function processing request requires input of multi-color or high resolution image data or execution of an output function, the control unit switches to the second input display form,
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the function processing request requires execution of an input function or an output function of single-color or low-resolution image data, the mode is switched to the first input display form. Image processing apparatus. The control unit is configured such that the image data that is a target of the first input operation is the same as the image data that is a target of the function processing request, or the function processing request is image data of multicolor or high resolution. If it is determined that an input or output function is requested,
Wherein, if the attached receiving the function processing request During the execution of the first display processing, while switching to the first input display mode,
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when an instruction is input by the input unit while the function processing request is being executed, the image processing apparatus is switched to the second input display form. The control unit is configured such that the image data that is a target of the first input operation is the same as the image data that is a target of the function processing request, or the function processing request is image data of multicolor or high resolution. If it is determined that an input or output function is requested,
The control unit determines the priority of the function processing request, and when it is determined that the priority of the function processing request is higher than a reference value, the control unit switches to the second input display form,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the priority of the function processing request is determined to be equal to or lower than a reference value, the function processing request is switched to the first input display form.   The control unit executes the function processing request while limiting the function processing request in the first input display form, and executes the function processing request without restriction in the second input display form. The image processing device according to claim 5 or 6. The control unit switches from the second input display form to the first input display form when the execution of the function according to the function processing request that triggered the switch to the second input display form is completed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is characterized.