WO2021261170A1

WO2021261170A1 - Document output device and program

Info

Publication number: WO2021261170A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/020423
Authority: WO
Inventors: 秀司濱口; 洋介三浦; 篤山崎; 優介鈩; 元彦江藤
Original assignee: コクヨ株式会社
Priority date: 2020-06-25
Filing date: 2021-05-28
Publication date: 2021-12-30

Abstract

In order to provide a highly convenient output device suitable for sharing various documents, this document output device 1 comprises: a document reception unit 101 that receives data on documents; a document storage unit 102 that stores the received data on a plurality of documents; an input reception unit 103 that receives an input operation, by a user, for selecting pages to be displayed on a display or a projector 3 from among pages of the plurality of documents of which data is stored in the document storage unit 102, and that receives a page forward or return operation for shifting a certain page of a document to another page of another document that follows the certain page; and a page display control unit 104 that displays, on the display or the projector 3, the page selected by the input reception unit 103, and shifts the page to be displayed from the certain page of the document to another page of another document that follows the certain page when the page forward or return operation is received.

Description

Document output device, program

The present invention relates to an output device capable of handling and outputting a plurality of documents, files or data as if they were integrated into one.

Large displays and liquid crystal projectors that are installed in conference rooms where multiple members gather and can be viewed and shared by each member at the same time are well known (see, for example, the prior art documents below). Generally, a personal computer or other information processing device can be connected to a display or a projector, a video signal output by the information processing device is input to the display or the projector, and a screen displayed by the information processing device is displayed by the display or the projector. It is possible to project and present it to the members.

Members who participate in meetings, etc. usually use their own information processing equipment to present various materials and other documents (not only documents and charts in a narrow sense, but also for presentations) that should be presented at meetings, etc. Includes slides, still images, moving images, etc.). Then, the members bring their own information processing devices (especially portable notebook computers, etc.) to the conference room, etc., and present their own documents to other members, and their own information processing. The procedure is to connect the device to a display or a projector, project the screen on the information processing device, and show it to other members. In short, every time the member who becomes the presenter is replaced, the work of reconnecting each person's information processing device to the display or the projector is required. This is actually annoying.

A shared information processing device that functions as a server is connected to a display or projector, and the server and the information processing device used by each person are set to be communicable via a telecommunications line, created by each person. It is also conceivable to upload the data file of the document from each information processing device to the server, collect it, and project the screen displaying the document on the server onto a display or a projector. By doing so, it is possible to save the roundabout trouble of reconnecting the information processing devices for each member.

However, even so, it is inevitable that there will be a break in operation and a break in time between the state of opening and projecting a certain file and the state of opening and projecting another file. In a system that manages files on a file-by-file basis, when transitioning from the state of displaying a certain document file to the state of displaying another document file, the former file that was open until then is closed, and then the latter file is closed. Select and open again. Only then will the first page or slide of another file appear. In other words, pages, slides, etc. that belong to multiple files cannot be displayed continuously and presented to members as if they were from a single file.

Also, if the application programs used to create the document are different for each member, it will be necessary to install those application programs on the server in advance in order to expand the files on the server.

On the other hand, when sharing documents created by individual members, each person kept a hard copy including other members and distributed it exclusively at meetings and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide an output device having high convenience suitable for sharing various documents.

In the present invention, a document receiving unit that receives document data including a plurality of pages from an information processing apparatus used by a user, and a document storage unit that stores data of a plurality of documents received via the document receiving unit. , Accepts an input operation by the user to select a page to be displayed on the display or a projector from the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit, and continues from a certain page of a certain document. Other pages in other documents (pages immediately before or after one page in display, print, or page order, typically in relation to the last page of one document and the first page of another document. However, if the user has previously set to insert some pages of another document into a document, "a page of a document" may not be the last page of a document, and " "Other pages of other documents" may not be the first page of other documents) Select via the input reception unit and the input reception unit that can accept page forward or return operations to the effect that the transition should be made. The page to be displayed on the display or projector when the page forward or return operation is received is displayed on the display or projector, and the page to be displayed on the display or projector is displayed from one page of one document to another document following it. A document output device including a page display control unit for transitioning to a page is configured.

The page forward or return operation to the effect that one page of a document should be transferred to another page of another document, which is accepted by the input operation unit, is transferred from one page of the same document to another page following it. It is preferable that the operation is common to the page forward or return operation to the effect that the transition should be made.

The input receiving unit can accept an input operation by a user for setting a display order when displaying pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit on a display or a projector, and the page display can be performed. When the control unit receives a page forward or return operation to the effect that a page should be transitioned from one page to another page via the input reception unit, the control unit displays a page to be displayed on the display or the projector according to the display order set earlier. It is preferable to make a transition.

The page display control unit transmits the data of the page to be displayed or the data of the screen on which the page is projected to one or more information processing devices connected to the document output device via a telecommunication line. , The page may be displayed on the display of the information processing apparatus.

Further, in the present invention, a document receiving unit that receives document data including pages from an information processing apparatus used by a user, and a document storage unit that stores data of a plurality of documents received via the document receiving unit. , The user accepts an input operation to select a page to be printed by a printer from the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit, and one page of a certain document and other pages of another document. An input reception unit that can accept an operation to the effect that the pages of the above should be printed all at once, and a page that has received a selection via the input reception unit are printed on the printer, and when the operation is accepted. , A document output device including a print control unit for continuously printing a certain page of a certain document and another page of another document on a printer is configured.

The input receiving unit can receive an input operation by the user for setting the printing order when the printer prints pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit, and the print control unit can receive the input operation. , When an operation to the effect that a plurality of pages should be printed at once is received via the input receiving unit, the printer shall continuously print the plurality of pages according to the previously set printing order. Is preferable.

In addition, the input receiving unit selects a page to be integrated into a single file from the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit by the user, and then stores the file. It can accept input operations that should be stored in the unit or sent to the information processing device used by the user, and generates a single file that integrates the pages for which selections have been accepted via the input reception unit. It is also conceivable to configure a document output device further including a file output control unit that is stored in the document storage unit or transmitted to the information processing device.

The input receiving unit accepts an input operation by a user for setting the page order in the file when integrating the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit into a single file. The file output control unit should integrate a plurality of pages into a single file via the input reception unit, store it in the document storage unit, or send it to an information processing device used by the user. When the operation is accepted, it is preferable to generate a file in which a plurality of pages are arranged according to the previously set page order, store the file in the document storage unit, or send the file to the information processing device used by the user. ..

In particular, it is preferable that the document receiving unit receives document data in the form of a print command to a printer issued from an information processing device used by the user.

In addition, an image receiving unit that receives a still image or a moving image output from an information processing device or a camera used by a user, and an image that displays a still image or a moving image received via the image receiving unit on a display or a projector. Further provided with a display control unit, the input reception unit can receive an input operation by the user to the effect that a still image or a moving image currently displayed by the display or a projector should be captured, and the image display control unit can be used. The unit stores the image obtained by capturing the still image or the moving image currently displayed by the display or the projector as the data of the page of the document when the input operation is received through the input receiving unit. It is also conceivable to configure a document output device to be stored in the unit.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a highly convenient output device suitable for sharing various documents.

The figure which shows the whole outline of the system including the document output device of one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the hardware resource which the document output device of the same embodiment has. The functional block diagram of the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the hardware resource which the information processing apparatus which connects to the document output apparatus of the same embodiment communicatively has. The figure exemplifying the arrangement information which defines the arrangement order (display order, print order, or page order when integrating into a single file) of a plurality of pages of a document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display example of the page of the document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display example of the page of the document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display example of the page of the document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display example of the page of the document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display example of the page of the document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure explaining the content of the operation of the order of pages which the user can perform in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure explaining the content of the operation of the order of pages which the user can perform in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure explaining the content of the operation of the order of pages which the user can perform in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure explaining the content of the operation of the order of pages which the user can perform in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure explaining the content of the operation of the order of pages which the user can perform in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display example of the page of the document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure explaining the content of the operation of the order of pages which the user can perform in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display example of the page of the document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display example of the page of the document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display example of the page of the document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display example of the page of the document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display example of the page of the document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display example of the page of the document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment. The figure which shows the screen display example of the page of the document stored in the document output device of the same embodiment.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the document output device 1 of the present embodiment can be retrofitted to a known display or projector 3 provided in a space such as a conference room where a plurality of people gather. The display or the projector 3 has a large display screen or a projection screen, and the contents displayed on the screen can be visually viewed or read by a plurality of people at the same time.

The main body 11 of the document output device 1 of the present embodiment has a portable dongle shape that can be plugged into and connected to the input interface of the display or the projector 3 and can be detached from the display or the projector 3. However, the shape of the main body 11 of the document output device 1 does not have to be a dongle shape. It does not prevent the main body 11 of the document output device 1 from taking a mode built in the display or the projector 3 in advance.

As shown in FIG. 2, the document output device 1 of the present embodiment includes a processor (Central Processing Unit) 1a, a main memory 1b, an auxiliary storage device 1c, a video codec 1d, an audio codec 1e, an output interface 1f, and a communication interface 1g. It is equipped with hardware resources such as an operation input device 1h, which are controlled by a system controller, an I / O controller, or the like 1i to operate in cooperation with each other.

The auxiliary storage device 1c is a flash memory, a hard disk drive, or the like. The video codec 1d is a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) that generates a screen to be displayed based on a drawing instruction received from the processor 1a and sends the video signal to the display or the projector 3 via the output interface 1g. The element is a video memory that temporarily stores screen and image data. The audio codec 1e decodes the encoded voice data and sends the voice signal to the speaker via the output interface 1g. The speaker may be built into the display or projector 3, or may be independent of the display or projector 3. The video codec 1d and the audio codec 1e can be implemented as software instead of hardware, respectively.

The output interface 1f is a device for connecting to a display or a projector 3 and a speaker by wire and / or wirelessly, giving a video signal to the display or the projector 3, and giving an audio signal to the speaker. The output interface 1f is an interface for collectively transmitting video signals and audio signals such as HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface. HDMI is a registered trademark). Then, by directly inserting the male connector into the female connector of the corresponding input interface mounted on the display or the projector 3 or the speaker, or by connecting both connectors with a cable, the document output device 1 is connected to the display or the projector 3 or the speaker. Connect to. When the speaker is built in the display or the projector 3, the output interface 1f that sends a video signal to the display or the projector 3 and the output interface 1f that sends an audio signal to the speaker may be the same. Further, the video signal or the audio signal may be wirelessly transmitted from the document output device 1 to the display, the projector or the speaker. The output interface 1f may be shared with the following communication interface 1g.

The communication interface 1g is a device for the document output device 1 to perform information communication with an external information processing device 2, a printer 4, and other devices by wire and / or wirelessly, and is typically a PAN (PAN). Personal Area Network), LAN (Local)
A device that transmits / receives data signals through a telecommunication line 3 such as Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), and the Internet. The communication interface 1f includes a wireless transceiver that embodies wireless communication via a wireless LAN, a mobile phone network, a WiMAX (Worldwide Ethernet) network, Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc., and wired communication via a wired LAN or the like. The NIC (Network Interface Controller), USB (Universal Serial Bus), etc. to be embodied are included.

The operation input device 1h is a push button operated by the user of the document output device 1 with a finger, a pointing device such as a keyboard, a touch panel or a mouse, or a microphone or the like in which the user inputs a command by voice. As shown in FIG. 1, the operation input device 1h may take the form of a remote controller 12 that is independent of the main body 11 of the document output device 1 and is connected to the main body 11 by wire or wirelessly. The operation input device 1h may be a ready-made wireless mouse, a laser pointer to which a remote function for operating a presentation program or the like is added, or the like. The touch panel sensor, which is an element of the operation input device 1h, may be mounted on the remote controller 12 and may be mounted on the screen of the display 3. The sound collecting microphone may also be mounted on the remote controller 12 and may be mounted on the display or the projector 3. Alternatively, the information processing device 2 such as a personal computer, a tablet computer, or a smartphone used by the user, which is connected to the main body 11 of the document output device 1 via a wireless LAN, Bluetooth, or the like, is used as the operation input device 1h. Aspects are also conceivable.

The necessary power supply to the main body 11 of the document output device 1 may be performed from a power supply outlet of a lamp line laid in an office or the like, or from a display or a projector 3 to which the main body 11 is connected (such as USB). May be done (via the interface). The power supply to the operation input device 1h in the form of the remote controller 12 is usually performed from the battery built in the remote controller 121h.

In the document output device 1, the program to be executed by the processor 1a is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1c, and when the program is executed, the program is read from the auxiliary storage device 1c into the main memory 1b and decoded by the processor 1a. To. The computer 1 operates the hardware resources according to a program, and serves as a document receiving unit 101, a document storage unit 102, an input receiving unit 103, a page display control unit 104, a print control unit 105, and a file output control unit 106 as shown in FIG. Demonstrate the function of.

On the other hand, each user creates various materials and other documents to be presented to others via the display or the projector 3 at a meeting or the like by using his / her own information processing device 2. In the present embodiment, the "document" is a file of a document created by using a word processor application program, a file including a table (sheet) or a graph created by using a table calculation application program, and a presentation application. Presentation files created using the program, PDF (Portable Document Form) and other highly available general-purpose document files, e-mail files, files created using the CAD (Computer-Aided Design) application program, still. It is a concept that includes general things such as image files and moving image files that can be displayed or printed so that the user can visually check or read them. In other words, the file format of the "document" and the application program that handles the file are not uniquely limited and are arbitrary.

A "document page" is an individual page in a document created by a word processor or a file such as a PDF, individual tables and graphs created by a table calculation program, and individual slides of a presentation created by a presentation program. , Each e-mail or a collection thereof, each of a plurality of display layouts including a data file created by a CAD program, individual still images or moving images, or when printing out the data files via the printer 4. It is a concept that includes individual pages when printed over a plurality of pages (papers). Each "document" contains one or more "pages".

It is assumed that there are a plurality of users, and that there are also a plurality of information processing devices 2 used by the users. The information processing device 2 used by each user is, for example, a known general-purpose personal computer, workstation, mobile information terminal such as a tablet computer or smartphone, or a mobile phone terminal. Each information processing device 2 is communicably connected to the document output device 1 via a telecommunication line 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the information processing apparatus 2 includes hardware resources such as a processor 2a, a main memory 2b, an auxiliary storage device 2c, a video codec 2d, an audio codec 2e, a communication interface 2f, and an operation input device 2g. Is controlled by 2h such as a system controller and an I / O controller, and operates in cooperation with each other.

In the information processing apparatus 2, the program to be executed by the processor 2a is stored in the auxiliary storage device 2c, and when the program is executed, the program is read from the auxiliary storage device 2c into the main memory 2b and decoded by the processor 2a. .. A known OS (Operating System) program and various device driver programs incidental to the known OS (Operating System) program are pre-installed in the information processing apparatus 2, and mediate the use of hardware resources by the application program. The device driver includes a printer driver that converts a document created by an application program into a data format that can be printed out by the printer 4.

Hereinafter, the functions of each part of the document output device 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail. The document receiving unit 101 receives the document data transmitted from the information processing apparatus 2 used by the user via the communication interface 1g. In the present embodiment, the document receiving unit 101 of the document output device 1 behaves as if it were a virtual printer or print server when viewed from the information processing device 2 used by each user. At the same time, each information processing device 2 can print out a document to be transmitted to the document output device 1 by a known printer 4, or the print server can receive the document and print it out from the printer 4. After converting it into format data, it is transmitted to the document output device 1. That is, the user of the information processing apparatus 2 issues a print command (print queue) to the printer 4 from the application program that created the document in the same manner as an operation on a normal personal computer. The data is transmitted to the document output device 1. At this time, the OS and / or the device driver (provided by the OS and compatible with various printers 4 may be a general-purpose known common printer driver (standard driver) installed in the information processing apparatus 2). The document transmitted from the information processing device 2 to the document output device 1 is printed out by the printer 4 by the function of the document output device 1 of the present embodiment or a printer driver specialized for a specific printer 4). It is converted into a data format such as a general-purpose EMF (Enhanced Meta File) file, a RAW file, a Postscript (registered trademark) file, a PDF (Portable Document Form) file, and a bitmap (raster) image file. The document receiving unit 101 receives the data file of the document thus converted.

However, the original document data file itself created by each user using the information processing device 2 and the application program by the document receiving unit 101, for example, a word processor, a table calculation, a presentation file, a PDF file, a still image file, or a moving image. It does not prevent the image file or the like from being received from the information processing apparatus 2. Further, if the main body 11 of the document output device 1 can be directly connected to the information processing device 2 via an interface 1g such as USB, a document is documented from the information processing device 2 to the document output device 1 just like a so-called USB memory. It is also possible to pass the data of.

The document storage unit 102 uses the required storage area of the main memory 1b or the auxiliary storage device 1c to store data of a plurality of documents received via the document reception unit 101. The document storage unit 102 may store each document brought from each information processing device 2 or a data file such as an EMF included in each print command as it is as an individual file (so to speak, in a document file unit). Yes, or the individual pages contained in those data files may be stored as individual files (so to speak, page by page). If each page of each document is stored as one file, those files will not be in document units, but which document each page belongs to can be described in the file name of each page or each page. It is conceivable to describe the association between the file and each document (which document each page belongs to) as table information and store this separately in the document storage unit 102.

The input receiving unit 103 receives manual input or voice input of various operations by the user via the operation input device 1h. The operations performed by the user will be described later.

The page display control unit 104 displays one or a plurality of pages included in the document stored in the document storage unit 102 on the screen of the display or the projector 3 and projects them for viewing by the user. 6 to 9 show an example of screen display of a document page. As described above, the document output device 1 of the present embodiment is a general-purpose EMF, RAW, Postscript, which can print out a document created by each user from the information processing device 2 used by each user in the printer 4. It is received and stored in data formats such as PDF and bitmap images. The page display control unit 104 has a raster image processor as software and / or hardware that converts such data into a bitmap image, like a known printer or print server, and uses the raster image processor. After converting the page of the document into a bitmap image, this is displayed and output on the display or the screen of the projector 3. According to this mechanism, it is not necessary to implement the function of expanding the document data files of various formats created by various application programs in the document output device 1. In other words, it is not necessary for the user to install various application programs used for creating the document in the document output device 1 in advance.

When the document output device 1 receives the original document data file created by the application program from the information processing device 2 used by the user and stores it in the document storage unit 102, the page display control unit 104 uses the application program. It has a function to interpret and open the original document data file created by the company, and is responsible for such processing.

The page display control unit 104 can display the entire page with a document on the screen, or can enlarge only a part of one page and display it on the screen. FIG. 24 is an example in which a part of the page P2 shown in FIG. 7 is enlarged and displayed. The user specifies which part of the page is to be displayed on the screen, selects the display magnification at that time, and the like is accepted via the input reception unit 103.

A major feature of the document output device 1 of the present embodiment is that it is possible to handle a file of a plurality of documents composed of a plurality of pages as if it were a group of pages integrated into one file. Can be mentioned.

Previously, when an existing personal computer or the like was connected to a display or a projector 3, and a plurality of document files stored in the existing personal computer or the like were displayed on the screen in order and projected and presented, the user first used a certain document file as the document file. Perform an operation to open by the corresponding application program, display each page in the document file on the screen in sequence, close the document file, and then open the next document file by the corresponding application program. , It was necessary to take steps such as displaying each page in the document file on the screen in sequence. In other words, between the period for presenting a certain document file and the period for presenting the next document file, there is a break in the operation or a time break, that is, the one document file is closed and the next document file is reopened. It was inevitable that the time and effort of closing / opening operations would occur.

On the other hand, in the document output device 1 of the present embodiment, a page belonging to a certain document is displayed by a simple page turning operation or a page returning operation, and then a page belonging to another document other than the document is displayed. It is possible to directly transition to the state of displaying. As a familiar example, in a system such as a conventional personal computer, a page is placed between the last page (slide) of one presentation file and the first page (slide) of another presentation file. It is not possible to continuously switch and display pages only by forward or page back operations. However, in this document output device 1, when the user performs a page feed operation, the state in which the last page of a certain file is displayed is changed to the state in which the first page of another file following the display is displayed. It is possible to make a transition, and when the user performs a page back operation, the state where the first page of the latter file is displayed is changed to the state where the last page of the former file is displayed prior to this. You can make a transition.

The input receiving unit 103 accepts an input operation by the user to select a page to be displayed on the display or the projector 3 from among the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit 102. The input operation includes the page forward operation and the page return operation described above. Specifically, the input receiving unit 103 performs an operation in which the user presses a specific button or keyboard of the operation input device 1h with a finger as a page feed operation, or the user slides the finger in a predetermined direction on the touch panel sensor. It accepts the input of a specific pronunciation (for example, "next") by the user's real voice, which is collected by the swipe operation and the microphone. Further, as the page return operation, an operation in which the user presses a specific button or keyboard (different from the page feed operation) possessed by the operation input device 1h with a finger, or a user on the touch panel sensor (different from the page feed operation). ) A swipe operation that slides a finger in a predetermined direction, and an input of a specific pronunciation (for example, "front") by the user's real voice are accepted.

The page display control unit 104 displays one or more pages selected by the user on the screen of the display or the projector 3 based on the input received via the input reception unit 103. Further, the page display control unit 104 displays a page to be displayed on the display or the projector 3 when the input reception unit 103 receives the page feed operation from the page P1 (state shown in FIG. 6) of the document D1. , Directly transition to another page P2 (state shown in FIG. 7) of another document D2 following this, without going through a display other than those pages P1 and P2. Further, the page display control unit 104 displays the page to be displayed on the display or the projector 3 when the input reception unit 103 receives the page return operation, in addition to the other document D2 (following the page P1 of the document D1). From page P2 (state shown in FIG. 7) to page P1 (state shown in FIG. 6) of a document D1 prior to this, via a display other than both pages P2 and P1. Make a direct transition without.

The page feed operation that the input receiving unit 103 accepts to transition from a certain page P1 of a certain document D1 to another page P2 of another document D2 following it is performed from a certain page in the same document to the next page. This is the same operation as the page feed operation to the effect that a transition should be made. That is, the button or swipe operation direction that the user presses to transition from one page in the same document to another page in the forward direction, or the pronunciation by the voice and the page straddling the separate documents D1 and D2. The buttons pressed by the user to transition P1 and P2 in the forward direction, the direction of the swipe operation on the touch panel, or the pronunciation by the real voice are common. More specifically, when the user presses the "right" button when transitioning from one page in the same document to the next, the page of one page P1 of one document D1 is followed by the page of another document D2. The user also presses the "right" button when transitioning to P2. Alternatively, when the user says "next" when transitioning from one page in the same document to the next, when transitioning from one page P2 of one document D1 to the subsequent page P2 of another document D2. The user also says "next".

Similarly, a page back operation to the effect that a transition should be made retroactively from another page P2 of another document D2 following a certain page P1 of a certain document D1 to a certain page P1 of a certain document D1 is a page in the same document. This is the same operation as the page return operation to the effect that the transition should be made by going back to the previous page. That is, the direction of the button or swipe operation that the user presses to transition from one page in the same document to another page in the opposite direction, or the pronunciation by the voice, and the page straddling the separate documents D2 and D1. The buttons pressed by the user to transition P2 and P1 in the opposite direction, the direction of the swipe operation on the touch panel, or the pronunciation by the real voice are common. More specifically, when the user presses the "left" button when transitioning from one page in the same document to the previous page, the other document D1 immediately before the page P2 of the document D2 is pressed. The user also presses the "left" button when transitioning to page P1 of. Alternatively, when the user utters "previous" when transitioning from a certain page in the same document to the previous page, the transition from one page P2 of one document D2 to the page P1 of another document D1 immediately before it. The user also says "before" when doing so.

In this way, the page forward or back operation in the same document and the page forward or back operation straddling the plurality of documents D1 and D2 are the same operation, so that the documents D1 and D2 are different from each other. It is possible to continuously switch pages P1 and P2 to be displayed on the screen of the display or the projector 3 between the page P1 of a certain document D1 and the page P2 of another document D2 without making the user particularly aware of this. Is.

The document storage unit 102 stores the data of a plurality of documents and the array information which is the information describing the display order of the plurality of pages possessed by the documents. FIG. 5 illustrates the sequence information stored and stored in the document storage unit 102. The sequence information includes a sequence of identifiers that identify individual pages of each document, and defines the display order of the pages pointed to by the identifiers. The identifier that identifies the page of each document is, for example, a set of a file name or the like that is an identifier that identifies the document, and a page number, a slide number, or the like that identifies the page in the document indicated by the file name or the like. .. The identifier that identifies the document is the document name (or title) or the name of the creator of the document (the document name or creator name is the data of the document received by the document output device 1 or the meta attached to the document. It is included in the data and may be obtained by extracting it), an identifier that identifies the information processing device 2 or its user who transmitted the document data (name of the information processing device 2, IP (Internet Protocol) address, domain name). , Etc.), the time stamp of the date and time when the document was created (included in the data itself of the document received by the document output device 1 or the metadata attached to the document, and can be obtained by extracting it. Yes), it may be a time stamp of the date and time when the document output device 1 received the document.

As a supplement, when the document output device 1 of the present embodiment receives the document data from the information processing device 2 via the document receiving unit 101, the document output device 1 automatically generates data that is a temporary first page of the document. , The data of the page of the received document together with the data of the generated page may be stored in the document storage unit 102. At this time, the original first page of the document is the page immediately after the automatically generated temporary first page. The data of the temporary first page to be generated can be displayed on the display or the screen of the projector 3 in a predetermined display format (shape, size, character size, typeface, layout, background color, pattern, etc.). It is data that can be printed from the printer 4. The tentative first page may be, for example, the file name of the target document, the document name, the name of the creator of the document, the identifier that identifies the information processing device 2 or its user who transmitted the data of the document, the date and time when the document was created, or The document output device 1 includes at least a part of information such as a time stamp of the date and time when the document is received, and displays it. The tentative first page acts like a divider between one document and the other documents that follow it (this tentative first page is the first page of another document that follows one document). ).

As shown in FIG. 8, when the automatically generated temporary first page P0 is attached to the document D2 received from the information processing apparatus 2, each page of the document D2 and another document D1 preceding the document D2. The order of is the last page P1 of the document D1, the provisional first page P0 given to the document D2, and the original first page P2 of the document D2 (unless the order of the pages is changed by the user). Then, the page display control unit 104 displays the page to be displayed on the display or the projector 3 from the page P1 (state shown in FIG. 6) of the document D1 when the input reception unit 103 receives the page feed operation. Directly transitions to page P0 (state shown in FIG. 8) of document D2 following, without going through a display other than those pages P1 and P0. When the input receiving unit 103 receives a further page-forwarding operation, the page to be displayed on the display or the projector 3 is changed from the page P0 of the document D2 (the state shown in FIG. 8) to the page P2 of the document D2 (in FIG. 7). Directly transition to the state shown) without going through the display other than those pages P0 and P2.

When the input receiving unit 103 accepts the page return operation, the page to be displayed on the display or the projector 3 is changed from the page P2 (state shown in FIG. 7) of the document D2 (following the page P0 of the document D2) to this. Directly transition to the preceding page P0 (state shown in FIG. 8) without going through the display other than those pages P2 and P0. When the input receiving unit 103 receives a further page-returning operation, the page to be displayed on the display or the projector 3 is displayed from the page P0 (state shown in FIG. 8) of the document D2 (following the page P1 of the document D1). Directly transition to the page P1 (state shown in FIG. 6) of the document D1 prior to the above without going through the display other than those pages P0 and P1.

In the document output device 1, the user can arbitrarily select whether or not to automatically generate and add the data of the temporary first page to the document received from the information processing device 2. For example, the user gives the input of the selection to the document output device 1 via the input receiving unit 103. In response to this, the document output device 1 stores, in the main memory 1b or the auxiliary storage device 1c, information indicating whether or not to select by the user, that is, to generate and assign a temporary first page, and thereafter, the information is stored and held in the main memory 1b or the auxiliary storage device 1c. According to the selection, it is determined whether or not to add the provisional first page to the document received from the information processing apparatus 2.

When the page display control unit 104 switches the page to be displayed on the display or the projector 3 in response to a page forward or page back operation by the user, the page display control unit 104 refers to the arrangement information and displays the page that has been displayed so far. It knows which page should be, reads the data related to the page from the document storage unit 102, outputs the content of the page through the display or the projector 3, and projects it. When the temporary first page is automatically generated and added to the document received from the information processing apparatus 2, the temporary first page is also described and specified in the sequence information.

When the page display control unit 104 displays the pages P1, P2, and P0 of the document selected by the user on the display or the projector 3, in addition to the “presentation mode” shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, FIG. 9 (I) The "ambient mode" shown in FIG. 9 (II) and the "collaboration mode" shown in FIG. 9 (II) can be selected. In the presentation mode, as a general rule, information other than the target pages P1, P2, and P0 is not displayed. For this reason, in the presentation mode, the pages P1, P2, and P0 can be greatly enlarged by fully using the displayable area of the display or the projector 3.

In the ambient mode, an area X for displaying the minimum information other than the target page P1 is provided. As an example of the information to be displayed in the area X, the number of pages included in the currently displayed document, the number of pages currently displayed, the file name, document name, creator name and other identifiers of the document. , The total number of documents (selected by the user to be displayed) and / or the total number of pages to be displayed sequentially, and the like. Further, in the area X, information indicating the operation received or executed by the document output device 1, for example, when a document is received from the information processing device 2, the fact and the file name of the document are displayed. When a print command for printing out a page of a document is transmitted to the printer 4, it is conceivable to display the fact, the file name of the document, the number of the page, and the like. Compared with the presentation mode, the area for displaying the page P1 of the document is narrowed by the amount that the area X is displayed on the display or the projector 3, and the page P1 is reduced.

In the collaboration mode, in addition to the area X for displaying the minimum information, another display area Y is provided. In the area Y, for example, an icon S indicating a function that can be operated by the user, a chat or a memo (comment) T, or the like is displayed. The content of the chat or memo T is input by the user via the operation input devices 1h and 2g attached to the document output device 1 or the information processing device 2. Compared with the ambient mode, the area for displaying the page P1 of the document is narrowed by the amount that the area Y is displayed on the display or the projector 3, and the page P1 is reduced.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 9 (II), the user can perform virtual writing W on the page P1 of the document displayed on the display or the projector 3. This writing W is performed by the user via the operation input devices 1h and 2g attached to the document output device 1 or the information processing device 2. The input receiving unit 103 of the document output device 1 receives the operation input of the writing W (position of the writing W, handwriting, etc.) by such a user, and the page display control unit 104 superimposes this on the page P1 of the document. To display. Further, the document storage unit 102 can also store the page data in a state where the write W is added to the target page P1. The page can be treated like any other document page thereafter.

In order to sequentially display each page of a plurality of documents stored in the document storage unit 102 on the display or the projector 3, the user may arbitrarily set the display order of each page in the document output device 1 of the present embodiment. can. In other words, the user can arbitrarily rewrite the sequence information. In particular, not only can you arbitrarily set the display order of multiple pages belonging to the same document in one document, but also insert other pages belonging to another document immediately before or after one page belonging to one document and arrange them. Then, each page can be displayed in order in the order in which they are arranged. So to speak, it is possible to cross the "barrier" between individual documents.

In addition, "inserting and arranging other pages belonging to another document immediately before or after a page belonging to a certain document" means that any page of another document or another is immediately after the last page of a certain page. Arranges the entire document (one document followed by some or all of the other documents in a forward-looking sequence), or just before the first page of one page, or any page of another document. It is not limited to arranging the entire other document (arranging a part or all of the other document in the opposite direction in front of the document), but the first page of the document and the first page of the document. It is also possible to arrange any page of another document or the entire other document immediately before or after the middle page other than the last page (insert a part or all of another document in the middle of one document). Applicable.

FIG. 10 shows an example of screen display of a display or a projector 3 that serves as an interface when a user performs an operation of setting a display order of each page. The page display control unit 104 of the document output device 1 reads data of a plurality of pages P belonging to one or a plurality of documents D1 and D2 stored in the document storage unit 102, and displays the pages P on the display or the projector 3. A list is displayed on the screen so that the user can specify any page P in the list. The specific contents of the page display order setting operation that can be performed by the user are listed below.
-Move or insert a page: As shown in FIG. 11, the position of a page P1 belonging to a document D1 is moved forward or backward in the document D1. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, a page P1 belonging to a certain document D1 is extracted from the document D1 and inserted at an arbitrary position in the other document D2, or in the other document D2. Move forward or backward. At this time, the input receiving unit 103 performs an operation of designating the page P1 to be moved or inserted, and the target page in the documents D1 and D2 and the documents D1 and D2 to be moved to the target page P1. Accepts an operation to specify the position where P1 should be arranged.
-Page duplication: As shown in FIG. 13, a page P1 belonging to a document D1 is duplicated. At this time, the input receiving unit 103 accepts an operation for designating the document D1 to be duplicated and the page P1 thereof. The duplicated page P1 can be placed at any position in any document through the above move or insert operation.
-Delete page: As shown in FIG. 14, a page P1 belonging to a document D1 is deleted. At this time, the input receiving unit 103 accepts an operation for designating the document D1 to be deleted and the page P1 thereof. The data of the page P1 to be deleted will be deleted from the document storage unit 102.
-Page swapping: As shown in FIG. 15, a page P1 belonging to a document D1 is moved to an arbitrary position in the document D1 or to an arbitrary position in another document D2. At the same time, the page P2 at the destination position is moved to the position where the moved page P1 was originally located. In short, the former page P1 and the latter page P2 are exchanged. At this time, the input receiving unit 103 accepts an operation of designating the document D1 to which the former page P1 belongs and the page P1 thereof, and an operation of designating the document D2 to which the latter page P2 belongs and the page P2 thereof.
-Page overwrite: Moves a page P1 belonging to a certain document D1 to an arbitrary position in the same document D1 or to an arbitrary position in another document D2. At the same time, the page P2 at the destination position is deleted. In short, the former page P1 overwrites the latter page P2. At this time, the input receiving unit 103 accepts an operation of designating the document D1 to which the former page P1 belongs and the page P1 thereof, and an operation of designating the document D2 to which the latter page P2 belongs and the page P2 thereof.
-Switching display / non-display of pages (setting whether to display each stored page): Prevents a certain page P1 from being displayed as nonexistent. Alternatively, the page P1 that was not displayed as non-existent is displayed again. At this time, the input receiving unit 103 accepts an operation of designating the page P1 of the document D1 to be hidden or the page P1 of the document D1 to be displayed. In addition, unlike the deletion of the page, the data of the page P1 to be hidden is not deleted from the document storage unit 102 and is continuously retained. The hidden page P1 is merely projected and not displayed by the display or the projector 3 in a presentation such as a conference, and the data of the page P1 can be reused after the fact.
-Change of page display mode: Change the mode in which a certain page P1 is displayed on the display or the projector 3. As a specific example of the display mode, the page P1 which is originally a color is displayed in monochrome or gray scale, and as shown in FIG. 16, the watermark and other images and characters M are superimposed and displayed on the target page P1. , Etc. can be mentioned. The image and character M data to be superimposed on the target page P1 are stored in the document storage unit 102 in advance, and are read out and used when the page P1 is projected or printed on the display or the projector 3. At this time, the input receiving unit 103 accepts an operation of designating the page P1 of the document D1 to be changed in the display mode and an operation of designating the display mode of the target page.
-Grouping of a plurality of pages and their release (staple function): As shown in FIG. 17, a plurality of pages P belonging to a certain document D1 or divided across a plurality of documents D1 and D2 are single. Group G of. Multiple pages P in a single group, that is, multiple pages P belonging to the same group G are subsequently treated as if they were one page, and the above-mentioned move or insert, duplication, deletion, replacement, overwriting, It is possible to switch between display / non-display and change the display mode. It is also possible to ungroup the plurality of pages P and restore the plurality of pages P belonging to the group G so that they are treated separately as individual pages. At this time, the input receiving unit 103 accepts an operation of designating a plurality of pages P to be grouped into a single group G, or an operation of canceling grouping and designating a group G to be decomposed into a plurality of pages P.

The document output device 1 that has received the above-mentioned operation by the user via the input reception unit 103 rewrites and updates the arrangement information stored in the document storage unit 102 based on the received operation, and displays the display set by the user. Allows pages of multiple documents to be displayed sequentially in order and display mode.

In addition, the document output device 1 of the present embodiment has one or a plurality of pages included in the document stored in the document storage unit 102 via a printer 4 that is communicably connected to the document output device 1. Can be printed out.

The print control unit 105 of the document output device 1 reads the data of one or more pages to be printed from the document storage unit 102, and issues a print command for printing the page from the printer 4 based on the data. The data is transmitted to the printer 4 or the information processing apparatus 2 that is the print server that controls the printer 4. As described above, the document output device 1 of the present embodiment is a general-purpose EMF, RAW, Postscript, which can print out a document created by each user from the information processing device 2 used by each user in the printer 4. It is received in a data format such as PDF or bitmap image and stored in the document storage unit 102. The print control unit 105 can generate a print command by using the data in such a general-purpose format as it is, and transmit it to the printer 4 or the information processing device 2 which is a print server for controlling the printer 4.

Alternatively, the print control unit 105 may have a raster image processor as software and / or hardware that converts the page data of the document stored in the document storage unit 102 into a bitmap image. In this case, the page of the document can be converted into a bitmap image by using a raster image processor, and a print instruction including the bitmap image can be transmitted to the printer 4 or the information processing apparatus 2 serving as a print server.

When the original document data file created by the user using the application program is stored in the document storage unit 102, the print control unit 105 interprets the original document data file created by the application program. After opening and converting the target page into data in a format that can be printed out by the printer 4 or received by the print server and printed out from the printer 4, the print command including the data is printed by the printer 4 or the print. It will be transmitted to the information processing device 2 that will be the server.

However, in the present embodiment, it is possible to print a page belonging to a certain document and a page belonging to another document other than the document at once from the printer 4. For example, it is possible to continuously print the 5th to 10th pages of a certain document file and the 1st to 7th pages of another document file in a batch to combine them into one paper document.

The document storage unit 102 stores array information, which is information describing the print order of a plurality of pages possessed by the plurality of documents, as illustrated in FIG. The sequence information includes an identifier that identifies an individual page of each document (for example, a file name or document name that identifies the document, and a page number or slide number that identifies a page in the document indicated by the file name or the like). ) Is included, and the print order of the page pointed to by the identifier is specified. When the temporary first page is automatically generated and added to the document received from the information processing apparatus 2, the temporary first page is also described and specified in the sequence information. The arrangement information that defines the printing order of a plurality of pages may be separate from the arrangement information that defines the display order when displaying the plurality of pages on the display or the projector 3, and the arrangement information that defines the display order may be used. It may be common with.

When printing out a plurality of pages via the printer 4, the print control unit 105 refers to the arrangement information, which page belongs to which document is the target to be printed, and the order of the pages to be printed. Is obtained, the data related to those pages is read from the document storage unit 102, a print command for printing the page is generated, and the print command is transmitted to the printer 4 or the information processing apparatus 2 which is a print server.

When printing out each page of a plurality of documents stored in the document storage unit 102, the user can arbitrarily set the print order of each page in the document output device 1 of the present embodiment. In other words, the user can arbitrarily rewrite the sequence information. In particular, not only can you arbitrarily set the print order of multiple pages belonging to the same document in one document, but also insert and arrange other pages belonging to another document immediately before or after one page belonging to one document. Then, each page can be printed in order in the order in which they are arranged. So to speak, it is possible to cross the "barrier" between individual documents.

The operations that the user can perform to set the print order of each page are the same as the operations that can be performed to set the display order of each page. That is, the user moves or inserts a page, duplicates a page, deletes a page, replaces a page, overwrites a page, and switches between printing / non-printing a page (switching between display / non-printing) via the input receiving unit 103. Similar to the above, setting whether to print each stored page, changing the printing mode of the page (printing the originally color page in monochrome or grayscale, target page) Water marks and other images and characters M can be superimposed and printed on the print, etc.), grouping of a plurality of pages and their cancellation (staple function), and the like can be performed. The document output device 1 that has received the above-mentioned operation by the user via the input reception unit 103 rewrites and updates the arrangement information stored in the document storage unit 102 based on the received operation, and prints set by the user. Allows pages of multiple documents to be printed sequentially in order and print mode.

When actually printing out the pages of a document, the user may specify any part or all of a series of pages arranged in the set print order as the target to be printed. This is the so-called print range specification when using the known information processing device 2 (print only the 2nd to 10th pages, print only the odd or even pages, and print only the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th pages. , And so on). The document output device 1 that receives the operation of specifying the print range by the user via the input reception unit 103 generates a print command to print only the specified page, and information processing becomes the printer 4 or the print server. It is transmitted to the device 2.

When the page of the document to be printed contains a moving image, one specific frame in the moving image is regarded as one page, or multiple frames in the moving image (extracted every unit time). Treats (may be multiple frames) as multiple pages and prints.

Further, the document output device 1 of the present embodiment can integrate one or a plurality of pages included in the document stored in the document storage unit 102 into a single data file and provide the user. ..

The file output control unit 106 of the document output device 1 reads the data of one or more pages of the target to be integrated into a single file from the document storage unit 102, and based on the data, obtains a data file including the target page. Generate. As described above, the document output device 1 of the present embodiment is a general-purpose EMF, RAW, Postscript, which can print out a document created by each user from the information processing device 2 used by each user in the printer 4. It is received in a data format such as PDF or bitmap image and stored in the document storage unit 102. The file output control unit 106 converts the target page into a predetermined format, for example, PDF or the like from the data in such a general-purpose format, and generates a single file in which the target pages are integrated.

When the file output control unit 106 has a raster image processor as software and / or hardware for converting the page data of the document stored in the document storage unit 102 into a bitmap image, the raster image processor is used. It may be used to convert the target page into a bitmap image and generate a single PDF file or the like that integrates the target page.

When the original document data file created by the user using the application program is stored in the document storage unit 102, the file output control unit 106 interprets the original document data file created by the application program. Open, convert the target page to a predetermined format, for example, PDF, and then generate a single file containing it.

However, in this embodiment, it is possible to integrate a page belonging to a certain document and a page belonging to another document other than the document into a single data file. For example, it is possible to combine the 5th to 10th pages of a certain document file and the 1st to 7th pages of another document file into a single file.

The document storage unit 102 is an array that describes the page order in the file when a plurality of pages of the plurality of documents are integrated into a single file, as illustrated in FIG. Stores information. The sequence information includes an identifier that identifies an individual page of each document (for example, a file name or document name that identifies the document, and a page number or slide number that identifies a page in the document indicated by the file name or the like). ) Is included, and the page order of the page pointed to by the identifier is specified. When the temporary first page is automatically generated and added to the document received from the information processing apparatus 2, the temporary first page is also described and specified in the sequence information. The array information that defines the page order of a plurality of pages is an array information that defines the display order when displaying the plurality of pages on the display or the projector 3, and an array that defines the print order when printing out the plurality of pages. It may be separate from the information and may be common with the sequence information that defines the display order or the print order.

When integrating a plurality of pages into a single file, the file output control unit 106 should refer to the sequence information to determine which page belongs to which document and integrate it into a single file. Know the order of the pages in the file, read the data related to those pages from the document storage unit 102, convert the page to a predetermined format, and generate a single file containing the converted page. do.

In integrating each page of a plurality of documents stored in the document storage unit 102 into a single file, in the document output device 1 of the present embodiment, the user arbitrarily sets the page order in the file of each page. can do. In other words, the user can arbitrarily rewrite the sequence information. In particular, not only can you arbitrarily set the order of multiple pages belonging to the same document in one document, but you can also insert and arrange other pages belonging to another document immediately before or after one page belonging to one document. Then, you can arrange each page in order and combine them into a single file. So to speak, it is possible to cross the "barrier" between individual documents.

The operations that the user can perform to set the page order in the file of each page are the same as the operations that can be performed to set the display order or print order of each page. That is, the user moves or inserts a page, duplicates a page, deletes a page, replaces a page, overwrites a page, and switches output / non-output of a page (switching between display / non-display) via the input receiving unit 103. Similar to the above, setting whether to integrate each stored page into a single file and output it), change the output mode of the page (monochrome or grayscale the page that is originally color) It can be converted to and output, a watermark or other image or character M is superimposed on the target page, etc.), grouping of a plurality of pages and their cancellation (staple function), etc. can be performed. The document output device 1 that has received the above-mentioned operation by the user via the input reception unit 103 rewrites and updates the arrangement information stored in the document storage unit 102 based on the received operation, and rewrites and updates the page set by the user. Allows pages of multiple documents to be sequentially output to a single file in order and output mode.

When actually outputting the pages of a document as a single file, the user should output any part or all of a series of multiple pages arranged in the set page order to a single file. May be specified as. This is close to the designation of the so-called print range when the known information processing apparatus 2 is used. The document output device 1 that has received the operation of specifying the range of the target page by the user via the input receiving unit 103 generates a single file containing only the specified page.

If the pages of the target document to be integrated into a single file contain moving images, one specific frame in the moving image may be one page, or multiple frames in the moving image (unit time). Treat each (may be multiple frames extracted) as multiple pages and perform integration into a single file.

The file output control unit 106 stores a data file in which a plurality of pages are integrated into a single file in the document storage unit 102. Further, it is also possible to transmit such a data file to the external information processing apparatus 2. The file output control unit 106 may transmit the data file to the external information processing apparatus 2 in a push type or a pull type. In the case of push-type transmission, the file output control unit 106 is a destination URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) stored in advance in the main memory 1b of the document output device 1 or an auxiliary storage device. For example, an e-mail to be a transmission destination. Address and destination information processing device 2 (FTP (File Transferr)
(Protocol) may be a server, web server, etc.) and a character string (path) that specifies a directory, a facsimile number, etc. corresponds to this), or the user inputs or selects via the input reception unit 103. The generated data file is transmitted to the URI in accordance with SMP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), FTP, HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), SMB (Server Message Block), and other predetermined communication protocols.

When transmitting in the pull type, the file output control unit 106 behaves like a known FTP server, web server, etc., and receives an FTP request, an HTTP request, an SMB request, etc. brought from the information processing device 2 used by the user. As a response to the request, the data file stored in the document storage unit 102 is returned to the information processing apparatus 2 that brought the request. Further, if the main body 11 of the document output device 1 can be directly connected to the information processing device 2 via the interface 1g such as USB, the data from the document output device 1 to the information processing device 2 is just like a so-called USB memory. It is also possible to pass files.

In the present embodiment, a document receiving unit 101 that receives document data including a plurality of pages from the information processing apparatus 2 used by the user, and a plurality of document data received via the document receiving unit 101 are stored. It accepts an input operation by the document storage unit 102 and a user to select a page to be displayed on the display or the projector 3 from among the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit 102. An input reception unit 103 capable of accepting a page forward or return operation to the effect that a page should be transitioned from one page to another page of another document following it, and a page for which selection is accepted via the input reception unit 103. It is to be displayed on the display or the projector 3, and when the page forward or return operation is accepted, the page to be displayed on the display or the projector 3 is changed from one page of one document to another page of another document following it. , A document output device 1 including a page display control unit 104 for directly transitioning without going through a display other than those pages is configured. According to this document output device 1, a display function capable of operating each page of a plurality of document files consisting of a plurality of pages as if they were a group of pages integrated into one file is provided. Can be embodied. In the system of the conventional information processing apparatus 2 that manages exclusively on a file-by-file basis, when the state of displaying the page of a certain document is changed to the state of displaying the page of another document, a certain document file is temporarily closed and stored. It transitions to the state of displaying a list of multiple document files (icons simulating each file, thumbnail images, etc.), and then displays the first page of other document files. In this document output device 1, such an operation of closing / opening a file does not intervene, and an operation of returning to a list of a plurality of files is not essential, and one page of one document is transferred to another page of another document. , These documents can be continuously transitioned as if they were a single document file or a single document file. So to speak, it is possible to realize page forward or page back across multiple documents.

The page forward or return operation to the effect that a page of a certain document should be transferred to another page of another document, which is accepted by the input receiving unit 103, is a page forward or backward operation from one page of the same document to another page following it. This is a common operation with the page forward or return operation to the effect that the transition should be made to. That is, the page forward or return operation within the same document and the page forward or return operation across multiple documents are the same operation (for example, pressing the same button once in page forward, pressing a finger on the touch panel sensor. Swipe once in a predetermined direction, etc.), and it is possible to switch pages to be displayed continuously without making the user particularly aware that they are separate documents, which brings high convenience.

The input receiving unit 103 can receive an input operation by the user for setting the display order when displaying the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit 102 on the display or the projector 3. When the page display control unit 104 receives a page forward or return operation to the effect that a page should be transitioned from one page to another page via the input reception unit 103, the page display control unit 104 displays or a projector according to a display order set earlier. Transition the page to be displayed in 3. The document output device 1 can arbitrarily set the display order of pages, arrange other pages of another document immediately before or after one page of a certain document, and make it possible to cross the boundaries of a document file.

Further, in the present embodiment, the document receiving unit 101 that receives the data of the document including the page from the information processing apparatus 2 used by the user and the data of a plurality of documents received via the document receiving unit 101 are stored. The document storage unit 102 and the user accept an input operation for selecting a page to be printed by the printer 4 from among the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit 102, and there is a certain document. An input receiving unit 103 capable of accepting an operation to print a page and other pages of other documents at once, and a page having a selection accepted via the input receiving unit 103 printed on the printer 4. The document output device 1 is configured to include a print control unit 105 that continuously prints a page of a certain document and another page of another document on the printer 4 when the operation is accepted. According to the document output device 1, it is intended to realize a function of temporarily printing each page of a plurality of document files consisting of a plurality of pages as if they were a group of pages integrated into one file. Can be done. For example, it is possible to continuously print the 5th to 10th pages of a certain document file and the 1st to 7th pages of another document file in a batch and combine them into one paper document. ..

The input receiving unit 103 can receive an input operation for setting the printing order when the printer 4 prints pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit 102 by the user, and the printing can be performed. When the control unit 105 receives an operation to print a plurality of pages at once via the input reception unit 103, the control unit 105 continuously prints a plurality of pages on the printer 4 according to a previously set print order. Have it printed. The document output device 1 can arbitrarily set the print order of pages, arrange other pages of another document immediately before or after one page of a certain document, and make it possible to cross the boundaries of a document file.

Further, in the present embodiment, the input receiving unit 103 selects a page to be integrated into a single file from the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit 102 by the user. An input operation that the file should be stored in the document storage unit 102 or transmitted to the information processing device 2 used by the user can be accepted, and a single page for which selection is accepted via the input reception unit 103 can be received. A document output device 1 is configured to further include a file output control unit 106 that generates a file integrated into the above file, stores it in the document storage unit 102, or transmits it to the information processing device 2. According to the document output device 1, each page of a plurality of document files composed of a plurality of pages can be integrated into a single file and then provided to the user.

The input receiving unit 103 performs an input operation by the user to set the page order in the file when integrating the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit 102 into a single file. The file output control unit 106 can receive, and the file output control unit 106 integrates a plurality of pages into a single file via the input reception unit 103 and stores it in the document storage unit 102, or the information processing device 2 used by the user. When the operation to be transmitted to the document is received, a file in which a plurality of pages are arranged according to the page order set in advance is generated and stored in the document storage unit 102, or in the information processing device 2 used by the user. Send. The document output device 1 can arbitrarily set the order of the pages in a single file to be generated, and also arranges other pages of another document immediately before or after one page of one document to form a document file. Allows you to cross the barrier.

In the present embodiment, the document receiving unit 101 receives document data in the form of a print command to the printer 4 issued from the information processing apparatus 2 used by the user. That is, after converting the document into a specific file format such as EMF, RAW, Postscript, PDF, bitmap image in advance by using the functions of the OS and the printer driver installed in the information processing device 2 used by the user. Receive. For this reason, the document output device 1 of the present embodiment is not restricted by the type of application program used by the user to create a document. After all, it is not necessary to implement a function to expand files of various formats (created by various application programs) on the side of the document output device 1. On the side of the document output device 1, it is sufficient to implement a function of interpreting general-purpose and specific format data included in the above print instruction and converting it if necessary. Therefore, it becomes possible to correspond to various documents created by various application programs.

The main body 11 of the document output device 1 of the present embodiment is detachable from the display or the projector 3 installed in the conference room or the like. After storing the necessary document data in the document storage unit 102 of the main body 11, bring it to a business trip destination or a business destination and connect it to the display or projector 3 there, by the function of the page display control unit 104. , The document stored in the document storage unit 102 can be projected and output to the display or the projector 3. For a business person who moves around, it is possible to carry a smaller and lighter document output device 1 and present necessary documents at various places without always carrying a heavy notebook computer or the like.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in detail above. For example, in the above embodiment, the document output device 1 (main body 11) receives and stores the data of the document created by each user from the information processing device 2 used by each user. In other words, the document itself was pre-completed by the user.

In addition to this, at a meeting or the like, the still image or moving image I currently projected by the display or the projector 3 is captured, and the captured still image or moving image I is stored as the data of the page P of the document. It may be used for future use. The image I projected by the display or the projector 3 is obtained from the information processing device 2 or the camera 6 used by the user. The camera 6 may be a known webcam that can be connected to the telecommunication line 5, or may be built into the information processing apparatus 2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 18, the document output device 1 plays a role of relaying between the information processing device 2 or the camera 6 and the display or the projector 3. Therefore, the document output device 1 also exerts functions as the image receiving unit 107 and the image display control unit 108 shown in FIG. 3 according to the program.

The image receiving unit 107 receives a still image or a moving image I output from the information processing device 2 or the camera 6 used by the user. The still image or moving image I to be received may be a screen displayed by the information processing apparatus 2, or may be an image captured and stored by the camera 6 in the past or currently captured in real time. The information processing device 2 or the camera 6 and the document output device 1 may be connected by wire or wirelessly. In order to connect the information processing device 2 or the camera 6 to the document output device 1 by wire, an input interface such as an HDMI is mounted on the document output device 1 (main body 11). Then, the information processing device 2 or the camera 6 is connected to the document output device 1 by connecting the connector of the input interface and the connector of the corresponding output interface mounted on the information processing device 2 or the camera 6 with a cable.

If the information processing device 2 or the camera 6 is wirelessly connected to the document output device 1, both are connected so as to be communicable via a wireless LAN or other telecommunication line 3. In this case, the document output device 1 (screen receiving unit and image display control unit 108) is an open standard for screen transmission technology by one-to-one wireless communication established by Miracast (Wi-Fi Alliance). Information processing device 2 It is possible to wirelessly transmit the personal computer or screen of the camera 6 and project it on the display or projector 3. The display driver of the existing OS supports this) and the wire display based on AirPlay (registered trademark) etc. May act as an adapter.

Incidentally, the information processing device 2 or the camera 6 may be located in a remote place away from a place such as a conference in which a display or a projector 3 is installed. In that case, the information processing device 2 or the camera 6 sends the still image or the moving image I to be projected to the document output device 1 via the telecommunication line 3 such as LAN, WAN, and the Internet. As a result, the input is input to the display or the projector 3 via the document output device 1.

The image display control unit 108 causes the display or the projector 3 to display the still image or the moving image I received via the image receiving unit 107. Further, when the image display control unit 108 receives an input operation by the user to the effect that the still image or the moving image I displayed by the display or the projector 3 should be captured via the input reception unit 103, the image display control unit 108 currently displays the display. Alternatively, the still image or the moving image I displayed by the projector 3 is captured, and the obtained image is stored in the document storage unit 102 as the data of the page P of the document. The input operation received by the input receiving unit 103 to the effect that the currently displayed image I should be captured may be an operation in which the user presses a specific button or keyboard of the operation input device 1h with a finger, or on a touch panel sensor. It may be an operation in which the user touches a predetermined part of the above with a finger, or it may be a specific pronunciation by the user's own voice that collects sound by a microphone.

When the input operation to the effect that the current image I should be captured is accepted, the image display control unit 108 uses the image I displayed on the display or the projector 3 at that time as a still image such as a bitmap image or a PDF. It is converted into data in a predetermined format and stored in the document storage unit 102. Alternatively, the image I displayed on the display or the projector 3 during a predetermined time starting from the time when the input operation is received, or the user performs a specific input operation (such as pressing the capture (record) button). The image I displayed on the display or the projector 3 during the period from the time when a specific input operation (such as pressing the capture button or the stop (recording end) button) is performed is data in a predetermined format as a moving image. Is converted to and stored in the document storage unit 102. By capturing the moving image I and storing it as the page P of the document, for example, it is possible to reproduce a presentation in which a plurality of slides are sequentially displayed.

The still image or moving image I captured by the image display control unit 108 and stored in the document storage unit 102 can be handled in the same manner as the pages of other documents thereafter.

The document output device 1 according to the present invention does not necessarily take the form of a dedicated device such as a dongle that is retrofitted to a display or a projector 3. An information processing device 2 such as a general-purpose personal computer, a tablet computer, or a smartphone, which is not a dedicated device, is connected to the display or the projector 3 by wire or wirelessly, and is connected to the document receiving unit 101, the document storage unit 102, and the like. A program that functions as an input reception unit 103, a page display control unit 104, a print control unit 105, a file output control unit 106, an image reception unit 107, and an image display control unit 108 is installed in the information processing apparatus 2 to the present invention. Of course, it is also possible to configure the document output device 1.

As shown in FIG. 19, the page display control unit 104 of the document output device 1 not only causes the display or projector 3 directly connected to the document output device 1 to display the document page P1, but also causes the document output device 1 to display the page P1 of the document. To one or more information processing devices 2 connected via the telecommunications line 5, the data of the page P1 to be displayed or the data of the screen (image) on which the page P1 is projected is transmitted, and the page P1 is transmitted. Can also be displayed on the display of the information processing apparatus 2.

For example, as shown in FIG. 20, a document output device 1 (main body 11) at a certain location and a document output device 1 (main body 11) at another location are connected via a telecommunications line 5, and the former Data of page P1 to be displayed by the document output device 1 (data that allows the document output device 1 or the information processing device 2 to interpret the contents and display the target page P1 on the display or the projector 3) General-purpose data. The format may be data such as EMF, RAW, Postscript, PDF, bitmap image, etc., and this includes the target page P1 stored in the document storage unit 102 of the former document output device 1. (May be document data) or screen data on which it is projected (typically a bitmap image generated by the former document output device 1 to project the target page P1 onto a display or projector 3). Is transmitted to the latter document output device 1. Upon receiving this, the latter document output device 1 projects the target page P1 on the connected display or projector 3. Then, the same page P1 can be displayed on the displays or projectors 3 installed at both locations. In this case, the display or projector 3 and the document output device 1 at the latter location correspond to the above-mentioned information processing device 2. The latter place may be far away from the former place (the former document output device 1 and the latter one are connected via WAN, the Internet, etc. 5), or in the same building or in the same room. (The former document output device 1 and the latter one are connected via a LAN or the like 5).

As shown in FIG. 21, a page is wired or wireless (including a telecommunication line 5 such as a LAN) from a document output device 1 (main body 11) at a certain location toward an information processing apparatus 2 arranged at the same location. The data of P1 or the data of the screen on which it is projected is transmitted. Then, the data on page 1 or the data on the screen on which the information processing device 2 is projected onto the information processing device 2 arranged at another location connected to the information processing device 2 via the telecommunication line 5 is directed to the information processing device 2 on the same page. To send. Upon receiving this, the latter information processing apparatus 2 projects the target page P1 on the display. Then, the same page P1 can be displayed on the displays of the information processing apparatus 2 installed at both locations. If the latter information processing device 2 at another location and the display or projector 3 at the same location are connected via HDMI or the like, the same page P1 is displayed on the display or projector 3 (particularly). Mirroring) can be done.

As shown in FIG. 22, the information processing device 2 arranged in each place where the user is located and the document output device 1 mainly composed of a general-purpose computer (particularly a server computer) 2 are connected to the telecommunications line 5. It is also conceivable to construct a system connected via the document output device 1 and share a document between the information processing device 2 at each location and the user who uses the information processing device 2. The information processing device 2 at each location uploads and transmits data of various documents to the document output device 1. The document output device 1 receives the document data by the document receiving unit 101, and stores and stores the document data in the document storage unit 102.

Then, the user performs an input operation to select a page to be displayed on the display via the operation input device 2g of the information processing device 2 used by the user. The input operation referred to here includes a page forward or return operation. Upon receiving this, the information processing apparatus 2 transmits a request including information regarding the input operation to the document output apparatus 1. The document output device 1 receives the request as a function of the input receiving unit 103, and as a response to the request, the data of the target page P1 selected to be displayed on the display or the data of the screen on which the request is projected. Is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 2 that brought about the request. Upon receiving this response, the information processing apparatus 2 displays the target page P1 on the screen of the display.

As shown in FIG. 23, in a mode in which at least one of the plurality of information processing devices 2 communicably connected via the telecommunications line 5 plays the role of the document output device 1, the plurality of information processing devices 2 When participating in a known video conferencing (web conferencing) system, the so-called so-called video conferencing system is implemented with the required document page P1 displayed on the display of the information processing apparatus 2 which is the document output device 1. By using the "screen sharing" function, it is possible to display the page P1 of the document on the display of another information processing apparatus 2. Alternatively, it is conceivable to incorporate the functions of each part of the document output device 1 according to the present invention into the video conference system (server application or client application).

In each of the examples shown in FIGS. 19 to 23, the information processing device 2 that plays the role of the document output device 1 or the document output device 1 is a document receiving unit 101, a document storage unit 102, an input receiving unit 103, and a page display control unit. Needless to say, it can function as 104, a print control unit 105, a file output control unit 106, an image reception unit 107, and an image display control unit 108. That is, the document can be shared in a plurality of places while realizing the page forward or page back operation that transcends the "barrier" between individual documents, which is a characteristic operation feeling of the present invention.

In each of the examples shown in FIGS. 19 to 23, the page displayed on the display or the projector 3 or the display of a certain information processing device 2 and the page displayed on the display of the other information processing device 2 are always the same. It is not always the case, and different pages may be displayed at the same time depending on the user's selection operation.

In addition, the specific configuration of each part, the content of processing, the procedure, etc. can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 ... Document output device 101 ... Document receiving unit 102 ... Document storage unit 103 ... Input receiving unit 104 ... Page display control unit 105 ... Print control unit 106 ... File output control unit 107 ... Image receiving unit 108 ... Image display control unit 2 ... Information processing device 3 ... Display or projector 4 ... Printer 5 ... Telecommunications line 6 ... Camera D1, D2 ... Document I ... Still image or moving image P, P0, P1, P2 ... Page

Claims

A document receiver that receives document data containing multiple pages from the information processing device used by the user, and a document receiver.
A document storage unit that stores data of a plurality of documents received via the document reception unit, and a document storage unit.
It accepts an input operation by the user to select a page to be displayed on the display or projector from among the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit, and a page of a certain document is followed by another. An input reception unit that can accept page forward or return operations to the effect that a transition to another page of the document should be made.
The page for which the selection is accepted via the input receiving unit is displayed on the display or the projector, and the page to be displayed on the display or the projector when the page forward or return operation is received is displayed from a page with a certain document. A document output device including a page display control unit for transitioning to another page of another document following this.
The page forward or return operation to the effect that one page of a document should be transferred to another page of another document, which is accepted by the input operation unit, is transferred from one page of the same document to another page following it. The document output device according to claim 1, which is an operation common to the page forward or return operation to the effect that a transition should be made.
The input receiving unit can accept an input operation by a user for setting a display order when displaying pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit on a display or a projector.
When the page display control unit receives a page forward or return operation to the effect that a page should be transitioned from one page to another page via the input reception unit, the page display control unit displays the image on the display or the projector according to the display order set earlier. The document output device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the page to be changed is changed.
The page display control unit transmits the data of the page to be displayed or the data of the screen on which the page is projected to one or more information processing devices connected to the document output device via a telecommunication line. , The document output device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the page can be displayed on the display of the information processing device.
A document receiver that receives document data including pages from the information processing device used by the user, and
A document storage unit that stores data of a plurality of documents received via the document reception unit, and a document storage unit.
It accepts an input operation by the user to select a page to be printed by a printer from the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit, and one page of one document and another page of another document. An input reception unit that can accept operations to print pages all at once,
The printer is made to print the page for which the selection is accepted via the input receiving unit, and when the operation is accepted, the printer is made to print one page of a certain document and another page of another document continuously. A document output device including a print control unit.
The input receiving unit can receive an input operation by the user for setting the printing order when the printer prints pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit, and the print control unit can receive the input operation. The fifth aspect of claim 5, wherein when an operation to print a plurality of pages at once is received via the input receiving unit, the printer continuously prints a plurality of pages according to a previously set printing order. Document output device.
The input receiving unit selects a page to be integrated into a single file from the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit by the user, and then stores the file in the document storage unit. It can accept input operations to the effect that it should be sent to the information processing device used by the user.
Claim 1 further includes a file output control unit that integrates pages that have received selections via the input reception unit into a single file, stores the pages in the document storage unit, or transmits the information processing device to the information processing device. 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 document output device.
The input receiving unit accepts an input operation by a user for setting the page order in the file when integrating the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit into a single file. Can be done
The file output control unit receives an operation that a plurality of pages should be integrated into a single file, stored in the document storage unit, or transmitted to an information processing device used by the user via the input reception unit. The document output device according to claim 7, wherein a file in which a plurality of pages are arranged according to a previously set page order is generated, stored in the document storage unit, or transmitted to an information processing device used by a user.
The document output according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the document receiving unit receives document data in the form of a print command to a printer issued from an information processing apparatus used by the user. Device.
An image receiver that receives still or moving images output from the information processing device or camera used by the user, and
Further, an image display control unit for displaying a still image or a moving image received via the image receiving unit on a display or a projector is provided.
The input receiving unit can accept an input operation by the user to the effect that a still image or a moving image currently displayed by the display or the projector should be captured.
The image display control unit captures a still image or a moving image currently displayed by a display or a projector when the input operation is received via the input reception unit, and obtains an image as document page data. The document output device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, which is stored in the document storage unit.
A computer, which is used to configure the document output device according to claim 1.
A document receiver that receives data from a document containing multiple pages from an information processing device used by the user.
A document storage unit that stores data of a plurality of documents received via the document reception unit,
It accepts an input operation by the user to select a page to be displayed on the display or projector from among the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit, and a page of a certain document is followed by another. An input reception unit that can accept page forward or return operations to the effect that it should transition to another page of the document, and
The page for which the selection is accepted via the input receiving unit is displayed on the display or the projector, and the page to be displayed on the display or the projector when the page forward or return operation is received is displayed from a page with a certain document. A program that functions as a page display control unit that transitions to other pages of other documents that follow it.
The page display control unit transmits the data of the page to be displayed or the data of the screen on which the page is projected to one or more information processing devices connected to the document output device via a telecommunication line. The program according to claim 11, wherein the page can be displayed on the display of the information processing apparatus.
A computer, which is used to configure the document output device according to claim 5.
A document receiving unit that receives document data including pages from an information processing device used by a user, a document storage unit that stores data of a plurality of documents received via the document receiving unit, and a document storage unit.
It accepts an input operation by the user to select a page to be printed by a printer from the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit, and one page of one document and another page of another document. An input reception unit that can accept operations to print pages all at once, and
The printer is made to print the page for which the selection is accepted via the input receiving unit, and when the operation is accepted, the printer is made to print one page of a certain document and another page of another document continuously. A program that functions as a print control unit.
The input receiving unit selects a page to be integrated into a single file from the pages of a plurality of documents storing data in the document storage unit by the user, and then stores the file in the document storage unit. It can accept input operations to the effect that it should be sent to the information processing device used by the user.
Further, the computer can also be used as a file output control unit that generates a single file in which pages for which selections have been accepted via the input reception unit are integrated and stores them in the document storage unit or transmits them to an information processing device. The program according to claim 11, 12 or 13 to function.
Further, the computer is used as an image receiver for receiving a still image or a moving image output from an information processing device or a camera used by the user, and an image receiver.
It also functions as an image display control unit for displaying a still image or a moving image received via the image receiving unit on a display or a projector.
The input receiving unit can accept an input operation by the user to the effect that a still image or a moving image currently displayed by the display or the projector should be captured.
The image display control unit captures a still image or a moving image currently displayed by a display or a projector when the input operation is received via the input reception unit, and obtains an image as document page data. The program according to claim 11, 12, 13 or 14, which is stored in the document storage unit as described above.