U.S. patent application number 14/790503 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-22 for image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program.
The applicant listed for this patent is CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Kaori Nishiyama.
Application Number | 20150304512 14/790503 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52110691 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150304512 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nishiyama; Kaori |
October 22, 2015 |
IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND
PROGRAM
Abstract
An apparatus includes a display unit configured to display
preview images of a plurality of image data, a determining unit
configured to determine whether each of the plurality of image data
is a blank page, a display control unit configured to display a
preview image of image data determined not to be a blank page on
the display unit in a first display mode and to display a preview
image of image data determined to be a blank page on the display
unit in a second display mode, and a change unit configured to
change the determination result and the display mode at the display
unit of image data corresponding to the preview image when
receiving an instruction to change the selected display mode of a
preview image from the first display mode to the second display
mode, or from the second display mode to the first display
mode.
Inventors: |
Nishiyama; Kaori; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
52110691 |
Appl. No.: |
14/790503 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14311029 |
Jun 20, 2014 |
9100520 |
|
|
14790503 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00411 20130101;
H04N 1/00456 20130101; H04N 1/00448 20130101; H04N 1/00461
20130101; H04N 1/00442 20130101; H04N 2201/0094 20130101; H04N
2201/0081 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/00 20060101
H04N001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 24, 2013 |
JP |
2013-131669 |
Claims
1. An image processing apparatus comprising: an input unit
configured to input a plurality of pieces of image data; a
determining unit configured to determine whether each of the
plurality of pieces of image data is a blank page; and an
instruction unit configured to issue an instruction for changing a
determination result by the determining unit on a piece of image
data selected from the plurality of pieces of image data, from a
blank page to a non-blank page.
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
instruction unit further issues an instruction for changing a
determination result by the determining unit on a piece of image
data selected from the plurality of pieces of image data, from a
non-blank page to a blank page.
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a display control unit configured to display a preview
image of a piece of image data determined to be not a blank page by
the determining unit on a display unit in a first display mode, and
to display a preview image of a piece of image data determined to
be a blank page by the determining unit on the display unit in a
second display mode, wherein if the instruction unit issues the
instruction for changing the determination result by the
determining unit on the piece of image data selected from the
plurality of pieces of image data, from a blank page to a non-blank
page, the display control unit changes a display mode of the
selected piece of image data from the second display mode to the
first display mode.
4. An image processing apparatus comprising: an input unit
configured to input a plurality of pieces of image data; a
determining unit configured to determine whether each of the
plurality of pieces of image data is a blank page; and an
instruction unit configured to issue an instruction for changing a
determination result by the determining unit on a piece of image
data selected from the plurality of pieces of image data, from a
non-blank page to a blank page.
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further
comprising a display control unit configured to display a preview
image of a piece of image data determined to be not a blank page by
the determining unit on a display unit in a first display mode, and
to display a preview image of a piece of image data determined to
be a blank page by the determining unit on the display unit in a
second display mode, wherein if the instruction unit issues the
instruction for changing the determination result by the
determining unit on the piece of image data selected from the
plurality of pieces of image data from a non-blank page to a blank
page, the display control unit changes a display mode of the
selected piece of image data from the first display mode to the
second display mode.
6. An image processing method comprising: inputting a plurality of
pieces of image data; determining whether each of the plurality of
pieces of image data is a blank page; and issuing an instruction
for changing a determination result by the determining on a piece
of image data selected from the plurality of pieces of image data,
from a blank page to a non-blank page.
7. The image processing method according to claim 6, further
comprising: issuing an instruction for changing a determination
result by the determining on a piece of image data selected from
the plurality of pieces of image data, from a non-blank page to a
blank page.
8. The image processing method according to claim 6, further
comprising: displaying a preview image of a piece of image data
determined to be not a blank page by the determining on a display
in a first display mode, and displaying a preview image of a piece
of image data determined to be a blank page by the determining on
the display in a second display mode, wherein if the instruction is
issued for changing the determination result by the determining on
the piece of image data selected from the plurality of pieces of
image data, from a blank page to a non-blank page, a display mode
of the selected piece of image data is changed from the second
display mode to the first display mode.
9. An image processing method comprising: inputting a plurality of
pieces of image data; determining whether each of the plurality of
pieces of image data is a blank page; and issuing an instruction
for changing a determination result by the determining on a piece
of image data selected from the plurality of pieces of image data,
from a non-blank page to a blank page.
10. The image processing method according to claim 9, further
comprising: displaying a preview image of a piece of image data
determined to be not a blank page by the determining on a display
in a first display mode, and displaying a preview image of a piece
of image data determined to be a blank page by the determining on
the display in a second display mode, wherein if the instruction is
issued for changing the determination result by the determining on
the piece of image data selected from the plurality of pieces of
image data from a non-blank page to a blank page, a display mode of
the selected piece of image data is changed from the first display
mode to the second display mode.
11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing
computer executable instructions that cause a computer to execute a
method for controlling an image processing apparatus, the method
comprising: inputting a plurality of pieces of image data;
determining whether each of the plurality of pieces of image data
is a blank page; and issuing an instruction for changing a
determination result by the determining on a piece of image data
selected from the plurality of pieces of image data, from a blank
page to a non-blank page.
12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing
computer executable instructions that cause a computer to execute a
method for controlling an image processing apparatus, the method
comprising: inputting a plurality of pieces of image data;
determining whether each of the plurality of pieces of image data
is a blank page; and issuing an instruction for changing a
determination result by the determining on a piece of image data
selected from the plurality of pieces of image data, from a
non-blank page to a blank page.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation, and claims the benefit,
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/311,029, presently pending
and filed on Jun. 20, 2014, and claims the benefit of Japanese
Patent Application No. 2013-131669, filed Jun. 24, 2013, which
applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their
entireties.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] Aspects of the present invention generally relate to an
image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a
program, which judge whether image data to be processed is image
data having print information or image data having no print
information.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] There has been a technique in which, when scanning a
document using an image scanning apparatus such as a digital copier
or the like, the optical system is fixed, and the document is
scanned while being transported by an auto document feeder (ADF),
thereby acquiring image data.
[0006] Heretofore, a multifunction peripheral with an automatic
document scanning apparatus performs scanning on both sides of a
sheet even when documents printed on both sides of a sheet and
documents printed on a single side alone of a sheet coexist.
However, a blank page side of a sheet, which is the back of the
document printed on just one side of the sheet is also scanned in
this method. As a result, a blank sheet is read and unnecessary
data processing is performed. Thus, wasteful paper consumption and
wasteful power consumption occurs. Therefore, there is provided a
blank page skip function in which determination is made regarding
whether or not a scanned document is a blank page including no
print information, and image data acquired by scanning the document
determined to be a blank page is deleted.
[0007] When outputting image data acquired with this blank page
skip function, image data acquired from a document determined to be
a blank page is deleted. In order to preliminarily confirm whether
or not blank page determination executed by this blank page skip
function is accurate, a user performs confirmation of image data
determined to be image data acquired from blank original before
outputting the image data.
[0008] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-056803 discloses an image
processing apparatus which enables a preview display to be
performed by switching between whether or not to display a preview
image of image data acquired by scanning blank original, in order
to perform confirmation of image data acquired by scanning a blank
original.
[0009] However, in the case of the invention disclosed in Japanese
Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-056803, when setting a preview image of
image data acquired from a document determined to be a blank page
to non-display at the time of preview, it is difficult to determine
which the document has been determined to be a blank page. Also, it
is difficult to confirm at which page of the overall scanned
documents, the document determined to be a blank page is situated.
Specifically, the user has to confirm the preview of which image
data is set to non-display, by switching display/non-display of the
preview image of image data acquired by scanning the document
determined to be a blank page, on the screen. Also, since it is
difficult to determine which the document has been determined to be
a blank page, operations for modifying/correcting a determination
result as to image data determined to be a blank page are
complicated.
SUMMARY
[0010] It has been found to be desirable to clarify where of all of
a plurality of acquired image, the data image data determined to be
image data acquired from a blank original is situated, at a display
controller configured display the previews of a plurality of image
data at one time. Also, it has found to be desirable to enable a
blank page determination result to be readily changed by performing
operations on the display screen.
[0011] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an image
processing apparatus includes a display unit configured to display
preview images of a plurality of image data, a determining unit
configured to determine whether each of the plurality of image data
is a blank page, a display control unit configured to display a
preview image of image data determined not to be a blank page on
the display unit in a first display mode, and to display a preview
image of image data determined to be a blank page on the display
unit in a second display mode, and a change unit configured to
change, via the display unit, the determination result and a
display mode of image data corresponding to the preview image when
receiving instructions to change a selected display mode of a
preview image from the first display mode to the second display
mode, or from the second display mode to the first display
mode.
[0012] Embodiments of the present disclosure enable where in the
overall scanned documents, a document determined to be a blank page
is situated to be readily recognized, and enable image data alone
corresponding to necessary documents to be readily output (printing
out, saving, transmission, etc.). Also, performing operations on
the display screen enables a blank page determination result to be
readily changed.
[0013] Further features of the present disclosure will become
apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments
with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a first
embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the
inner configuration of an image input unit.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an example of the
configuration of an operation unit.
[0017] FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating an example of a
screen displayed on an image display unit.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of display
control processing according to the first embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of display
control processing according to the first embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of display
control processing according to a second embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing
for defining an operation method.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Exemplary embodiments will be described below with reference
to the drawings.
First Embodiment
[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration
example of an image processing apparatus 10 serving as an example
of a display control apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of
the image processing apparatus 10 serving as an example of the
display control apparatus according to the present embodiment. A
controller 101 controls the overall apparatus, and is configured
including a central processing unit (CPU) and so forth. A control
bus 102 connects the controller 101 and the blocks. Read only
memory (ROM) 103 stores a program that the controller 101 executes.
Random access memory (RAM) 104 is used for temporal storage of
control data, or used as work memory under the control of the
controller 101. An operation unit 105 configured to instruct
operation of the apparatus performs providing of information to a
user, and acceptance of instructions from the user. For example,
the operation unit 105 is made up of a touch panel display. The
user can perform desired processing such as printing or saving via
an operation display screen such as in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the case
that the operation unit 105 is a touch panel display, the
controller 101 detects touch operations on the touch panel display.
For example, the controller 101 detects that the touch panel
display is in a state in which the touch panel display has been
touched by a finger or pen or the like (hereinafter, referred to as
"touch down"). Also, the controller 101 detects that the touch
panel display is in a state in which the touch panel display is
being touched by a finger or pen or the like (hereinafter, referred
to as "touch on"). Further, the controller 101 detects that in a
state in which the touch panel display is touched by a finger or
pen or the like, the finger or the like moves (hereinafter,
referred to as "move"). Moreover, the controller 101 detects that
the finger or pen or the like which touched the touch panel display
has been separated from the touch panel display (hereinafter,
referred to as "touch up"). The controller 101 detects a state in
which nothing touches the touch panel display (hereinafter,
referred to as "touch off"). Touch operations and the position
thereof (hereinafter, referred to as "position coordinates") on the
touch panel display are informed to the controller 101 via the
control bus 102 as touch detection signals. The controller 101
determines what kind of touch operations have been performed on the
touch panel display according to the touch detection signals.
[0024] Taking move as an example, when determining, according to
the touch detection signals, that the finger or pen or the like is
moving on the touch panel display, the controller 101 determines
that the current state is a move. The controller 101 can also
determine the moving direction of the finger or the like on the
touch panel according to change in the position coordinates for
each vertical component and horizontal component on the touch
panel.
[0025] Also, in the case of touch up being performed from touch
down on the touch panel display through a certain move, these
series of touch operations will be referred to drawing of a stroke.
Rapidly performing the touch operations for drawing a stroke, that
is, operations such as sweeping the touch panel display by the
finger, will be referred to as a flick.
[0026] This flick is a touch operation in which, in a state in
which the finger or the like which touches the touch panel, after
the finger or the like is rapidly moved by certain distance, the
finger or the like is separated from the touch panel. That is to
say, a flick is a touch operation in which the touch panel surface
is rapidly traced by the finger or the like.
[0027] Accordingly, in response to the touch detection signals,
when subsequently detecting touch up after detecting that a move
operation has been performed by equal to or longer than
predetermined distance at equal to or faster than predetermined
speed, the controller 101 determines that a flick has been
performed.
[0028] Also, when detecting that a move operation has been
performed by equal to or longer than predetermined distance at
slower than predetermined speed, the controller 101 determines that
a drag operation has been performed.
[0029] An image input unit 106 is a scanner, and performs scanning
of image data on a document. An image processor 107 subjects the
image data scanned by the image input unit 106 to image processing.
A storage unit 108 stores input/output data of the image input unit
106 or image processor 107.
[0030] This storage unit 108 is configured as follows. For example,
the storage unit 108 is made up of a hard disk drive (HDD), sold
state drive (SSD), double data rate synchronous dynamic random
access memory (DDR-SDRAM), or the like. An image output unit 109
prints out the image data processed by the image processor 107. An
image transmission unit 110 transmits the image data of the
document scanned by the image input unit 106, the image data
processed by the image processor 107, or the image data stored in
the storage unit 108. A direct memory access controller (DMAC) 111
performs data transfer control between the image input unit 106,
image processor 107, storage unit 108, image output unit 109, and
image transmission unit 110 based on the control of the controller
101. A bus 112 performs data transfer under the control of the DMAC
111. A communication network 113 is a communication network such as
local area network (LAN) outside the apparatus, which is connected
to the image transmission unit 110.
[0031] The configuration of the image input unit 106 will be
described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram
illustrating the inner configuration of the image input unit 106.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1061 denotes a scanning device, which
is made up of a charge-coupled device (CCD), a complementary
metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS), or a contact image sensor (CIS).
A document is scanned via the scanning device 1061, and analog
image data acquired by scanning the document is output to the
subsequent processor. Reference numeral 1062 denotes an
analog-to-digital converter, which converts the scanned data by the
scanning device 1061 into digital data. Reference numeral 1063
denotes a read image processor, which performs processing such as
shading correction in which the levels of a highlight portion
(white) and dark portion (black) of the scanned image data are
synchronized, modulation transfer function (MTF) correction,
high-frequency suppression processing, or the like. Reference
numeral 1064 denotes a blank page determination unit, which
references the image data processed by the read image processor
1063 to determine whether or not the read image data is a blank
page.
Blank Page Determination Method
[0032] A blank page determination method by the blank page
determination unit 1064 determines a blank page using a frequency
distribution of the luminance values of image data processed by the
read image processor 1063, for example. The blank page
determination unit 1064 generates a frequency distribution of read
image data acquired by scanning a sheet of the document based on
the image data that the read image processor 1063 outputs. Next, a
mean value and a variance value are obtained from the generated
frequency distribution. The reason why the variance value is
obtained is because of taking advantage of the following feature.
Specifically, in the case that significant information (information
other than a blank page) is included in the read image data of the
document, the calculated variance value becomes great.
[0033] Though the method using a frequency distribution has been
described as the blank page determination method in the present
embodiment, the method is not restricted to this. For example, an
arrangement may be made in which a processor configured to detect
the edges of the read image data is provided, pixels determined to
be the edge are counted, and blank page determination is performed
according to the count value thereof. Also, blank page
determination may be made by combining the frequency distribution,
variance value, and the number edges.
[0034] Also, here, the term "blank page" means a document
determined to have no print information (e.g., contents). If there
is no print information, colored documents such as colored paper
and recycled paper are also handled as blank pages. That is to say,
blank page determination is determination of presence/absence of
contents printed on the document. Also, image data at the time of
scanning these, and image data of show-through (text or the like on
the reverse face showing through) alone at the time of scanning
will also be referred to as a blank page below. On the other hand,
a document including a small amount of text, thin text printed by
halftone dots, or the like is not a blank page. Image data scanned
from a sheet including handwriting or print information printed by
a printer will be referred to as contents data. The image input
unit 106 outputs the image data after the read image data is
subjected to processing by the read image processor 1063, and the
blank page determination result by the blank page determination
unit 1064.
[0035] The output data and blank page determination result of the
image input unit 106 are transferred to the storage unit 108 by the
DMAC 111 based on the control of the controller 101. The storage
unit 108 temporarily stores the image data and blank page
determination result transferred via the DMAC 111.
[0036] The image processor 107 generates image data for preview
display based on the image data and blank page determination result
held at the storage unit 108.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a plan view for describing an example of the
configuration of the operation unit 105 illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0038] In FIG. 3, an image display unit 301 makes up the touch
panel display along with a later-described contact detector 311
made up of a liquid crystal panel or organic EL panel or the like.
A start key 302 is used at the time of performing a start
instruction for scanning operation of a document, or the like. A
stop key 303 is used at the time of performing an instruction for
stopping an operation currently running. A numeric keypad 304 is
made up of a button group of numbers and characters, and is used
for instructing setting of the number of copies, or screen
switching of the image display unit 301.
[0039] The contact detector 311 is disposed on the image display
unit 301, whereby operations such as touch down, touch on, move,
touch up, touch off, flick, drop, and so forth can be detected.
Preview Screen
[0040] FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of a preview
screen displayed on the image display unit 301. FIG. 4A is an
example of preview display in a state in which a blank page
determination function is on. In the case that the blank page
determination function is off, normal preview display is performed.
In the case of normal preview display, the preview image of any
image data is displayed on the same display position.
[0041] A preview image display portion 401 is an area for
displaying image data for preview display generated at the image
processor 107. Flicking this area enables the previous preview
image or the next preview image to be displayed. Preview images
402, 403, 404, and 405 are generated images for preview display.
The preview image 404 represents the preview image of image data
determined to be a blank page by the blank page determination unit
1064. The preview image of the image data determined to be a blank
page is displayed (second display mode) in a position (second
position) shifted in the vertical direction from the position
(first position) of the preview image displayed in a first display
mode as illustrated in FIG. 4A, which differs from a display mode
(first display mode) of the preview image of image data not
determined to be a blank page. The display mode (first display
mode) of the preview image of image data not determined to be a
blank page is the same display mode as a case where the blank page
determination function is off.
[0042] Also, in the case that preview images are arrayed in the
vertical direction at the preview image display portion 401, which
differs from FIG. 4A, the preview image of image data determined to
be a blank page is displayed (second display mode) in a position
(second display position) shifted in the horizontal direction from
the position (first position) of a preview image displayed in the
first display mode.
[0043] Thus, the preview image of image data not determined to be a
blank page is displayed in the first display mode, and the preview
image of image data determined to be a blank page is displayed in
the second display mode. In other words, the arrangement is not
restricted to the example illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and the
preview image of image data not determined to be a blank page and
the preview image of image data determined to be a blank page have
to be displayed in an identifiable manner.
[0044] Also, display to the effect that this image data that will
be removed may be made on the preview image of image data
determined to be a blank page at the display unit at this time. A
button 406 is a button for displaying the previous preview image. A
button 407 is a button for displaying the next preview image. A
slider 409 located on a scroll bar 408 represents at which position
of the overall acquired image data, the image data indicated by the
preview image displayed on the preview image display portion 401 is
situated. Performing touch on and move operations on the slider 409
also enables the preview image display to be switched. A blank page
determination image position 410 represents the position of image
data determined to be a blank page. When setting the scrollbar 408
to the position of the blank page determination image position 410
by a flick operation, button operation, and touch on/move
operation, confirmation of the next image data determined to be a
blank page can be performed. Though the present embodiment allows
the user to perform preview page turning by a flick operation,
button operation, and touch on/move operation, a use operation
method may be selectable from one of a flick operation alone,
button operation alone, and touch on/move operation alone.
[0045] The processing for changing the display mode according to
the operation method will be described with reference to the
flowchart in FIG. 8. Note that the operation in each step in the
present flowchart is realized by the controller 101 loading a
program stored in the ROM 103 to the RAM 104 and executing
this.
[0046] First, in 5801 the controller 101 reads out the definition
of the operation method from the storage unit 108 or the like. The
operation method represents a flick operation alone, button
operation alone, touch on/move operation alone, or a combination
thereof, and so forth. The input method may be specified at the
time of use of a device, or may be specified by each operation.
Also, the definition of the operation method may be linked to each
user, and may be specified beforehand. Next, in S802 the controller
101 calls up the definition contents of the operation method, and
displays a preview screen in response to the specified input
method. FIG. 4C represents an example of the display mode in the
case of enabling the button operation alone, whereby the operation
can be performed by the button operation alone. That is to say, an
instruction is performed by operating a button displayed on the
screen.
[0047] Next, description will be made regarding a processing
procedure to display image data for preview display generated at
the image processor 107 on the preview image display portion 401,
with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 5. Note that the operation
in each step in the present flowchart is realized by the controller
101 loading a program stored in the ROM 103 to the RAM 104 and
executing this.
[0048] First, in S501, at the time of displaying the screen in FIG.
4A, the controller 101 generates image data for preview display
based on the image data and blank page determination result held at
the storage unit 108 by the image processor 107. Next, in S502 the
controller 101 determines whether or not the first image data of
the image data for preview display has been determined to be a
blank page. In the case of determining that the first image data is
image data not determined to be a blank page in S502, in S503 the
controller 101 displays the preview image data in the normal
display mode.
[0049] In the case that determination is made that the first image
data is image data of a blank page in S502, in S504 the controller
101 changes the display mode of the preview image to the display
mode different from the display mode in S503, proceeds to S503, and
displays the preview image. Next, the controller 101 proceeds to
S506, and determines whether or not there is a next preview image
to be processed. In the case that there is a next image to be
processed, the controller 101 determines whether or not the next
image for preview display is image data determined to be a blank
page (S502). In the case that there is no next image, the
controller 101 ends the processing.
[0050] Thus, the display mode of the preview image of image data
determined to be a blank page is changed from the display mode of
the preview image of image data not determined to be a blank page,
thereby facilitating confirmation regarding which image data has
been determined to be a blank page of all image data, and also
facilitating confirmation of the position of image data determined
to be a blank page (blank page document position) in the overall
acquired image data. Also, displaying the preview image position of
image data determined to be a blank page above the scroll bar 408
facilitates confirmation of the next image determined to be a blank
page.
[0051] Next, editing of image data for preview display will be
described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 6. Note that the
operation in each step in the present flowchart is realized by the
controller 101 loading a program stored in the ROM 103 to the RAM
104 and executing this. First, in S601 the controller 101
determines whether or not there has been a blank page determination
result change instruction. Specifically, when describing FIG. 4A as
an example, the controller 101 determines whether or not touch on
as to the preview image 404 of image data determined to be a blank
page has been detected by the contact detector 311.
[0052] Also, the controller 101 determines whether or not a flick
operation has been detected by a move operation in the display
start position direction (backward direction) as to the preview
image 404 of image data not determined to be a blank page.
[0053] Also, the controller 101 determines whether or not touch on
as to one of the preview images 402, 403, and 405 of image data not
determined to be a blank page has been detected.
[0054] Also, the controller 101 determines whether or not a flick
operation has been detected by a move operation in the display
start position direction (upward direction) as to one of the
preview images 402, 403, and 405 of the image data not determined
to be a blank page has been detected.
[0055] In the case that there has been such a blank page
determination result change, in S602 the controller 101 determines
whether the blank page determination result of the image data
corresponding to the selected preview image is YES or NO in blank
page determination. In the case of determining that the image data
corresponding to the selected preview image is image data
determined to be a blank page, the controller 101 proceeds to S603.
Next, the controller 101 rewrites the blank page determination
result held at the storage unit 108 corresponding to the selected
image data from YES to NO in blank page determination.
[0056] In the case of determining that the image data corresponding
to the selected preview image is image data not determined to be a
blank page, the controller 101 proceeds to S6044. Next, the
controller 101 rewrites the blank page determination result held at
the storage unit 108 corresponding to the selected image data from
NO to YES in blank page determination.
[0057] Next, the controller 101 performs redrawing of the preview
image display portion based on the processing illustrated in the
flowchart in FIG. 5. At this time, there may be displayed a
confirmation window regarding whether to perform the same
processing on the same image data determined to be a blank page
other than the preview image 404 of the image data determined to be
a blank page.
[0058] FIG. 4B represents an example of the display screen redrawn
by such operations. Since the determination result of the image
data corresponding to the preview image 404 has been changed to NO
in blank page determination, a preview image 4041 is displayed from
the normal previous image display start position. Since the
determination result of the image data corresponding to the preview
image 403 has been changed to YES in blank page determination, a
preview image 4031 is displayed from the preview image display
start position of the image data determined to be a blank page.
That is to say, the preview image 404 which has been in the second
display mode is displayed in the second display mode as illustrated
in the preview image 4041.
[0059] When detecting pressing of the start key 302, the controller
101 transfers the image data held at the storage unit 108 except
for image data determined to be a blank page to the image processor
107 using the DMAC 111, and performs output processing such as
printing or transmission.
[0060] Though description has been made using the touch on, move,
and flick operations, the operation method is not restricted to
this. FIG. 4C is an example of operations according to buttons
operations, and buttons 431, 432, 433, and 434 displayed on the
preview image represent buttons for instructing blank page
determination result change.
[0061] Thus, according to such simple operations, the determination
result as to image data determined to be a blank page can be
changed, so as to be image data to be output, or the determination
result as to the image data to be output can be changed so as to be
image data which is not to be output. Thus, operability accompanied
with editing of acquired image data is improved.
Second Embodiment
[0062] When detecting a flick at the preview image display portion
401 in FIG. 4A, the controller 101 switches the preview image in
accordance with the speed of the flick, and displays the image data
for preview display generated at the image processor 107.
[0063] In the case of having performed a flick operation at high
speed, even when displaying the image data determined to be a blank
page by shifting the display position thereof, or even when
displaying the position of the image determined to be a blank page
using the scroll bar 408 indicating the position of a blank page
image, the user may miss the display. As control for suppressing
this, description will be made regarding a processing procedure for
displaying image data for preview display generated at the image
processor 107 on the preview image display portion 401, with
reference to the flowchart in FIG. 7.
[0064] Note that the operation in each step in the present
flowchart is realized by the controller 101 loading a program
stored in the ROM 103 to the RAM 104 and executing this.
[0065] First, in S701 the controller 101 detects whether or not a
flick has been performed in the region of the preview image display
portion 401 in FIG. 4A, using the contact detector 311. When
detecting that a flick has been performed, the controller 101
proceeds to S702. In S702, the controller 101 determines whether or
not there is an image determined to be a blank page in the data of
the multiple preview images to be displayed. In the case of
determining that there is no image determined to be a blank page in
the data of the multiple preview images to be displayed, the
controller 101 proceeds to S703. In S703, the controller 101
performs display of the preview images according to flicking speed.
In the case of determining that image data determined to be a blank
page is included in S702, the controller 101 proceeds to S704,
where the controller 101 displays a preview image stopped at image
data determined to be a blank page first.
[0066] Thus, according to stopping preview at a preview image
determined to be a blank page, even in the case of having changed
the preview image to be displayed by performing a flick operation
at high speed, the image determined to be a blank page can be
confirmed in a sure manner. Though description has been made based
on flicking in the present embodiment, additional embodiments may
be implemented by preview display performing operations using
continuous page turning by long pressing of a button, or the
like.
Other Embodiments
[0067] Additional embodiments can also be realized by a computer of
a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer
executable instructions recorded on a storage medium (e.g.,
computer-readable storage medium) to perform the functions of one
or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method
performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for
example, reading out and executing the computer executable
instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of
one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may
comprise one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), micro
processing unit (MPU), or other circuitry, and may include a
network of separate computers or separate computer processors. The
computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer,
for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage
medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a
random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of
distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact
disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD).TM.),
a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.
[0068] While the present disclosure has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that
these exemplary embodiments are not seen to be limiting. The scope
of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent structures and functions.
* * * * *