U.S. patent application number 16/687753 was filed with the patent office on 2020-03-12 for image forming apparatus, image forming processing setting method, and recording medium having recorded thereon computer program .
The applicant listed for this patent is KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Seiji Saito.
Application Number | 20200084326 16/687753 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46903422 |
Filed Date | 2020-03-12 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200084326 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Saito; Seiji |
March 12, 2020 |
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING PROCESSING SETTING METHOD,
AND RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING RECORDED THEREON COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR
THE IMAGE FORMING PROCESSING SETTING METHOD
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a display and a memory that
stores executable instructions that, when executed by a processor,
facilitate performance of: displaying one or more page images in a
preview area showing a position and an orientation of the page
image to be printed on one sheet; acquiring a first input for
designating a first area set on the first page image; acquiring a
second input to slide the specified position from the first area to
rotate with respect to the center of the first page image; rotating
the first image in response to the second input; determining an
orientation setting area, among the plurality of orientation
setting areas set around the center of the first page image, that
has the designated position when releasing the second input; and
updating the setting of the orientation of the first page image to
the orientation specified by the determined orientation setting
area and updating the position and orientation of the page image in
the preview area.
Inventors: |
Saito; Seiji; (Shizuoka-ken,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
46903422 |
Appl. No.: |
16/687753 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15067289 |
Mar 11, 2016 |
10516792 |
|
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16687753 |
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13268128 |
Oct 7, 2011 |
9319542 |
|
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15067289 |
|
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61392707 |
Oct 13, 2010 |
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61466654 |
Mar 23, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 2201/0098 20130101;
H04N 1/00411 20130101; H04N 1/00453 20130101; H04N 1/00456
20130101; H04N 2201/0039 20130101; H04N 1/00448 20130101; H04N
1/2338 20130101; H04N 1/00204 20130101; H04N 2201/0094 20130101;
H04N 2201/0082 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/00 20060101
H04N001/00; H04N 1/23 20060101 H04N001/23 |
Claims
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a display; a processor;
and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when
executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations,
comprising: displaying one or more page images in a preview area
showing a position and an orientation of the page image to be
printed on one sheet; acquiring a first input for designating a
first area set on the first page image; acquiring a second input to
slide the specified position from the first area to rotate with
respect to the center of the first page image; rotating the first
image in response to the second input; determining an orientation
setting area, among the plurality of orientation setting areas set
around the center of the first page image, that has the designated
position when releasing the second input; and updating the setting
of the orientation of the first page image to the orientation
specified by the determined orientation setting area and updating
the position and orientation of the page image in the preview
area.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first area is at
each corner of the page image.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preview area is
in a Nin1 print setting screen.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display is a
touch panel, and the second input for rotating the first page image
and the releasing the second input are drag and drop
operations.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of
orientation setting areas are four areas around the center of the
first page, and in each of the plurality of orientation setting
areas, the setting of the orientation of the first page image is
set to rotate the first page image by 0.degree., 90.degree.,
180.degree., and 270.degree..
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of
orientation setting areas are four areas around the center of the
first page, and in each of the plurality of orientation setting
areas, the setting of the orientation of the first page image is
set to rotate the first page image by 0.degree., 90.degree., and
180.degree..
7. An image forming method, comprising: displaying one or more page
images in a preview area showing a position and an orientation of
the page image to be printed on one sheet; acquiring a first input
for designating a first area set on the first page image; acquiring
a second input to slide the specified position from the first area
to rotate with respect to the center of the first page image;
rotating the first image in response to the second input;
determining an orientation setting area, among the plurality of
orientation setting areas set around the center of the first page
image, that has the designated position when releasing the second
input; and updating the setting of the orientation of the first
page image to the orientation specified by the determined
orientation setting area and updating the position and orientation
of the page image in the preview area.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first area is at
each corner of the page image.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the preview area is in
a Nin1 print setting screen.
10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the display is a touch
panel, and the second input for rotating the first page image and
the releasing the second input are drag and drop operations.
11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of
orientation setting areas are four areas around the center of the
first page, and in each of the plurality of orientation setting
areas, the setting of the orientation of the first page image is
set to rotate the first page image by 0.degree., 90.degree.,
180.degree., and 270.degree..
12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of
orientation setting areas are four areas around the center of the
first page, and in each of the plurality of orientation setting
areas, the setting of the orientation of the first page image is
set to rotate the first page image by 0.degree., 90.degree., and
180.degree..
13. A non-transitory computer readable medium including programmed
instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by an image
forming apparatus, cause the image forming apparatus to perform:
displaying one or more page images in a preview area showing a
position and an orientation of the page image to be printed on one
sheet; acquiring a first input for designating a first area set on
the first page image; acquiring a second input to slide the
specified position from the first area to rotate with respect to
the center of the first page image; rotating the first image in
response to the second input; determining an orientation setting
area, among the plurality of orientation setting areas set around
the center of the first page image, that has the designated
position when releasing the second input; and updating the setting
of the orientation of the first page image to the orientation
specified by the determined orientation setting area and updating
the position and orientation of the page image in the preview
area.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim
13, wherein the first area is at each corner of the page image.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim
13, wherein the preview area is in a Nin1 print setting screen.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim
13, wherein the display is a touch panel, and the second input for
rotating the first page image and the releasing the second input
are drag and drop operations.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim
13, wherein the plurality of orientation setting areas are four
areas around the center of the first page, and in each of the
plurality of orientation setting areas, the setting of the
orientation of the first page image is set to rotate the first page
image by 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree., and 270.degree..
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim
13, wherein the plurality of orientation setting areas are four
areas around the center of the first page, and in each of the
plurality of orientation setting areas, the setting of the
orientation of the first page image is set to rotate the first page
image by 0.degree., 90.degree., and 180.degree..
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No.
15/067,289 filed Mar. 11, 2016, which is a Division of application
Ser. No. 13/268,128 filed Oct. 7, 2011, which is based upon and
claims the benefit of priority from U.S. provisional application
61/392,707, filed on Oct. 13, 2010, and U.S. provisional
application 61/466,654, filed on Mar. 23, 2011, the entire contents
all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] Embodiments described herein relate generally to a method of
setting conditions of image forming processing in an image forming
apparatus.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In the past, in an image forming apparatus, there is image
forming processing called N in 1 print for allocating plural pages
to one sheet and performing image formation. For example, in 2 in 1
setting, two pages are allocated to one sheet and image formation
is performed. As specific image forming processing by N in 1
setting, for example, when copying is performed in the image
forming apparatus, there is processing for performing the N in 1
setting on an operation panel of the image forming apparatus and
forming images of original documents for plural pages on one sheet.
If a file created in application software executed on a PC
connected to the image forming apparatus is printed, for example,
in some cases, the N in 1 setting is performed to allocate plural
pages to one sheet on a print setting screen displayed by starting
printer driver software, a print job is output from the PC to the
image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus performs
image formation on the basis of the print job.
[0004] In the setting of the N in 1 print, usually, the number of
pages allocated to one sheet is generally set. Therefore, it is
necessary to check printed images to find how the pages are
actually printed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration
of a system according to an embodiment;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an image forming
apparatus according to the embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining operation for setting N
in 1 print;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation for setting
the N in 1 print;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation for setting
the N in 1 print;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation for setting
the N in 1 print;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation for setting
the N in 1 print;
[0012] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of setting
processing for the N in 1 print;
[0013] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an operation method for
changing the direction of an image;
[0014] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation method for
changing the direction of an image;
[0015] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation method for
changing the direction of an image; and
[0016] FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of rotation
processing for changing the direction of an image.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] In general, according to one embodiment, an image forming
apparatus includes: an image acquiring section, a display control
section, an operation-input acquiring section, a determining
section, and a setting section. The image acquiring section
acquires an image formation target page image. The display control
section performs processing for displaying the page image acquired
by the image acquiring section in a preview display area displayed
on a setting screen for image forming processing. The
operation-input acquiring section acquires a first operation input
for designating a first position in a designatable area
corresponding to the page image displayed in the preview display
area and a second operation input for designating a second position
in the preview display area after the first operation input. The
determining section determines, on the basis of the second position
designated in the second operation input, which allocation setting
area corresponding to which number of page images is designated
among plural allocation setting areas set for each of the numbers
of page images as an area where processing for setting the number
of page images allocated to one sheet is executed if the area is
designated as the second position. The setting section applies, on
the basis of a result of the determination by the determining
section, setting of the number of page images allocated to one
sheet to the page image for which the first operation input is
performed.
[0018] Embodiments are explained below with reference to the
drawings.
First Embodiment
[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration
of a system including an image forming apparatus 1 and a client
terminal 100.
[0020] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control section 2,
an auxiliary storage device 8, a printer section 10, a scanner
section 12, an operation panel 14, a communication interface
(communication I/F) 16, and a facsimile control unit (FCU) 18. The
components of the image forming apparatus 1 are connected via a bus
20.
[0021] The control section 2 functions using a processor 4, a
memory 6, and an operating system (OS).
[0022] The processor 4 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU
(Micro Processing Unit).
[0023] The memory 6 is, for example, a semiconductor memory. The
memory 6 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 6a having stored therein
a control program of the processor 4 and a RAM (Random Access
Memory) 6b configured to provide the processor 4 with a temporary
work area.
[0024] The control section 2 controls the printer section 10, the
scanner section 12, the operation panel 14, the communication I/F
16, the FCU 18, and the like on the basis of the control program or
the like stored in the ROM 6a or the auxiliary storage device 8.
The control section 2 may further include various image processing
functions. The control section 2 may include an ASIC (Application
Specific Integrated Circuit) configured to realize a part or all of
functions of the image forming apparatus 1.
[0025] The auxiliary storage device 8 has stored therein
application programs and an OS. The application programs include
computer programs for executing the functions of the image forming
apparatus 1 such as a copy function, a print function, a scanner
function, a facsimile function, and a network file function. The
application programs further include an application for a Web
client (a Web browser) and other applications.
[0026] The auxiliary storage device 8 stores, for example, image
data generated by the scanner section 12 reading an original
document and data acquired from an external apparatus connected to
the communication I/F 16. The auxiliary storage device 8
temporarily stores, until print is executed, a printing job output
by the client terminal 100 connected via a network 130.
[0027] The auxiliary storage device 8 may be, for example, a
magnetic storage device such as a hard disk drive, an optical
storage device, a semiconductor storage device (a flash memory,
etc.), or an arbitrary combination of these storage devices. The
auxiliary storage device 8 appropriately stores software update, a
protected electronic document, text data, account information,
policy information, and the like.
[0028] The printer section 10 forms, on a sheet, an image
corresponding to the image data of the original document read by
the scanner section 12 and an image corresponding to data sent from
an external computer such as the client terminal 100 via the
network 130.
[0029] The scanner section 12 includes a built-in scanning and
reading unit configured to read an original document as an image, a
document placing table, and an automatic document feeder configured
to feed the original document to a reading position. The scanning
and reading unit of the scanner section 12 reads an original
document set on the document placing table or the automatic
document feeder.
[0030] The operation panel 14 includes a touch panel 14a and
various operation keys 14b. The touch panel 14a displays setting
contents concerning printing conditions such as a sheet size, the
number of copies, printing density setting, and finishing (stapling
or folding). The operation keys 14b include, for example, a ten
key, a reset key, a stop key, and a start key. A user can instruct,
for example, execution of various kinds of processing, setting of
the printing conditions, and a change of the setting contents of
the printing conditions by inputting the instruction from the touch
panel 14a or the operation keys 14b.
[0031] In this embodiment, setting operation for so-called N in 1
print for allocating plural pages to one sheet and performing print
can be performed on the touch panel 14a. Details of setting
processing of the N in 1 print are explained in explanation of
functional blocks later.
[0032] The communication I/F 16 is an interface configured to
connect the image forming apparatus 1 and the client terminal 100
via the network 130. In FIG. 1, a configuration in which only the
client terminal 100 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1
is shown. However, other external apparatuses can also be connected
to the communication I/F 16. Examples of the external apparatuses
include an external storage device such as a flash memory. The
image forming apparatus 1 can also perform so-called direct print
for acquiring image data from the external storage device and
printing an acquired image.
[0033] The communication I/F 16 makes a connection to an external
apparatus through appropriate wireless communication conforming to
IEEE802.15, IEEE802.11, IEEE802.3, IEEE1284, or the like such as
Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared ray connection, or
optical connection or wired communication by a USB or the like. The
communication I/F 16 includes a buffer and temporarily stores a
part or all of data received via the network 130 in the butter.
[0034] The control section 2 communicates with a PC (Personal
Computer) such as the client terminal 100 and other external
apparatuses via the communication I/F 16 and the network 130.
[0035] The facsimile control unit (FCU) 18 controls transmission
processing and reception processing for facsimile in the image
forming apparatus 1.
[0036] The client terminal 100 includes a control section 102, an
auxiliary storage device 108, an input interface (input I/F) 110,
an input section 112, a display interface (display I/F) 114, a
display section 116, and a communication interface (communication
I/F) 118. The components of the client terminal 100 are connected
via a bus 120. As the client terminal 100, a PC (Personal
Computer), a portable terminal, a tablet terminal, or the like may
be used.
[0037] The control section 102 functions using a processor 104
including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro
Processing Unit), a memory 106, and an operating system (OS)
108c.
[0038] The processor 104 executes an application program 108a
stored by the auxiliary storage device 108, executes a printer
driver 108b, and executes processing for generating a printing job
on the basis of printing target data. The processor 104 executes
processing for transmitting the generated printing job to the image
forming apparatus 1 via the communication I/F 118 and the network
130.
[0039] The memory 106 is, for example, a semiconductor memory and
includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 106a having stored therein a
control program of the processor 104 and a RAM (Random Access
Memory) 106b configured to provide the processor 104 with a
temporary work area.
[0040] The auxiliary storage device 108 has stored therein the
application program 108a, the printer driver 108b, and the OS
(Operation System) 108c, which is a control program of the
processor 104.
[0041] The application program 108a operates as software of the OS
108c. The application program 108a includes a Web application in
addition to a general software such as document creation
software.
[0042] The printer driver 108b is a device driver configured to
control the image forming apparatus 1 according to a printing
instruction from the application program 108a and operates as
software of the OS 108c.
[0043] The auxiliary storage device 108 having the functions
explained above may be, for example, a hard disk drive or other
magnetic storage devices, an optical storage device, a
semiconductor storage device such as a flash memory, or an
arbitrary combination of these storage devices.
[0044] The input I/F 110 is an interface configured to connect the
input section 112. The input section 112 is a pointing device such
as a keyboard device or a mouse or an input device such as a touch
panel.
[0045] The display I/F 114 is an interface configured to connect
the display section 116. The display I/F 114 receives data to be
displayed on the display section 116 from other components
connected to the bus 120. The display I/F 114 outputs the display
data to the display section 116. The display section 116 displays
the output display data. The display section 116 is, for example, a
display or a touch panel attached to a PC or the like.
[0046] The communication I/F 118 is an interface configured to make
a connection to an external apparatus. The communication I/F 118
communicates with external apparatuses (e.g., the image forming
apparatus 1 and other PCs and USB devices) via the network 130
through appropriate wireless communication conforming to
IEEE802.15, IEEE802.11, IEEE802.3, IEEE1284, or the like such as
Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared ray connection, or
optical connection or wired communication by a USB or the like. The
control section 102 communicates with the image forming apparatus
1, other PCs and USB devices, and other external apparatuses via
the communication I/F 118. In this embodiment, a printing job is
transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication
I/F 118.
[0047] Functions of the image forming apparatus 1 are explained
below. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the functions of the
image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. FIGS. 3 to
7 are diagrams for explaining operation for setting N in 1 print in
the image forming apparatus 1.
[0048] The image forming apparatus 1 includes an operation-input
acquiring section 200, a reading control section 202, an image-data
acquiring section 204, a display control section 206, an
operation-content determining section 208, a print-processing
setting section 210, and a print control section 212.
[0049] The operation-input acquiring section 200 acquires various
operation inputs from the operation panel 14 (the touch panel 14a
and the operation keys 14b). In this embodiment, the
operation-input acquiring section 200 acquires an operation input
for setting the N in 1 print performed by operating the touch panel
14a. Besides, the operation-input acquiring section 200 acquires,
for example, an execution instruction for processing such as
copying, scanning, and facsimile and an operation input for setting
conditions for the processing performed on the operation panel
14.
[0050] The reading control section 202 controls reading processing
for an original document by the scanner section 12. If the
operation-input acquiring section 200 acquires an operation input
for instructing execution of scan processing or copy processing,
the reading control section 202 controls the scanner section 12 to
read the original document.
[0051] If copying processing or print processing of image data is
executed, the image-data acquiring section 204 acquires target
image data. In the case of the copy processing, the image-data
acquiring section 204 acquires image data generated by the scanner
section 12 reading an original document. If the image data is
printed, the image-data acquiring section 204 acquires target image
data to be printed from the flash memory or the client terminal 100
connected to the communication I/F 16 or other server apparatuses.
If an image stored in advance in the auxiliary storage device 8 of
the image forming apparatus 1 is printed, image data is acquired
from the auxiliary storage device 8.
[0052] The display control section 206 displays the image data
acquired by the image-data acquiring section 204 on the touch panel
14a. A display example of the image data acquired by the image-data
acquiring section 204 on the touch panel 14a is shown in FIG. 3. In
FIG. 3, the image-data acquiring section 204 acquires image data
for four pages A to D. As shown in FIG. 3, the image data of the
pages A to D are displayed side by side in an acquired image
display area 302 on the lower side of a screen of the touch panel
14a by the display control section 206. A preview area 300 is
arranged above the acquired image display area 302. The preview
area 300 is an area for showing, when the image data is actually
printed, how the pages are arranged and printed on a sheet. In FIG.
3, a preview image indicates that the page A is allocated to and
printed on a first sheet.
[0053] The operation-content determining section 208 determines, if
an operation input on the touch panel 14a is performed, what kind
of operation the operation input is. In this embodiment, the user
performs operation for touching a predetermined range near the
preview area 300 on the touch panel 14a, sliding a finger while
keeping on touching the predetermined range, and releasing the
finger from the touch panel 14a in a predetermined area.
Consequently, the user can perform setting of the N in 1 print for
setting a state in which original image data for one page is
allocated to one sheet (1 in 1 setting) to 2 in 1, 4 in 1, or the
like.
[0054] A method of setting the N in 1 print in this embodiment is
specifically explained. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an
operation method for changing the 1 in 1 setting to the 2 in 1 or
the 4 in 1. First, in a state in which the page A is set as a sheet
of a first page in the 1 in 1, the user touches an N in 1
adjustment area 306 in the preview area 300. The "N in 1 adjustment
area" is an area where the setting of the N in 1 print can be
changed by touch operation for reducing or enlarging an image
displayed in the preview area 300. In FIG. 4, as an example, a
circular area including a corner at the lower right of a page in
the 1 in 1 is shown as the N in 1 adjustment area 306.
[0055] If the user performs touch operation for sliding the N in 1
adjustment area 306 to a 2 in 1 application area indicated by dots
while keeping on touching the N in 1 adjustment area 306 and
performs operation for releasing the finger in the 2 in 1
application area, the operation-content determining section 208
determines that an image of the page A set in the 1 in 1 print is
changed to 2 in 1 print setting. If the user slides the N in 1
adjustment area 306 from a state in which the N in 1 adjustment
area 306 is touched to a 4 in 1 application area indicated by
hatching while maintaining the state and performs operation for
releasing the finger in the 4 in 1 application area, the
operation-content determining section 208 determines that 1 in 1
print setting is changed to 4 in 1 print setting.
[0056] If the operation-content determining section 208 determines
that a print execution button 304 displayed in an area at the lower
right of the touch panel 14a is touched by the user, the
operation-content determining section 208 determines that an
operation input for instructing print execution is performed.
[0057] If the operation-content determining section 208 specifies
contents of touch operation, the print-processing setting section
210 sets setting conditions corresponding to the operation contents
as setting conditions in print. For example, as explained above, if
the user performs operation for changing the 1 in 1 to 4 in 1
print, the operation-content determining section 208 determines
that input touch operation is operation for setting the 4 in 1
print. The print-processing setting section 210 sets, concerning a
page to be printed, the N in 1 setting to the 4 in 1 print.
[0058] In FIG. 5, a screen example displayed on the touch panel 14a
if the 4 in 1 setting is performed is shown. If the touch operation
for setting the 4 in 1 print is performed on the touch panel 14a,
the display control section 206 reduces a page A 302a of original
data to a quarter area at the upper left of a sheet to be printed
and displays the page A 302a.
[0059] Consequently, the user can intuitively grasp in the preview
area 300 that an image of the page A 302a is printed on a first
sheet in the 4 in 1.
[0060] Further, as another operation example, by a similar
operation on the touch panel 14a, a state of the setting of the 4
in 1 print shown in FIG. 5 can be changed to setting of 2 in 1 or 1
in 1 print. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an operation method
for changing a state in which the 4 in 1 print is set to another N
in 1 setting. As shown in FIG. 6, if the user touches the N in 1
adjustment area 306 at the lower right of the page A 302a displayed
in the quarter area of the preview area 300 and slides the N in 1
adjustment area 306 to the 2 in 1 application area while keeping on
touching the N in 1 adjustment area 306, the setting of the 4 in 1
print can be changed to the setting of the 2 in 1 print. If the
user slides the N in 1 adjustment area 306 to a 1 in 1 application
area indicated by a lattice, the setting of the 4 in 1 print can be
changed to the setting of the 1 in 1 print. For example, FIG. 7 is
a screen example displayed on the touch panel 14a if the setting of
the 4 in 1 print is changed to the setting of the 2 in 1 print. As
shown in FIG. 7, in this case, in the preview area 300, the image
of the page A 302a is displayed in the upper half. The user can
intuitively grasp that the image is set to the 2 in 1.
[0061] In FIGS. 4 and 6, to facilitate understanding, the areas are
indicated by being painted out with the lattice, the dots, and the
hatching surrounded by broken lines. However, in a screen actually
displayed on the touch panel 14a, the areas do not need to be
displayed in this way. If the user slides the N in 1 adjustment
area 306 to a predetermined area by touch operation, an image of a
page allocated to the area is arranged in a size and a position
corresponding to the area and displayed in the preview area 300.
Therefore, the user can intuitively grasp that the N in 1 setting
is performed.
[0062] In FIGS. 4 and 6, the N in 1 adjustment area 306 is
indicated by the circular area painted out by the hatching.
However, in the screen actually displayed on the touch panel 14a,
the N in 1 adjustment area 306 does not need to be visually
displayed in this way. If the user knows in advance that the N in 1
setting can be changed by touching a lower right portion of an
image and sliding the image, even if it is not shown which area is
the N in 1 adjustment area 306, the user can intuitively change the
setting of the N in 1 print.
[0063] In this embodiment, the N in 1 adjustment area 306 is
explained as the area including the corner at the lower right of
the image displayed in the preview area 300. However, the N in 1
adjustment area 306 is not always limited to this and may be an
area not including the portion at the lower right of the image.
[0064] A flow of setting processing for the N in 1 print in the
image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is explained
below. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of the setting
processing for the N in 1 print.
[0065] First, the image-data acquiring section 204 acquires image
data generated by the scanner section 12 reading an original
document prior to copy processing or print target image data stored
in the auxiliary storage device 8 or an external apparatus
connected to the communication I/F 16 (Act 101).
[0066] Subsequently, the display control section 206 displays, on
the touch panel 14a, the screen including the list of acquired
print target images and the preview image shown in FIG. 3 (Act
102). For example, as in the example explained above, if images of
the pages A to D are acquired, images of the page A 302a to a page
D 302d are displayed in the acquired-image display area 302 as a
list. The page A 302a, which is a first page among the pages, is
displayed in the preview area 300 in a state in which the page A
302a is allocated in the 1 in 1 to a first sheet to be printed.
[0067] If the user operates the touch panel 14a or the operation
keys 14b and performs an operation input, the operation-input
acquiring section 200 acquires the operation input (Act 103). The
following processing explained below is performed when an operation
input is performed on the touch panel 14a. If an operation input is
performed using the operation keys 14b, print setting corresponding
to the operation is directly performed or processing for executing
print is directly started. Therefore, explanation in this case is
omitted.
[0068] If the user operates the touch panel 14a and the
operation-input acquiring section 200 acquires an operation input,
first, the operation-content determining section 208 determines to
which area a touched position corresponds. Specifically, the
operation-content determining section 208 determines whether the
touched position is the N in 1 adjustment area 306 of an image
corresponding to any one of pages displayed in the preview area 300
(e.g., the page A 302a) (Act 104) or is the print execution button
304 (Act 105).
[0069] If the operation-content determining section 208 determines
that the touched position is the N in 1 adjustment area 306 (Yes in
Act 104), the operation-input acquiring section 200 detects
operation for releasing the finger by the user and acquires
information concerning a position where the finger is releases (Act
106).
[0070] The operation-content determining section 208 determines, on
the basis of an operation input for releasing the finger by the
user, which area the position where the finger is released is.
Specifically, the operation-content determining section 208
determines whether the position is the 4 in 1 application area (Act
107), the 2 in 1 application area (Act 108), or the 1 in 1
application area (Act 109).
[0071] If the operation-content determining section 208 determines
that the position is the 4 in 1 application area (Yes in Act 107),
the print-processing setting section 210 sets the 4 in 1 print as
setting of the N in 1 print (Act 110). If the operation-content
determining section 208 determines that the position is the 2 in 1
application area (Yes in Act 108), the print-processing setting
section 210 sets the 2 in 1 print (Act 111). If the
operation-content determining section 208 determines that the
position is the 1 in 1 application area (Yes in Act 109), the
print-processing setting section 210 sets the 1 in 1 print (Act
112).
[0072] The display control section 206 displays, according to the
setting of the set N in 1 print, a target image of the N in 1
setting by touch operation in a predetermined area of the preview
area 300 (Act 113). For example, if operation for changing the 1 in
1 print to the 4 in 1 print is applied to the page A 302a, the page
A is displayed in a quarter area of the preview area 300. While the
user is sliding the finger in order to perform the setting of the N
in 1 print, the display control section 206 may perform, in
parallel to the movement of the finger, animation display or the
like for reducing or enlarging the target image of the setting.
[0073] If the operation-content determining section 208 determines
that the position where the user releases the finger is none of the
N in 1 application areas (No in Act 109), the print-processing
setting section 210 maintains N in 1 setting at that point (i.e.,
if the N in 1 setting is the 1 in 1 setting, maintains the 1 in 1
setting). The processing returns to Act 103.
[0074] If the operation-content determining section 208 determines
that the touch operation is not touch operation in the N in 1
adjustment area 306 (No in Act 104) but touch operation of the
print execution button 304 (Yes in Act 105), the print control
section 212 causes the printer section 10 to execute print
processing on the basis of setting contents of print processing set
by the print-processing setting section 210 at that point (Act 114)
and the processing ends.
[0075] On the other hand, if the setting-content determining
section 208 determines that the position touched by the user is
neither the N in 1 adjustment area 306 (No in Act 104) nor the
print execution button 304 (No in Act 105), the processing returns
to Act 103.
[0076] The flow of the image forming processing including the print
setting processing by the image forming apparatus 1 according to
this embodiment is as explained above.
[0077] With the image forming apparatus 1 according to this
embodiment, it is possible to easily set and change the N in 1
print with intuitive operation.
[0078] In this embodiment, it is explained that operation is
performed on the touch panel 14a of the image forming apparatus 1.
However, the N in 1 print is not limited to this. For example, if
the image forming apparatus 1 includes a pointing device such as a
mouse together with the touch panel 14a or instead of the touch
panel 14a, the setting processing for the N in 1 print can be
performed by a method same as the method explained above according
to operation (e.g., drag and drop) of the pointing device.
[0079] In this embodiment, it is explained that the N in 1 setting
is performed in the image forming apparatus 1. However, the N in 1
print is not limited to this. For example, when a computer such as
the client terminal 100 instructs the image forming apparatus to
perform print, the computer can display the screen for the N in 1
print setting explained in this embodiment and perform the setting
for the N in 1 print explained in this embodiment. In this case, if
the computer includes a touch panel, the N in 1 setting can be
directly applied to operation on the touch panel. If the computer
includes a pointing device such as a mouse, the setting processing
for the N in 1 print explained in this embodiment can be performed
by operation by the pointing device. The N in 1 print setting in
the computer only has to be performed on a screen of a printer
driver started when print is instructed.
Second Embodiment
[0080] A second embodiment is explained below. The image forming
apparatus 1 according to this embodiment further includes a
function of enabling a user to individually change, for each of
images, the directions of images allocated to one sheet in N in 1
print by performing operation for touching, on the touch panel 14a,
a predetermined area in a state in which an image of a page
allocated to the preview area 300 is displayed and sliding the
image to be rotated.
[0081] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an operation method for
changing the direction of an image in this embodiment. A page A and
a page B are allocated to and displayed in the preview area 300 of
the screen of the touch panel 14a explained in the first
embodiment. In other words, 2 in 1 print is set.
[0082] In the image forming apparatus 1 according to this
embodiment, on this screen, for example, if the user touches an N
in 1 adjustment area 306' of the page A 302a, slides a finger to
operate an image to be rotated, and releases the finger from the
touch panel 14a, processing for rotating the image a predetermined
angle in accordance with a position where the user releases the
finger is executed.
[0083] Specifically, the operation-input acquiring section 200
acquires an operation input of the user for touching the N in 1
adjustment area 306', which functions as an area where rotating
operation is possible in the preview area 300, and rotating the
image with the center of the page A generally set as the center of
rotation while keeping on touching the area, and releasing the
finger. If the operation-content determining section 208 determines
that the touched position is the N in 1 adjustment area 306', the
operation-content determining section 208 determines which degree
the image is rotated in a position where the finger is released
thereafter.
[0084] In FIG. 10, it is indicated which degree the image is
rotated according to in which position the user releases the finger
after performing the rotating operation on the touch panel 14a. As
shown in FIG. 10, if the finger is released in a 90.degree.
rotation application area, the operation-content determining
section 208 determines that operation for rotating the image
90.degree. is performed. Similarly, if the finger is released in a
180.degree. rotation application area, the operation-content
determining section 208 determines that operation for rotating the
image 180.degree. is performed. If the finger is released in a
270.degree. rotation application area, the operation-content
determining section 208 determines that operation for rotating the
image 270.degree. is performed.
[0085] The rotation application areas at the respective angles
shown in FIG. 10 are shown as an example for enabling intuitive
operation and are not limited to such areas divided into four. The
rotation application areas at the respective angles may be, for
example, areas in a narrower angle range.
[0086] The print-processing setting section 210 executes, on the
basis of a result of the determination by the operation-content
determining section 208 which degree the image is rotated, on the
rotated image of the page, processing for changing an angle in a
sheet to which the image is allocated. The display control section
206 displays the image in the preview area 300 in a state in which
the angle is changed. In FIG. 11, a screen of the touch panel 14a
displayed in the preview area 300 by rotating the image of the page
A 302a 90.degree. is shown.
[0087] As explained above, with the functions of the image forming
apparatus according to this embodiment, it is possible to
individually change directions of images of pages allocated to one
sheet intuitively and with simple operation.
[0088] A flow of rotation processing for an image in the image
forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is explained
below. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the
rotation processing for an image in the image forming apparatus 1.
The flow of the rotation processing for an image explained with
reference to the flowchart of FIG. 12 is a flow of processing from
a state in which an original document is, for example, scanned,
images of pages are acquired by the image-data acquiring section
204, and, in the preview area 300 of the touch panel 14a, 2 in 1
print setting is applied to the page A 302a and the page B 302b and
the page A 302a and the page B 302b are displayed by the display
control section 206 in a state in which the page A 302a and the
page B 302b are allocated to one sheet.
[0089] First, the operation-input acquiring section 200 acquires a
touch operation input for touching the N in 1 adjustment area 306'
of an image of any one of pages in the preview image 300 and
rotating the image (Act 201).
[0090] Subsequently, the operation-input acquiring section 200
acquires an operation input for releasing the finger after the
rotating operation (Act 202). The operation-content determining
section 208 determines in which area the finger is released in the
operation input acquired by the operation-input acquiring section
200. Specifically, the operation-content determining section 208
determines whether the finger is released in the 90.degree.
rotation application area (Act 203), whether the finger is released
in the 180.degree. rotation application area (Act 204), and whether
the finger is released in the 270.degree. rotation application area
(Act 205).
[0091] If the operation-content determining section 208 determines
that the finger is released in the 90.degree. rotation application
area (Yes in Act 203), the print-processing setting section 210
applies processing for rotating the image 90.degree. (Act 206). If
the operation-content determining section 208 determines that the
finger is released in the 180.degree. rotation application area
(Yes in Act 204), the print-processing setting section 210 applies
processing for rotating the image 180.degree. (Act 207). If the
operation-content determining section 208 determines that the
finger is released in the 270.degree. rotation application area
(Yes in Act 205), the print-processing setting section 210 applies
processing for rotating the image 270.degree. (Act 208).
[0092] The display control section 206 rotates, in accordance with
the applied rotation angle, the rotated image a set angle and
displays the image in the preview area 300 (Act 209).
[0093] If the operation-content determining section 208 determines
that the position where the user releases the finger is none of the
rotation application areas (No in Act 205), the display control
section 206 does not perform the processing for rotating the
operation target image. The processing returns to Act 201.
[0094] The flow of the rotation processing in the image forming
apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is as explained above. If
the touch operation of the print execution button 304 or the touch
operation for the N in 1 print setting explained in the first
embodiment is performed, processing corresponding to the touch
operation only has to be executed in accordance with the flow of
the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8.
[0095] For example, if the operation for touching the N in 1
adjustment area 306' of the operation target image and rotating the
image is performed and, at the same time, the operation for sliding
the image to any one of the N in 1 application areas explained in
the first embodiment is performed, processing by both the kinds of
operation may be applied in accordance with the position where the
finger is released. For example, if, from a state in which the 4 in
1 print is set and an image is displayed in a quarter area of the
preview area 300, the N in 1 adjustment area 306' is touched to
rotate the image 90.degree. and slid the image to the 2 in 1
application area and the finger is released, the image only has to
be displayed in a half area of the preview area in a state in which
the image is rotated 90.degree.. Consequently, the user can
intuitively grasp that the target image is changed from the 4 in 1
to the 2 in 1 and the processing for changing the direction of the
image is applied.
[0096] The operation for rotating the image is not limited to only
one image. For example, all images displayed in the N in 1 may be
rotated by performing the operation once.
[0097] The processing explained in this embodiment can also be
performed by a pointing device other than the touch panel 14a in
the image forming apparatus 1. When an external computer other than
the image forming apparatus 1 instructs the image forming apparatus
1 to perform print, the processing can be performed using a
pointing device such as a mouse on a display of the computer.
[0098] In this embodiment, it is explained that the image can be
rotated to the three rotation angles: 90.degree., 180.degree., and
270.degree.. However, the rotation angles are not limited to these
angles. A larger number of rotation application areas may be
provided to enable finer setting of rotation angles.
[0099] As explained above, according to the present invention, it
is possible to set and change the number of pages allocated to one
sheet easily and with intuitive operation.
[0100] While certain embodiments have been described, these
embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not
intended to limit the scope of invention. Indeed, the novel
apparatus and methods described herein may be embodied in a variety
of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and
changes in the form of the apparatus and methods described herein
may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions.
The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover
such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and
spirit of the inventions.
* * * * *