JP2009080551A - Image display device and image display system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience by reducing the labor or time of the confirming operation of page content based on a thumbnail image. <P>SOLUTION: This image display device is provided with an operation display part 30 for displaying a preview screen G2 for displaying a thumbnail image for confirming output configurations when a print job whose original page data and output conditions are set is performed, and for accepting the instruction of image transition units of the thumbnail image based on output conditions set in the print job; and a control part 110 for creating the thumbnail image according to the instruction of the image transition units input from an operation display part 30, and for displaying the thumbnail image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device and an image display system.

  In recent years, when an image is formed by executing a print job, before executing the print job, a preview of the image image (thumbnail image) of the paper formed by the print job is displayed to confirm the contents of the print job. A technique for forming an image is known.

As a preview display technique, the thumbnail image of the first page is displayed and the contents are checked while turning one page at a time, the thumbnail image of the page specified by the user is displayed first, or the content specified by the user is A technique for displaying a continuous portion is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-206347 A

  However, if confirmation is performed while turning one page at a time as in the prior art, even pages that do not need to be confirmed are displayed, which takes work time required for confirmation. In addition, even when the user designates the page number and contents, there is a problem that the user is not easy to use because it is necessary for the user to remember in advance the part of the contents to be confirmed and the page number. In addition, when the number of pages of the print job is a large number of pages, there is a problem that if confirmation is performed page by page, it takes time and confirmation is likely to occur.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to reduce the labor and time for checking the contents of a page using a thumbnail image and improve usability.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a display unit for displaying a thumbnail image for confirming an output form when a print job in which manuscript page data and output conditions are set is executed, and a setting for the print job are set. An input unit that receives an instruction of an image transition unit of a thumbnail image displayed on the display unit based on the output condition that has been generated, and generates the thumbnail image according to the instruction of the image transition unit input by the input unit, An image display device is provided that includes a control unit that displays a thumbnail image on the display unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image display device according to the first aspect, the output condition includes an item indicating a part which is an output unit of the print job, and an output condition of the item indicating the part The image transition unit based on is a copy unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image display device according to the first or second aspect, the output condition includes an item indicating a chapter that is a delimiter of manuscript page data of the print job, The image transition unit based on the output condition of the indicated item is a chapter unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image display device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the output condition is that the original page data is image-formed when the print job is executed. Including an item indicating whether the paper to be inserted is inserted paper,
The image transition unit based on the output condition of the item indicating the insertion sheet is an insertion sheet unit.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image display device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the output condition includes an item indicating a post-processing delimiter of the print job, and The image transition unit based on the output condition of the item indicating the process delimiter is a post-process delimiter unit.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a display unit for displaying a thumbnail image for confirming an output form when a print job in which manuscript page data and output conditions are set is executed is set in the print job. An external unit having an input unit that receives an instruction of an image transition unit of a thumbnail image displayed on the display unit based on the output condition, and a transmission unit that transmits an instruction of an image transition unit received by the input unit; A receiving unit that receives the instruction of the image transition unit transmitted from the transmitting unit, and generates the thumbnail image based on the instruction of the image transition unit input by the input unit, and displays the thumbnail image on the display unit An image display system including an image display device having a control unit is provided.

  According to the first and sixth aspects of the present invention, the thumbnail image generated according to the instruction of the image transition unit of the thumbnail image based on the output condition set in the print job can be displayed. It is possible to reduce the labor and time for checking the page contents, and to improve usability.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained, and the page content can be confirmed by the thumbnail image in units of copies.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the first or second aspect can be obtained, and the confirmation operation of the page contents by the thumbnail image can be performed for each chapter.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as in any one of the first to third aspects can be obtained, and the operation of confirming the page contents by the thumbnail image for each inserted sheet is performed. Can do.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as in any one of the first to fourth aspects can be obtained, and the confirmation operation of the page contents by the thumbnail image in the post-processing delimiter unit can be performed. Can be done.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an image display system A in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image display system A includes an external device 1 and an image forming device 2, and each device is communicably connected via a network N. Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which one external device 1 and three image forming apparatuses 2 are connected, the number of installed apparatuses is not particularly limited.

  The external apparatus 1 is intended to remotely operate the image forming apparatus 2. For example, when the external apparatus 1 controls the image forming apparatus 2 to execute print processing, the external apparatus 1 performs various settings set during printing. The setting conditions and image data are transmitted to the image forming apparatus 2. As the external device 1, for example, an information processing device such as a general-purpose PC is applicable.

  The image forming apparatus 2 has both an image forming function for forming an image on a sheet and post-processing functions such as a punching process, a stapling process, a folding process, and a cutting process for the sheet on which the image is formed. This is a device that performs processing in accordance with setting instructions from the provided operation display unit or various setting instructions transmitted from the external device 1.

  The network N may be a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a telephone line network, an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) line network, a broadband communication line network, a dedicated line, a mobile communication network, A configuration including a communication satellite line, a CATV (Community Antenna Television) line, an optical communication line, a wireless communication line, and the like, and an Internet service provider for connecting them may be used.

First, the external device 1 will be described.
FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration diagram of the external device 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, the external apparatus 1 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an operation unit 14, a display unit 15, a communication unit 16, and the like. So that they can communicate with each other.

  The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, expands a system program, various control programs, various data, and the like stored in the storage unit 12 in the RAM 13, and cooperates with these programs and data. The overall operation of the external device 1 is comprehensively controlled. Further, the control unit 11 executes various processes according to the program expanded in the RAM 13, stores the processing results in the RAM 13, and causes the display unit 15 to display them. Then, the processing result stored in the RAM 13 is stored in a predetermined storage destination of the storage unit 12.

  Further, the control unit 11 executes print control processing and the like in cooperation with the application software program stored in the storage unit 12 and the printer driver program 12a for executing the printer driver and various data, and stores the processing result in the RAM 13. Is displayed on the display unit 15.

  The storage unit 12 includes a nonvolatile storage medium such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and a system program, various control programs, and various applications executed by the control unit 11 in the storage medium. A program, a printer driver program 12a, and data related to these programs are stored.

  The RAM 13 forms a work area that temporarily stores various programs executed by the control unit 11 and data related thereto.

  The operation unit 14 includes a keyboard composed of numeric keys, character keys, cursor movement keys, various function keys, and the like for inputting operation instructions in the external apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 2, and a pointing device such as a mouse. It is prepared for. The operation unit 14 outputs a press signal from the keyboard and an operation signal from the mouse to the control unit 11 as input signals.

  The display unit 15 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays various setting screens on the display screen in accordance with a display signal input from the control unit 11.

  The communication unit 16 is configured to include various interfaces such as a network interface card (NIC), a modem (MODEM: MOD-DEModulator), and a USB (Universal Serial Bus). Send and receive information to and from each other. The communication unit 16 functions as a transmission unit that transmits an image transition unit instruction (described later) received by the operation unit 14 to the image forming apparatus 2.

  3 and 4 show examples of various screens displayed on the display screen of the display unit 15. The various screens are screens that are displayed when the image forming apparatus 2 executes print processing. FIG. 3 shows an example of the setup screen G1, and FIG. 4 shows an example of the preview screen G2.

  On the setup screen G1 shown in FIG. 3, when executing a print job in which image data composed of a plurality of document page data and output conditions of the document page data are set, the direction and size of the document page data and an image are formed. A paper setting area E11 that receives settings of paper and the like, an output setting area E12 that receives settings such as the total number of output copies of the print job and a discharge destination (paper discharge tray) of the paper on which the image is formed, a paper setting area E11, and an output setting area E12 A preview area E13 for displaying a simple print image in the output form of the print job based on the contents set by the above, a preview button B1 for displaying a preview screen G2, and the like.

  The print job output conditions include a print job output unit, a chapter that is a delimiter of print job manuscript page data, and an image (including a blank image) based on the manuscript page data when the print job is executed. It includes an item indicating whether or not the sheet on which an image is formed is an insertion sheet, and an item indicating a post-processing delimiter of the print job.

  The preview screen G2 shown in FIG. 4 displays a thumbnail image of the selected original page data in order to confirm the output form of the selected original page data when a print job including original page data and output conditions is executed. This is the screen to be displayed.

  The preview screen G2 shown in FIG. 4 includes an image transition unit area E21 that receives an instruction for an image transition unit of a thumbnail image, an image transition destination area E22 that receives an instruction for an image transition destination, a thumbnail image display area E23, and a counter display unit E24. Have.

  The image transition unit area E21 has buttons corresponding to the items of the print job output conditions. The buttons include a section button B21a, a chapter button B21b, an insertion paper button B21c, a subset button B21d, a document page button B21e, and a paper page button B21f, and any one of these buttons can be selected.

  The copy button B21a is a button for receiving an instruction to set the image transition unit as a copy unit that is an output unit of a print job. The chapter button B21b is a button for receiving an instruction to set the image transition unit as a chapter unit that is a delimiter of document page data of the print job. The insert paper button B21c is a button for accepting an instruction to set an image transition unit as an insert paper unit to be inserted when a print job is executed. The subset button B21d is a button for receiving an instruction to set the image transition unit as a post-processing delimiter (subset) unit for the print job. The document page button B21e is a button for receiving an instruction to set the image transition unit as a document page data unit. The paper page button B21f is a button for receiving an instruction to set the image transition unit as a paper page unit.

  The image transition destination area E22 has a top button B22a, a previous button B22b, a subsequent button B22c, a final button B22d, and a number designation button B22e, and any one of the buttons can be selected.

  The top button B22a is a button for receiving an instruction to display a paper page of an image transition unit located at the head of the image transition unit selected from the image transition unit area E21. The previous button B22b is an image transition unit selected from the image transition unit area E21, and accepts an instruction to display a paper page of the image transition unit positioned immediately before the currently displayed image transition unit. Button. The next button B22c is an image transition unit selected from the image transition unit area E21, and is a button for receiving an instruction to display a paper page of an image transition unit positioned immediately after the currently displayed image transition unit. It is. The final button B22d is a button for receiving an instruction to display a paper page of the image transition unit positioned at the end of the image transition unit selected from the image transition unit area E21. The number designation button B22e is a button for accepting the display of the paper page of the image transition unit at the position corresponding to the number input to the number designation button B22e of the image transition unit selected from the image transition unit area E21.

  In the thumbnail image display area E23, a thumbnail image TN generated according to the combination of buttons selected by the image transition unit area E21 and the image transition destination area E22 is displayed.

  The counter display section E24 displays the page number of the paper page currently displayed in the thumbnail image display area E23.

  In the present embodiment, the display unit 15 functions as a display unit that displays a preview screen for displaying thumbnail images, and each button included in the image transition unit area E21 on the preview screen is an image transition unit of the thumbnail image. It functions as an input unit that receives instructions.

Next, the image forming apparatus 2 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 2.
The image forming apparatus 2 reads an image from an original, forms an image on the paper P, receives a print job including image data from the external device 1 or the like, and places the image on the paper P based on the print job. This is a digital multi-function peripheral including an image forming unit to be formed and a post-processing unit that performs punching, stapling, folding, cutting, and the like on a sheet on which an image is formed. As shown in FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus 2 includes an image reading unit 20, an operation display unit 30, a print unit 40, and a post-processing unit 50.

  The image reading unit 20 includes an automatic document feeder 21 called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) and a reading unit 22. The document d placed on the document tray T1 of the automatic document feeder 21 is conveyed to a contact glass that is a reading portion of the reading unit 22, and an image on one or both sides of the document d is read by the optical system of the reading unit 22. The image of the document d is read by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 22a. Here, the image means not only image data such as graphics and photographs but also text data such as characters and symbols.

  An image (analog image signal) read by the reading unit 22 is output to an image control board (to be described later), subjected to A / D conversion and various image processing on the image control board, and then output to the printing unit 40.

  The operation display unit 30 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a touch panel 31 provided so as to cover the LCD, and other operation key groups (not shown). The operation display unit 30 receives user input and outputs input information to the image control board. Further, various setting screens for inputting various setting conditions, various processing results, and the like are displayed according to display signals input from the image control board.

  On the touch panel 31 of the operation display unit 30, a screen that is displayed when the image forming apparatus 2 executes print processing is displayed. 4 and 6 show examples of various screens displayed on the touch panel 31. FIG. FIG. 6 shows an example of the job setting screen G3.

  In the job setting screen G3 shown in FIG. 6, the total number of output copies of the print job, the number of copies to be set for the image forming paper / print surface area E31, the document setting area E32 for setting the original page data of the print job, the image quality The image quality setting area E33 for setting the document size, the magnification setting area E34 for setting the magnification of the original page data, the carry-out condition setting area E35, the discharge destination (discharge tray) for the sheet on which the image is formed, and the discharge setting for setting the post-processing An area E36, an application setting area E37, a preview button B3 for displaying a preview screen G2, and the like are provided.

  Since the preview screen displayed on the touch panel 31 when the preview button B3 is pressed is the same screen as the preview screen G2 shown in FIG. 4, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  The print unit 40 performs electrophotographic image forming processing based on input print data, and includes a paper feed unit 41, a paper feed conveyance unit 42, an image formation unit 43, and a carry-out unit 44. Is done.

  The paper feed unit 41 includes a plurality of paper feed trays 41a, paper feed means 41b, a manual feed tray T2, and the like. The paper feed tray 41a stores paper P that is identified in advance for each color and paper type for each paper feed tray 41a. The paper feed means 41b feeds the paper P one by one from the top to the paper feed conveyance unit 42. Transport toward. The manual feed tray T2 can stack various types of paper P according to the user's needs, and transports the paper P stacked by the paper feed rollers one by one from the top to the paper feed transport unit 42. To do.

The sheet feeding / conveying section 42 conveys the sheet P conveyed from the sheet feeding tray 41a or the manual feed tray T2 to the transfer device 43a via a plurality of intermediate rollers, registration rollers 42a, and the like.
Further, the sheet feeding / conveying section 42 conveys the sheet P on which the single-sided image formation processing has been performed to the duplex conveying path by the conveyance path switching plate, and again conveys it to the transfer device 43a via the intermediate roller and the registration roller 42a.

  The image forming unit 43 includes an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device 43a, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser output unit that outputs laser light based on image data, and a polygon mirror that scans the laser light in the main scanning direction. A cleaning unit and a fixing device 43b are provided. Specifically, an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating a photosensitive drum charged by a charging device with laser light using an exposure device. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image by attaching charged toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum by the developing device is transferred to the paper P by the transfer device 43a. Further, after the toner image is transferred to the paper P, residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum is removed by the cleaning unit.

  The fixing device 43 b thermally fixes the toner image transferred to the paper P conveyed by the paper feed conveyance unit 42. The fixed sheet P is sandwiched between the discharge rollers of the carry-out unit 44 and conveyed from the carry-out port to the post-processing unit 50.

  The post-processing unit 50 includes a sorting unit that performs sorting processing of sheets on which images are formed, a punch unit that performs punching processing, a stapling unit that performs stapling processing to bind a bundle of sheets at a set binding position, and a folding unit that performs folding processing. And a cutting section for performing a cutting process. Sheets that have been or have not been subjected to various processes are discharged to a discharge tray T3.

FIG. 7 shows a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus 2.
As shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 2 includes a main body 1a, a printer controller 1b, and a post-processing unit 50 connected to the main body 1a. The image forming apparatus 2 is connected to the external apparatus 1 on the network N through a LANIF (Local Area Network InterFace) 14b of the printer controller 1b so as to be able to send and receive information to and from each other.

  The main body unit 1a includes an image reading unit 20, an operation display unit 30, a printing unit 40, and an image control board 100. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure same as each part demonstrated in FIG. 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The image control board 100 includes a control unit 110, a nonvolatile memory 120, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 130, a reading processing unit 140, a compression IC 150, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) control IC 160, an image memory 170, a decompression IC 180, and a writing process. Part 190.

The control unit 110 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, reads a system program stored in the non-volatile memory 120 and a specified program from various application programs, expands the RAM 130, and expands the RAM 130. Various processes are executed in cooperation with the program to centrally control each unit of the image forming apparatus 2.
For example, according to an instruction signal input from the operation display unit 30 or the external device 1, the copy mode, the printer mode, and the scanner mode are switched, and control such as copying, printing, and reading of image data is performed.

  The control unit 110 reads out the thumbnail image display processing program according to the present embodiment from the nonvolatile memory 120 and various data related to the print job from the RAM 130, and cooperates with the program and the various data to operate the external device 1 or the operation. A thumbnail image is generated based on an instruction corresponding to the button selected from the image transition unit area E21 on the preview screen G2 displayed on the display unit 30, that is, an instruction of the image transition unit, and the thumbnail image is converted into a thumbnail image. A function for controlling processing to be displayed in the display area E23 is realized.

  In addition to various processing programs and data related to image formation, the nonvolatile memory 120 stores thumbnail image display processing programs according to the present embodiment, data processed by the various programs, and the like.

  The RAM 130 forms a work area that temporarily stores various programs executed by the control unit 110 and data related to these programs, print job data, a node list generated by the print job data, and the like.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the node list NR.
As shown in FIG. 8, the node list NR includes a plurality of areas (nodes) N1, N2, N3,... Nn configured in units of document page data of a print job, and document page data corresponding to each node. Are arranged in the order in which the images are formed.

Each node is an area for storing information on a plurality of items of output conditions for each original page data. The item includes an information item corresponding to the image transition unit.
Items corresponding to the image transition unit are a manuscript page number K1, a paper page number K2, a copy number K3, a chapter number K5, an insertion paper number K6, and a subset number K7. Each node has items such as a section K4, an image address K8, a next node address K9, and a previous node address K10.

  The document page number K1 is an item referred to when a document page unit is selected as an image transition unit. In the document page number K1, a number of document page data, that is, logical page data is set, and a different value is set in each node.

  The paper page number K2 is an item referred to when a paper page unit is selected as the image transition unit. In the paper page number K2, the number of the paper page to which the original page data corresponding to the original page number K1 belongs, that is, the number of the physical page, is set. It depends on. For example, in the 2-in-1 mode in which two original page data are collected on one page, the paper page numbers of the nodes N1 and N2 are “1”.

  The copy number K3 is an item referred to when a copy unit is selected as the image transition unit. The copy number K3 is effective when a copy is selected as the image transition unit, and a value indicating the copy number is set. Note that “1” is preset as the initial state.

  The copy break K4 is set to ON when it is the final original page data of the copy. For example, when the number of original pages is the same for each copy, only the final original page data node is ON. When the number of manuscript page data is different for each copy, the nodes that can be turned on are all nodes, and the information that the last manuscript page data for each copy is set, that is, the delimiter is ON is set. ing.

  The chapter number K5 is an item referred to when a chapter unit is selected as an image transition unit. In chapter number K5, the number of the chapter to which the document page data corresponding to document page number K1 belongs is set.

  The insertion sheet number K6 is an item referred to when an insertion sheet unit is selected as the image transition unit. The insertion sheet number K6 is the number of insertion sheets counted from the top of the node list when the sheet on which an image (including a blank image) based on the document page data corresponding to the document page number K1 is formed is the insertion sheet. A value indicating whether or not there is set. If it is not an insertion sheet, “0” is set.

  The subset number K7 is an item referred to when a subset unit is selected as an image transition unit. The subset number K7 has a value indicating the number of divisions (subsets) counted from the head of the node list when the original page data corresponding to the original page number K1 is a post-processing division such as stapling or folding. Is set. If it is not a subset, “0” is set.

  The image address K8 is set to the address of the image memory 170 in which the document page data corresponding to the document page number K1 is stored.

  As the next node address K9, a memory address in which a node arranged next in the arrangement order of the node list is stored is set. Note that the next node address K9 of the last node is not set.

  As the previous node address K10, a memory address in which a node arranged immediately before in the arrangement order of the node list is stored is set. Note that the previous node address K10 of the first node is not set.

  The reading processing unit 140 performs various processing such as analog processing, A / D conversion processing, and shading processing on the analog image signal input from the image reading control unit 200 of the image reading unit 20, and then generates digital image data. To do. The generated image data is output to the compression IC 150.

  The compression IC 150 performs compression processing on the input digital image data and outputs it to the DRAM control IC 160.

  The DRAM control IC 160 controls the image data compression processing by the compression IC 150 and the decompression processing of the compressed image data by the decompression IC 180 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 110, and performs input / output control of image data to the image memory 170. For example, when an instruction to store the image signal read by the image reading unit 20 is given, the compression processing of the image data input from the reading processing unit 140 is executed by the compression IC 150, and the compressed image data is compressed in the image memory 170. It is stored in the memory 171. When the print output of the compressed image data stored in the compression memory 171 is instructed, the compressed image data is read from the compression memory 171, decompressed by the decompression IC 180, and stored in the page memory 172. Further, when an instruction to print out the image data stored in the page memory 172 is issued, the image data is read from the page memory 172 and output to the writing processing unit 190.

  The image memory 170 includes a compression memory 171 and a page memory 172 configured from DRAM (Dynamic RAM). The compression memory 171 is a memory for storing compressed image data, and the page memory 172 is a memory for temporarily storing image data (print data) for print output.

  The decompression IC 180 performs decompression processing on the input compressed image data.

  The write processing unit 190 generates print data for image formation based on the image data input from the DRAM control IC 160 and outputs the print data to the print unit 40.

  The image reading unit 20 includes a CCD 22a, an image reading control unit 200, and other automatic document feeding unit 21 and reading unit 22 shown in FIG. The image reading control unit 200 controls the automatic document feeding unit 21, the reading unit 22, and the like to execute exposure scanning of the document surface, and performs photoelectric conversion on the reflected light of the light by the CCD 22a to read the image. The read analog image signal is output to the reading processing unit 140.

  The operation display unit 30 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a touch panel 31 provided to cover the LCD, an operation display control unit 300, and other operation key groups such as a numeric keypad (not shown). The operation display control unit 300 displays various setting screens for inputting various setting conditions, various screens as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, various processing results, and the like on the LCD in accordance with a display signal input from the control unit 110. . Further, the operation display control unit 300 outputs an operation signal input from the operation key group or the touch panel 31 to the control unit 110.

  In other words, the operation display unit 30 that displays the preview screen G2 and receives the instruction of the image transition unit, and the non-volatile memory 120, the RAM 130, and the image memory 170 cooperate with the instruction of the image transition unit input from the operation display unit 30. The image display device of the present invention is configured by the control unit 110 that generates a thumbnail image based on the thumbnail image and displays the thumbnail image on the preview screen G2.

  The print unit 40 includes various units related to print output such as the image forming unit 43 shown in FIG. 5 and a print control unit 400. The print control unit 400 controls the operation of each unit of the print unit 40 such as the image forming unit 43 according to an instruction from the control unit 110, and forms an image on the paper P based on the print data input from the writing processing unit 190. In addition, an instruction signal for operating each part of the post-processing unit 50 according to an instruction from the control unit 110 is output to the post-processing control unit 500.

  Next, each part of the printer controller 1b will be described. When the image forming apparatus 2 is used as a network printer, the printer controller 1b serves as a receiving unit that receives a print job or an image transition unit instruction input from the external apparatus 1 connected to the network N to the image forming apparatus 2. In addition to functioning, it manages and controls instructions for the print job and image transition units, receives data to be printed from the external device 1, and transmits the data to the main body 1a as job data.

  The printer controller 1b includes a controller control unit 11b, a DRAM control IC 12b, an image memory 13b, and a LANIF 14b.

  The controller control unit 11b comprehensively controls the operation of each unit of the printer controller 1b and transmits the data to the data body unit 1a input from the external device 1 via the LANIF 14b.

  The DRAM control IC 12b controls storage of data received by the LANIF 14b in the image memory 13b and reading of data from the image memory 13b. The DRAM control IC 12b is connected to the DRAM control IC 160 of the image control board 100 through a PCI (Peripheral Components Interconnect) bus, and reads data to be printed from the image memory 13b in accordance with an instruction from the controller control unit 11b. Output to the control IC 160.

  The image memory 13b is composed of a DRAM and temporarily stores input data.

  The LANIF 14 b is a communication interface for connecting to a network N such as a NIC (Network Interface Card) or a LAN such as a modem, and receives data from the external device 1. The received data is output to the DRAM control IC 12b.

  The post-processing unit 50 includes various post-processing units such as a sorting unit (not shown), a punch unit (not shown), a stapling unit, and a folding unit, and a transport unit such as a transport roller that transports paper to the various post-processing units. The various post-processing units are comprehensively controlled by the post-processing control unit 500. The post-processing control unit 500 transports the paper P to a predetermined processing unit along the transport path in accordance with a post-processing instruction signal input from the control unit 110 via the print control unit 400, and drives and controls each unit. Then, the sheet P is subjected to predetermined post-processing and discharged to a predetermined discharge tray.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
9 to 12 are flowcharts of the thumbnail image display process in the present embodiment. 9 and 8 show a main flowchart of the thumbnail image display process. Note that the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 9 and 8 are processes executed by the control unit 110.

  First, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the preview button B1 on the setup screen G1 or the preview button B3 on the job setting screen G3 has been pressed (step S1).

  When the preview button B1 or B3 is pressed (step S1; Yes), the control unit 110 sets, as an initial setting, a paper page unit as an image transition unit, and sets an item (reference item) referred to by a node. The paper page number K2 is set based on the image transition unit.

  When the preview button B1 or B3 is not pressed (step S1; No), the control unit 110 determines which button of the image transition unit area E21 and any button of the image transition destination area E22 on the preview screen G2. It is determined whether or not there is a selection instruction (step S3). If there is no selection instruction (step S3; No), the process returns to step S1.

  When there is an instruction to select any button of the image transition unit area E21 and any button of the image transition destination area E22 on the preview screen G2 (step S3; Yes), the control unit 110 in the image transition unit area E21. The selected button is set as an image transition unit, and the item of the node corresponding to the image transition unit is set as a reference item (step S4).

  The control unit 110 presents a manuscript page among the nodes of the manuscript page data at the top of the manuscript page data forming the thumbnail image currently displayed on the preview screen, that is, the manuscript page data node forming the thumbnail image. In the node with the smallest number, the value of the item corresponding to the reference item set in step S4 is set as a reference value (step S5). This reference value is a focused value among the values indicated by the reference item of each node.

  After step S2 or step S5, the control unit 110 executes reference value determination processing shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 (step S6).

  After the reference value determination process (after step S6), the control unit 110 sets the address of the node to be referred to (reference node address) as the address of the first node in the node list (step S7), and the reference item is the part number. It is determined whether or not there is (step S8). If the reference item is a copy number (step S8; Yes), the values of the reference items of all the nodes are set to the reference value (step S9), and step S18. Proceed to

  When the reference item is not a part number (step S8; No), the control unit 110 determines whether or not the value of the reference item of the node corresponding to the reference address is a reference value (step S10), and corresponds to the reference address. When the value of the reference item of the node to be performed is a reference value (step S10; Yes), the process proceeds to step S18.

  When the value is not a reference value in the reference item of the node corresponding to the reference address (step S10; No), the control unit 110 refers to the item of the node corresponding to the reference address and the item of the part break, and sets the value of the part number. It is determined whether or not the parting value corresponding to is ON (step S11). For example, when the number of document page data is different for each copy, and there are two print jobs, the first copy and the second copy are set to different nodes. In this case, when 2 is set in the item of the part number, the value corresponding to the second part is referred to in the item of the part break.

  The control unit 110 sets the node value corresponding to the reference address when the value of the section corresponding to the value of the node number corresponding to the reference address is not ON, that is, OFF (step S11; No). The address of the next node address that has been set is set as a reference address (step S12), and the process returns to step S10.

  When the value of the division corresponding to the value of the node number corresponding to the reference address is ON (step S11; Yes), the control unit 110 includes the chapter number, document page number, and paper page number as reference items. It is determined whether it is either (step S13).

  When the reference item is any one of the chapter number, the manuscript page number, and the paper page number (step S13; Yes), the control unit 110 selects the node list from the node determined to have the section breaker ON in step S11. A node having a reference item that is different from the value of the reference item of the node determined to have the partial break in the order toward the beginning (the order in which the original page number of the node becomes smaller) is searched (step S14). The address of the node arranged after the node searched in S14, that is, the node address indicated by the next node address of the searched node is set as a reference address (step S15), and the process proceeds to step S18.

  When the reference item is not any of the chapter number, the manuscript page number, and the paper page number, that is, the insertion sheet number or the subset number (step S13; No), the control unit 110 turns on the division in step S11. A reference item that is different from the reference item value of the node that is determined to be ON in the order from the node determined to be the node list to the head of the node list (the order in which the document page number of the node decreases) Are searched (step S16), the address of the node searched in step S16 is set as a reference address (step S17), and the process proceeds to step S18.

  After step S9, step S10; Yes, step S15 or step S17, the control unit 110 refers to the image address set in the node corresponding to the reference address, and reads the original page data stored in the image address. Then, a document image based on the read document page data is generated (step S18).

  The control unit 110 determines whether or not the generation of the document image for the paper page to which the node corresponding to the reference address belongs is completed (step S19), and the document image for the paper page to which the node corresponding to the reference address belongs. If the generation has not been completed (step S19; No), it is determined whether or not the node division of the reference address is ON (step S20).

  If the node section of the reference address is not ON, that is, if it is OFF (step S20; No), the control unit 110 sets the address of the next node address set in the node corresponding to the reference address as the reference address. (Step S21), and the process returns to step S18.

  When the section of the reference address node is ON (step S20; Yes), the control unit 110 executes error processing such as notification of error information, assuming that this processing cannot be executed (step SS22). This process is terminated.

  When the generation of the document image for the paper page to which the node corresponding to the reference address belongs is completed (step S19; Yes), the control unit 110 generates a thumbnail image based on the generated document image (step SS23). The generated thumbnail image is displayed on the preview screen G2 (step S24), and this process ends.

  11 and 12 are flowcharts of the reference value determination process executed in step S6. The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are processes executed by the control unit 110.

The control unit 110 determines whether the reference item is a copy number (step S31).
When the reference number is a part number (step S31; Yes), the control unit 110 sets a reference value based on the instruction of the button selected in the image transition destination area E22 (step S32).

  As the reference value setting in step S32, the reference value is set to 1 when the top button B22a is selected. When the previous button B22b is selected, the reference value is set to a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the currently set reference value. When the next button B22c is selected, the reference value is set to a value obtained by adding 1 to the currently set reference value. When the last button B22d is selected, the reference value is set to the value of the total number of copies set for the print job. When the number designation button B22e is selected, the reference value is set to the value input to the button.

  After step S32, the control unit 110 determines whether or not the reference value is 0 (step S33). If the reference value is 0 (step S33; Yes), the reference value is set to 1 (step S34). This process ends.

  When the reference value is not 0 (step S33; No), the control unit 110 determines whether or not the reference value is larger than the total number of outputs (step S35), and when the reference value is equal to or less than the number of output copies (step S35). S35; No), this process ends.

  When the reference value is larger than the total output number (step S35; Yes), the control unit 110 sets the reference value as the total output number (step S36), and ends this process.

  When the reference number is not a part number (step S31; No), the control unit 110 determines whether or not the button selected in the image transition destination area E22 is the final button B22d (step S37).

  When the button selected in the image transition destination area E22 is the final button B22d (step S37; Yes), the control unit 110 determines whether the reference item is a chapter number, a document page number, or a paper page number. It discriminate | determines (step S38).

  When the reference item is any one of the chapter number, the manuscript page number, and the paper page number (step S38; Yes), the control unit 110 sets the part number of each node in the order from the first node to the last node in the node list. The node with the part break corresponding to the part number value is searched for (step S39), and the address of the node retrieved at step S39 is set as the reference address (step S40). The process proceeds to step S44.

  When the reference item is not any of the chapter number, the manuscript page number, and the paper page number, that is, the insertion sheet number or the subset number (step S38; No), the control unit 110 starts from the first node in the node list. With reference to the part number and part break item of each node in the order toward the node, the node whose part break corresponding to the value of the part number is ON is searched (step S41). From the node searched in step S41 A node in which the value of the reference item is a value other than 0 in the order toward the head of the node list (the order in which the document page number of the node decreases) is searched (step S42), and the address of the node searched in step S42 Is set as a reference address (step S43), and the process proceeds to step S44.

  The control unit 110 sets the value indicated by the reference item of the node corresponding to the reference address set in step S40 or step S43 as a reference value (step S44), and ends this process.

  When the button selected in the image transition destination area E22 is not the final button B22d (step S37; No), the control unit 110 determines whether the reference item is any of a chapter number, a document page number, and a paper page number. (Step S45).

  When the reference item is any of the chapter number, the document page number, and the paper page number (step S45; Yes), the control unit 110 selects the preview buttons B1 and B3 or selects them in the image transition destination area E22. A reference value is set on the basis of the button instruction (step S46).

  As a reference value setting in step S46, the reference value is set to 1 when the top button B22a is selected. When the previous button B22b is selected, the reference value is set to a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the currently set reference value. When the next button B22c is selected, the reference value is set to a value obtained by adding 1 to the currently set reference value. When the number designation button B22e is selected, the reference value is set to the value input to the button. When the preview button B1 or B3 is selected, the reference value is set to 1.

  After step S46, the controller 110 determines whether or not the reference value is 0 (step S47). If the reference value is not 0 (step S47; No), the process is terminated.

  When the reference value is 0 (step S47; Yes), the control unit 110 sets the reference value to 1 (step S48) and ends this process.

  When the reference item is not any of the chapter number, the manuscript page number, and the paper page number, that is, when the reference item is the insertion paper number or the subset number (step S45; No), the control unit 110 selects the image transition destination area E22. It is determined whether or not the selected button is the top button B22a (step S49).

  When the button selected in the image transition destination area E22 is the top button B22a (step S49; Yes), the control unit 110 sets the reference value to 1 (step S50) and ends this process.

  When the button selected in the image transition destination area E22 is not the top button B22a (step S49; No), the control unit 110 determines whether or not it is the previous button B22b (step S51).

  When the button selected in the image transition destination area E22 is the previous button B22b (step S51; Yes), the control unit 110 determines the original page data that forms the thumbnail image currently displayed on the preview screen. Among the nodes of the original document page data, that is, the node of the document page data forming the thumbnail image, the node with the smallest document page number is specified (step S52).

  The control unit 110 searches for a node in which the value of the reference item is a value other than 0 in the order from the node identified in step S52 toward the top of the node list (the order in which the document page number of the node decreases) (step S52). S53), the process proceeds to step S57.

  When the button selected in the image transition destination area E22 is not the previous button B22b (step S51; No), the control unit 110 determines whether or not it is the next button B22c (step S54).

  When the button selected in the image transition destination area E22 is the next button B22c (step S54; Yes), the control unit 110 determines the original page data that forms the thumbnail image currently displayed on the preview screen. Among them, the node having the smallest document page number is identified from the nodes of the first document page data, that is, the nodes of the document page data forming the thumbnail image (step S55).

  The control unit 110 searches for a node in which the value of the reference item is a value other than 0 in the order from the node identified in step S55 toward the end of the node list (the order in which the document page number of the node increases) (step S55). S56), the process proceeds to step S57.

  After step S53 or step S57, the control unit 110 sets the address of the searched node as a reference address (step S57), and sets the value indicated by the reference item of the node corresponding to the set reference address as a reference value. (Step S58), the process is terminated.

  When the button selected in the image transition destination area E22 is not the next button B22c (step S54; No), the control unit 110 determines that the number designation button B22e is selected, and sets the reference value to the number designation button B22e. The input value is set (step S59), and this process ends.

  FIG. 13 shows a table of thumbnail image units displayed by executing the thumbnail image display processing. The vertical item indicates the image transition unit corresponding to the button selected in the image transition unit area E21, and the horizontal item indicates the type of the button selected in the image transition destination area E22.

  When the image transition unit is a copy, when the top button B22a is selected as the image transition destination, the original page data positioned at the head of the original page group constituting the first portion (first portion) executed in the print job is displayed. A thumbnail image of the paper page to which it belongs (first paper page) is displayed. When the previous button B22b is selected, the thumbnail image of the first paper page of the previous part to the part to which the paper page currently displayed as the thumbnail image belongs is displayed. When the next back button B22c is selected, the thumbnail image of the first paper page of the next part to the part to which the paper page currently displayed as the thumbnail image belongs is displayed. When the last button B22d is selected, a thumbnail image of the first paper page of the last part (final part) executed in the print job is displayed. When the number designation button B22e is selected, a thumbnail image of the first paper page of the copy corresponding to the number input to the number designation button B22e is displayed.

  When the image transition unit is a chapter, when the top button B22a is selected as the image transition destination, a thumbnail image of the first paper page of the chapter located at the top of the print job is displayed. When the previous button B22b is selected, a thumbnail image of the first paper page of the chapter immediately before the chapter to which the paper page currently displayed as the thumbnail image belongs is displayed. When the next back button B22c is selected, the thumbnail image of the first paper page of the chapter one page after the chapter to which the paper page currently displayed as the thumbnail image belongs is displayed. When the last button B22d is selected, a thumbnail image of the first paper page of the last chapter (final chapter) in the print job is displayed. When the number designation button B22e is selected, a thumbnail image of the first paper page of the chapter corresponding to the number input to the number designation button B22e is displayed.

  When the image transition unit is insertion paper, when the top button B22a is selected as the image transition destination, a thumbnail image of the insertion paper (first insertion paper) that is inserted first when the print job is executed is displayed. Is done. When the previous button B22b is selected, a thumbnail image of the insertion sheet currently displayed as a thumbnail image is displayed. When the next button B22c is selected, a thumbnail image of the insertion sheet currently displayed as a thumbnail image is displayed. When the final button B22d is selected, a thumbnail image of the insertion sheet (last insertion sheet) inserted last in the print job is displayed. When the number designation button B22e is selected, a thumbnail image of the insertion sheet corresponding to the number input to the number designation button B22e is displayed.

  When the image transition unit is a subset, when the top button B22a is selected as the image transition destination, the top of the original page group delimited by the first delimiter (first subset) when the print job is executed. A thumbnail image of the paper page (first paper page) to which the original document page data belongs is displayed. When the previous button B22b is selected, the thumbnail image of the first paper page of the subset immediately before the subset to which the paper page currently displayed as the thumbnail image belongs is displayed. When the next back button B22c is selected, the thumbnail image of the first paper page of the subset immediately after the subset to which the paper page currently displayed as the thumbnail image belongs is displayed. When the final button B22d is selected, thumbnail images of the first paper page of the final subset in the print job are displayed. When the number designation button B22e is selected, a thumbnail image of the first paper page of the subset corresponding to the number input to the number designation button B22e is displayed.

  When the image transition unit is the original page unit, when the top button B22a is selected as the image transition destination, the paper page to which the original page data of the node having the smallest original page number belongs, that is, the original page data of the print job is displayed. A thumbnail image of the paper page to which it belongs is displayed. When the previous button B22b is selected, the original page of the node whose original page number is a value obtained by subtracting one from the value indicated by the original page number of the original page data node constituting the paper page currently displayed as the thumbnail image. The paper page to which the data belongs, that is, the thumbnail image of the paper page to which the original page data immediately before the original page data constituting the paper page currently displayed as the thumbnail image belongs is displayed. When the next button B22c is selected, the original page of the node having the original page number that is obtained by adding 1 to the value indicated by the original page number of the original page data node constituting the paper page currently displayed as the thumbnail image. The paper page to which the data belongs, that is, the thumbnail image of the paper page to which the original page data subsequent to the original page data constituting the paper page currently displayed as a thumbnail image belongs is displayed. When the final button B22d is selected, the paper page to which the original page data of the node having the largest original page number belongs, that is, the thumbnail image of the paper page to which the final original page data of the print job belongs is displayed. When the number designation button B22e is selected, a thumbnail image of the paper page to which the original page data of the node of the original page number corresponding to the number input to the number designation button B22e belongs is displayed.

  When the image transition unit is a paper page, when the top button B22a is selected as the image transition destination, the paper page composed of the original page data of the node including the smallest paper page number, that is, the first page in the print job. A thumbnail image of the paper page is displayed. When the previous button B22b is selected, the original of the node including the paper page number that is obtained by subtracting 1 from the value indicated by the paper page number of the node of the original page data constituting the paper page currently displayed as the thumbnail image. A paper page composed of page data, that is, a thumbnail image of the paper page immediately before the paper page currently displayed as a thumbnail is displayed. When the next button B22c is selected, the original of the node including the paper page number obtained by adding 1 to the value indicated by the paper page number of the node of the original page data constituting the paper page currently displayed as the thumbnail image. A paper page composed of page data, that is, a thumbnail image of a paper page immediately after the paper page currently displayed as a thumbnail is displayed. When the final button B22d is selected, a paper page composed of the original page data of the node including the largest paper page number, that is, a thumbnail image of the final paper page in the print job is displayed. When the number designation button B22e is selected, a thumbnail image of the paper page composed of the original page data of the node including the paper page number corresponding to the number input to the number designation button B22e is displayed.

  Accordingly, it is possible to check the page contents using thumbnail images in copy units, chapter units, inserted paper units, and post-processing delimiter units (subset units) in addition to document page units and paper page units.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the thumbnail image generated in accordance with the instruction of the image transition unit of the thumbnail image based on the output condition set in the print job can be displayed. It is possible to reduce the time and effort required for checking the page contents, and the usability can be improved.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the structure of an image display system. It is an internal block diagram of an external device. It is a figure which shows the example of a setup screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a preview screen. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a job setting screen. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a node list. It is a main flowchart of a thumbnail image display process. FIG. 9 is a main flowchart of thumbnail image display processing (continuation of FIG. 9). It is a flowchart of a reference value determination process. 12 is a flowchart of reference value determination processing (continuation of FIG. 11). It is a figure which shows the table | surface of the unit of a thumbnail image.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 External apparatus 2 Image forming apparatus 1a Main body part 1b Printer controller 11b Controller control part 12b DRAM control IC
13b Image memory 14b LANIF
11 Control Unit 12 Storage Unit 12a Printer Driver Program 13 RAM
14 Operation unit 15 Display unit 16 Communication unit 17 Bus 20 Image reading unit 21 Automatic document feeding unit 22 Reading unit 22a CCD
30 operation display unit 31 touch panel 40 print unit 41 paper feed unit 41a paper feed tray 41b paper feed means 42 paper feed transport unit 42a registration roller 43 image forming unit 43a transfer device 43b fixing device 44 carry-out unit 50 post-processing unit 100 image control board 110 Control unit 120 Non-volatile memory 130 RAM
140 Reading processing unit 150 Compression IC
160 DRAM control IC
170 Image memory 171 Compression memory 172 Page memory 180 Decompression IC
190 Writing processing unit 200 Image reading control unit 300 Operation display control unit 400 Print control unit 500 Post-processing control unit A Image display system B1, B3 Preview button B21a Part button B21b Chapter button B21c Insert paper button B21d Subset button B21e Original page button B21f Paper page button B22a First button B22b One previous button B22c One next button B22d Last button B22e Number designation button d Original E11 Paper setting area E12 Output setting area E13 Preview area E21 Image transition unit area E22 Image transition destination area E23 Thumbnail image Display area E24 Counter display section E31 Number of copies / printing area E32 Document setting area E33 Image quality setting area E34 Magnification setting area E35 Unloading condition setting area E36 Paper discharge setting area E37 Application setting area G1 Setup screen G2 Preview screen G3 Job setting screen K1 Document page number K2 Paper page number K3 Part number K4 Part separator K5 Chapter number K6 Insert paper number K7 Subset number K8 Image address K9 Next node address K10 Previous node address N Network NR Node list N1, N2 , N3... Nn Node P Paper T1 Document tray T2 Manual feed tray T3 Paper discharge tray TN Thumbnail image

Claims (6)

A display unit for displaying a thumbnail image for confirming an output form when a print job in which original page data and output conditions are set is executed;
An input unit that receives an instruction of an image transition unit of a thumbnail image displayed on the display unit based on an output condition set in the print job;
A control unit that generates the thumbnail image in accordance with an instruction of an image transition unit input by the input unit, and displays the thumbnail image on the display unit;
An image display device comprising: The output condition includes an item indicating a part which is an output unit of the print job,
The image transition unit based on the output condition of the item indicating the part is a part unit.
The image display device according to claim 1. The output condition includes an item indicating a chapter that is a delimiter of manuscript page data of the print job,
The image transition unit based on the output condition of the item indicating the chapter is a chapter unit.
The image display device according to claim 1. The output condition includes an item indicating whether or not the paper on which the original page data is imaged when the print job is executed is an insertion paper,
The image transition unit based on the output condition of the item indicating the insertion sheet is an insertion sheet unit.
The image display apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 3. The output condition includes an item indicating a delimiter of post-processing of the print job,
The image transition unit based on the output condition of the item indicating the post-processing break is a post-processing break unit.
The image display apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 4. A display unit for displaying a thumbnail image for confirming an output form when a print job in which original page data and output conditions are set is executed;
An input unit that receives an instruction of an image transition unit of a thumbnail image displayed on the display unit based on an output condition set in the print job;
A transmission unit that transmits an instruction of an image transition unit accepted by the input unit;
An external device having
A receiving unit for receiving an instruction of the image transition unit transmitted from the transmitting unit;
A control unit that generates the thumbnail image based on an instruction of an image transition unit input by the input unit, and displays the thumbnail image on the display unit;
An image display device comprising:
An image display system comprising:

Images