Image processing apparatus

• US 10,609,242 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2019
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yamada, Takafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anh-Vinh T
• Application Number:
  US16/566,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20200007706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 203 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00949 Combining applications, e.g. to create workflows allocation of computer machine resources considering the execution order of a plurality of tasks G06F9/5038
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image processing apparatus is configured to execute first image data process, second image data process, a first storing process to store process combination information including a first default parameter and a second default parameter, and a combination process. The combination process includes a first obtaining process of obtaining an alternative parameter including at least one of a first alternative parameter and a second alternative parameter, a first combination execution process of executing the first image data process in accordance with the first alternative parameter when the first alternative parameter is obtained, and a second combination execution process of executing the second image data process in accordance with the second alternative parameter when the second alternative parameter is obtained.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer readable instructions for a control device having a controller, a user interface and a memory, the instructions being configured to, when executed by the controller, causes the control device to:

in response to receipt of an execution operation through the user interface, cause image data processing hardware corresponding to image data process identified by the execution operation to execute the image data process identified by the execution operation in accordance with a parameter identified by the execution operation, the image data processing hardware being one of a plurality of kinds of image data processing hardware connected to the control device, the plurality of kinds of image data processing hardware including first image data processing hardware operable to perform a first image data process and second image data processing hardware operable to perform a second image data process different from the first image data process;

store process combination information, which includes first identifying information indicating the first image data process, second identifying information indicating the second image data process, a first default parameter, and a second default parameter, in the memory, the first image data process being an image data process identified by a first execution operation of the execution operation and being process of preparing image data, the second image data process being the image data process identified by a second execution operation of the executed operation which is different from the first execution operation and being an operation using the image data prepare in the first image data process, the first default parameter being a parameter corresponding to the first image data process and being a parameter identified by the first execution operation, the second default parameter being a parameter corresponding to the second image data process and being a parameter identified by the second execution operation; and

in response to receipt of a combination execution operation through the user interface, execute a combination process of causing the first image data processing hardware to execute the first image data process indicated by the first identification information included in the process combination information stored in the memory, and causing the second data processing hardware to execute the second image data process indicated by the second identification information using the image data prepared in the first image data process as object image data,

the combination process including;

a first obtaining process of obtaining an alternative parameter during the combination process, the alternative parameter including at least one of a first alternative parameter corresponding to the first image data process and a second alternative parameter corresponding to the second image data process;

a first combination execution process of causing the first image data processing hardware to execute the first image data process in accordance with the first alternative parameter when the first alternative parameter is obtained in the first obtaining process and causing the first image data processing hardware to execute the first image data process in accordance with the first default parameter when the first alternative parameter is not obtained in the first obtaining process; and

second combination execution process of causing the second image data processing hardware to execute the second image data process in accordance with the second alternative parameter when the second alternative parameter is obtained in the first obtaining process and causing the second image data processing hardware to execute the second image data process in accordance with the second default parameter when the second alternative parameter is not obtained in the first obtaining process.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1,

wherein the first alternative parameter is a parameter identified by the first execution operation, and

wherein the second alternative parameter is a parameter identified by the second execution operation.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1,

wherein, when an alternative user operation is received through the user interface during the combination process, a parameter indicated by the alternative user operation is obtained, in the first obtaining process, as the alternative parameter.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1,

in the first obtaining process, the alternative parameter is obtained based on characteristics of image data prepare in the first image data process which is executed in the combination process.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1,

wherein, when the first alternative parameter obtained in the combination process is different from the first default parameter, the second alternative parameter corresponding to the obtained first alternative parameter and different from the second default parameter is obtained in the first obtaining process.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1,

wherein the memory is configured to store parameter combination information indicating a combination of the first alternative parameter and the second alternative parameter corresponding to the first alternative parameter, and

wherein, in the first obtaining process, the second alternative parameter is obtained based on the parameter combination information stored in the memory when the first alternative parameter obtained during the combination process is different from the first default parameter.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1,

wherein, when the first execution operation and the second execution operation are received through the user interface, the instructions, when executed by the controller, causes the control device to execute a second storing operation to store the first default parameter in the memory as the first alternative parameter, and the second default parameter in the memory as the second alternative parameter corresponding to the first alternative parameter.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 4,

wherein, when the first image data process executed in the combination process is a process of generating image data by obtaining characteristics of an object with used of a sensor, characteristics of an object image obtained with user of the sensor is analyzed and the alternative parameter is obtained based on a result of the analysis in the first obtaining process.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1,

in the first obtaining process,

when the first default parameter is a parameter used to prepare the document image data which is image data containing character string image,

when non-document data which is image data not containing the character string image is prepared in the first image data process executed in the combination process, a parameter used to prepare the non-document data is obtained as the first alternative parameter,

when the first default parameter is the parameter used to prepare the non-document data,

when the document image data is prepared in the first image data process executed in the combination process, a parameter used to prepare the document image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 9,

wherein, in the first obtaining process,

when the first default parameter is a parameter used to prepare the document image data,

when a parameter used to prepare the non-document image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter in the combination process, a parameter used to apply the second image data process to the non-document image data at a first resolution is obtained as the second alternative parameter,

when the first default parameter is a parameter used to prepare the non-document image data,

when a parameter used to prepare the document image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter in the combination process, a parameter used to apply the second image data process to the document image data at a second resolution which is lower than the first resolution is obtained as the second alternative parameter.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 9,

wherein the plurality of types of image data processing hardware includes a communication interface capable of communication with an external memory,

wherein the second image data process is a process of storing the image data prepared in the first image data process,

wherein, in the first obtaining process,

when the first default parameter is the parameter used to prepare the document image data,

when a parameter used to prepare the non-document image data is obtained as the first alterative parameter in the combination process, a parameter used to store the image data in the memory of the image processing apparatus is obtained as the second alternative parameter,

when the first default parameter is the parameter used to prepare the non-document image data,

when a parameter used to prepare the document image data is obtained as the first alterative parameter in the combination process, a parameter used to store the image data in the external memory is obtained as the second alternative parameter.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1,

wherein, in the first obtaining process,

when the first default parameter is a parameter used to prepare monochromatic image data,

when color image data is prepared in the first image data process executed in the combination process, a parameter used to prepare the color image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter,

when the first default parameter is a parameter used to prepare the color image data,

when monochromatic image data is prepared in the first image data process executed in the combination process, a parameter used to prepare the monochromatic image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 12,

wherein the second image data process is a process of printing the image data prepared in the first image data process,

wherein, in the first obtaining process,

when the first default parameter is a parameter used to prepare the monochromatic image data,

when a parameter used to prepare the color image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter in the combination process, a parameter used to perform color printing of the color image data as the second alternative parameter,

when the first default parameter is a parameter used to prepare the color image,

when a parameter used to prepare the monochromatic image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter in the combination process, a parameter used to perform monochromatic printing of the monochromatic image data is obtained as the second alternative parameter.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13,

wherein, in the first obtaining process,

when the first default parameter is a parameter used to prepare one piece of image data,

when a plurality of pieces of image data are prepared in the first image data process executed in the combination process, a parameter used to prepare the plurality of pieces of image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter,

when the first default parameter is a parameter used to prepare the plurality of pieces of image data,

when the one piece of image data is prepared in the first image data process executed in the combination process, a parameter used to prepare the one piece of image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 14,

wherein the second image data process is a process of printing the image data prepared in the first image data process,

wherein, in the first obtaining process,

when the first default parameter is a parameter used to prepare the one piece of image data,

when a parameter used to prepare the plurality of pieces of image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter in the combination process, a parameter used to perform the both-side printing of the plurality of pieces of image data as the second alternative parameter,

when the first default parameter is a parameter used to prepare the plurality of pieces of image data,

when a parameter used to prepare the one piece of image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter in the combination process, a parameter used to perform the one-side printing of the one piece of image data is obtained as the second alternative parameter.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of types of image data processing hardware includes a communication interface configured to communicated with an external memory,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the control device to:

when the second default parameter is a parameter indicating that the image data is to be stored in the memory of the control device,

when the image data is to be stored in the external memory, which is a second storage, in the second image data process executed in the combination process, obtain a parameter indicating storage of the image data in the second storage as the second alternative parameter,

when the second default parameter is a parameter indicating that the image data is to be stored in the first storage,

when the image data is to be stored in the first storage in the second image data process executed in the combination process, execute a second obtaining process of obtaining a parameter indicating storage of the image data in the first storage destination as the second alternative parameter.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 16,

wherein, in the second obtaining process,

when the second default parameter is a parameter indicating storage of the image data in the first storage destination,

when a parameter indicating storage of the image data in the second storage destination is obtained as the second alternative parameter in the combination process, a parameter used to perform the first image data process at a third resolution corresponding to the second storage destination is obtained as the second alternative parameter, and

when the second default parameter is a parameter indicating storage of the image data in the second storage destination,

when a parameter indicating storage of the image data in the first storage destination is obtained as the second alternative parameter in the combination process, a parameter used to perform the first image data process at a fourth resolution, which is higher than the third resolution, corresponding to the first storage destination is obtained as the second alternative parameter.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 1,

wherein, in the first obtaining process,

when the first default parameter is a parameter used to prepare first particular image data containing a particular character string,

when second particular image data which does not contain the particular character string is to be prepared in the first image data process executed in the combination process, a parameter used to prepare the second particular image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter, and

when the first default parameter is a parameter used to prepare the second particular image data,

when the first particular image data is to be prepared in the first image data process executed in the combination process, a parameter used to prepare the first particular image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 18,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the controller, further causes the control device to:

when a parameter used to prepare the first particular image data is obtained as the first alternative parameter in the first obtaining process;

display a particular screen to receive input to set a password with respect to the first particular image data; and

receive input with respect to the particular screen as displayed, and

wherein, in the first obtaining process,

when an input with respect to the particular screen is received, the password of which input is received is included in the second alternative parameter.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 17,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the controller, further causes the control device to execute:

a third storing process of storing first user identification information in the memory in association with the process combination information stored in the memory in the first storing process;

an identification information obtaining process to obtain second user identification information identifying a user causing the control device to execute the first obtaining process to obtain the second alternative parameter; and

a comparing process to compare the first user identification information with the second user identification information,

wherein, in the first obtaining process,

when the second default parameter is a parameter indicating a first transmission destination corresponding to the first user identification information,

when the first user identification information stored in the third storing process and the second user identification information obtained in the identification information obtaining process are determined to coincide with each other in the comparing process, a parameter indicating the first transmission destination is obtained as the second alternative parameter, and

when the first user identification information stored in the third storing process and the second user identification information obtained in the identification information obtaining process are determined not to coincide with each other in the comparing process, a parameter indicating a second transmission destination corresponding to the second user identification information is obtained as the second alternative parameter.

21. A control device comprising a controller, a user interface and a memory, the controller causes the control device to:

in response to receipt of an execution operation through the user interface, cause image data processing hardware corresponding to image data process identified by the execution operation to execute the image data process identified by the execution operation in accordance with a parameter identified by the execution operation, the image data processing hardware being one of a plurality of kinds of image data processing hardware connected to the control device, the plurality of kinds of image data processing hardware including first image data processing hardware operable to perform a first image data process and second image data processing hardware operable to perform a second image data process different from the first image data process;

store process combination information, which includes first identifying information indicating the first image data process, second identifying information indicating the second image data process, a first default parameter, and a second default parameter, in the memory, the first image data process being an image data process identified by a first execution operation of the execution operation and being process of preparing image data, the second image data process being the image data process identified by a second execution operation of the executed operation which is different from the first execution operation and being an operation using the image data prepare in the first image data process, the first default parameter being a parameter corresponding to the first image data process and being a parameter identified by the first execution operation, the second default parameter being a parameter corresponding to the second image data process and being a parameter identified by the second execution operation; and

in response to receipt of a combination execution operation through the user interface, execute a combination process of causing the first image data processing hardware to execute the first image data process indicated by the first identification information included in the process combination information stored in the memory, and causing the second data processing hardware to execute the second image data process indicated by the second identification information using the image data prepared in the first image data process as object image data,

the combination process including;

a first obtaining process of obtaining an alternative parameter during the combination process, the alternative parameter including at least one of a first alternative parameter corresponding to the first image data process and a second alternative parameter corresponding to the second image data process;

a first combination execution process of causing the first image data processing hardware to execute the first image data process in accordance with the first alternative parameter when the first alternative parameter is obtained in the first obtaining process and causing the first image data processing hardware to execute the first image data process in accordance with the first default parameter when the first alternative parameter is not obtained in the first obtaining process; and

second combination execution process of causing the second image data processing hardware to execute the second image data process in accordance with the second alternative parameter when the second alternative parameter is obtained in the first obtaining process and causing the second image data processing hardware to execute the second image data process in accordance with the second default parameter when the second alternative parameter is not obtained in the first obtaining process.

22. A system comprising a controller, a user interface, a memory and a plurality of kinds of image data processing hardware including first image data processing hardware operable to perform a first image data process and second image data processing hardware operable to perform a second image data process different from the first image data process, the controller causes the system to:

in response to receipt of an execution operation through the user interface, cause image data processing hardware corresponding to image data process identified by the execution operation to execute the image data process identified by the execution operation in accordance with a parameter identified by the execution operation, the image data processing hardware being one of the plurality of kinds of image data processing hardware;

store process combination information, which includes first identifying information indicating the first image data process, second identifying information indicating the second image data process, a first default parameter, and a second default parameter, in the memory, the first image data process being an image data process identified by a first execution operation of the execution operation and being process of preparing image data, the second image data process being the image data process identified by a second execution operation of the executed operation which is different from the first execution operation and being an operation using the image data prepare in the first image data process, the first default parameter being a parameter corresponding to the first image data process and being a parameter identified by the first execution operation, the second default parameter being a parameter corresponding to the second image data process and being a parameter identified by the second execution operation; and

in response to receipt of a combination execution operation through the user interface, execute a combination process of causing the first image data processing hardware to execute the first image data process indicated by the first identification information included in the process combination information stored in the memory, and causing the second data processing hardware to execute the second image data process indicated by the second identification information using the image data prepared in the first image data process as object image data,

the combination process including;

a first obtaining process of obtaining an alternative parameter during the combination process, the alternative parameter including at least one of a first alternative parameter corresponding to the first image data process and a second alternative parameter corresponding to the second image data process;

a first combination execution process of causing the first image data processing hardware to execute the first image data process in accordance with the first alternative parameter when the first alternative parameter is obtained in the first obtaining process and causing the first image data processing hardware to execute the first image data process in accordance with the first default parameter when the first alternative parameter is not obtained in the first obtaining process; and

second combination execution process of causing the second image data processing hardware to execute the second image data process in accordance with the second alternative parameter when the second alternative parameter is obtained in the first obtaining process and causing the second image data processing hardware to execute the second image data process in accordance with the second default parameter when the second alternative parameter is not obtained in the first obtaining process.