Method of and system for visually selecting process area for efficient image processing

• US 20020060675A1
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Published: 05/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Masao
• Granted Patent: US 6,961,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

A software program enables to maintain the amount of task by the operator for image processing regardless of the number of image pages. By displaying the combined overlapped image, the operator is able to visually confirm a processing area or range for a predetermined image processing. Because of the above described features, the operator is able to easily specify the tasks such as removing, moving and inserting an image in the selected area in an assured manner without significant experience or knowledge of computer programs.

Claims

1. A method of image processing comprising the steps of:

selecting pages of image to identify selected pages;

combining the selected pages of the image into a single overlapping image;

displaying the single overlapping image;

selecting a portion of the single overlapping image to specify a selected portion;

simultaneously image processing the selected portion of each of the pages of the image to generate image processed pages of the image; and

outputting separately each of the image processed pages of the image.

2. The method of image processing according to claim 1 wherein said image processing is to remove the selected portion.

3. The method of image processing according to claim 1 wherein said image processing is to insert data into the selected portion.

4. The method of image processing according to claim 3 wherein the data includes a combination of an image and text.

5. The method of image processing according to claim 1 wherein said image processing is to move the selected portion within the single overlapping image.

6. The method of image processing according to claim 1 wherein the selected portion is an entire portion of the single overlapping image, said image processing step further comprising selecting a paper size to fit the entire portion of the single overlapping image, said outputting step printing each of the image processed pages onto a sheet of the selected paper size.

7. The method of image processing according to claim 1 wherein said outputting step is to print out each of the image processed pages of the image.

8. The method of image processing according to claim 1 wherein said selecting step further comprises the additional steps of:

displaying a rectangle to indicate the selected portion;

dragging a first portion of the rectangle to change a size of the rectangle; and

dragging a second portion of the rectangle to move a position of the rectangle.

9. The method of image processing according to claim 8 wherein an inside area of the rectangle is image processed in said image processing step.

10. The method of image processing according to claim 8 wherein an outside area of the rectangle is image processed in said image processing step.

11. A computer readable medium storing computer instructions for image processing, the computer instructions performing the following tasks:

providing a first interface for selecting pages of image to identify selected pages;

combining the selected pages of the image into a single overlapping image;

displaying the single overlapping image;

providing a second interface for selecting a portion of the single overlapping image to specify a selected portion;

simultaneously image processing the selected portion of each of the pages of the image to generate image processed pages of the image; and

outputting separately each of the image processed pages of the image.

12. The computer readable medium storing computer instructions according to claim 11 wherein said image processing is to remove the selected portion.

13. The computer readable medium storing computer instructions according to claim 11 wherein said image processing is to insert data into the selected portion.

14. The computer readable medium storing computer instructions according to claim 13 wherein the data includes a combination of an image and text.

15. The computer readable medium storing computer instructions according to claim 11 wherein said image processing is to move the selected portion within the single overlapping image.

16. The computer readable medium storing computer instructions according to claim 11 wherein the selected portion is an entire portion of the single overlapping image, said image processing step further providing a third interface for selecting a paper size to fit the entire portion of the single overlapping image, said outputting step printing each of the image processed pages onto a sheet of the selected paper size.

17. The computer readable medium storing computer instructions according to claim 11 wherein said outputting step is to print out each of the image processed pages of the image.

18. The computer readable medium storing computer instructions according to claim 11 wherein said selecting step further comprises the additional steps of:

displaying a rectangle to indicate the selected portion;

dragging a first portion of the rectangle to change a size of the rectangle; and

dragging a second portion of the rectangle to move a position of the rectangle.

19. The computer readable medium storing computer instructions according to claim 18 wherein an inside area of the rectangle is image processed in said image processing step.

20. The computer readable medium storing computer instructions according to claim 18 wherein an outside area of the rectangle is image processed in said image processing step.

21. A system for image processing comprising:

an input unit for selecting pages of image to identify selected pages and combining the selected pages of the image into a single overlapping image;

a display unit connected to said input unit for displaying the single overlapping image;

a selection unit connected to said display unit for selecting a portion of the single overlapping image to specify a selected portion;

an image processing unit connected to said selection unit for simultaneously image processing the selected portion of each of the pages of the image to generate image processed pages of the image, said image processing unit separately outputting each of the image processed pages of the image.

22. The system for image processing according to claim 21 wherein said image processing unit removes the selected portion.

23. The system for image processing according to claim 21 wherein said image processing unit inserts data into the selected portion.

24. The system for image processing according to claim 23 wherein the data includes a combination of an image and text.

25. The system for image processing according to claim 21 wherein said image processing unit moves the selected portion within the single overlapping image.

26. The system for image processing according to claim 21 wherein said selection unit further selects a paper size to fit an entire portion of the single overlapping image and further comprises a printer connected to said image processing unit for printing each of the image processed pages onto a sheet of the selected paper size.

27. The system for image processing according to claim 21 wherein said selection unit displays a rectangle to indicate the selected portion, said selection unit providing a user interface for dragging a first portion of the rectangle to change a size of the rectangle and for dragging a second portion of the rectangle to move a position of the rectangle.

28. The system for image processing according to claim 27 wherein said image processing unit image processes an inside area of the rectangle.

29. The system for image processing according to claim 27 wherein said image processing unit image processes an outside area of the rectangle.