Information processing apparatus, method and program

• US 20060179169A1
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Tetsuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,925,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/502 relating to the structure of the control menu, e.g. pop-up menus, help screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5087 for receiving image data
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5091 for user-identification or authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

It is possible to provide a user with an operation screen having settings with which the user is familiar, such as an operation screen that has been used in the past for this external input/output device. When a external input/output device is connected to a information processing apparatus, specific information for specifying the device is acquired. Then, from a storage device that associates and stores an operation screen for processing an image that has been handled by the external device and the specific information, a corresponding operation screen is selected based upon the specific information that has been acquired. By displaying the selected operation screen on a touch-sensitive panel display, various setting operations can be performed with regard to an image that has been input from the external input/output device.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for inputting and processing an image that has been handled by an external device, comprising:

an acquisition unit, adapter to acquire specific information for specifying the external device;

a display unit, adapted to display an operation screen for processing the image;

a storage unit, adapted to store an associating information which associates operation screen for processing an input image that has been handled by an external device and specific information of the external device; and

a selection unit, adapted to an operation screen with reference to the associating information based upon the specific information acquired by said acquisition unit;

wherein the display unit displays the operation screen that has been selected by said selection unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said acquisition unit acquires individual information, which specifies the individual of the external device, as the specific information.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said associating information associates specific information of an external device that handled an image processed by said information processing apparatus in the past and an operation screen used when the image was processed in the past.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a model information acquisition unit, adapted to acquire model information pertaining to the external device;

wherein said selection unit selects an operation screen that corresponds to the model information.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said storage unit stores model information pertaining to external devices upon dividing the model information into a plurality of groups that are based upon the types of the external devices;

and

said selection unit selects an operation screen corresponding to a group that is based upon the model information that has been acquired by said model information acquisition unit.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said selection unit selects, for every type of model of external devices, a first operation screen that makes operation possible based upon model information and advanced processing settings, and a second operation screen that makes operation possible based upon simple processing settings.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said selection unit searches for an operation screen corresponding to the specific information that has been stored by said storage unit based upon the specific information that has been acquired by said acquisition unit and, if this corresponding operation screen cannot be found, selects an operation screen, which is for use when the image is processed, based upon the model information that has been acquired by said model information acquisition means.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is an image that has been captured by the external device, the image being input via any one of a USB cable, network or removable storage medium.

9. An information processing method for inputting an image, which has been handled by an external device, to an information processing apparatus and processing the image, comprising:

an acquisition step of acquiring specific information for specifying the external device;

a selection step of selecting, based upon the specific information that has been acquired at said acquisition step, an operation screen corresponding to this specific information, the operation screen being selected from a storage device that associates and stores an operation screen for processing an input image that has been handled by external device and specific information of the external device; and

a display step of displaying the operation screen, which has been selected at said selection step, on a display device.

10. A program for causing a computer, which inputs and processes an image that has been handled by an external device, to execute the following procedures:

an acquisition procedure for acquiring specific information for specifying the external device;

a selection procedure for selecting, based upon the specific information that has been acquired in said acquisition procedure, an operation screen corresponding to this specific information, the operation screen being selected from a storage device that associates and stores an operation screen for processing an input image that has been handled by external device and specific information of the external device; and

a display procedure for displaying the operation screen, which has been selected in said selection procedure, on a display device.

11. A storage medium computer-readably storing a program of claim 10.