Information Processing Apparatus, Image Forming Apparatus and Method, and Storage Medium Readable by Computer Therefor

• US 20060232836A1
• Filed: 03/25/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Aoki, Kazuma, Yamada, Kazutaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,821,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/527
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3873 defined only by a limited number of coordinate points or parameters, e.g. corners, centre; for trimming

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes: a display unit displaying an image; an input unit inputting a command in accordance with an external operation; an image data acquiring unit acquiring print image data from an application; a preview display processing unit displaying on the display unit a first print preview image of the print image data acquired by the image data acquiring unit; a selection region display processing unit capable of selecting a predetermined region of the first print preview image displayed on the display unit by the preview display processing unit and displaying the selected region so as to be identified on the display unit, on the basis of the command in accordance with the input external operation; an image data processing unit processing the print preview image in a unit of an image in the selected region displayed on the display unit by the selection region display processing unit; and a print instructing unit instructing a print unit to print the print preview image.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprises:

a display unit displaying an image;

an input unit inputting a command in accordance with an external operation;

an image data acquiring unit acquiring print image data from an application;

a preview display processing unit displaying on the display unit a first print preview image of the print image data acquired by the image data acquiring unit;

a selection region display processing unit capable of selecting a predetermined region of the first print preview image displayed on the display unit by the preview display processing unit and displaying the predetermined region so as to be identified on the display unit, on the basis of the command in accordance with the input external operation;

an image data processing unit processing the first print preview image in a unit of an image in the predetermined region displayed on the display unit by the selection region display processing unit; and

a print instructing unit instructing a print unit to print the first print preview image.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data processing unit creates a second print preview image in which an image in the predetermined region of the first print preview image is deleted.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data processing unit creates a third print preview image in which an image except for an image in the predetermined region of the first print preview image is deleted.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image data processing unit changes a printing size of the third print preview image.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data processing unit composes a plurality of images within the predetermined region of the first preview image to create a fourth print preview image.

8. A storage medium readable by a computer, to execute as, the display unit, the input unit, the image data acquiring unit, the preview display processing unit, the selection region display processing unit, the image data processing unit, and the print instructing unit of the information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

6. A storage medium readable by a computer, the storage medium storing a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a function for image data processing, the function, comprising:

inputting a command in accordance with an external operation;

acquiring print image data from an application;

displaying a print preview image of an acquired print image data on a display unit;

selecting a predetermined region of a print preview image displayed on the display unit;

displaying the predetermined selected region so as to be identified on the display unit, on a basis of a command in accordance with an external operation input by an input unit;

performing an image processing process for processing the print preview image in a unit of an image in the selected region displayed on the display unit; and

instructing a print unit to print the print preview image.

7. An information processing method, comprising:

inputting a command in accordance with an external operation;

acquiring print image data from an application;

displaying a first print preview image of the print image data;

selecting a predetermined region of the displayed first print preview image;

displaying the predetermined region so as to be identified, on the basis of the command in accordance with the input external operation;

processing the first print preview image in a unit of an image in the displayed predetermined region displayed; and

instructing a print unit to print the first print preview image.

9. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a first conversion unit converting a document specified by an external command into two-dimensional image data with which an image forming apparatus can form an image;

a size determination unit that determines whether or not a horizontal width of the two-dimensional image data is less than or equal to a horizontal width predetermined in accordance with a capability of the image forming apparatus;

a determination unit that determines a first region within the specified document;

a second conversion unit that, if the size determination unit determines that the horizontal width of the two-dimensional image data is not less than or equal to the predetermined horizontal width, reduces in a horizontal direction, prior to the first region, a second region within the specified document excluding the first region, and converts the specified document into two-dimensional image data having a horizontal width less than or equal to the predetermined horizontal width; and

an output unit that outputs the two-dimensional image data generated by the first conversion unit as input data to the image forming apparatus if the size determination unit determines that the horizontal width of the two-dimensional image data converted by the first conversion unit is less than or equal to the predetermined horizontal width, and outputs the two-dimensional image data generated by the second conversion unit as input data to the image forming apparatus if the size determination unit determines that the horizontal width of the two-dimensional image data converted by the first conversion unit is not less than or equal to the predetermined horizontal width.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second conversion unit comprises a horizontal region determination unit that determines whether or not the first region broadens in the two-dimensional image data converted by the first conversion unit with respect to an entire horizontal direction of the converted two-dimensional image data,

if the horizontal region determination unit determines that the first region does not broaden with respect to the entire horizontal direction of the converted two-dimensional image data, the second region is reduced in the horizontal direction, prior to the first region, and

if the horizontal region determination unit determines that the first region broadens with respect to the entire horizontal direction of the converted two-dimensional image data, the broadened first region is reduced in the horizontal direction, and the specified document is converted into a two-dimensional image data having the horizontal width less than or equal to the predetermined horizontal width.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second conversion unit holds a reduction rate of the horizontal direction of the second region with respect to the first region to be equal to or more than a predetermined value, and

wherein the second conversion unit converts the specified document into two-dimensional image data having the horizontal width less than or equal to the predetermined horizontal width.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a necessity determination unit that determines whether or not a reduction process in a vertical direction is necessary on the basis of a vertical width of the two-dimensional image data converted by the first conversion unit,

wherein, if the necessity determination unit determines that the reduction process in the vertical direction is necessary, the second conversion unit reduces in a vertical direction, prior to the first region, the second region excluding the first region within the specified document and converts the specified document into two-dimensional image data having a vertical width less than or equal to a vertical width predetermined in accordance with a capability of the image forming apparatus, and

if the size determination unit determines that the horizontal width of the two-dimensional image data converted by the first conversion unit is less than or equal to the predetermined horizontal width and if the necessity determination unit determines that the reduction process in the vertical direction is not necessary, the output unit outputs the two-dimensional image data generated by the first conversion unit as input data to the image forming apparatus, and

if the size determination unit determines that the horizontal width of the two-dimensional image data converted by the first conversion unit is not less than or equal to the predetermined horizontal width or if the necessity determination unit determines that the reduction process in the vertical direction is necessary, the output unit outputs the two-dimensional image data generated by the second conversion unit as input data to the image forming apparatus.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the second conversion unit comprises a vertical region determination unit that determines whether or not the first region broadens in the two dimensional image data converted by the first conversion unit with respect to an entire vertical direction of the two-dimensional image data,

if the necessity determination unit determines that the reduction process in the vertical direction is necessary and if the vertical region determination unit determines that the first region does not broaden with respect to the entire vertical direction of the two-dimensional image, the reduction process in the vertical direction with respect to the second region except is executed prior to the first region, and

where if the necessity determination unit determines that the reduction process in the vertical direction is necessary and if the vertical region determination unit determines that the first region broadens with respect to the entire vertical direction of the two-dimensional image, the reduction process in the vertical direction with respect to the broadened first region is executed and the specified document is converted into the two-dimensional image data having a vertical width less than or equal to the predetermined vertical width.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the second conversion unit holds a reduction rate of the vertical direction of the second region, with respect to the first region to be equal to or more than a predetermined value and converts the specified document into two-dimensional image data having the vertical width less than or equal to the predetermined horizontal width.

16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the determination unit determines a region including a predetermined keyword within the specified document as the first region.

17. The image processing apparatus according to 9, wherein the specified document is described by a markup language including link information, and

the determination unit determines a region except for a region in which a plurality of information is disposed in a vertical or horizontal direction in the two-dimensional image data converted by the first conversion unit, as the first region.

18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the specified document has a frame structure described by a markup language, and

the determination unit determines a region surrounded by a main frame in the two-dimensional image data converted by the first conversion unit as the first region.

21. A storage medium readable by a computer, to execute functions as the first conversion unit, the size determination unit, the determination unit, the second conversion unit, and the output unit of the image processing apparatus according to claim 9.

22. A storage medium readable by a computer, to execute functions as the first conversion unit, the size determination unit, the determination unit, the second conversion unit, the output unit, and the necessity determination unit of the image processing apparatus according to claim 12.

23. A storage medium readable by a computer, to execute functions as the first conversion unit, the necessity determination unit, the determination unit, the second conversion unit, and the output unit of the image processing apparatus according to claim 16.

24. A storage medium readable by a computer according to claim 21, wherein the determination unit determines a region including a predetermined keyword within the specified document as the first region.

15. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a first conversion unit that converts a document specified by an external command into two-dimensional image data with which an image forming apparatus is configured to form an image;

a necessity determination unit that determines whether or not a reduction process is necessary on the basis of a vertical width of the two-dimensional image data converted by the first conversion unit;

a determination unit that determines a first region within the specified document;

a second conversion unit that reduces in a vertical direction, prior to the first region, a second region excluding the first region within the specified document and converts the specified document into two-dimensional image data in which a vertical width is less than or equal to a vertical width predetermined in accordance with a capability of the image forming apparatus if the necessity determination unit determines that the reduction process is necessary; and

an output unit that outputs the two-dimensional image data generated by the first conversion unit as input data to the image forming apparatus if the necessity determination unit determines that the reduction process is not necessary, and outputs the two-dimensional image data generated by the second conversion unit as input data to the image forming apparatus if the necessity determination unit determines that the reduction process is necessary.

19. A method of outputting two-dimensional image data, comprising:

(A) converting a document specified by an external command into two-dimensional image data with which an image forming apparatus is configured to form an image;

(B) determining whether or not a horizontal width of the two-dimensional image data converted by step (A) is less than or equal to a horizontal width predetermined in accordance with a capability of the image forming apparatus;

(C) determining a first region within the specified document;

(D) executing a reduction process for a region excluding the first region determined in step (C) in the specified document in a horizontal direction prior to the first region, and converting the specified document into two-dimensional image data having a horizontal width less than or equal to the predetermined horizontal width if the horizontal width of the two-dimensional image data converted in step (A) is determined to be not less than or equal to the predetermined horizontal width;

(E) outputting the two-dimensional image data generated in step (D) as input data to the image forming apparatus if the horizontal width of the two-dimensional image data converted in step (A) is determined to be less than or equal to the predetermined horizontal width; and

(F) outputting the two-dimensional image data generated in step (A) as input data to the image forming apparatus if the horizontal width of the two-dimensional image data converted in step (A) is determined to be not less than or equal to the predetermined horizontal width.

25. A storage medium according to claim 19,

wherein the specified document is described by a markup language including link information, and

the determination unit determines a region, excluding a region in which a plurality of information is disposed in a vertical or horizontal direction in the two-dimensional image data converted by the first conversion unit, as the first region.

26. A storage medium according to claim 19, wherein the specified document has a frame structure described by a markup language, and

the determination unit determines a region surrounded by a main frame in the two-dimensional image data converted by the first conversion unit as the first region.

20. A method of outputting two-dimensional image data, comprising:

(A) converting a document specified by an external command into two-dimensional image data with which an image forming apparatus can form an image;

(B) determining whether or not a reduction process is necessary on the basis of a vertical width of the two-dimensional image data converted by the first conversion unit;

(C) determining an first region within the specified document;

(D) executing a reduction process for a region excluding the first region determined in step (C) in the specified document in a vertical direction prior to the first region, and converting the specified document into two-dimensional image data in which a vertical width is less than or equal to a vertical width predetermined in accordance with a capability of the image forming apparatus in a case where it is determined that the reduction process is necessary in step (B); and

(E) outputting the two-dimensional image data generated in step (A) as input data to the image forming apparatus if the reduction process is not determined to be necessary in step (B), and

(F) outputting the two-dimensional image data generated in step (D) as input data to the image forming apparatus if the reduction process is determined to be necessary in step (B).