Systems and methods that provide custom region scan with preview image on a multifunction device

• US 20060291017A1
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Moran, Jared Walton, Budnik, Roger W., Campbell, Dave R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,864,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/538
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3873 defined only by a limited number of coordinate points or parameters, e.g. corners, centre; for trimming

Abstract

A multifunction device having a user interface that enables the selection of a particular region of a document image after an initial scan of a document that creates a preview (thumbnail) image of the document. Using a display on the multifunction device, a desired region of the image may be selected for to manipulating and final scanning. A selection box is displayed over the preview image to show the user the region that will be scanned. The user can then select an area of the image for further manipulation through the user interface by moving and/or resizing the selection box, zooming in/out, or erasing a region within the selection box.

Claims

1. A multifunction device, comprising:

At least two of a scanning portion, a printing portion, a facsimile portion, and an e-mail portion disposed in a housing;

a user interface portion and a display portion disposed on a surface of the housing; and

a controller that controls;

capturing images of documents using the scanning portion to create a preview image,

displaying an adjustable selection box over the preview image on the display portion,

manipulating the selection box via the user interface, and

saving an area of the preview image within the selection box to a memory as a saved image.

2. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein manipulating the selection box includes at least one of resizing the selection box, altering a position of the selection box, adjusting a magnification of the area within the selection box, and erasing the area within the selection box.

3. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein the multifunction device is a stand alone device.

4. The multifunction device of claim 1, wherein the controller further controls forwarding the saved image from the memory to at least one of the printing portion, the facsimile portion, and the e-mailing portion.

5. A machine readable medium containing instructions for manipulating a preview image of a scanned document when the instructions are executed by a processor of a multifunction device, comprising:

instructions for scanning the document to create the preview image;

instructions for displaying a selection box over the preview image;

instructions for altering a position of the selection box to a desired portion of the preview image;

instructions for resizing the selection box;

instructions for performing an editing function on an area within the selection box;

instructions for storing an image of the area within the selection box in a memory; and

instructions for implementing a service of the multifunction device on the image of the area within the selection box.

6. The machine readable medium as recited in claim 5, wherein the instructions for performing the editing function include at least one of, instructions for altering a magnification of the area within the selection box, erasing the area within the selection box, and instructions for capturing an image of the area within the selection box.

7. The machine readable medium as recited in claim 5, wherein the instructions for resizing the selection box are implemented via a user interface on a multifunction device.

8. The machine readable medium as recited in claim 5, wherein the instructions for performing the editing function on the area within the selection box are implemented via a user interface on a multifunction device.

9. A method of selecting a desired portion of a document on a multifunction device, comprising:

selecting a service provided by the multifunction device;

scanning the document to create a preview image of the document;

selecting the desired portion of the preview image by manipulating a selection box overlaid on the preview image;

capturing an area of the preview image within the selection box; and

saving the captured area to a memory.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting the service provided by the multifunction device includes at least one of a printing function, a facsimile function, and an e-mailing function.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting the desired portion of the preview image includes resizing the selection box to encompass the desired portion.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting the desired portion of the preview image includes repositioning the selection box to encompass the desired portion.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting the desired portion of the preview image includes altering a magnification of the area within the selection box.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting the desired portion of the preview image includes the area within the selection box.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising printing the captured area using a printing service of the multifunction device.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising faxing the captured area using a faxing service of the multifunction device.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising e-mailing the captured area using an e-mailing service of the multifunction device.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein capturing the area of the preview image within the selection box includes re-scanning only the area within the selection box.