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

• US 6,961,069 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US10/055,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20020060675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 345/629, 345640-641, 345/790, 345794-803, 382/178, 382213-217, 382/294
• US Class Current: 345/629
• 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 while the single overlapping image is being displayed;

selecting a process to be performed on the selected portion;

simultaneously image processing the selected portion of each of the pages of the image based upon the selected process while the single overlapping image is being displayed 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 in selecting the portion 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 while the single overlapping image is displayed;

providing a third interface for selecting a process to be performed on the selected portion;

simultaneously image processing the selected portion of each of the pages of the image based upon the selected process while the single overlapping image is being displayed 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 task further providing a third interface for selecting a paper size to fit the entire portion of the single overlapping image, said outputting task-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 task in selecting the portion further comprises the additional tasks 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 task.

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 task.

21. A system for image processing comprising:

an input unit for selecting pages of image to identify selected pages;

an image combining unit connected to said input unit for combining the selected pages of the image into a single overlapping image;

a display unit connected to said input unit and said image combining 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 and a process to be performed on the selected portion while the single overlapping image is being displayed;

an image processing unit connected to said selection unit for simultaneously image processing the selected portion of each of the pages of the image based upon the selected process while the single overlapping image is being displayed, image processed pages of the image being generated, 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.

30. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

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

a page image generation unit connected to said page controller for combining the selected pages of the image into a single overlapping image;

a display unit connected to said page controller and said page image generation unit for displaying the single overlapping image, said display unit providing a second interface for selecting a portion of the single overlapping image to specify a selected portion while the single overlapping image is being displayed, said display unit providing a third interface for selecting a process to be performed on the selected portion, wherein said page controller simultaneously image processing the selected portion of each of the pages of the image based upon the selected process while the single overlapping image is being displayed on said display unit to generate image processed pages of the image, said page controller outputting separately each of the image processed pages of the image.

31. The image processing apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said page controller removes the selected portion.

32. The image processing apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said page controller inserts data into the selected portion.

33. The image processing apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the data includes a combination of an image and text.

34. The image processing apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said page controller moves the selected portion within the single overlapping image.

35. The image processing apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the selected portion is an entire portion of the single overlapping image, said display unit further providing a third interface for selecting a paper size to fit the entire portion of the single overlapping image, said page controller outputting to a printer for printing each of the image processed pages onto a sheet of the selected paper size.

36. The image processing apparatus to claim 30 wherein said page controller outputs to a printer for printing each of the image processed pages of the image.

37. The image processing apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said second interface displays a rectangle to indicate the selected portion, a first portion of the rectangle being dragged to change a size of the rectangle, a second portion of the rectangle being dragged to move a position of the rectangle.

38. The image processing apparatus according to claim 37 wherein said page controller processes an inside area of the rectangle.

39. The image processing apparatus according to claim 37 wherein said page controller processes an outside area of the rectangle.

40. An image processing device, comprising:

an input unit for selecting pages of image to identify selected pages;

an image combining unit connected to said input unit for combining the selected pages of the image into a single overlapping image;

a display unit connected to said input and said image combining 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 and a process to be performed on the selected portion while the single overlapping image is being displayed;

an image processing unit connected to said selection unit for simultaneously image processing the selected portion of each of the pages of the image based upon the selected process while the single overlapping image is being displayed, image processed pages of the image being generated, said image processing unit separately outputting each of the image processed pages of the image.

41. The image processing device according to claim 40 wherein said image processing unit removes the selected portion.

42. The image processing device according to claim 40 wherein said image processing unit inserts data into the selected portion.

43. The image processing device according to claim 42 wherein the data includes a combination of an image and text.

44. The image processing device according to claim 40 wherein said image processing unit moves the selected portion within the single overlapping image.

45. The image processing device according to claim 40 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.

46. The image processing device according to claim 40 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.

47. The image processing device according to claim 46 wherein said image processing unit image processes an inside area of the rectangle.

48. The image processing according to claim 46 wherein said image processing unit image processes an outside area of the rectangle.