Image processing apparatus, computer program product, and preview image displaying method

• US 8,407,591 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Takami, Junichi, Sakayori, Tetsuya, Saeki, Iwao, Sakuramata, Yoshifumi, Yano, Takashi, Nagahara, Takanori, Mano, Hiroko
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Maikhanh
• Application Number:
  US12/040,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20080218776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 715/200, 715/201, 715/202, 715/204, 715/205, 715/206, 715/210, 715/226, 715/229, 715/247, 715/255, 715/256, 715/273, 715/274, 715/760, 715/762, 715/823, 715/825, 715/203, 715/234, 715/243, 715/253, 715/254, 715/700, 715/791, 358/1.1, 358/1.2, 358/1.9, 358/2.1, 358/3.01, 358/3.02, 358/3.12, 358/448, 358/498, 358/505, 358/528, 358/537, 358/538
• US Class Current: 715/274
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1207 resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1256 User feedback, e.g. print preview, test print, proofing, pre-flight checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1264 by assigning post-processing resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00432 using tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00458 Sequential viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. browsing or scrolling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00466 displaying finishing information, e.g. position of punch holes or staple or orientation references
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• 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 1/00639 Binding, stapling, folding or perforating, e.g. punching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3232 of a page, copy or picture number
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes a preview creating unit, a storage unit, and a display unit. The storage unit stores therein in advance a sample image. The display unit displays, prior to receipt of image data, an input screen that displays the sample image and independent setting items, among a plurality of setting items available for the image data, independent of contents of the image data. The creating unit creates a preview image based on setting specified with respect to any of the independent setting items for the sample image, and the display unit displays the preview image.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a storage unit that stores therein first image data for generating a first preview image;

a setting value receiving unit that receives a setting value for outputting target image data;

a first displaying unit that displays the first preview image generated based on the first image data and the setting value, wherein the first preview image is capable of being displayed before receiving the target image data for output at the image processing apparatus;

an image input unit that receives second image data as the target image data; and

a second displaying unit that displays a second preview image generated based on the second image data and a setting value;

wherein when the first preview image is displayed by the first displaying unit, the first preview image is generated based on the first image data and only a setting value of a first setting item, the first setting item being one of a plurality of setting items; and

when the second preview image is displayed by the second displaying unit, the second displaying unit displays the second preview image generated based on the second image data and a setting value of the first setting item and a second setting item, the second setting item being different from the first setting item, and the second setting item being one of the plurality of setting items.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first setting item includes at least one item selected from items that include output color, output density, sheet, enlarge/reduce, simplex/duplex, combination, sort/stack, and background, and the second setting item includes at least one item selected from items that include staple, punch, margin shift, frame erasure, stamp, and page number.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a first control unit includes a specifying unit that specifies a display area of a message superimposed on the first preview image, and the first control unit displays the first preview image that has the specified display area with the message superimposed thereon, on the displaying unit, when a prescribed condition is met.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the prescribed condition is that an input to select the second setting item displayed on the displaying unit is detected, and the message superimposed on the first preview image is a message notifying the user that the item requested is not available.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting value receiving unit receives the setting value of the first setting item and does not receive the setting value of the second setting item before receiving the target image data for output at the image processing apparatus.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first image data is treated as sample data and not as the target image data.

7. A non-transitory computer usable medium encoded with computer readable program codes that, when executed, cause a computer to execute:

storing, in a storage unit, first image data for generating a first preview image;

providing a setting value receiving unit that receives a setting value for outputting target image data;

providing a first displaying unit that displays the first preview image generated based on the first image data and the setting value, wherein the first preview image is capable of being displayed before receiving the target image data for output at the image processing apparatus;

causing an image input unit to receive second image data as the target image data; and

causing a second displaying unit to display a second preview image generated based on the second image data and a setting value;

wherein when the first preview image is displayed by the first displaying unit, the first preview image is generated based on the first image data and only a setting value of a first setting item, the first setting item being one of a plurality of setting items; and

when the second preview image is displayed by the second displaying unit, the second displaying unit displays the second preview image generated based on the second image data and a setting value of the first setting item and a second setting item, the second setting item being different from the first setting item, and the second setting item being one of the plurality of setting items.

8. The medium according to claim 7, wherein the first setting item includes at least one item selected from items that include output color, output density, sheet, enlarge/reduce, simplex/duplex, combination, sort/stack, and background, and the second setting item includes at least one item selected from items that include staple, punch, margin shift, frame erasure, stamp, and page number.

9. The medium according to claim 8, wherein a first control unit includes a specifying unit that specifies a display area of a message superimposed on the first preview image, and the first control unit displays the first preview image that has the specified display area with the message superimposed thereon, on the displaying unit, when a prescribed condition is met.

10. The medium according to claim 9, wherein the prescribed condition is that an input to select the second setting item displayed on the displaying unit is detected, and the message superimposed on the first preview image is a message notifying the user that the item requested is not available.

11. The medium according to claim 7, wherein a second creating unit executes processing to create an update of the first preview image, when a first receiving unit receives a certain setting on the first setting item, and does not execute processing to create the update of the first preview image, when the first receiving unit receives a setting other than the certain setting.

12. The medium of claim 7, wherein the setting value receiving unit receives the setting value of the first setting item and does not receive the setting value of the second setting item before receiving the target image data for output at the image processing apparatus.

13. The medium of claim 7, wherein the first image data is treated as sample data and not as the target image data.

14. A preview image displaying method comprising:

storing, in a storage unit, first image data for generating a first preview image;

providing a setting value receiving unit that receives a setting value for outputting target image data;

providing a first displaying unit that displays the first preview image generated based on the first image data and the setting value, wherein the first preview image is capable of being displayed before receiving the target image data for output at the image processing apparatus;

causing an image input unit to receive second image data as the target image data; and

causing a second displaying unit to display a second preview image generated based on the second image data and a setting value;

wherein when the first preview image is displayed by the first displaying unit, the first preview image is generated based on the first image data and only a setting value of a first setting item, the first setting item being one of a plurality of setting items; and

when the second preview image is displayed by the second displaying unit, the second displaying unit displays the second preview image generated based on the second image data and a setting value of the first setting item and a second setting item, the second setting item being different from the first setting item, and the second setting item being one of the plurality of setting items.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first setting item includes at least one item selected from items that include output color, output density, sheet, enlarge/reduce, simplex/duplex, combination, sort/stack, and background, and the second setting item includes at least one item selected from items that include staple, punch, margin shift, frame erasure, stamp, and page number.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a first control unit includes a specifying unit that specifies a display area of a message superimposed on the first preview image, and the first control unit displays the first preview image that has the specified display area with the message superimposed thereon, on the displaying unit, when a prescribed condition is met.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the prescribed condition is that an input to select the second setting item displayed on the displaying unit is detected, and the message superimposed on the first preview image is a message notifying the user that the item requested is not available.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein a second creating unit executes processing to create an update of the first preview image, when a first receiving unit receives a certain setting on the first setting item, and does not execute processing to create the update of the first preview image, when the first receiving unit receives a setting other than the certain setting.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the setting value receiving unit receives the setting value of the first setting item and does not receive the setting value of the second setting item before receiving the target image data for output at the image processing apparatus.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the first image data is treated as sample data and not as the target image data.