JP2005316053A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select and set processing conditions of a job suitable for the desired procession content among selection candidates since a setting operation for setting the processing conditions for the job is made complicated and the operation convenience gets worse as the image processor is diversified. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus, which is provided with a plurality of functions (printing function, copying function, scanning function and facsimile function), is composed of: a control panel 2 capable of setting the processing conditions for the job from among a plurality of setting items; an image reading part 3 for reading an image of a sheet medium containing a plurality of designated information which designate the processing conditions for the job in a job unit; an image processing part 6 which extracts a plurality of the designated information from image information of the sheet medium read on the image reading part 3; and a control part 1 of displaying a selection screen, on which a plurality of the processing conditions for the job designated by a plurality of the designated information extracted by the image processing part 6 are made to be the selection candidates, on a display part of the control panel 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus such as a digital multi-function peripheral having a plurality of processing functions.

  Among conventional image processing apparatuses, for example, there is a digital multi-function peripheral called MFP (Multi Function Product) having a plurality of processing functions such as a print function, a copy function, a scan function, and a fax function. This type of image processing apparatus has a plurality of processing modes (print mode, copy mode, scan mode, fax mode, etc.) corresponding to each processing function, and the user arbitrarily selects any one of these processing modes. Can be selected. Specifically, a plurality of processing modes provided in the image processing apparatus are displayed on the control panel, and the user can select a desired processing mode from among them by an input operation (button operation or the like).

  Here, in the case of an image processing apparatus having a single processing function, such as a copying machine, the setting items for setting processing conditions are limited to copying applications, so the setting operation itself on the control panel is very troublesome. It will not be a thing. On the other hand, for example, in the case of an image processing apparatus (multi-function peripheral) having a print function, a copy function, and a scan function, it is necessary to set which processing mode is to be processed first, and further regarding the set processing mode. It is necessary to set detailed items (for example, copy density and copy magnification in the case of the copy mode) according to the situation.

  In recent years, image processing apparatuses (MFPs) have become multifunctional, and the operation of the control panel has become complicated accordingly. In general, the processing condition setting screen displayed on the control panel is hierarchized into a plurality of layers. Among them, the top layer is, for example, a mode setting screen for setting a processing mode, the lower layer is, for example, a basic setting screen for setting basic setting items in each processing mode, and the lower layer is, For example, there is an option setting screen for setting optional setting items in each processing mode. Therefore, for example, when copying an image of a document, the copy mode is selected as the processing mode. However, when setting the paper size, copy density, copy magnification, copy layout, etc. to be applied to this copy mode, It is necessary to display a basic setting screen and an option setting screen prepared for the copy mode on the control panel and set desired processing conditions according to the setting screen. In addition, when changing the processing conditions once set, it is necessary to reset the processing conditions by going back and forth in the upper and lower layers. Therefore, the setting operation on the control panel becomes troublesome.

  Therefore, in the image processing apparatus, a default processing condition is prepared for each processing mode, and when the user sets a desired processing mode on the mode setting screen on the top layer and presses the processing start button, There is also an automatic processing mode that automatically selects and executes the default processing conditions prepared for this processing mode, but if you want to perform processing under conditions different from this automatic processing mode, the basic settings above It is necessary to set a desired processing condition by displaying a screen and an option setting screen on the control panel. Furthermore, as the processing functions executed in each processing mode of the image processing device become multi-functional, the setting items for the processing conditions increase accordingly, and the setting operation of the processing conditions becomes more complicated and unusable. .

  On the other hand, users in charge of routine work in the office often use the image processing apparatus under the same processing conditions on a daily basis according to the work contents. However, even in such a situation, the processing conditions used by the users differ for each user (in charge of work), so each user needs to perform the same setting operation every time the image processing apparatus is used to reset the processing conditions. is there. Therefore, a user who uses processing conditions other than the default is forced to perform a troublesome setting operation many times. As a countermeasure, it may be possible to customize the control panel for each customer to whom the image processing device is delivered to improve operability. In such a case, it is necessary to develop a control panel that meets the requirements of each individual customer. This increases the cost.

  Therefore, conventionally, there is a technique related to a multi-job copying machine that reads a job sheet placed at the head position of a copy original and copies the original following the job sheet in accordance with the copy conditions entered in the job sheet. It has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In this prior art, even if the user does not set copy conditions on the control panel, the manuscript is copied according to the copy conditions entered in the job sheet, so that the user's operation burden can be reduced.

JP-A-5-27522

  However, in the above-described prior art, the copy document and the copy condition entered on the job sheet at the head position thereof correspond 1: 1, and the copy condition entered on the job sheet is read subsequently. It can be applied as it is to the copy process. For this reason, the scope of application of the copy conditions entered on the job sheet is very narrow and cannot be used universally in daily work.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention reads an image on a sheet medium including operation means capable of setting job processing conditions from a plurality of setting items and a plurality of designation information for designating job processing conditions in units of jobs. Select reading means, extraction means for extracting a plurality of designation information from the image information of the sheet medium read by the reading means, and processing conditions for a plurality of jobs designated by the plurality of designation information extracted by the extraction means Control means for displaying a selection screen as a candidate on the display unit of the operation means.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the image of the sheet medium including a plurality of pieces of designation information is read by the reading unit, and a plurality of pieces of designation information are extracted from the image information obtained thereby by the extraction unit. The control unit displays a selection screen with the processing conditions of a plurality of jobs specified by the specification information as selection candidates on the display unit of the operation unit, so that the user can select a suitable processing content from the selection candidates. It is possible to select and set processing conditions for the selected job.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, an image of a sheet medium including a plurality of pieces of designation information is read, a plurality of pieces of designation information are extracted from the image information, and processing conditions for a plurality of jobs designated by the plurality of pieces of designation information Is displayed on the display unit, the user can easily set job processing conditions using the same sheet medium for general purposes.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the control unit 1 is configured by a processor that executes a control program, for example, and comprehensively controls processing operations of the entire image processing apparatus.

  The control panel 2 serves as a user interface for exchanging various types of information with a user who uses the image processing apparatus. For example, a display unit using a touch panel liquid crystal display and various types of input operations are used. An input unit using buttons, keys, switches, tabs, and the like (hereinafter collectively referred to as “buttons”). The control panel 2 allows the user to perform various input operations using the input unit (operation buttons) and the display unit (touch panel type liquid crystal display), and provides various information to the user using the display unit. It is for displaying.

  The control panel 2 serves as an operation means for setting job processing conditions from a plurality of setting items prepared in advance. A specific setting operation is performed by the user using the control panel (input unit, display unit) 2. The job setting condition is a processing condition applied when executing one job (for example, a job corresponding to one of a print job, a copy job, a scan job, and a fax job). For example, when a copy job is executed, copy density, paper size, number of copies, copy magnification, and the like are set as processing conditions applied to the copy job in accordance with the setting of the processing mode to the copy mode.

  When setting job processing conditions in this way, there are a plurality of items to be set. Specifically, in addition to the processing mode (print mode, copy mode, scan mode, fax mode, etc.), for example, color mode (color, black and white, automatic selection, etc.), paper (paper size, orientation, etc.), processing Surface mode (single-sided mode, duplex mode), image quality mode (high image quality, normal image quality, etc.), resolution, density (print density, copy density, etc.), magnification (copy magnification, etc.), image data file format, image data storage There are setting items such as location and layout mode (1in1, 2in1, 4in1, etc.). Such setting items are appropriately displayed on the screen of the display unit in accordance with a user input operation using the input unit on the control panel 2.

  Incidentally, the color mode and the processing surface mode described above are modes that are applied when the image reading unit 3 scans an image of a document or when the image forming unit 4 prints out an image on a sheet. In the layout mode, “1 in 1” is a mode in which an image of one original is laid out on one sheet, and “2 in 1” is a mode in which two original images are laid out on one sheet. “4 in 1” is a mode in which images of four originals are laid out on a single sheet.

  The image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has four processing modes such as a print mode, a copy mode, a scan mode, and a fax mode, as processing modes classified by function. Therefore, the control panel 2 is used to set (select) a button for selecting and setting any one of the four processing modes and conditions for processing in each processing mode. Buttons are provided. The control panel 2 is also provided with a button for selecting a mode for setting processing conditions using a sheet medium to be described later (hereinafter referred to as a sheet use setting mode).

  The image reading unit 3 is configured by a color scanner, for example, and optically reads an image recorded on a document or a sheet medium other than the document.

  The image forming unit 4 is constituted by a color printer, for example, and prints out an image to be printed on paper.

  The communication unit 5 is configured by a fax modem, for example, and transmits image data (facsimile data) to be transmitted to a specified destination via a telephone line or receives an image transmitted to the own device. It is something to do.

  The image processing unit 6 includes, for example, a processor that executes a program for image processing, and performs predetermined image processing on image data read by the image reading unit 3 and other image data.

  The storage unit 7 is constituted by a hard disk drive, for example, and stores and holds various data and information handled by the image processing apparatus.

  Although not shown, for example, a data input unit including a network interface, a card reader, a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive, and the like is provided in the image processing apparatus, and image data received via the network line from the data input unit It is also possible to employ a configuration in which image data recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card (for example, image data taken with a digital camera) is input to the image processing apparatus.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing the appearance of an image processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. This image processing apparatus is mainly composed of a scanner unit 11 and a printer main body unit 12. Among these, the scanner unit 11 includes, for example, the control unit 1, the control panel 2, the image reading unit 3, the communication unit 5, the image processing unit 6, and the storage unit 7, and the printer main body unit 12 together with the image forming unit 4. , A plurality of detachable paper cassettes 13, 14, 15, 16, a manual feed tray 17, and the paper stored in each paper cassette or the paper set in the manual feed tray 17 are transported along a predetermined transport path. And a paper transport mechanism (not shown).

  Subsequently, the processing operation of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, a user who uses the image processing apparatus operates the control panel 2 to select a predetermined mode. At this time, if the user selects any one processing mode from among the print mode, copy mode, scan mode, and fax mode using the control panel 2, the selected processing mode is the control panel. 2 notifies the control unit 1. Then, the control unit 1 sets the previously selected processing mode as one of the job processing conditions, and a setting screen (basic setting screen, option setting) for setting the conditions for processing in this processing mode. Screen) is displayed on the display unit of the control panel 2.

  Subsequently, when the user uses the control panel 2 to set a setting item (for example, copy density, paper size, etc.) to be applied to the previously set processing mode by operating a button, the setting information is transferred from the control panel 2 to the control unit. 1 is notified. In this case, the control unit 1 sets job processing conditions based on setting information notified from the control panel 2. When the user presses the process start button on the control panel 2 without setting a process condition other than the process mode, the control unit 1 follows a default condition prepared in advance corresponding to the previously set process mode. Set job processing conditions.

  Thereafter, the control unit 1 controls the processing operation of each unit according to the job processing conditions set in advance. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, when the processing mode is set to the print mode, the image data to be printed is read from, for example, the storage unit 7 and transferred to the image processing unit 6, and the image processing unit 6 performs predetermined processing. After the image processing is performed, the image data is sent to the image forming unit 4 and the image is printed out on paper. When the processing mode is set to the copy mode, the image of the document to be copied is read by the image reading unit 3 and the read image data is sent to the image processing unit 6. After performing the image processing, the image data is sent to the image forming unit 4 and the image is printed on paper.

  On the other hand, when the processing mode is set to the scan mode, the image of the document to be scanned is read by the image reading unit 3, and the read image data is sent to the image processing unit 6, and the image processing unit 6 performs a predetermined process. After performing the image processing, the image data is stored in the storage unit 7. When the processing mode is set to the fax mode, the image of the document to be faxed is read by the image reading unit 3 and the read image data is sent to the image processing unit 6, and the image processing unit 6 performs a predetermined process. After performing image processing, image data is transmitted from the communication unit 5. The above is the processing flow when the user sets job processing conditions on the control panel 2 from various setting items including the processing mode.

  On the other hand, when the user sets a sheet medium for setting processing conditions in the image reading unit 3 and selects the sheet use setting mode by operating the buttons on the control panel 2, the processing is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Is called. That is, when the user selects the sheet use setting mode on the control panel 2, the control panel 2 notifies the control unit 1 to that effect. Then, the control unit 1 operates the image reading unit 3 to read the image on the sheet medium, and transfers the image data obtained thereby to the image processing unit 6 (steps S1 and S2).

  On the sheet medium for setting processing conditions, a plurality of pieces of designation information for designating job processing conditions in units of jobs are recorded (printed) in advance as one image. Designating job processing conditions in units of jobs means that processing conditions applied when one job is executed are collectively specified. Therefore, the job processing conditions correspond to the designation information for designating them in a 1: 1 relationship. For this reason, when a plurality of pieces of designation information are included in the image on the sheet medium, processing conditions for a plurality of jobs are designated by these designation information.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sheet medium used for setting job processing conditions. A plurality (four in the illustrated example) of designation information 19 to 22 is embedded in the illustrated sheet medium 18. The first designation information 19 designates the job processing conditions applied in “A normal document copy mode”, and the second designation information 20 applies in “B copy mode for passing to customer”. Specifies the processing conditions for the job to be executed. The third designation information 21 designates job processing conditions to be applied in the “C normal document scan mode”, and the fourth designation information 22 is applied in “D photograph etc. scan mode”. Specifies the processing conditions for the job to be executed.

  More specifically, the first designation information 29 includes, as job processing conditions applied in “A normal document copy mode”, the processing mode is copy mode, the paper size is A4 size, the layout mode is 2 in 1, and the processing surface. The contents specify that the mode is set to double-sided and the image quality mode is set to normal image quality. The second designation information 20 includes processing conditions of a job applied in “B copy mode for passing to customer”, a processing mode of copy mode, a paper size of A4 size, a copy magnification of 100% (same size), The contents specify that the processing surface mode is set to duplex and the image quality mode is set to high image quality. The third designation information 21 includes, as job processing conditions applied in “C normal document scan mode”, the processing mode is scan mode, the color mode is black and white, the resolution is 200 dpi, and the image data file format is PDF (Portable). Document Format) and the contents for designating that the storage location of the image data is set in the storage BOX 3. The fourth designation information 22 includes, as processing conditions for a job applied in “D photo or other scan mode”, the processing mode is scan mode, the color mode is color, the resolution is 600 dpi, and the image data file format is TIFF (Tagged). Image File Format), and the contents to specify that the storage location of the image data is set in the storage BOX 5.

  Each of the designation information 19 to 22 is configured by code information including, for example, a two-dimensional image pattern. For example, as described in Japanese Patent No. 2958396, this code information is changed by changing the form (position, shape, etc.) of pixels constituting the line screen or the dot screen as gradation expression. It is embedded in an image on a sheet medium using a technique for embedding digital information in a tone image. That is, the setting condition regarding the processing condition of the job specified by the specification information is encoded for each of the plurality of setting items described above, and the pixel position, arrangement relationship, geometrical shape is determined by the code value (“0” or “1”). The designation information is embedded by changing the form or the pattern constituted by a plurality of pixels. Accordingly, the code information constituting the designation information is digital information in which a code value of “0” and a code value of “1” are appropriately combined. By embedding the designation information in the form of code information in the image of the sheet medium in this way, it is possible to designate setting conditions for more setting items with the designation information within a limited image area.

  As a specific example of the code information, as shown in FIG. 6, in a 4-dot line information embedding unit, two types of line patterns with different numbers of lines are used, and the code value (“0”) of the information to be actually embedded is used. Or, the number of lines is switched according to “1”). At that time, the background part (non-information embedding part) expresses the gradation by the error diffusion method. Furthermore, a position detection mark for specifying the position of the information embedding part is provided. As a result, it is possible to achieve both embedding of code information (digital information) and rich gradation expression on the sheet medium. Therefore, even when this code information is embedded in the character portion, the readability of the character portion can be maintained well. In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, when the setting contents of the job processing conditions designated by the designation information 19 to 22 and the selected usage are recorded as character information (character images) on the sheet medium, those characters are used. Even if the designation information is embedded on the information, each character can be easily read.

  Note that the code information constituting the designation information may be visible information such as a barcode, or visible or invisible embedded information using a digital watermark technique.

  When image data (image information) read from such a sheet medium is transferred to the image processing unit 6, the image processing unit 6 extracts a plurality of designation information from the image data in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 1 (step S3). ). At this time, the image processing unit 6 extracts the code value (“0” or “1”) of the code information constituting the designation information as described above. The code values of the code information representing the plurality of pieces of designation information extracted in this way are sent from the image processing unit 6 to the control unit 1 (step S4). Then, the control unit 1 reads out the setting condition for each setting item corresponding to the code information from the storage unit 7 by accessing the storage unit 7 using the code information sent from the image processing unit 6 as a search key (Step S1). S5).

  The storage unit 6 stores table data in which setting conditions for each setting item and code information are associated with each other for a plurality of setting items prepared for setting job processing conditions on the control panel 2. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, if the processing mode setting condition is specified by a combination of three code values, the print mode is “001”, the copy mode is “010”, and the scan mode is “011” and the fax mode are associated with “100”. Also, assuming that the color mode setting condition is specified by a combination of three code values, black and white (monochrome) is associated with “001”, color is “010”, and automatic selection is associated with “011”. For other setting items (processing surface mode, layout mode, and paper), the setting conditions and the code information are associated with each other by a combination of three code values. For example, in the above-described technique for embedding digital information in a halftone image, the setting items are identified in the code information that represents the specified information. It is possible to recognize by adding an identification code for this purpose and associating this identification code with the setting item in the data table.

  By referring to such a data table, the control unit 1 reads setting conditions corresponding to the code information extracted by the image processing unit 6 from the storage unit 6. For example, if the code information related to the processing mode is “001”, “print mode” is read as the setting condition corresponding to this. If the code information related to the color mode is “010”, “color” is read as the setting condition corresponding to this. Such setting conditions are read for each piece of designation information that designates job processing conditions in units of jobs as described above. Since a plurality of pieces of designation information (code information) are extracted in the image processing unit 6, processing conditions for a plurality of jobs are designated based on the setting conditions read from the storage unit 7 corresponding to the extracted designation information. Is done. Therefore, the control unit 1 uses the processing conditions of a plurality of jobs designated by a plurality of designation information as selection candidates, and displays a selection screen on the control panel 2 for selecting one job processing condition from the selection candidates. (Step S6). The selection screen is displayed by the control unit 1 sending a plurality of pieces of designation information extracted as described above to the control panel 2, and the control panel 2 switches the display screen of the display unit according to the designation information.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen displayed on the control panel. The selection screen exemplified here is displayed when the image of the sheet medium 18 shown in FIG. 5 is read. First, in FIG. 8A, an “A” button, a “B” button, a “C” button, and a “D” button are displayed on the display unit (touch panel type liquid crystal display) 21 of the control panel 2 as a selection screen. By pressing any one button, the processing condition of one job corresponding to this button is selected. In this selection screen, the “A” button and the “B” button are buttons that are selected when “copy” is performed, and the “C” button and the “D” button are buttons that are selected when “scan” is performed. Everything is displayed with text information. By displaying such a selection screen on the display unit 23 of the control panel 2, the user looks at the selection screen displayed on the display unit 23 and in what processing mode the processing conditions of the job selected by each button are. It can be recognized whether it is set. Further, by comparing the image of the sheet medium 18 (see FIG. 5) used for reading by the image reading unit 3 with the selection screen displayed on the display unit 23, the user can select a job selected by each button. It is possible to recognize what kind of use the processing conditions are selected and what kind of contents are set.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 8B, an “A” button, a “B” button, a “C” button, and a “D” button are displayed on the display unit (touch panel type liquid crystal display) 21 of the control panel 2 as a selection screen. By pressing any one button, the processing condition of one job corresponding to this button is selected. In this selection screen, the “A” button is a button that is selected when performing “copy mode of normal document”, the “B” button is a button that is selected when performing “copy mode for passing to customer”, [ It is displayed as character information that the “C” button is a button that is selected when the “normal document scan mode” is performed, and the “D” button is a button that is selected when the “photo scan mode” is performed. Yes. By displaying such a selection screen on the display unit 23 of the control panel 2, the user looks at the selection screen displayed on the display unit 23 and selects the job processing conditions selected by each button for what purpose. Can be recognized. Further, by comparing the image of the sheet medium (see FIG. 5) used for reading by the image reading unit 3 with the selection screen displayed on the display unit 23, the user can select the job selected by each button. It is possible to recognize what the processing condition is set to.

  In FIG. 8C, an “A” button, a “B” button, a “C” button, and a “D” button are displayed on the display unit (touch panel type liquid crystal display) 21 of the control panel 2 as a selection screen. By pressing any one button, the processing condition of one job corresponding to this button is selected. In this selection screen, the “A” button is a button that is selected when performing “copy mode of normal document”, the “B” button is a button that is selected when performing “copy mode for passing to customer”, [ It is displayed as character information that the “C” button is a button that is selected when the “normal document scan mode” is performed, and the “D” button is a button that is selected when the “photo scan mode” is performed. Yes. Further, on this selection screen, the job processing condition selected by the “A” button is set with the content “A4 size, 2 in 1, double-sided, normal image quality”, and the job processing condition “ A4 size, 100%, double-sided, high image quality "is set, and the processing conditions of the job selected with the [C] button are set with the contents of" monochrome, resolution 200 dpi, PDF, storage BOX3 ", and" D " It is displayed as character information that the processing conditions of the job selected by the button are set with the contents of “color, resolution 600 dpi, TIFF, storage BOX 5”. By displaying such a selection screen on the display unit 23 of the control panel 2, the user looks at the selection screen displayed on the display unit 23 and selects the job processing conditions selected by each button for what purpose. In addition to what is to be done, it is possible to recognize what kind of content has been set.

  By displaying the selection screen on the display unit 23 of the control panel 2 in this way, the user simply selects (presses) one of the four buttons, and the job processing conditions without a troublesome setting operation. Can be set. In addition, since four buttons corresponding to the processing conditions of a plurality of jobs are displayed on the display unit 23 at the same time, a plurality of pieces of designation information for designating processing conditions of a plurality of jobs used in a routine job or the like are stored on the sheet medium in advance. By recording them together, the user who uses the image processing apparatus can perform one-touch (one button operation) according to the desired processing contents without setting job processing conditions on the control panel 2 each time. ) Can set job processing conditions. Accordingly, each time the user uses the image processing apparatus, the user can set job setting conditions suitable for the processing contents desired by the user without complicated setting operations. Also, a plurality of designation information contained in the image on the sheet medium is read, and a selection screen is displayed on the display unit 23 with the processing conditions of the plurality of jobs designated by the plurality of designation information extracted from the image information as selection candidates. Therefore, job processing conditions can be set using a single sheet medium for general purposes. As a result, job processing conditions can be set by repeatedly using one (or a plurality of) sheet media. Therefore, the operability of the image processing apparatus can be improved.

  Further, as an application example of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the processing condition of the job set on the control panel 2 by the user's input operation is recognized by the control unit 1 according to the notification from the control panel 2, The control unit 2 reads out image data including a plurality of pieces of designation information for designating the recognized job processing conditions in units of jobs from the storage unit 7 and sends the image data to the image forming unit 4. The image forming unit receives the plurality of pieces of designation information. By adopting a configuration that prints out the included image on a sheet medium such as paper, job processing conditions can be easily set using the sheet medium output by the apparatus itself. In addition, among the job processing conditions set on the control panel 2 by the user's input operation, for example, processing conditions for jobs that are used more frequently than a preset reference level are stored in the storage unit 7. In the same manner as described above, the control unit 2 reads image data including a plurality of pieces of designation information (code information) for designating the job processing conditions for each job from the storage unit 7 and sends the image data to the image forming unit 4. It is also possible to employ a configuration in which an image including a plurality of designation information is printed out on a sheet medium such as paper. Further, the user can arbitrarily change the contents of a plurality of pieces of designation information included in the image on the sheet medium in accordance with his / her business contents.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the image processing apparatus used as the application object of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow of processing when setting job processing conditions using a control panel in the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when job processing conditions are set using a sheet medium in the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sheet medium used for setting job processing conditions. It is a figure explaining the specific example of an information embedding technique. It is a figure which shows the example of a response | compatibility with the setting conditions for every setting item, and code information. It is a figure which shows the example of the selection screen displayed on a control panel.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part, 2 ... Control panel, 3 ... Image reading part, 4 ... Image formation part, 5 ... Communication part, 6 ... Image processing part, 7 ... Memory | storage part, 18 ... Sheet medium, 19, 20, 21, 22 ... Specified information (code information)

Claims (6)

Operation means that can set job processing conditions from multiple setting items,
Reading means for reading an image on a sheet medium including a plurality of designation information for designating the job processing conditions in units of jobs;
Extracting means for extracting the plurality of designation information from the image information of the sheet medium read by the reading means;
Control means for displaying on the display unit of the operation means a selection screen using the processing conditions of a plurality of jobs designated by the plurality of designation information extracted by the extraction means as selection candidates. apparatus. The designation information is configured by code information, and includes a storage unit that stores a data table in which the code information and setting conditions for each setting item are associated with each other.
The control unit reads the setting condition corresponding to the code information extracted by the extraction unit from the storage unit, and causes the display unit to display a job processing condition based on the setting condition as the selection candidate. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the selection screen to display character information indicating a use purpose of selecting a processing condition of the job specified by the specification information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays character information indicating a setting content of a processing condition of the job designated by the designation information on the selection screen. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that prints out an image including a plurality of pieces of designation information for designating processing conditions of the job set by the operation unit in units of jobs on a sheet medium. Among the processing conditions of the job set by the operation means, processing conditions of a job that is used more frequently than a preset reference level are stored, and the stored processing conditions of the job are designated in units of jobs. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit that prints out an image including a plurality of pieces of designation information on a sheet medium.

Images