Writing control system

A writing control system includes a display holding medium, a reading unit, an identifying unit, a control unit and a writing unit. The display holding medium includes a display section capable of displaying and holding an image in a no-power state and a storage section having a storage area for storing information that identifies an electronic document associated with it. The reading unit reads the information from the storage section when the display holding medium is located in a predetermined position. The identifying unit identifies the electronic document associated with the display holding medium, based on the information read from the display holding medium. When the electronic document associated with the display holding medium is not identified, the control unit performs control so that a page image, which has not been written, of an electronic document, which is used in last image writing, is set as a writing target.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-257255 filed Oct. 1, 2007.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The invention generally relates to a writing control system, a writing apparatus, a management apparatus, a computer-readable medium and a computer data signal.

2. Related Art

A display holding medium (so called “electronic paper”) capable of displaying and holding a document image in a no-power state and rewriting the document image is put to practical use, and it is desired to expand the use of such a display holding medium as a display medium in place of paper.

Electronic papers are classified into various types depending on image writing methods. For example, an electronic paper of a two-dimensional projection type optical writing method is caused to display and hold an image by projecting the image into the electronic paper with a writing apparatus. Also, an electronic paper of an electronic writing method is caused to display and hold an image by writing electronic data with a writing apparatus.

In the electronic papers of either method, the electronic paper is convenient to carry the displayed image and is useful as a medium for displaying an image in a mobile environment.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, a writing control system includes a display holding medium, a reading unit, an identifying unit, a control unit and a writing unit. The display holding medium includes a display section capable of displaying and holding an image in a no-power state and rewriting the image, and a storage section having a storage area for storing information that identifies an electronic document associated with the display holding medium. The reading unit reads the information from the storage section of the display holding medium when the display holding medium is located in a predetermined position. The identifying unit identifies the electronic document associated with the display holding medium, based on the information read from the display holding medium. When the electronic document associated with the display holding medium is not identified, the control unit performs control so that a page image, which has not been written, of an electronic document, which is used in last image writing, is set as a writing target. The writing unit writes the page image of the writing target into the display section of the display holding medium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First, an electronic paper (display holding medium) which can be used in a writing control system according to exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described.

There are various image writing methods for the electronic paper. In this exemplary embodiment, description will be given on an electronic writing type electronic paper into which an image is written electronically by a writing apparatus, and an optical writing type electronic paper into which an image is written by projecting two-dimensional image light by a writing apparatus.

The electronic writing type electronic paper is a flexible thin medium having, for example, an A4 size and has a structure in which fine coloring particles (for example, white and black particles) used as toner in a copier are enclosed between a pair of front and rear electrodes and this assembly is sandwiched between a pair of front and rear film substrates. At least the front surface of the pair of electrodes is transparent. At least the front surface is transparent. An air layer is provided between the electrode layers so that the coloring particles can move freely. Also, an insulation layer is provided in a matrix-shaped electrode layer to prevent the electrode layer from being in contact with the coloring particles. It is also possible to realize a color display with a simple configuration by using a color filter.

In the electronic writing type electronic paper, in a state where no voltage is applied to the electrodes, the negatively charged white particles are collected on the rear side while the positively charged black particles are collected on the front side, so that the electronic paper appears black when viewed from the front side. Also, when a writing unit (driver) of the writing apparatus is operated in accordance with electronic data to reverse the electrode polarity in a predetermined portion of the matrix which corresponds to an image displayed, a positional relationship between the white and black particles are switched, and an image is displayed by the contrast between the white and black particles. Furthermore, by operating the driver of the writing apparatus in accordance with different electronic data, the image which is displayed by the contrast between the white and black particles can be changed, so that the electronic paper can be reused repeatedly.

The optical writing type electronic paper is a flexible thin medium having, for example, an A4 size. In the optical writing type electronic paper, when an image is displayed on a writing unit (liquid crystal panel) of a writing apparatus and light is irradiated to the electronic paper being placed on the liquid crystal panel while applying a voltage to a writing electrode of the electronic paper from an external power source, the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel can be transferred to and stored in the electronic paper. Therefore, in the optical writing type electronic paper, the transferred image can be held in the displayed state even after the voltage applied to the writing electrode is removed.

The optical writing type electronic paper has the structure in which a layer of organic photoconductive material (organic photoconductive layer) used in a copier is combined with a layer of liquid crystal display material (microencapsulated cholesteric liquid crystal layer), the layers being sandwiched by a pair of front and rear transparent electrodes, and the laminated body being sandwiched by a pair of front and rear transparent material film. This configuration enables a monochromatic image display including a white display of light, which is reflected by the cholesteric liquid crystal layer, and a black display of light, which passes through the liquid crystal layer and is absorbed by a black layer provided between the cholesteric liquid crystal layer and the organic photoconductive layer. Furthermore, the cholesteric liquid crystal has characteristic of interference reflection of color light corresponding to a spiral pitch. Therefore, if the cholesteric liquid crystal layer is formed to include layers of liquid crystal having different spiral pitches, it is also possible to realize a color display with a simple structure.

FIG. 1is a functional block diagram of a writing control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

The writing control system of this example includes an electronic paper1, a writing apparatus2for writing a page image of an electronic document on the electronic paper1and causes the electronic paper1to display the page image of the electronic document, and a document server3for storing data of the electronic document. The writing apparatus2and the document server3are connected via a network.

The electronic paper1includes a display section12, on its medium surface, capable of displaying and holding an image in a non-power state and rewriting the image. The electronic paper1also includes a storage section11, in a medium end, for storing information relating to the electronic paper1.

As shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B, the storage section11includes a first area for storing information unique to the electronic paper1such as “medium ID” that identifies the electronic paper1and “number of pixels”. In addition to the first area, the storage section11includes a second area for storing information that can be changed in accordance with association between the electronic paper and an electronic document, such as a “document ID” for identifying the electronic document associated with the electronic paper1and a “display format” for identifying a format for displaying page images of the electronic document.FIG. 2Ashows the state where no information is stored in the second area, i.e., showing the state where the electronic paper1is not associated with an electronic document.FIG. 2Bshows the state where information is stored in the second area, i.e., shows the state where the electronic paper1is associated with an electronic document.

The writing apparatus2includes a writing unit22for writing a page image of an electronic document into the display section12of the electronic paper1, a reading unit21for reading information from the storage section11of the electronic paper1, an identifying unit23for identifying an electronic document associated with the electronic paper1, a control unit24for controlling image writing for the electronic paper1, a control-information storage device25for storing control information that is used in the writing control, a communication unit26for communicating with other devices or apparatuses and an update unit27for updating the control information, which is stored in the control-information storage device25.

In this example, since the electronic paper1employs an optical writing type that projects a two-dimensional image light, the writing unit22is constructed by a liquid crystal panel that projects a page image onto the display section12of the electronic paper1. However, if the electronic paper1employs another writing type, the writing unit22may be constructed to correspond to the writing type (writing method).

FIG. 3shows an example of stored data. The control information stored in the control-information storage device25includes a “document ID” for identifying an electronic document to be written by the writing apparatus2, a “written page” for identifying a page (pages) of the electronic document which has (have) not yet been written, and a “display format”for identifying a format for displaying a page image of the electronic document (for example, color/monochrome display, a conversion ratio of an image size, and number of pages to be displayed on one sheet of an electronic paper).

In this example, a page number of the last written page of an electronic document corresponding to the “document ID”is set (stored) as the “written page.” However, atop page number among the pages, which have not yet been written, may be set (stored) as the “written page,” or a flag indicating as to whether or not writing has been completed may be set for each page. Alternatively, information that can identify a page, which has not been written, of the electronic document may be set (stored).

FIG. 4shows an external appearance of the writing apparatus2. The reading unit21and the writing unit22of the writing apparatus2are provided to correspond to arrangement of the storage section11and the display section12of the electronic paper1.

In this example, when the storage section11of the electronic paper1is placed to face the reading unit21while the display section12of the electronic paper1overlaps with the writing unit22(liquid crystal panel), the reading unit21reads information from the storage section11of the electronic paper1by wireless communication (or wire communication). However, the information may be read by wireless communication when the electronic paper1is held over the reading unit21. Also, when a mechanism is provided for drawing an electronic paper out of a tray on which plural sheets of electronic paper are stacked, conveying the electronic paper to a writing position, and writing data into the electronic paper, an information reading apparatus may be provided in the conveyance path.

The writing control process performed by the writing control system of this exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to the process flow shown inFIG. 5.

When a user presents the electronic paper1to the writing apparatus2, the reading unit21of the write apparatus2reads information stored in the storage section11of the electronic paper1(step S1). Then, the identifying unit23identifies an electronic document associated with the electronic paper1(step S2). That is, if a “document ID” is stored in the storage section11of the electronic paper1, an electronic document corresponding to the “document ID” is identified. On the other hand, if the “document ID” is not stored in the storage section11, an electronic document is not identified. The identifying unit23also performs a similar operation when identifying a display format of a page image (page images) of the electronic document.

If the electronic document associated with the electronic paper1is identified, the update unit27updates control information stored in the control-information storage device25(step S3). Specifically, the “document ID” and the “display format” of the control information are updated with the “document ID” and the “display format”, which are read from the storage section11of the electronic paper1. Then, the “written page”of the control information is reset.

Then, the control unit24identifies a page to be written based on the control information stored in the control-information storage device25(step S4). That is, a page of the electronic document associated with the presented electronic paper1is identified as a writing target. Generally, the first page of the electronic document is identified. However, for example, if information indicating that N pages are to be displayed on one sheet of an electronic paper is set for the “display format” of the control information, the first to N-th pages of the electronic document are identified.

The control unit24acquires an image of the identified page to be written, by requesting to the document server3(step S5). The page image is generated in accordance with the “display format” of the control information. In this exemplary embodiment, the page image is generated by the document server3. However, the writing apparatus2may have a function of generating the page image. Also, in this exemplary embodiment, the page image is generated whenever a page to be written is identified. However, an image of the entire pages of an electronic document may be generated in advance when an electronic document associated with the electronic paper1is identified.

Subsequently, the control unit24supplies the acquired page image to be written to the writing unit22to cause the page image to be written and displayed on the display section12of the electronic paper1(step S6). In response to the writing of the page image into the electronic paper1, the update unit27updates the control information stored in the control-information storage device25(step S7). That is, upon completion of writing of the first page (or the first to N-th pages) of the electronic document associated with the electronic paper1, the “written page” of the control information is updated.

On the other hand, if the electronic document is not identified in step S2, the process of updating the control information in step S3is omitted. A page (pages), which has (have) not been written, of the electronic document, which is used in the last image writing, is identified as a page to be written (step S4).

That is, the control unit24identifies a page to be written (the page, which has not been written, of the electronic document, which is used in the last image writing) based on the control information stored in the control-information storage device25and causes the writing unit22to write and display the image of the identified page to be written on the display section12of the electronic paper1. Also, in response to the writing of the page image into the electronic paper1, the update unit27updates the control information stored in the control-information storage device25.

In this way, when an electronic paper1associated with an electronic document is presented to (placed on or held over) the writing apparatus2, an electronic document to be written by the writing apparatus2is switched, and a page image of the electronic document is written into the electronic paper1. If an electronic paper1not associated with an electronic document is presented to the writing apparatus2, a subsequent page image (page image which has not been written) of the electronic document, which is written in the previous time by the writing apparatus2, is written into the electronic paper1.

Specifically, as shown inFIG. 6, if an electronic paper1ain which “1” is set for a document ID (UUID) is presented, a page image of the first page of an electronic document corresponding to this document ID is written and displayed on the electronic paper1a. If an electronic paper1bin which no document ID is set is presented subsequent to the electronic paper1a, a page image of the subsequent, second page of the electronic document (document ID=“1”), which is written in the previous time, is written and displayed on the electronic paper1b. If an electronic paper1cin which “2” is set for the document ID is presented, even though the third or later pages are present in the electronic document being displayed, a page image of the first page of an electronic document corresponding to the document ID “2” is written and displayed on the electronic paper1c.

Also, there may be the case in which a user wants to consecutively write pages of an electronic document only into an electronic paper (electronic papers) for which an electronic document is not identified, or the case in which a user does not want to write a page image of an electronic document into an electronic paper even if the electronic document is associated with the electronic paper. In such cases, even if the electronic document associated with the electronic paper1is identified, the process of updating the control information in step S3and the process of writing the page image in step S6are not performed. Instead, for example, an alarm message may be output to inform that the electronic paper is associated with the electronic document and to prompt a user to place another electronic paper on an appropriate place. By doing this, it is possible to reduce a user's workload of consecutively writing pages of a normal electronic document.

FIGS. 7A to 7Cshow a display example when the “display format” is set so as to include an image indicating presence of pages before and after the page to be written, in the page image to be written.

FIG. 7Ashows an electronic paper1on which a page image of a representative page (the starting page) is written, and in which an image Mb indicating that presence of a next page is displayed at the right lower corner of the electronic paper1.FIG. 7Bshows an electronic paper1on which a page image of an intermediate page is written, and in which an image Ma indicating presence of a previous page is displayed at the left lower corner of the electronic paper1and an image Mb indicating presence of a next page is displayed at the right lower corner of the electronic paper1.FIG. 7Cshows an electronic paper1on which a page image of the last page is written, and in which an image Ma indicating presence of a previous page is displayed at the left lower corner of the electronic paper1.

In the figure, the image Mb (or Ma) indicating the presence of the previous or next page is shown as a reduced image of the page. The image Mb (or Ma) may be any image so long as it enables a user to recognize the presence of the previous or next page, such as an image of a text string or a symbol meaning or symbolizing the previous or next page, or an image of an abstracted figure.

FIGS. 8A to 8Cshow display examples when the “display format” is set so as to include an image indicating as to whether or not the electronic paper1is associated with an electronic document, in the page image to be written.

FIG. 8Ashows an electronic paper1associated with an electronic document, i.e., shows the electronic paper1on which a page image of a representative page (the starting page) is written, and in which an image Mc indicating a representative image is displayed at the left upper corner of the electronic paper1.FIGS. 8B and 8Cshow an electronic paper1, which is not associated with an electronic document, i.e., shows the electronic paper1on which a page image of an intermediate page or the last page is written, and in which an image Md indicating that the displayed image is not the representative image is displayed at the left upper corner of the electronic paper1.

In the figure, the image Mc indicating the representative page is shown as a list of the reduced images of other pages of the electronic document. However, the image Mc may be any image so long as the image enables a user to recognize it as the representative image, such as an image indicating the number of pages contained in the electronic document, an image indicating a file name of the electronic document, an image indicating a creator or a created year, month, and day, or a two-dimensional barcode image identifying the electronic document.

In this exemplary embodiment, the case has been described in which the ID information (document ID) or the display format of the electronic document associated with the electronic paper1is stored in the storage section11of the electronic paper1. As shown inFIG. 9, a storage unit for storing association information that associates the identification information (medium ID) of the electronic paper1with the identification information (document ID) of the electronic document associated with the electronic paper1may be provided in the writing apparatus2or another apparatus so that the electronic document associated with the electronic paper can be identified based on the identification information of the electronic paper1read from the electronic paper1.

FIG. 10shows the main hardware configuration of the writing apparatus2of this exemplary embodiment.

Specifically, the writing apparatus2of this exemplary embodiment is configured by a computer having hardware resources including a CPU for performing various arithmetic processes, a RAM serving as a work area of the CPU, a ROM for storing a basic control program, an HDD for storing a program for performing the functions according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, and a communication I/F which is an interface for communication between other apparatuses.

When a program according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention is read from the HDD, expanded into the RAM, and executed by the CPU, the storage function (the control-information storage device25), the identifying function (the identifying unit23), the control function (the control unit24), and the update function (the update unit27) according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention are performed by the computer of the writing apparatus2.

The program according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention is supplied to a person practicing the exemplary embodiment of the invention in the form of distribution of an external storage medium such as CD-ROM having the program stored therein or in the form of transmission via a network.

The respective functional units of the writing apparatus2according to the invention are not limited to the exemplary embodiment in which they are embodied as a software as shown in this example. Each of them may be constructed as a specific-purpose hardware module.

The respective functional units of the writing apparatus2according to the invention are not limited to the exemplary embodiment in which they are provided in one computer as shown in this example. They may be provided in a distributed manner over plural computers.

FIG. 11is a functional block diagram of a writing control system according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

The writing control system of this example includes an electronic paper1, a writing apparatus2for writing and displaying a page image of an electronic document on the electronic paper1, a document server3for storing data of the electronic document, and a management apparatus4for managing the writing apparatus2.

In the writing control system of this exemplary embodiment, the writing apparatus2does not include the identifying unit23, the control unit24, the control-information storage device25and the update unit27, which are provided in the writing control system ofFIG. 1. Instead, the management apparatus4includes an identifying unit42, a control unit43, a control-information storage device44, and an update unit45, which correspond to the above units/device. As shown inFIG. 12, the control-information storage device44stores identification information (writing apparatus ID) of the writing apparatus2and control information relating to the writing apparatus2in association with each other so that the control information is managed for each writing apparatus2.

According to the writing control system of this exemplary embodiment, if a user presents an electronic paper1to the writing apparatus2, information stored in the storage section11of the electronic paper1is read by the reading unit21and is transmitted to the management apparatus4by the communication unit26.

Upon receipt of the read information from the writing apparatus2by the communication unit41, the management apparatus4identifies an electronic document associated with the electronic paper1, which is presented to the writing apparatus2.

If the electronic document associated with the electronic paper1is identified, the update unit45updates the control information, which relates to the writing apparatus2and which is stored in the control-information storage device44, and the control unit43identifies a page to be written by the writing apparatus2based on the control information, which relates to the writing apparatus2and which is stored in the control-information storage device44, and causes the writing apparatus2to write and display the image of the identified page to be written on the display section12of the electronic paper1. Also, if the page image is written into the electronic paper1by the writing apparatus2, the update unit45updates the control information, which relates to the writing apparatus2and is stored in the control-information storage device44.

On the other hand, If the electronic document associated with the electronic paper1is not identified, the control unit43identifies a page to be written by the writing apparatus2(a page, which has not yet been written, of an electronic document, which is used in the last image writing) based on the control information, which relates to the writing apparatus2and which is stored in the control-information storage device44, and causes the writing apparatus2to write and display the image of the identified page to be written on the display section12of the electronic paper1. Also, if the page image is written into the electronic paper1by the writing apparatus2, the update unit45updates the control information, which relates to the writing apparatus2and which is stored in the control-information storage device44.

Here, the management apparatus4of this exemplary embodiment is configured by a computer having hardware resources including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an HDD, and a communication I/F, similar to the hardware configuration shown inFIG. 9in connection with the writing apparatus2of the writing control system ofFIG. 1. When the program according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention is executed by using the hardware resources, the storage function (the control-information storage device44), the identifying function (the identifying unit42), the control function (the control unit43), and the update function (the update unit44) according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention are performed by the computer of the management apparatus4.

The program according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention is supplied to a person practicing the invention in the form of distribution of an external storage medium such as CD-ROM having the program stored therein or in the form of transmission via a network.

The respective functional units of the management apparatus4according to the invention are not limited to the exemplary embodiment in which they are embodied as a software as shown in this example. Each of them may be constructed as a specific-purpose hardware module.

The respective functional units of the management apparatus4according to the invention are not limited to the exemplary embodiment in which they are provided in one computer as shown in this example. They may be provided in a distributed manner over plural computers.

Next, a process of associating an electronic document and an electronic paper1, which is performed as a preparatory step of the writing control according to the exemplary embodiments of the invention, will be described.

For example, as shown inFIG. 13, in a state where an electronic paper1which is not associated with an electronic document (for example, an electronic paper1in which identification information of an electronic document is not stored in the storage section11) is placed on the writing apparatus2, if a user operates a user terminal5such as a cellular phone to designate an electronic document, the page image of the electronic document is written and displayed on the display section12of the electronic paper1by the writing apparatus2, and identification information of the electronic document is stored in the storage section11of the electronic paper1by the writing apparatus2.

That is, since the page image of the electronic document can be displayed on the electronic paper1by associating the electronic document and the electronic paper1using the writing apparatus2, a user can confirm that the electronic document is associated with the electronic paper1by looking at the display of the electronic paper1.

Also, accompanied by the association, the control information relating to the writing apparatus2is updated, and thereafter, when the electronic paper1which is not associated with an electronic document is placed on the writing apparatus2, the subsequent page image is written and displayed on the electronic paper1.

Also, for example, as shown inFIG. 14, if an access device6afor accessing the storage section11of the electronic paper1is provided in the user terminal6and if a user operates the user terminal6to designate an electronic document, identification information of the electronic document is stored in the storage section11of the electronic paper1by the access device6a.

Also, for example, as shown inFIG. 15, an electronic paper1dwhich is associated with an electronic document and an electronic paper1ewhich is not associated with an electronic document are presented to the writing apparatus2or the access device6ain an overlapped state, the identification information of the electronic document associated with the electronic paper1dis copied to the electronic paper1e.