Abstract:
An image forming apparatus includes an image storage section configured to store at least first and second image data, a first image designating section configured to designate the first image data, a second image designating section configured to designate the second image data, an editing section configured to edit the first image data designated by the first image designating section and second image data designated by the second image designating section into third image data, a display control section configured to allow the edited third image data to be displayed, and an image outputting section configured to output an image under the display control section.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a storage section capable of storing image data.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     A multifunction peripheral (MFP) is known which can be connected to a network and it has, for example, an e-mail transmit and network print function via the network and an edit function of editing image data in a memory via a browser of a computer connected to the network. Where an image is output from the MFP, any other image stored in the MFP can be added/inserted in page units.  
         [0005]     Where, however, image data are to be edited, such as a combined image formation and overwriting, this had only to be done over a whole page involved. If such image editing is to be done by the user, a corresponding output has been delivered by checking those images stored in the MFP and then adjusting, for example, the data position of original images in a layout. Whether or not, therefore, any edited image satisfies the user&#39;s expected layout was not able to be checked/confirmed until it was actually output.  
         [0006]     Therefore, there has been a growing need for any image forming apparatus of such a type as to be able to easily check/confirm that any output image is edited as the user likes.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     An aspect of the present invention there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising an image storage section configured to store at least first and second image data, a first image designating section configured to designate the first image data, a second image designating section configured to designate the second image data, an editing section configured to edit the first image data designated by the first image designating section and second image data designated by the second image data into third image data, a display control section configured to allow the edited third image data to be displayed, and an image output section configured to output an image displayed under the display control section.  
         [0008]     Objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]     The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a view diagrammatically showing a network configuration in one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a major arrangement of a multifunction peripheral in the embodiment;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a view showing one practical form of first image data in the embodiment;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a view showing one practical form of second image data in the embodiment;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing a former half of a major section of image edit processing in the embodiment;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a lather half of the major section of the image edit processing in the embodiment;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a view for explaining image insert/add-edit processing in the embodiment;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a view for explaining an image overwrite-edit processing in the embodiment;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a view for explaining edit processing in the case of forming an image in a combined form;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a view for explaining edit processing for taking out a portion of an image in the embodiment and overwriting the taken-out image portion onto any other image data at a portion designated by the user;  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a view for explaining rotate-processing for rotating a storage image in the embodiment;  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is a view for explaining black/white reversal processing on a storage image in the embodiment; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  is a view for explaining mirror image processing on a storage image in the embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a view diagrammatically showing a network configuration having a connected multifunction periphery (MFP)  1 . The MFP  1  has a fax function, an internet fax function, a printer function, a copying function, a scanner function, a network function, etc. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the MFP  1  is connected via a network  2  to a PC  3  and MFP  4 . The PC  3  has an operation section  3   a  and a display section  3   b.  The user can operate the operation section  3   a  and, through a browser function of the PC  3 , display various settings of the MFP  1  on the display section  3   b.  Further, by the operation of the operation section  3   a,  the user can give various commands to the MFP  1  for the change of the settings and the network printing on the basis of the display of the various settings which are made on the display section  3   b.  It is to be noted that the network  2  is comprised of, for example, the internet. In this embodiment, an explanation will be given below about the case where one PC  3  and one MFP  4  are connected to the network  2  connected to the MFP  1 . However, the number of the PC  3  and of MFP  4  is not restricted thereto.  
         [0025]     The MFP  1  is connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN)  6  via a PSTN&#39;s subscriber line  5 . A fax  7  and fax  8  are connected to the PSTN  6 . An explanation will be made below about the case where two faxes are connected to the PSTN  6 . In this connection it is to be noted that the number of these faxes is not restricted thereto.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a major arrangement of the MFP  1 . The MFP  1  has a CPU  11 , a ROM  12 , a RAM  13 , an image storage section  14 , an image expand/compress section  15 , a scanner  16 , a printer  17 , a modem  18 , an NCR  19 , a telephone control section  20 , a circuit line signal detecting section  21 , a network interface  22  and a control panel  23 .  
         [0027]     The CPU  11 , ROM  12 , RAM  13 , image storage section  14 , image expand/compress section  15 , scanner  16 , printer  17 , modem  18 , NCU  19 , circuit line signal detecting section  21 , network interface  22  and control panel  23  are mutually connected via a bus line. The modem  18  and telephone control section  20  are connected to the NCU  19 . The circuit line signal detection section  21  is connected to the telephone control section  20 .  
         [0028]     The CPU  11  performs control processing for generally controlling each part on the basis of a control program which is stored in the ROM  12  and it implements the operation as an MFP  1 . The ROM  12  stores a control program, etc., performed under the CPU  11 . The RAM  13  serves as, for example, a work area for storing various kinds of information necessary for each kind of processing to be done under the CPU  11 .  
         [0029]     The image storage section  14  is comprised of, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD). The image storage section  14  is such that, when it stores the image data, thumb-nail data are also stored in a form associated with the image data.  FIGS. 3 and 4  are a concept diagram showing a practical example of the image data stored in the image storage section.  FIG. 3  is a view showing image data D 1  generated by reading out images from a plurality of (three) pages of document sheets through the scanner  16 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the image data D 1  comprises image data D 11 , D 12  and D 13  of these respective pages and thumb-nail data S 11 , S 12  and S 13  corresponding to the respective data D 11 , D 12  and D 13 .  FIG. 4  is a view showing image data D 2  generated through the reading out of an image from a single document sheet by means of the scanner  16 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the image data D 2  comprises the image data D 21  and thumb-nail data S 21  corresponding to the image data D 2 . These image data are stored in the image storage section  14  at different areas.  
         [0030]     It is to be noted that the storing of the image data in the image storage section  14  is not restricted to the case where the image data is generated based on the image read out from the scanner  16  as set out above. For example, the image data is also stored in the image storage section  14  if it is obtained in the following way. Where the fax is transmitted/received between the FAX&#39;s  7  and  8  via the MFP  1 , such transmitted/received fax data are stored in the image storage section  14 . Where the MFP  1  is internet-faxed to and from, for example, the MFP  4 , such faxed image data are stored in the image storage section  14 . Further, where the MFP  1  is e-mailed to and from the PC  3 , the image data attached to the e-mail is stored in the image storage section  14 . In this way, also when these image data are stored in the image storage section  14 , thumb-nail data are prepared in a form to correspond to the image data of the respective page. The thus prepared thumb-nail data are stored in a form associated with the image data.  
         [0031]     The image expand/compress section  15  performs code processing on the image data for redundancy compression and decode processing on the code processed image data. The scanner  16  reads out an image from a document sheet on a document rest, or a document sheet from an auto-document feeder not shown, and generates image data represented by the image on the document sheet. The printer  17  prints the image represented by the image data onto a recording sheet.  
         [0032]     The modem  18  modulates the image data to generate a fax-transmit signal and modulates a command given from the CPU  11  to generate a command transmit signal. The modem  18  sends out these transmit signals to the PSTN&#39;s subscriber line  5  through the NCU  19 . Further, the modem  18  demodulates a fax-transmit signal supplied, over the PSTN&#39;s subscriber line  5 , from the NCU  19  and reproduces image data and demodulates the command transmit signal and reproduces a command. To the NCU  19  is connected the PSTN&#39;s subscriber line  5  held in the PSTN  6 . The NCU  19 , for example, monitors a state involved on the connected PSTN&#39;s subscriber line  5  and performs transmit processing toward the network. Further, NCU  19  effects the level setting, etc., of the fax-transmit signal to the PSTN&#39;s subscriber line  5 . An external telephone set is connected, as required, to the telephone control section  20 . The circuit line signal detecting section  21  receives an incoming signal, over the PSTN&#39;s subscriber line  5 , through the NCU  19  and telephone control section  20  and detects the coming of a predetermined signal.  
         [0033]     The network interface  22  is used for,connection to the network  2 . The network interface  22  allows data transmission to be made through the network  2 . The control panel  23  is comprised of a large-sized touch panel type display and has a touch panel  23   a  and a display section  23   b.  The touch panel  23   a  has various kinds of buttons to allow various kinds of command inputs to be received to the CPU  11 . The button includes, for example, a start button for designating the start of an operation. The display section  23   b  displays various kinds of information to be informed to the user under the control of the CPU  11 .  
         [0034]     Now an explanation will be made below about the case where, by the operation of the touch panel  23   a,  the image data stored in the image storage section  14  is edited and the edited image data is output. By the “outputting of the image data” is meant that, for example, print is made by the printer  17 , a fax is transmitted, an internet fax is transmitted, and e-mail is transmitted with an image data attached thereto.  
         [0035]     Here, the “editing of the image” includes, for example, an image stored in the image storage section  14  is added as a page, an image is inserted into a page, a portion of an image is taken out, an image is formed as a combined one, and an image is overwritten.  
         [0036]     The “addition of an image as a page” means that, relative to an image in the image storage section  14  which the user desires to output, any other image stored in the image storage section  14  is added to an end page. At this time, all the number of pages associated with an output image is increased according to an added image. The “insertion of an image into a page” means that, relative to an image in the image storage section  14  which the user desires to output, any other image in the image storage section  14  is inserted into any arbitrary page. Even at this time, all the number of pages associated with an output image is increased according to an added image. The “taking out of a portion of the image” means that any area is taken from a page of an image stored in the image storage section  14  and the taken-out image is handled as an added or inserted page. The “formation of an image in a combined one” means that overlaying is made over the whole page of an image or a partial image is taken out to obtain image overlaying. As the image overlaying method there is a method by which, for example, one image is overwritten over another image. If this is so done, any overwritten page or area becomes illegible. Further, the basic edit functions can also be set to the copying or printing, such as the concentration level adjustment of an image stored in the image memory section  14 , the rotation and the black/white reversal.  
         [0037]     In this embodiment, an explanation will be made about the case where the editing of an image is done by the operation of the touch panel  23   a.  However, the user can utilize the browser function of the PC  3  and the editing of an image can also be made by the operation of the operation section  3   a  on the PC  3 .  
         [0038]     The image edit processing performed by CPU  11  when the user edits the image will be explained below.  FIGS. 5 and 6  are a flowchart showing a major section of the image edit processing, noting that  FIG. 5  shows a former half of a major section of the image edit processing and  FIG. 6 a  latter half.  
         [0039]     The CPU  11  receives an operation mode determining command from the user on a standby state display screen in a display section  23   b  of a control panel  23 , that is, on a standby state image screen (ST  101 ). The operation mode is any of a copying, a fax-transmit, an internet fax-transmit or an e-mail transmit operation. The CPU  11  receives any of these operations from the user. For example, on the standby state image screen displayed on the touch panel  23   a,  buttons for a copying, a fax-transmit, an internet fax-transmit, and an e-mail transmit mode are displayed. The operation mode is determined based on whichever button is input by the user.  
         [0040]     Then the CPU  11  receives the setting of the determined operation mode (ST  102 ). If, for example, the determined operation mode is a copying operation, the CPU  11  receives the setting of the number of sheets involved.  
         [0041]     Upon receipt of any setting necessary to operate in such a determined operation mode, the CPU  11  receives the inputting of a start button (ST  103 ). Upon receipt of the inputting of the start button, the CPU  11  starts read processing for reading out an image from document sheets, by the scanner, which are set, for example, on a document rest or on an auto-document feeder and decides whether or not the reading-out of an image on the document sheet is finished (ST  104 ). The CPU  11  continues the reading-out of the document sheet until the reading-out of the image from the document sheet is finished (NO in step ST  104 ).  
         [0042]     When the CPU  11  decides that the reading-out of the document is finished (YES in ST  104 ), it next decides whether or not there exists any other document sheet (ST  105 ). For example, a message indicating whether or not any other document sheet is present is displayed on the touch panel  23   a  and the CPU  11  makes a decision based on a user&#39;s response to that message. When the CPU  11  decides that there exists any other document sheet (YES in ST  105 ), control goes back to step ST  103  and an image of that document sheet is read out by the scanner  16 . In this way, the images of the document sheets can be read out in desired numbers and the images of the document sheets thus read out are stored as image data in the image storage section  14  in a form associated with the thumb-nail data.  
         [0043]     The designation of the first image data is made by steps ST  101  to ST  105 . In this embodiment, an explanation will be made below about the case where the image read out by the scanner  16  is handled as the first image data. However, image data which are initially stored in the image storage section  14  may be designated with the use of the touch panel  23   a.    
         [0044]     If the CPU  11  decides that any document sheet is not present (YES in step  105 ), then it decides whether or not an image is to be edited (ST  106 ). For example, a message showing whether or not an image is to be edited is displayed on the touch panel  23   a  and the CPU  11  decides it based on a user&#39;s response to such a message.  
         [0045]     When the CPU  11  decides that an image is to be edited (YES in step  106 ), it receives a designation of an editing image, that is, a designation of the image data stored in the image storage section  14  (ST  107 ). Upon receipt of the editing image the CPU  11  designates second image data. Then the CPU  11  receives the selection of any editing method (ST  108 ). The selection of the editing method is, for example, from a combined image formation, overwriting, partial image taking, rotation, black/white reversal, concentration level adjustment, etc. The selection is determined by inputting a corresponding button displayed on the touch panel  23   a  for editing.  
         [0046]     When the image editing method is selected, the CPU  11  performs edit processing on the image based on such selection (ST  109 ). With reference to FIGS.  7  to  13 , an explanation will be made below about the image edit processing. Based on the edited image data, a display is made on the display section (ST  110 ). When the edit processing is made and edited image data is displayed, any display may be done on the display section  23   b  with the use of the thumb-nail data prepared in association with the image data stored in the image storage section  14  or with the use of the image data per se. When the image editing is made, a display may also be made on the display section  23   b  with the use of thumb-nail data of less image data amount. And when the edited image data is to be displayed, it may be done on the display section  23   b  with the use of the image data so that an output image can be accurately checked/confirmed.  
         [0047]     When the thus edited image data is displayed on the display section  23   b,  the CPU  11  decides whether or not the editing is finished (ST  111 ). For example, a message showing whether or not the editing is finished is displayed on the touch panel  23   a  and the CPU  11  makes a decision based on the user&#39;s response to the massage. When the CPU  11  decides that editing is not finished (NO in ST  111 ), it goes back to the processing of step ST  107  where the selection of the editing image is again received.  
         [0048]     When the CPU  11  decides that the editing is finished (YES in step ST  111 ), it decides the operation mode by steps ST  112  to ST  115 . The decision of the operation mode is made based on the setting of the operation mode received at step ST  102 . That is, if the setting is a copying mode (YES in step ST  112 ), the CPU  11  allows print processing to be made by the printer  17  based on the edited image data (ST  1161 . If the fax-transmit mode is set (YES in ST  113 ), the CPU  11  allows the fax-transmit processing to be made based on the edited image data (ST  117 ). If the internet fax-transmit mode is set (YES in step ST  114 ), the CPU  11  allows the internet fax-transmit processing to be made based on the edited image data (ST  118 ). If the e-mail transmit mode is set (YES ST  115 ), the CPU  11  allows the e-mail transmit processing to be made with the edited image data attached to the e-mail (ST  119 ).  
         [0049]     When the edited image data is processed based on the thus set operation mode, the CPU  11  is again set to the standby state. That is, the CPU  11  again allows the display section  23   b  on the control panel  23  to display a standby state.  
         [0050]     The image edit processing at step ST  109  will be explained below with the use of FIGS.  7  to  13 . In this connection it is to be noted that these Figures diagrammatically show the images displayed on the display section  23   b.    
         [0051]     With reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , an explanation will be made below about the case where, when coping is made from three document sheets set on the auto-document feeder, images are called from the image storage section  14  and, by doing so, the image edit processing is done. That is, the image edit processing will be explained below based on the image data D 1  (current read-out image) explained with reference to  FIG. 3  and image data (storage image stored in one portion of the image storage section  14 ) explained with reference to  FIG. 4 . Although the edit processing is explained based on the current read-out image and storage image, editing images may both be the storage images of course.  
         [0052]      FIG. 7  is a view for explaining edit processing in the case where the image data D 21  representing a storage image is inserted into, and added to, image date D 12 , D 12  and D 13  representing those images read out currently. Based on an command issued by the operation of the user&#39;s touch panel  23   a,  that is, a command for inserting the storage image between a first page and a second page of currently read-out image, image data D 21  is inserted between the image data D 12  and the image data D 12 . That is, it is shown that, as edited image data, four-page image data D 111 , D 112 , D 113  and D 114  are prepared. Thus, an image based on the image data D 111 , D 112 , D 113  and D 114  is displayed on the display section  23   b.  Although, in  FIG. 7 , the storage image is inserted relative to the read-out image, it is of course possible to add the storage image to an end of the read-out image.  
         [0053]      FIG. 8  is a view for explaining the edit processing for overwriting image data D 21  representing a storage image onto image data D 1  representing currently read-out data. Based on a command issued by the operation of the touch panel  23   a,  that is, a command for overwriting the storage image onto the second page of currently read-out image, the image data D 21  is overwritten onto image data D 12 . That is, it is shown that, as edited image data, three-page image data D 211 , D 212  and D 213  are prepared. Thus, an image based on the image data D 211 , D 212  and D 213  is displayed on the display section  23   b.    
         [0054]     Any other practical examples of image edit processing will be explained below with reference to FIGS.  9  to  13 .  
         [0055]      FIG. 9  is a view for explaining edit processing for forming, in a combined form, image data D 21  representing a storage image onto image data D 31  representing currently read-out image. Based on a command issued by the user&#39;s operation on the touch panel  23   a,  that is, a command for forming, in a combined form and at page  2 , the storage image onto the currently read-out image, the image data D 31  and D 21  are formed in a combined form. By forming such combined image, it is shown that image data D 311  is prepared with the image data D 31  and D 21  formed in a combined form. Thus, an image based on the image data D 311  is displayed on the display section  23   b.    
         [0056]      FIG. 10  is a view for explaining edit processing for, relative to image data D 41  representing a storage image, taking out image data D 21 ′ corresponding to a partial image of an image data D 21  representing a storage image and for overwritting the taken-out partial image data D 21 ′ onto a position designated by the user on the image data D 41 . This edit processing is made by a command issued by the user&#39;s operation on the touch panel  23   a.  This command is made by, for example, designating the image data D 21  stored in the image memory section  14  and then designating the image data D 41 . After this, the user operates the touch panel  23   a  to take out the image portion from the image data D 21  as a partial image data D 21 ′. As shown in  FIG. 10 , for example, an upper half of the image is designated and, by this designation, the user operates the touch panel  23   a  to allow an image which is represented by the taken-out image data D 21 ′ to be adjustably set to a position, based on the image data D 21 ′ and image data D 41  on the display section  23   b,  where that image is overwritten on the image represented by the image data D 41 . The range designation for taking out a portion from the image data of the above-mentioned page can be made in 1 mm units in up/down and right/left directions. And even if the thus taken-out image is overwritten as set out above, the positional adjustment can be made in 1 mm units in the up/down and right/left directions. The image overwrite processing is performed by an overwrite command and, as a result of overwritting, an image is obtained as represented by the image data D 411 . The corresponding image is displayed on the display section  23   b.    
         [0057]     FIGS.  11  to  13  are used for explaining the edit processing on the designated storage image.  FIG. 11  are used for explaining the rotate processing on the storage image. Based on a command issued by the operation of the touch panel  23   a  it is possible to prepare image data D 21   a  which is rotated through an angle of  900  relative to image data D 21 .  FIG. 12  is a view for explaining black/white reversal processing on a storage image. Based on a command issued by the user&#39;s operation on the touch panel  23   a,  it is possible to prepare image data D 21   b  obtained by subjecting image data D 21  to black/white reversal.  FIG. 13  is a view for explaining mirror image processing on a storage image. Mirror image-processed image data  51   a  is prepared from image data D 51  on the basis of a command issued by the user&#39;s operation on the touch panel  23   a.  As shown in FIGS.  11  to  13 , after the editing of the storage images, it is possible to perform image edit processing, such as the combined image formation, overwriting, partial taking-out, etc.  
         [0058]     Though being not shown in Figures, the image edit processing may include concentration level-adjust processing on the designated image and also include transparent transformation processing on a one-over-the other image overlaying fashion.  
         [0059]     According to the present embodiment, after the image edit processing but before the outputting of edited image print, fax-transmit, internet fax-transmit, e-mail-transmit, etc., processing, it is possible for the user to visually inspect the edited image on the display section  23   b.  By visually inspecting the thus edited image before being output, it is possible for the user to confirm whether or not the image is edited as he or she likes. If the edited image is not as he or she likes, a corresponding output is not done. It is, therefore, possible to avoid any paper sheet from being used wastefully. Further, it is also possible to avoid any unwanted edited image from being transmitted to a person on a destination site and thus to prevent any inconvenience from being given to that person involved.  
         [0060]     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.