Abstract:
An information processing device includes an acquiring unit, an image page selecting unit, a reducing unit, and an outputting unit. The acquiring unit acquires a file including a plurality of pages. At least one of a character and an image is carried on each page. The image page selecting unit selects a page containing the image from the plurality of pages. The reducing unit generates a reduced-size page carrying a reduced-size image from the selected page. The outputting unit outputs the reduced-size image.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-084263 filed Mar. 24, 2006. The entire content of priority application is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an information processing device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In recent years, printers capable of printing electronic files stored in a removable medium without using an information terminal such as a computer (PC) have been developed. In such printers, by attaching the removable medium to such printer, the electronic files stored in the removable medium can be easily printed. The electronic files include not only bitmapped images taken by a digital still camera but also document files such as PDF files generated by PC. 
         [0006]    In order to confirm the electronic files stored in the removable medium, such printer has an index printing function of placing and printing reduced-size images and electronic file names in the electronic files on a recording paper. Such printing device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-112004. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Aspects of the present invention relate to an image-information processing device having an index printing or display function which is easy to recognize contents of files. 
         [0008]    One aspect of the present invention provides an information processing device including an acquiring unit, an image page selecting unit, a reducing unit, and an outputting unit. The acquiring unit acquires a file including a plurality of pages. At least one of a character and an image is carried on each page. The image page selecting unit selects a page containing the image from the plurality of pages. The reducing unit generates a reduced-size page carrying a reduced-size image from the selected page. The outputting unit outputs the reduced-size image. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the present invention provides an information processing device including an acquiring unit, a color page selecting unit, a reducing unit, and an outputting unit. The acquiring unit acquires a file including a plurality of pages. At least one of a character and an image is carried on each page. The color page selecting unit selects a page containing color image information from the plurality of pages. The reducing unit generates a reduced-size page carrying a reduced-size color image from the selected page. The outputting unit outputs the reduced-size color image. 
         [0010]    Another aspect of the present invention provides an information processing device including an acquiring unit, a leading page selecting unit, a reducing unit, and an outputting unit. The acquiring unit acquires a file including a plurality of pages. At least one of a character and an image is carried on each page. The plurality of pages is divided into a plurality of chapters. The leading page selecting unit selects a leading page of each chapter. The reducing unit generates a reduced-size page from each selected leading page. The outputting unit outputs the reduced-size pages. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the present invention provides an information processing device including an acquiring unit, a specific page selecting unit, a reducing unit, and an outputting unit. The acquiring unit acquires a file including a plurality of pages. Page data is written in each page. The specific page selecting unit reads the page data and selects, from the plurality of pages, a specific page including page data corresponding to information inputted from an external device. The reducing unit generates a reduced-size page from the selected specific page. The outputting unit outputs the reduced-size page. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from reading the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a compound machine  1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a program stored in a ROM  12 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows an example of index printing; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart in a case where index printing is performed; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows an example of index display; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart in a case where index display is performed; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  shows an example of a bookmark; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a table showing combination of specific font, character size, boldtype and underline. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    An information processing device according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described while referring to the accompanying drawings wherein like parts and components are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid duplicating description. 
         [0022]    Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to figures.  FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a compound machine as an example of an image-information processing device according to the present invention. The compound machine  1  has a faxing function, a copying function and a scanning function and includes a CPU  10 , a RAM  11 , a ROM  12 , a gate array  13 , an NCU (Network Control Unit)  14 , a modem  15 , an EEPROM  16 , a codec  17  and a DMAC (Direct Memory Access Controller)  18 . These elements are interconnected with a bus line  19 . The bus line  19  includes an address bus, a data bus and a control signal line. A reading unit  21 , a printing unit  22 , an operating unit  23 , a display unit  24 , a slot unit  25  and an external connecting unit  26  are connected to the gate array  13 . A telephone circuit  27  is connected to the NCU  14 . 
         [0023]    The CPU  10  controls whole operation of the compound machine  1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , various programs including a file acquiring program  12   a , an image page selecting program  12   b , a reduced-size image generating program  12   c , an output program  12   d , a color page selecting program  12   e , a leading page information acquiring program  12   f , a specific page selecting program  12   g , a FAX control program  12   h , a scanner control program  12   i  and a copy control program  12   j  are stored in the ROM  12 . 
         [0024]    The file acquiring program  12   a  is a program for acquiring a file stored in a storage medium  28  or a personal computer (PC)  29 . The image page selecting program  12   b  is a program for selecting a page containing image information from a plurality of pages contained in one file. The reduced-size image generating program  12   c  is a program for generating reduced-size images of the selected page. The output program  12   d  is a program for printing or displaying the generated reduced-size images. The color page selecting problem  12   e  is a program for selecting a page containing color character information or color image information from a plurality of pages contained in one file. The leading page information acquiring program  12   f  is a program for acquiring information of a leading page of each chapter of a file. The specific page selecting program  12   g  is a program for selecting a specific page from a plurality of pages contained in one file on the basis of input information. 
         [0025]    The FAX control program  12   h , the scanner control program  12   i  and the copy control program  12   j  which are stored in the ROM  12  are programs for controlling the faxing function, the copying function and the scanning function, respectively. 
         [0026]    The compound machine  1  is connected to the NCU  14 . The NCU  14  is connected to the public telephone circuit  27  and controls (connects or disconnects) the circuit. The RAM  11  is used as a line buffer memory for an operating region of the CPU  10  and an expanding region of a read image. The modem  15  modulates and demodulates facsimile data. The ROM  12  stores various programs shown in  FIG. 2  and data such as setting values therein. The EEPROM  16  stores various flags and setting information therein. The codec  17  codes and decodes facsimile data. The DMAC  18  mainly writes and reads data to and from the RAM  11 . 
         [0027]    The gate array  13  functions as an input/output interface between the CPU  10  and the units such as the reading unit  21 . The reading unit  21  has an image sensor and an LED light source and reads images such as characters and drawing from a manuscript. The printing unit  22  prints the images such as characters and drawing according to an ink jet method or a laser method. The operating unit  23  has a key switch group formed of a ten key and letter keys and transmits an instruction corresponding to a key operation by the user to the CPU  10 . The display unit  24  has a panel such as an LCD and displays an operation state, operation guidance and the reduced-size images thereon. The slot unit  25  has a connector for connecting various kinds of storage media  28  having a flash memory such as Smartmedia, Compact Flash®, a USB memory therein and functions as a reader/writer for reading or writing data from or to the storage medium  28 . The external connecting unit  26  has a connecting port which conforms to standards of centronics parallel interface or USB (Universal Serial Bus) and exchanges data and signals with the personal computer (PC)  29 . 
         [0028]    The compound machine  1  has a function of printing data as a peripheral device of the personal computer  29  and a so-called direct printing function of directly reading data from the storage medium  28 , which is used in a digital camera and the like, inserted into the slot unit  25 , and printing the data. As described later, the compound machine  1  outputs reduced-size images  33  of a print document file (for example, a file in pdf (portable document format) format) stored in the storage medium  28  together with a file name  31  and a page number  32  as index images. Similarly, the display unit  24  displays the reduced-size image  33  of the print document file together with a file name  31  and a page number  32  thereon. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows an example of index printing. In this embodiment, four files of files  1  to  4  are stored in a storage medium  28 . Reduced-size images of the leading pages and pages containing image information are printed in a paper  30 . 
         [0030]    More specifically, the file is formed of P 1  containing only characters and P 2  containing image information. The file  2  is formed of only image information (P 1 ). The file  3  is formed of P 1 , P 3  and P 5  which contain only characters and P 2  and P 4  which contain image information. The file  4  is formed of only image information (P 1 ). The file  2  and the file  4  are formed of one page of bitmapped images such as JPEG. The file  1  and the file  3  contain a plurality of pages such as PDF. 
         [0031]    In the case of PDF, for example, the image page selecting program  12   b  determines that the page includes an image when an object type “Image” is written in page data of the page. 
         [0032]    The reduced-size images  33  of the leading page (P 1 ) and the page (P 2 ) containing image information in the file  1 , the reduced-size image  33  of the leading page (P 1 ) of the file  2 , and the reduced-size images  33  of the leading page (P 1 ) and pages (P 2 , P 4 ) containing image information in the file  3  are printed on the paper  30 . Since P 3  and P 5  of the file  3  contain only characters, the reduced-size images  33  of the pages are not printed. Since only reduced-size images  33  of the leading page (P 1 ) and pages (P 2 , P 4 ) containing image information in the file  3  are printed, the user can easily grasp contents of the file by looking at the images  33 . The reduced-size image  33  of P 1  of the file  4  is printed on a second sheet. 
         [0033]    In conventional index printing, only one reduced-size image  33  per file is printed. However, in this embodiment, the reduced-size images  33  of a plurality of pages of one file can be printed. By viewing any of the plurality of reduced-size images  33 , contents of the file can be easily grasped. The reduced-size images  33  of all target pages may be printed. Further, the maximum page number for printing is set, and the reduced-size images  33  corresponding to the maximum page number may be printed. 
         [0034]    The reduced-size image  33  is printed together with a file name  31  and a page number  32 . Thus, when performing direct printing, the user can designate the file name  31  and the page number  32  while viewing the result of index printing in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0035]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a new line is started after P 2  of the file  1 . In addition, a new line is started after P 1  of the file  2 . By starting a new line for each file, the user can easily recognize contents of the files when viewing the index printing. 
         [0036]    In this embodiment, the leading pages (P 1 ) of the files  1  and  3 , which contain only characters, are printed. Only pages containing image information may be printed without printing pages containing only characters. That is, in  FIG. 3 , only P 2  of the file  1 , P 1  of the file  2 , P 2  and P 4  of the file  3  and P 1  of the file  4  may be printed. 
         [0037]    Next,  FIG. 4  is a flow chart for performing printing shown in  FIG. 3 . When the user performs an operation of performing index printing, the flow chart is started. First, processing at a step S 1  is executed. At S 1 , it is determined whether or not there exist files. In the case of No at S 1 , the procedure returns to S 1 . In the case of Yes at S 1 , the number of the reduced-size images  33  to be placed on one sheet of the paper  30  or the plurality of paper  30  in the vertical and horizontal directions (m X n) is calculated on the basis of the size of the paper  30  and the reduced-size image  33  at S 2 . 
         [0038]    For example, in the case in  FIG. 3 , since four reduced-size images and three reduced-size images can be placed in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction, respectively, it is calculated that m is 4 and n is 3. 
         [0039]    Next, the procedure proceeds to S 3 . At S 3 , the reduced-size images  33  which satisfy a predetermined condition are generated. In the present embodiment, the pages which satisfy the predetermined condition mean, for example, pages containing image information. Whether image information is contained or not is determined by an image page selecting program  12   b  on the basis whether, for example, an image command is contained in a target page. Thus, at S 3 , processing is executed so as to generate the reduced-size image  33  of each page. However, if the image command is not contained in the page, the procedure proceeds to the processing for the next page without generating the reduced-size image of the page. 
         [0040]    At S 3 , the reduced-size image  33  of the page containing color characters or color image information may be generated. Since color characters or color image information are easily viewable, contents of the page can be easily grasped by viewing the reduced-size image  33 . To determine whether color characters or color image information are contained, it is determined whether or not a color font, for example, is contained by a color page selecting program  12   e . In the case of PDF, for example, the color page selecting program  12   e  determines that the page is a color page when argument is written with respect to any of cyan, magenta, or yellow in K command of the page. Thus, only the reduced-size image  33  of the page containing the color font can be generated. 
         [0041]    At S 3 , the reduced-size image  33  of the leading page of each chapter may be generated. For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the file is formed of a plurality of chapters. Reference to the leading page of each chapter enables the user to easily grasp contents of the file. In the example shown in  FIG. 7 , an index page (bookmark) is contained. The index page stores a start page number of each chapter therein. By reading the index page by a leading page information acquiring program  12   f  for acquiring leading page information of each chapter, the reduced-size image  33  of the page can be rapidly generated. In the case of PDF, for example, the leading page information acquiring program  12   f  determines that the page is a leading page when an object type “Page” is written in page data of the page. If the text is read from the beginning to the end without using the index page, it takes time. Since file format of the PDF file as shown in  FIG. 7  is open to the public, it is possible to determine which part of the file contains bookmark information. The predetermined condition is inputted either from PC  29  via the external connecting unit  26  or from the operating unit  23 . 
         [0042]    At S 3 , a specific page may be selected from pages contained in one file by a specific page selecting program  12   g  on the basis of input information to print the reduced-size image of the selected page.  FIG. 8  is a table showing combination of conditions such as character size and font. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the user can designate MS Mincho or Times New Roman as a specific font and character size (for example, 12 point or less, 14 point or less). Presence or absence of boldface or underline may be also designated. When the page containing a specific font is selected by the specific page selecting  12   g , as shown in  FIG. 8 , the page containing the font designated by the user is selected and the reduced-size image  33  of the page is printed. When a font which is not usually used is designated as the specific font, since the reduced-size image  33  of the page containing the characteristic font which is not usually used is printed, the user can easily grasp contents of the file by viewing the reduced-size image  33 . On the contrary, the specific page selecting program  12   g  selects the page which does not contain the specific font, the page which does not contain the font designated by the user is selected and the reduced-size image  33  of the page is printed. When a font which is usually used is designated as the specific font, since the reduced-size image  33  of the page containing the characteristic font which is not usually used is printed, the user can easily grasp contents of the file by viewing the reduced-size image  33 . 
         [0043]    Instead of font, a leading page of a chapter, an image page, or, a color page may be selected as the specific page. 
         [0044]    Following the processing at S 3 , the procedure proceeds to S 4  and the reduced-size image  33  is placed on a predetermined position on the paper  30 . Then, the procedure proceeds to S 5 , and it is determined whether or not m or all reduced-size images  33  are placed. The state where m reduced-size images  33  are placed means, in the example shown in  FIG. 3 , the state where four reduced-size images  33  are placed abreast in a line. The state where all reduced-size images  33  are placed means, for example, the state where the reduced-size image  33  of P 2  as a last page in the file  1  in  FIG. 3  is placed. In the case of Yes at S 5 , the procedure proceeds to S 6 . In the case of No at S 5 , the procedure returns to S 3 . By repeating the processing at S 3  to S 5 , m or all reduced-size images  33  contained in one file are placed. 
         [0045]    At S 6 , it is determined whether or not the reduced-size images  33  are printed on one sheet of the paper  30  at S 6 . For example, in  FIG. 3 , it is determined as Yes when P 4  of the file  3  is placed and it is determined as NO in the other cases. In the case of Yes, the procedure proceeds to S 7 , and the reduced-size images for the paper  30  are printed on the paper  30 . Then, at S 8 , it is determined whether or not all of the reduced-size images  33  contained in all of the files have been placed on the corresponding paper  30 . In the cases of No at S 6 , the procedure also proceeds to S 8  without performing printing at S 7 . In the case of No at SB, the procedure proceeds to S 3  for placing all of the reduced-size images  33  contained in all of the files on the corresponding papers  30 . 
         [0046]    By performing the processes of S 3  to SB, the reduced-size images  33  in one file are sequentially placed on one sheet of the paper  30 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the reduced-size images  33  are placed from the upper left of the paper  30  sequentially. If all of the reduced-size images  33  corresponding to all of the pages contained in one file have been placed on the paper  30 , the same processing is performed for a next file. Then, after the sheet  30  has been filled with the reduced-size images  33 , the reduced-size images  33  placed on the paper  30  are printed on the paper  30  by the output program  12   d.    
         [0047]    Here, the last paper  30  may not have been filled with the reduced-size images  33  even if all of the reduced-size images  33  contained in all of the files have been placed on the papers  30 . In such a case, the reduced-size images  33  placed on the last paper  30  are not printed at S 7  since the last paper  30  has not been filled with the reduced-size images  33 . Therefore, in the case of Yes at S 8 , it is determined whether or not there exists an unprinted paper  30 , that is, whether or not there exists any reduced-size image  33  that has not been printed. In the case of Yes at S 8 , the unprinted reduced-size images  33  are printed at S 9 , and then the procedure is finished. In the case of No at S 8 , the procedure is finished without performing printing at S 9 . 
         [0048]    Next,  FIG. 5  shows an example of index display. When an instruction of index display is issued by the user, first, a state shown in  FIG. 5(A)  is displayed. Here, the reduced-size images  33  of the leading page (P 1 ) and the page (P 2 ) containing image information in the file  1  are displayed on the display unit  24 . The reduced-size image  33  of the leading page (P 1 ) of the file  2  is also displayed. Since the reduced-size images  33  of the leading page and the page containing image information are displayed on the screen in this manner, the user can easily grasp contents of the file by viewing the screen. 
         [0049]    In this embodiment, the display unit  24  is formed to be smaller than the paper  30  (refer to  FIG. 3 ). When three images and four images are displayed in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the reduced-size images  33  become too small and are hard to be seen. Thus, two images and two images are displayed in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively, as shown in  FIG. 5(A) . 
         [0050]    When a scroll button  34  is pressed to the right in the state shown in  FIG. 5(A) , the screen moves to a state shown in  FIG. 5(B) . Here, the reduced-size images  33  of P 1 , P 2  and P 4  of the file  3  are displayed. The scroll button  34  is further pressed to the right, the screen moves to a state shown in  FIG. 5(C)  and the reduced-size image  33  of P 1  of the file  4  is displayed. When the scroll button  34  is pressed to the left, the screen returns to the state shown in  FIG. 5(B) . 
         [0051]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart for performing the index display shown in  FIG. 5(A)  to  FIG. 5(C) . When the user performs an operation for performing index display, the flow chart is started and processing at a step S 10  is performed. At S 10 , a file to be displayed is calculated on the basis of the operation of the scroll button  34 . That is, since the displayed file changes according to the operation of the scroll button  34  as shown in  FIG. 5(A)  to  FIG. 5(C) , the file to be displayed is calculated. 
         [0052]    Then, the procedure proceeds to S 11  and it is determined whether or not the reduced-size images  33  of the target file are generated. In the case of Yes at S 11 , the procedure proceeds to S 13 . In the case of No at S 11 , the procedure proceeds to S 12 . At S 12 , m X n reduced-size images  33  of the page which satisfies a predetermined condition in the target file are generated at a maximum and the generated reduced-size images  33  are stored in a reduced-size image management table. To generate the reduced-size images  33  which can be displayed on the display unit  24 , m×n reduced-size images  33  are generated at a maximum. The abovementioned reduced-size image management table is a table for managing the reduced-size images  33 . For example, a predetermined storage area of the RAM  11  is used to store the table therein. The pages which satisfy the predetermined condition include the page containing image information, the page containing color characters and color image information, the page which corresponds to information designated by the user (specific font, character size and presence or absence of boldface or underline) and the leading page of each chapter. Since the processing of creating the reduced-size images  33  of the pages which satisfy the predetermined condition is described in terms of S 3  in  FIG. 4 , detailed description thereof is omitted. 
         [0053]    Then, the procedure proceeds to S 13  and processing of placing the reduced-size images  33  to be displayed in a panel display memory is performed. After that, the procedure proceeds to S 14  and it is determined whether or not placement of the reduced-size images  33 , which is necessary for single display, is completed. In the case of Yes at S 14 , the procedure proceeds to S 16  and panel display is performed. In the case of No at S 14 , the procedure proceeds to S 15  and the next file to be displayed is calculated and then, the procedure returns to S 11 . 
         [0054]    As described above, in the printing or display device in accordance with this embodiment, in the case of a document having a plurality of pages, by printing or displaying the reduced-size image of the page containing an image, the reduced-size image of the page containing a color page, the reduced-size image of the leading page of each chapter or the reduced-size image of the specific page, contents of the file can be easily recognized. 
         [0055]    While the invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiment thereof, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.