Patent ID: 8635527

Claim:
A method for setting a function performed by an image processing apparatus, comprising: (a) analyzing an input image to recognize one or more document components of the input image; generating preview data of the input image based on a result of the analysis in (a), and outputting the generated preview data to an operation display unit that displays an image thereon and receives an instruction for specifying a position on the displayed image; determining one or more function items to be applied to the input image based on the result of said analysis in (a), the one or more function items representing all functions applicable to all of the document components recognized in (a), and selectively outputting the one or more function items to the operation display unit for display together with the preview data on the operation display unit; receiving a specification of a function item from among the one or more function items displayed on the operation display unit; selectively generating and displaying indicia of one or more target areas superimposed over the preview data on the operation display unit, wherein each target area amongst the target areas corresponds to the specified function item and indicates a portion of the input image to which the specified function item may be applied; receiving a specification of a target area from among the target areas displayed on the operation display unit; and generating new preview data that reflects the specified function item processed on specified target area, and outputting generated new preview data to the operation display unit.