Method and user interface for performing a scan operation for a scanner coupled to a computer system

Abstract

A method and user interface is provided for use on a computer system coupled with a scanner for performing a scan operation on an original document, which allows the user to acquire scanned images in an easier and more user-friendly manner. The method allows the user to scan an original document without requiring the user to have learned knowledgea background in the science of image processing, and also allows the scanner to perform only one scan operation on the original document. These features allow the use of the scanner to be easier and more user-friendly than the prior art. By the, method, the first step is to determineIn the method, first a scanner driver program suited for optimizing the scan of the original document determines a set of image processing settings by a scanner driving program that are suited for optimal scan of the original document; and then. Then the scanner is activated to perform a scan operation on the original document based on the image processing settings to thereby obtain a primitive scanned image. Next, an image-enhancement process is performed on the primitive scanned image to thereby obtain a quality-enhanced image; and finally, the quality-enhanced image is transferred to the application program for use by thean application program.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates to scanner technology, and more particularly, to a method and user interface for performing a scan operation for a scanner coupled to a computer system, which allows the user to acquire scanned images in an easier and more user-friendly manner.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]A scanner allows a user to convert the printed matter on a document into a digital image for further processing by a computer. In the use of a scanner, however, it requires well-learned and highly-experienced users to do the image processing tasks properly. For inexperienced users, it usually requires a long period to learn, typically in a trial-and-error manner, which would make the training quite cost-ineffective since additional electricity and paper cost may be required in the training course.[0005]The U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,635 discloses a method that allows the user to acquire a scanned image by first obtaining a p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide a method and user interface for use on a computer system coupled with a scanner for performing a scan operation, which allows the user to operate the scanner in an easy and user-friendly manner.

[0021]Fundamentally, the invention allows the user to scan an original document without requiring the user to have learned knowledge background in the science of image processing, and also allows the scanner to perform only one scan operation on the original document. These features allow the use of the scanner to be easier and more user-friendly than the prior art.

[0025]By the invention, the scanner needs just to perform one scan operation on the original document rather than two scan operations required by the prior art (the U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,635). The invention is therefore more efficient than the prior art. After this, the invention will automatically perform an image-enhancement process on the primitive scanned image to thereby obtain the quality-enhanced image, without requiring the user to have learned knowledge background in the science of image processing in order to perform the image enhancement, and therefore no training is required. Since the user needs not to spend time and material on learning the operation of the scanner, it makes the use of the scanner more cost-effective and user-friendly. Furthermore, the invention provides an image-enhancement process that includes a comprehensive set of image processing routines which would meets most user's demands in image processing.

Problems solved by technology

In the use of a scanner, however, it requires well-learned and highly-experienced users to do the image processing tasks properly.

For inexperienced users, it usually requires a long period to learn, typically in a trial-and-error manner, which would make the training quite cost-ineffective since additional electricity and paper cost may be required in the training course.

One drawback to this patent, however, is that it is quite inefficient to use since it requires the scanner to perform two scan operations on the same document.

It is apparent that the foregoing procedure has the drawback of requiring the scanner to perform two scan operations on the same document to obtain the final scanned image, which makes the image acquisition quite inefficient.

Moreover, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,635 is still quirequite insufficient in functionality to meet user demands in image processing.

Therefore, for unlearned and inexperienced users, it would be highly difficult for them to use these programs rightly, and requires the user to spend much time and material on training.Consequently, inexperienced users have a difficult time using the programs correctly without spending time, and other resources, on obtaining the proper training.

First, they require the user to have learned knowledgea background in the science of image processing in order to properly carry out the image acquisition, which makes the use of the scanner quite difficult and user-unfriendly.

Second, if a user has no such knowledge background, the user needs to spend much time and material on training, typically in a trial-and-error manner, which would make the use of the scanner quite cost-ineffective.

Third, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,635 provides only limited functionality to the image processing, which would not meet user demands in high-end image processing.

Fourth, the prior art requires the scanner to perform two scan operations on the same document to acquire the final scanned image to be used by the application program, which makes the use of the scanner quite inefficient. It is desired that only one scan operation is needed.

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