Image processing apparatus, method for controlling image processing apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

To provide an image processor for reducing an environmental load.SOLUTION: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus including a function of reducing an environmental load, a management unit that manages the environmental load reduced by using the function, and a presentation unit that presents the reduced environmental load.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to reducing the environmental impact of image processing devices. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to reduce the environmental impact, there is a growing need to conserve the power and resources consumed by image processing devices. Patent Document 1 proposes a mechanism for comparing the power consumption of multiple types of image processing devices. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-276840 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The power and resources consumed by an image processing device depend on the functions used by the user. Image processing devices are equipped with functions to conserve power and resources, and using these functions can reduce the environmental impact. However, conventional image processing devices do not have a mechanism to notify users of the power and resources saved by these functions.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a mechanism for displaying the amount of power and resources saved in an image processing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The image processing device of the present invention is characterized by having a function for reducing environmental load, a management unit that manages the environmental load reduced by using the function, and a presentation unit that presents the reduced environmental load. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to present to the user the amount of power and resources that have been saved, thereby reducing the environmental burden and the financial burden. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image processing apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a software configuration configured on an image processing apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the functional configuration of the image processing apparatus. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart of a printing process performed by the image processing apparatus. [Figure 5] An example of information managed by the management department. [Figure 6] An example of an environmental effect displayed by the image processing device. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the functional configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart of a process in which the image processing apparatus executes preview display and printing. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart of a process in which the image processing apparatus prints a paperless fax. [Figure 10] 10 is an example of a fax displayed or printed by an image processing device. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart of a process for receiving a FAX by an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart of a process for receiving a FAX by an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 13] An example of the environmental effects displayed by the image processing device DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention claimed. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0010] Example 1 The hardware and system configuration of an image processing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The image processing device 100 includes a control unit 118, a scanner 111, a printer 112, an operation panel 113, and various sensors 114. The control unit 118 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, a Flash ROM 104, and a USBH I / F control unit 105. The control unit 118 also includes a scanner I / F control unit 106, a printer I / F control unit 107, an NVRAM 108, a panel control unit 109, a sensor control unit 110, and a network I / F control unit 115. The components are connected via a bus 116.

[0011] The CPU 101 executes the software programs of the image processing device 100 and controls the entire image processing device. The ROM 102 is a read-only memory that stores the device's boot program, fixed parameters, etc. The RAM 103 is a random access memory that is used to store temporary data when the CPU 101 controls the device. The Flash ROM 104 is a rewritable non-volatile memory that is used to store various data such as installed applications, application data, and print data. The USBH I / F control unit 105 controls the USB host interface and controls communication with various USB devices.

[0012] The scanner I / F control unit 106 is a control unit that controls the scanner 111. The printer I / F control unit 107 is a control unit that controls the printer 112. The NVRAM 108 is a non-volatile memory that stores various setting values ​​of the image processing device 100. The panel control unit 109 controls the operation panel 113 to display various information and receive instructions from the user. The sensor control unit 110 is a control unit that controls various sensors 114 provided in the image processing device 100. An example of the various sensors 114 is a human presence sensor that determines whether a person is in front of the image processing device 100. The network I / F control unit 115 controls sending and receiving of data to and from a LAN network 117. The CPU 101, ROM 102, RAM 103, and Flash ROM 104 are connected to the bus 116. Also connected are a USBH I / F control unit 105, a scanner I / F control unit 106, a printer I / F control unit 107, an NVRAM 108, a panel control unit 109, a sensor control unit 110, and a network I / F control unit 115. Also, a bus 116 is a system bus through which control signals from the CPU 101 and data signals between the devices are transmitted and received.

[0013] The CPU 101 can function as various means by executing a program. Note that a control circuit such as an ASIC that operates in cooperation with the CPU 101 may function as these means. Furthermore, these means may be realized by cooperation between the CPU 101 and a control circuit that controls the operation of the image processing device 100. Furthermore, the CPU 101 does not need to be a single unit, and multiple CPUs 101 may be used. In this case, the multiple CPUs 101 can execute processing in a distributed manner. Furthermore, the multiple CPUs 101 may be located in a single computer, or may be located in multiple physically different computers. Note that the means realized by the CPU 101 executing a program may be realized by a dedicated circuit.

[0014] Next, the system configuration built on the image processing device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. An operating system 201 (hereinafter referred to as "OS201") is software that forms the foundation of the entire system. A program 202 is software that runs on the OS201. An input unit 12 corresponds to the scanner I / F control unit 106, the printer I / F control unit 107, and the sensor control unit 110. A storage unit 13 corresponds to the ROM 102, the RAM 103, the Flash ROM 104, and the NVRAM 108. A display unit 14 corresponds to the panel control unit 109. An external connection IF 15 corresponds to the network I / F control unit 115.

[0015] The functions of the image processing device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The image processing device 100 has the functions of a printing unit 301, a display unit 302, a communication unit 303, and a management unit 304. The printing unit 301 prints document data or the document itself specified by a user onto paper. The display unit 302 displays a screen. The communication unit 303 communicates with external devices. The management unit 304 manages the environmental load reduced by the functions of the image processing device 100. The reduced environmental load includes the amount of electricity or resources saved. The management unit 304 manages the amount of electricity consumed or the amount of electricity saved in terms of power units such as watt-hours or electricity charges. The management unit 304 also manages the amount of paper or toner consumed or the amount of resources saved. The amount of electricity consumed or the amount of resources saved may be expressed as a total amount of carbon dioxide emissions. The amount of electricity consumed or the amount of resources saved may also be expressed as a total amount of monetary value.

[0016] In this embodiment, a mechanism by which the image processing device 100 acquires and presents the amount of power and resources saved will be described. With reference to FIG. 4, the flow of processing in which the image processing device 100 executes printing will be described. The processing described below is realized, for example, by the CPU 101 of the image processing device 100 reading a program stored in the ROM 102 into the RAM 103 and executing it. Therefore, in the description of this flowchart, the processing of each step will be described as being performed by the CPU 101. Below, the step numbers of each process included in the flowchart will be indicated by numbers beginning with "S". The same applies to the subsequent flowcharts.

[0017] 4 by receiving print data and a print instruction. In S401, the CPU 101 determines whether the print instruction is an environmentally friendly print setting. Examples of environmentally friendly print settings include a 2-in-1 setting that reduces and prints two pages onto one page, and a double-sided print setting that prints two pages on both sides of a single sheet of paper.

[0018] In step S401, if the print settings are environmentally friendly (if YES), CPU 101 proceeds to S402. In S402, CPU 101 evaluates the environmental effect. Specifically, the cost of the paper, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions, the amount of electricity, etc. are acquired as the effect of saving one sheet of paper. Note that the saved effect may also be acquired in units of other resources that are easy for the user to understand, such as the number of trees that can absorb the carbon dioxide. CPU 101 then proceeds to S403. In step S401, if the print settings are not environmentally friendly (if NO), CPU 101 proceeds to S403.

[0019] In S403, the CPU 101 records the environmental effect evaluated in S402 in the print record table. The print record table records the results of printing including settings without environmental effects.

[0020] An example of a printing performance table managed by the management unit 304 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5A. The management unit 304 does not evaluate the environmental effect of estimate A.pdf, which is printed using the 1-in-1 simplex setting, which has no environmental effect. For estimate C.pdf, which is printed using the 2-in-1 simplex setting, the management unit 304 evaluates and records the effect of saving six sheets of paper (six pages) in terms of the cost, carbon dioxide emissions, and energy saved because the number of printed sheets is halved. The management unit 304 evaluates the environmental effect of estimate B.pdf, which is printed using the 2-in-1 doublex setting, as a more significant effect because it saves nine sheets of paper (nine pages). The saving effect can be obtained by calculation, etc., from the cost of one sheet of paper, the amount of energy required to print one sheet of paper, and the number of sheets of paper saved. The effect of reducing the environmental impact evaluated by the management unit 304 may be evaluated not only based on the number of sheets of paper, but also by taking into account the amount of toner used as a resource saved.

[0021] After management unit 304 records the information in the print history table, in step S404, CPU 101 executes printing using printing unit 301. However, if printing is not executed because, for example, paper runs out when printing is attempted, there is no print history, and CPU 101 may delete the information recorded in the print history table. S403 may be performed after S404, or the information may be recorded in the print history table only if it is determined in S401 that the settings are environmentally friendly.

[0022] Next, with reference to FIG. 6 , an example of the image processing device 100 presenting information managed by the management unit 304 will be described. In FIG. 6 , the display unit 302 of the image processing device 100 displays the amount of power and resources saved by functions provided by the image processing device 100. The image processing device 100 displays the amount of power and resources saved for a predetermined target period based on printing results managed in a performance management table. In FIG. 6 , the amount of environmental impact reduced is presented for a one-year target period, but the target period can be any period. A method for evaluating the amount of power and resources saved by the image processing device 100 using the paperless fax function or preview function will be described later as another embodiment. The content presented by the image processing device 100 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 6 , and the number of sheets of paper saved may also be used. The image processing device 100 may present the amount of reduced environmental impact as the amount of power saved or the amount of paper saved as the monetary value saved. The image processing device 100 may also display the percentage of printing performed using environmentally beneficial print settings from the performance management table. The image processing device 100 may not only display the information managed in the performance management table on the display unit 302, but also print it. The display unit 302 and the printing unit 301 are examples of a presentation unit that presents the reduced environmental load. The information may not only be presented on the image processing device 100, but may also be transmitted to an information processing device 701 or the like connected to the image processing device 100 via a network so that it can be displayed. Presentation also includes outputting to another external device. The mechanism for evaluating and presenting the amount of power and resources saved by the image processing apparatus 100 has been described above as the first embodiment.

[0023] <Example 2> In the first embodiment, the image processing device 100 was evaluated by considering the paper saved by the print settings as an environmental effect. However, the image processing device 100 also has other functions that bring about environmental effects. For example, the image processing device 100 has a function of previewing before printing. The user can check the layout and font size in the preview before actually printing the print data on paper. Therefore, the preview function has the effect of reducing the power and resources consumed by misprints. Therefore, in the second embodiment, a mechanism will be described in which the image processing apparatus 100 evaluates and presents the amount of power and resources saved by the preview function.

[0024] As a method for displaying a preview, there is a method in which the preview is displayed on the display unit 302 of the image processing device 100 when the user performs a copy operation or prints a document stored in the image processing device 100 using the image processing device 100. There is also a method in which the driver 702 displays the preview on the display unit 703 of the information processing device 701 when the user operates the information processing device 701 to send a print job to the image processing device 100.

[0025] 7, a configuration will be described in which a driver 702 displays on the screen of the information processing device 701 when a user transmits a print job from the information processing device 701 to the image processing device 100. The information processing device 701 is a personal computer (PC). The information processing device 701 is connected to the image processing device 100 via a network such as a LAN. A user displays a preview of print data and gives instructions for printing on a display unit 703 of the information processing device 701. The process flow from displaying the preview to printing the print data on paper is the same for the method of display by the driver 702 and the method of display by the image processing device 100, and therefore, hereinafter, the method of display by the image processing device 100 will be described.

[0026] 8, a flow from when the image processing device 100 according to the second embodiment receives a print job, displays a preview, and executes printing will be described. The processing described below is realized, for example, by the CPU 101 of the image processing device 100 reading a program stored in the ROM 102 into the RAM 103 and executing the program.

[0027] When the image processing device 100 receives a print job or a copy job, it starts the flow of Fig. 8. In S801, when the CPU 101 receives the print job or the copy job, it determines whether a preview display is set. If the CPU 101 determines that a preview display is not set (NO), it advances the process to S805 and executes printing of the print job.

[0028] In S801, if the CPU 101 determines that a preview display has been set (if YES), the process proceeds to S802, where the preview is displayed on the display unit 302. When a preview display is displayed on the information processing device 701, the driver 702 displays it on the display unit 703. Next, in S803, the CPU 101 determines whether or not a command to execute printing has been issued. If the CPU 101 determines that a command to execute printing has been issued (if YES), the process proceeds to S805, where printing is executed.

[0029] If the CPU 101 determines in S803 that printing is not instructed, it is assumed that some abnormality was found in the preview and the user canceled the printing of the print job. If the CPU 101 determines in S803 that printing is not instructed (NO), the process proceeds to S804, where the environmental effect saved by not printing is evaluated in the same manner as in S402. Then, in S806, the CPU 101 records the environmental effect evaluated in S804 in the printing history table. The CPU 101 records the results of printing, including settings with no environmental effect, in the printing history table. FIG. 5B shows an example of a printing history table managed by the management unit 304 according to the second embodiment. An example of the evaluation result in S804 is Contract A.pdf in the top row of FIG. 5B.

[0030] The method for evaluating the amount of power and resources saved by the image processing apparatus 100 using the preview function has been described above as the second embodiment.

[0031] Example 3 In the second embodiment, the image processing device 100 was evaluated for the amount of power and resources saved by using the preview function. In addition to the preview function, the image processing device 100 also has other functions that save power and resources without printing. For example, the image processing device 100 has a paperless fax function that saves received faxes paperlessly without printing them. The paperless fax function saves received fax jobs as electronic data and makes them viewable without printing them on paper, thereby reducing the amount of power and resources required for printing. Typical paperless fax functions include storing received fax electronic data in a shared folder, forwarding it as an email, or storing it in a folder within the image processing device 100. Furthermore, the user can set whether to use paperless faxing for each fax sender number.

[0032] A flow when the image processing device 100 according to the third embodiment receives a FAX job will be described with reference to Fig. 9. The process described below is realized, for example, by the CPU 101 of the image processing device 100 reading a program stored in the ROM 102 into the RAM 103 and executing the program.

[0033] When the image processing device 100 receives a FAX job, the flow of FIG. 9 starts. In S901, the CPU 101 determines whether the FAX job is paperless eligible. If the CPU 101 determines that the FAX job is not paperless eligible (NO in S901), the process proceeds to S902, where printing is executed. If the CPU 101 determines that the FAX job is paperless eligible (YES in S901), the process proceeds to S903, where the CPU 101 evaluates the environmental effect saved by not executing printing in the same manner as in S804. Then, in S904, the CPU 101 saves the electronic data of the FAX job as paperless. An example of a printing record table managed by the management unit 304 according to the third embodiment is shown in FIG. 5C. Then, in S905, the CPU 101 records the environmental effect evaluated in S904 in the printing record table. The printing record table records the results of printing, including settings with no environmental effect.

[0034] The CPU 101 may include the environmental benefits achieved in the electronic data saved in step S904. FIG. 10 shows an example of how the environmental benefits are described. FIG. 10(a) shows electronic data 1000 without any description of the environmental benefits. FIG. 10(b) shows electronic data 1001 with the environmental benefits described. As shown in 1002, the electronic data 1001 displays a message indicating the achieved environmental benefits: "The paperless fax function has reduced CO2 emissions by 1 gram." By displaying the message in the electronic data without printing using the paperless fax function, the image processing device 100 thus allows the user to more easily recognize the reduction in environmental impact. The content of the message 1002 is not limited to the amount of CO2 reduction; it can also be anything that allows the user to recognize the reduction in environmental impact, such as the amount of cost reduction or the amount of electricity saved. The message 1002 does not necessarily need to include specific numerical values.

[0035] The method for evaluating the amount of power and resources saved by the image processing device 100 using the paperless FAX function has been described above as the third embodiment.

[0036] Example 4 In the third embodiment, the environmental effect is evaluated when the image processing device 100 makes the fax paperless. However, when a user issues a print instruction for a fax job that the image processing device 100 has made paperless, the image processing device 100 needs to modify the environmental effect of the fax job.

[0037] As a premise of the fourth embodiment, data of a fax job digitized by the paperless fax function is stored in the main body of the image processing device 100. The user views the fax data digitized by the paperless function on the display unit 302 and instructs printing as necessary.

[0038] 11, a flow in which the image processing device 100 displays a digitized fax and the user instructs printing as necessary will be described. The processing described below is realized, for example, by the CPU 101 of the image processing device 100 reading a program stored in the ROM 102 into the RAM 103 and executing it.

[0039] When a user instructs the image processing device 100 to display digitized fax data, the image processing device 100 starts this flow. In response to the user's instruction, the image processing device 100 displays the digitized fax data on the display unit 302. At this time, the image processing device 100 displays the digitized fax and enables the execution of printing of the digitized fax. In S1101, the CPU 101 determines whether a print instruction has been issued. If the CPU 101 determines that a print instruction has been issued (YES), it corrects the environmental effect calculated by the digitization of the fax. If the CPU 101 is instructed to print all pages of the fax data, it simply corrects the environmental effect to 0. If the CPU 101 is instructed to print only specific pages of the fax, it corrects the environmental effect by the number of pages printed. Thereafter, in S1103, the CPU 101 executes printing in accordance with the print instruction. In S1104, the CPU 101 corrects the value recorded in the printing results table based on the corrected environmental effect. S1104 may be between S1102 and S1103.

[0040] The method for correcting the environmental effect of a FAX job when the user instructs the image processing apparatus 100 to print the FAX job that has been made paperless has been described above.

[0041] <Example 5> In the fourth embodiment, a method for correcting the environmental effect when the image processing device 100 prints a paperless fax job was described. However, if digitized fax data is stored outside the image processing device 100 in PDF or JPEG format, printing the fax data increases the environmental impact. In this case, the image processing device 100 cannot detect whether the fax data has been printed, and therefore cannot fully grasp the environmental effect. To ensure the environmental effect of the paperless function, it is desirable for the image processing device 100 to prohibit printing of the electronic fax data when storing the electronic fax data outside the image processing device 100. By prohibiting printing of the digitized fax data, the image processing device 100 can match the environmental effect evaluation presented to the user with the actually obtained environmental effect.

[0042] In the fifth embodiment, a method will be described for preventing the image processing device 100 from printing a paperless fax job. Note that the fax data digitized in the fifth embodiment is stored outside the image processing device 100 in a PDF format.

[0043] A process flow when the image processing device 100 according to the fifth embodiment receives a FAX job will be described with reference to Fig. 12. The process described below is realized, for example, by the CPU 101 of the image processing device 100 reading a program stored in the ROM 102 into the RAM 103 and executing the program.

[0044] This flow starts when the image processing device 100 receives a fax job. In S1201, the CPU 101 determines whether the received fax job is paperless eligible. If the CPU 101 determines that the fax job is not paperless eligible (NO), the process proceeds to S1202, where printing is performed. If the CPU 101 determines that the fax job is paperless eligible (YES), the process proceeds to S1203, where the CPU 101 evaluates the environmental effect saved by not printing, as in S804 and S903. Then, in S1204, the CPU 101 sets a printing prohibition on the data for saving the fax job. Because the fax data is saved in PDF format, the CPU 101 can set a printing prohibition on the fax data. Then, in S1205, the CPU 101 saves the electronic data for which printing has been prohibited as paperless data. Next, in S1206, the CPU 101 records the environmental effect evaluated in S1204 in the printing record table. Furthermore, the CPU 101 records the results of printing including settings without environmental effects in the printing results table. The order of S1206 may be either after S1203 or after S1204.

[0045] The method for reliably reducing the environmental load by prohibiting the image processing device 100 from printing paperless electronic data has been described above as the fifth embodiment.

[0046] Example 6 Next, a sixth embodiment will be described, in which an environmental effect report is displayed based on a print performance table. Referring to FIG. 13, an example in which the image processing device 100 presents information managed by the management unit 304 will be described. The information presented in FIG. 13 is an example of an environmental effect report displayed on the display unit 302 of the image processing device 100. When the user operates the environmental effect button 1301 on the display screen in FIG. 13, a display switch button 1302 is displayed, allowing the user to change the target period and display items of the environmental effect report. In FIG. 13(a), the image processing device 100 displays the amount of power reduction by month. Furthermore, the user can display the reduced CO2 emissions, the reduced paper volume, and the saved amount by operating the display switch button 1302. In this way, the image processing device 100 displays the temporal change in the amount of environmental impact reduction by month in a time-series graph, thereby raising the user's awareness of reducing environmental impact. While FIG. 13(a) displays the environmental effect report as a monthly bar graph, the display content is not limited to this. The period is not limited to monthly, but may be displayed by day, week, quarter, or year. Graphs are not limited to bar graphs, but may be displayed as line graphs. The percentage of environmental impact reduction for each function may be displayed as a pie chart.

[0047] FIG. 13(b) is another display example. As shown in the first to third embodiments, the image processing device 100 has environmentally friendly settings such as paper printing settings, a preview function, and a paperless fax function. FIG. 13(b) shows the percentage of the environmental load reduced by using these functions. 100% represents the case where no environmentally friendly settings are configured. The display in FIG. 13(b) makes it possible to grasp the percentage of the image processing device 100 in which the user configured and used environmentally friendly settings. When the percentage is close to 100%, it indicates that the environmentally friendly settings are used infrequently, and therefore, based on this report, it is possible to encourage the user to use environmentally friendly settings.

[0048] FIG. 13(c) shows another example of a display. The image processing device 100 displays a message regarding environmental effects and environmental impacts in the message display field 1303 to encourage the user to reduce the environmental impact. The message displayed by the image processing device 100 may be displayed by the user operating the display switch button 1302, or may be displayed automatically when the environmental impact is high based on the print performance table. The content of the message is not limited to the display shown in FIG. 13(c) and may be any message encouraging the user to reduce the environmental impact. In the example shown in FIG. 13(c), the image processing device 100 provides guidance on configuring the image processing device 100 to reduce the environmental impact. For example, if the paperless fax function is not configured on the image processing device 100 or is used infrequently, the user may be unaware of the paperless fax function. In such cases, the image processing device 100 may encourage the user to use the paperless fax function and provide instructions on how to configure it. The image processing device 100 may also display a message corresponding to changes in the usage of a specific function over time. For example, when it is determined that the number of double-sided printing settings has statistically decreased, the image processing apparatus 100 may present a message prompting the user to set double-sided printing.

[0049] <Other Examples> Although the embodiments have been described above in detail, the present invention can be embodied as, for example, a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, a recording medium (storage medium), etc. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system made up of multiple devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, an imaging device, a web application, etc.), or may be applied to an apparatus made up of a single device.

[0050] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0051] The disclosure of this specification includes the following image processing device, a control method for an image processing device, and a program. (Item 1) An image processing device having a function for reducing environmental load, a management unit that manages the environmental load reduced by using the function; a presentation unit that presents the reduced environmental load; An image processing device comprising: (Item 2) Further comprising a printing unit that prints an image, the function for reducing the environmental load is a setting of the printing unit, the presentation unit presents the environmental load reduced by the setting of the printing unit. Item 1. An image processing device according to item 1. (Item 3) As a function for reducing the environmental load, a preview function is provided that displays print data before the print data is printed, the presentation unit presents the environmental load reduced by the preview function. Item 1 or 2. The image processing device according to item 1 or 2. (Item 4) A printing unit that prints images; Further comprising a communication unit for communicating with the outside, As the function for reducing the environmental load, a paperless fax function for converting fax data received from the communication unit into a paperless fax machine is provided, the presentation unit presents the environmental load reduced by the paperless fax function. 4. The image processing device according to any one of items 1 to 3. (Item 5) When the paperless fax data is presented, the reduced environmental impact is presented. Item 5. The image processing device according to item 4. (Item 6) printing the reduced environmental impact on the paper printed by the printing unit; Item 6. The image processing device according to item 4 or 5. (Item 7) When printing the paperless fax data, The management unit corrects the reduced environmental load. 7. The image processing device according to any one of items 4 to 6. (Item 8) Set the printing prohibition on the paperless fax data. Item 6. The image processing device according to item 4 or 5. (Item 9) the presentation unit presents a graph of the change in the reduced environmental load over time. 9. The image processing device according to any one of items 1 to 8. (Item 10) The presentation unit further presents a message for reducing environmental impact. 10. The image processing device according to any one of items 1 to 9. (Item 11) the presentation unit displays information indicating the reduced environmental load on a display unit. 11. The image processing device according to any one of items 1 to 10. (Item 12) the presentation unit prints information indicating the reduced environmental impact. 11. The image processing device according to any one of items 1 to 10. (Item 13) A control method for an image processing device having a function for reducing environmental load, comprising: a management step in which a management unit manages the environmental load reduced by using the function; a presentation step of presenting the reduced environmental load by a presentation unit; A control method for an image processing device, comprising: (Item 14) A program for operating a computer of an image processing device having a function for reducing environmental load and a display unit, the program comprising: Manage the environmental impact reduced by using the above function, presenting said reduced environmental impact; So, a program that works.

[0052] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 100: Image processing device, 301: Printing unit, 302: Display unit, 303: Communication unit, 304: Management unit

Claims

1. An image processing device having a function for reducing environmental load, a management unit that manages the environmental load reduced by using the function; a presentation unit that presents the reduced environmental load; An image processing device comprising:

2. Further comprising a printing unit that prints an image, the function for reducing the environmental load is a setting of the printing unit, the presentation unit presents the environmental load reduced by the setting of the printing unit. The image processing device according to claim 1 .

3. As a function for reducing the environmental load, a preview function is provided that displays print data before the print data is printed, the presentation unit presents the environmental load reduced by the preview function. The image processing device according to claim 1 .

4. A printing unit that prints images; Further comprising a communication unit for communicating with the outside, As the function for reducing the environmental load, a paperless fax function for converting fax data received from the communication unit into a paperless fax machine is provided, the presentation unit presents the environmental load reduced by the paperless fax function. The image processing device according to claim 1 .

5. When the paperless fax data is presented, the reduced environmental load is presented. The image processing device according to claim 4 .

6. printing the reduced environmental impact on the paper printed by the printing unit; The image processing device according to claim 4 .

7. When printing the paperless fax data, The management unit corrects the reduced environmental load. The image processing device according to claim 4 .

8. Setting the paperless fax data to be printed out is prohibited. The image processing device according to claim 4 .

9. the presentation unit presents a graph of the change in the reduced environmental load over time. The image processing device according to claim 1 .

10. The presentation unit further presents a message for reducing environmental impact. The image processing device according to claim 1 .

11. the presentation unit displays information indicating the reduced environmental load on a display unit. The image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. the presentation unit prints information indicating the reduced environmental impact. The image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. A control method for an image processing device having a function for reducing environmental load, comprising: a management step in which a management unit manages the environmental load reduced by using the function; a presentation step of presenting the reduced environmental load by a presentation unit; A control method for an image processing device, comprising:

14. A program for operating a computer of an image processing device having a function for reducing environmental load and a display unit, the program comprising: Manage the environmental impact reduced by using the above function, presenting said reduced environmental impact; So, the program works.

Images