Information processing systems and programs

Abstract

This invention provides an information processing system and program that can synthesize images as expected, even when modifications are made to the input manuscript data. [Solution] When printing by compositing an image onto input document data according to setting information which is set for each size and orientation of the document and includes information on the position and orientation of the image to be composited onto the document, if a modification process is performed on the input document data to change at least one of the size and orientation of the document, the content of the setting information is converted according to the content of the modification process, and the image is composited onto the document data according to the converted setting information.

Description

[[TECHNICAL FIELD]]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing system and a program. [[BACKGROUND ART]]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus capable of setting a position for overprinting a stamp and changing the stamp position in accordance with different paper sizes. [[PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS]] [[PATENT DOCUMENTS]]

[0003] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 08-018767 [[SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0004] A wide-width image forming apparatus has been proposed that can load paper of a plurality of sizes, and when printing cannot be performed on paper corresponding to the size and orientation of an original document in input original data, the image forming apparatus performs change processing of changing at least one of the size and orientation of the original document, and then performs printing on alternative paper different from the size and orientation of the original document.

[0005] Further, in image forming apparatuses, an image composition function has been proposed that composites an image such as a stamp image with input original data and performs printing. The image composition function is a function in which setting information including information on the position and orientation of an image to be composited with an original document is registered in advance for each size and orientation of the original document, and an image is composited with input original data in accordance with the registered setting information to perform printing.

[0006] However, when using the image synthesis function in a wide-format image forming apparatus, if the above modification process is applied to the original data, a problem arises where the image is synthesized in a way that differs from what was expected when the image is synthesized on the original data according to the setting information.

[0007] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide an information processing system and program that can synthesize images as expected, even when modifications are made to the input manuscript data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The first embodiment of the information processing system includes a processor, which, when compositing an image onto input document data and printing, is configured for each document size and orientation, and includes information on the position and orientation of the image to be composited onto the document, and when a modification process is performed on the input document data to change at least one of the document size and orientation, the processor converts the contents of the configuration information according to the contents of the modification process, and composites an image onto the document data according to the converted configuration information.

[0009] The information processing system of the second embodiment is an information processing system of the first embodiment in which the setting information includes distance information from a reference position to a synthesis position as information about the position of the images to be synthesized, and when the processor performs a modification process to enlarge or reduce the size of the original document, it converts the distance from the reference position to the synthesis position according to the enlargement or reduction ratio of the original document size.

[0010] In the third embodiment of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the second embodiment, when the processor performs a modification process to enlarge or reduce the size of the original document, it converts the size of the image to be synthesized according to the enlargement or reduction ratio of the original document.

[0011] In the fourth embodiment of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the first embodiment, when the processor performs a modification process to change the orientation of the original document, it converts the orientation of the image to be synthesized according to the changed orientation of the original document.

[0012] In the fifth embodiment of the information processing system, the processor records print processing history information, and when the user changes at least one of the position and orientation of the image to be composited with the original document in the print result of the print processing, the processor changes the content of the setting information corresponding to the original document data input in the print processing to match the changes made by the user.

[0013] The information processing system of the sixth embodiment, in the information processing system of the fifth embodiment, modifies the content of the setting information corresponding to the original data input in the printing process according to the content changed by the user and the content of the modification process performed in the printing process.

[0014] The program of the seventh embodiment causes the computer to perform the following steps when printing an image by compositing it onto input document data according to setting information which is set for each size and orientation of the document and includes information on the position and orientation of the image to be composited onto the document, and when a modification process is performed on the input document data to change at least one of the size and orientation of the document, the computer performs the steps of converting the contents of the setting information according to the contents of the modification process and compositing the image onto the document data according to the converted setting information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the information processing system of the first embodiment, even when modification processing is performed on the input manuscript data, the image can be synthesized as expected.

[0016] According to the information processing system of the second embodiment, when a modification process is performed to enlarge or reduce the size of the original document, the image can be composited in the expected position.

[0017] According to the information processing system of the third embodiment, when a modification process is performed to enlarge or reduce the size of the original document, the image can be composited at the expected size.

[0018] According to the information processing system of the fourth aspect, when changing processing for changing the orientation of a document is performed, an image can be combined in an intended orientation.

[0019] According to the information processing system of the fifth aspect, even when the relationship between the size of a printed material and the size and orientation of an original document that is a source of printing is unknown, setting information corresponding to the size and orientation of the original document that is the source of printing can be made to content reflecting changes made by a user.

[0020] According to the information processing system of the sixth aspect, setting information corresponding to the size and orientation of an original document that is a source of printing can be made to content appropriately reflecting changes made by a user.

[0021] According to the program of the seventh aspect, even when changing processing is performed on input document data, an image can be combined as intended. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a diagram for explaining alternative printing in an image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] It is a diagram for explaining alternative printing in an image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing an example of extended information in an image forming apparatus. [Figure 5] It is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example of setting information in an image forming apparatus. [Figure 7] It is a diagram for explaining an image combining function in an image forming apparatus. [Figure 8] It is a diagram for explaining an image combining function in an image forming apparatus. [Figure 9] It is a diagram for explaining conversion processing of setting information in an image forming apparatus. [Figure 10]This is a diagram illustrating the conversion process of setting information in an image forming apparatus. [Figure 11] This is a diagram illustrating the conversion process of setting information in an image forming apparatus. [Figure 12] This is a diagram illustrating the conversion process of setting information in an image forming apparatus. [Figure 13] This is a diagram illustrating the conversion process of setting information in an image forming apparatus. [Figure 14] This flowchart shows the processing flow when using the image synthesis function in an image forming apparatus. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the technology of this disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of an image forming system according to one embodiment.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, the image forming system of this embodiment comprises an image forming apparatus 10 and a terminal device 20. The image forming apparatus 10 is an example of an information processing system in the technology of this disclosure.

[0025] The image forming apparatus 10 is a wide-format image forming apparatus capable of loading multiple paper sizes, including roll paper. The image forming apparatus 10 performs printing on paper corresponding to the size and orientation of the original document in the original document data input from the terminal device 20.

[0026] Furthermore, if the image forming apparatus 10 does not have paper loaded that matches the size and orientation of the original document in the original data input from the terminal device 20, it is possible to print using alternative paper.

[0027] For example, as shown in Figure 2, if the size and orientation of the original document in the original data is A3 landscape, and no A3 landscape paper is loaded into the image forming apparatus 10, the image forming apparatus 10 can print landscape on A2 roll paper, or perform a change process to change the orientation of the original document and then print portrait on A3 roll paper.

[0028] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, if the size and orientation of the original document in the original data is A1 landscape, and no A1 landscape paper is loaded into the image forming apparatus 10, the image forming apparatus 10 can perform a modification process to change the size of the original document to A2 and then print it landscape on A1 roll paper.

[0029] In this case, there are no particular limitations on how the size of the original document should be changed. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the relationship between the original size and the output size may be determined by referring to extended information, or it may be changed to the largest size that is possible.

[0030] The terminal device 20 is connected to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network 30. The terminal device 20 is a terminal for operating the image forming apparatus 10. The terminal device 20 generates print data and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 10. The terminal device 20 can be implemented, for example, by a computer or a smartphone.

[0031] Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be described. Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10.

[0032] As shown in Figure 5, the image forming apparatus 10 comprises a control unit 11, a communication interface (abbreviated as communication IF) device 12, a user interface (abbreviated as UI device) 13, and a print engine 14. These components are connected to each other via a control bus 15.

[0033] The control unit 11 comprises a processor 11a, a memory 11b, and a storage unit 11c. The processor 11a executes predetermined processing based on a program read from the storage unit 11c and expanded into the memory 11b. The storage unit 11c is composed of, for example, a ROM, HDD, or SSD. Various programs and data are stored in the storage unit 11c.

[0034] In this embodiment, the processor 11a is described as reading and executing a program stored in the memory unit 11c, but it is not limited to this. This program may be provided in the form of a computer-readable recording medium as described above. Alternatively, this program may be obtained from an external device via a communication line.

[0035] The communication interface device 12 transmits and receives data to and from external devices. The user interface device 13 is, for example, a touch panel and / or buttons, a device for the user to receive and input information. The print engine 14 prints images onto a recording medium such as printing paper.

[0036] In the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment, an image synthesis function is available that combines an image, such as a stamp image, with the input original data for printing. The image synthesis function pre-registers setting information, including information on the position and orientation of the image to be synthesized with the original document, for each size and orientation of the original document, and then synthesizes an image with the input original data and prints it according to the registered setting information.

[0037] In this embodiment, the setting information includes, for example, information about the relative coordinates of the image G to be composited from a reference position (in Figure 6, for example, the lower right position) and information about the rotation angle when rotated clockwise from a reference direction (in Figure 6, for example, the top) for each size and orientation of the original document, as shown in Figure 6.

[0038] However, when using the image synthesis function in the wide-format image forming apparatus 10, if the above modification process is performed on the original data, there is a risk that the image may be synthesized in a way that is different from what was expected when image G is synthesized on the original data according to the setting information.

[0039] For example, as shown in Figure 7, let's consider the case where the size and orientation of the original document in the original data is A3 landscape, and no A3 landscape paper is loaded into the image forming apparatus 10.

[0040] In this case, when printing horizontally on A2 roll paper without changing the size or orientation of the original document, the image G will be composited as expected when printing by compositing it onto the original document data entered according to the settings.

[0041] However, when printing vertically on A3 roll paper after changing the orientation of the original document, the image G is composited onto the original data entered according to the settings information and then printed, resulting in an image composite that is different from what was expected.

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, we will now describe the case where the size and orientation of the original document in the original data is A1 landscape, and no A1 landscape paper is loaded into the image forming apparatus 10.

[0043] In this case, if the document size is changed to A2 and then printed horizontally on A1 roll paper, when image G is composited onto the document data entered according to the settings and then printed, the image will be composited in a way that is not as expected.

[0044] To prevent such problems from occurring, the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment, when printing by combining an image on input document data using the image synthesis function described above, converts the content of the setting information according to the content of the modification process when a modification process is performed on the input document data to change at least one of the size and orientation of the document, and then synthesizes an image on the document data according to the converted setting information.

[0045] Regarding the conversion of the setting information, specifically, when the control unit 11 performs a change process to enlarge or reduce the size of the original document, it converts the distance from the reference position to the composite position according to the enlargement or reduction ratio of the original document size. The distance information from the reference position to the composite position may be included in the setting information itself, or the distance information included in the setting information may be the distance information itself, or it may be position information for the reference position and composite position used to calculate the distance.

[0046] For example, as shown in Figure 9, if the output size is n times the original size, the coordinates of the composite position P are transformed so that the distance L from the reference position C to the composite position P is n times. In this case, the control unit 11 may also transform the size of the image G to be composited according to the scaling factor, as shown in Figure 10.

[0047] Furthermore, when the control unit 11 performs a modification process to change the orientation of the original document, it converts the orientation of the composite image G according to the changed orientation of the original document. For example, as shown in Figure 11, if the orientation of the original document is rotated 270° clockwise, the coordinates of the composite position P may be converted to the corresponding position without changing the reference position C. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 12, the reference position C may be changed and the coordinates of the composite position P may be converted to the corresponding position.

[0048] As described above, by converting and combining the contents of the setting information, even if a modification process is performed on the original data that changes at least one of the size and orientation of the original document, the image will be combined as expected.

[0049] Furthermore, the control unit 11 may record the history information of the printing process, and if the user changes at least one of the position and orientation of the image to be composited onto the original document in the print result of the printing process, it may change the contents of the setting information corresponding to the original document data entered in the printing process to match the changes made by the user.

[0050] In this case, the control unit 11 may change the contents of the setting information corresponding to the original document data entered during the printing process according to the changes made by the user and the changes made during the printing process.

[0051] Specifically, as shown in the upper left diagram of Figure 13, when a user selects a print history corresponding to a print item from the print history screen (displayed as "job" in Figure 13), the control unit 11 can obtain information such as the original document size, output size, type of composited image, and setting information for that print history from the print history information.

[0052] Furthermore, as shown in the lower part of Figure 13, the control unit 11 accepts editing of the position and orientation of the images to be composited in the output size, so that the user can modify the setting information based on the printed material.

[0053] Then, as shown in the upper right diagram of Figure 13, the control unit 11 reflects the position and orientation information of the image to be synthesized, which was received in the output size settings, into the size and orientation settings of the other documents.

[0054] Next, the processing flow when using the image synthesis function in the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 14.

[0055] First, in step S01, the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 receives the original document data.

[0056] Next, in step S02, the control unit 11 determines the size and orientation of the document in the document data.

[0057] Next, in step S03, the control unit 11 reads out setting information corresponding to the size and orientation of the document.

[0058] Next, in step S04, the control unit 11 determines the output size from the extended information.

[0059] Next, in step S05, the control unit 11 acquires information about the paper being loaded into the image forming apparatus 10.

[0060] Next, in step S06, the control unit 11 determines whether rotation is necessary as a modification process.

[0061] Next, in step S07, the control unit 11 determines whether rotation is necessary or not.

[0062] If it is determined in step S07 that rotation is necessary, the control unit 11 determines the rotation angle in step S08. If it is determined in step S07 that rotation is not necessary, the control unit 11 proceeds to step S09.

[0063] Next, in step S09, the control unit 11 determines the amount of movement of the composite position, and in step S10, it determines the composite position of the images.

[0064] Next, in step S11, the control unit 11 synthesizes and outputs the image, and then terminates the process.

[0065] [Differentiation]

[0066] Although an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified as appropriate.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0068] Furthermore, the operation of the processor in the above embodiments may not be performed by a single processor, but may be performed by multiple processors located in physically separate locations working together. Also, the order of the processor operations is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments, but may be changed as appropriate.

[0069] Furthermore, in the technology of this disclosure, a system includes both systems composed of multiple devices and systems composed of a single device.

[0070] Furthermore, the technology disclosed herein can also be applied to programs and program products.

[0071] [Note] With regard to the embodiments described above, the following additional information is disclosed.

[0072] (((1))) Equipped with a processor, The aforementioned processor, When printing by compositing an image onto the input document data according to setting information that is set for each document size and orientation, and includes information on the position and orientation of the image to be composited onto the document, When a modification process is performed on the input manuscript data to change at least one of the manuscript size and orientation, The contents of the setting information are converted according to the contents of the change process, The image is composited onto the original data according to the converted setting information. Information processing system.

[0073] (((2))) The aforementioned setting information includes distance information from the reference position to the composite position as information about the position of the image to be composited. The aforementioned processor, When the size of the original document is changed (enlarged or reduced), the distance from the reference position to the composite position is converted according to the enlargement or reduction ratio of the original document. The information processing system described in (((1))).

[0074] (((3))) The aforementioned processor, If the original document's size is resized, the size of the composite image will be adjusted according to the resizing ratio of the original document. The information processing system described in (((2))).

[0075] (((4))) The aforementioned processor, If the orientation of the original document is changed, the orientation of the composite image will be converted according to the orientation of the changed original document. An information processing system as described in any one of items (((1))) to (((3))).

[0076] (((5))) The aforementioned processor, Record the history information of the printing process, If the user changes at least one of the position and orientation of the image composited with the original document in the print result of the printing process, In the aforementioned printing process, the contents of the setting information corresponding to the input document data are changed to match the changes made by the user. An information processing system as described in any one of items (((1))) through (((4))).

[0077] (((6))) The aforementioned processor, The content of the setting information corresponding to the original document data entered in the printing process is changed according to the changes made by the user and the content of the change process performed in the printing process. The information processing system described in (((5))).

[0078] (((7))) When printing by compositing an image onto the input document data according to setting information that is set for each document size and orientation, and includes information on the position and orientation of the image to be composited onto the document, When a modification process is performed on the input manuscript data to change at least one of the manuscript size and orientation, A step of converting the contents of the setting information according to the contents of the change process, The steps include: compositing an image onto the original data according to the converted setting information; A program that causes a computer to execute something.

[0079] The effects of the configuration described below are explained below.

[0080] According to the information processing system (((1))), even if changes are made to the input manuscript data, the images can be synthesized as expected.

[0081] According to the information processing system (((2))), when the size of the original document is changed by scaling, the image can be composited in the expected position.

[0082] According to the information processing system (((3))), when a modification process is performed to enlarge or reduce the size of the original document, the image can be composited at the expected size.

[0083] According to the information processing system (((4))), when a change process is performed to change the orientation of the original document, the image can be composited in the expected orientation.

[0084] According to the information processing system in (((5))), even if the relationship between the size of the printed material and the size and orientation of the original document from which it was printed is unknown, the setting information corresponding to the size and orientation of the original document from which it was printed can be made to reflect changes made by the user.

[0085] According to the information processing system in (((6))), the setting information corresponding to the size and orientation of the original document from which the print was made can be appropriately updated to reflect changes made by the user.

[0086] According to the program in (((7))), even if changes are made to the input manuscript data, the images can be synthesized as expected. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Control Unit 11a processor 11b memory 11c storage section 12 Communication Interfaces 13. User Interface Device 14 Print Engines 15 Control bus 20 Terminal devices 30 Networks

Claims

1. Equipped with a processor, The aforementioned processor, When printing by compositing an image onto the input document data according to setting information that is set for each document size and orientation, and includes information on the position and orientation of the image to be composited onto the document, When a modification process is performed on the input document data to change at least one of the document size and orientation, The contents of the setting information are converted according to the contents of the change process, The image is composited onto the original data according to the converted setting information. Information processing system.

2. The aforementioned setting information includes distance information from the reference position to the composite position as information about the position of the image to be composited. The aforementioned processor, When the size of the original document is changed (enlarged or reduced), the distance from the reference position to the composite position is converted according to the enlargement or reduction ratio of the original document. The information processing system according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned processor, If the original document's size is resized, the size of the composite image will be adjusted according to the resizing ratio of the original document. The information processing system according to claim 2.

4. The aforementioned processor, If the orientation of the original document is changed, the orientation of the composite image will be converted according to the orientation of the changed original document. The information processing system according to claim 1.

5. The aforementioned processor, Record the history information of the printing process, If the user changes at least one of the position and orientation of the image composited with the original document in the print result of the printing process, In the aforementioned printing process, the contents of the setting information corresponding to the input document data are changed to match the changes made by the user. The information processing system according to claim 1.

6. The aforementioned processor, The content of the setting information corresponding to the original document data entered in the printing process is changed according to the changes made by the user and the content of the change process performed in the printing process. The information processing system according to claim 5.

7. When printing by compositing an image onto the input document data according to setting information that is set for each document size and orientation, and includes information on the position and orientation of the image to be composited onto the document, When a modification process is performed on the input manuscript data to change at least one of the manuscript size and orientation, A step of converting the contents of the setting information according to the contents of the change process, The steps include: compositing an image onto the original data according to the converted setting information; A program that causes a computer to execute something.

Images