JP5915438B2 - Image processing program and image processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing program and an image processing method.

  In Patent Document 1, when a predetermined operation such as a left click is performed on a device icon displayed on an output operation screen representing the arrangement of the output device, output setting related to the output device corresponding to the device icon is performed. A data output system that displays a default setting screen that displays default values adjacent to the device icon is disclosed. Patent Document 1 also discloses that when a mouse over operation is performed on a device icon, a job list of an output device corresponding to the device icon is displayed adjacent to the device icon. Yes.

JP 2008-40839 A

  In recent years, the number of function icons displayed on a display screen has increased with the increase in the number of functions of image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals. As the number of function icons increases, the user determines the function to be executed among the functions corresponding to the function icons, such as setting values set for the functions. It is assumed that the detailed information is confirmed.

  In such a case, when the technique described in Patent Document 1 is applied, it is possible to display a detailed screen showing detailed information on the function corresponding to each icon by performing a predetermined operation on each icon. However, according to the technique described in Patent Document 1, since the detail screen is displayed adjacent to an icon corresponding to the screen, the detail screen may be displayed so as to overlap with another icon. When the details screen corresponding to another icon is displayed on the icon corresponding to the function for which detailed information is to be checked, the operation corresponding to the icon corresponding to the detailed information to be checked cannot be performed. The user needs to perform an operation to close the displayed detail screen once. Therefore, the operability when confirming the detailed information for the function of each icon is poor.

  On the other hand, as described in Patent Document 1, when detailed information is displayed on an icon by a mouse-over operation, the displayed detailed information is hidden by releasing the mouse cursor from the icon. However, when the mouse cursor is moved, there is a possibility that the detailed information is not displayed unintentionally depending on the movement of the mouse cursor. Therefore, even when it is necessary to move the mouse cursor with the detailed information displayed, for example, when changing the detailed information, the detailed information may be hidden at that time. The operability is bad.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an image processing program for improving operability when a user instructs execution of each function using a function image in which processing content is set in advance, and An object is to provide an image processing method.

  In order to achieve this object, an image processing program of the present invention is a program executed by a computer of an image processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus capable of executing predetermined processing on image data. When a function display control unit that displays a plurality of function images for executing each of a plurality of functions provided in the forming apparatus in the first area of the display unit and a mouse-over operation on the function image is received, based on the function image First setting display control means for displaying setting information for executing the function associated with the function and stored in the storage unit in a second area different from the first area in the display unit; In a state where the setting information is displayed in the second area by the first setting display control means, the function image that has received the mouse-over operation is When a predetermined operation different from the mouse over operation is received, the second setting display control for continuing the display of the setting information in the second area regardless of whether the mouse over operation is continued for the function image. And when the setting information is continuously displayed in the second area by the second setting display control means, when an operation for a setting change image for receiving a setting information change instruction is received, A first change screen display control means for displaying a setting change screen capable of changing the setting information displayed in the second area on the display unit; and a setting change screen displayed by the first change screen display control means When the setting information is changed, the setting stored in the storage unit is associated with the function corresponding to the function image that has received the predetermined operation. Among the information, the setting storage control means for changing the setting information changed in the setting change screen, causing the computer to function.

  The present invention can be realized in various modes such as an image processing device, a control device that controls the image processing device, an image processing system, an image processing method, and a recording medium that records an image processing program.

  According to the image processing program of claim 1, a plurality of function images for executing each of a plurality of functions provided in the image forming apparatus are displayed in the first area, while a mouse over operation is performed on the function image. In the case where it has been broken, the setting information corresponding to the function based on the function image is displayed in a second area different from the first area. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the setting information displayed in the second area from hindering the visibility of the functional image displayed in the first area and the mouse-over operation on the functional image. In addition, when a predetermined operation different from the mouse-over operation is performed on the function image on which the mouse-over operation is performed, regardless of whether the mouse-over operation is continued on the function image. The display of the setting information in the second area is continued. Therefore, even if the mouse-over operation is canceled from the function image, the display of the setting information is not erased, so that the operation for each function image can be performed freely. Therefore, it is possible to improve operability when the user instructs execution of each function using each function image.

  Here, when the user performs a predetermined operation on one function image and the setting information is continuously displayed in the second area, an operation on the setting change image is performed. Since the setting change screen that can change the setting information that is continuously displayed in the area is displayed, the setting information of the functional image that has been subjected to the predetermined operation using the displayed setting change screen, that is, the first The setting information continuously displayed in the two areas can be changed. Setting information that is intentionally kept displayed by the user performing a predetermined operation on one functional image is likely to be setting information that the user desires to change. It is possible to reduce the possibility of performing an operation of displaying a setting change screen capable of changing the setting information instead of the setting change screen capable of changing the information, and to provide suitable operability. Accordingly, it is possible to easily change the setting information for executing the function based on the function image. Also in this respect, the operability when the user instructs the execution of each function using each function image. Can be improved.

  The “setting change screen capable of changing the setting information displayed in the second area” in claim 1 is intended to be a setting changing screen capable of changing the setting information, and is displayed in the second area, for example. A setting change screen that can change only the setting information that is displayed, and a plurality of tab sheets that are switchable for each of the plurality of functions and that can change setting information corresponding to each function, and are displayed in the second area It is a setting change screen in which one tab sheet corresponding to setting information is displayed on the front. In addition, the “mouse over operation” in claim 1 is not limited to the operation of overlaying the tip of a pointer such as a cursor on the function image by the mouse operation, but by the operation of the keyboard or the touch panel or the touch pad. It is intended to include the operation of overlaying on the functional image.

  According to the image processing program of claim 2, in addition to the effect of claim 1, the following effect is obtained. One tab sheet corresponding to the setting information displayed in the second area is displayed on the front among the plurality of tab sheets that can be switched for each of the plurality of functions and can change the setting information corresponding to each function. The setting change screen is displayed. The setting information that is intentionally kept displayed by the user performing a predetermined operation on one functional image is likely to be setting information that the user desires to change, and therefore corresponds to the setting information. By displaying one tab sheet, it is possible to provide suitable operability. Also, if necessary, setting information corresponding to other tab sheets can be displayed on the front, so that the setting information continuously displayed in the second area can be changed and other functions can be executed. The setting information can be changed by a single operation on the setting change image.

  According to the image processing program of claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 1 or 2, the following effect is obtained. When a mouse over operation is performed on a function image, a setting change image is displayed. Therefore, it is easy for the user to recognize that the setting information displayed in the second area is associated with the setting change image. Improve operability for displaying. In claim 3, "when the mouse over operation for the function image is accepted, the setting change image is displayed on the display unit" means that the setting change image is displayed when the mouse over operation for the function image is accepted. The present invention is not limited to this, and it is intended to include displaying a setting change image on the condition that some operation, for example, the “predetermined operation” in claim 1 is received after the mouse-over operation is received.

  According to the image processing program of claim 4, in addition to the effect of claim 1 or 2, the following effect is obtained. A plurality of setting change screens that can change setting information corresponding to a plurality of functions when an operation is performed on a setting change image in a state where a predetermined operation is not accepted for a function image that has been subjected to a mouse over operation. Among these, a display capable of selecting a setting change screen corresponding to one function is displayed. Therefore, since the setting change screen for which the setting information is desired to be changed can be easily selected and displayed from among the plurality of setting change screens, the operability for displaying the setting change screen is good.

  According to the image processing program of claim 5, in addition to the effect of claim 4, the following effect is obtained. When an operation is performed on a setting change image in a state where a predetermined operation is not received for a function image that has been subjected to a mouse-over operation, a menu display including items corresponding to a plurality of functions is displayed. When an operation for selecting one function is performed on the menu display, a setting change screen capable of changing the setting information for the selected one function is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to easily select a function for which setting information is desired to be changed from the menu display.

  According to the image processing program of claim 6, in addition to the effect of claim 4, the following effect is obtained. When an operation is performed on a setting change image in a state where a predetermined operation is not accepted for a function image that has been subjected to a mouse over operation, setting information corresponding to each function is provided for each of the plurality of functions. A setting change screen is displayed in which a tab sheet for a predetermined function among a plurality of tab sheets that can be changed is displayed. When an operation for selecting a tab sheet for one function different from the predetermined function is performed on the setting change screen on which the tab sheet for the predetermined function is displayed, the tab sheet for the selected function is displayed on the front. The setting change screen appears. Therefore, it is possible to easily select a function for which setting information is desired to be changed by switching the tab sheet.

  According to the image processing program of claim 7, in addition to the effect of claim 1 or 2, the following effect is obtained. When an operation is performed on a setting change image in a state where a predetermined operation has not been received for a function image that has been subjected to a mouse-over operation, the function image is set in the second area within a period from the operation to a predetermined time. When it is determined that the information is displayed, a setting change screen is displayed in which the most recently displayed setting information among the corresponding setting information can be changed. Since the setting information displayed in the second area in the past may be setting information that the user desires to change, the setting change screen is displayed as described above, so that the operation for selecting the setting change screen is performed. Good sex.

  According to the image processing program of the eighth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by any one of the first to seventh aspects, the following effect is produced. In a state where the setting information is continuously displayed in the second area, if the setting information is changed on the setting change screen displayed when an operation is performed on the setting change image, the changed setting information is Displayed in two areas. Therefore, the user can check the changed setting information by looking at the second area.

  According to the image processing program of the ninth aspect, in addition to the effect of the eighth aspect, the changed setting information is the setting information that has not been changed among the setting information that is continuously displayed in the second area. Is displayed in a different display mode, so the change status can be clearly reported.

  According to the image processing program of the tenth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by any one of the first to ninth aspects, the following effect is produced. In the state where the setting information is continuously displayed in the second area, when an operation assigned as an operation for canceling the continuation of the display is performed, the continuation of the display is canceled and the mouse over operation for the functional image is performed. Since the setting information displayed in the second area is erased on the condition that it is not received, the display can be erased by a simple operation when the display of the setting information becomes unnecessary for the user.

  According to the image processing program of the eleventh aspect, in addition to the effect produced by any one of the first to tenth aspects, operation information indicating a predetermined operation is displayed when a mouse-over operation is performed on the functional image. The user can easily recognize and execute the operation method.

  According to the image processing program of the twelfth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the following effect is produced. When a mouse over operation is performed on a function image, the setting information corresponding to the function based on the function image is set as a second area in which no other function image is arranged between the function image that has received the mouse over operation. Since it is displayed in the second area, it is easy for the user to visually understand the correspondence between the function image on which the mouse-over operation has been performed and the displayed setting information.

  According to the image processing method of the thirteenth aspect, an effect similar to that of the image processing apparatus including the computer that executes the image processing program according to the first aspect is obtained.

It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of PC carrying the device control application of this invention. (A)-(c) is a figure which shows an example of a scanner control window. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows an example of a setting change window, (c) is a figure which shows an example of a scanner control window. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows an example of a scanner control window. It is a flowchart which shows a main process. It is a flowchart which shows a setting information display process. It is a flowchart which shows a setting change window display process. It is a flowchart which shows the setting change window display process of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the scanner control window of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the scanner control window of a modification.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a personal computer (PC) 10 on which a device control application (hereinafter referred to as “application”) 14a of the present invention is mounted. The PC 10 is connected to the scanner 30 via the LAN 50.

  The PC 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a hard disk drive (HDD) 14, a LAN interface (LAN I / F) 16, an input device 17, and an LCD 18, which are connected to each other via a bus line 19.

  The CPU 11 controls each unit connected via the bus line 19 according to fixed values and programs stored in the ROM 12 and the HDD 14. The ROM 12 is a memory in which a program for controlling the operation of the PC 10 is stored. The RAM 13 is a readable / writable memory for temporarily storing data necessary for processing of the CPU 11, and is provided with a last display memory 13a. The last display memory 13a, among setting information displayed in a scanner control window, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 2 and the like, data specifying setting information displayed last during a period from the present to a predetermined time, This is an area for storing the time when the setting information was last displayed in association with each other. Further, the RAM 13 stores a flag indicating whether the state is a lock state or an unlock state described later. In the present embodiment, the flag is set to ON when in the locked state, and the flag is set to OFF when in the unlocked state. In the following description, “setting to the locked state (or unlocking state)” means “setting the flag to on (or off)”.

  The HDD 14 is a rewritable nonvolatile storage device, and stores an application 14a. The application 14a is a program for controlling the operation of the scanner 30 from the PC 10. The processes shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 to 7 described later are executed by the CPU 11 in accordance with the application 14a. Although details will be described later, the application 14a according to the present embodiment uses the function buttons BT1 to BT4 (see FIG. 2), which are displayed in the scanner control window, to which various image reading processes are individually assigned. In particular, it is excellent in operability with respect to setting work relating to each function corresponding to each of the function buttons BT1 to BT4. The HDD 14 stores setting information for executing the processes in association with various image reading processes.

  The LAN I / F 16 is an interface for communicating with other devices connected to the LAN 50. The input device 17 is a device for inputting instructions and information to the PC 10, and examples thereof include a keyboard and a mouse. The LCD 18 is a liquid crystal display device.

  Next, various windows displayed on the LCD 18 by processing executed by the CPU 11 according to the application 14a will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIG. 3C, FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4B are diagrams showing display examples of the scanner control window corresponding to various states. FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are diagrams showing display examples of a setting change window corresponding to various states.

  The scanner control window is a window displayed on the LCD 18 when the application 14 a is activated on the PC 10. As shown in FIG. 2A, the scanner control window includes a right pane RP and a left pane LP. In the right pane RP, a plurality of function buttons to which various image reading processes are individually assigned, and four function buttons BT1 to BT4 in the example shown in FIG. 2A are displayed. An image button BT1, which is a first function button, instructs the scanner 30 to read a document image, and sends image data corresponding to the document image to a predetermined image processing application (not shown) in the PC 10. Assigned image processing to pass. The OCR button BT2, which is a second function button, instructs the scanner 30 to read a document image and passes image data corresponding to the document image to a predetermined OCR application (not shown) in the PC 10. OCR processing is assigned. The Email button BT3, which is a third function button, has a mail attachment process for instructing the scanner 30 to read a document image and attaching an image file corresponding to the document image to an email transmitted from the PC 10. Assigned. A file saving process for instructing the scanner 30 to read a document image and storing an image file corresponding to the document image in the HDD 14 of the PC 10 is assigned to the File button BT4 as the fourth function button. When one of the function buttons BT1 to BT4 is designated and the left button of the mouse is pressed (left click), the process assigned to the left-clicked function button is executed.

  A setting change button BT5 is displayed in the left pane LP. The setting change button BT5 is a button for performing an instruction to change setting information corresponding to one function button among the function buttons BT1 to BT4 displayed in the right pane RP. In the left pane LP, setting information corresponding to one function button indicated by the cursor K among the function buttons BT1 to BT4 displayed in the right pane RP is displayed. In the following description, an operation in which the cursor K indicates one of the function buttons BT1 to BT4, that is, an operation in which the arrow K of the cursor K is overlapped (hovered) on the display area of the function buttons BT1 to BT4 is a “mouse-over operation”. May be called. As shown in FIG. 2A, in the state where the mouse over operation is not performed for any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4, the setting information is not displayed in the left pane LP, and the setting change button BT5 is displayed. Only displayed.

  When the mouse over operation is performed on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4, for example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the mouse over operation is performed while the function buttons BT1 to BT4 are continuously displayed in the right pane RP. Setting information corresponding to one function button is displayed in the left pane LP. In the example shown in FIG. 2B, the left pane LP displays setting information corresponding to the Email button BT3 for which the mouse-over operation has been performed, that is, setting information V3 regarding mail attachment processing. The setting information regarding each process is composed of one or a plurality of setting values. For example, the setting information V3 includes setting values V3a to V3d for four setting items, specifically, a setting value V3a indicating the file format of a file attached to an email, a resolution setting value V3b, and a color number setting value V3c. And a document size setting value V3d. Therefore, the user can display setting information related to the process assigned to the designated button by a simple operation of pointing one of the function buttons BT1 to BT4 with the cursor K (operating the mouse over), and visually confirm the contents. it can.

  Here, there is a case where the user who sees the setting information displayed in the left pane LP, for example, the setting information V3, wants to check the setting information related to another function (processing). According to the scanner control window of the present embodiment, the setting information is displayed in the left pane LP, that is, the setting information is displayed in a different area from the right pane RP that displays the function buttons BT1 to BT4. It is possible to prevent information from being displayed over the function buttons BT1 to BT4. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the display of the setting information from hindering the visibility of the function buttons BT1 to BT4. In addition, since the display of the setting information can prevent the mouse-over operation for each of the function buttons BT1 to BT4 from being hindered, after the user confirms the setting information displayed in the left pane LP, the setting information regarding another function is displayed. If the user wants to confirm, the mouse button is operated on the function button corresponding to the desired function, so that the setting information corresponding to the function can be displayed in the left pane LP.

  Note that the setting information is displayed when a mouse-over operation is performed on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4, but is set when no mouse-over operation is performed on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4. The state in which the information is erased is hereinafter referred to as “unlocked state”. For example, when the user is unable to decide which of the various image reading processes to select, the user appropriately moves the cursor K in the unlocked state to display the setting information corresponding to each function button. , You can check the contents. On the other hand, a state in which the display of the setting information being displayed is continued regardless of the display position of the cursor K is hereinafter referred to as a “lock state”. In the present embodiment, when the user presses (right-clicks) the right button of the mouse while the setting information is displayed, the state shifts from the “unlock state” to the “lock state”. Accordingly, when the user determines an image reading process to be executed, the user performs a mouse-over operation on the function button corresponding to the process, and then right-clicks with the cursor K indicating the operation target function button. By doing so, the display of the left pane LP can be locked. In the locked state, the display of the setting information is continued even after the display position of the cursor K is changed. Therefore, since the user can freely change the display position of the cursor K after right-clicking to shift to the locked state, the operability is good.

  Further, when setting information is displayed based on a mouse-over operation on one of the function buttons BT1 to BT4 and the state of the left pane LP is an unlocked state, an operation method for shifting to the locked state is provided. A message to be explained is displayed as a pop-up display P1. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the setting information V3 is displayed in the left pane LP in the unlocked state, the setting is made by right-clicking on the Email button BT3 in which the mouse is over. A pop-up display P1 representing the message “Lock screen” is displayed. Therefore, the user can easily recognize and execute the operation method for shifting to the locked state.

  When the left pane LP is in the locked state and the cursor K indicates the setting change button BT5, if the left button of the mouse is pressed (left click), the scanner control window continues to be displayed and locked. A setting change window capable of changing the setting information displayed in the state is displayed as a separate window. For example, when the setting change button BT5 is left-clicked in the state of the scanner control window shown in FIG. 2C, the setting change window in which the title WT is shown as “Email” shown in FIG. A setting change window is displayed in which the setting information regarding can be changed. Using the displayed setting change window, the user performs setting work for setting information for the selected image reading process, that is, the process assigned to the function button designated by right-clicking. Therefore, if the user left-clicks the setting change button BT5, a setting change window that can change the setting information that the user has shifted to the locked state can be displayed, so that the operability in the setting operation is good.

  In the setting change window, a plurality of selection boxes SB, an OK button BT6, and a CANCEL button BT7 are displayed. The selection box SB is provided for each setting item, and one selection box SB displays a setting value for one setting item. When the setting change window is initially displayed, each setting value of the setting information stored in the HDD 14 in association with the currently selected image reading process is displayed in each corresponding setting box SB. Note that the setting items displayed as the selection box SB are defined according to each image reading process. For example, in the case of a setting change window in which setting information related to mail attachment processing can be changed as shown in FIG. 3A, the selection box SB is a box SB1 to SB4 corresponding to each of four setting items, that is, a file format. Are composed of a box SB1 corresponding to the resolution, a box SB2 corresponding to the resolution, a box SB3 corresponding to the number of colors, and a box SB4 corresponding to the document size. When the user presses the left button of the mouse (left click) in a state where the cursor K indicates a box whose setting value is desired to be changed in the selection box SB, a list of setting value options (not shown) is displayed. The The user can change the setting value displayed in the selection box SB by selecting one setting value from the displayed list of choices.

  An OK button BT6 is a button for inputting an instruction to end the setting operation by confirming each setting value constituting the setting information corresponding to the setting change window being displayed to the setting value displayed in the selection box SB. It is. Therefore, if the OK button BT6 is left-clicked after changing the setting value displayed in the selection box SB, the change of the setting value is confirmed. For example, from the state of the setting change window shown in FIG. 3A, as shown in FIG. 3B, the setting values displayed in the boxes SB1 and SB3 are changed to “JPEG (* .jpg)” and “ When the OK button BT6 is left-clicked with the state changed to “True Gray”, the setting value indicating the file format and the setting value indicating the number of colors are changed to “JPEG (* .jpg)” and “True Gray”, respectively. To be confirmed. When the OK button BT6 is left-clicked, the setting information being displayed is stored in the HDD 14 in association with the selected image reading process. The CANCEL button BT7 is a button for inputting an instruction to end the setting operation with the setting value displayed in the selection box SB of the change setting window at the beginning of display. That is, when the CANCEL button BT7 is left-clicked, the setting information stored in the HDD 14 in association with the selected image reading process does not change.

  When the OK button BT6 in the setting change window is left-clicked, the setting information stored in the HDD 14 in association with the selected image reading process is displayed in the left pane LP. Therefore, when the setting value to be displayed in the selection box SB has been changed from the beginning of the display of the setting change window, the changed setting value is reflected and displayed in the left pane LP. Therefore, the user can execute the corresponding image reading process after confirming the latest setting information. In this embodiment, the display mode of the set value after the change is displayed in a display mode different from the display mode of the set value that has not been changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 3C, the changed set values V3a and V3c are highlighted in bold. Therefore, since the user can grasp at a glance which setting item has been changed, it is possible to execute the corresponding image reading process after confirming whether the setting value after the change is a desired value.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when the setting information is not displayed on the left pane LP, that is, when the setting change button BT5 is left-clicked in the unlocked state, the function menu M is changed to the setting change button BT5. It pops up at an adjacent position. The function menu M includes selection items corresponding to each image reading process (each function) assigned to each function button BT1 to BT4. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the function menu M is assigned to four selection items M1 to M4, specifically, the selection item M1 corresponding to the image processing assigned to the Image button BT1 and the OCR button BT2. A selection item M2 corresponding to the OCR process, a selection item M3 corresponding to the mail attachment process assigned to the Email button BT3, and a selection item M4 corresponding to the file saving process assigned to the File button BT4. .

  When the user presses the left button of the mouse (left click) in a state where the cursor K indicates a selection item corresponding to a process for which setting work is desired among the selection items constituting the function menu M, the scanner control window A setting change window capable of changing the setting information of the process corresponding to the left-clicked selection item is displayed on the LCD 18 as a separate window. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the selection item M3 is left-clicked among the selection items M1 to M4 constituting the function menu M, the setting change window shown in FIG. A setting change window is displayed in which setting information related to processing can be changed. Therefore, even when the left pane LP is in the unlocked state, that is, when the setting information is not displayed on the left pane LP depending on the display position of the cursor K, the user changes the setting information regarding the desired processing. Possible setting change windows can be displayed, and operability is good.

  As described above, a setting change window that can change setting information corresponding to one of the plurality of image capture processes corresponding to the function buttons BT1 to BT4 based on the left click of the setting change button BT5. Can be displayed, so that the setting operation according to the user's desire can be performed. After a setting operation using the setting change window, the user can execute a process based on the changed setting information by a simple operation of pointing one of the function buttons BT1 to BT4 with the cursor K and left-clicking. Can do. Therefore, the operation is easy for the user.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing main processing executed in the PC 10 in accordance with the application 14a. This process is started when the application 14a is activated. When the data is stored in the last display memory 13a with the start of the main process, the CPU 11 indicates the time associated with the data by a timer (not shown) built in the PC 10. If it is a predetermined time before the current time, for example, before 5 minutes, the content of the last display memory 13a is cleared. First, the CPU 11 displays a scanner control window, for example, the scanner control window shown in FIG. 2A on the LCD 18 (S501), and sets the left pane LP in the scanner control window to an unlocked state (S502). When the left pane LP is unlocked (S503: No), the CPU 11 executes a setting information display process (S504), and proceeds to the process of S505. The setting information display processing in S504 is processing for displaying setting information on the left pane LP by a mouse-over operation on the function buttons BT1 to BT4, and specific processing will be described later with reference to FIG. On the other hand, when the left pane LP is in the locked state (S503: Yes), the CPU 11 shifts the processing to S505.

  In S505, when the CPU 11 accepts the left click of the setting change button BT5 by the cursor K (S505: Yes), the CPU 11 executes a setting change window display process (S506), and proceeds to the process of S507. The setting change window display process in S506 is a process for displaying a setting change window, for example, the setting change window shown in FIG. 3A, and accepting an operation such as a setting value change for the displayed setting change window. This process will be described later with reference to FIG. On the other hand, when the CPU 11 has not accepted the left click of the setting change button BT5 (S505: No), the CPU 11 proceeds to S507.

  In S507, when the CPU 11 receives a left click on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4 (S507: Yes), the CPU 11 performs an image reading process assigned to the function button left-clicked among the function buttons BT1 to BT4. Are acquired from the HDD 14, and image reading processing based on the acquired setting information is executed (S508). Specifically, the scanner 30 is instructed to read a document based on the acquired setting information, and image data of the document image generated by the scanner 30 is acquired in accordance with the instruction. Thereafter, the image data of the document image is subjected to image reading processing assigned to the left-clicked function buttons BT1 to BT4. After the process of S508, the CPU 11 moves the process to S509. On the other hand, when the CPU 11 has not received a left click on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT (S507: No), the CPU 11 proceeds to S509.

  In S509, the CPU 11 compares the time stored in association with the data in the last display memory 13a with the current time, thereby comparing a predetermined time after the data is stored in the last display memory 13a, for example, 5 If it is determined that the minutes have passed (S509: Yes), the CPU 11 clears the last display memory 13a (S510), and the process proceeds to S511. On the other hand, when the predetermined time has not elapsed since the data was stored in the last display memory 13a, or when the data is not stored in the last display memory 13a (S509: No), the CPU 11 shifts the process to S511. To do. Therefore, according to the processing of S509 and S510, the data stored in the last display memory 13a continues to be stored only for a predetermined time, and then cleared.

  When the CPU 11 receives an instruction to end the display of the scanner control window in S511 (S511: Yes), the CPU 11 ends this process. On the other hand, when the CPU 11 has not received an instruction to end the display of the scanner control window (S511: No), the CPU 11 returns the process to S503.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the setting information display process (S504) described above. In this process, first, when the CPU 11 accepts a mouse-over operation on the Image button BT1 (S601: Yes), the CPU 11 displays setting information related to image processing on the left pane LP (S602), and the process proceeds to S603. . On the other hand, when the CPU 11 accepts a mouse-over operation on the OCR button BT2 (S601: No, S609: Yes), the CPU 11 displays setting information related to the OCR process on the left pane LP (S610), and the process proceeds to S603. .

  When the CPU 11 accepts a mouse-over operation on the Email button BT3 (S609: No, S611: Yes), the CPU 11 displays setting information regarding the mail attachment process on the left pane LP (S612), and the process proceeds to S603. When a mouse-over operation for the File button BT4 is received (S611: No, S613: Yes), the CPU 11 displays setting information regarding the file saving process on the left pane LP (S614), and the process proceeds to S603. Therefore, according to the processing of S601, S602, S609 to S614, when the mouse over operation is performed on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4 when the state of the left pane LP is the unlocked state, the mouse over operation is performed. Setting information related to the image capturing process assigned to the function button is displayed in the left pane LP. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, when a mouse-over operation is performed on the Email button BT3, setting information V3 related to mail attachment processing is displayed in the left pane LP.

  In step S <b> 603, the CPU 11 displays a pop-up display P <b> 1 (see FIG. 2B) indicating an operation method for shifting to the locked state on the scanner control window. Next, the CPU 11 stores, in the last display memory 13a, data indicating the function button that has been operated with the mouse over as data for specifying the setting information being displayed in the left pane LP in association with the current time (S604). The process proceeds to S605.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 11 has not received a mouse-over operation on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4 (S613: No), the CPU 11 clears the display of the left pane LP (S615), and the process proceeds to S605. Therefore, when the left pane LP is in the unlocked state, if no mouse-over operation is performed on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4, for example, as shown in FIG. Only the setting change button BT5 is displayed.

  In S605, when the CPU 11 has not accepted the right click (S605: No), this process is terminated. On the other hand, when the CPU 11 accepts the right click (S605: Yes), if the right click is performed on the function button that has been operated by the mouse over (S606: Yes), the CPU 11 locks the left pane LP. The state is set (S607), the pop-up display P1 is deleted from the scanner control window (S608), and this process is terminated. According to the processing of S607, the setting information displayed on the left pane LP by the mouse over operation on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4 is continued regardless of whether the mouse over operation on the function button is continued. Is displayed. The right click performed on the function button that has been operated with the mouse over is an example of the “predetermined operation different from the mouse over operation” in each of the claims. On the other hand, when the right click is performed at a position other than the function button on which the mouse-over operation is performed (S606: No), the CPU 11 sets the state of the left pane LP to the unlocked state (S617), and ends this process. .

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the setting change window display process (S506) described above. In this process, first, when the state of the left pane LP is the locked state (S701: Yes), the CPU 11 displays a setting change window for the locked function button among the function buttons BT1 to BT4 on the LCD 18 ( S702), the process proceeds to S703. For example, when the display of the setting information corresponding to the Email button BT3 is in a locked state, a setting change window shown in FIG. 3A, that is, a setting change window capable of changing the setting information regarding the mail attachment process is displayed. . Therefore, according to the processing of S701 and S702, when the function change button BT5 is left-clicked when the state of the left pane LP is locked, a setting change window for the locked function button is displayed. The On the other hand, when the state of the left pane LP is unlocked (S701: No), the CPU 11 causes the function menu M to pop up at a position adjacent to the setting change button BT5 (S709), and the process proceeds to S710. As a result of the processing in S709, for example, the function menu M shown in FIG. 4A is displayed in the setting change window.

  In S710, when the CPU 11 accepts a left click on the Image menu as the selection item M1 (S710: Yes), the CPU 11 displays a setting change window corresponding to the Image button BT1 on the LCD 18 (S711), and the function menu M is displayed. Not displayed (S712), and the process proceeds to S703. On the other hand, when the CPU 11 accepts a left click on the OCR menu that is the selection item M2 (S710: No, S713: Yes), the CPU 11 displays a setting change window corresponding to the OCR button BT2 on the LCD 18 (S714). Goes to S712.

  When the CPU 11 accepts a left-click on the Email menu as the selection item M3 (S713: No, S715: Yes), the CPU 11 displays a setting change window corresponding to the Email button BT3 on the LCD 18 (S716), and the process is S712. Migrate to If the CPU 11 accepts a left click on the File menu as the selection item M4 (S715: No, S717: Yes), the CPU 11 displays a setting change window corresponding to the File button BT4 on the LCD 18 (S718). Goes to S712. Therefore, according to the processing of S709 to S711, S713 to S718, when the function change button BT5 is left-clicked when the state of the left pane LP is unlocked, the user selects from the function menu M A setting change window corresponding to the image capture process (function) is displayed. On the other hand, when the CPU 11 receives a left click on an area other than each menu in the function menu M (S717: No: S719), the CPU 11 hides the function menu M (S720), and ends this process.

  If the CPU 11 does not accept a left click on either the OK button BT6 or the CANCEL button BT7 after the processing of S702 or S712 (S703: No, S721: No), the CPU 11 returns the processing to S703, and the OK button It waits for either BT6 or CANCEL button BT7 to be left-clicked. When the CPU 11 receives a left click on the OK button BT6 (S703: Yes), the CPU 11 displays the current setting information, that is, the setting values displayed in the selection box SB (SB1 to SB4). In association with the type of image reading processing for the change window, the image is stored in the HDD 14 by being overwritten (S704). Next, if the state of the left pane LP is locked (S705: Yes), the CPU 11 acquires the current setting information from the HDD 14, displays the acquired setting information on the left pane LP (S706), and performs processing. The process proceeds to S707. In S706, the changed setting value is highlighted in bold or the like. Therefore, the user can grasp at a glance which setting item the setting value has changed.

  On the other hand, when the left pane is in the unlocked state in S705 (S705: No), the CPU 11 skips the process of S706 and shifts the process to S707. That is, when the left pane is in the unlocked state, the current setting information is not displayed in the left pane LP even if the OK button BT6 is left-clicked. In S707, the CPU 11 sets the state of the left pane LP to the unlocked state. Therefore, when the OK button BT6 or the CANCEL button BT7 is left-clicked, the state of the left pane LP is set to the unlocked state. Therefore, when the state of the left pane LP is the locked state, the unlocked state is entered. After the transition, the setting information displayed in the left pane LP can be deleted on condition that no mouse-over operation is performed on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4. Next, the CPU 11 deletes the setting change window (S708) and ends this process. In S721, when the CPU 11 receives a left click on the CANCEL button BT7 (S721: Yes), the CPU 11 shifts the process to S707.

  According to the first embodiment, when the left pane LP is in the locked state, if the setting change button BT5 is left-clicked, the setting change that can change the setting information displayed in the left pane LP in the locked state A window is displayed. Since the setting information whose display is intentionally locked by the user is likely to be the setting information that the user desires to change, a suitable operation can be performed by displaying a setting change window in which the setting information can be changed. Can provide sex. On the other hand, when the left pane LP is in the unlocked state and the setting change button BT5 is left-clicked, the function menu allows selection of each image reading process (each function) assigned to each function button BT1 to BT4. M is displayed. If the user selects a process for which setting work is desired from the function menu M, the user can display a setting change window in which setting information related to the process can be changed. Therefore, even if the state of the left pane LP is unlocked, it is possible to select desired functions from a plurality of setting change windows with a simple operation of selecting a function whose setting information is desired to be changed from the function menu M. The setting change window can be easily displayed, and the operability is good.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, when the left pane LP is unlocked and the setting change button BT5 is left-clicked, the function menu M is displayed to change the setting information. In this configuration, the user selects a process (function). On the other hand, in the second embodiment, when the left pane LP is unlocked and the setting change button BT5 is left-clicked, the left pane LP is displayed within the predetermined period before the left click. A setting change window corresponding to the last setting information is displayed. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the setting change window display process (S506) of the second embodiment. This process is a process executed by the CPU 11 in accordance with the application 14a of the second embodiment installed in the PC 10. If the left pane LP is in the locked state (S701: Yes), the CPU 11 displays a setting change window for the locked function button on the LCD 18 (S702), and the process proceeds to S703, in the first embodiment. Similarly to S, the processing of S703 to S708, S721 is executed.

  On the other hand, if the left pane LP is in the unlocked state (S701: No), if data is stored in the last display memory 13a (S801: Yes), the CPU 11 stores the data stored in the last display memory 13a. Based on the above, a setting change window corresponding to the function button indicated by the data is displayed on the LCD 18 (S802), and the process proceeds to S803. Since the last display memory 13a stores data for specifying the setting information displayed last only for a predetermined time, the setting change button BT5 is left-clicked when the left pane LP is in the unlocked state. In this case, a setting change window corresponding to the setting information last displayed in the left pane LP is displayed within the predetermined time range before the left click.

  If the left pane LP is unlocked but no data is stored in the last display memory 13a (S801: No), the CPU 11 causes the function menu M to pop up (S709). The process proceeds to S803. When the CPU 11 receives a left click on any menu in the function menu M (S803: Yes), a setting change window corresponding to the function button corresponding to the left clicked menu is displayed on the LCD 18 (S804). When the function menu M is the function menu M shown in FIG. 4A, in S804, the CPU 11 performs S711, S714, S716, or S718 in the setting change window display process (see FIG. 7) of the first embodiment. A similar process is executed. For example, when the CPU 11 receives a left click on the Image menu, the CPU 11 executes processing similar to S711, that is, processing for displaying a setting change window corresponding to the Image button BT1 in S804.

  After the process of S804, the CPU 11 hides the function menu M (S712), and the process proceeds to S703. In S803, if the CPU 11 does not accept a left click on any menu in the function menu M (S803: No), the CPU 11 moves the process to S719, and in steps S719 and S720 as in the first embodiment. Execute the process.

  According to the second embodiment, when the setting change button BT5 is left-clicked when the state of the left pane LP is unlocked, the left pane LP within a period from the left click to a predetermined time before. A setting change window capable of changing the setting information displayed most recently (finally) among the setting information displayed on is displayed on the LCD 18. Since the setting information displayed in the left pane LP in the past may be setting information that the user desires to change, the operability for the setting change window selection operation is good.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, when the left pane LP is in the locked state and the setting change button BT5 is left-clicked, the setting change window corresponding to the setting information displayed in the locked state in the left pane LP is displayed. The configuration was displayed. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, the setting change window is composed of a plurality of tab sheets. When the setting change button BT5 is left-clicked when the left pane LP is in the locked state, a predetermined tab sheet is displayed. The setting change window displayed on the front is displayed. Note that in the third embodiment, identical symbols are assigned to configurations identical to those in the first embodiment and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting change window according to the third embodiment. The setting change window of the present embodiment is configured to be switchable for each assigned image reading process (each function), and includes a plurality of tab sheets that can change setting information regarding each process. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the setting change window includes four tab sheets TB1 to TB4 respectively corresponding to the function buttons BT1 to BT4 in the first embodiment. The tab sheet TB1 corresponds to the Image button BT1, and is a tab sheet that can change setting information related to image processing. The tab sheet TB2 is a tab sheet corresponding to the OCR button BT2 and capable of changing setting information related to OCR processing. The tab sheet TB3 is a tab sheet that corresponds to the Email button BT3 and is capable of changing setting information regarding mail attachment processing. The tab sheet TB4 is a tab sheet corresponding to the File button BT4 and capable of changing setting information regarding the file saving process.

  In this embodiment, when the setting change button BT5 is left-clicked when the left pane LP is in the locked state, a tab sheet corresponding to the setting information displayed in the locked state in the left pane LP as a setting change window. Is displayed on the LCD 18. That is, in S702 of the setting change window display process (see FIGS. 7 and 8), the CPU 11 displays on the LCD 18 a setting change window in which the tab sheet corresponding to the locked function button is displayed on the front. Therefore, for example, when the setting change button BT5 is left-clicked when the setting information related to the mail attachment process is displayed in the locked state in the left pane LP, the tab sheet TB3 as shown in FIG. The setting change window is displayed. Note that the number of tab sheets constituting the setting change window is a number corresponding to the number of function buttons displayed in the right pane RP.

  Each tab sheet displays a plurality of selection boxes SB as in the setting change window for each image reading process in the first embodiment. For example, in the tab sheet TB3 capable of changing the setting information regarding the mail attachment process shown in FIG. 9, the selection boxes SB1 to SB1 corresponding to the four setting items are selected as the selection box SB as in the setting change window shown in FIG. SB4 is displayed. Therefore, the user can perform a setting operation using the selection box SB displayed on the tab sheet displayed on the front surface. In the setting change window of this embodiment, an OK button BT6 and a CANCEL button BT7 are displayed as in the setting change window of the first embodiment. Therefore, when the setting operation is finished by confirming the current setting value, the user left-clicks the OK button BT6. When the setting operation is finished by confirming the original setting value, the user left-clicks the CANCEL button BT7. do it.

  According to the third embodiment, since the setting change window in which one tab sheet corresponding to the setting information displayed in the locked state in the left pane LP is displayed is displayed, the same preference as in the first embodiment is displayed. Provide easy operation.

  In the third embodiment, when the left pane LP is in the locked state, a setting change window including a plurality of tab sheets is displayed when the setting change button BT5 is left-clicked. However, even when the left pane LP is in the unlocked state, a configuration change window composed of a plurality of tab sheets may be displayed. In such a case, in S709 of the setting change window display process (see FIGS. 7 and 8), instead of displaying the function menu, a setting change window in which a predetermined tab sheet, for example, the tab sheet TB1 is displayed in front is displayed. Just do it. Note that, as in the second embodiment, a tab sheet corresponding to the setting information displayed on the left pane LP within a predetermined period before the left click of the setting change button BT5 may be displayed on the front. In such a case, the process of displaying a setting change window composed of a plurality of tab sheets instead of the process of S709 is an example of “selection display control means”. Further, the process of switching the tab sheet to be displayed on the front after displaying the setting change window composed of a plurality of tab sheets is an example of the “second change screen display control unit”.

  In the above embodiment, the application (device control application) 14a is an example of an image processing program. The PC 10 is an example of an image processing apparatus. The CPU 11 is an example of a computer. The scanner 30 is an example of an image forming apparatus. The function buttons BT1 to BT4 are examples of function images. The LCD 18 is an example of a display unit. The right pane RP is an example of the first region. The left pane LP is an example of the second area. The HDD 14 is an example of a storage unit. The setting change button BT5 is an example of a setting change image. The setting change window shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 9 is an example of the setting change screen. Tab sheets TB1 to TB4 are examples of tab sheets. The function menu M is an example of a menu display. The pop-up display P1 is an example of operation information. CPU11 which performs the process of S501 is an example of a function display control means and a function display control step. The CPU 11 that executes the processes of S602, S610, S612, and S614 is an example of a first setting display control unit and a first setting display control step. CPU11 which performs the process of S607 is an example of a 2nd setting display control means and a 2nd setting display control step. CPU11 which performs the process of S702 is an example of a 1st change screen display control means and a 1st change screen display control step. The CPU 11 that executes the process of S704 is an example of a setting storage control unit and a setting storage control step. CPU11 which performs the process of S709 is an example of a selection display control means. The CPU 11 that executes the processes of S711, S714, S716, and S718 is an example of a second change screen display control unit. CPU11 which performs the process of S801 is an example of a display determination means. CPU11 which performs the process of S802 is an example of a 3rd change screen display control means. The CPU 11 that executes the process of S706 is an example of a third setting display control unit. The CPU 11 that executes the processes of S707 and S615 is an example of an erasure control unit. CPU11 which performs the process of S603 is an example of an operation display control means.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be easily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be inferred.

  For example, the numerical values given in the above embodiments are examples, and other numerical values can naturally be adopted. For example, an appropriate value may be adopted as the predetermined time serving as the determination criterion in S509. Moreover, you may employ | adopt an appropriate value for the number of function buttons BT1-BT4.

  In each of the above embodiments, the scanner 30 is exemplified as the image forming apparatus. However, any apparatus capable of executing predetermined processing on image data, for example, processing for converting data read by the scanner into image data, and the like. It can be an example of an image forming apparatus. The predetermined processing for image data is not limited to processing using a scanner, and can be applied to various processing such as PC-FAX processing for transmitting a file created on a PC by FAX. Examples of an apparatus that can be an example of an image forming apparatus include a multifunction peripheral device, a multifunction peripheral, and a facsimile machine. In each of the above embodiments, the PC 10 is exemplified as the image processing apparatus. However, any apparatus that can communicate with the image forming apparatus can be an example of the image processing apparatus. Examples of an apparatus that can be an example of an image forming apparatus include a smartphone, a mobile phone, a PDA, and a tablet terminal. In the above embodiment, a part of image processing assigned to the function buttons BT1 to BT4, for example, processing for passing image data to various applications, processing for saving an image file, and the like are executed in the PC 10. However, all may be executed in an image forming apparatus such as the scanner 30.

  Although the PC 10 of the above-described embodiment has been described as the display position of the cursor K moving according to the user's mouse operation, the display position of the cursor K may be moved according to the keyboard operation. In addition, a touch panel or a touch pad (each example of an input device) may be provided, and the display position of the cursor K may be moved according to the operation. The “mouse-over operation” in each claim of the claims is not limited to the mouse operation, but the arrow tip of the cursor K is moved to the display area of the function buttons BT1 to BT4 by the keyboard operation or the operation of the touch panel or touch pad. Includes operations to overlap.

  In the above embodiments, the right click is an operation for bringing the left pane LP into a locked state. On the other hand, continuing the state in which the cursor K indicates the buttons BT1 to BT4 for a certain time, for example, 3 seconds may be an operation for setting the left pane LP to the locked state. FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating an example of a scanner control window in the present modification. In the configuration of the scanner control window shown in FIG. 10A, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions as those in the above embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 10 (a), the scanner control window of the present modified example has a pop-up display P1 (see FIG. 2 (b)) when a mouse-over operation is performed on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4. Instead, a pop-up display P2 is displayed. The pop-up display P2 shows an operation method for changing the left pane LP from the unlocked state to the locked state. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the setting information V3 is displayed in the left pane LP in the unlocked state, the email button BT3 in which the mouse-over operation has been performed is indicated as “After a certain time has elapsed. A pop-up display P2 representing a message “The setting screen is locked” is displayed. Also according to this modification, the user can easily recognize and execute the operation method for shifting to the locked state. Note that the pop-up display P2 may be deleted when the left pane LP shifts to the locked state, for example. In addition, when at least one of an operation in which the cursor K is right-clicked on the function button 1 and a mouse-over operation for a certain time is performed on the function button 1, the left pane LP is displayed. The state may be a locked state.

  In each of the above embodiments, the display area of the scanner control window 100 is divided into the right pane RP and the left pane LP (divided into left and right), but is not limited thereto. FIGS. 10B and 10C are diagrams illustrating an example of a scanner control window in the present modification. In the configuration of the scanner control window shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions as those in the above embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, the display area of the scanner control window 100 is divided into upper and lower parts, and function buttons BT1 to BT4 are displayed in the upper display area (upper pane UP). In the lower display area (lower pane BP), setting information corresponding to the function button for which the mouse is operated may be displayed. Preferably, based on the fact that one function button among the function buttons BT1 to BT4 is operated with the mouse K by the cursor K as in the example shown in FIGS. When the setting information corresponding to is displayed, the setting information may be displayed at a position where no other function button is arranged between the one function button and the setting information. In this way, the correspondence between the function button designated by the user with the cursor K and the setting information is easily visually understood. In this modification, the setting change button BT5 may be displayed at an appropriate position such as the lower right position of the scanner control window.

  In each of the embodiments described above, when the setting information is displayed in the unlocked state, the setting information is erased when the cursor K does not indicate the buttons BT1 to BT4, that is, when the mouse-over operation is released. did. However, the setting information erasing timing in the unlocked state is not limited to this. For example, even when the display position of the cursor K is changed while the setting information is displayed in the unlocked state, the setting information is continuously displayed until a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) elapses. It may be configured.

  In each of the above embodiments, the locked state is released on the condition that the OK button BT6 and the CANCEL button BT7 are left-clicked. However, the operation for releasing the lock condition is not limited to this. For example, an operation of right-clicking in an area other than the buttons BT1 to BT5 with the cursor K instructed, or within a certain time after shifting to the locked state, the cursor K is placed at a position instructing outside the left pane LP. An appropriate operation such as an operation for changing the display position can be adopted as an operation for releasing the lock state. Alternatively, the locked state may be released on condition that the setting change button BT5 is not left-clicked for a certain period of time after the transition to the locked state. In this way, by providing an operation for releasing the lock state, the user can erase the display with a simple operation when the display of the setting information becomes unnecessary.

  In each of the above embodiments, the setting change button BT5 is always displayed on the left pane LP. However, when the mouse-over operation is performed on any one of the function buttons BT1 to BT4, the setting change button BT5 is left. It is good also as a structure displayed on the pane LP. Alternatively, the setting change button BT5 may be displayed on the left pane LP on condition that a mouse-over operation is performed on any one of the function buttons BT1 to BT4 and further a right click is performed. As described above, when a mouse-over operation is performed on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4 and the corresponding setting information is displayed on the left pane LP, the setting change button BT5 is displayed to display the setting information on the left pane LP. It is easy for the user to recognize that the displayed setting information is associated with the setting change button BT5. Therefore, the operability for displaying the setting change window is good. In the above modification, when at least a mouse-over operation is performed on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4, the process of displaying the setting change button BT5 on the left pane LP is an example of “image display control unit”. is there. In each of the above embodiments, the setting change button BT5 is displayed on the left pane LP. However, the display position of the setting change button BT5 is not limited to the left pane LP, and may be an appropriate position such as the right pane RP. Good.

  In each of the above embodiments, when the mouse-over operation is performed on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4, the data is stored in the last display memory 13a. However, for any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4, A configuration may be adopted in which data is stored in the last display memory 13a on the condition that a mouse-over operation is performed and a right click is performed, that is, the CPU 11 may execute a process corresponding to S604. According to such a configuration, in the second embodiment, the setting change window corresponding to the setting information last intentionally continued by the user can be displayed within the predetermined period before the left click. . Therefore, the displayed setting change window is highly likely to be a setting change window in which the setting information desired by the user can be changed, and the operability is good.

  In each of the above embodiments, when the mouse-over operation is performed on any of the function buttons BT1 to BT4, the data is stored in the last display memory 13a and the data is deleted after a predetermined time. Data is stored in the memory 13a in chronological order, and in S801 of the setting change window display process (see FIG. 8) of the second embodiment, the CPU 11 corresponds to the latest time among the data stored in the last display memory 13a. Regarding the attached data, the processing of S802 may be executed when the latest time is a time within a predetermined period before the left click of the setting change button BT5. When data is stored in time series in the last display memory 13a, each data is stored in association with the display time of the setting information, and the data stored within a predetermined period before the left click of the setting change button BT5 is stored. Of these, when there is data with the longest display time, a configuration change window corresponding to the data may be displayed. In each of the above embodiments, the last display memory 13a is provided in the RAM 13 which is a volatile memory. However, the rewritable nonvolatile memory such as the HDD 14 or the flash memory is similar to the last display memory 13a. It is good also as a structure which provides a memory.

  In each of the above embodiments, when the left pane LP is in the unlocked state, even if the OK button BT6 is left-clicked, the current setting information is not displayed in the left pane LP. When the button BT6 is left-clicked, the CPU 11 may execute the process of S706 and display the current setting information regardless of whether the left pane LP is in the locked state or the unlocked state. Good. With such a configuration, regardless of the state of the left pane LP, the user can grasp at a glance which setting item the setting value has changed. However, if the left pane LP is in the unlocked state, the setting information displayed by the processing in S706 is displayed at a predetermined timing, for example, after a predetermined time, or the next mouse for the function buttons BT1 to BT4. It is preferable to delete when an over operation is performed.

  It is good also as a structure which implements combining each characteristic demonstrated by the said 1st-3rd embodiment and each modification mentioned above suitably.

10 PC
14a Device control application BT1 to BT4 Function buttons

Claims (13)

An image processing program executed by a computer of an image processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image forming apparatus capable of executing predetermined processing on image data,
Function display control means for displaying a plurality of function images for executing each of a plurality of functions provided in the image forming apparatus in a first area of the display unit;
When a mouse-over operation on the function image is received, setting information for executing the function associated with the function based on the function image and stored in the storage unit is stored in the first area of the display unit. First setting display control means for displaying in a different second area,
In a state where the setting information is displayed in the second area by the first setting display control unit, when a predetermined operation different from the mouse over operation is received for the functional image for which the mouse over operation has been received, A second setting display control means for continuing to display setting information in the second area regardless of whether or not the mouse-over operation is continued for the function image;
In a state where the setting information is continuously displayed in the second area by the second setting display control means, when an operation for a setting change image for receiving a setting information change instruction is received, the second area A first change screen display control means for causing the display unit to display a setting change screen capable of changing the setting information continuously displayed on the display unit;
When the setting information is changed on the setting change screen displayed by the first change screen display control means, the setting information is stored in the storage unit in association with the function corresponding to the function image that has received the predetermined operation. Among the setting information, as a setting storage control means for changing the setting information changed on the setting change screen,
An image processing program for causing the computer to function.   The first change screen display control means receives the operation for the setting change image when the setting information is continuously displayed in the second area by the second setting display control means. Among the plurality of tab sheets that can be switched for each of the functions and can change the setting information corresponding to each function, one tab sheet corresponding to the setting information displayed in the second area is displayed on the front. The image processing program according to claim 1, wherein the setting change screen is displayed on the display unit. When receiving a mouse over operation on the functional image, as an image display control means for displaying the setting change image on the display unit,
The image processing program according to claim 1 or 2, which causes the computer to function. A plurality of setting information corresponding to the plurality of functions can be changed when an operation for the setting change image is received in a state where the predetermined operation is not received for the function image for which the mouse-over operation is received. As the selection display control means for displaying the setting change screen corresponding to one function among the setting change screens on the display unit so as to be selectable,
The image processing program according to claim 1 or 2, which causes the computer to function. The selection display control means causes the display unit to display a menu display including items corresponding to the plurality of functions,
As a second change screen display control means for displaying a setting change screen capable of changing the setting information for the selected one function on the display unit when an operation for selecting one function is accepted for the menu display,
5. The image processing program according to claim 4, which causes the computer to function. The selection display control means is a setting change screen in which a tab sheet for a predetermined function is displayed on the front among a plurality of tab sheets that can be switched for each of the plurality of functions and can change setting information corresponding to each function. Is displayed on the display unit,
When an operation for selecting a tab sheet for one function different from the predetermined function is received on the setting change screen on which the tab sheet is displayed, the setting change screen on which the tab sheet for the selected function is displayed on the front is displayed. As a second change screen display control means to be displayed on the display unit,
5. The image processing program according to claim 4, which causes the computer to function. When an operation for the setting change image is received in a state where the predetermined operation is not received with respect to the functional image for which the mouse-over operation has been received, the second area is within a period from the reception to a predetermined time. Display determination means for determining whether the setting information is displayed on the display;
A third change that causes the display unit to display a setting change screen that can change the setting information displayed most recently among the corresponding setting information when the display determining means determines that the corresponding setting information is displayed. As screen display control means,
The image processing program according to claim 1 or 2, which causes the computer to function. When setting information is changed on the setting change screen displayed by the first change screen display control means, third setting display control means for displaying the changed setting information in the second area,
The image processing program according to claim 1, wherein the image processing program causes the computer to function.   The third setting display control means displays the changed setting information in a display mode different from the setting information that has not been changed among the setting information that is continuously displayed in the second area. The image processing program according to claim 8. In a state where the setting information is continuously displayed in the second area by the second setting display control means, when an operation assigned as an operation for canceling the continuation of the display is received, the display is continued. As an erasure control means for erasing the setting information displayed in the second area on the condition that the mouse over operation for the functional image is not accepted,
The image processing program according to claim 1, wherein the image processing program causes the computer to function. As an operation display control means for displaying operation information indicating the predetermined operation on the display unit when a mouse-over operation on the functional image is received,
The image processing program according to claim 1, wherein the image processing program causes the computer to function.   When the first setting display control unit accepts a mouse over operation on the functional image, the first setting display control unit displays setting information corresponding to a function based on the functional image as a function image of the display unit that has accepted the mouse over operation. The image processing program according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein an area in which no other functional image is arranged is displayed as the second area in the second area. An image processing method performed by an image processing apparatus capable of communicating with an image processing apparatus capable of executing predetermined processing on image data,
A function display control step of displaying a plurality of function images for executing each of a plurality of functions included in the image processing device in a first area of the display unit;
When a mouse-over operation on the function image is received, setting information for executing the function associated with the function based on the function image and stored in the storage unit is stored in the first area of the display unit. A first setting display control step for displaying in a different second area;
In a state where the setting information is displayed in the second area by the first setting display control step, when a predetermined operation different from the mouse over operation is received for the function image that has received the mouse over operation, A second setting display control step for continuing display of setting information in the second region regardless of whether or not the mouse-over operation is continued for the function image;
In the state where the setting information is continuously displayed in the second area by the second setting display control step, when an operation for a setting change image for receiving a setting information change instruction is received, the second area A first change screen display control step for causing the display section to display a setting change screen capable of changing the setting information displayed on the display;
When the setting information is changed on the setting change screen displayed by the first change screen display control step, the setting information is stored in the storage unit in association with the function corresponding to the function image that has received the predetermined operation. Among the setting information, a setting storage control step for changing the setting information changed on the setting change screen;
An image processing method comprising:

Images