Image output apparatus, method, and medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9307210-B2
Application number	US-201514686207-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2015
Priority date	Jan 6, 2012
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel image output apparatus that includes an operation processing unit that processes an operation request from a user, a projecting unit that projects a display image from a video providing apparatus and UIs from the image projector, a determining unit that determines whether or not it is necessary to switch a source of a video signal by using a current input type and a source of a video signal with reference to a data table that associates an input type that indicates a type of a port from which an image to be projected is acquired with a source of a video signal that forms an image to be projected, and a controller that switches a source of a video signal and executes a process indicated by an operation request from a user if it is necessary to switch the source of a video signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image output apparatus, comprising:
circuitry configured to:
execute a process in response to a user request for operation;
accept specification of a source for acquiring an image;
output at least one of the image received from the source or another image generated by the image output apparatus;
accept a request for operation that requests another process regarding output of the image received from the source;
determine whether or not the source of the image to be processed in response to the accepted request for operation is different from a current source of a current image being output; and
switch the current source of the current image to the source of the image to be processed in response to the request for operation based on a determination that the source of the image to be processed is different from the current source of the current image.

2. The image output apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to change aspect ratio of the image received from the source.

3. The image output apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to change quality of the image received from the source.

4. The image output apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
generate the image output by the image output apparatus,
generate a corresponding image that includes a message indicating that the process is not executable if the circuitry cannot execute the process in response to the request for operation, and
not switch the current source if the circuitry cannot execute the process in response to the request for operation.

5. The image output apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
execute the process in response to the user request for operation after the circuitry switches the current source of the current image to the source of the image, and
switch the image to a previous image after the circuitry executes the process.

6. The image output apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
store, in a memory, a data table that associates an input type of the image and the source of the image.

7. The image output apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to create a User Interface (UI).

8. The image output apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein when it is determined that it is necessary to switch the current source of the current image, the circuitry is configured to close the UI.

9. An image output method, comprising:
executing a process in response to a user request for operation;
accepting specification of a source for acquiring an image;
outputting at least one of the image received from the source or another image generated by an image output apparatus;
accepting a request for operation that requests another process regarding output of the image received from the source;
determining, using circuitry, whether or not the source of the image to be processed in response to the accepted request for operation is different from a current source of a current image being output; and
switching, using the circuitry, the current source of the current image to the source of the image to be processed in response to the request for operation based on a determination that the source of the image to be processed is different from the current source of the current image.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium executing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute an image output method, the method comprising:
executing a process in response to a user request for operation;
accepting specification of a source for acquiring an image;
outputting at least one of the image received from the source or another image generated by an image output apparatus;
accepting a request for operation that requests another process regarding output of the image received from the source;
determining whether or not the source of the image to be processed in response to the accepted request for operation is different from a current source of a current image being output; and
switching the current source of the current image to the source of the image to be processed in response to the request for operation based on a determination that the source of the image to be processed is different from the current source of the current image.

Assignees

• Takemoto Ryo
• Watanabe Ayako
• Sakamoto Shinichiro
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Takemoto Ryo
• Watanabe Ayako
• Sakamoto Shinichiro

Classifications

• H04N5/268

  Signal distribution or switching · CPC title

• H04N9/3179 Primary

  Video signal processing therefor · CPC title