Method and system for managing image data for electronic paper, image processing apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium for computer program

1. An image processing apparatus having a scanner to scan a paper placed thereon and a function to perform communication with electronic paper having a display area, the image processing apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to:

obtain, from the electronic paper, display conditions data indicating which part of an original document image corresponds to a displayed image that is an image displayed on the display area of the electronic paper;

send, to the electronic paper, a command to request the electronic paper to finish displaying the displayed image;

obtain write image data that is image data of a write image corresponding to an image written by hand on the display area of the electronic paper, by scanning only the write image written on the display area of the electronic paper with the scanner after finishing displaying the displayed image by the command; and

store original document image data that is image data of the original document image, the display conditions data, and the write image data obtained by scanning in a storage portion, the displayed image data, the display conditions data, and the write image data being associated with one another; and

generate a composite image in which the write image is overlaid on a part indicated in the display conditions data of the original document image based on the original document image data, the write image data, and the display conditions data.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

obtain, as the display conditions data, data indicating an enlargement factor of the original document image displayed on the electronic paper, and

generate the composite image by adjusting the write image to have a size of a reciprocal multiple of the enlargement factor and overlaying the write image thus adjusted on the part indicated in the display conditions data of the original document image.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

a plurality of the write images differing from one another are written on the electronic paper at different periods of time, and

the processor is further configured to:

obtain a plurality of the write image data of the plurality of the write images for each of the periods of time,

store the plurality of the write image data of the plurality of the write images for each of the periods of time, and

generate the composite image by overlaying at least one of the plurality of the write images on the displayed image.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

each of the plurality of the write images is written while the electronic paper displays, thereon, parts of the displayed image differing from one another,

the processor is further configured to:

obtain the display conditions data for the original document image displayed on the electronic paper at a time when the write image is written, and

send the command every time the write image is written.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate the composite image by overlaying, on the part indicated in the display conditions data of the original document image, the write image written by a user, if the user belongs to a specific group.

6. A method for managing image data, the method comprising:

a first step of obtaining display conditions data, from an electronic paper having a display area, the display conditions data indicating which part of an original document image corresponds to a displayed image that is an image displayed on the display area of the electronic paper;

a second step of controlling the electronic paper to finish displaying the displayed image;

a third step of obtaining write image data that is image data of a write image corresponding to an image written by hand on the display area of the electronic paper, by scanning only the write image written on the display area of the electronic paper with a scanner after finishing displaying the displayed image in the second step;

a fourth step of controlling a storage portion to store, therein, original document image data that is image data of the original document image, the display conditions data, and the write image data obtained by scanning in the storage portion, the original document image data, the display conditions data, and the write image data being associated with one another; and

a fifth step of generating a composite image by overlaying the write image on a part indicated in the display conditions data of the original document image based on the original document image data, the write image data, and the display conditions data.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein

the first step includes obtaining, as the display conditions data, data indicating an enlargement factor of the original document image displayed on the electronic paper, and

the fifth step includes generating the composite image by adjusting the write image to have a size of a reciprocal multiple of the enlargement factor and overlaying the write image thus adjusted on the part indicated in the display conditions data of the original document image.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein

a plurality of the write images differing from one another are written on the electronic paper at different periods of time,

the third step includes a plurality of the write image data of the plurality of the write images for each of the periods of time,

the fourth step includes controlling the storage portion to store, therein, the plurality of the write image data of the plurality of the write images for each of the periods of time, and

the fifth step includes generating the composite image by overlaying at least one of the plurality of the write images on the displayed image.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein

each of the plurality of the write images is written while the electronic paper displays, thereon, parts of the displayed image differing from one another,

the first step includes obtaining the display conditions data for the original document image displayed on the electronic paper at a time when the write image is written, and

the second step includes sending the command every time the write image is written.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the fifth step includes generating the composite image by overlaying, on the part indicated in the display conditions data of the original document image, the write image written by a user, if the user belongs to a specific group.

11. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing thereon a computer program used in an image processing apparatus having a scanner scanning a paper placed thereon and a function to perform communication with electronic paper having a display area, the computer program causing the image processing apparatus to perform:

a first process of obtaining display conditions data, from the electronic paper, the display conditions data indicating which part of an original document image corresponds to a displayed image that is an image displayed on the display area of the electronic paper;

a second process of controlling the electronic paper to finish displaying the displayed image;

a third process of obtaining write image data that is image data of a write image corresponding to an image written by hand on the display area of the electronic paper, by scanning only the write image written on the display area of the electronic paper with the scanner after finishing displaying the displayed image in the second process;

a fourth process of controlling a storage portion to store, therein, original document image data that is image data of the original document image, the display conditions data, and the write image data obtained by scanning in the storage portion, the original document image data, the display conditions data, and the write image data being associated with one another; and

a fifth step of generating a composite image by overlaying the write image on a part indicated in the display conditions data of the original document image based on the original document image data, the write image data, and the display conditions data.

12. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium according to claim 11 , wherein

the first process includes obtaining, as the display conditions data, data indicating an enlargement factor of the original document image displayed on the electronic paper, and

the fifth process includes generating the composite image by adjusting the write image to have a size of a reciprocal multiple of the enlargement factor and overlaying the write image thus adjusted on the part indicated in the display conditions data of the original document image.

13. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium according to claim 11 , wherein

a plurality of the write images differing from one another are written on the electronic paper at different periods of time,

the third process includes obtaining a plurality of the write image data of the plurality of the write images for each of the periods of time,

the fourth process includes controlling the storage portion to store, therein, the plurality of the write image data of the plurality of the write images for each of the periods of time, and

the fifth process includes generating the composite image by overlaying at least one of the plurality of the write images on the displayed image.

14. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium according to claim 13 , wherein

each of the plurality of the write images is written while the electronic paper displays, thereon, parts of the displayed image differing from one another,

the first process includes obtaining the display conditions data for the original document image displayed on the electronic paper at a time when the write image is written, and

the second process includes sending the command every time the write image is written.

15. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium according to claim 13 , wherein the fifth process includes generating the composite image by overlaying, on the part indicated in the display conditions data of the original document image, the write image written by a user, if the user belongs to a specific group.