Image forming apparatus and method for producing e-book contents

Abstract

An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a function unit which performs a function of the image forming apparatus, a user interface which receives a selection of job data processed by the function unit and a selection of a layout for the job data, a contents production unit which produces electronic book (e-book) contents for the selected job data based on the selected layout, and a communication interface which transmits the produced e-book contents to an external device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a function unit which performs a function of the image forming apparatus;   a user interface which receives a selection of job data processed by the function unit and a selection of a layout for the job data; and   a contents production unit which produces contents for the selected job data based on the selected layout.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a contents processing unit which extracts a plurality of objects from the selected job data,
 wherein the contents production unit produces contents by arranging the extracted objects on the selected layout.   
     
     
         3 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein, if the extracted object is an image, the contents processing unit performs at least one process of size conversion, optical character recognition (OCR), color processing of the extracted image, or the combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the contents processing unit extracts text by extracting a text data part of the selected job data as text or by performing OCR with respect to an extracted image object. 
     
     
         5 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the contents production unit produces contents using a template corresponding to the selected layout. 
     
     
         6 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the contents production unit produces contents in a format that is supported by a terminal to which the produced contents are to be transmitted. 
     
     
         7 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the user interface displays the produced contents. 
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the user interface receives a correcting command with respect to the displayed contents, and the contents production unit corrects the produced contents based on the received correcting command. 
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the function unit performs at least one function of copying, printing, scanning, fax transmitting, fax receiving or the combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a storage unit which stores the produced contents. 
     
     
         11 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the job data includes data that is stored in the storage unit as a result of performing a function by the function unit. 
     
     
         12 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication interface which transmits the produced contents to an external device.   
     
     
         13 . The image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the communication interface to receive information of a terminal apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The image formation apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the information comprising:
 one of a format of contents, a storing capacity of the terminal apparatus, or the combinations therein.   
     
     
         15 . A method for producing contents of an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:
 receiving a selection of job data which has been processed by the image forming apparatus during a function performing process;   receiving a selection of a layout for the job data; and   producing contents for the selected job data based on the selected layout.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising extracting a plurality of objects from the selected job data,
 wherein the producing the contents comprises producing the contents by arranging the extracted objects on the selected layout.   
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein, if the extracted objects are an image, the extracting the objects comprises performing at least one process of size conversion, OCR, and color processing of an extracted image (or combination thereof for consistency). 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 transmitting the produced contents to an external device.   
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving information of a terminal apparatus.   
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the information comprising:
 an format of contents, a storing capacity of the terminal apparatus, or the combinations thereof.   
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the extracting the objects comprises extracting text by extracting a text data part of the selected job data as text or by performing OCR with respect to an extracted image object. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the producing the contents comprises producing the contents using a template corresponding to the selected layout. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the producing the contents comprises producing the contents in a format that is supported by a terminal to which the produced contents are to be transmitted. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising displaying the produced contents. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising:
 receiving a correcting command with respect to the displayed contents; and   correcting the produced contents based on the received correcting command.   
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the job data includes data that is used in an operation of performing at least one function of copying, printing, scanning, fax transmitting, fax receiving or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising storing the produced contents. 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the format is selected automatically when the terminal is connected to the image forming apparatus.