JP2003087468A - Print order data generating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print order data generating apparatus that can reduce the time required for preparing the print order data. SOLUTION: Since a reader/wrier 15 starts writing the image data read from a reader 14 to a print order intermediate medium M before completion of print order data preparation, and read/write of the image data considered to take the longest time is performed in parallel with preparation of the print order data so that, the entire time required for print production can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print order data creating apparatus for creating print order data for making a print order.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image data generating devices such as digital cameras and scanners have been improved by improving image processing technology.
It is popular with remarkable momentum. Along with this, users are becoming more aware of digital images, and are being used for various purposes such as creating Internet homepages and digital printing. On the other hand, in the conventional lab, prints were made using negative film,
With the spread of digital cameras, it goes without saying that print production facilities such as output centers that provide image print services, mini-labs (small-scale photo labs), and large labs that perform centralized processing,
The number of services handling digital image data is increasing, and the service variations are wide-ranging.

On the other hand, with the spread of the Internet in general households, as an example of a service for handling such digital image data, a customer uploads the image data to a server managed by a laboratory or the like via the Internet. The laboratory side prints based on the uploaded image data and provides it to the customer. According to such a service, there is an advantage that a customer can order a print of image data owned by the customer while staying at home. For customers who cannot use such a terminal, it is also considered to install a dedicated print order data creation device at an agent store such as a convenience store.

[0004]

By the way, even though the Internet environment is being prepared, it is not always possible to place print orders via the network. For example, if the server that receives the print order data is busy or the system is down, it becomes difficult to order prints via the network. Therefore, in such a case, a print order data creating device installed at an agent such as a convenience store creates print order data including image data, and uses the print order data (hereinafter referred to as print order intermediate medium). ), And transport it from the agent to the print production facility.

Since the print order data creation device is dedicated to print orders, it is often difficult in terms of space or cost to provide a large number of print order data creation devices at one agency. Therefore, consider providing one or more print order data creation devices at the agency. In such a case, if the print order takes a long time, there is a high possibility that a person who desires the print order will form a queue, and as the waiting time becomes longer, the person's willingness to place the print order will be reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print order data creating apparatus capable of shortening the time required to create print order data.

[0007]

A print order data creating apparatus of the present invention is a print order data creating apparatus for creating print order data for print creation based on image data. A read drive for customer media that reads image data from the device, a print order data creating unit that creates print order data, the read image data, and the created print order data are written in a print order intermediate medium. And a write drive for intermediate media for storing the image data read from the read drive for customer media on the print order intermediate medium before the print order data is completed. Since it is designed to be written, image data that is considered to take the longest time Reading and writing of data, since performed in parallel with the creation of the print order data, it is possible to reduce the time taken to print production as a whole.

Further, if the intermediate media writing drive is adapted to write the image data selected from the image data read from the customer media reading drive to the print order intermediate medium. When it is not desired to print all of the image data stored in the customer media, the read / write time can be further shortened by reading / writing only the selected image data.

Further, the customer media read drive is
When the customer media is set in the read position, the reading is automatically started, and the intermediate media writing drive writes the read image data in the print order intermediate media. Is
When it is desired to print all of the image data stored in the customer medium, the time required to create the print order data can be further shortened by executing reading and writing as soon as possible.

Further, if an erasing means for erasing the image data written on the print order intermediate medium is provided, for example, unnecessary image data may be erased or an erroneously selected image may be stored after storing all image data. This is convenient because you can erase the data. It should be noted that erasing unnecessary image data is not essential in the present invention. That is, even if unnecessary image data is stored in the print order intermediate medium, the print is not created unless unnecessary image data is specified in the print order data.

Further, the print order data creating means is
It is preferable to create print order data in parallel with the reading of the image data by the customer media read drive or the writing of the image data by the intermediate media write drive.

In the present specification, the image data generally means digitized image data, specifically, a transparent original such as a negative film or a positive film, a reflective original such as a printing paper or a printed matter. Data that is quantized and digitized from information stored in analog, data that is directly stored as digital information, such as a digital camera, image data that a customer arbitrarily draws on a computer (--typically CG) etc.

The print intermediate medium may be a dedicated medium, but may be CD-R, CD-RW, D.
VD-R, DVD-RAM, magneto-optical disk, floppy (registered trademark) disk, compact flash (registered trademark), smart media, memory stick, multimedia card, SD card, HiFD, Zip, P
You may use removable general purpose media, such as D.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a top view of a print order data creation device according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, the print order data creation device 10 has a rectangular plate shape, has a touch panel type liquid crystal screen 11 having a display screen on the upper surface, and has a power switch SW on the side surface (lower side of FIG. 1). ing. Input through the liquid crystal screen 11 as a display screen can also be performed through a mouse (not shown) that drives a pointer displayed on the screen. In addition, the print order data creation device 10 is provided on the opposite side surface (upper side in FIG. 1).
Two openings 12 and 13 are formed. A data reading device 14 and a data reading / writing device 15 are mounted in the openings 12 and 13, respectively.

The opening 12 is free to receive the customer media C in which the image data corresponding to the image taken by the digital camera is stored, and the opening 13 is
The print order intermediate medium M as a storage means or a storage medium can be accepted. It is preferable that the print order intermediate medium M has a larger storage capacity than the customer medium C when there is no data stored therein, that is, in the empty state. The media C and M are not limited to PC cards and IC cards, but magneto-optical disks and DVD-
Various storage media such as RAM and CD-R can be used.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the print order data creating apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. Figure 2
At the print order data creation device 10, the opening 1
Reading device (reading drive for customer media) 14 that can read image data from the customer media C inserted in 2.
And the print order intermediate medium M inserted in the opening 13
A read / write device (intermediate media write drive) 15 capable of storing image data and specific information to be described later on
And a control unit connected to these. The control unit has a CPU 16 for executing a program, and this program can be stored in a flash memory (not shown). The control unit also includes an SDRAM (not shown) for temporarily storing data. The flash memory can be configured to be attachable to and detachable from the CPU 16, but can also be fixedly arranged.
It is also possible to update the program by replacing or rewriting this flash memory.
The CPU 16 can process predetermined information input from the touch panel type liquid crystal screen 11, and can display a predetermined image on the liquid crystal screen 11 via a driver (not shown).

The print order data creation device 10 is a CP
In order for the U16 to send print data to the print printer 19, an RS-232C or USB (Universal Se)
Rial Bus) and the like. This can later be used by the customer to print a confirmation slip when creating order data. Then, in order to transmit the order information to the external print creation device 20, 1
It has a terminal (interface 18) for communicating with 0BASE-T or 100BASE-TX. Therefore, it is possible to connect to the Internet NT using a WAN connection device such as a dial-up router and send the order data to the print order server 21. In the print order server 21, the printer 22 can create a print based on the received print order data.

Consider a case where a print order is placed via the print order intermediate medium M without going through the network NT due to a network problem. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a print order placed through such a route.
The print order intermediate medium M stores predetermined print order data in a form including image data in the print order data creation device 10, and is delivered to the print production facility from the agency in which the print order data creation device 10 is installed. It

In the print production facility, an operator inserts the delivered print order intermediate medium M into the medium insertion slot 23a of the media drive 23. Then, the stored print order data is read by a reading device (not shown), the image data is transmitted to the printer 22 via the print order server 21, and printing is appropriately performed. The completed print is delivered to the print orderer based on the personal data (name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, etc.) of the print orderer included in the print order data.

Next, the creation of print order data will be described. Customer media C in which customer stores image data
Bringing the user to the dealership where the print order data creation device 10 is installed, and when the customer inserts the customer media C into the opening 12, the CPU 16 which detects it by a sensor (not shown), reads it through the reading device 14. All image data is read from the customer media C. The read image data is temporarily stored in the SDRAM, and then stored in the print order intermediate medium M inserted in the opening 13 via the reading / writing device 15.

While the above processing is performed in the background, the customer can create print order data in parallel with it. 4 to 6 are diagrams showing examples of screens displayed on the liquid crystal screen 11 of the print order data creation device 10.

When the customer inserts the customer media C into the opening 12, the image data is read by the reading device 14,
Based on this, the display shown in FIG. 4 is automatically performed. In this example, each frame selection screen (each frame selection mode) is set by default. Needless to say, the all-frame selection screen (all-frame selection screen mode) may be set as the default.

Here, a method for creating print order data on each frame selection screen (each frame selection mode, in which each frame selection button B2 is selected in FIG. 4) will be described.

In FIG. 4, all the file names of the image data stored in the customer medium C can be displayed in the area A1. Since the liquid crystal screen 11 is a so-called touch panel, pressing the buttons A2 and A3 scrolls the file name up and down, and pressing the displayed file name (here, 007.JPG) specifies the file. , File name 007. The JPG image data (also referred to as an image file) will be selected for the print order. At the same time, the thumbnail image G1 is displayed on the left side, and a black star mark is added to the left side of the selected file so that it can be visually recognized that the file has been selected. ing. By repeating this, the frame for which the print order is desired is selected. By the way, although a plurality of image files are selected in this way, the number of image files selected by the time the selection is started to reach a predetermined number (a predetermined number of image files or a predetermined number of frames) is started. The set is defined and treated as belonging to the first one print order. In addition, this predetermined number is set to 20 as an example here.
When the selection is continued and the number of selected image files exceeds 20, the set of image files consisting of 20 belonging to the first one print order is determined, and the image files selected by 20 to 40 are selected. Are defined and treated as belonging to another print order. If the selection is further continued, similarly to the above, a set of image files belonging to one new print order is sequentially defined. Then, the person who judges that the selection is completed pushes the selection OK button B3, and the screen is switched to the display shown in FIG.

Next, a method for creating print order data on the all frame selection screen (all frame selection mode) will be described.

In FIG. 4, when the select all button B2 is pressed and selected, a black star mark is automatically added to the left side of all the image file names, and all the image files are selected as the image files for which a print order is desired. Will be done. At this time, when the number of selected image files is less than or equal to the predetermined number, they are collectively defined and handled as belonging to one print order. However, when the number of image files exceeds the predetermined number, a set of image files belonging to one print order is defined so that the number of image files becomes the predetermined number or less.

For example, the predetermined number is 20. If the number of selected image files is 15, these are defined and handled as belonging to one print order. However, in cases like 70 over 20, 20, 20,
Specifically, the number of image files belonging to one print order such as 20, 10 is assigned. Note that the allocation method is not limited to this, and 19, 17, 17, 17 are set so that the number of image files belonging to one print order is as uniform as possible.
May be divided and allocated (S201, S
202). Then, when the selection OK button B3 is pressed,
Similar to the above, the screen will switch to the display shown in FIG.

The print order folder list screen shown in FIG. 5 will be described. "Order 001"-"Order 0"
A print order folder "04" is created corresponding to a set of image files that belong to one print order. Here, the above 20, 20, 20, 1
The description is given as an example corresponding to the case where the number of image files belonging to one print order is specifically assigned such as 0. 2 for each of "Order 001" to "Order 003"
An image file of 0 frames is assigned, and “Order 0
The image file of 10 frames is allocated to "04".

Now, when one of the print order folders is pressed in FIG. 5 (for example, the folder of order 002),
The screen is switched to that shown in FIG. 6, and the desired number of prints and print size can be changed and input for each image file belonging to this print order folder. At the initial stage when there is no input, the number of prints is set to 1 and the print size is set to L based on the default data. Also on the screen shown in FIG. 6, the file name is scrolled up and down by the F1 and F2 keys, and when the file name is pressed, a thumbnail image is displayed for the designated image data. The number of prints and the print size corresponding to the designated image data can be changed by operating the keys indicated by H1 and J1. When the customer determines that the number of prints and the print size have been decided and the decision key K1 is pressed, the number of prints and the print size corresponding to each image data are decided.

In this way, it is possible to change the number of prints or the print size other than the default value. Then, when the confirm key L1 is pressed, the setting change of the number of prints and the print size of the print order folder (in this case, order 002) for which the default value of the number of prints or the print size is desired is confirmed. When the confirm key K1 is pressed, the screen returns to the screen shown in FIG. And order 001
When the customer determines that the number of prints and the print size of No. 004 to 004 have the desired values and presses the confirm key L1, the input of the print order data is completed for the time being.

After that, the customer uses the keyboard (not shown) displayed on the liquid crystal screen 11 which is the print order data creating means to order information (orderer name, telephone number, e-mail address, print receiving method, The print order data creation device 10 can complete the print order data in which the order information and the respective print order folders are associated with each other by inputting the fee payment method or the like).
In the present embodiment, from the viewpoint of shortening the creation time, all the image data is automatically copied from the customer medium C to the print order intermediate medium M, and the image data not selected among them is printed. Since it is not specified by the order data, unnecessary prints are not formed.

However, in order to suppress the capacity of the image data stored in the print order intermediate medium M, it is effective to delete the image data once stored. In such cases,
The print order data creation device 10 may be provided with an erasing unit to erase a part or all of the unselected image data from the print order intermediate medium M.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the reading / writing device 15 writes the image data read from the reading device 14 into the print order intermediate medium M before the print order data is completed. Since the processing for starting print processing is started, the reading and writing of image data, which is considered to take the longest time, can be performed in parallel with the creation of print order data, thus shortening the time required for print creation as a whole. be able to.

As a modified example of this embodiment, when the customer medium C is inserted into the opening 12, the reading of the image data is not started and the customer medium C is pressed when the confirmation button B3 for selection is pressed. It is also possible to start reading the image data from C. By doing so, the timing for reading the image data will be delayed, but if there is less image data to be selected among the image data stored in the customer media C, as a result, the time required for reading / writing the image data will be increased. Has the advantage of being shortened.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the exemplary embodiments, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, but it goes without saying that appropriate modifications and improvements are possible. is there.

[0036]

According to the present invention, by providing the print order data creating apparatus capable of shortening the time required to create the print order data, a comfortable print order environment with less waiting time can be formed. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a print order data creation device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a print order data creation device 10 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a print order performed via a print order intermediate medium M.

FIG. 4 is an example of a screen displayed on a liquid crystal screen 11.

5 is another example of the screen displayed on the liquid crystal screen 11. FIG.

6 is another example of the screen displayed on the liquid crystal screen 11. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Print order data creation device 11 LCD screen 14 Reader 15 Read / write device 16 CPU 21 Print order server 22 Printer 23 Media Drive

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A customer media read drive for reading image data from a customer medium storing image data, in a print order data creating apparatus for creating print order data for print creation based on image data, and a print. A print order data creating unit for creating order data; an image data read out; and a write drive for an intermediate medium for writing the created print order data on a print order intermediate medium, The write drive for intermediate media writes the image data read from the read drive for customer media to the print order intermediate medium before the print order data is completed. Creation device. 2. The intermediate medium writing drive writes the selected image data among the image data read from the customer medium reading drive into the print order intermediate medium. The print order data creating apparatus according to claim 1, 3. The customer media read drive, when the customer media is set to a read position,
The print according to claim 1, wherein the reading is automatically started, and the write drive for the intermediate medium writes the read image data in the print order intermediate medium. Order data creation device. 4. The print order data creating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an erasing unit for erasing the image data written in the print order intermediate medium. 5. The print order data creating means creates the print order data in parallel with the reading of the image data by the customer media read drive or the writing of the image data by the intermediate media write drive. The print order data creation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: