JP2003246120A - Control method for image recorder and image recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that start of print processing is waited until preparation of print is completed in a printer although preparation of print has been completed on the digital camera side. <P>SOLUTION: In the control method of an image recorder for recording an image based on image data from an image data source, conditions of a printer are inquired from a digital camera (S12) prior to delivery of image data, a decision is made whether image data can be printed on the printer or not based on the conditional response to that inquiry (S13), start of preparation for print operation by that printer is designated if image data can be printed on that printer (S15), and preparation for print operation based on that designation is carried out in parallel with processing of image data from the digital camera. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus control method and image recording system for inputting image data from an image pickup apparatus such as a digital camera or an image data source such as a memory and recording the image data on a recording medium. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital cameras (imaging devices), so-called digital cameras, which are capable of photographing an image with a simple operation and converting it into digital image data, have been widely used. When an image taken by such a camera is printed and used as a photograph, normally, the taken digital image data is once taken in from a digital camera to a PC (computer), and the PC performs image processing. After that, the PC is generally output to a color printer for printing.

On the other hand, recently, a color print system capable of directly transmitting digital image data data from a digital camera to a color printer for printing without using a PC or a digital camera is mounted in a digital camera.
A so-called photo direct (PD) printer or the like has also been developed, in which a memory card storing captured images is directly attached to a color printer and the captured images stored in the memory card can be printed. .

[0004]

In the above-mentioned prior art, when printing image data from a digital camera (DSC), the start instruction of the print operation in the digital camera is issued by pressing the print start button of the digital camera. Be seen. Thereafter, on the camera side, the print job is started when the creation of the print data of the predetermined area is completed, and at that time, the print start command is sent to the printer device. As a result, the preparation for printing is started in the printer device for the first time, and although the preparation for printing has already been completed on the digital camera side, the printing process is kept waiting until the preparation for printing is completed in the printer device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional example, and in a configuration in which an image data source and an image recording device are connected and an image is recorded in the image recording device by image data from the image data source, the recording is performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly convenient image recording apparatus control method and image recording system in which the time required for the image recording is shortened.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the control method of the image recording apparatus of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, a control method of an image recording apparatus for recording an image based on image data from an image data source,
An inquiry step of inquiring the image recording apparatus about the situation of the image recording apparatus prior to the image data from the image data source, and whether or not recording by the image recording apparatus is possible based on the situation with respect to the inquiry in the inquiry step. A determination step of determining, a start instruction step of instructing start of preparation for a recording operation by the image recording apparatus when it is determined that recording is possible in the determination step, and the recording operation based on the instruction of the start instruction step Preparation and processing of image data from the image data source in parallel are performed.

To achieve the above object, the image recording system of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an image recording system including an image data source that supplies image data and an image recording device that records an image based on the image data from the image data source, wherein the image data source sends the image data. Prior to the inquiring means for inquiring the image recording apparatus about the situation of the image recording apparatus, and a determination means for determining whether or not recording by the image recording apparatus is possible based on the situation in response to the inquiry by the inquiring means, And a start instruction unit for instructing the start of preparation for the recording operation by the image recording apparatus when the determination unit determines that recording is possible, and the image recording apparatus is based on the instruction by the start instruction unit. It has a processing means for executing the preparation for the recording operation and the processing of the image data from the image data source in parallel.

[0008]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, a recording apparatus (photo direct printer apparatus) having a PC card slot and adopting an inkjet method as a recording method will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a photodirect printer apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
This photo direct printer has a function as a normal PC printer that receives data from a host computer (PC) and prints it, and directly reads and prints image data stored in a storage medium such as a memory card.
Alternatively, it has a function of directly receiving image data from a digital camera and printing it.

In FIG. 1, the main body forming the outer shell of the photodirect printer 1000 according to the present embodiment is
It has exterior members for the lower case 1001, the upper case 1002, the access cover 1003, and the discharge tray 1004. Further, the lower case 1001 forms a substantially lower half part of the apparatus 1000, and the upper case 1002 forms a substantially upper half part of the main body, and a combination of both cases forms an accommodation space for accommodating each mechanism described later therein. It has a hollow body structure having an opening formed in each of an upper surface portion and a front surface portion thereof. Further, one end of the discharge tray 1004 is rotatably held by the lower case 1001, and the opening formed in the front surface of the lower case 1001 can be opened and closed by the rotation. Therefore, when the recording operation is performed, by rotating the discharge tray 1004 to the front side to open the opening, it becomes possible to discharge the recording sheets from here, and the discharged recording sheets are sequentially arranged. It can be loaded. In addition, the output tray 100
Two auxiliary trays 1004a and 1004b are accommodated in the sheet 4, and the support area of the sheet can be expanded or reduced in three stages by pulling out the respective trays as necessary.

One end of the access cover 1003 is rotatably held by the upper case 1002 so that an opening formed on the upper surface can be opened and closed. By opening the access cover 1003, the inside of the main body is opened. The recording head cartridge (not shown) or the ink tank (not shown) housed therein can be replaced. Although not particularly shown here, when the access cover 1003 is opened and closed, a protrusion formed on the back surface of the access cover 1003 rotates the cover opening / closing lever, and the rotation position of the lever can be detected by a micro switch or the like. Thus, the open / closed state of the access cover can be detected.

A power key 1005 is provided on the upper surface of the upper case 1002 so that it can be pressed. On the right side of the upper case 1002, an operation panel 1010 including a liquid crystal display 1006 and various key switches is provided. The structure of the operation panel 1010 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. An automatic feeding unit 1007 automatically feeds the recording sheet into the apparatus main body. A paper interval selection lever 1008 is a lever for adjusting the distance between the recording head and the recording sheet. Reference numeral 1009 denotes a card slot into which an adapter to which a memory card can be attached is inserted, and the image data stored in the memory card can be directly fetched and printed via this adapter.
Examples of the memory card (PC) include a compact flash (registered trademark) memory, smart media, and memory stick. Reference numeral 1011 denotes a viewer (a liquid crystal display unit) that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus. When searching for an image to be printed from images stored in the PC card, an image for each frame or an index image is displayed. Used to display. Reference numeral 1012 denotes a terminal for connecting a digital camera described later, and 1013 denotes a USB bus connector for connecting a personal computer (PC).

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the structure of the recording head of the photo-direct printer apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment.

A recording head cartridge 1200 according to this embodiment has an ink tank 1300 for storing ink as shown in FIG. 2 and a recording head for ejecting ink supplied from the ink tank 1300 from nozzles according to recording information. 1301 and the recording head 130
1 is a so-called cartridge type, which is detachably mounted on the carriage 1102. When recording, the recording head cartridge 1
200 is reciprocally scanned along the carriage axis, and accordingly, a color image is recorded on the recording sheet. In the recording head cartridge 1301 shown here, in order to enable high-quality color recording of a photographic tone, as ink tanks, for example, black, light cyan (LC), light magenta (LM), cyan, magenta, and yellow are independently formed. Ink tanks are prepared, and each of them is detachable from the recording head 1301.

In the present embodiment, the case of using the above-mentioned 6-color ink will be described, but the present invention is not limited to the case of using these 6-color inks, for example, black and cyan. It may be an ink jet printer that records using four color inks, magenta and yellow. In that case, independent ink tanks for each of the four colors may be detachable from the recording head 1301.

FIG. 3 shows an operation panel 1 according to this embodiment.
It is a general-view figure of 010.

In the figure, the liquid crystal display unit 1006 displays menu items for setting various data relating to the items printed on the left and right sides thereof. The items displayed here are the first photo number of the range you want to print, the specified frame number (start / -designate), the last photo number of the range you want to finish printing (end), the number of copies (copies), and the print number. Type of paper (recording sheet) to be used (paper type), number of photos to print on one sheet (layout), specification of print quality (quality), whether to print the date taken (date) Print), designation of whether to correct and print a photo (image correction), display of the number of sheets required for printing (number of sheets), and the like. Each of these items is displayed with the cursor key 20.
It is selected or designated by using 01. Reference numeral 2002 denotes a mode key, and each time the key 2002 is pressed, the type of printing (index printing, all-frame printing, one-frame printing, etc.) can be switched, and the corresponding LED of the LED 2003 is turned on accordingly. . Reference numeral 2004 denotes a maintenance key, which is used for maintenance of the printer such as cleaning of the recording head 1301 and entering a print area designation mode. A print start key 2005 is pressed to instruct the start of printing or to establish maintenance settings. Reference numeral 2006 denotes a print stop key, which is pressed to stop printing or to give an instruction to stop maintenance.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the structure of the main part relating to the control of the photodirect printer apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 4, parts common to those in the above-mentioned drawings are given the same symbols and their explanations are omitted.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 3000 denotes a control section (control board). Reference numeral 3001 denotes an ASIC (dedicated custom LSI), the configuration of which will be described later in detail with reference to the block diagram of FIG. A DSP (digital signal processor) 3002 has a CPU inside, and performs various control processes described later and a luminance signal (RGB) to a density signal (CM).
YK) conversion, scaling, gamma conversion, image processing such as error diffusion. 3003 is a memory,
It has a program memory 3003a for storing a control program of the CPU of the DSP 3002, a RAM area for storing a program at the time of execution, and a memory area functioning as a work memory for storing image data and the like. Three
Reference numeral 004 denotes a printer engine, which is equipped with a printer engine of an inkjet printer that prints a color image using a plurality of color inks. 300
Reference numeral 5 denotes a USB bus connector as a port for connecting the digital camera 3012. Reference numeral 3006 is a connector for connecting the viewer 1011. 3008 is a USB bus hub (USB HUB).
When 0 performs printing based on the image data from the PC 3010, the data from the PC 3010 is directly passed through and the printer engine 30 is transmitted via the USB bus 3021.
Output to 04. As a result, the connected PC 30
The printer 10 can directly exchange data and signals with the printer engine 3004 to execute printing (function as a general PC printer). Reference numeral 3009 denotes a power supply connector which inputs a DC voltage converted from commercial AC by a power supply 3013. The PC 3010 is a general personal computer, 3011 is the above-mentioned memory card (PC card), and 3012 is a digital camera. Incidentally, the control unit 3000 and the printer engine 300
4 exchanges signals with the USB bus 30 described above.
21 or via the IEEE1284 bus 3022.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ASIC 3001. In FIG. 5 as well, portions common to those in the previous drawings are given the same symbols and their explanations are omitted.

A PC card interface unit 4001 reads image data stored in the mounted PC card 3011 or writes data to the PC card 3011. 4002 is IEEE128
The 4 interface unit exchanges data with the printer engine 3004. This IEEE1284
The interface unit is a bus used when printing the image data stored in the digital camera 3012 or the PC card 3011. A USB interface unit 4003 exchanges data with the PC 3010. A USB host interface unit 4004 exchanges data with the digital camera 3012. An operation panel / interface unit 4005 inputs various operation signals from the operation panel 1010 and outputs display data to the display unit 1006. A viewer interface unit 4006 controls the display of image data on the viewer 1011.
An interface unit 4007 controls interfaces with various switches and the LEDs 4009.
4008 is a CPU interface unit, which is a DSP 300.
It controls the exchange of data between the two. Four
Reference numeral 010 is an internal bus (ASIC bus) that connects these units.

This control program is configured in a multitasking format in which each functional module is tasked.
The main task configuration is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 8000 denotes a system control task, which performs arbitration of the entire system such as issuing events between tasks, sequence control associated with the end of events, and exclusive processing. Reference numeral 8001 denotes a key event task, which is based on the key operation on the operation panel 1010.
Analyzes the pressed key. Reference numeral 8002 denotes a display task on the LCD display unit 1006, which is activated when UI control or a message display request is generated on the display unit 1006, and executes display control on the display unit 1006. Reference numeral 8003 denotes a task activated by reading / writing from / to the PC card 3011 or inputting / outputting data by IEEE1394, Bluetooth, or the like. A USB printer task 8004 is activated by data transfer from the PC 3010 connected via the USB bus.
It is activated by the printer interrupt of B and executes the function as a PC printer. 8005 is activated by the system control task 8000 and initializes the firmware. System control task 800
In response to the message from 0, USB which is a lower task
It starts and ends the control task and USB bus task. 8006 is activated by the USB task
Data is read from the digital camera 3012 connected via the, and various communication controls are executed. A file task 8007 controls input / output such as file opening, closing, reading, and writing. A task 8008 is started from the Centronics interface connected to the printer engine 3004, and is a DM of print data.
A transmission, status response, etc. are executed. An image processing task 8009 receives RGB data, creates YMCK data by the above-described 3D processing, tetrahedral interpolation, color conversion, scaling, error diffusion processing, and the like, and finally outputs raster image data to be output to the printer engine 3004. create. 8010 is a page create task, J
Decompress PEG data and convert it to image data, or create image data from BMP format data,
Alternatively, image data is created from the HTML document, and image processing such as photo data correction and gradation correction and RG are performed.
B data is created. Reference numeral 8011 denotes a viewer task which executes display control to the viewer 1011 while the viewer 1011 is connected.

Next, the print mode in the photo direct printer 1000 according to the present embodiment will be described.

<Normal PC Printer Mode> This is a PC
In this print mode, an image is printed based on the print data sent from 3010.

In this mode, when data from the PC 3010 is input via the connector 1013, it is sent directly to the printer engine 3004 via the USB bus hub 3008 and USB bus 3021, and printing is performed based on the data from the PC 3010. Be seen.

<Direct print mode from PC card>
When the PC card 3011 is inserted into or removed from the card slot 1009, an interrupt occurs, which causes the DSP.
The 3002 can detect whether the PC card 3011 is attached or detached (removed). When the PC card 3011 is attached, the compressed (for example, JPEG compressed) image data stored in the PC card 3011 is read and stored in the memory 3003. After that, the compressed image data is decompressed and re-stored in the memory 3003.
To store. Next, when printing of the stored image data is instructed using the operation panel 101, conversion from RGB signals to YMCK signals, gamma correction, error diffusion, etc. are executed, and printing can be performed by the printer engine 3004. Converted to recorded data, IEEE1284 interface unit 4
Printing is performed by outputting to the printer engine 3004 via 002.

<Direct Print Mode from Digital Camera> FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the photo direct printer apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment and the digital camera 3012 are connected.

In the figure, the cable 500 includes a connector 5001 to be connected to the connector 1012 of the printer 1000, and a connector 5002 to be connected to the connector 5003 for connection of the digital camera 3012, and also the digital camera 3012. Displays the image data stored in the internal memory to the connection connector 5003.
It is configured to be able to output via. The digital camera 3012 may have various configurations such as one having a memory as a storage unit inside and one having a slot for mounting a removable memory. By connecting the printer apparatus 1000 and the digital camera 3012 via the cable 5000 shown in FIG. 5, the image data from the digital camera 3012 can be directly printed by the printer 100.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display state of the display unit 1006 of the operation panel 1010 when the digital camera 3012 is connected to the printer apparatus 1000 as shown in FIG. 7, and in this case, the display unit 1006. Only the camera mark 6000 is displayed on the display, the display and operation on the operation panel 1010 are invalidated, and the display on the viewer 1011 is also invalidated. Therefore, after that, only the key operation on the digital camera 3012 and the image display on the display unit (not shown) of the digital camera 3012 are valid.
The user can use the digital camera 3012 to specify printing.

The features of the print processing according to this embodiment will be described below.

In the present embodiment, in the direct print mode from the digital camera described above, the digital camera 3
In 012, the print job is started when it is found that the printer apparatus 1000 is available, and the preparation for printing in the printer apparatus 1000 is started. As a result, the generation of print data and the preparation for printing by the printer apparatus 1000 are performed in parallel, so that the print processing by the printer apparatus 1000 can be started immediately when the print data in the predetermined image area is completed.

Thereafter, by pressing the print button of the digital camera 3012, the digital camera 301
A process when a print instruction is issued from the printer device 1000 to the printer 1000 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a print instruction process in the digital camera (DSC) 3012 in the connection configuration as shown in FIG.

This process is started when the user selects an image to be printed and presses the print button in the digital camera 3012. First step S
At 1, it is determined whether the printer apparatus 1000 is in use. The determination as to whether or not the printer apparatus 1000 is in use will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 10. When the printer apparatus 1000 is in use, for example, P
PC card 3011 while printing data from C3010
Direct printing, printer maintenance, etc. When it is determined that the printer apparatus 1000 is being used, the process proceeds to step S2, and the digital camera 30
A message "Printer is in use" is displayed on the display unit 12 to warn the user.

On the other hand, in step S1, the printer device 100
If 0 is not used, that is, if it is determined that printing is possible, the process advances to step S3 to start a direct print print job for printing the image data from the digital camera 3012, and print the specified image data in the printer device 1000.
Send to. At the same time, the printer 1000 is instructed to start printing.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the print processing in the photodirect printer apparatus 1000 showing the processing executed in response to the print button pressing command from the digital camera 3012. A program for executing this processing is stored in the program memory 3003a and executed under the control of the DSP 3002.

First, in step S11, the digital camera 3
When the press of the print button is notified from 012, the process proceeds to step S12, and the usage status of the printer engine 3004 of the printer apparatus 1000 is determined. This usage status determination processing will be described later in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Then, in step S13, it is determined whether the printer engine 3004 is in use. If the printer engine 3004 is not in use, the digital camera 3012 is notified that the printer engine 3004 is unavailable.

On the other hand, in step S13, if printing by the printer engine 3004 is possible, the process proceeds to step S14, and the printer device 10 is transferred to the digital camera 3012.
Notify that 00 is available. As a result, the digital camera 3012 starts the process of transmitting the image data designated to be printed to the printer apparatus 1000 based on this instruction. Next, in step S15, the printer engine 3004 starts to prepare for printing.
Examples of the process for starting the print preparation in the printer apparatus 1000 include recovery processes such as suction recovery and preliminary ejection in the case of an inkjet printer. When the preparation for printing is completed in this way, the process advances to step S16 to set the layout of the image data received from the digital camera 3012. Then step S
In step 17, the image processing is executed on the image data. Here, the layout setting (S16) is to set the layout of the image on the recording medium (recording paper) in the communication between the digital camera 3012 and the printer 1000. For example, in the index printing when the size of the recording medium is the L plate, the layout is set so that a total of 15 × 3 × 5 images are arranged and printed on one recording medium. In order to determine the arrangement, the digital camera 3012 and the printer device 100
Communication is performed with 0, and this requires a time of about several seconds to several tens of seconds. Note that this time depends on the number of index images arranged on the recording medium. The image processing (S17) means the digital camera 3012 to J
Receives a PEG file and sends it to the printer device 1000.
The process includes the process of developing the print dots in the printer device 1000 and converting the dots into the print dots of the printer apparatus 1000, which requires about several seconds to several tens of seconds. The time required for this image processing depends on the size of the image file, and the larger the file size of the image, the longer the time required.

In this way, layout setting, image processing,
After performing the necessary processing such as
Then, the process proceeds to step S <b> 3 to send print data to the printer engine 3004 and instruct to start printing. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time from when the digital camera 3012 issues a print instruction until the printer 1000 actually starts printing. When the printing process is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S20, and it is determined whether there is next image data. If there is a next image, the process returns to step S16 to execute the above process. If there is no next image, the process proceeds to step S21 and the print job is performed. To finish.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
In camera direct printing for directly receiving and printing image data from the digital camera 3012, the printer device 100 is pressed by pressing a print button of the digital camera.
With 0, the print job can be started immediately. As a result, the printer apparatus starts printing preparations in parallel with processes such as layout setting and image processing by communication with the digital camera, and the total time required for printing can be shortened.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the processing for confirming the usage status of the printer in step S12 of FIG.

This processing is started when the press of the print button of the digital camera 3012 is notified. As a result, the DSP 3002 causes the printer engine 3
If the printer engine 3004 is in the idle state and the image data from the digital camera 3012 can be printed (direct printing), the print start permission is transmitted to the digital camera 3012 and the printer Preparation for printing with the engine 3004 is started.

First, in step S31, the PC card 30
It is determined whether or not the PC card 11 is mounted and the PC card direct printing for printing the image data stored in the PC card 3011 is performed. If so, the process proceeds to step S32, the PC card print mode is set, and the process proceeds to step S38. On the other hand, if the PC card print mode is not set in step S31, the process proceeds to step S33, and it is determined whether or not the maintenance operation of the printer apparatus 1000 is in progress. If so, the process proceeds to step S34, the maintenance mode is set, and the process proceeds to step S38. On the other hand, if the maintenance mode is not set in step S33, the process proceeds to step S35 to check whether the data from the PC 3010 is being printed. If so, the process proceeds to step S36 and the PC
The printer mode is set and the process proceeds to step S38. In step S38, "in use" indicating that the printer engine 3004 is being used is set, and the process returns to the original routine. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S35 that the data from the PC 3010 is not to be printed, the process proceeds to step S37 to set "usable" indicating that the printer engine 3004 is available and returns to the original routine.

With this configuration, direct printing of PC card, direct printing of digital camera, PC
Exclusive processing is performed by three printing modes such as printing by data sent from 3010 and the maintenance operation of the printer apparatus 1000.

Based on such processing, step S2
In step 2, when a response message indicating that the printer cannot be used is transmitted to the digital camera 3012, it may be transmitted to the digital camera 3012 together with information indicating the status thereof, that is, PC card printing, maintenance, and operation as a PC printer. it can.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a PC, a memory card and a digital camera are connected,
In a printer device that inputs and prints image data from these, there is an effect that it is possible to perform high-speed printing by reducing the waiting time required for preparation for printing.

In the present embodiment, a digital camera has been described as an example of the image pickup apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in recent years, a mobile phone having an imaging function and a function of storing image data obtained by imaging is also known, and such a mobile phone is used instead of the digital camera described in this embodiment. May be configured to be connectable via a connection cable. As a portable information terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital A
ssistance), an LCD monitor that can display images,
A device having a memory capable of storing a captured image has recently become widespread, and such a PDA can be connected with a connection cable so that the stored image data can be stored in the same manner as the digital camera of the above-described embodiment. It may be recordable.

(Other Embodiments) As described above, the object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the embodiment to a system or apparatus, and the system or apparatus. This can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of (1) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc. may be used. You can

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS (operating system) operating on the computer is operated based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes the case where the system) performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It also includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when printing the image data from the digital camera,
In response to the print start instruction from the digital camera, the printer device first reports the usage status of the printer to the camera, so that the user of the digital camera displays the message indicating whether or not the printer can be used.
It's easy to use because you don't have to wait for a long time.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image data source and the image recording device are connected to each other, and the image is recorded in the image recording device by the image data from the image data source. This has the effect of reducing the time required.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a photo-direct printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a recording head of the photodirect printer device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an operation panel of the photodirect printer device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part relating to control of the photodirect printer apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ASIC of the photodirect printer device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a multitask configuration in which a task is made into each functional module in the control program of the photodirect printer apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a connection form between the photo direct printer apparatus according to the present embodiment and a digital camera.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display of an operation panel when connecting to a digital camera in the photo direct printer device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing in the digital camera according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a printing process in the photo direct printer device according to the present embodiment.

11 is a flowchart showing a printer usage status confirmation process in step S12 of FIG.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shin Hibi             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation (72) Inventor Tetsuya Kawanabe             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation (72) Inventor Akihiko Hamamoto             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation (72) Inventor Tetsuya Suwa             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation (72) Inventor Takaro Aichi             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation (72) Inventor Kazuyuki Masumoto             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation (72) Inventor Mitsuhiro Ono             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation F-term (reference) 2C061 AQ05 AR01 HH03 HH09 HJ07                       HK11 HN24                 5B021 AA01 AA30 BB01 BB10 CC04                       CC05 DD19 EE01                 5C052 AA11 AA17 CC11 DD02 FA02                       FA03 FA07 FC01 FE04                 5C053 FA04 FA08 GA11 GB36 KA03                       LA01 LA03 LA14

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A method for controlling an image recording apparatus for recording an image based on image data from an image data source, wherein the status of the image recording apparatus is preceded by the image data from the image data source. An inquiring step for inquiring, an judging step for judging whether or not recording by the image recording device is possible based on the situation in response to the inquiry in the inquiring step, and the image recording when it is judged that recording is possible in the judging step. A start instruction step for instructing the start of preparation for the recording operation by the apparatus, a preparation for the recording operation based on the instruction by the start instruction step, and a processing of image data from the image data source are executed in parallel. A method of controlling an image recording apparatus, comprising: 2. The control method of the image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification step of notifying a determination result in the determination step. 3. The method of controlling an image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data source includes a digital camera. 4. The status of the image recording device is any one of printing of data from a host computer, printing of data of a memory card, and maintenance state of the image recording device. The method of controlling an image recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: 5. An image data source for supplying image data,
An image recording system including an image recording device that records an image based on image data from the image data source, wherein the image data source is configured to check the status of the image recording device prior to sending the image data. Inquiring means for inquiring to the image recording device, determining means for determining whether or not recording by the image recording device is possible based on the situation in response to the inquiry by the inquiring means, and determining that recording is possible by the determining means A start instruction means for instructing the start of preparation for the recording operation by the image recording apparatus, wherein the image recording apparatus prepares for the recording operation based on the instruction by the start instruction means and the image data source. An image recording system having a processing means for executing processing of image data from the same in parallel. 6. The image recording system according to claim 5, wherein the image data source further includes an informing unit for informing a determination result of the determining unit. 7. The image recording system according to claim 5, wherein the image data source includes a digital camera. 8. The status of the image recording apparatus is that data is being printed from a host computer, data of a memory card is being printed, and that the image recording apparatus is in a maintenance state. The image recording system according to claim 7, wherein any one of them is included. 9. A program for executing the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 10. A computer-readable storage medium in which a program for executing the control method according to claim 1 is stored.