JP3855149B2 - Image transmitting apparatus and printing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image transmission apparatus and a print system, and more particularly to an image transmission apparatus and a print system for editing an image input by the image transmission apparatus and transmitting the edited print image to a printer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electronic camera that directs printing by directly transmitting an image recorded by an electronic camera to a printer is known.
[0003]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-261619 discloses a situation of a construction site by taking a picture with a television camera, and transmitting the still image through a wireless communication network of a mobile phone, and the receiving unit displays the received still image on a monitor television. In addition, a monitoring system for a construction site is shown in which an image is recorded by a recording video, recorded by a recording video, and printed out by a printer.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional electronic camera, when a recorded image is transmitted wirelessly to a printer and printing is instructed, there is a problem that only an instruction to print one image as it is can be given. Accordingly, when a plurality of the same images are printed, it is necessary to transmit a necessary number of images. Further, when trimming, image data of an area that is not actually printed is transmitted to the printer and trimming is performed on the printer side, and therefore a wasteful transmission time is required.
[0005]
In addition, the monitor monitoring system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-261619 cannot transmit a print image edited from the TV camera on the transmission side or the mobile phone side.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and edits an input image, generates a print image from information necessary for printing, and transmits it to a printer. An object of the present invention is to provide an image transmission apparatus and a printing system capable of printing.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image transmission apparatus for transmitting a print image to a printer, an image input means for capturing or inputting an image, and the input image or the input image being edited. Determining means for determining whether the image size of the edited image is larger than an image size required for printing by the printer; and if the image size is determined to be large by the determining means, the input image or the edited image If the image processing means for generating a print image by resizing the image size to the image size required at the time of printing and the determination means determine that the image size of the input image or the edited image is small, When the input image or the edited image is transmitted to the printer as a print image and determined to be large, the image processing means The print image was made is characterized by comprising communication means for transmitting to said printer.
[0008]
According to the present invention, the image input means for capturing or inputting an image, and whether or not the input input image or the image size of the edited image obtained by editing the input image is larger than the image size required for printing by the printer. A determining unit for determining, and an image processing unit for generating a print image by resizing the input image or the edited image so that the image size becomes a necessary image size at the time of printing when the determining unit determines that the image size is large When the image size of the input image or the edited image is determined to be small by the determining unit, the input image or the edited image is transmitted to the printer as a print image. When the image size is determined to be large, the print generated by the image processing unit And communication means for sending images to the printer, so the image data to be transferred is minimized and the communication time is shortened. It is possible to print a desired image by time.
[0009]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 4 is an image input means for capturing or inputting an image, a first display means for displaying the input image, and printing the displayed image. The first input means for inputting and setting print information at the time of printing, and the image size of the input image or the edited image obtained by editing the input image based on the print information is smaller than the image size required for printing on the printer A determination unit that determines whether the image is large; and if the determination unit determines that the image size is large, the input image or the edited image is resized so that the image size becomes a required image size at the time of printing. When the image processing means for generating an image and the determination means determine that the image size of the input image or the edited image is small, the input image or An image transmission comprising: a first communication unit that transmits the collected image and the print information and, when determined to be large, the print image generated by the image processing unit and the print information to the printer Apparatus, second communication means for receiving the image and print information transmitted from the first communication means, second display means for displaying at least the print information, and the received image or the received The printer includes a printing unit that prints based on the image and the print information.
[0010]
According to the present invention, the image input unit that captures or inputs an image, the first display unit that displays the input image, and the first input unit that inputs and sets print information when the displayed image is printed. Determining means for determining whether the image size of the input image or the edited image obtained by editing the input image based on the print information is larger than the image size required for printing by the printer; and the image size by the determining means Is determined to be large, the image processing means for generating a print image by resizing the input image or the edited image so that the image size of the input image or the edited image becomes a required image size, and the image of the input image or the edited image by the determining means If it is determined that the size is small, the input image or edited image and the print information are transmitted. If it is determined that the size is large, the image processing means An image transmitting apparatus including a first communication unit that transmits the generated print image and print information to the printer, and a second communication unit that receives the image and print information transmitted from the first communication unit. Image data to be transferred, and at least a second display means for displaying print information and a printer having a print means for printing based on the received image or the received image and the print information. Therefore, the communication time is shortened and a desired image can be printed in a short time.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an image transmitting apparatus and a printing system according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image transmission apparatus and a print system according to the present invention.
[0013]
An electronic camera 10 serving as an image transmission device photoelectrically converts the formed subject image into a lens group 16 for forming a subject image on a CCD (solid-state imaging device) 14 and outputs it as an analog signal of the image. A CCD (image input means) 14 and an A / D converter 18 for converting an analog signal of an image output from the CCD 14 into a digital signal are provided.
[0014]
The information processing means 20 of the electronic camera 10 controls the entire electronic camera 10, controls the sampling timing of image data according to the image data acquisition form, edits the displayed image, generates print information, Processing is performed to determine whether or not the input image size is larger than the image size required for printing.
[0015]
The electronic camera 10 temporarily stores image processing means 22 for performing processing such as image size change (resizing processing), sharpness correction, gamma correction, contrast correction, white balance correction, and the like, and image data. A memory buffer 24, an input unit 26 provided with a recording button, a communication button, a transmission button, a function switch, a cursor key, a confirmation switch, etc. (not shown) provided in the electronic camera 10 and information such as image data are stored in JPEG. And a recording medium I / F 30 that performs a process of compressing by a technique typified by JPEG or motion JPEG, or a process of expanding the compressed data, and converting data for recording to or reading from a removable recording medium 28. Is provided.
[0016]
The recording medium 28 is a detachable recording medium represented by a semiconductor such as a memory card and MO, magnetic recording, and optical recording. In addition, although not shown in the figure, it may be configured to record voice information together.
[0017]
The communication means 32 of the electronic camera 10 used when transmitting / receiving information such as image data and print conditions to / from an external device by communication includes an oscillating unit that generates a carrier wave for communication, and puts data on the carrier wave. And a transmission unit for transmitting data, a reception unit for performing processing for separating data carried on the received carrier wave, and a switching circuit for switching between transmission and reception of data. The communication means 32 is provided with an antenna 36 for transmitting and receiving a carrier wave and data.
[0018]
The electronic camera 10 also has a display means 38 for displaying the input image data, print information, and print conditions received from the printer via the communication means, and D for converting the data to be displayed on the display means 38. An / A converter 40, an attribute register 42 in which attributes of the communication partner are stored, and a power supply unit 44 that supplies power to each element provided in the electronic camera 10 are provided.
[0019]
Although not shown, the information processing means 20 is provided with a ROM that stores operation programs and constants, and a RAM that is a storage means serving as a work area when the program is executed.
[0020]
The control unit of the printer 50 shown in FIG. 1 controls the overall processing of the printer 50, edits the displayed image and edits print information, an execution program, image data, and the like. A detachable HDD (hard disk drive) 54 for recording data, a display means 58 for displaying print information and print images, an input means 60 for a user to input print information and processing to the printer 50, and an electronic The communication means 62 provided with the oscillation part for transmitting / receiving data with the camera 10 and other external devices, the transmission part which carries data on a carrier wave, and the process which isolate | separates the data carried on the received carrier wave A plurality of transmission / reception units 63 and 63 each including a reception unit to perform and a switching circuit for switching transmission / reception of data; In addition, antennas 64 and 64 for transmitting and receiving data, a general-purpose interface 68 for transmitting and receiving image data through communication with a printer unit, a scanner, and the like, and constants such as programs and print conditions for the CPU 52 are stored, and operations of the CPU 52 A ROM / RAM 70 serving as storage means serving as an area is provided.
[0021]
The printer unit (printing unit) of the printer 50 includes an interface 72 for receiving image data by communicating with the control unit, a RAM 74 that is a storage unit serving as a work area of the information processing apparatus of the printer unit, and a paper feeding unit 76. The print engine 80 feeds the print paper from the printer and discharges the print paper to the output tray 78 after printing.
[0022]
A photographing process of the electronic camera 10 configured as described above will be described.
[0023]
An image to be photographed is formed on a light receiving surface of a CCD (solid-state imaging device) 14 through a lens group 16. This subject image is photoelectrically converted into a charge signal in an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light by each sensor in the CCD. The charge signals accumulated in the CCD 14 in accordance with the imaging timing signal are sequentially output and converted into R, G, and B digital image data by the A / D converter 18.
[0024]
The image data obtained in this manner is subjected to amplification and noise reduction processing by the image processing means 22, and the data is temporarily stored in the memory buffer 24. The information processing means 20 transmits the image data stored in the memory buffer 24 to the D / A converter 40 and displays it on the display means 58.
[0025]
When the user presses a recording button provided on the input means 26, a mode for photographing a subject is entered. Then, the information processing means 20 performs processing for sequentially recording image data on the recording medium 28 with respect to the recording medium I / F 30. When the user presses the send button provided on the input means 26, the information processing means 20 sequentially reads the designated image data from the recording medium 28 and executes the designated format (compression processing and communication error correction function processing). (Including the format after the conversion), and a process of transmitting to an external device such as a personal computer or a printer via the communication means 32 and the antenna 36 is executed.
[0026]
When the user edits the image to be printed, the cursor key provided on the input means 26 is operated to select the image to be printed, and the function switch is set to the “print editing” function. Edit. At this time, the communication unit 32 starts communication connection processing for the printer 50 in order to determine whether or not the printer 50 is connected.
[0027]
If the printer 50 is prepared, communication with each other is started, and information on the printing conditions including the resolution of the printer 50 and the size and type of the loaded paper is received, and the information processing means 20 And is displayed on the display means 38 to notify the user. The user efficiently sets and inputs print conditions and print information while referring to the display means 38. A new print image is generated based on the set information. When the user does not edit the image to be printed, the following image size determination is performed with the input image obtained by shooting.
[0028]
Next, the information processing means 20 determines whether the input image obtained by photographing or the image size of the edited image is larger than the image size necessary for printing with the printer. When it is determined that the image size is larger than the image size required at the time of printing, the image processing means 22 automatically resizes the image size of the input image or the edited image so as to become the image size required at the time of printing. A print image is generated and transmitted to the printer.
[0029]
Conversely, if it is determined that the image size of the input image or the edited image is smaller than the image size necessary for printing, the input image or the edited image is transmitted as it is to the printer as a print image.
[0030]
At that time, if the printer 50 is not yet prepared and the communication means 32 cannot communicate with the printer 50, the default print conditions stored in the ROM of the information processing means 20 are displayed on the display means 38. It may be displayed on the screen and edited by the user.
[0031]
The editing flow will be described below with reference to FIG.
[0032]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing print order information when the output image 84 is generated by trimming the captured input image 82.
[0033]
According to the figure, an input image 82 is displayed on the display means 38 of the electronic camera 10. First, the user designates the print range of the input image 82. As a method for designating the print range, by operating a cursor key or a confirmation switch provided in the input means 26, for example, the start point coordinate value (X1, Y1) from the origin (X0, Y0) of the input image 82 and the output image. , XL and YL, or end point coordinate values (X2, Y2). Further, instead of designating the coordinate value and the size of the output image 84, the aspect ratio to be printed, the center position of the output image 84, the size or the enlargement ratio may be set.
[0034]
Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the printable size displayed based on the print condition information received from the printer 50 is selected and set to 45 × 35 mm, or the paper type (sticker paper, normal paper) Paper, glossy paper, postcard, etc.), print conditions (monochrome, color, sepia, saturation adjustment, density adjustment, etc.), image resolution (dot / mm), number of prints (number of print sheets, 1 It is possible to set the quantity and layout information to be printed on one sheet of print paper.
[0035]
Even if image information having finer and more gradations than the printer's capability resolution is transmitted to the printer, it is wasted as much wasteful communication time is required for printing at a reduced resolution and gradation. Therefore, an automatically resized image is transmitted to the printer as shown below.
[0036]
If the captured image data has a resolution of 2000 × 1000 and a gradation of 12 bits, and the resolution of the printer is 1800 × 1000 and a gradation of 10 bits, the electronic camera 10 has a resolution of 1800 × 1000. An editing process for converting to 10-bit gradation print image data is performed and transmitted to the printer.
[0037]
When the setting of the print conditions is completed as described above, the information processing means 20 performs an editing process such as image trimming or resolution conversion processing based on the set print conditions to generate a print image.
[0038]
The print image obtained in this way and the print information such as the print paper and the number of prints are sent to the printer 50 by pressing a send button provided on the input means 26. As described above, since only the image data in the print range and the minimum necessary information of the print information are transmitted to the printer 50, the transmission time is shortened, and it is possible to perform a quick and efficient print process.
[0039]
In the printer 50, the image data obtained through the communication unit 62 and the set print information are displayed on the display unit 58, and printing is performed based on the designated print information. Then, the designated number of prints of the output image 84 is obtained. Further, the image data recorded in the HDD 54 can be synthesized and displayed in accordance with a user instruction and printed. The display unit 58 of the printer 50 displays the same display as that shown in FIG. 2, and the print information can be edited in accordance with the print resolution of the printer 50, the loaded print paper, and the print characteristics. Is possible.
[0040]
In the above embodiment, an example in which the image transmission apparatus is an electronic camera has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to an electronic camera, and may be a scanner that reads an image.
[0041]
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the image transmission apparatus and the printer perform wireless communication has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to wireless communication, and wired communication means such as parallel or serial may be used. Even when used, the object of the present invention is achieved.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the image transmission apparatus of the present invention, the image input means for capturing or inputting an image and the input input image or the image size of the edited image edited from the input image are necessary for printing with a printer. A determination means for determining whether the image size is larger than the image size, and if the determination means determines that the image size is large, the input image or the edited image is resized so that the image size becomes a required image size at the time of printing. When the image processing means for generating the print image and the discrimination means determine that the image size of the input image or the edit image is small, the input image or the edit image is transmitted to the printer as a print image, and is determined to be large. And communication means for transmitting the print image generated by the image processing means to the printer. Shortens the communication time becomes essential minimum, it is possible to print a desired image in a short time.
[0043]
According to the printing system of the present invention, the image input unit that captures or inputs an image, the first display unit that displays the input image, and the print information for printing the displayed image are input and set. A first input unit; and a determination unit that determines whether or not an input input image or an image size of an edited image obtained by editing the input image based on print information is larger than an image size necessary for printing by a printer; When the determination unit determines that the image size is large, the input image or the edited image is resized so that the image size becomes a required image size at the time of printing, and the image processing unit generates a print image. If it is determined that the image size of the image or edited image is small, the input image or edited image and the print information are transmitted, and determined to be large The image transmission apparatus including the first communication unit that transmits the print image and the print information generated by the image processing unit to the printer, and the image and the print information transmitted from the first communication unit. The printer comprises: a second communication means for receiving; a second display means for displaying at least print information; and a print means for printing based on the received image or the received image and print information. Therefore, the amount of image data to be transferred is minimized, the communication time is shortened, and a desired image can be printed in a short time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image transmitting apparatus and a printing system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing trimming of a captured input image and print order information.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic camera, 14 ... CCD (solid-state image sensor), 16 ... Lens group, 18 ... A / D converter, 20 ... Information processing means (discrimination means), 22 ... Image processing means, 24 ... Memory buffer, 26 ... Input means 28 ... recording medium 30 ... recording medium I / F 32 ... communication means 36 ... antenna 38 ... display means 40 ... D / A converter 50 ... printer 52 ... CPU (information processing means) 54 ... HDD (hard disk drive), 58 ... display means, 60 ... input means, 62 ... communication means, 63 ... transmission / reception section, 64 ... antenna, 68 ... interface, 72 ... interface, 74 ... RAM, 76 ... sheet feeding section 78 ... Output tray, 80 ... Print engine, 82 ... Input image, 84 ... Output image

Claims (5)

In an image transmission apparatus that transmits a print image to a printer,
An image input means for capturing or inputting an image;
Communication means for receiving a print condition including an image size necessary for printing with the printer from the printer;
Input means capable of inputting at least a trimming range of an image captured or input by the image input means;
Display means for displaying at least the image and the trimming range input to the input means;
Information processing means for trimming the image based on at least the trimming range;
Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not an image size of an edited image , which is an image trimmed by the information processing means, is larger than an image size required at the time of printing by the printer, based on a print condition received by the communication means When,
If it is determined by the determining means that the image size of the edited image is large, the image size of the edited image is resized so as to be a required image size at the time of printing to obtain a print image, and the image size of the edited image is When it is determined that the image is small, the image processing means uses the edited image as a print image;
With
The image transmission apparatus , wherein the communication unit transmits the print image to the printer. The input means can input a desired image size among printable image sizes included in the print conditions received by the communication means,
  The display means displays the printable image size and a desired image size input to the input means,
  The image transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether an image size of the edited image is larger than the desired image size. Image input means for picking up or inputting an image, first communication means for receiving a print condition including an image size required at the time of printing with the printer from the printer, and trimming range of at least the image picked up or input by the image input means Input means capable of inputting the image, first display means for displaying at least the image and the trimming range input to the input means, information processing means for trimming the image based on at least the trimming range, and the information Determining means for determining whether an image size of an edited image, which is an image trimmed by the processing means, is larger than an image size necessary for printing by the printer, based on a print condition received by the communication means; When it is determined by the determining means that the image size of the edited image is large, the edited image Image processing means for re-sizing the image so that the image size is the image size required at the time of printing, and setting the edited image as a print image when it is determined that the image size of the edited image is small. The communication means transmits the print image and print information to the printer ; and
And a printing means for printing based on the first of said second communication means, the image and the print information and image or the received and the reception receives the transmitted image and print information from the communication unit A printer,
A printing system comprising: The printer includes at least second display means for displaying the print information, and second input means for editing the image or print information displayed by the second display means into desired information. The printing system according to claim 3. 5. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the print information includes at least one of print quantity, print size information , print paper information, print color information, and print density information.

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