JP4771715B2 - Form printing system and form printing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a form printing system and a form printing method capable of directly printing an image taken with a digital camera on a printing apparatus without using a personal computer or the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing of photographic images taken with a digital camera is performed by operating an application program capable of processing photographic images in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and including control of the printing apparatus (printer) by the program. It was realized by doing.

  In recent years, as a means for printing a photographic image more easily, a printing system using a digital camera and a printer that can directly send a photographic image from a digital camera to a printer and print it without using a personal computer has become widespread.

  FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a conventional direct print system. The direct printing system 100 is configured by connecting a digital camera 1 and a printer 2 via a communication unit 3 so that they can communicate with each other. The communication means 3 can be used regardless of wired or wireless, and a specific example of wired is USB (Universal Sirial Bus). A specific example of wireless is a short-range wireless communication system that is widely used, such as Bluetooth, Wi-fi, IrDA (infrared communication). In general, a form using USB is widespread.

  The printing process of the conventional direct print system will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. Each step is expressed as (201), (202),. When the digital camera 1 compatible with the direct print system and the printer 2 are physically connected using a communication cable or the like and a communication path is established (201), the digital camera 1 may process the printer 2 with respect to the printer 2. Information (hereinafter referred to as “printer capability value”) indicating the capability that can be obtained is requested (202). In response to the request, the printer 2 transmits its own printer capability value to the digital camera 1, and the digital camera 1 receives the printer capability value (203, 204). The digital camera 1 displays the received printer capability value on the display device of the digital camera 1 (205), and accepts the selection of capability by the operator. FIG. 19 shows an example of printer capability values displayed on the display device by the digital camera 1. As shown in FIG. 19, the printer capability value is displayed in a readable manner by the function of the digital camera 1. The operator selects a desired operation (206). Next, an image to be printed is designated (208). Next, when print request processing is executed by means not shown, the digital camera 1 generates a print request information file and transmits it to the printer 1 (209).

  The printer 2 that has received the print request information file requests the digital camera 1 for an image file to be printed described in the print request information file (211). The digital camera 1 transmits the image file requested by the printer 2 to the printer 2 (212), and the printer 2 generates output data using the received image file (213) and prints it (214).

  The photographic printed matter obtained by the above system is basically printed on the photographed image as it is without any modification. However, various types of print layouts are prepared in advance on the digital camera side, and the layout is displayed on the display means for selection, and the photographic image that requires printing is combined with the layout and printed. The invention which can do is known (for example, refer to patent documents 1).

  Also known is an invention relating to a digital camera having a means for selecting a background template and designating a composition position of a photographic image in a digital camera capable of synthesizing a photographed photographic image and a prestored background template. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

JP 2004-7750 A JP 2000-232617 A

  By using the inventions described in the above patent documents, it is possible to selectively synthesize a photographic image taken with a digital camera into a print layout including a background template and easily print a photo without using a personal computer. Become. However, the print layout needs to be stored as an image in the storage device of the digital camera or printer in advance, and the types of layout that can be selected are limited, and it is possible to flexibly respond to the demands of users who desire printing. Have difficulty.

  In addition, the layout (template) used in the above invention is image information, requires a large storage capacity for storage, and also takes time for the composition process, so it is difficult to perform the print process easily. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is used for printing a photographic image to be printed in a form printing system capable of printing a photographic image without using an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer. The form layout can be sent to the printer, and the necessary photographic images can be obtained from the digital camera on the printer side and printed using the image layout specified by the selected form layout. It is an object to realize a form printing system that can be easily corrected and registered for change.

The present invention is configured to convert an optical image representing a subject into an electrical signal by an imaging means and store image data representing the electrical signal in an information recording medium, and to be communicable with the image capturing device. A printing system having a printing apparatus, in which the image capturing apparatus uses the printing apparatus to display the capability value of the printing apparatus including information for specifying a form layout file generated as a script file edited in HTML format. A means for receiving a form layout, a means for displaying a form layout option based on information identifying a form layout file included in the received ability value, a means for displaying image data stored in the information recording medium, and a display From the selected form layout options, the form layout requesting printing to the printing device and the displayed image data to the printing device Communication selecting means for transmitting to the printing apparatus operation request means for selecting image data for requesting printing, print request information including information for specifying a form layout selected by the operation selecting means and information for specifying image data The printing apparatus includes an external storage unit that stores a form layout file, a unit that transmits a capability value to the image capturing apparatus, information that specifies a form layout, and information that specifies image data; and print request information and means for receiving image data corresponding to the information identifying the image data, from the image capturing apparatus, the form layout corresponding to information identifying the document layout file contained in the received print request information Means for reading out the file from the external storage means and developing it into a form layout having an image development area and a ruled line drawing area; According to the form layout, means for designating the development destination of the image data corresponding to the information specifying the image data included in the print request information, means for drawing the form according to the developed form layout, and printing the drawn form Information specifying the form layout includes information indicating the X and Y coordinate positions of the image development area, the width of the image development area, and the height of the image development area, and lines of the ruled line drawing area And the type of information, the information indicating the X and Y coordinate positions of the ruled line drawing area, and the width of the ruled line image area .

  The storage means may be removable. Further, the form layout may be stored in the storage unit of the image capturing apparatus and read according to a request from the printing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a printing process by directly connecting to a printing apparatus according to a predetermined form layout. Further, according to the present invention, the user can easily modify the form layout used for printing. Further, the correction processing can be performed in the image photographing apparatus without using a personal computer.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a digital camera 1 constituting a form printing system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the printer 2 constituting the form printing system according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a digital camera 1 includes an external storage device 11 typified by a flash memory for storing information, an imaging device 12 that is an image information input unit such as a CCD or an AD converter, and various types of information related to imaging operations. And a display device 13 for displaying various information related to photographed image settings, an operation console 14 for performing an operation input from the outside, a communication I / F unit 15 for controlling an interface with the printer 2, and an entire digital camera. And an overall control device 10. The overall control device 10 is constituted by a known microcomputer comprising a CPU / ROM / RAM / input / output port (I / O port) and a bus line connecting them.

  In FIG. 2, the printer 2 includes an external storage device 21 such as a flash memory for storing information, a printing device 22 for printing on paper, a display device 23 for various information, and an operation console 24 for inputting from the outside. And a communication I / F unit 25 that controls an interface with the digital camera 1 and an overall control device 20 that controls the entire printer. The overall control device 20 is composed of a known microcomputer comprising a CPU / ROM / RAM / input / output port (I / O port) and a bus line connecting these.

  Next, a form printing process in the form printing system using the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is used about the process similar to the sequence process of the conventional printing system already demonstrated. When the digital camera 1 is connected to the printer 2 and a communication path is established (201), the printer capability value is received (202, 203, 204). The printer capability value is a group of information representing processes that can be executed by the printer 2. Specifically, it is a text file expressed by a script in a predetermined format indicating a paper size usable for printing and printing conditions (printing date, printing name of photographic image, etc.).

  The digital camera 1 displays the printer capability value on the display device 13 (205). FIG. 9 shows a display example of the display screen. The following will be described as an example in which “9. form layout”, which is the most characteristic printing process in the form printing system according to the present invention, is selected. The operator operates the console 14 and selects “9. Form layout” (206). When a form layout is selected, the types of form layouts that can be selected are displayed as shown in FIG. 10. Therefore, the operator selects an output format to be used for printing, that is, a layout (207), and wants to print it together. A photographic image is selected (208). When the print request process is executed, a print request information file including the form layout name selected in the above process and the designation of the image file is generated and transmitted to the printer 2 (209).

  The printer 2 that has received the print request information file prepares a form layout file corresponding to the form layout name specified in the print request information file (210), and the image file specified in the print request information file. Is requested from the digital camera 1 (211). The digital camera 1 transmits the image file requested by the printer 2 to the printer 2 (212). The printer 2 applies the received image file to the prepared form layout file to generate output data (213a), and prints it by the printing device 22 (214).

  Next, the processing of the digital camera 1 in the above processing will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the digital camera according to the present invention. The digital camera 1 repeats the detection wait state (N of 301) until the communication I / F unit 15 detects the connection with the printer 2. When the connection with the printer 2 is detected (Y in 301), the printer 2 is requested to transmit the printer capability value, and the printer capability value reception waiting state is entered. When the printer capability value is received (302), the received printer capability value is stored in the RAM in the overall control apparatus 10.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the printer capability value of the printer 2 received by the digital camera 1 by the above processing. FIG. 8 shows an example in which the printer capability value is represented by an XML format script file having excellent versatility. In FIG. 8, the printer can perform a form layout printing process, and the form layouts that can be used are “lineFormatA”, “lineFormatB”, and “lineFormatC”.

  The digital camera 1 displays the printer capability value on the display device 13 and waits for an operator's selection operation (303). 9 and 10 show examples of the ability value display screen displayed when the operation is selected. In FIG. 9, the screen 130 displays the printer capability value received together with the screen title 130b. The printer capability value is not displayed as it is in the received script, but is converted into a language display by the printer capability value conversion table shown in FIG. 13 and displayed. The printer capability value conversion table is stored in the ROM of the overall control device 10 or the external storage device 11, and is read by a program that executes this processing.

  When “9. form layout” is selected as shown in FIG. 9 by operating the console 14 shown in FIG. 1, a form selection screen illustrated in FIG. 10 is displayed. FIG. 10A shows an example of language display converted by the printer capability value conversion table shown in FIG. Input waiting is repeated until one of the form layouts displayed on the form selection screen 130 is selected by the operation of the console 14 (N in 303), and when selected (Y in 303), the selected layout of the form is selected. The type is stored in the RAM of the overall control apparatus 10 (304). Next, a screen for selecting an image to be printed is displayed on the display device 13.

  An example of the image selection screen is shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, a screen 130a displays a printable photo image reduction display 50d together with a screen title 130b. The photograph image displayed here is stored in advance in the external storage device 11 of the digital camera 1. When the displayed image is selected and operated by the console 14 (Y in 305), the file name of the selected image, and an identifier (for example, “lineFormatA”) representing the selected form layout name previously stored in the RAM. To generate a print request information file and send it to the printer 2. In the image selection operation, if the previously selected form layout uses a plurality of images, the above selection process is repeated until the number of images necessary for the form layout is selected (N in 305).

  In the print request information file, an image file selected by the above operation and an identifier indicating a form layout are described. FIG. 12 shows an example of the contents of the print request information file. In FIG. 12, a print request information file includes an information identifier 70 indicating that the print request is “print request information”, a selected form layout name 72 surrounded by a form identifier 71, and a selected image enclosed by a file identifier. A file name 74 of the file is used. The print request information file is used when one print process is performed for one print request. When printing a plurality of images with one form layout, the form layout name 72 is a layout name that requires a plurality of images, and the selected image file name 74 is a description of a plurality of lines.

  Next, details of the processing of the printer 2 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the printer according to the present invention. The printer 2 repeats the detection waiting state (N in 351) until the communication I / F unit 25 detects the connection with the digital camera 1. When the connection of the digital camera 1 is detected (Y in 351), the printer capability value transmission process is performed after receiving the printer capability value transmission request from the digital camera 1 (352). Thereafter, as described above, the reception waiting state is repeated until the form layout performed on the digital camera 1 side and the print request information file generated by the print target image selection process are transmitted (N in 353).

  When the print request information file is received (Y in 353), the print request information file is expanded by the program stored in the ROM of the overall control device 20, and the content is decoded. Through the above process, the form layout file corresponding to the form layout name 72 indicated by the form identifier 71 included in the print request information file is read from the external storage device 21.

FIG. 7 shows an expanded image of the form layout file. In FIG. 7, the form layout 50 includes an image development area 51 and a ruled line drawing area 52. A form layout having such an area is developed in the RAM.

To explain the print request information file shown in FIG. 12 as an example, since it is required printing using a "lineFormatA", a border ruled line drawing region 52 as document layout shown in FIG. 7 (a) drawing (354). Subsequently, the digital camera 1 is requested to receive the image file “RIMG0001.JPG” as a print target. Since the image file is compressed and saved in the JPEG format, the printer 2 decodes (decompresses) the received image file and performs an embedding process in the image development area 51 (355).

  The script file for generating the form layout shown in FIG. 7 is edited in the HTML format and stored in the external storage device 21 (see FIG. 2) of the printer 2. In this embodiment, information indicating the image development area 51 (X, Y coordinate position and width and height information on the upper left corner of the rectangle), information necessary for drawing a ruled line (line thickness, type (dotted line, solid line, etc.)) , X, Y coordinate position and width information) is saved as a script file with a file name assigned.

  An example of output data generated using a plurality of pieces of information is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 16, the output data is expressed in the HTML format generally used for homepage description. A printing process is performed by the printing device 22 based on the output data.

Next, the form layout used in the form printing system according to the present invention will be described in detail. Form layout file as already described, it is stored in the external storage device 21 a HTML format as a file. Generally, the external storage device 21 is a non-volatile memory and can be arbitrarily removed. Therefore, once the external storage device 21 is removed from the printer 2 and attached to the personal computer, the file stored in the external storage device 21 can be edited on the personal computer. That is, the form layout file can also be edited using an authoring tool that can be used on a personal computer, and returned to the external storage device 2 of the printer again. In this way, it is possible to easily create an arbitrary form layout. In the present invention, the form layout file can be configured with a simple script file, so that the user can freely create and use any form layout.

  Further, if the form layout file is displayed on the display device 23 of the printer 2 and can be edited by the console 24, the user can more easily and without using a personal computer as described above. Can arbitrarily create a new form layout.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. Processes similar to those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 4, the content of the processing up to the print request (209) is the same as the processing shown in FIG. The printer 2 that has received the print request information file decodes the print request information file and identifies the form layout name 72 indicated by the form identifier 71 and the image file name indicated by the image file identifier.

  Next, the digital camera 1 is requested for a form layout file corresponding to the form layout name and an image file corresponding to the image file name (210a, 211). The digital camera 1 transmits both files requested from the printer 2 (212a, 212b). The printer 2 develops the image file and the form layout file to create output data (213b), and outputs a printed matter with a form layout as shown in FIG. 7 (214). As described above, the form layout file can be easily stored in the external storage device of the digital camera 1 instead of the printer 2 and printed using the form layout file.

  Next, Example 3 will be described. An example of the printer capability value used in the third embodiment is shown in FIG. As described above, the printer capability value is a script file transmitted from the printer 2 to the digital camera 1 in response to a request from the digital camera 1 after communication between the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 is established. In FIG. 14, the printer capability value is described in the script file as information that can read the form layout identifier and the image file identifier. By doing this, the description of the received printer capability value in the script file is used without converting the example of the printer capability value shown in the first embodiment (FIG. 9) using the printer capability value correspondence table (FIG. 13). Thus, the image can be displayed on the display device 13 of the digital camera 1.

  Next, another embodiment of the printer capability value used in the form printing system according to the present invention will be described. According to the printer capability value shown in FIG. 14, it can be determined that the form layout indicated by “lineFormatA” is stored in the external storage device 21 of the printer 2 as an HTML format file having the file name “LFMT0001.hml”. The digital camera 1 that has received the printer capability value receives the above “LFMT0001.hml” from the printer 2 and displays it when the printer capability value is displayed on the display device 13, as shown in FIG. A preview of the correct print can be displayed. As described above, by using the printer capability value according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to display in a format that is easy for the operator to understand without having a special information conversion function and a conversion table for the digital camera. As a result, the output of the printed matter can be confirmed in advance before printing. Note that a series of processes including rendering for displaying HTML on the display device 13 is the same as the process of performing an Internet homepage with Web browser software, and since it is a known technique, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The present invention can also be applied to a camera-equipped mobile phone connected to a personal computer by USB connection.

It is a block diagram which shows the example of the digital camera applicable to this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a printer that can be applied to the present invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of operation | movement of the form printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows another example of operation | movement of the form printing system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a process of the digital camera applicable to the form printing system which concerns on this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printer process applicable to the form printing system according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the form layout applicable to this invention. 6 is a description example of printer capability values transmitted to a digital camera by a printer applicable to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the screen display in the display apparatus of the digital camera applicable to this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the screen display in the display apparatus of the digital camera applicable to this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the screen display in the display apparatus of the digital camera applicable to this invention. It is a description example of a print request information file used in the form printing system according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the conversion table which the digital camera applicable to this invention has. It is another example of description of the printer capability value which the printer applicable to this invention transmits to a digital camera. It is a description example of a print request information file used in the form printing system according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the output data produced | generated by the form printing system which concerns on this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a direct print system applicable to the present invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of operation | movement of the conventional direct print system. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the screen display in the display apparatus of the conventional digital camera.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 2 Printer 3 Communication network 50 Form layout 51 Image development area 52 Ruled line drawing area 100 Form printing system

Claims (2)

An image photographing device that converts an optical image representing a subject into an electrical signal by an imaging means and stores image data representing the electrical signal in an information recording medium, and a printing device configured to be communicable with the image photographing device. A form printing system comprising:
The image photographing device
Means for receiving from the printing device a capability value of the printing device including information for specifying a form layout file generated as a script file edited in HTML format;
Means for displaying form layout options based on information identifying the form layout file included in the received ability value;
Means for displaying image data stored in the information recording medium;
An operation selecting means for selecting, from among the displayed form layout options, a form layout for requesting printing to the printing apparatus, and image data for requesting printing to the printing apparatus from the displayed image data; ,
Communication means for transmitting print request information including information for specifying the form layout selected by the operation selection means and information for specifying image data to the printing apparatus;
The printing apparatus is
An external storage means for storing the form layout file;
Means for transmitting the capability value to the image capturing device;
Means for receiving print request information including information for specifying the form layout and information for specifying image data, and image data corresponding to information for specifying the image data from the image capturing device;
Means for reading out a form layout file corresponding to information for specifying a form layout file included in the received print request information from the external storage means and developing it into a form layout having an image development area and a ruled line drawing area;
Means for designating a development destination of image data corresponding to information for specifying the image data included in the print request information according to the developed form layout;
Means for drawing a form according to the expanded form layout;
Means for printing the drawn form ,
The information specifying the form layout is as follows:
Information indicating the X and Y coordinate positions of the image development area, the width of the image development area, and the height of the image development area;
A form printing system comprising: information indicating a line thickness and type of the ruled line drawing area, an X coordinate position and a Y coordinate position of the ruled line drawing area, and a width of the ruled line image area .   The form printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus further includes editing means for adding and deleting the form layout file.

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