JPH11232006A - Output device, output method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily recognize a picture specified by means of a mark by preferentially displaying the picture specified by the mark even if multiple pictures exist and they cannot be displayed on a display means. SOLUTION: When a memory card is inserted into a picture printing device, the route directory of the memory card is automatically retrieved and a mark file is searched. The content of the file is read and a corresponding file name is stored in a work memory. The file names are stored in the work memory in the order of picture data with panoramic synthesis marks P1-P3 and a print instruction mark (black circle). Picture data except for the data are added to it in the order of the file names. When all file names of picture data are stored in the work memory, priority is given to the picture with the mark in the order of the file names in the work memory and a thumb nail file is displayed on a monitor (a). Since priority is given to the picture with the mark, the recognition of the mark becomes easy.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output device for displaying an image, an output method, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, it has become possible to print out image data taken by a digital camera without using a PC. As a method, a digital camera records image data in a detachable memory, and a printer reads out the image data via the memory to realize printout, or a printer is connected to the digital camera by wire or wirelessly. For example, there is a method of realizing printout by transferring an image to a printer.

According to the above-described method, when an image photographed by a digital camera is printed out by a printer without using a PC, the printer usually has video output means.
Select an image while checking it on the monitor. But,
The number of images that can be displayed on a monitor is as small as about 10 to 20, while the number of images captured by a digital camera can reach several hundred, so it is impossible to display all the recorded image data on the monitor at once. It was possible.

On the other hand, as a function of a digital camera, there is a digital camera capable of marking an image to be printed out of a photographed image, and the printer detects the mark to select an image again. Some have a mechanism that allows you to easily print out without fixing. In addition, there is a system that obtains a panoramic image by dividing a subject such as a landscape landscape that does not fit on the screen in one shot by taking multiple shots, and synthesizing those images later. Although it has been proposed, even in this case, a panorama synthesis instruction mark is attached to the image data when shooting with a digital camera,
Later, it is possible to easily realize panorama composition using the panorama composition mark as a mark by using a PC or a printer.

[0005]

However, since the number of images that can be displayed on the monitor is small as described above, in order to confirm the image with the above-mentioned mark from a large number of image data, the images to be displayed sequentially are displayed. There is no other way but to scroll and display on the monitor, and it is time-consuming and very inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an output device which can easily recognize an image specified by a mark, since an image specified by a mark is preferentially displayed even when many images cannot be displayed on the display means at one time. , Output method, and
It is to provide a storage medium. In addition, since the images specified by the same mark are displayed collectively, it is easy to confirm the image specified by the various marks, and an output device, an output method, and a printing method that can simplify a printout operation
Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an output device according to the present invention provides a control for displaying an image specified by a predetermined mark on a display means with priority over an image not specified by the predetermined mark. Means.

Further, the output method of the present invention is an output method using display means for displaying an image input from an input means, wherein an image specified by a predetermined mark is not specified by the predetermined mark. A control step of causing the display means to display the information with higher priority.

A storage medium according to the present invention is a storage medium for storing a program utilizing display means for displaying an image input from an input means, wherein the image specified by a predetermined mark is stored in the predetermined mark. A program having a control step of causing the display means to display the image preferentially over an image not specified by the program.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image printing apparatus according to the present invention;

First, FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration for implementing the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a digital camera which records photographed image data on a memory card 2. Usually, this memory card is removable from the digital camera. The image printing apparatus shown in 3 reads image data from the memory card through the memory card interface 5 and processes / configures the CPU 6, ROM, and RAM 6.
The control section performs data signal processing and the like, and outputs an image to a monitor through an external output interface 8 and prints out an image recording section 7.

In the digital camera used in the embodiment of the present invention, a print instruction mark for instructing a printout in advance and a panorama synthesis instruction mark for identifying image data shot for panorama synthesis can be provided. Make it possible. At this time, the mark is recorded on the memory card in a file structure and a file as shown in FIG. 3, for example. The print instruction mark file 14 and the panorama synthesis instruction mark file 15 exist under the root directory 11. There may be only one of them, or there may be other mark files. In the print instruction mark file, the number part of the instructed file name is stored, for example, as shown at 18. Further, in the panorama synthesis instruction mark file, for example, as shown in 19, identification characters indicating the order of panorama synthesis and the like and the number part of the file name are recorded. “P1-2 0013” in the drawing indicates that Im_0013.jpg is to be combined with another image with P1, and indicates that it is the second image among the images to be combined with the panorama.

A directory 12 for storing thumbnail images 16 and a directory for storing image data 17 are located below the root directory. It is assumed that the thumbnail and the image data are associated with each other by the number given to the file name.

Next, a processing procedure in an image output apparatus for implementing the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The program relating to the flowchart of FIG. 1 is stored in the ROM of the processing / control unit 6,
AM is used as work memory, and C of processing / control unit 6
Controlled by the PU. FIG. 1 shows only the procedure for displaying the thumbnail file on the monitor.

First, it is determined whether or not the memory card is inserted into the image printing apparatus (S1). If the memory card is inserted, the root directory of the memory card is automatically searched for a mark file (S2). Here, assuming that the contents of the memory card have a structure as shown in FIG.
, "PANORAMA.MRK" and "PRINT.MRK" are found, and the process proceeds to S3. In S3, the contents of the two files are read, and the corresponding file names are stored in the work memory. In the case of a panorama synthesis instruction mark file, the images may be rearranged in the image synthesis order and stored in the work memory.

In step S4, the order in which the thumbnail images are displayed on the monitor is determined as follows. First,
File names are already stored in the work memory in the order of image data having a panorama composition instruction mark and a print instruction mark. Then, image data other than the above-mentioned image data is added in the order of file names or in the order of stored images. When the file names of all the image data are stored in the work memory as described above, the thumbnail files are displayed on the monitor 4 in the order of the file names in the work memory in S5.

In S2, if the mark file is not found, it is displayed on the monitor in the order of file names or in the order of stored thumbnail images.

FIG. 4 shows display examples on the monitor when the mark file is displayed with priority and when the mark file is not displayed with priority.
(A) shows a case where an image with a mark is preferentially displayed, and (b) shows a case where no preferential display is performed. The image with ● is the image with the print instruction mark, P1-1
Is an image with a panorama synthesis instruction mark. The image itself is omitted. Obviously, by giving priority to the image with the mark as shown in these figures, it is easy to confirm the mark of the image data.

If the image data in the memory card is sorted and stored in the order of the files on the work memory, the file with the mark can be displayed preferentially from the next time without having to perform the above procedure. It is also possible to do so. When a plurality of marks are present, only certain marks may be preferentially displayed, or the order of marks to be preferentially displayed may be determined.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a memory card storing image data photographed by a digital camera is used as image input means. However, image information is transmitted from the digital camera to an image printing apparatus by wired or wireless means. May be input, or image information with various marks added thereto using a PC may be recorded on a memory card, or may be input to the image printing apparatus by wired or wireless means.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, an external monitor is used as the display means. However, a display device may be incorporated in the image printing apparatus. Further, it is conceivable that the display screen becomes smaller, and the present invention is particularly effective.

(Embodiment of the Second Invention) In the embodiment of the present invention, an embodiment in which the functions are further added based on the embodiment of the first invention will be described. A function to be added is to change the priority of images displayed on the external display device according to the output mode when the image printing apparatus has a plurality of output modes. In the following, only changes and additions from the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

For the sake of simplicity, a plurality of output modes of the image printing apparatus are assumed to be a standard mode and a panoramic mode. The standard mode indicates output to a sheet of a normal postcard size, and the panorama mode indicates output to a sheet having twice the length in the longitudinal direction of the postcard.

It is desirable that the image printing apparatus be capable of judging the type of the ink cassette, the sheet cassette or the sheet cassette and automatically selecting the output mode based on the discrimination. In the embodiment of the present invention, a control flow for achieving the object of the present invention when such an image printing apparatus is used will be described with reference to FIG. S21, S22, S23, and S24 are added to FIG. In S22, it is determined whether or not the ink cassette and the sheet cassette have been changed. If it is determined that the change has been made, the print mode is switched in S23 and the process proceeds to S21. In S21, check the print mode at that time,
For example, in the case of the panorama mode, the mark to be searched is set to only the panorama synthesis instruction mark file. Below, S2
In FIG. 6, only the panorama synthesis instruction mark file is searched, and S3 to S5 are executed to obtain a display as shown in FIG. Further, if it is set that there is no mark file to be searched in the standard mode, when it is determined that the standard mode is selected, the display is as shown in FIG. 4B. If it is not determined in S23 that the change has been made, the process proceeds to S24, where it is determined whether or not there is an interrupt for another process.
And terminates if interrupted. According to the above processing, when the ink cassette or the sheet cassette is replaced while the image is already displayed on the monitor, the display screen can be automatically changed.

Further, instead of the processing of S22 and S23,
It is also possible for the user to manually switch the mode, switch the display according to the switching, and change the display screen to the print mode.

In addition, there may be a mode in which all images having the print instruction mark are automatically batch printed. In this case, in S21, the search mark file is set to only the print instruction mark, and It is also possible to preferentially display the existing image.

As described above, since the priority order of the images to be displayed is determined according to the print mode of the image printing apparatus, the operation and the confirmation of the images become very easy.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if there are too many images to be displayed on the display at once,
Since the image specified by the mark is preferentially displayed, the image specified by the mark can be easily recognized.
Further, since the images specified by the same mark are displayed collectively, it is easy to confirm the images specified by the various marks, and the printout operation is also simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a processing procedure for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a basic device for carrying out the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an internal structure of a memory card.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where an image is displayed on a monitor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing procedure in the embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen when an image with a panorama synthesis instruction mark is preferentially displayed.

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Takanobu Shiraiwa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kenji Takahashi 3-30-2, Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. An output device, comprising: control means for causing an image specified by a predetermined mark to be displayed on a display means prior to an image not specified by the predetermined mark. 2. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined mark is a panorama synthesis instruction mark. 3. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined mark is a print instruction mark. 4. A panorama print mode is provided. If the panorama print mode is determined by the determination section, the control section gives priority to an image corresponding to the panorama image. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the output device is displayed in a dynamic manner. 5. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the mark is added by a digital imaging device. 6. The output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays a plurality of images in order of an image for which panorama synthesis is instructed, an image for which printing is instructed, and other images. 7. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays a plurality of images in order of an image for which panorama synthesis is instructed and other images. 8. The output device according to claim 1, wherein the image is a thumbnail image. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discriminating unit includes: a panoramic ink cassette set in the printer; and a panoramic paper cassette set in the printer.
The output device according to claim 1, wherein the output device determines that the mode is a panoramic print mode. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit gives priority to an image specified by the panorama composition instruction mark when a panoramic ink cassette is set in the printer or when a panoramic paper cassette is set in the printer. When the standard print ink cassette is set in the printer or the standard print paper cassette is set in the printer, the image specified by the print instruction mark is displayed preferentially. The output device according to claim 1, wherein: 11. An output method using display means for displaying an image input from an input means, wherein an image specified by a predetermined mark is given priority over an image not specified by the predetermined mark. An output method, comprising a control step of causing a display to be performed. 12. The output method according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined mark is a panorama synthesis instruction mark. 13. The output method according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined mark is a print instruction mark. 14. A discriminating step of discriminating whether or not a panoramic print mode is set, wherein the controlling step includes:
14. The output method according to claim 11, wherein an image corresponding to a panoramic image is preferentially displayed when the panoramic print mode is determined in the determining step. 15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the mark is added by a digital imaging device.
15. The output method according to items 14 to 14. 16. The output method according to claim 11, wherein in the control step, a plurality of images are displayed in order of an image instructed for panorama synthesis, an image instructed to print, and other images. 17. The output method according to claim 11, wherein in the control step, a plurality of images are displayed in order of an image for which panorama synthesis is instructed and other images. 18. The output method according to claim 11, wherein the image is a thumbnail image. 19. The panoramic print mode is determined when the panoramic ink cassette is set in the printer or when the panoramic paper cassette is set in the printer. The output method according to claim 11, wherein 20. The control step, wherein, when a panoramic ink cassette is set in the printer or when a panoramic paper cassette is set in the printer, the image specified by the panoramic synthesis instruction mark is given priority. When the standard print ink cassette is set in the printer or the standard print paper cassette is set in the printer, the image specified by the print instruction mark is displayed preferentially. The output method according to claim 11, wherein 21. A storage medium for storing a program utilizing display means for displaying an image input from an input means, wherein an image specified by a predetermined mark has priority over an image not specified by the predetermined mark. A program having a control step of causing the display means to display the program. 22. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein said predetermined mark is a panorama synthesis instruction mark. 23. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein said predetermined mark is a print instruction mark. 24. A control device according to claim 24, further comprising a determining step of determining whether the mode is a panoramic print mode.
24. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein an image corresponding to a panoramic image is preferentially displayed when the panoramic print mode is determined in the determining step. 25. The mark according to claim 21, wherein the mark is added by a digital imaging device.
25. The storage medium according to items 24. 26. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein said control step displays a plurality of images in the order of an image for which panorama compositing is instructed, an image for which printing is instructed, and other images. 27. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein said control step displays a plurality of images in order of an image for which panorama synthesis is instructed and other images. 28. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein said image is a thumbnail image. 29. The panoramic print mode is determined when the panoramic ink cassette is set in the printer or when the panoramic paper cassette is set in the printer. 22. The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein 30. The control step, when a panoramic ink cassette is set in the printer or a panoramic paper cassette is set in the printer, gives priority to the image specified by the panorama synthesis instruction mark. When the standard print ink cassette is set in the printer or the standard print paper cassette is set in the printer, the image specified by the print instruction mark is displayed preferentially. The storage medium according to claim 21, characterized in that: