JP2000244853A - Image reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display the processing time needed for reproduction by providing an arithmetic means which calculates the reproduction time of images by using at least the number of recorded images and image information data in print information, a display means which displays the calculated reproduction time, etc. SOLUTION: On a display panel 7, the shapes of four kinds of media which can be loaded on this device are displayed and an image signal process part (arithmetic means) 14 processes image signals for a monitor 4 and a printer 6 among data read out of the media. In a memory 15, signal-processed images are recorded and the recording contents are reproduced on the monitor 4 and printer 6. Then the image signal process part 14 calculates the reproduction time of the images by using at least the number of the recorded images and image information data in print information red out by drivers 10 to 13 and the calculated reproduction time is displayed on the display panel 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus which displays a print time and allows a user to select a desired reproducing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image photographed by a photographing apparatus is stored in a memory card, a floppy disk (hereinafter simply referred to as an F-disk).
D) is recorded on a recording medium, and the recording medium is loaded into a personal computer or a printing apparatus to reproduce an image.

[0003] The above-described recording medium can generally record tens to hundreds of images. In recent years, it has also been proposed to record information on necessity of printing on a recording medium together with an image photographed by a digital camera or the like.

[0004]

However, when printing an image on a recording medium on which the above-described print information is recorded, if the number of images to be printed is large, it takes a considerable amount of time to print, and the user is required to do nothing during that time. There was a problem of having to wait.

On the other hand, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-11400
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4 (Kokai) No. 4 (1999), there has been proposed an apparatus that predicts and calculates a print time and notifies the user of the print time. The confirmed user could not select the playback method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image reproducing apparatus which displays a processing time required for reproduction and allows a user to select a desired reproduction method.

[0007]

Therefore, an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is capable of loading a recording medium on which a plurality of images and print information corresponding to each image are recorded, and the loaded recording medium. An image reproducing apparatus that reproduces an image recorded in a recording medium, a reading unit that reads print information recorded on the recording medium, and at least the number of recorded images and image information data of the print information read by the reading unit. Calculating means for calculating the playback time of the image by using, display means for displaying the calculated playback time,
It is characterized by having.

One of the features of the present invention is to use at least the number of recorded images and image information data (for example, each image data capacity) among print information recorded on a recording medium (Equation 1-1 in the following embodiment). Reference), the reproduction time of the image is obtained and displayed, and the reproduction method of the image can be selected. Thereby, the processing time required for image reproduction can be accurately displayed for each processing state or selectable reproduction mode (menu), and the image reproduction mode can be easily selected according to the user's preference, and the waiting time is meaninglessly spent. And the convenience of the user can be achieved.

Depending on the recording medium, the capacity of each image data may not be included in the print information. In such a case, the image information data of each image (for example, the number of recorded images)
And at least one piece of high-resolution image data (see equation 1-2 in the following embodiment), it is preferable to predict the capacity of the image data from the high-resolution image data and calculate the reselection time from the number of recorded images.

That is, the image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is capable of loading a recording medium on which a plurality of images and print information corresponding to each image are recorded, and the image recorded on the loaded recording medium. Reading means for reading print information recorded on the recording medium; and, among print information read by the reading means, image information data of each image and at least one high-resolution image data. It is characterized by comprising a calculating means for calculating a playback time of an image using at least the same, and a display means for displaying the calculated playback time.

Here, it is preferable that the image information data includes at least image print setting data.

The image information data of each image, for example, the number of prints and the print size (see equations 1-1, 2, and 3 in the following embodiment) and the image data capacity of each image (the equation 1 in the following embodiment) -1) can be used to calculate the playback time.

That is, the image revision apparatus according to the present invention is capable of loading a recording medium on which a plurality of images and print information corresponding to each image are recorded, and the image recorded on the loaded recording medium. A reading unit for reading print information recorded on the recording medium, and among the print information read by the reading unit, at least image information data of each image and an image data capacity of each image. A calculating means for calculating the playback time of the image by using the display means; and a display means for displaying the calculated playback time.

Although the present invention does not particularly refer to an image reproducing method, it is possible to select an image reproducing method including at least two of an index display of a plurality of images on a display means, one frame display and no display. Good to do. That is,
It is preferable to have at least two modes, preferably three modes, of printing images displayed one by one, printing them all at once without displaying them, and printing them all at once by index display.

The reproduction time may be simply the time required for the reproduction processing. However, if the reproduction time is a time corresponding to the processing state required for the reproduction, the reproduction method can be selected more easily. That is, the reproduction time displayed by the display means is preferably set to the processing time for each of the plurality of processing states. In particular, the processing time for each of the plurality of processing states displayed by the display means preferably includes at least one of a data reading time, an index display time, and a printing time.

Further, when the reproduction time displayed by the display means is the required time for each selectable image reproduction mode, the convenience can be further improved. In this case, the selectable image reproduction mode preferably includes at least the necessity / non-necessity of index display. Preferably, the selectable image reproduction modes include at least one of an index display mode, a batch print mode, and a frame-by-frame display mode.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to specific examples shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view showing a preferred embodiment of an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, which is an example applied to a coin vender type apparatus in which a user inputs a fee, checks an image by himself, and prints. In FIG. 1, an image reproducing device 1 includes an image recording medium loading unit 2, a monitor (display unit, selection unit) 4, a keyboard (selection unit) 5, and a printer unit having a print outlet (note that FIG. Only a panel 7 that displays the type of media that can be loaded and a charge slot 8 are provided.

In this embodiment, the image recording medium loading section 2 is configured to be capable of loading four types of recording media, and the image recording medium loading section 2 is provided with a dustproof cover 3. Note that a dustproof shutter may be provided at each loading port instead of the cover. Also, monitor 4
Displays an image and an operation instruction, and a touch panel is provided on the surface thereof.

FIG. 2 shows the details of the recording medium loading section 2 and the display panel (display means, selection means) 7. In the figure, the display panel 7 displays the shapes of four types of media that can be loaded in the apparatus. Here, SM indicates smart media, CF indicates compact flash, CD indicates optical disk (compact disk), and FD indicates floppy disk, and the number before each symbol corresponds to the number of the loading slot.

The user compares the type of the recording medium with the display on the display panel 7 and selects the corresponding medium. For selection, a touch switch may be provided on the display panel 7 and used, or a number may be input by the keyboard 5. When a medium is selected, a display 21 provided beside the loading port corresponding to the selected medium is turned on. FIG. 2 shows an example in which smart media is selected. The user loads the recording medium into the driver whose display 21 is lit. In this way, the user can identify his / her medium and does not load the wrong loading slot.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the inside of the apparatus.
In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a drive (reading means) for reading an image recorded on a smart media. Since the smart media is a memory for storing data, data at a storage location (address) can be read directly. . Reference numeral 11 denotes a drive (reading means) for reading an image recorded on the compact flash. Since the compact flash has an uCOM for I / F inside, the drive side communicates with the I / F-uCOM. Data at a predetermined position can be read.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a drive (reading means) for reading an image recorded on a CD such as a CD-ROM or a CD-R.
Thus, data recorded on a CD by the optical pickup lens can be read. A drive (reading unit) 13 reads an image recorded on the FD, and can read data recorded by a magnetic signal using a magnetic head.

Reference numeral 14 denotes an image signal processing unit (arithmetic means) for processing image signals for monitoring and printing out of data read from each medium, and 15 denotes a memory unit for recording a signal-processed image. The contents recorded in the section 15 are reproduced by the monitor 4 and the printer section 6.
Reference numeral 16 denotes an interface with the printer unit 6.
6 is sent. Reference numeral 17 denotes an overall control unit (arithmetic means, display means) for controlling the entire apparatus.

Here, the tag information recorded on each medium is read by each of the drives 10 to 13 and sent to the overall control unit 17. FIGS. 4 to 8 show examples of the structure of data recorded on a medium.

FIG. 4 shows a data array of a recording medium standardized by the conventional Exif Ver. 2.0. Each image data is 1
The data of each frame is stored in a tag data section (image information data section), a thumbnail image data section (for thumbnail display: 80 × 60 pixels), and a high-resolution image data section (for example, 640 × 480 pixels). Consists of

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the default Exif (Exchangeable
image file format) Contents of tag data of Ver2.0. According to the Exif standard, tag data can be classified into a TIFF option (FIG. 5) and information attached to the Exif IFD (FIG. 6), each of which is composed of the following types of data groups. <TIFF option tags> A group of tags relating to the configuration of image data, a group of tags relating to the recording position of the image, a group of tags relating to the characteristics of the image data, and other tags. <Exif IFD attached information> Tags related to version, tags related to characteristics of image data, tags related to structure,
Tags related to user information, tags related to related file information, tags related to date and time.

Each data content is described in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, but it is necessary to predict the image reproduction time (image data reading, image data index display, image data printing). Only the image resolution and the image compression ratio among the image data capacity (of the image), the image resolution, the number of recorded images, the number of prints, and the image compression ratio are described, and the image playback time cannot be calculated.

Further, a technology for recording the number of prints according to the APS (Advanced Photo System) standard or the like has been disclosed. By using this technology, the time required for the actual printing process can be roughly calculated.However, since this technology is an analog printing technology corresponding to silver halide film, image development for printing, data reading, It has nothing to do with the technique for calculating the time required to display data.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-114004 discloses a technique of "calculating and estimating a print time" in order to display "scheduled time until print completion". The calculation of the print time is performed by calculating the total number of prints from the expected number of prints of the image data currently being printed and the expected number of prints waiting for the start of the printing process, and calculating the total number of prints and the time from the current environmental conditions to the completion of the print. The operation is predicted. Also, Exif Ver 2.0 tag data and APS data,
Even with the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 04-2004, it is impossible to predict and calculate a high total image reproduction time.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a data array in a recording medium according to the present invention. In the present invention, the recording location of the tag data is set at the same position as Exif Ver 2.0, but the contents of the tag data include the following data. That is, image resolution, image data capacity, image compression ratio,
Print size, number of prints. By including this data, it is possible to predict and calculate the time required for image reproduction. The details will be described later.

FIG. 8 shows another example of an image data recording array in a recording medium according to the present invention. The features of the present invention are as follows. . The point is that the image reproduction data is gathered in the header portion of the recording area. As a result, by reading the data at one location, the contents of the image data can be grasped and the image reproduction time can be calculated. . As part of the image playback data,
The point is that the total number of recorded images and the total number of prints are recorded.
By reading only this data and the first data,
The time required for image reproduction can be calculated and displayed. as a result,
The user can select a reproduction method according to his / her preference.

The calculation and recording method on the camera side of the data of the total number of prints and the total number of prints shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the camera data recording flowchart of FIG. When the process is started, the camera CPU first waits until the power is turned on (step S51). When the power is turned on, the data of the recording medium is read (step S5).
2) The following data is set according to the read data. That is, the total recording number counter nR and the total printing number counter nP read the values of the total recording number and the total number of prints recorded on the recording medium before the power was last turned off, and are set in the counters (step S5).
3). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the power has been turned off (step S54). When the power has been turned off, the process ends.

If the power is not turned off, that is, if the power remains on, it is determined whether or not the photographing switch is turned on (step S55), and the process waits until the photographing switch is turned on. , Solid-state imaging device (CCD)
Is performed, and the image data is electrically read (step S56). Next, the image data stored in the CCD is taken into the memory (step S5).
7), the total number-of-recorded-sheets counter nR is counted up by 1 (step S58), and an indication to that effect is displayed to set data on how many copies of this image are to be printed.

When the photographer sets the number of prints, the number of prints is input as P (step S60),
P is added to the total print number counter nP (step S60).
Predetermined image data processing (image correction, data compression, etc.) is performed (step S61), and the image data is combined with image information data (image resolution, image capacity, image compression ratio, etc.) (step S62). The data is recorded on the recording medium (step S63), and the processing from the power-off determination is repeated.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a flowchart of the processing from the loading of the medium to the printing. Hereinafter, this process will be described together with a display example of the monitor 4 in FIG. When the process is started and the type of the recording medium is selected as described above (step S1), the display 21 on the side of the selected media loading port 2 is turned on (step S2),
It waits for a medium to be loaded (step S3).
When the medium is loaded, the reading process of the image data is started, and first, the display 21 blinks (step S).
4). By changing the display 21 from lighting to blinking, the user is notified that the image data is being read,
This prevents the recording medium from being pulled out during reading.

Next, a subroutine for reading basic data is called, basic data (basic data to be read before reading all image data) is read (step S5), and the time required for image reproduction from the read data is read. The calculation is performed and displayed on the monitor 4 (step S6).
The image reproduction time is the total time of the image data read time tr, the image data index display time td, and the image data print time tp. Hereinafter, the calculation method will be described.

[Image data input (read) time tr]
Consideration is also given to a case where the tag data (image information data) does not include information necessary for calculating the reproduction time. When the image data is included in the tag data, the reading time tr of the image data is obtained by tr = ({each image data capacity) / image reading speed Vr Formula 1-1. However, Vr changes depending on the input medium.

When the image data is not included in the tag data, the read time tr of the image data is obtained by the following expression: tr = the number of image data nr * the first image data capacity a / Vr. However, only the first image data is read, and the data capacity is calculated by the image reproducing apparatus.

[Image Data Index Display Time] The image data index display time td is obtained by td = number of image data nr * each image reduction time t1.

[Image data print time tp] The image data print time tp is obtained by the following equation (3): tp = number of print images np * (each image enlargement time t2 + each image print time t3) + print initial time t30) However, t1, t2, and t3 are affected by the following data. t1: Index display image resolution (resolution of index display image), image resolution, image compression ratio t2: Image resolution, print size t3: Print size

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the print time is displayed.
This is shown in 3 (a). This screen exemplifies the following information. That is, loaded media: compact flash, number of recorded image data: 12, number of printed images: 9, image data reading time: 1 minute (from equation 1-1 or equation 1-2), image data index display time: 2 Minutes (from equation 2), print time: 5 minutes (from equation 3)

In the state of the screen shown in FIG. 13A, when it is desired to check the image to be printed by the index display, "index display" on the screen is selected (step S7). Then, irrespective of the print setting data (data in which the number of set prints is entered), all the recorded data are read and index-displayed on the monitor 4 (steps S8 to S10). FIG. 13B shows an example of the index display screen. In FIG. 13B, 3 * 4 index images are arranged, and the number of each image is the number of prints. In addition, for print presence / absence of image,
ON / OFF may be displayed.

When the index is displayed, it is determined whether or not to print (step S11). When printing is performed, when a print switch is pressed, each image is printed (steps S11 and S12), and the processing is performed. finish.

In the state of the screen shown in FIG. 13A, when the displayed image has a short print time and the user wants to print while confirming the image, select "single frame display" on the screen. I do. Also in this mode, regardless of the print setting data, all the recording data are sequentially read, images are sequentially displayed, and printing is confirmed.
That is, first, it is determined whether or not to perform batch printing (step S13). Since it is not batch printing, reading of image data is started (step S14), and it is determined whether or not the cancel button is pressed (step S14). Step S1
5) An image is displayed frame by frame (step S1)
6) It is determined whether or not to print (step S1)
7) When the print switch is pressed, printing starts (step S18), and the above-described processing is repeated until all image data is completed or the cancel button is pressed (step S19).

If it takes a long time to read and print, and if it is desired to cancel on the way, it can be canceled by pressing a cancel button (not shown) provided on the keyboard 5, and when it is canceled, the reading ends. FIG. 13C shows an example in which an image of one frame is read and displayed. When the print switch is pressed in this state, printing is started, and the images of the previous and next frame numbers are read and displayed by the "previous frame" and "next frame" switches. Further, as described above, the image reading of the next frame is started at the same time as the printing is started, and the printing and the image reading are performed in parallel, thereby shortening the time.

In the state of the screen shown in FIG. 13A, if it is not necessary to confirm the print image and it is desired to perform printing without displaying the image, "Batch print" on the screen is selected. When this menu is selected, since image reproduction is expected in as short a time as possible, only data for which print settings have been made is read.

That is, when the processing is started, only the image for which print setting has been performed is read (step S20).
The printing is executed without displaying the image data such as the index display (step S21). The process ends when the cancel button is pressed or the print setting image is printed on all frames (step S22,
S23).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a subroutine for reading basic data, which is a subroutine suitable when the data array in the recording medium is the array shown in FIG. When the process is started, the tab data portion of each pixel data is read (step S31), and only the first image data is read from the high resolution image data portion (step S32). finish.

FIG. 12 shows another flowchart of the subroutine for reading the basic data, which is a subroutine suitable for the case where the data array in the recording medium is the array shown in FIG. When the process is started, only the header data portion is read, and when the reading is completed, the process ends.

FIG. 13D shows a modification of the index display screen. The present example is a display example in which not only the information of necessity of printing but also the number of prints of each image is recorded in the tag portion of the memory card. In the figure, the number of prints is displayed corresponding to each image.

FIG. 13E shows an example of a screen for inputting the number of prints when the information on the number of prints is not recorded.
Although each photo is one image, when printing the same image a plurality of times, the number of prints is input by the keyboard 5. This screen is displayed when an image for which the number of prints is desired to be input is selected on the index screen of FIG. 13B, or when a touch switch on the image is pressed in the single frame display state of FIG. 13C. What should I do?

FIG. 13F shows an example in which the input number of prints and the print time are displayed. This is displayed after the index display is completed or after batch printing is selected to notify the image end time. In the example, the number of prints: 1
Eight sheets, print time: about 10 minutes are exemplified.

FIG. 14 shows a display example in which the image shown in FIG. 13A is further improved. The required time required for each reproduction processing time is displayed, and when a selectable menu is selected, the required time until printing is completed is displayed. This display makes it easier for the user to select a menu.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a preferred embodiment of an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of a recording medium loading unit and a display panel in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a control system in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional data array recorded on a recording medium.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a detailed structure of tag data in the data array shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detailed structure of another tag data in the data array shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a data array of the present invention recorded on a recording medium.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the data array of the present invention recorded on a recording medium.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart of a process in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a flowchart following FIG. 9;

11 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a subroutine for reading basic data in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another flowchart of the subroutine for reading basic data in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a transition of a display example of the display unit and a modification thereof in the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another display example of the display unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a flowchart of a data recording process of the camera in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image reproduction apparatus 2 Recording medium loading part 4 Monitor (display means, selection means) 5 Keyboard (selection means) 6 Printer part 7 Panel (display means, selection means) 10, 11, 12, 13 Drive (reading means) 14 Image Signal processing section (computing means) 17 Overall control section (computing means, selecting means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/91 F term (Reference) 2C061 AP10 CQ04 CQ27 CQ34 5B021 AA30 CC05 PP04 5C052 AA01 AA11 AA17 AB03 AB04 AC08 DD02 DD10 EE02 EE03 EE08 FA02 FA03 FB01 FC08 FD06 FD08 FE04 5C053 FA04 FA08 FA23 FA27 HA29 JA21 KA24 LA01 LA03

Claims (4)

[Claims] An image reproducing apparatus capable of loading a recording medium on which a plurality of images and print information corresponding to each image are recorded, and reproducing an image recorded on the loaded recording medium, Reading means for reading print information recorded on a recording medium; calculating means for calculating a reproduction time of an image using at least the number of recorded images and image information data of the print information read by the reading means; An image reproducing apparatus, comprising: display means for displaying the calculated reproduction time. 2. An image reproducing apparatus capable of loading a recording medium on which a plurality of images and print information corresponding to each image are recorded, and reproducing an image recorded on the loaded recording medium. Reading means for reading print information recorded on a recording medium, and calculating image reproduction time using at least image information data of each image and at least one high-resolution image data among the print information read by the reading means. An image reproducing apparatus comprising: an arithmetic unit for performing the calculation; and a display unit for displaying the calculated playback time. 3. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information data includes at least image print setting data. 4. An image reproducing apparatus capable of loading a recording medium on which a plurality of images and print information corresponding to each image are recorded, and reproducing an image recorded on the loaded recording medium. Reading means for reading the print information recorded on the recording medium; and, of the print information read by the reading means, calculating the image reproduction time using at least the image information data of each image and the image data capacity of each image. An image reproducing apparatus comprising: calculating means; and display means for displaying the calculated reproduction time.