JP2000289301A - Apparatus and method for printing image and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To respond to a user's request such as printing of only an image not printed up to the present. SOLUTION: When printing of an image file on a memory card is designated by a print designating unit in a printer, print information stored in a print information storage unit is read (S41). If there is a JOB of processing next, information regarding present JOB is read (S43). The file stored in an item of a 'print image' in the JOB is called from the card (S44), and stored in a memory. Printing of number designated at the item of 'number of prints' of the JOB is executed (S46). When the printing is finished, number of times of printing stored in a number-of-times storage unit is calculated by a number-of- times counter, and a value '1' is increased (S47). In the JOB, when the number of times of printing is a value '0', it is not yet printed. After the printing is finished, the number becomes a value '1', and it is understood that the printing is executed one time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image printing apparatus, a method, and a storage medium which are mounted with a memory card storing image data photographed by a digital camera and print images stored in the memory card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as the market for digital video, digital camera, and the like has expanded, it is possible to directly connect to them and take in image data photographed by them, and select desired images from those images. Printers for printing have appeared on the market.

[0003] In such devices, it is considered to be effective to use a memory card as a means for capturing an image captured by a digital camera, and many printers having a slot for connecting a memory card have been commercialized.

Recently, some image printing systems using such digital cameras and printers have a function called a print mark. This is a memory card that stores images taken by the camera,
Function to store image information such as the number of the image to be printed such as which of these images to print, and print information such as the print format at the time of printing such as what format to print them in a file format It is.

In this image printing system, a user can designate an image to be printed and its print format by operating a digital camera. These pieces of print instruction information are stored in a file format on the same memory card in which the captured image is stored. At the time of printing, the memory card is mounted on a printer, and printing is instructed based on print instruction information in a file on the memory card.

As described above, since the print information relating to the image is stored in the same memory card storing the captured image, the print instruction is not issued on the printer side.
It is sufficient to read and use the information of the memory card, and as a result, the designated image can be printed by a simple operation of the printer.

Further, since there is no need to perform various input operations, this function can be realized even with a printer having a relatively inexpensive configuration in which the input device is simplified. This feature
Conventionally, DPOF (trademark registration pending) (Digital
It is known under a unified standard named Print Order Format.

[0008]

However, the conventional image printing system has the following problems. That is, the memory card stores only information about the print format and print image, and it is not known from the information whether or not printing based on the information has been performed, and therefore, the print has not been performed yet. It could not respond to the request to print only images.

Further, in an image printing system in which print information is stored in the same memory card as an image file, conventionally, there is only one print information. It was not known whether or not the information could be rewritten. For this reason, when printing has not been completed, there has been a case where a malfunction in operation occurs due to the updating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image printing apparatus, method, and storage medium that can respond to a user's request, such as printing only an image that has not been printed to date.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention reads out print information from a recording medium on which print information of the image is recorded together with the image. In a printing device that prints the image,
The print information storage section on the recording medium on which the print information is recorded is provided with a print count storage section in which the print count of the image is stored, and the print count is stored based on the print count stored in the print count storage section. The image processing apparatus further includes control means for controlling image printing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, there is provided a counting device for counting the number of times of printing of an image printed in accordance with the print information, and using the counted number of times of printing. Updating means for updating the number of times of printing stored in the number of times of printing storage section.

A printing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising print determination means for determining whether or not the printing has been performed normally. The means counts the number of times of printing.

[0014] In the printing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the first aspect is provided.
The control device prints only an image that has not been printed.

[0015] In the printing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the first aspect is provided.
In the printing device according to the first aspect, the recording medium stores the number of times of printing of an image printed according to a printing result from the printing device, and stores the number of times of printing in the number-of-prints storage unit using the counted number of times of printing. Updating means for updating the set number of times of printing.

A printing method according to claim 6, wherein the printing information is read from a recording medium on which printing information of the image is recorded together with the image, and the image is printed.
A print count storage unit for storing the number of prints of the image is provided in a print information storage unit on the recording medium on which the print information is recorded, and the number of prints of the image printed according to the print information is counted. Updating the number of prints stored in the number-of-prints storage unit using the counted number of prints, and controlling the printing of the image based on the number of prints stored in the number-of-prints storage unit And a process.

8. A storage medium according to claim 7, wherein said storage medium is stored in a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for reading said print information from a recording medium on which print information of said image is printed together with said image. A print number storage unit in which the number of prints of the image is stored in a print information storage unit on the recording medium on which the print information is recorded, wherein the program is an image printed according to the print information. A step of counting the number of times of printing, a step of updating the number of times of printing stored in the number of printings storage unit using the counted number of times of printing, and a step of updating the number of times of printing stored in the number of times of printing storage unit. Controlling printing of the image.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the image printing apparatus, method and storage medium of the present invention will be described. The image printing apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to a printer.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a printer according to a first embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes an input unit for inputting a user's print instruction and the like. The print instruction unit 12 is a memory card 1
7 instructs to print the image stored in the captured image storage unit 20 in accordance with the contents described in the print information storage unit 18.

The printing section 13 includes a motor for moving the head, feeding the paper, and the like, a print head for printing, and the like, and performs a printing process on the paper. The print control unit 14 controls the printing unit 13 to print according to the contents of the print information storage unit 18. The display unit 15 displays the occurrence of an error in the printer.

The memory card connection unit 16 is attached to a camera or the like, and connects a memory card storing a photographed image and print information relating to the photographed image to a printer.

The memory card 17 is a detachable memory card type information storage means, in which a photographed image storage section 20 for storing photographed images and a print information storage section for storing print information relating to the stored images. A print frequency storage unit 19 is provided inside the print information storage unit 18 and stores the number of times of printing of each image file designated to be printed by the print information storage unit 18.

The number-of-prints setting section 21 includes a print information storage section 1.
According to the contents stored in the storage card 8, the result of counting the number of times the image file in the photographed image storage unit 20 has been printed by the print counter 22 is stored in the print information storage unit 18 provided in the memory card 17. It is stored in the print count storage unit 19.

The print number counting section 22 includes a print information storage section 1.
The number of times of printing of each image described in 8 is counted and passed to the number-of-prints setting unit 21 as necessary.

The number-of-prints determination unit 23 includes a number-of-prints storage unit 1
9 is determined. The storage unit 24 stores images and various information on a memory card.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printer. Printer is CPU1, ROM2, RAM
3, a panel unit 4, a card reading unit 5, a printer driver 6, and a printer unit 7. The panel unit 4 has the functions of an input unit 11 and a print instruction unit 12. The card reading unit 5 has a function of the memory card connection unit 16. Further, a print number setting unit 21, a print number counting unit 22, and a print number determination unit 2
The function of each unit of 3 is realized by the CPU 1 executing a program stored in the ROM 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of an image file stored in the memory card 17. Here, a list of stored image files is shown in a directory format. Nine images are stored in the captured image storage unit 20 of the memory card 17 under the IMG directory.

FIG. 4 is a view showing print information stored in the print information storage section 18 of the memory card 17. Each print information is constituted by a unit called JOB, and the number of prints, a print image, and the like are set for each JOB.

Since the print image is stored in the format shown in FIG. 3, it is designated by a full path as shown in the item "print image" in the figure. The item “print count” corresponds to the print count storage unit 19 and holds the print count of the corresponding job image. The number of times of printing is set in the
1 is updated according to the number of times of printing. Here, FIG.
As shown in (1), there are three JOBs in print units, and the settings are made so as to print the contents of each item.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a normal print processing procedure. This processing program is stored in the ROM 2 and executed by the CPU 1. First, when printing of an image file on the memory card 17 is instructed by the print instructing unit 12, the set print information stored in the print information storage unit 18 in the memory card 17 is read (step S41). This print information is stored in the format shown in FIG. 4 as described above.

The read print information is searched to determine whether there is a job to be processed next (step S4).
2). When all stored JOBs are processed,
If there is no job to be processed, the process is terminated.

On the other hand, the JO to be processed next in step S42
If there is B, information about the current job is read (step S43). The image file stored in the item of “print image” in the job is called from the memory card 17 (step S44).

It is determined whether or not the designated image has been read (step S45). If reading of the specified image fails, error processing is performed (step S4).
8), end the process. On the other hand, when the specified image is normally read from the memory card 17, the read image is stored in the storage unit 24. The image file stored here is to be printed.

When the reading is completed, the read image is printed for the number of copies specified in the item of "number of copies" of the job (step S46). When printing is completed, the number of times of printing stored in the number-of-prints storage unit 19 is calculated by the number-of-prints counting unit 22, and as a result, the value is increased by 1 (step S47). That is, the “print count” of the job
Is increased by "1". In the job 1 shown in FIG. 4, the number of times of printing is 0, that is, no printing has been performed, and it can be seen that printing has been performed once with the value of 1 after printing. This process is performed for all the jobs in the print information storage unit 18 in the memory card 17.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another print processing procedure. This processing program is stored in the ROM 2 and executed by the CPU 1. The case where only the image that has not been printed so far is printed using the number of times of printing as print information will be described.

The print instruction unit 12 controls the memory card 17
When the print of the above image file is instructed, the set print information stored in the print information storage unit 18 in the memory card 17 is read (step S51). This print information is stored in the format shown in FIG. The read print information is searched to determine whether there is a job to be processed next (step S52). When there is no job to be processed further, such as when all the stored jobs have been processed, the processing is terminated.

On the other hand, if there is a job to be processed next, information on the current job is read (step S5).
3). The “print count” item in the job is set to the print count determination unit 2
The determination is made in step 3 (step S54). Here, it is determined whether or not the number of times of printing is the value 0, that is, whether or not this job has already been printed. If the number of times of printing is 0, since the image of this job has not been printed yet, the processing after step S55 is performed.

On the other hand, if the number of times of printing is larger than 0, since printing has already been performed, the printing process for that job is skipped, and the process returns to step S52 to perform the next job. That is, since the number of times of printing is 0 in JOB1 and JOB3 of FIG. 4, printing is performed in this process. However, in JOB2, since the number of times of printing is the value 1, this process is skipped and the printing process is not performed.

The image file stored in the "print image" item in the job is called from the memory card 17 (step S55). It is determined whether the reading of the specified image has failed (step S56). If the reading of the image has failed, error processing is performed (step S59), and the processing ends. On the other hand, when the designated image is normally read from the memory card 17, the read image is stored in the storage unit 2.
4 is stored. The image file stored here is to be printed.

When the reading of the image is completed, the read image is printed in the number of copies specified in the item of "number of copies" of the job (step S57). When you finish printing,
The number of times of printing stored in the number-of-prints storage unit 19 is calculated by the number-of-prints counting unit 22, and as a result, the value is increased by 1 (step S58). That is, the value registered in the item of “number of prints” of the job in FIG. 4 is increased by “1”. In the job 1 of FIG. 4, the “print count” has a value of 0, that is, no printing has been performed. However, after printing is completed, the value has become 1 and it can be seen that printing has been performed once. This process is performed for all the jobs in the print information storage unit 18 in the memory card 17.

As described above, in the first embodiment, since the number of times of printing of each image to be printed is stored in the print instruction file on the memory card, only the images which have not been printed by the printer are printed. For example, control based on the number of times of printing can be performed.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a printer according to a second embodiment. In the figure, the configuration from 61 to 74 corresponds to the configuration from 11 to 24 in FIG.
It is equivalent to the configuration up to.

In the second embodiment, the normal printing determination section 75
Is included in the configuration of the printer. Normal print determination unit 75
Is provided in the print control unit 64 and determines whether or not printing has been correctly completed by the printing unit 63. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing unit such as a printer includes a sensor or the like inside thereof, detects occurrence of an error state such as incorrect supply / discharge of a sheet, and notifies the host computer of the occurrence. In the present embodiment, an error state detected by the printing unit 63 is sent to the printing control unit 64, and
The information is determined by the normal printing determination unit 75.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the printing procedure. This processing program is stored in the ROM 2 and executed by the CPU 1. In the figure, step S7
The processing in steps 1 to S76 is the same as the processing in steps S41 to S46 in FIG.

The printing process of the image specified in step S76 is performed, and it is determined by the normal printing determining unit 75 whether or not the printing is normally completed (step S77). The determination of normal termination is made based on whether or not error information is sent from the printing unit 63.

When it is determined by the normal end determination section 75 that the printing has been completed normally, the number-of-prints data is incremented by 1 by the number-of-prints counting section 72, and the value is incremented by the number-of-prints setting section 71 to indicate the “print number” of the corresponding JOB. Store in item. On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S77 that the job has been completed normally, the process returns to step S72 without increasing the number of times of printing, and performs the next job.

As described above, in the second embodiment, when the normal printing is not performed, the number of times of printing is not increased. Therefore, when the printing process based on the number of times of printing is performed, the processing can be appropriately performed.

In the above embodiment, the number of prints is counted on the printer side, and the value of the print count storage section of the memory card is updated using the counted number of prints. The memory card may have a function of counting the number of times of printing and updating the number of times of printing with the counted number of times of printing.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices, or may be applied to a device composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading out a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into a system or an apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a memory map of a ROM as a storage medium. FIG. 9 stores the print processing program module shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the print processing program module shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, and the print processing program module shown in the flowchart of FIG.

As a storage medium for supplying the program module, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, DVD, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, or the like can be used.

[0052]

According to the present invention, since the number of times of printing of each image to be printed is stored in the number-of-prints storage section of the memory card, only the images which have not been printed by the printer are printed. Control based on the number of times can be performed, appropriate operation of print information can be achieved, and operability can be improved.

In this way, it is possible to respond to a user's request, for example, to print only an image that has not been printed to date.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a printer according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image file stored in a memory card 17;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing print information stored in a print information storage section 18 of the memory card 17;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a normal print processing procedure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another print processing procedure.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a printer according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a print processing procedure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a memory map of a ROM as a storage medium.

[Description of Signs] 1 CPU 2 ROM 12 Print instruction unit 13 Printing unit 14 Print control unit 15 Display unit 17 Memory card 18 Print information storage unit 19 Print count storage unit 20 Captured image storage unit 21 Print count setting unit 22 Print count count Unit 23 Number of prints determination unit 24 Storage unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus which reads out print information from a recording medium on which print information of the image is recorded together with the image and prints the image, a print information storage unit on the recording medium on which the print information is recorded. A printing number storage unit for storing the number of times of printing of the image is provided, and control means for controlling printing of the image based on the number of printing times stored in the number of printing times storage unit is provided. Printing device. 2. A counting means for counting the number of times of printing of an image printed in accordance with the print information; and an updating means for updating the number of times of printing stored in the number of times of printing using the counted number of times of printing. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a print determination unit configured to determine whether the printing has been performed normally, and when the printing is determined to be performed normally, the counting unit counts the number of times of printing. Printing equipment. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit prints only an unprinted image. 5. The printing medium according to claim 1, wherein said recording medium includes a counting unit that counts the number of times of printing of the image printed according to a printing result from the printing apparatus, and is stored in the printing number storage unit using the counted number of times of printing. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an updating unit that updates the number of times of printing. 6. A printing method for reading the print information from a recording medium on which the print information of the image is recorded together with the image and printing the image, a print information storage unit on the recording medium on which the print information is recorded. Providing a print count storage unit in which the print count of the image is stored, and counting the print count of the image printed in accordance with the print information; and storing the print count by using the counted print count. A printing method for updating the number of times of printing stored in the printing number storage unit, and controlling printing of the image based on the number of times of printing stored in the printing number storage unit. 7. A storage medium which is executed by a computer and stores a program for reading the print information from a recording medium on which the print information of the image is recorded together with the image and printing the image, wherein the print information is recorded. A print information storage unit on the recording medium, wherein a print count storage unit in which the print count of the image is stored is provided, and the program counts the print count of the image printed in accordance with the print information. Updating the number of times of printing stored in the number-of-prints storage unit using the counted number of times of printing; and controlling printing of the image based on the number of times of printing stored in the number-of-prints storage unit. A storage medium comprising: