JP2001218140A - Print system, printer, receiver and print method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital broadcast print system that receives a digital broadcast program, easily prints out an image of the digital broadcast program or the like on the basis of its digital signal and prints out the image of the received digital broadcast program when required. SOLUTION: A receiver 2 receiving image data of a digital broadcast program transfers the image data without modification to its digital data to a printer 4 and stores the data into a print RAM section 32 of the printer 4. In the case of printing out the image, a print image recording and reproducing section 33 records the image data stored in the print RAM 32 to a recording medium and an image print section 35 prints out the image of the image data. Or the print image recording and reproducing section 33 reproduces the image data from the recording medium and the image print section 35 prints out the image in accordance with the image data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing apparatus, a receiving apparatus, and a printing method compatible with digital broadcasting and capable of printing television images and the like based on digital signals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art NTSC, PAL, SECAM, HDT
In order to print television images of various types such as V as they are, it is necessary to receive and print video frames that are refreshed at a cycle of 50 Hz or 60 Hz. Conventionally, a printing apparatus called a color video printer has been used for printing such a television image. Examples of color video printers include UP-2800 and UP-7200 manufactured and sold by Sony Corporation.
And the like. The color video printer receives an analog signal of a television image and performs A / D conversion in the printing apparatus. Then, the image data obtained by the A / D conversion is stored in the memory, and an image is printed based on the image data.

[0003]

In a conventional color video printer, an A / D converter and a memory having a frequency band of a video signal are provided in the printer, so that the price is extremely high. Further, since printing is performed based on an analog signal, there is a problem that image deterioration is likely to occur.

[0004] In television broadcasting, digital broadcasting has been performed in place of conventional analog broadcasting. However, conventional color video printers
It is designed to print based on analog signals and does not support digital broadcasting.

In a conventional color video printer,
If another image is printed after the printing of one image is completed, the contents of the memory will be rewritten with the data of another image. Could not be printed again.

[0006] The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and is capable of printing television images and the like based on digital signals in correspondence with digital broadcasting. Save the image data to be printed,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system, a printing device, a receiving device, and a printing method that enable the image to be printed as many times as necessary.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A printing system according to the present invention is a printing system including a receiving device for receiving a digital broadcast and a printing device for printing an image of the digital broadcast received by the receiving device. . In the printing system, the receiving device includes a receiving unit that receives the digital broadcast, and a transfer unit that transfers the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving device to the printing device. In this printing system,
The printing unit temporarily stores the digital image data transferred by the transfer unit of the receiving device, and records the digital image data temporarily stored in the image data holding unit on a recording medium. Or, an image data recording / reproducing unit for reproducing digital image data recorded on a recording medium and temporarily storing the digital image data in an image data holding unit, and temporarily transferred to the image data holding unit by the transfer unit of the receiving device. A printing unit for printing an image based on the held digital image data or digital image data reproduced from the recording medium by the image data recording / reproducing unit and temporarily stored in the image data retaining unit. ing.

When printing a digital broadcast image by the printing system according to the present invention, first, the receiving means of the receiving apparatus receives the digital broadcast. Then, the transfer unit of the receiving device transfers the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving unit to the printing device.

The digital image data transferred to the printing device by the transfer device of the receiving device is temporarily held by the image data holding device of the printing device. Then, the image data recording / reproducing means of the printing apparatus records digital image data temporarily held in the image data holding means on a recording medium, or records the digital image data on the recording medium in accordance with an instruction from the user. The digital image data is reproduced and temporarily stored in the image data holding means.

That is, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the transferred digital image data is issued from the transfer unit of the receiving device, the image data recording / reproducing unit of the printing device transmits the image data from the transfer unit of the receiving device. Then, the digital image data temporarily held in the image data holding means of the printing apparatus is recorded on a recording medium. At this time, the digital image data transferred from the transfer unit of the receiving device is still held in the image data holding unit of the printing device.

On the other hand, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium is given, the image data recording / reproducing means of the printing apparatus causes the digital image recording apparatus to record the digital image recorded on the recording medium. The data is reproduced from the recording medium, and the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium is stored in the image data storing unit. Therefore, in this case, the contents of the image data holding means of the printing apparatus are rewritten with digital image data reproduced from the recording medium.

When the recording operation or the reproducing operation by the image data recording / reproducing means of the printing apparatus is completed, the printing means of the printing apparatus sends a command from the user based on the digital image data held in the image data holding means of the printing apparatus. Print the image according to the instruction.

That is, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the transferred digital image data is issued from the transfer unit of the receiving device, the image data holding unit of the printing device is transferred from the transfer unit of the receiving device. Since the stored digital image data is held, the printing unit of the printing device prints an image based on the digital image data transferred from the transfer unit of the receiving device. Thus, an image corresponding to the digital image data transferred from the transfer unit of the receiving device is printed.

On the other hand, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium is given, the content of the image data holding means of the printing apparatus is changed to the digital image reproduced from the recording medium. Since the data has been rewritten, the printing means of the printing apparatus prints an image based on the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium. Thereby, an image corresponding to the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium is printed.

As described above, in the printing system according to the present invention, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from the reception of the digital broadcast to the printing of the image, there is no deterioration in the image quality and the A / D A converter can be omitted, and the system can be configured at low cost.

In the printing system according to the present invention, when printing an image corresponding to digital broadcast digital image data received by the receiving means of the receiving apparatus and transferred from the transferring means of the receiving apparatus, The image data recording / reproducing means records the digital image data on a recording medium and reproduces the data from the recording medium as necessary. Can be printed.

In this printing system, the receiving device includes image data holding means for temporarily holding digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means, and the transfer means of the receiving apparatus uses The digital image data held in the image data holding means may be transferred to the printing apparatus. In this case, the digital image data temporarily stored in the image data holding unit of the receiving device is copied to the image data holding unit of the printing device.

In this printing system, the receiving apparatus further includes another image data holding means for temporarily holding the same digital image data as the digital image data held in the image data holding means of the receiving apparatus. The transfer means of the apparatus may transfer the digital image data held in another image data holding means of the receiving apparatus to the printing apparatus. In this case, the digital image data temporarily stored in another image data holding unit of the receiving device is copied to the image data holding unit of the printing device.

Further, in this printing system, the receiving apparatus is provided with image data processing means for performing processing for writing digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means into the image data holding means of the receiving apparatus. You may.

In this printing system, the receiving device writes the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving device into both the image data holding device of the receiving device and the other image data holding device of the receiving device. May be provided.

In this printing system, the printing apparatus performs processing for writing digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means of the receiving apparatus into the image data holding means of the printing apparatus. May be provided. In this case, the digital image data received by the receiving unit of the receiving device and transferred by the transferring unit of the receiving device and the digital image data received by the receiving unit of the receiving device and processed by the image data processing unit of the printing device By combining the data with the printing device and storing the combined digital image data in the image data holding unit of the printing device, an image corresponding to the combined digital image data is printed by the printing unit of the printing device. Can be printed.

Further, another printing system according to the present invention comprises:
A printing system includes a receiving device that receives a digital broadcast and a printing device that prints an image of the digital broadcast received by the receiving device. In the printing system, the receiving device includes a receiving unit that receives the digital broadcast, an image data holding unit that temporarily holds digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving unit, and the image data holding unit. An image data recording / reproducing means for recording digital image data temporarily stored in a recording medium, or reproducing digital image data recorded on a recording medium and temporarily storing the digital image data in an image data holding means. , Digital image data received by the receiving means and temporarily held in the image data holding means, or
Transfer means for transferring digital image data reproduced from the recording medium by the image data recording and reproducing means and temporarily stored in the image data storing means to the printing apparatus. In the printing system, the printing unit includes a printing unit that prints an image based on the digital image data transferred by the transfer unit of the receiving device.

When printing a digital broadcast image by another printing system according to the present invention, first, the receiving means of the receiving apparatus receives the digital broadcast. The digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving unit is temporarily held by the image data holding unit of the receiving device. Then, the image data recording / reproducing means of the receiving apparatus records the digital image data temporarily held in the image data holding means on a recording medium, or records the digital image data on the recording medium in accordance with an instruction from the user. The digital image data is reproduced and temporarily stored in the image data holding means.

That is, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to digital image data of a digital broadcast received by the receiving device of the receiving device is issued, the image data recording / reproducing device of the receiving device transmits the received image to the receiving device. The digital image data received by the means and temporarily held in the image data holding means of the receiving device is recorded on a recording medium. At this time, the digital image data received by the receiving unit of the receiving device is still held in the image data holding unit of the receiving device.

On the other hand, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium is given, the image data recording / reproducing means of the receiving apparatus causes the digital data recorded on the recording medium to be reproduced. The data is reproduced from the recording medium, and the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium is stored in the image data storing unit. Therefore, in this case, the content of the image data holding means of the receiving device is rewritten to digital image data reproduced from the recording medium.

When the recording operation or the reproducing operation by the image data recording / reproducing means of the receiving apparatus is completed, the transfer means of the receiving apparatus transfers the digital image data held in the image data holding means of the receiving apparatus to the printing apparatus.

That is, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means of the receiving apparatus is issued, the receiving means of the receiving apparatus is provided in the image data holding means of the receiving apparatus. Since the digital image data received by the receiving device is held, the transfer unit of the receiving device transfers the digital image data received by the receiving unit of the receiving device to the printing device.

On the other hand, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium is given, the content of the image data holding means of the receiving apparatus is changed to the digital image reproduced from the recording medium. Since the data has been rewritten, the transfer means of the receiving device transfers the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium to the printing device.

When the digital image data is transferred to the printing device by the transfer device of the receiving device, the printing device of the printing device responds to an instruction from the user based on the digital image data transferred by the transferring device of the receiving device. Print the corresponding image.

That is, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means of the receiving apparatus is issued, the printing apparatus receives the digital image received by the receiving means of the receiving apparatus. Since the digital image data of the broadcast is transferred, the printing unit of the printing device prints an image based on the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving unit of the receiving device. Thus, an image corresponding to the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving unit of the receiving device is printed.

On the other hand, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium is given, the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium is transferred to the printing apparatus. The printing unit of the printing apparatus prints an image based on the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium. Thereby, an image corresponding to the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium is printed.

As described above, in the other printing system according to the present invention, the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception of the digital broadcast to printing of the image.
There is no deterioration in image quality, and an A / D converter or the like is not required, so that the system can be configured at low cost.

In another printing system according to the present invention, when printing an image corresponding to digital image data of a digital broadcast received by the receiving device of the receiving device, the image data recording / reproducing device of the receiving device is used. Since the digital image data is recorded on a recording medium and reproduced from the recording medium as necessary, an image corresponding to the digital image data can be printed as many times as necessary.

[0034] In this printing system, the printing apparatus may be provided with image data holding means for temporarily holding digital image data transferred by the transfer means of the receiving apparatus. In this case, the digital image data temporarily stored in the image data holding unit of the receiving device is copied to the image data holding unit of the printing device.

In this printing system, the receiving apparatus further includes another image data holding means for temporarily holding the same digital image data as the digital image data held in the image data holding means of the receiving apparatus; The transfer device of the receiving device may transfer the digital image data held in another image data holding device of the receiving device to the printing device. In this case, the digital image data temporarily stored in another image data holding unit of the receiving device is copied to the image data holding unit of the printing device.

[0036] In this printing system, the receiving apparatus may include image data processing means for performing processing for writing digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means into the image data holding means of the receiving apparatus. It may be.

Further, in this printing system, the receiving device transmits the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving device to both the image data holding device of the receiving device and another image data holding device of the receiving device. Other image data processing means for performing a process for writing to the image data may be provided.

Further, in this printing system, the printing apparatus performs processing for writing digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means of the receiving apparatus into the image data holding means of the printing apparatus. May be provided. In this case, the digital image data received by the receiving means of the receiving apparatus or reproduced from the recording medium by the image data recording / reproducing means of the receiving apparatus and transferred by the transferring means of the receiving apparatus, and the receiving means of the receiving apparatus By combining the digital image data received by the printer device and the digital image data processed by the image data processing means of the printing apparatus in the printing apparatus, and holding the combined digital image data in the image data holding means of the printing apparatus, An image corresponding to the synthesized digital image data can be printed by the printing unit of the printing apparatus.

A printing device according to the present invention is a printing device for printing an image of a digital broadcast received by a receiving device, and the digital image of the digital broadcast received by the receiving device and transferred to the printing device. Image data holding means for temporarily holding data, and digital image data temporarily held in the image data holding means are recorded on a recording medium, or digital image data recorded on the recording medium is reproduced. Image data recording / reproducing means for temporarily storing the image data in the image data retaining means, and digital image data transferred to the printing apparatus and temporarily stored in the image data retaining means, or the image data recording / reproducing means. Printing means for printing an image based on the digital image data reproduced from the medium and temporarily held in the image data holding means. Eteiru.

When printing a digital broadcast image by the printing apparatus according to the present invention, first, digital image data of the digital broadcast transferred from the receiving apparatus is temporarily held by the image data holding means. Then, the image data recording / reproducing means records the digital image data temporarily stored in the image data holding means on a recording medium in accordance with an instruction from the user, or the digital data recorded on the recording medium. The image data is reproduced and temporarily held in the image data holding means.

That is, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data transferred from the receiving apparatus is given, the image data recording / reproducing means is transferred from the receiving apparatus and temporarily stored in the image data holding means. The digital image data stored in the storage device is recorded on a recording medium. At this time, the image data holding means keeps holding the digital image data transferred from the receiving device.

On the other hand, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium is given, the image data recording / reproducing means records the digital image data recorded on the recording medium. The image data is reproduced from the medium, and the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium is stored in the image data storing unit. Therefore, in this case,
The content of the image data holding means is rewritten to digital image data reproduced from the recording medium.

When the recording operation or the reproducing operation by the image data recording / reproducing means is completed, the printing means prints an image according to an instruction from the user based on the digital image data held in the image data holding means. .

That is, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data transferred from the receiving apparatus is given, the image data holding means holds the digital image data transferred from the transferring means of the receiving apparatus. The printing means prints an image based on the digital image data transferred from the receiving device. Thus, an image corresponding to the digital image data transferred from the receiving device is printed.

On the other hand, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium is given, the contents of the image data holding means are rewritten to digital image data reproduced from the recording medium. The printing means prints an image based on the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium. Thereby, an image corresponding to the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium is printed.

As described above, in the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving apparatus is received as a digital signal, and the printing process is performed without changing the digital signal. The A / D converter and the like are not required, and the entire apparatus can be configured at low cost.

In the printing apparatus according to the present invention,
When printing an image corresponding to the digital image data of the digital broadcast transferred from the receiving device, the image data recording and reproducing means records the digital image data on a recording medium,
Since the image is reproduced from the recording medium as needed, an image corresponding to the digital image data can be printed as many times as necessary.

Another printing device according to the present invention is a printing device for printing a received digital broadcast image,
Receiving means for receiving a digital broadcast, image data holding means for temporarily holding digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means, and digital image data temporarily held in the image data holding means Is recorded on a recording medium, or image data recording / reproducing means for reproducing digital image data recorded on the recording medium and temporarily retaining the image data in the image data retaining means; Printing means for printing an image based on digital image data temporarily stored or digital image data reproduced from a recording medium by the image data recording and reproducing means and temporarily stored in the image data storing means ing.

When printing an image of a digital broadcast by another printing apparatus according to the present invention, first, the receiving means receives the digital broadcast. The digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means is temporarily held by the image data holding means. Then, the image data recording / reproducing means records the digital image data temporarily stored in the image data holding means on a recording medium in accordance with an instruction from the user, or the digital data recorded on the recording medium. The image data is reproduced and temporarily held in the image data holding means.

That is, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means is given, the image data recording / reproducing means receives the image data by the receiving means, The digital image data temporarily stored in the storage medium. At this time, the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means is still held in the image data holding means.

On the other hand, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium is given, the image data recording / reproducing means records the digital image data recorded on the recording medium. The image data is reproduced from the medium, and the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium is stored in the image data storing unit. Therefore, in this case,
The content of the image data holding means is rewritten to digital image data reproduced from the recording medium.

When the recording operation or the reproducing operation by the image data recording / reproducing means is completed, the printing means prints an image according to the instruction from the user based on the digital image data held in the image data holding means. .

That is, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means is issued, the digital data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means is stored in the image data holding means. Since the data is held, the printing unit prints an image based on the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving unit. Thus, an image corresponding to the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means is printed.

On the other hand, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium is given, the contents of the image data holding means are rewritten to digital image data reproduced from the recording medium. The printing means prints an image based on the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium. Thereby, an image corresponding to the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium is printed.

As described above, in the other printing apparatus according to the present invention, the image data is handled as a digital signal from the reception of the digital broadcast to the printing of the image, so that the image quality is not degraded. By eliminating the need for a / D converter or the like, the system can be configured at low cost.

Further, in another printing apparatus according to the present invention, when printing an image corresponding to digital image data of a digital broadcast received by the receiving means, the image data recording / reproducing means prints the digital image data. Since the image is recorded on the recording medium and reproduced from the recording medium as necessary, the image corresponding to the digital image data can be printed as many times as necessary.

A receiving apparatus according to the present invention is a receiving apparatus for receiving a digital broadcast and transferring image data of the digital broadcast to a printing apparatus, wherein the receiving means receives the digital broadcast, and the receiving means comprises: Image data holding means for temporarily holding digital image data of a received digital broadcast, and digital image data temporarily held in the image data holding means recorded on a recording medium, or recorded on a recording medium Image data recording / reproducing means for reproducing digital image data which has been stored and temporarily storing the image data in the image data holding means, and digital image data or image data received / received by the receiving means and held in the image data holding means. Means for transferring digital image data reproduced from the recording medium by the means and held in the image data holding means to the printing apparatus. And a means.

When transferring digital image data of an image to be printed by the receiving apparatus according to the present invention to the printing apparatus, first, the receiving means receives a digital broadcast. The digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means is temporarily held by the image data holding means.
Then, the image data recording / reproducing means records the digital image data temporarily stored in the image data holding means on a recording medium in accordance with an instruction from the user, or the digital data recorded on the recording medium. The image data is reproduced and temporarily held in the image data holding means.

That is, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means is given, the image data recording / reproducing means receives the image data by the receiving means, and stores the image data holding means. The digital image data temporarily stored in the storage medium. At this time, the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means is still held in the image data holding means.

On the other hand, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium is given, the image data recording / reproducing means records the digital image data recorded on the recording medium. The image data is reproduced from the medium, and the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium is stored in the image data storing unit. Therefore, in this case,
The content of the image data holding means is rewritten to digital image data reproduced from the recording medium.

When the recording operation or the reproducing operation by the image data recording / reproducing means is completed, the transfer means transfers the digital image data held in the image data holding means to the printing device.

That is, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means is issued, the image data holding means holds the digital image data received by the receiving means. The transfer means transfers the digital image data received by the receiving means to the printing device.

On the other hand, when an instruction to print an image corresponding to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium is given, the contents of the image data holding means are rewritten to digital image data reproduced from the recording medium. The transfer means transfers the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium to the printing apparatus.

Thus, the printing apparatus which has received the digital image data transferred from the receiving apparatus according to the present invention,
The image according to the instruction from the user is printed.

As described above, in the receiving apparatus according to the present invention, the image data is handled as a digital signal from the reception of the digital broadcast to the transfer of the digital image data of the image to be printed to the printing apparatus. There is no deterioration in image quality, and an A / D converter or the like is not required, so that the system can be configured at low cost.

In the receiving apparatus according to the present invention,
When transferring the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means to the printing apparatus, the image data recording and reproducing means records the digital image data on a recording medium,
Since the image is reproduced from the recording medium as needed, the image corresponding to the digital image data can be transferred to the printing apparatus as many times as necessary.

Further, according to the printing method of the present invention, when the digital broadcast image received by the receiving device is printed by the printing device, the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving device is transferred to the printing device. The digital image data transferred from the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus is temporarily stored in the image data holding section provided in the printing apparatus, and when an instruction to print the image is issued, the image data holding section temporarily stores the digital image data. Digital image data stored in
The image data is recorded on the recording medium by the image data recording / reproducing means provided in the printing apparatus, and based on the digital image data temporarily held in the image data holding means, the image is printed by the printing means provided in the printing apparatus. The digital image data recorded on the recording medium is printed or reproduced by the image data recording / reproducing means and temporarily stored in the image data holding means, and the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the image data recording / reproducing means is reproduced. An image is printed by the printing unit based on the digital image data temporarily stored in the holding unit.

According to the printing method of the present invention, the image data is handled as a digital signal from the reception of the digital broadcast to the printing of the image. Since a D converter or the like is not required, image printing can be performed at low cost.

In the printing method according to the present invention,
When printing an image corresponding to digital broadcast digital image data received by the receiving unit of the receiving device and transferred from the transferring unit of the receiving device, the image data recording / reproducing unit of the printing device records the digital image data. Since the image is recorded on a medium and reproduced from the recording medium as needed, an image corresponding to the digital image data can be printed as many times as necessary.

In another printing method according to the present invention, when a digital broadcast image received by a receiving device is printed by a printing device, digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving device is provided in the receiving device. The digital image data temporarily held in the image data holding means is temporarily stored in the received image data holding means, and when an instruction to print the image is issued, the image data provided in the receiving apparatus The digital image data recorded on the recording medium by the data recording / reproducing means and the digital image data temporarily stored in the image data retaining means are transferred to the printing apparatus, or the digital image data recorded on the recording medium by the image data recording / reproducing means is recorded. The image data is reproduced and temporarily stored in the image data holding means, and reproduced from the recording medium by the image data recording and reproducing means. The digital image data temporarily held in the image data holding means is transferred to the printing apparatus, and the printing means provided in the printing apparatus prints an image based on the digital image data transferred from the receiving apparatus. ing.

According to another printing method according to the present invention,
Since the image data is handled as a digital signal from the reception of the digital broadcast to the printing of the image, the deterioration of the image quality can be suppressed, and the A / D converter and the like are not required. Can be performed at low cost.

In another printing method according to the present invention, when printing an image corresponding to digital image data of a digital broadcast received by the receiving means of the receiving apparatus, the image data recording / reproducing means of the receiving apparatus is used. Since the digital image data is recorded on a recording medium and reproduced from the recording medium as necessary, an image corresponding to the digital image data can be printed as many times as necessary.

[0073]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a digital broadcast receiving device that receives a digital broadcast, a display device that displays an image of a digital broadcast received by the digital broadcast receiving device, and a digital broadcast that is received by the digital broadcast receiving device. A printing apparatus that prints broadcast images and a printing system in which each is configured as an individual apparatus and these are connected by a digital connection will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples. One in which the broadcast receiving device and the display device are configured as an integrated device, one in which the digital broadcast receiving device and the printing device are configured as an integrated device,
The present invention is also applicable to a device in which the display device and the printing device are configured as an integrated device, or a device in which the digital broadcast receiving device, the display device, and the printing device are configured as an integrated device.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a first configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

This digital broadcast printing system 1 A includes a digital broadcast receiving device 2, a display device 3 and a printing device 4, and receives a digital broadcast from a transmitting station by the digital broadcast receiving device 2. Then, the received digital broadcast image can be displayed on the display device 3 or printed by the printing device 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 includes a communication interface unit 11, an encoded information expanding unit 12, a drawing engine unit 13, and a video RAM unit 14.
, A display image interface unit 15, a display control interface unit 16, a processing control unit 17, and a print control interface unit 18.

The display device 3 includes a display image interface unit 21, a display image processing unit 22, and an image display unit 2.
3, a display control interface unit 24, and a display control unit 25.

The printing device 4 includes a display image interface unit 31, a print RAM unit 32, a print image recording / reproducing unit 33, a print image processing unit 34, and an image printing unit 35.
, Print control interface unit 36, print control unit 3
7 is provided.

The digital broadcast receiving device 2 is a so-called set-top box, and receives digital broadcast from a transmitting station. Here, the transmitting station combines moving image information, still image information, and the like created by a broadcasting station, a service provider, a content provider, and the like into a composite signal, and transmits the composite signal as digital broadcast. At this time, the transmitting station adds a scramble process to the digital broadcast as necessary to prevent information other than the subscriber from viewing the information.

The digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 may receive digital broadcasts by receiving terrestrial broadcasts by an antenna or by receiving radio waves from broadcast satellites or communication satellites by an antenna. Alternatively, reception may be performed using a network such as CATV, a telephone line, IEEE802.3 (Ethernet), IEEE1394, or USB.

In the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, the communication interface section 11 is a receiving means for receiving a digital broadcast from a transmitting station, and serves as an entrance of external information in the digital broadcast printing system 1A. Here, the communication interface unit 11 includes, for example, a reception interface for receiving a digital broadcast wave of a terrestrial wave or a digital broadcast wave from a broadcast satellite or a communication satellite in order to receive a digital broadcast from a transmitting station. Prepare. Alternatively, for example, a communication interface for receiving a digital broadcast via a CATV, a telephone line, a cable modem, or IEEE802.3 (Ethernet) is provided. Alternatively, for example, a device-to-device connection interface that receives digital broadcasts via IEEE 1394 or USB is provided.

This communication interface unit 11
As shown in FIG. 2, the tuner 41 includes a tuner 41 and an encryption / decryption unit 42. The tuner 41 performs selection control of a designated channel and separation of a modulated signal into a baseband wave. By 42, the scrambling process added on the transmitting station side is canceled. Then, from the communication interface unit 11, data obtained by canceling the scramble process by the encryption / decryption unit 42 is output. More specifically, from the communication interface unit 11, for example, MHEG, HTML,
Multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing encoded data such as MPEG, SGML, or Videotex is output.

The multiplexed data output from the communication interface unit 11 is sent to the encoded information expanding unit 12.
The encoded information expanding unit 12 performs a data conversion process to transfer the multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing the encoded data to the drawing engine unit 13.

As shown in FIG. 3, the encoding information expanding section 12 comprises a demultiplexer 51 for separating multiplexed data into respective data formats, and various decoders for analyzing and decoding each data format. Decoder group 5
2 is provided. In addition, a time synchronization processing unit 53 is provided for performing a time synchronization process necessary for performing a data separation process by the demultiplexer 51 and a decoding process by the decoder group 52.

The multiplexed data output from the communication interface unit 11 is input to the encoded information expanding unit 12. The multiplexed data is separated by the demultiplexer 51 into respective data formats (for example, MPEG data, MHEG data, HTML data, SGML data, Videotex data, etc.). Each data separated by the demultiplexer 51 is decoded by a corresponding decoder. The decoded data is passed to the drawing engine unit 13 as drawing processing data.

Here, the drawing processing data output from the encoding information expanding unit 12 is data converted so as to be processed by the drawing engine unit 13, and specifically, for example, the data of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. X Window System (X
-Windows system), data compatible with QuickDraw of Apple's Mac0S, Graphic Device Interface (GDI) of Microsoft's Windows95, etc.

The drawing processing data output from the encoded information developing unit 12 is sent to the drawing engine unit 13. The drawing engine unit 13 receives the drawing processing data from the encoding information expanding unit 12 and, based on the drawing processing data,
A process for drawing video information such as images and characters is performed on the video RAM unit 14 that holds image data for display.
That is, the drawing engine unit 13 includes the video RAM unit 14
In cooperation with the video RAM unit 14 to write video information such as images and characters into a frame memory provided in the video RAM unit 14.

The video RAM unit 14 is a data storage unit for storing image data for display, and is used for temporarily storing image data for each frame of an image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. It has a frame memory. Here, for example, a dual-port RAM is used as the frame memory. The content of this frame memory is rewritten every time data of the next frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 is sent.

The video RAM unit 14 includes a memory controller that controls writing of image data to the frame memory and reading of image data from the frame memory. The image data that has been subjected to the drawing processing by the drawing engine unit 13 is stored in the frame memory of the video RAM unit 14 for each screen data displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 under the control of the memory controller. And temporarily stored in the frame memory.

The video RAM section 14 displays the drawn image on the image display section 23 of the display device 3.
The image data written to the frame memory is
The image is output as a raster image having a predetermined frame frequency such as or 60 Hz. That is, the image data written in the frame memory is sequentially read from the frame memory under the control of the memory controller, and is output for each screen data displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

The digital broadcast printing system 1A
In order to print an image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as described later in detail,
The image data written in the frame memory of the AM unit 14 is transferred to the printing device 4 and copied to a printing RAM unit 32 provided inside the printing device 4.

The image data read from the video RAM unit 14 is sent to the display image interface unit 15. The display image interface unit 15 is an interface unit for transmitting a raster image information signal output from the video RAM unit 14 in a predetermined display mode such as interlace or progressive.

The digital broadcast printing system 1
In A, the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the display image interface unit 24 of the display device 3 are digitally connected at high speed, so that image data can be transmitted from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the display device 3 at high speed. Has been made. The display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the display image interface unit 24 of the display device 3 are, for example, GVIF,
PanelLink, FlatLink, FPDLin
k and so on.

Here, the transfer of the image data is controlled by the display control interface unit 16 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the display control interface unit 24 of the display device 3. That is, control signals are exchanged between the display control interface unit 16 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the display control interface unit 24 of the display device 3, and the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 transmits the control signal to the display device 3. The transmission of image data to the display image interface unit 21 is controlled. The display control interface unit 1 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
6 and the display control interface unit 24 of the display device 3 are, for example, DDC1 / 2B / 2AB, USB, IEEE
It is connected by E1394 or the like.

Upon receiving the image data, the display device 3 performs predetermined processing required for image display on the image data under the control of the display control unit 25, An image is displayed on the display unit 23. Here, the image display unit 23 includes, for example, a CRT display,
It comprises a plasma display, a liquid crystal display, a projector or the like.

The digital broadcast printing system 1A
In order to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 by the printing device 3, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 can be transferred to the printing device 4. It has been made like that.
The digital broadcast receiving device 2 includes a processing control unit 17 for controlling the transfer of such image data to the printing device 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the processing control unit 17 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 61 and a read only memory (R).
OM) 62 and random access memory (RAM) 63
And an input device 64 such as a keypad, which are connected to the bus 65. In the processing control unit 17, the central processing unit 61 constantly monitors the state of the input device 64. Then, when a print instruction from the user is input to the input device 64, the random access memory 63 is used as a work area and the read only memory 62 is used.
And instructs the print control unit 37 of the printing apparatus 4 to perform a printing operation.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1A,
The display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the display image interface unit 31 of the printing device 4
Are connected by a high-speed digital connection, and when printing an image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, the image data is transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 at a high speed. It has been done.

Here, when transferring image data from the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the printing apparatus 4, the image data is transferred between the print control interface section 18 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and the print control interface section 35 of the printing apparatus 4. Exchanges control signals. As a result, the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast
The transfer of image data to the display image interface unit 31 is controlled. The print control interface unit 35 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the print control interface unit 35 of the printing device 4 are, for example, IEEE 128
4, connected by USB, IEEE1394, I2C, etc.

The image data transferred to the display image interface unit 31 of the printing device 4 is written to a frame memory provided in the print RAM unit 32. That is, the image data stored in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is transferred to the printing device 4, and the image data is copied to the print RAM unit 32.

The print RAM unit 32 is a data storage unit for storing image data for printing, and includes a frame memory for temporarily storing the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2. Here, for example, a dual-port RAM is used as the frame memory. This frame memory, like the frame memory provided in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, has its contents each time data of the next frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 is transmitted. Will be rewritten.

The print RAM unit 32 includes a memory controller that controls writing of image data to the frame memory and reading of image data from the frame memory. Then, the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is written into a frame memory under the control of the memory controller, and is temporarily stored in the frame memory.

The digital broadcast printing system 1A
Then, the user issues an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 from the processing control unit 1.
7, the image data copied from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is printed under the control of the print control section 37. The image data is recorded on the recording medium provided in the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 of the device 4 and the image data is supplied to the print processing unit 34.

The print image recording / reproducing section 33 is for storing image data for printing, and includes a recording medium on which image data for printing is recorded / reproduced. Specifically, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 includes, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) having a hard disk as a recording medium, an MO drive having a magneto-optical disk as a recording medium, and a CD-R as a recording medium. C
DR drive, C with CD-RW as recording medium
It comprises a D-RW drive and the like.

This print image recording / reproducing section 33 is controlled by a print control section 37 in accordance with an instruction from a user.
The image data written in the print RAM unit 32, that is, the image data copied from the video RAM unit 14 is recorded on a recording medium.

The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 receives the instruction to print the image of the image data recorded on the recording medium from the user and inputs it to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. The image data recorded on the recording medium is reproduced under the control of the
Is written again. In this case, the print image is reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording and
The image data rewritten in the unit 32 is transferred to the display device 3. Then, the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 displays
An image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is displayed. Thereby, the user can check the image to be printed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

The print image processing section 34 performs predetermined processing required for image printing on the image data from the print RAM section 32 under the control of the print control section 37. Then, the image data that has been subjected to predetermined processing required for image printing is supplied from the print image processing unit 34 to the image printing unit 35, and the image printing unit 35 prints an image corresponding to the image data.

Here, the image printing unit 35 is provided, for example, as shown in FIG.
And a monochrome laser printer having a configuration as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing the circuit configuration of the laser printer, and FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the mechanical configuration of the laser printer.

The image data input to the laser printer shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 passes through a high-speed bus 70 and is converted from the image data into a laser output signal by a synchronous memory 71, a laser control circuit 72, and a laser driver 73. A laser beam corresponding to the image data is output from a laser output unit 74 controlled by a laser driver 73.

The laser light output from the laser output unit 74 is reflected by a polygon mirror 77 rotated and driven by a polygon mirror driving motor 76 controlled by a polygon motor driver 75, and passes through a lens 78 and a reflection mirror 79. The surface of the photosensitive drum 80 is scanned linearly.

The photosensitive drum 80 includes a motor driver 81
Is rotated by the drum driving motor 82 controlled by the scanning direction of the laser beam as a rotation axis. The photosensitive drum 80 is driven by the charger driver 83 in accordance with the rotation.
Is charged by a charging charger 84 controlled by the charging device. By scanning the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 80 with the laser light, a latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 80. Then, toner is supplied to the latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 80 by the developing device 85, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 80.

When the toner image reaches a portion facing the transfer charger 86 controlled by the charger driver 83 with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 80, the toner image is carried by the conveying rollers 87 and 88 from a paper cassette unit (not shown). The image is transferred to paper 89. Thereafter, the paper 89 onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed by a conveying roller or the like on a paper path (not shown), fixed by a fixing device (not shown), discharged outside the machine, and printing is completed.

The image printing section 34 may be other than the laser printer as long as it can print image data. For example, a thermal printer,
It may be composed of a thermal transfer printer, a sublimation printer, an ink jet printer, or the like. Further, any of a printer that performs monochrome printing and a printer that performs color printing may be used.

Here, the operation of the digital broadcast printing system 1A configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the digital broadcast printing system 1A, the interface between the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the display device 3 is a high-speed digital connection.
Is transferred to the printing device 4 from the high-speed digital connection, and the image data held in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is copied to the printing RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4. It has been made like that.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1A,
As shown in FIG. 7, first, in step S1-1,
Communication interface section 11 of digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2
As a result, a digital broadcast is received.

Next, in step S1-2, the digital broadcast image data received by the communication interface section 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is processed by the coded information developing section 12 and the drawing engine section 13, and is processed by the display device. 3 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
The data is written to the video RAM unit 14.

The image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 (Step S1-
3). The image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is also transferred to the printing device 4 via the high-speed digital connection, and is copied to the printing RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4 (Step S1-4).

As long as the user does not issue a print instruction, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. The image is displayed on the section 23 as needed, and the contents of the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 are updated as needed.

At this time, as shown in step S1-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
The processing of 1-2 and S1-3 is repeated, and the updating of the video RAM unit 14 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, when the print instruction is input device 6
If the number has been input to step S4, the process proceeds to step S1-6.

In step S 1-6, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing section 33 by a print instruction from the user, and It is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the instruction or an instruction to print an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23. If it is determined in step S1-6 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23, the process proceeds to step S1-6.
1-7, and in this step S1-7, print RA of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is performed.
Copying to the M section 32 is stopped, and updating of the print RAM section 32 is stopped.

When the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped,
Next, in step S1-8, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium. At this time, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 into a plurality of data units (region division), and records each region on a recording medium in an area division recording mode. One of the normal recording modes in which image data is recorded on a recording medium without performing area division is selected, and the image data is recorded on the recording medium.

Next, in step S1-9, the print image processing unit 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32, and the image printing unit 35 Is generated.
That is, since the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 is RGB data created for image display,
In step S1-9, the image data is subjected to a resolution conversion process, a color conversion process, and a halftoning process to obtain image data for printing. When printing in monochrome, first, the luminance Y obtained by the following equation (1) is obtained from the RGB data, and the data processing in step S1-9 is performed on the luminance Y data.

Y = 0.2126R + 0.7152G + 0.0722B (1) The data processing in step S1-9 will be specifically described. First, the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 is processed by the printing device 4 The resolution conversion is performed so that the resolution conforms to. For example, the input image data is one of the standards of digital television broadcasting 720p: 1280 (H)
× 720 (V), and the image printing unit 34 of the printing device 4 is 300 dpi
Let's say you want to print. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions is converted into a density of 2.675 times and enlarged, thereby printing in A4 size.

Next, color conversion is performed on the image data on which the resolution conversion has been performed, and this image data is converted into RGB data (in the case of monochrome, the luminance Y data obtained by the above equation (1)). To CMYK data. Here, the color conversion from the RGB data (or Y data) to the CMYK data is performed using, for example, a look-up table that reflects the print characteristics of the image printing unit 34.

Next, a halftoning process is performed on the color-converted image data, and this image data is converted into data matching the number of tones that can be expressed by the image printing unit 35. For example, it is assumed that a device that can express only binary gradations, such as a laser printer or an inkjet printer, is used as the image printing unit 35. Then, the image data to be printed is, for example, a CM
It is assumed that the data is YK data. In such a case, the halftoning process is performed to convert the image data to match the number of gradations that can be expressed by the image printing unit 35. In particular,
For example, the image data is converted by a systematic dither method, an error diffusion method, or the like. This makes it possible to express a gray scale in a pseudo manner. When a device capable of reproducing the same gradation as the display device 3 such as a sublimation printer is used as the image printing unit 35, the halftoning process is not necessary.

The image data for printing generated by performing the above-described data processing in step S1-9 is supplied to the image printing unit 35. Then, in step S1-10, the image printing unit 35 prints an image corresponding to the image data for printing. Thus, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 is printed. When the image printing by the image printing unit 35 is completed, the process proceeds to step S1-11, where the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

In the above, the processing flow in the case where it is determined in step S1-6 that the print instruction from the user is the instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 has been described. When it is determined in step S1-6 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. Performs the following processing.

In step S1-6, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. First, in step S1-12, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 instructs the drawing engine unit 13 not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14. Then, the update of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written in the print RAM unit 32 in step S1-13.

Next, in step S1-14, the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transmitted to the display device via the high-speed digital connection. 3 and the image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, since the updating of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display apparatus 3 may be rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Absent. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

Next, in step S1-15, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording and reproducing unit 33. Is made. If it is determined that an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S1-1 is performed.
3 again, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing section 33 and written into the print RAM section 32 again. Then, in step S1-14, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, when it is determined by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the process proceeds to step S1-16, and in this step S1-16, the video RAM unit 14 Update is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed,
The image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

Next, in step S1-17, the print image processing section 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM section 32, and the image print section 35 Is generated. The data processing in step S1-17 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 described above, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S1-17 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S1-18, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is printed.

In the above description, when printing an image corresponding to the image data copied from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4, this image data is used. Print image recording / playback unit 3
3, the digital broadcast printing system 1 </ b> A prints the image data on the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 without printing the image corresponding to the image data copied on the print RAM unit 32. Can also be recorded on a recording medium.

In this case, an instruction to record the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17.
Then, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

When the recording operation is being performed by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, as described above, the printing R
Although the update of the AM unit 32 is stopped, when only the image data is recorded on the recording medium, when the recording operation of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 progresses to some extent, or when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 When the recording operation is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

That is, as described above, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 into regions and records the divided image data on the recording medium, the region where recording on the recording medium is completed is completed. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted every time. On the other hand, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium without performing the area division, all the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 is recorded on the recording medium. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is resumed at the stage where the information is recorded in the print RAM 32.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1A for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1A, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, there is no need to provide an A / D converter having a video signal frequency band in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

The digital broadcast printing system 1A
Uses a high-speed digital connection to transfer image data from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4,
The image data can be transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 quickly, and the image data can be printed in a short time.

The digital broadcast printing system 1A
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1A, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

The digital broadcast printing system 1A
In this method, when printing an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, the image data is recorded on a recording medium. If you play the data,
An image corresponding to this image data can be printed again.

Second Embodiment FIG. 9 shows a second configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

Digital broadcast printing system 1B shown in FIG.
Has a print image interface unit 101 added to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Further, the printing device 4 includes:
A print image interface unit 102 is provided instead of the display image interface unit 31. Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the digital broadcast printing system 1A shown in FIG.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1B,
The print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the print image interface unit 1 of the printing device 4
02 is digitally connected. Note that the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 includes:
The print image interface unit 24 of the printing apparatus 4 includes, for example, IEEE1284, USB, IEEE1394,
It is connected by I2C or the like.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1B,
The print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the print image interface unit 1 of the printing device 4
02 is digitally connected, so that image data can be transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 independently of the image data transfer from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the display device 3.

Now, the operation of the digital broadcast printing system 1B configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In the digital broadcast printing system 1B, the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 are digitally connected, and are currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. When printing the displayed image, the image data is transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 by the digital connection, and the image data held in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is printed. Print RAM unit 3 of device 4
2 will be copied.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1B,
As shown in FIG. 10, first, in step S2-1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

Next, in step S2-2, the image data of the digital broadcast received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is processed by the encoded information expanding unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13, and 3 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
The data is written to the video RAM unit 14.

The image data written in the video RAM section 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, in step S2-3, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

As long as the user does not give a print instruction, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed.

At this time, as shown in step S2-4, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
By repeating the processes of 2-2 and S2-3, the updating of the video RAM unit 14 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, when the print instruction is input device 6
If the number has been input to step S4, the process proceeds to step S2-5.

In step S2-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing section 33 by receiving a print instruction from the user. It is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image or an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23. If it is determined in step S2-5 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23, the process proceeds to step S2-6. In S2-6, the update of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped.

That is, in step S2-6,
The processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 instructs the drawing engine unit 13 not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14. This is greater than the time required to update one screen of data in the video RAM unit 14 and display a new image.
The data of one screen written in the printing device 4
This is to prevent the image data in the video RAM unit 14 from being rewritten during the image data transfer because the time required to transfer the image data to the AM unit 32 is longer. While no new image data is written to the video RAM unit 14, the same image is repeatedly displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

Next, in step S2-7, the image data held in the video RAM unit 14 is digitally connected from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiver 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printer 4. And the print RA of the printing device 4
Copied to M section 32.

When the copying of the image data from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, next, in step S2-8, the video RAM section of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 Update 14 is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, in step S2-9, the video RAM unit 1 is updated.
4 stops copying image data to the print RAM 32, and stops updating the print RAM 32.

When the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped,
Next, in step S2-10, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium. At this time, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 into a group of a plurality of data (region division),
An area division recording mode for recording on a recording medium for each area;
One of the normal recording modes in which image data is recorded on a recording medium without performing area division is selected, and image data is recorded on the recording medium.

Next, in step S2-11, the print image processing unit 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32, and the image printing unit 35 Is generated. The data processing in step S2-11 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and a detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S2-11 is supplied to the image printing section 35, and in step S2-12, the image printing section 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is printed. Then, when the printing of the image by the image printing unit 35 is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted in step S2-13.

The above has described the flow of processing when it is determined in step S2-5 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23. However, in step S2-5, the print instruction from the user is
If it is determined that the instruction is to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of No. 3 and print an image corresponding to the image data, the following processing is performed.

In step S2-5, the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that
First, in step S2-14, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 instructs the drawing engine unit 13 not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14, Updates are stopped.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written in the print RAM unit 32 in step S2-15.

Next, in step S2-16, the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transferred to the print image interface unit of the printing apparatus 4. 102, is transferred to the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 via a digital connection,
It is copied to the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

Next, in step S2-17, the image data copied to the video RAM unit 14 is converted from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 by a high-speed digital connection. Image display unit 2 of the display device 3
3 displays an image corresponding to the image data. At this time, since the update of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 has been stopped, the image display unit 2 of the display apparatus 3
3 is not rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

Next, in step S2-18, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33. Is made. If it is determined that an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S2-1 is performed.
5 again, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written into the print RAM unit 32 again. Then, in step S2-16, the image data is transferred to the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and copied to the video RAM unit 14, and further, in step S2-1.
At 7, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, when it is determined by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the process proceeds to step S2-19, and in this step S2-19, the video RAM unit 14 Update is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed,
The image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

Next, in step S2-20, the print image processing section 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM section 32, and the image print section 35 Is generated. The data processing in step S2-20 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S2-20 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S2-21, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is printed.

In the above description, when printing an image corresponding to the image data copied from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4, this image data is used. Print image recording / playback unit 3
3, the digital broadcast printing system 1 </ b> B prints the image data on the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 without printing the image corresponding to the image data copied on the print RAM unit 32. Can also be recorded on a recording medium.

In this case, an instruction to record the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17.
Then, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

When the recording operation by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is being performed, as described above, the printing R
Although the update of the AM unit 32 is stopped, when only the image data is recorded on the recording medium, when the recording operation of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 progresses to some extent, or when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 When the recording operation is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

That is, as described above, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 into regions and records the divided image data on the recording medium, the region where recording on the recording medium has been completed is completed. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted every time. On the other hand, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium without performing the area division, all the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 is recorded on the recording medium. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is resumed at the stage where the information is recorded in the print RAM 32.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1B for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1B, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, it is not necessary to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing device 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

The digital broadcast printing system 1B
Then, when printing an image corresponding to the image data, first, the data of the image to be printed is collectively transferred from the video RAM unit 14 to the print RAM unit 32.
This is performed only on the printing device 4 side. Therefore, on the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the display device 3 side,
Processing such as updating the video RAM unit 14 and displaying image data written in the video RAM unit 14 can be promptly resumed. Therefore, in the digital broadcast printing system 1B, the freeze time of the display image accompanying the execution of printing can be extremely short.

The digital broadcast printing system 1B
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1B, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

The digital broadcasting printing system 1B
In this method, when printing an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, the image data is recorded on a recording medium. If you play the data,
An image corresponding to this image data can be printed again.

Third Embodiment FIG. 11 shows a third configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

Digital broadcast printing system 1 shown in FIG.
C is a print R between the video RAM unit 14 and the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2.
An AM unit 110 is added, and the rest is substantially the same as the digital broadcast printing system 1B shown in FIG.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1C,
The print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the print image interface unit 1 of the printing device 4
When the image data is printed, the image data is transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 by the digital connection. At this time,
In this digital broadcast printing system 1C, a video RAM
The image data held in the unit 14 is copied to the print RAM unit 110 and the image data is copied to the print RAM unit 1.
10 to the printing device 4.

The digital broadcast printing system 1 as described above
The operation of C will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1C,
As shown in FIG. 12, first, in step S3-1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

Next, in step S3-2, the image data of the digital broadcast received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is processed by the encoded information expanding unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13 and the display device 3 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
The data is written to the video RAM unit 14.

The image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, in step S3-3, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

As long as the user does not give a print instruction, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed.

At this time, as shown in step S3-4, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
By repeating the processes of 3-2 and S3-3, the updating of the video RAM unit 14 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, when the print instruction is input device 6
If the number has been input to step S4, the process proceeds to step S3-5.

[0187] In step S3-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing section 33 by receiving a print instruction from the user. It is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image or an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23. If it is determined in step S3-5 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23, the process proceeds to step S3-6. In S3-6, the image data stored in the video RAM unit 14 is copied to the print RAM unit 110.

Next, in step S3-7, the image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is digitally connected from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4. And the print RA of the printing device 4
Copied to M section 32. At this time, in the digital broadcast printing system 1C, the data of the image to be printed is first copied from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 110, and the print RAM section 11
0 to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4, so that the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2
It is not necessary to stop the update of the video RAM unit 14. Therefore, the image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

Print RAM of Digital Broadcasting Receiver 2
When the copying of the image data from the unit 110 to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped in step S3-8.

When the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped,
Next, in step S3-9, the print image recording / reproduction unit 33 records the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium. At this time, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 into a plurality of data units (region division), and records each region on a recording medium in an area division recording mode. One of the normal recording modes in which image data is recorded on a recording medium without performing area division is selected, and the image data is recorded on the recording medium.

Next, in step S3-10, the print image processing section 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data copied to the print RAM section 32, and the image print section 35 Is generated. The data processing in step S3-10 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and a detailed description will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S3-10 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S3-11, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is printed. When the printing of the image by the image printing unit 35 is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted in step S3-12.

In the above, the flow of processing when the print instruction from the user is determined to be an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 in step S3-5 has been described. However, in step S3-5, the print instruction from the user is
If it is determined that the instruction is to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of No. 3 and print an image corresponding to the image data, the following processing is performed.

In step S3-5, the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that
First, in step S3-13, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 instructs the drawing engine unit 13 not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14, Updates are stopped.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written in the print RAM unit 32 in step S3-14.

Next, in step S3-15, the image data written into the print RAM unit 32 by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, ie, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transferred to the print image interface unit of the printing apparatus 4. 102, is transferred to the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 via a digital connection,
The data is copied to the print RAM unit 110 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. In step S3-16, the image data copied to the print RAM unit 110
Copied to M section 14.

In step S3-17, the image data copied to the video RAM unit 14 is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. The image data corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Since the update is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is not rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

Next, in step S3-18, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33. Is made. If it is determined that an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S3-1 is performed.
4 again, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written into the print RAM unit 32 again. Then, in steps S3-15 and S3-16, the image data is transferred to the digital broadcast receiving device 2, and the print RAM unit 110, the video RAM unit 14
The image data is transferred to the display device 3 in step S3-17, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, when it is determined that the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is printed by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, the process proceeds to step S3-19. Update is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed,
The image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0200] Next, in step S3-20, the print image processing unit 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM unit 32, and the image print unit 35 recognizes the print data. Is generated. Since the data processing in step S3-20 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the first embodiment, detailed description will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S3-20 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S3-21, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is printed.

In the above description, the print RAM unit 110 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 stores
When printing an image corresponding to the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32, the image data is recorded on a recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33. However, the digital broadcast printing system 1C Without printing an image corresponding to the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32,
This image data can be recorded on a recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33.

In this case, an instruction to record the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 is input to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 from the user.
Then, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

When the recording operation is being performed by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, as described above, the printing R
Although the update of the AM unit 32 is stopped, when only the image data is recorded on the recording medium, when the recording operation of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 progresses to some extent, or when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 When the recording operation is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

That is, as described above, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data copied in the print RAM unit 32 into regions and records the divided image data on the recording medium, the region where recording on the recording medium has been completed is completed. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted every time. On the other hand, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium without performing the area division, all the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 is recorded on the recording medium. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is resumed at the stage where the information is recorded in the print RAM 32.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1C for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1C, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, it is not necessary to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

The digital broadcast printing system 1C
Then, when printing an image corresponding to the image data, first, the image data to be printed is copied from the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM unit 110, and then copied to the print RAM unit 110. The printing image data is transferred to the printing device 4 and the printing RA
The data is copied to the M section 32. Therefore, in the digital broadcast printing system 1C, when transferring image data from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, it is not necessary to stop updating the video RAM unit 14, and the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 The printing process can be executed without freezing the displayed image.

The digital broadcasting printing system 1C
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1C, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

The digital broadcast printing system 1C
In this method, when printing an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, the image data is recorded on a recording medium. If you play the data,
An image corresponding to this image data can be printed again.

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 13 shows a fourth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

Digital broadcast printing system 1 shown in FIG.
D allows the drawing engine unit 13 to perform the image data drawing process not only on the video RAM unit 14 but also on the print RAM unit 110.
Others are the digital broadcast printing system 1C shown in FIG.
The configuration is almost the same.

The operation of the digital broadcast printing system 1D will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In this digital broadcast printing system 1D,
As shown in FIG. 14, first, in step S4-1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

Next, in step S4-2, the digital broadcast image data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is processed by the coded information developing unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13, and 3 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
While being written into the video RAM unit 14, the print R
The data is written to the AM unit 110. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1D, the drawing engine unit 13 performs the drawing process on the video RAM unit 14 and also performs the drawing process on the print RAM unit 110.

[0215] The image data written in the video RAM unit 14 in step S4-2 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, step S4
At -3, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

As long as the user does not give a print instruction, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 and the contents of the print RAM unit 110 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process. , Display device 3
The image is displayed on the image display unit 23 at any time.

At this time, as shown in step S4-4, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
4-2 and S4-3 are repeated to update the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110,
The display of the image data written in the M unit 14 is repeated.
On the other hand, when the print instruction is input to the input device 64,
Proceed to step S4-5.

In step S4-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing section 33 by receiving the print instruction from the user. It is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image or an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23. If it is determined in step S4-5 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23, the process proceeds to step S4-6, and the process proceeds to step S4-6. In S4-6, the image data written in the print RAM unit 110 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection. 4 is copied to the print RAM 32 of FIG. At this time, in the digital broadcast printing system 1D, the digital broadcast receiving device 2
When the drawing engine unit 13 performs drawing processing in both the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110 and prints image data, the image data is copied from the print RAM unit 110 to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4. It is not necessary to stop updating the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 when transferring image data. Therefore, the image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

Print RAM of Digital Broadcasting Receiver 2
When the copying of the image data from the unit 110 to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped in step S4-7.

When the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped,
Next, in step S4-8, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium. At this time, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 into a plurality of data units (region division), and records each region on a recording medium in an area division recording mode. One of the normal recording modes in which image data is recorded on a recording medium without performing area division is selected, and the image data is recorded on the recording medium.

Next, in step S4-9, the print image processing section 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data copied to the print RAM section 32, and the image printing section 35 Is generated.
The data processing in step S4-9 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and thus a detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S4-9 is supplied to the image printing unit 35,
In step S4-10, the image printing unit 35
An image corresponding to the image data for printing is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is printed. Then, when the printing of the image by the image printing unit 35 is completed, step S4--
At 11, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

The above has described the flow of processing when it is determined in step S4-5 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23. However, in step S4-5, the print instruction from the user is
If it is determined that the instruction is to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of No. 3 and print an image corresponding to the image data, the following processing is performed.

[0224] In step S4-5, the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing section 33 and print the image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that
First, in step S4-12, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 instructs the drawing engine unit 13 not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14, Updates are stopped.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written in the print RAM unit 32 in step S4-13.

Next, in step S4-14, the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, ie, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transferred to the print image interface unit of the printing apparatus 4. 102, is transferred to the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 via a digital connection,
The data is copied to the print RAM unit 110 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. In step S4-15, the image data copied to the print RAM unit 110
Copied to M section 14.

In step S4-16, the image data copied to the video RAM unit 14 is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. The image data corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Since the update is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is not rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

Next, in step S4-17, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33. Is made. If it is determined that an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S4-1 is performed.
3 again, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing section 33 and written into the print RAM section 32 again. Then, in steps S4-14 and S4-15, the image data is transferred to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and the print RAM unit 110, the video RAM unit 14
The image data is transferred to the display device 3 in step S4-16, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, when it is determined that the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is printed by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, the process proceeds to step S4-18. Update is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed,
The image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

Next, in step S4-19, the print image processing section 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM section 32, and the image print section 35 Is generated. The data processing in step S4-19 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S4-19 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S4-20, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is printed.

In the above description, the print RAM unit 110 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 stores
When printing an image corresponding to the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32, the image data is recorded on a recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33. However, the digital broadcast printing system 1D Without printing an image corresponding to the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32,
This image data can be recorded on a recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33.

In this case, an instruction to record the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 is input to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 from the user.
Then, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

When the recording operation is being performed by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, as described above, the printing R
Although the update of the AM unit 32 is stopped, when only the image data is recorded on the recording medium, when the recording operation of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 progresses to some extent, or when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 When the recording operation is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

That is, as described above, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 into regions and records the divided image data on the recording medium, the region where recording on the recording medium is completed is completed. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted every time. On the other hand, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium without performing the area division, all the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 is recorded on the recording medium. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is resumed at the stage where the information is recorded in the print RAM 32.

Also, in the above description, the video RA is generated by the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2.
Although the data of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is written in both the M unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110, in the digital broadcast printing system 1D of this example, the drawing engine unit 13 is used. However, the image data to be displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is drawn in the video RAM unit 14, the header information of the image is drawn in the print RAM unit 110, and the image is printed. At this time, the image data is transferred from the video RAM unit 14 to the print RAM unit 110, and the transferred image data and header information are combined to create image data for printing. May be transferred to the printing device 4.

As described above, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 combines the data of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 with the header information to create image data for printing. When the image data is transferred to the printing apparatus 4 and the printing process is performed based on the image data, for example, as shown in FIG.
And an image 122 obtained by combining the image 121 displayed on the display device 3 with the image 121 can be printed.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1D for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1D, since image data is handled as a digital signal, it is not necessary to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

The digital broadcast printing system 1D
Then, when the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 performs a drawing process on both the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110 and prints an image corresponding to image data, the drawing engine unit 13 holds the image data. The copied image data is copied to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4. Therefore, the digital broadcast printing system 1D
Therefore, when transferring image data from the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the printing apparatus 4, it is not necessary to stop updating the video RAM section 14, and to freeze an image displayed on the image display section 23 of the display apparatus 3. It is possible to execute the printing process without any change.

The digital broadcast printing system 1D
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1D, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

The digital broadcasting printing system 1D
In this method, when printing an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, the image data is recorded on a recording medium. If you play the data,
An image corresponding to this image data can be printed again.

Fifth Embodiment FIG. 16 shows a fifth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1E shown in FIG. 16, a drawing engine unit 111 is added to the printing device 4, and the encoded information developing unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the drawing engine unit of the printing device 4 111 are digitally connected. In the digital broadcast printing system 1E, the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 performs a process of drawing the image data to be displayed on the image display unit of the display device 3 on the video RAM unit 13. Separately, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 can perform a process of drawing other information such as other image data and header information on the print RAM unit 32. Other configurations of the digital broadcast printing system 1E are almost the same as those of the digital broadcast printing system 1A shown in FIG. Note that the encoded information developing unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4 are, for example, IEEE1284,
The connection is made by USB, IEEE1394, I2C, or the like.

The operation of the digital broadcast printing system 1E will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1E,
As shown in FIG. 17 and FIG.
In 1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

[0246] Next, in step S5-2, the digital broadcast image data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is converted into the coded information developing unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Accordingly, the image is written to the video RAM unit 14 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

The digital broadcast image data and data such as header information received by the communication interface section 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 are converted into drawing processing data by the encoded information expanding section 12 as necessary. Then, the data is transferred to the printing device 4 via a digital connection, and supplied to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. And
In step S5-3, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4 performs printing of the printing device 4 according to the drawing processing data transferred via the digital connection from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. A drawing process is performed on the RAM unit 32. As a result, image data, header information, and the like are written in the print RAM unit 32.

The image data written in the video RAM section 14 in step S5-2 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, step S5
At -4, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

As long as the user does not give a print instruction, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are updated as necessary.

At this time, as shown in step S5-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
By repeating the processes of 5-2, S5-3, and S5-4, the updating of the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 32 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S5-6.

[0251] In step S5-6, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing section 33 by receiving the print instruction from the user. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print an image corresponding to. If it is determined in step S5-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, Proceed to step S5-7.

In step S5-7, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display section 23 of the display apparatus 3. Is determined. Then, the print instruction from the user is sent to the display device 3.
If it is determined that the instruction is to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is converted to the digital broadcast receiving device 2 in step S5-8. Is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 to the display image interface unit 31 of the printing apparatus 4 via the high-speed digital connection, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4 are transferred to the video RAM unit 14.
Is rewritten to the image data from.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5-7 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, then In step S5-9, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 transmits the print instruction from the user to the image corresponding to the image data and the data such as the header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4. Whether it is an instruction to print or the printing device 4
And data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the digital broadcast receiver 2
It is determined whether the instruction is to combine the image data written in the AM unit 14 and print an image corresponding to the combined image data.

[0254] Then, the print instruction from the user is transmitted in accordance with the image data and the header information and the like written in the print RAM 32 of the printing apparatus 4 and the image data written in the video RAM 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. If it is determined that the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the combined image data, in step S5-10, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 The data is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 of the receiving device 2 to the display image interface unit 31 of the printing device 4 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, in step S5-11, the video RAM unit 1
4 is combined with the image data and the data such as header information written in the print RAM unit 32, and the combined data is written in the print RAM unit 32. On the other hand, in step S5-9, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print an image corresponding to data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4. In this case, the data written in the print RAM unit 32 is held as it is.

As described above, it is determined what kind of image the print instruction from the user is to print, and the image is stored in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 in accordance with the print instruction from the user. When data such as data and header information, synthesized image data, and the like are written, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped in step S5-12.

When the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped,
Next, in step S5-13, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data to be printed, data such as header information, and the combined image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium. Is done. At this time,
The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides image data and the like written in the print RAM unit 32 into a group of a plurality of data (region division), and records each region on a recording medium. One of the normal recording modes in which image data and the like are recorded on a recording medium without division is selected, and image data and the like are recorded on the recording medium.

At this time, the print image recording / reproducing section 33
The information necessary for the drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Information for resolution conversion to
Such information can be acquired from the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 and recorded on a recording medium together with image data to be printed.

When image data to be printed, information required for drawing processing, information required for print image processing, and the like are recorded on a recording medium, the process proceeds to step S5-1.
In 4, the print image processing unit 34 performs predetermined data processing on image data to be printed and the like held in the print RAM unit 32, and generates image data for printing that can be recognized by the image printing unit 35. Is done. This step S
The data processing in 5-14 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the above-described first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S5-14 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S5-15, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and the image data and header information transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 via the digital connection are displayed. Or an image obtained by combining an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 with an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the encoding information expanding unit 12 to the printing apparatus 4 or the like. Will be. Then, when the image printing by the image printing unit 35 is completed, in step S5-16, the print RA
The update of the M unit 32 is restarted.

In the above, when it is determined in step S5-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, Has been described, but in step S5-6, a print instruction from the user makes it possible to reproduce image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that the instruction is to perform the following processing, the following processing is performed.

In step S5-6, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of print image recording / reproducing section 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. First, in step S5-17, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends new image data to the video RAM unit 14 to the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. Instruct not to write, video RA
The updating of the M unit 14 is stopped.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written in the print RAM unit 32 in step S5-18. At this time, together with the image data to be printed, information required for drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and information required for subsequent print image processing, such as image data to be printed, are printed. When information for converting the resolution or the like so as to have a resolution suitable for the device 4 is recorded on the recording medium, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 reproduces such information from the recording medium.

Next, in step S5-19, the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transmitted to the display device via the high-speed digital connection. 3 and the image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, since the updating of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display apparatus 3 may be rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Absent. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

Next, in step S5-20, it is determined whether or not to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording and reproducing unit 33. Is made. If it is determined that an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S5-1 is performed.
8 again, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing section 33 and written into the print RAM section 32 again. Then, in step S5-19, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, when it is determined by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the process proceeds to step S5-21, and in this step S5-21, the video RAM unit 14 Update is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed,
The image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

Next, in step S5-22, the print image processing section 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM section 32, and the image print section 35 Is generated. The data processing in step S5-22 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S5-22 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S5-23, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is printed.

In the above description, the display device 3
In accordance with the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 and the data such as image data and header information transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the printing apparatus 4 via the digital connection. Image or image display unit 2
When printing an image obtained by synthesizing an image currently displayed on the printer 3 and an image corresponding to the image data or the like transferred from the encoding information developing unit 12 to the printing apparatus 4, the data of the image to be printed is printed. Although the image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the data on the recording medium, the digital broadcast printing system 1E uses the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 to print the data of these images without printing these images immediately. Can also be recorded.

In this case, an instruction to record the data of these images on the recording medium is input to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 from the user. And
The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

When the recording operation is being performed by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, as described above, the printing R
Although the update of the AM unit 32 is stopped, when only the image data is recorded on the recording medium, when the recording operation of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 progresses to some extent, or when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 When the recording operation is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

That is, as described above, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 into regions and records the divided regions on the recording medium, the region where recording on the recording medium is completed is completed. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted every time. On the other hand, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium without performing the region division, the print RAM unit 32
The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted at the stage when all the image data copied to the print medium is recorded on the recording medium.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1E for receiving digital broadcasts and printing images, image data is handled as digital signals from reception to printing, so that there is an advantage that image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1E, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, it is not necessary to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

The digital broadcasting printing system 1E
Uses a high-speed digital connection to transfer image data from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4,
The image data can be transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 quickly, and the image data can be printed in a short time.

The digital broadcast printing system 1E
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1E, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

The digital broadcast printing system 1E
Then, not only is the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 transferred to the printing device 4, but also the data is transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. Therefore, these data are combined in the printing device 4, and for example, as shown in FIG. 15, an image 122 obtained by combining the header information 120 and the image 121 displayed on the display device 3,
As shown in FIG. 19, an image 123 corresponding to the image data transferred from the video RAM 14 and an encoded information developing unit 1
It is also possible to print an image 126 obtained by superimposing images 124 and 125 corresponding to the data transferred from 2 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4. In other words,
In the digital broadcast printing system 1E, images of a plurality of pages can be collectively printed on one page.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1E
In this method, when printing an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, the image data is recorded on a recording medium. If you play the data,
An image corresponding to this image data can be printed again.

Sixth Embodiment FIG. 20 shows a sixth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1F shown in FIG. 20, a drawing engine unit 111 is added to the printing device 4, and the encoded information developing unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the drawing engine unit of the printing device 4 111 are digitally connected. In the digital broadcast printing system 1F, the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 performs processing for drawing the image data to be displayed on the image display unit of the display device 3 on the video RAM unit 13. Separately, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 can perform a process of drawing other information such as other image data and header information on the print RAM unit 32. Other configurations of the digital broadcast printing system 1F are almost the same as those of the digital broadcast printing system 1B shown in FIG.
The image data can be exchanged with the print image interface unit 102. Note that the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2
And the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 are, for example,
IEEE1284, USB, IEEE1394, I2C
And so on.

The operation of the digital broadcast printing system 1F will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1F,
As shown in FIGS. 21 to 23, first, in step S6-
In 1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

Next, in step S6-2, the image data of the digital broadcast received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is converted into the coded information developing unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. Accordingly, the image is written to the video RAM unit 14 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

The digital broadcast image data and data such as header information received by the communication interface section 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 are converted into drawing processing data by the encoded information expanding section 12 as necessary. Then, the data is transferred to the printing device 4 via a digital connection, and supplied to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. And
In step S6-3, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 prints the printing apparatus 4 according to the drawing processing data transferred via the digital connection from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. A drawing process is performed on the RAM unit 32. As a result, image data, header information, and the like are written in the print RAM unit 32.

[0283] The image data written in the video RAM section 14 in step S6-2 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, step S6
At -4, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

As long as the user does not give a print instruction, as a normal image display process, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are updated as necessary.

At this time, as shown in step S6-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
6-2, S6-3, and S6-4 are repeated to update the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 32 and display the image data written in the video RAM unit 14. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S6-6.

[0286] In step S6-6, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing section 33 by receiving the print instruction from the user. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print an image corresponding to. If it is determined in step S6-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, Proceed to step S6-7.

[0287] In step S6-7, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. Is determined. Then, the print instruction from the user is sent to the display device 3.
If it is determined that the instruction is to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23, the process proceeds to step S6-8. In this step S6-8, the video RAM unit 1
4 is stopped.

That is, in step S6-8,
The processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 instructs the drawing engine unit 13 not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14. This is greater than the time required to update one screen of data in the video RAM unit 14 and display a new image.
The data of one screen written in the printing device 4
This is to prevent the image data in the video RAM unit 14 from being rewritten during the image data transfer because the time required to transfer the image data to the AM unit 32 is longer. While no new image data is written to the video RAM unit 14, the same image is repeatedly displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

Then, when the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, in step S6-9, the video R
The image data held in the AM unit 14 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection, and the print RA of the printing device 4 is
The contents of the M section 32 are rewritten to image data from the video RAM section 14.

When the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are rewritten with the image data from the video RAM unit 14, the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted in step S6-10. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S6-7 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, then In step S6-11, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 transmits a print instruction from the user to an image corresponding to the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4 or data such as header information. Whether the instruction is to print, or data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4 and image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 Are synthesized, and it is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the synthesized image data.

[0292] Then, the print instruction from the user is transmitted in accordance with the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 and the image data written in the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Are combined, and if it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the combined image data, the process proceeds to step S6-12.
The update of the unit 14 is stopped.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is transferred to the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 in step S6-13.
From the print image interface unit 102 of the printing apparatus 4
Via a digital connection. Then, in step S6-14, the image data from the video RAM unit 14 and the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 are combined, and the combined data is written in the print RAM unit 32. It is. When the image data from the video RAM unit 14 and the data such as the image data and the header information written in the print RAM unit 32 are combined, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are rewritten with the combined image data, In S6-15,
The update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted.

[0294] On the other hand, in step S6-11, the print instruction from the user is transmitted to the print RAM 32 of the printing apparatus 4.
If it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the data such as the image data and the header information written in the print RAM unit 32, the data such as the image data and the header information written in the print RAM unit 32 are not changed. Will be retained.

As described above, it is determined whether the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print an image, and the image is stored in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 in accordance with the print instruction from the user. When data such as data and header information, combined image data, etc. are written,
In step S6-16, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped.

When the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped,
Next, in step S6-17, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data to be printed, data such as header information, and the combined image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium. Is done. At this time,
The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides image data and the like written in the print RAM unit 32 into a group of a plurality of data (region division), and records each region on a recording medium. One of the normal recording modes in which image data and the like are recorded on a recording medium without division is selected, and image data and the like are recorded on the recording medium.

At this time, the print image recording / reproducing section 33
The information necessary for the drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Information for resolution conversion to
Such information can be acquired from the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 and recorded on a recording medium together with image data to be printed.

[0298] When the image data to be printed, the information required for the drawing processing, the information required for the print image processing, and the like are recorded on the recording medium, the process proceeds to step S6-1.
In step 8, the print image processing unit 34 performs predetermined data processing on image data to be printed and the like held in the print RAM unit 32, and generates image data for printing that can be recognized by the image printing unit 35. Is done. This step S
The data processing in 6-18 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and thus detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S6-18 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S6-19, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and the image data and header information transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 via the digital connection are displayed. Or an image obtained by combining an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 with an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the encoding information expanding unit 12 to the printing apparatus 4 or the like. Will be. When the printing of the image by the image printing unit 35 is completed, in step S6-20, the print RA
The update of the M unit 32 is restarted.

In the above, when it is determined in step S6-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 Has been described, but in step S6-6, a print instruction from the user reproduces image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and prints an image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that the instruction is to perform the following processing, the following processing is performed.

[0301] In step S6-6, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of print image recording / reproducing section 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. First, in step S6-21, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends new image data to the video RAM unit 14 to the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. Instruct not to write, video RA
The updating of the M unit 14 is stopped.

When the updating of the video RAM section 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing section 33 and written into the print RAM section 32 in step S6-22. At this time, together with the image data to be printed, information required for drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and information required for subsequent print image processing, such as image data to be printed, are printed. When information for converting the resolution or the like so as to have a resolution suitable for the device 4 is recorded on the recording medium, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 reproduces such information from the recording medium.

Next, in step S6-23, the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transferred to the print image interface unit of the printing apparatus 4. 102, is transferred to the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 via a digital connection,
It is copied to the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

Next, in step S6-24, the image data copied to the video RAM unit 14 is connected to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 by a high-speed digital connection. Image display unit 2 of the display device 3
3 displays an image corresponding to the image data. At this time, since the update of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 has been stopped, the image display unit 2 of the display apparatus 3
3 is not rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

Next, in step S6-25, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording and reproducing unit 33. Is made. If it is determined that an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S6-2.
2, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 reproduces the image data from the recording medium again, and writes the image data in the print RAM unit 32. Then, in step S6-23, the image data is transferred to the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and copied to the video RAM unit 14, and further, in step S6-2.
At 4, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, when it is determined by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the process proceeds to step S6-26. Update is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed,
The image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0307] Next, in step S6-27, the print image processing unit 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM unit 32, and the image printing unit 35 Is generated. Note that the data processing in step S2-27 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S6-27 is supplied to the image printing section 35, and in step S6-28, the image printing section 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is printed.

In the above description, the display device 3
In accordance with the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 and the data such as image data and header information transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the printing apparatus 4 via the digital connection. Image or image display unit 2
When printing an image obtained by synthesizing an image currently displayed on the printer 3 and an image corresponding to the image data or the like transferred from the encoding information developing unit 12 to the printing apparatus 4, the data of the image to be printed is printed. Although the image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the data on the recording medium, the digital broadcast printing system 1F uses the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 to print the data of these images without printing these images immediately. Can also be recorded.

[0310] In this case, an instruction to record the data of these images on the recording medium is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. And
The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

[0311] When the recording operation by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is being performed, as described above, the printing R
Although the update of the AM unit 32 is stopped, when only the image data is recorded on the recording medium, when the recording operation of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 progresses to some extent, or when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 When the recording operation is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

That is, as described above, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 into regions and records the image data on the recording medium, the area where the recording on the recording medium is completed is completed. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted every time. On the other hand, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium without performing the region division, the print RAM unit 32
The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted at the stage when all the image data copied to the print medium is recorded on the recording medium.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1F for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1F, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, it is not necessary to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

The digital broadcast printing system 1F
Then, when printing an image corresponding to the image data, first, the data of the image to be printed is collectively transferred from the video RAM unit 14 to the print RAM unit 32.
This is performed only on the printing device 4 side. Therefore, on the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the display device 3 side,
Processing such as updating the video RAM unit 14 and displaying image data written in the video RAM unit 14 can be promptly resumed. Therefore, in the digital broadcast printing system 1F, the freeze time of the display image accompanying the execution of printing can be extremely short.

The digital broadcast printing system 1F
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1F, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

The digital broadcast printing system 1F
Then, not only is the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 transferred to the printing device 4, but also the data is transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. Therefore, these data are combined in the printing device 4, and for example, as shown in FIG. 15, an image 122 obtained by combining the header information 120 and the image 121 displayed on the display device 3,
As shown in FIG. 19, an image 123 corresponding to the image data transferred from the video RAM 14, and images 124 and 125 corresponding to the data transferred from the encoding information expanding unit 12 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4. It is also possible to print an image 126 obtained by superimposing. In other words, in the digital broadcast printing system 1F, it is possible to print images of a plurality of pages collectively on one page.

The digital broadcast printing system 1F
In this method, when printing an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, the image data is recorded on a recording medium. If you play the data,
An image corresponding to this image data can be printed again.

Seventh Embodiment FIG. 24 shows a seventh example of the configuration of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1G shown in FIG. 24, a drawing engine unit 111 is added to the printing device 4, and the encoded information developing unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the drawing engine unit of the printing device 4 111 are digitally connected. In the digital broadcast printing system 1G, the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 performs a process of drawing the image data to be displayed on the image display unit of the display device 3 on the video RAM unit 13. Separately, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 can perform a process of drawing other information such as other image data and header information on the print RAM unit 32. Other configurations of the digital broadcast printing system 1G are almost the same as those of the digital broadcast printing system 1C shown in FIG.
When the image data stored in the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is transferred to the printing device 4, the image data is temporarily copied to the print RAM unit 110, and the image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is transferred to the digital broadcast receiving device 2. The data is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing apparatus 4 via a digital connection. Note that the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the drawing engine unit 1 of the printing device 4
11 is, for example, IEEE1284, USB, IEEE
They are connected by E1394, I2C or the like.

The operation of the digital broadcast printing system 1G will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In this digital broadcast printing system 1G,
As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, first, in step S7-
In 1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

Next, in step S7-2, the digital broadcast image data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is converted into the coded information developing unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Accordingly, the image is written to the video RAM unit 14 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

The data such as image data and header information of the digital broadcast received by the communication interface section 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 are converted into drawing processing data by the encoded information expanding section 12 as necessary. Then, the data is transferred to the printing device 4 via a digital connection, and supplied to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. And
In step S7-3, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4 prints the printing device 4 according to the drawing processing data transferred via the digital connection from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. A drawing process is performed on the RAM unit 32. As a result, image data, header information, and the like are written in the print RAM unit 32.

[0324] The image data written in the video RAM unit 14 in step S7-2 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, step S7
At -4, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

While the print instruction is not issued by the user, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are updated as necessary.

At this time, as shown in step S7-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
By repeating the processes of 7-2, S7-3, and S7-4, the updating of the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 32 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S7-6.

[0327] In step S7-6, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing section 33 by receiving the print instruction from the user. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print an image corresponding to. If it is determined in step S7-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, Proceeding to step S7-7, this step S7
At 7-7, the image data stored in the video RAM unit 14 is copied to the print RAM unit 110.

[0328] Next, in step S7-8, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the effect that the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is to be printed. Is determined. Then, when it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, step S7-9.
And in this step S7-9, the print RA
The image data held in the M unit 110 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the print device 4 via a digital connection, and the print RA of the print device 4 is
The contents of the M section 32 are rewritten to image data from the print RAM section 110. At this time, in the digital broadcast printing system 1G, the data of the image to be printed is first copied from the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print RAM unit 110, and the print RAM unit 1
10 to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4, the digital broadcast receiving device 2
It is not necessary to stop the update of the video RAM unit 14. Therefore, the image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7-8 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display section 23 of the display device 3, then In step S7-10, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the image corresponding to the image data or data such as header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4. It is an instruction to print, or data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 and the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and the print RAM section. It is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print the image corresponding to the synthesized image data by synthesizing the image data copied to the image data 110.

[0330] The print instruction from the user is written into the print RAM 32 of the printing device 4 and the data such as the header information and the video RAM 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2, and is written into the print RAM. Part 11
0, and if it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the combined image data, the process proceeds to step S7-11, and in step S7-11, The image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection. Then, in step S7-12, the image data from the print RAM unit 110 and the print RAM unit 32
Is combined with the data such as header information and the like, and the combined data is written into the print RAM unit 32, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are rewritten with the combined image data. At this time, in the digital broadcast printing system 1G, the image data to be printed is obtained by transferring the image data copied from the video RAM unit 14 to the print RAM unit 110 to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4. It is not necessary to stop the update of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 at the time of the transfer. Therefore, the image display unit 23 of the display device 3
The received digital broadcast image is displayed as needed.

[0331] On the other hand, in step S7-10, the print instruction from the user is transmitted to the print RAM 32 of the printing apparatus 4.
If it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the data such as the image data and the header information written in the print RAM unit 32, the data such as the image data and the header information written in the print RAM unit 32 are not changed. Will be retained.

As described above, it is determined whether the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print an image, and the image is stored in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 in response to the print instruction from the user. When data such as data and header information, combined image data, etc. are written,
In step S7-13, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped.

When the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped,
Next, in step S7-14, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data to be printed, data such as header information, and the synthesized image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium. Is done. At this time,
The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides image data and the like written in the print RAM unit 32 into a group of a plurality of data (region division), and records each region on a recording medium. One of the normal recording modes in which image data and the like are recorded on a recording medium without division is selected, and image data and the like are recorded on the recording medium.

At this time, the print image recording / reproducing section 33
The information necessary for the drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Information for resolution conversion to
Such information can be acquired from the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 and recorded on a recording medium together with image data to be printed.

When the image data to be printed, the information required for the drawing processing, the information required for the print image processing, and the like are recorded on the recording medium, the process proceeds to step S7-1.
In step 5, the print image processing unit 34 performs predetermined data processing on image data to be printed and the like held in the print RAM unit 32, and generates image data for printing that the image printing unit 35 can recognize. Is done. This step S
The data processing in 7-15 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and thus detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S7-15 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S7-16, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and the image data and header information transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 via the digital connection are displayed. Or an image obtained by combining an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 with an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the encoding information expanding unit 12 to the printing apparatus 4 or the like. Will be. Then, when the image printing by the image printing unit 35 is completed, in step S7-17, the printing RA
The update of the M unit 32 is restarted.

In the above, when it is determined in step S7-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33. Has been described, in step S7-6, the print instruction from the user is to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print the image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that the instruction is to perform the following processing, the following processing is performed.

In step S7-6, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. First, in step S7-18, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends new image data to the video RAM unit 14 to the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. Instruct not to write, video RA
The updating of the M unit 14 is stopped.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written to the print RAM unit 32 in step S7-19. At this time, together with the image data to be printed, information required for drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and information required for subsequent print image processing, such as image data to be printed, are printed. When information for converting the resolution or the like so as to have a resolution suitable for the device 4 is recorded on the recording medium, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 reproduces such information from the recording medium.

Next, in step S7-20, the image data written into the print RAM unit 32 by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transferred to the print image interface unit of the printing apparatus 4. 102, is transferred to the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 via a digital connection,
The data is copied to the print RAM unit 110 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. In step S7-21, the image data copied to the print RAM unit 110
Copied to M section 14.

[0341] Next, in step S7-22, the image data copied to the video RAM unit 14 is connected to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 by a high-speed digital connection. Image display unit 2 of the display device 3
3 displays an image corresponding to the image data. At this time, since the update of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 has been stopped, the image display unit 2 of the display apparatus 3
3 is not rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

Next, in step S7-23, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33. Is made. If it is determined that an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S7-1 is performed.
9 again, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written into the print RAM unit 32 again. Then, in steps S7-20 and S7-21, the image data is transferred to the digital broadcast receiving device 2, and the print RAM unit 110, the video RAM unit 14
The image data is transferred to the display device 3 in step S7-22, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, if it is determined by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the process proceeds to step S7-24, and in this step S7-24, the video RAM unit 14 Update is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed,
The image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

Next, in step S7-25, the print image processing section 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM section 32, and the image print section 35 Is generated. Note that the data processing in step S7-25 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the above-described first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S7-25 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S7-26, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is printed.

In the above description, the display device 3
In accordance with the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 and the data such as image data and header information transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the printing apparatus 4 via the digital connection. Image or image display unit 2
When printing an image obtained by synthesizing an image currently displayed on the printer 3 and an image corresponding to the image data or the like transferred from the encoding information developing unit 12 to the printing apparatus 4, the data of the image to be printed is printed. Although the image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the data on the recording medium, the digital broadcast printing system 1G uses the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 to print the data of these images without printing these images immediately. Can also be recorded.

In this case, an instruction to record the data of these images on the recording medium is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. And
The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

When the recording operation is being performed by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, as described above, the printing R
Although the update of the AM unit 32 is stopped, when only the image data is recorded on the recording medium, when the recording operation of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 progresses to some extent, or when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 When the recording operation is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

That is, as described above, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 into regions and records the divided regions on the recording medium, the region where recording on the recording medium is completed is completed. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted every time. On the other hand, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium without performing the region division, the print RAM unit 32
The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted at the stage when all the image data copied to the print medium is recorded on the recording medium.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1G for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that image quality does not deteriorate. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1G, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, it is not necessary to provide an A / D converter having a video signal frequency band in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

The digital broadcast printing system 1G
Then, when printing an image corresponding to the image data, first, the image data to be printed is copied from the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM unit 110, and then copied to the print RAM unit 110. The obtained image data is transferred to the printing device 4. Therefore, in the digital broadcast printing system 1G, when transferring image data from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, it is not necessary to stop updating the video RAM unit 14, and the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 The printing process can be executed without freezing the displayed image.

The digital broadcast printing system 1G
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1G, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

In addition, the digital broadcast printing system 1G
Then, the print RAM written in the video RAM unit 14
Not only is the image data copied to the unit 110 transferred to the printing device 4, but also the data is transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. Therefore, these data are combined in the printing device 4 and, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, the header information 120 and the image 1 to be displayed on the display device 3
19, an image 123 corresponding to the image data transferred from the print RAM 110 as shown in FIG. 19, and transferred from the encoded information developing unit 12 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4. It is also possible to print an image 126 obtained by superimposing images 124 and 125 corresponding to the data. In other words, in the digital broadcast printing system 1G, it is possible to print images of a plurality of pages collectively on one page.

The digital broadcast printing system 1G
In this method, when printing an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, the image data is recorded on a recording medium. If you play the data,
An image corresponding to this image data can be printed again.

Eighth Embodiment FIG. 27 shows an eighth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

The digital broadcast printing system 1H shown in FIG.
3 is performed by the video RAM unit 14
, As well as the print RAM unit 110. Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the digital broadcast printing system 1G shown in FIG.

The operation of the digital broadcast printing system 1H will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In this digital broadcast printing system 1H,
As shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, first, in step S8-
In 1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

[0359] Next, in step S8-2, the digital broadcast image data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is processed by the coded information developing unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13 and the display device 3 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
While being written into the video RAM unit 14, the print R
The data is written to the AM unit 110. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1H, the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 performs the drawing process on the video RAM unit 14 and also performs the drawing process on the print RAM unit 110.

The data such as image data and header information of the digital broadcast received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is converted into drawing processing data by the encoded information expanding unit 12 as necessary. Then, the data is transferred to the printing device 4 via a digital connection, and supplied to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. And
In step S8-3, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 performs printing on the printing apparatus 4 according to the drawing processing data transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 via the digital connection. A drawing process is performed on the RAM unit 32. As a result, image data, header information, and the like are written in the print RAM unit 32.

The image data written in the video RAM unit 14 in step S8-2 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, step S8
At -4, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

While the print instruction is not issued from the user, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 and the contents of the print RAM unit 110 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process. , Display device 3
The image is displayed on the image display unit 23 at any time, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are updated as necessary. .

At this time, as shown in step S8-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
8-2, S8-3, and S8-4 are repeated, and the video RAM unit 14, the print RAM unit 110, and the print RA
The updating of the M section 32 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM section 14 are repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S8-6.

[0364] In step S8-6, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 by receiving the print instruction from the user. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print an image corresponding to. If it is determined in step S8-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, Proceeding to step S8-7,
In step 8-7, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 determines whether the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. Is determined.

If it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, the process proceeds to step S8-.
8 and in this step S8-8, the print R
The image data written in the AM unit 110 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection, and the print RA of the printing device 4 is
The contents of the M unit 32 are rewritten with the image data from the print RAM unit 110. At this time, in the digital broadcast printing system 1H, the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 has the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 1
10 are subjected to the drawing process, and the print RAM 110
Is transferred to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4. Therefore, when the image data is transferred, the video RAM of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is transferred.
There is no need to stop updating the unit 14. Therefore, the image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8-7 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, then In step S <b> 8-9, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the image corresponding to the image data or data such as header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4. Whether it is an instruction to print or the printing device 4
Of the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and the image data written in the print RAM unit 110 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2,
It is determined whether the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the combined image data.

[0367] Then, the printing instruction from the user receives the image data written in the printing RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 and the data such as header information and the image data written in the printing RAM section 110 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Are combined, and if it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the combined image data, the process proceeds to step S8-10.
And in this step S8-10, the print R
The image data written in the AM unit 110 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection. And step S
In step 8-11, the image data from the print RAM unit 110 and the data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 are combined, and the combined data is written in the print RAM unit 32. The contents of the print RAM unit 32 are rewritten with the synthesized image data. At this time, in the digital broadcast printing system 1H, since the image data written in the print RAM unit 110 by the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is transferred to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4, the image data transfer is performed. In this case, the video RAM of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2
There is no need to stop updating the unit 14. Therefore, the image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

On the other hand, in step S8-9, the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print an image corresponding to data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4. If it is determined that
Data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 is held as it is.

As described above, it is determined what kind of image the print instruction from the user is to print, and the image is stored in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 in accordance with the print instruction from the user. When data such as data and header information, combined image data, etc. are written,
In step S8-12, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped.

When the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped,
Next, in step S8-13, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data to be printed, data such as header information, and the synthesized image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium. Is done. At this time,
The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides image data and the like written in the print RAM unit 32 into a group of a plurality of data (region division), and records each region on a recording medium. One of the normal recording modes in which image data and the like are recorded on a recording medium without division is selected, and image data and the like are recorded on the recording medium.

At this time, the print image recording / reproducing section 33
The information necessary for the drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Information for resolution conversion to
Such information can be acquired from the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 and recorded on a recording medium together with image data to be printed.

When the image data to be printed, the information required for the drawing processing, the information required for the print image processing, and the like are recorded on the recording medium, the process proceeds to step S8-1.
In 4, the print image processing unit 34 performs predetermined data processing on image data to be printed and the like held in the print RAM unit 32, and generates image data for printing that can be recognized by the image printing unit 35. Is done. This step S
The data processing in 8-14 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and thus detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S8-14 is supplied to the image printing section 35, and in step S8-15, the image printing section 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and the image data and header information transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 via the digital connection are displayed. Or an image obtained by combining an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 with an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the encoding information expanding unit 12 to the printing apparatus 4 or the like. Will be. Then, when the image printing by the image printing unit 35 is completed, in step S8-16, the printing RA
The update of the M unit 32 is restarted.

The above is the case where it is determined in step S8-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33. Has been described, but in step S8-6, a print instruction from the user makes it possible to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that the instruction is to perform the following processing, the following processing is performed.

In step S8-6, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. First, in step S8-17, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends new image data to the video RAM unit 14 to the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. Instruct not to write, video RA
The updating of the M unit 14 is stopped.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written to the print RAM unit 32 in step S8-18. At this time, together with the image data to be printed, information required for drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and information required for subsequent print image processing, such as image data to be printed, are printed. When information for converting the resolution or the like so as to have a resolution suitable for the device 4 is recorded on the recording medium, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 reproduces such information from the recording medium.

[0377] Next, in step S8-19, the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transferred to the print image interface unit of the printing apparatus 4. 102, is transferred to the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 via a digital connection,
The data is copied to the print RAM unit 110 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. In step S8-20, the image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is output to the video RA.
Copied to M section 14.

[0378] Next, in step S8-21, the image data copied to the video RAM unit 14 is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Image display unit 2 of the display device 3
3 displays an image corresponding to the image data. At this time, since the update of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 has been stopped, the image display unit 2 of the display apparatus 3
3 is not rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

Next, in step S8-22, it is determined whether or not to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording and reproducing unit 33. Is made. If it is determined that an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S8-1 is performed.
8 again, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written into the print RAM unit 32 again. Then, in steps S8-19 and S8-20, the image data is transferred to the digital broadcast receiving device 2, and the print RAM unit 110, the video RAM unit 14
The image data is transferred to the display device 3 in step S8-21, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
That is, when it is determined by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the process proceeds to step S8-23, and in this step S8-23, the video RAM unit 14 Update is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed,
The image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

Next, in step S8-24, the print image processing section 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM section 32, and the image printing section 35 Is generated. Note that the data processing in step S8-24 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the above-described first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S8-24 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S8-25, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is printed.

In the above description, the display device 3
In accordance with the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 and the data such as image data and header information transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the printing apparatus 4 via the digital connection. Image or image display unit 2
When printing an image obtained by synthesizing an image currently displayed on the printer 3 and an image corresponding to the image data or the like transferred from the encoding information developing unit 12 to the printing apparatus 4, the data of the image to be printed is printed. Although the image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the data on the recording medium, the digital broadcast printing system 1H uses the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 to print the data of these images without immediately printing these images. Can also be recorded.

In this case, an instruction to record the data of these images on the recording medium is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. And
The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

When the recording operation is being performed by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, as described above, the printing R
Although the update of the AM unit 32 is stopped, when only the image data is recorded on the recording medium, when the recording operation of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 progresses to some extent, or when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 When the recording operation is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

That is, as described above, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 into regions and records the divided image data on the recording medium, the region where recording on the recording medium is completed is completed. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted every time. On the other hand, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium without performing the region division, the print RAM unit 32
The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted at the stage when all the image data copied to the print medium is recorded on the recording medium.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1H for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1H, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, it is not necessary to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

The digital broadcast printing system 1H
Then, when the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 performs a drawing process on both the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110 and prints an image corresponding to image data, the drawing engine unit 13 holds the image data. The image data is transferred to the printing device 4. Therefore,
In the digital broadcast printing system 1H, it is not necessary to stop updating the video RAM unit 14 when transferring image data from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4,
The printing process can be executed without freezing the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

The digital broadcast printing system 1H
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1H, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

The digital broadcast printing system 1H
Then, not only is the image data written in the print RAM unit 110 transferred to the printing device 4, but also the data is transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. Therefore, these data are combined in the printing apparatus 4, and, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, an image 122 in which the header information 120 and the image 121 displayed on the display apparatus 3 are combined.
19, an image 123 corresponding to the image data transferred from the print RAM 110 and an image 124 corresponding to the data transferred from the encoded information developing unit 12 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4. , 125 are printed. In other words, in the digital broadcast printing system 1H, it is possible to print a plurality of pages of images collectively on one page.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1H
In this method, when printing an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, the image data is recorded on a recording medium. If you play the data,
An image corresponding to this image data can be printed again.

Ninth Embodiment FIG. 30 shows a ninth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1I shown in FIG. 30, an encoding information developing unit 112 and a drawing engine unit 111 are added to the printing device 4, and the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the printing device 4 is digitally connected to the encoded information developing unit 130. In the digital broadcast printing system 1I,
Data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and data obtained by performing channel selection control, cancellation of scramble processing, and the like in the communication interface unit 11, specifically, MHE
G, HTML, MPEG, SGML or Video
The multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing the coded data such as x is sent to the coded information developing unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and separately from the printing apparatus 4 via the digital connection.
Is also sent to the encoded information developing unit 112 provided in the. Other configurations of the digital broadcast printing system 1I are almost the same as those of the digital broadcast printing system 1E shown in FIG. Note that the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the encoded information expanding unit 112 of the printing device 4 are, for example, IEEE
E1284, USB, IEEE1394, I2C, etc.

The operation of the digital broadcast printing system 1I will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In this digital broadcast printing system 1I,
As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, first, in step S9-
In 1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

Next, in step S9-2, the digital broadcast image data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is sent to the coded information developing unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2, The processing is performed by the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. More specifically, the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 separates the multiplexed data sent from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and separates the multiplexed data of each data format. Of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2.

In step S 9-3, the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends the data to the video RAM unit 14 based on the drawing processing data sent from the encoded information developing unit 12. By performing the drawing processing, the digital broadcast image data is converted into a video R for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.
The data is written to the AM unit 14.

The digital broadcast image data and data such as header information received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 are transmitted to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 from the communication interface unit 11 as necessary. The data is sent to the coded information developing unit 112 of the printing device 4 via the connection, and is processed by the coded information developing unit 112 of the printing device 4 in step S9-4.
Then, the drawing processing data processed by the encoding information developing unit 112 of the printing device 4 is transferred to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4.

In step S9-5, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4 sends the
By performing drawing processing on the print RAM unit 32 based on the drawing processing data sent from the printer 12, image data, header information, and the like are written into the print RAM unit 32.

[0400] The image data written in the video RAM section 14 in step S9-2 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, step S9
At -6, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

While the print instruction is not issued by the user, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are updated as necessary.

At this time, as shown in step S9-7, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
By repeating the processes of 9-2, S9-3, and S9-6, the updating of the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 32 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S9-8.

At step S 9-8, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing section 33 by receiving the print instruction from the user. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print an image corresponding to. If it is determined in step S9-8 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, Proceed to step S9-9.

[0404] In step S9-9, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. Is determined. Then, the print instruction from the user is sent to the display device 3.
Is determined to be an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is stored in the digital broadcast receiving device 2 in step S9-10. Is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 to the display image interface unit 31 of the printing apparatus 4 via the high-speed digital connection.
4 is rewritten to the image data.

[0405] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S9-9 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, next, In step S <b> 9-11, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the image corresponding to the image data and the data such as the header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4. Whether the instruction is to print, or data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4 and image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 Are synthesized, and it is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the synthesized image data.

[0406] Then, the print instruction from the user is transmitted in accordance with the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 and the image data written in the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. If it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the combined image data, in step S9-12, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 The data is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 of the receiving device 2 to the display image interface unit 31 of the printing device 4 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, in step S9-13, the video RAM unit 1
4 and the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32, and the combined data is written in the print RAM unit 32.
On the other hand, in step S9-11, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print an image corresponding to data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4. Print RAM
The data written in the unit 32 is held as it is.

As described above, it is determined what kind of image the print instruction from the user is to print, and the image is stored in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 in accordance with the print instruction from the user. When data such as data and header information, combined image data, and the like are written, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped in step S9-14.

When the updating of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped,
Next, in step S9-15, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data to be printed, data such as header information, and the combined image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium. Is done. At this time,
The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides image data and the like written in the print RAM unit 32 into a group of a plurality of data (region division), and records each region on a recording medium. One of the normal recording modes in which image data and the like are recorded on a recording medium without division is selected, and image data and the like are recorded on the recording medium.

At this time, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33
The information necessary for the drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Information for resolution conversion to
Such information can be acquired from the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 and recorded on a recording medium together with image data to be printed.

[0410] Also, the print image recording / reproducing section 33 acquires channel information and the like from the encoded information developing section 112 of the printing apparatus 4, and records such information together with image data to be printed on a recording medium. Can also.

[0411] When image data or the like to be printed, information required for drawing processing, information required for print image processing, channel information, and the like are recorded on the recording medium, next, in step S9-16, , Print image processing unit 34
As a result, predetermined data processing is performed on image data to be printed and the like held in the print RAM unit 32, and image data for printing that can be recognized by the image printing unit 35 is generated.
Note that the data processing in step S9-16 is as follows.
Since this is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the first embodiment described above,
Detailed description is omitted.

[0412] Next, the image data for printing generated in step S9-16 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S9-17, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and the encoded information of the printing device 4 transmitted from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 via a digital connection. An image corresponding to image data and data such as header information processed by the expansion unit 112, or an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 and image data processed by the encoding information expansion unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4. An image obtained by synthesizing an image corresponding to the above is printed. Then, when the printing of the image by the image printing unit 35 ends, in step S9-18,
Update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

[0413] In the above, it is determined in step S9-8 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33. In step S9-8, the print instruction from the user is to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print the image corresponding to the image data in step S9-8. If it is determined that the instruction is to perform the following processing, the following processing is performed.

[0414] In step S9-8, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print the image corresponding to the image data. First, in step S9-19, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends new image data to the video RAM unit 14 to the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Instruct not to write, video RA
The updating of the M unit 14 is stopped.

[0415] When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written to the print RAM unit 32 in step S9-20. At this time, together with the image data to be printed, information required for drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and information required for subsequent print image processing, such as image data to be printed, are printed. If information obtained from the coded information developing unit 112, such as information for resolution conversion so as to have a resolution suitable for the device 4 and channel information, is recorded on the recording medium, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 Reproduces such information from a recording medium.

[0416] Next, in step S9-21, the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transmitted to the display device via the high-speed digital connection. 3 and the image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, since the updating of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display apparatus 3 may be rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Absent. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

[0417] Next, in step S9-22, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording and reproducing unit 33. Is made. If it is determined that an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S9-2 is performed.
After returning to 0, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium again by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written into the print RAM unit 32. Then, in step S9-21, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, when it is determined that the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is printed by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, the process proceeds to step S9-23. Update is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed,
The image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0419] Next, in step S9-24, the print image processing unit 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM unit 32, and the image printing unit 35 Is generated. Note that the data processing in step S9-24 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the above-described first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S9-24 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S9-25, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is printed.

In the above description, the display device 3
The image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the encoded information developing unit 11 of the printing device 4 via the digital connection from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.
2, an image corresponding to data such as image data and header information processed by the encoded information expanding unit 112,
Alternatively, when printing an image obtained by synthesizing an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 and an image corresponding to the image data processed by the encoding information expanding unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4, these printing targets are used. Although the image data is recorded on the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, the digital broadcast printing system 1I prints the image data without printing these images immediately. It is also possible to record on a recording medium by the unit 33.

In this case, an instruction to record the data of these images on a recording medium is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. And
The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

When the recording operation is being performed by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, as described above, the print R
Although the update of the AM unit 32 is stopped, when only the image data is recorded on the recording medium, when the recording operation of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 progresses to some extent, or when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 When the recording operation is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

That is, as described above, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 into regions and records the divided regions on the recording medium, the region where recording on the recording medium is completed is completed. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted every time. On the other hand, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium without performing the region division, the print RAM unit 32
The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted at the stage when all the image data copied to the print medium is recorded on the recording medium.

As described above, the digital broadcast printing system 1I for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image uses image data as a digital signal from reception to printing, so that there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1I, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, it is not necessary to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

The digital broadcast printing system 1I
Uses a high-speed digital connection to transfer image data from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4,
The image data can be transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 quickly, and the image data can be printed in a short time.

The digital broadcast printing system 1I
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1I, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with a very simple operation.

The digital broadcasting printing system 1I
Then, not only is the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 transferred to the printing device 4, but also the data is transmitted from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the encoded information developing unit 112 of the printing device 4. It is possible. The digital broadcast printing system 1I
Then, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 can also perform the drawing processing on the print RAM unit 32 based on the drawing processing data generated by the encoding information developing unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4. Therefore, the image data transferred from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and the data sent to the encoded information expanding section 112 of the printing apparatus 4 are combined in the printing apparatus 4 and, for example, shown in FIG. As described above, an image 122 obtained by synthesizing the header information 120 and an image 121 displayed on the display device 3, an image 123 corresponding to the image data transferred from the video RAM 14 as shown in FIG. An image 126 obtained by superimposing images 124 and 125 corresponding to the data transferred from the information expanding unit 12 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4.
Can also be printed. In other words, in the digital broadcast printing system 1I, it is possible to print images of a plurality of pages collectively on one page.

The digital broadcast printing system 1I
In this method, when printing an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, the image data is recorded on a recording medium. If you play the data,
An image corresponding to this image data can be printed again.

Tenth Embodiment FIG. 33 shows a tenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1J shown in FIG. 33, an encoding information developing unit 112 and a drawing engine unit 111 are added to the printing device 4, and the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the printing device 4 is digitally connected to the encoded information developing unit 130. And in this digital broadcast printing system 1J,
Data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and data obtained by performing channel selection control, cancellation of scramble processing, and the like in the communication interface unit 11, specifically, MHE
G, HTML, MPEG, SGML or Video
The multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing the coded data such as x is sent to the coded information developing unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and separately from the printing apparatus 4 via the digital connection.
Is also sent to the encoded information developing unit 112 provided in the. Other configurations of the digital broadcast printing system 1J are almost the same as those of the digital broadcast printing system 1F shown in FIG. Note that the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the encoded information expanding unit 112 of the printing device 4 are, for example, IEEE
E1284, USB, IEEE1394, I2C, etc.

[0432] The operation of the digital broadcast printing system 1J will be described with reference to the flowcharts of Figs.

In this digital broadcast printing system 1I,
As shown in FIGS. 34 and 36, first, in step S10
At -1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

[0434] Next, in step S10-2, the digital broadcast image data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is sent to the coded information developing unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2, and The processing is performed by the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. More specifically, the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 separates the multiplexed data sent from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and separates the multiplexed data of each data format. Of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2.

[0435] Then, in step S10-3, the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends the data to the video RAM unit 14 based on the drawing processing data sent from the encoded information expanding unit 12. By performing the drawing process, the digital broadcast image data is written to the video RAM unit 14 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

The digital broadcast image data and data such as header information received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 are transmitted from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the digital interface as necessary. The data is sent to the encoded information developing unit 112 of the printing device 4 via the connection, and is processed by the encoded information expanding unit 112 of the printing device 4 in step S10-4. Then, the drawing processing data processed by the encoding information developing unit 112 of the printing device 4 is transferred to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4.

[0437] In step S10-5, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 executes the drawing processing on the print RAM unit 32 based on the drawing processing data sent from the encoded information developing unit 112. Is performed, image data, header information, and the like are written in the print RAM unit 32.

In step S10-2, the video RAM
The image data written in the unit 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. And step S
At 10-6, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

As long as the user does not give a print instruction, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are updated as necessary.

At this time, as shown in step S10-7, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
By repeating the processes of 10-2, S10-3, and S10-6, the update of the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 32 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S10-8.

[0441] In step S10-8, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing section 33 by receiving a print instruction from the user. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print an image corresponding to. If it is determined in step S10-8 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording and reproducing unit 33, Proceed to step S10-9.

[0442] In step S10-9, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. Is determined. Then, when it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, step S10-1.
The update to the video RAM unit 14 is stopped in step S10-10.

[0443] That is, in step S10-10, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 instructs the drawing engine section 13 not to newly write image data to the video RAM section 14. This is because the data for one screen written in the video RAM unit 14 is stored in the print RAM 4 of the printing apparatus 4 more than the time required for updating the data for one screen in the video RAM unit 14 and displaying a new image. This is to prevent the image data in the video RAM unit 14 from being rewritten during the image data transfer because the time required to transfer the image data to the unit 32 is longer. While no new image data is written to the video RAM unit 14, the same image is repeatedly displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

[0444] Then, when the updating of the video RAM section 14 is stopped, the image data held in the video RAM section 14 is transferred to the print image interface section 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 in step S10-11.
From the print image interface unit 102 of the printing apparatus 4
Via a digital connection to the printer R
The contents of the AM section 32 are rewritten to image data from the video RAM section 14.

[0445] When the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are rewritten with the image data from the video RAM unit 14, the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted in step S10-12. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10-9 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display section 23 of the display device 3, then In step S10-13,
The processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4.
Is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the data such as the image data and header information written in the printing device 4, or the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4; It is determined whether the instruction is to combine the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and print an image corresponding to the combined image data.

[0447] Then, the print instruction from the user is transmitted in accordance with the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4 and the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Are combined, and if it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the combined image data, the process proceeds to step S10-14.
And in this step S10-14, the video R
Update of the AM unit 14 is stopped.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is transferred to the print image interface unit 10 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 in step S10-15.
1 to the print image interface unit 10 of the printing device 4
2 via a digital connection. Then, in step S10-16, the image data from the video RAM unit 14 and the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 are combined, and the combined data is written in the print RAM unit 32. It is. Video RA
The image data written in the M unit 14 is transferred to the printing device 4 and is combined with the image data and data such as header information written in the print RAM unit 32 to form a print RAM.
When the content of the section 32 is rewritten to the synthesized image data, in step S10-17, the video RAM
The update of the unit 14 is restarted.

[0449] On the other hand, in step S10-13, a print instruction from the user is sent to the print RAM unit 3 of the printing apparatus 4.
If it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM 2, the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 It is kept as it is.

As described above, it is determined what kind of image the print instruction from the user is to print, and the image is stored in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 in response to the print instruction from the user. When data such as data and header information, combined image data, etc. are written,
In step S10-18, the print RAM unit 32
Update is stopped.

When the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped,
Next, in step S10-19, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data to be printed, data such as header information, and the synthesized image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium. Is done. At this time, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data or the like written in the print RAM unit 32 into a plurality of data groups (region division) and records each region on a recording medium for each region. Then, one of the normal recording modes for recording image data or the like on a recording medium without performing area division is selected, and recording of image data or the like on the recording medium is performed.

At this time, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33
The information necessary for the drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Information for resolution conversion to
Such information can be acquired from the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 and recorded on a recording medium together with image data to be printed.

The print image recording / reproducing section 33 acquires channel information and the like from the encoded information developing section 112 of the printing apparatus 4 and records such information together with image data to be printed on a recording medium. Can also.

[0454] When image data or the like to be printed, information required for drawing processing, information required for print image processing, channel information, and the like are recorded on the recording medium, next, in step S10-20, , Print image processing unit 3
By 4, predetermined data processing is performed on image data to be printed and the like held in the print RAM unit 32, and print image data recognizable by the image printing unit 35 is generated. The data processing in step S10-20 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S10-20 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S10-21, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and the encoded information of the printing device 4 transmitted from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 via a digital connection. An image corresponding to image data and data such as header information processed by the expansion unit 112, or an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 and image data processed by the encoding information expansion unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4. An image obtained by synthesizing an image corresponding to the above is printed. Then, when the printing of the image by the image printing unit 35 ends, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted in step S10-22.

In the above, when it is determined in step S10-8 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, Has been described, but in step S10-8, a print instruction from the user makes it possible to reproduce image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that the instruction is to perform the following processing, the following processing is performed.

In step S10-8, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. First, in step S10-23, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends new image data to the video RAM unit 14 to the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. Instruct not to write, video R
Update of the AM unit 14 is stopped.

[0458] When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written in the print RAM unit 32 in step S10-24. At this time, together with the image data to be printed, information required for drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and information required for subsequent print image processing, such as image data to be printed, are printed. If information obtained from the coded information developing unit 112, such as information for resolution conversion so as to have a resolution suitable for the device 4 and channel information, is recorded on the recording medium, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 Reproduces such information from a recording medium.

Next, in step S10-25, the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, ie, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transferred to the print image interface unit of the printing apparatus 4. From 102, the digital broadcast is transferred to the print image interface 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 via a digital connection, and is copied to the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2.

[0460] Next, in step S10-26, the image data copied to the video RAM unit 14 is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Since the update is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is not rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

Next, in step S10-27, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording and reproducing unit 33. Is made. If it is determined that an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S10 is performed.
Returning to -24, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium again by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written into the print RAM unit 32. Then, in step S10-25, the image data is transferred to the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and copied to the video RAM unit 14. Further, in step S10-26, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and An image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, when it is determined by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the process proceeds to step S10-28, and in this step S9-28, the video RAM unit 14 Update is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

Next, in step S10-29, the print image processing section 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM section 32, and the image printing section 35 Is generated. The data processing in step S10-29 is performed in step S1-9 of the first embodiment described above.
Since it is the same as the data processing in step S1-17, detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S10-29 is supplied to the image printing section 35, and in step S10-30, the image printing section 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is printed.

In the above description, the display device 3
The image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the encoded information developing unit 11 of the printing device 4 via the digital connection from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.
2, an image corresponding to data such as image data and header information processed by the encoded information expanding unit 112,
Alternatively, when printing an image obtained by synthesizing an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 and an image corresponding to the image data processed by the encoding information expanding unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4, these printing targets are used. Although the image data is recorded on the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, the digital broadcast printing system 1J prints the image data without printing these images immediately. It is also possible to record on a recording medium by the unit 33.

[0466] In this case, an instruction to record the data of these images on the recording medium is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. And
The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

When the recording operation is being performed by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, as described above, the printing R
Although the update of the AM unit 32 is stopped, when only the image data is recorded on the recording medium, when the recording operation of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 progresses to some extent, or when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 When the recording operation is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

That is, as described above, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 into regions and records the image data on the recording medium, the area where the recording on the recording medium is completed is completed. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted every time. On the other hand, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium without performing the region division, the print RAM unit 32
The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted at the stage when all the image data copied to the print medium is recorded on the recording medium.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1J for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1J, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, it is not necessary to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

The digital broadcast printing system 1J
Then, when printing an image corresponding to the image data, first, the data of the image to be printed is collectively transferred from the video RAM unit 14 to the print RAM unit 32.
This is performed only on the printing device 4 side. Therefore, on the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the display device 3 side,
Processing such as updating the video RAM unit 14 and displaying image data written in the video RAM unit 14 can be promptly resumed. Therefore, in the digital broadcast printing system 1J, the freeze time of the display image accompanying the execution of printing can be extremely short.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1J
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1J, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with a very simple operation.

The digital broadcast printing system 1J
Then, not only is the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 transferred to the printing device 4, but also the data is transmitted from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the encoded information developing unit 112 of the printing device 4. It is possible. And this digital broadcast printing system 1J
Then, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 can also perform the drawing processing on the print RAM unit 32 based on the drawing processing data generated by the encoding information developing unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4. Therefore, the image data transferred from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and the data sent to the encoded information expanding section 112 of the printing apparatus 4 are combined in the printing apparatus 4 and, for example, shown in FIG. As described above, an image 122 obtained by synthesizing the header information 120 and an image 121 displayed on the display device 3, an image 123 corresponding to the image data transferred from the video RAM 14 as shown in FIG. An image 126 obtained by superimposing images 124 and 125 corresponding to the data transferred from the information expanding unit 12 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4.
Can also be printed. In other words, in the digital broadcast printing system 1J, it is possible to print images of a plurality of pages collectively on one page.

The digital broadcast printing system 1J
In this method, when printing an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, the image data is recorded on a recording medium. If you play the data,
An image corresponding to this image data can be printed again.

Eleventh Embodiment FIG. 37 shows an eleventh configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

[0475] In the digital broadcast printing system 1K shown in Fig. 37, an encoding information developing unit 112 and a drawing engine unit 111 are added to the printing device 4, and the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the printing device 4 is digitally connected to the encoded information developing unit 130. And in this digital broadcast printing system 1K,
Data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and data obtained by performing channel selection control, cancellation of scramble processing, and the like in the communication interface unit 11, specifically, MHE
G, HTML, MPEG, SGML or Video
The multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing the coded data such as x is sent to the coded information developing unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and separately from the printing apparatus 4 via the digital connection.
Is also sent to the encoded information developing unit 112 provided in the. The other configuration of the digital broadcast printing system 1K is almost the same as that of the digital broadcast printing system 1G shown in FIG. 24, and is used when transferring image data held in the video RAM unit 14 to the printing device 4. Temporarily stores this image data in the print RAM unit 110
The image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection. It has been done. Note that the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the encoded information expanding unit 112 of the printing device 4 are, for example, IEEE1284, US
B, IEEE1394, I2C, etc.

The operation of the digital broadcast printing system 1K will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In this digital broadcast printing system 1K,
As shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, first, in step S11
At -1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

[0478] Next, in step S11-2, the digital broadcast image data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is sent to the coded information developing unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2, and The processing is performed by the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. More specifically, the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 separates the multiplexed data sent from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and separates the multiplexed data of each data format. Of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2.

[0479] Then, in step S11-3, the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends the data to the video RAM unit 14 based on the drawing processing data sent from the encoded information expanding unit 12. By performing the drawing process, the digital broadcast image data is written to the video RAM unit 14 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

[0480] Also, data such as image data and header information of the digital broadcast received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 are transmitted from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 as necessary. The data is sent to the coded information developing unit 112 of the printing device 4 via the connection, and is processed by the coded information developing unit 112 of the printing device 4 in step S11-4. Then, the drawing processing data processed by the encoding information developing unit 112 of the printing device 4 is transferred to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4.

In step S11-5, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 executes the drawing process on the print RAM unit 32 based on the drawing process data sent from the encoded information developing unit 112. Is performed, image data, header information, and the like are written in the print RAM unit 32.

In step S11-2, the video RAM
The image data written in the unit 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. And step S
At 11-6, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

[0483] As long as the user does not give a print instruction, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are updated as necessary.

At this time, as shown in step S11-7, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
The processing of 11-2, S11-3, and S11-6 is repeated, and the updating of the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 32 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S11-8.

[0485] In step S11-8, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 by receiving a print instruction from the user. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print an image corresponding to. If it is determined in step S11-8 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, Proceeding to step S11-9, the image data held in the video RAM unit 14 is copied to the print RAM unit 110 in this step S11-9.

[0486] Next, in step S11-10, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the effect that the image currently displayed on the image display section 23 of the display apparatus 3 is to be printed. Is determined. When it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, step S1 is performed.
The process proceeds to 1-11, and in this step S11-11,
The image data held in the print RAM unit 110 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection. The content of the unit 32 is the print RAM unit 11
It is rewritten to image data from 0. At this time, in the digital broadcast printing system 1K, the data of the image to be printed is first stored in the video RAM unit 1 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2.
4 is copied to the print RAM unit 110, and is transferred from the print RAM unit 110 to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4. Therefore, when the image data is transferred, the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is updated. There is no need to stop. Therefore, the image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0487] On the other hand, in step S11-10, a print instruction from the user is sent to the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.
If it is determined that the instruction is not an instruction to print the currently displayed image, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 next proceeds to step S11-12.
Whether the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print an image corresponding to data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4, or
Data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4 and the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Is synthesized with the image data written to the video RAM unit 14 and copied to the print RAM unit 110, and it is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the synthesized image data.

[0488] Then, the print instruction from the user is written into the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4 and the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, and is printed. Part 11
0, and if it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the combined image data, the process proceeds to step S11-13, and in step S11-13, The image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection. Then, in step S11-14,
Image data from print RAM unit 110 and print RAM
The image data and data such as header information written in the unit 32 are combined, the combined data is written in the print RAM unit 32, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are rewritten with the combined image data. At this time, in the digital broadcast printing system 1K, the image data to be printed is the image data copied from the video RAM unit 14 to the print RAM unit 110, and the print RAM unit 3 of the printing apparatus 4.
2, there is no need to stop updating the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 when transferring image data. Therefore, the image display unit 2 of the display device 3
3, the received digital broadcast image is displayed at any time.

[0489] On the other hand, in step S11-12, the printing instruction from the user is transmitted to the printing RAM unit 3 of the printing apparatus 4.
If it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM 2, the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 It is kept as it is.

As described above, it is determined what kind of image the print instruction from the user is to print, and the image is stored in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 according to the print instruction from the user. When data such as data and header information, combined image data, etc. are written,
In step S11-15, the print RAM unit 32
Update is stopped.

When the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped,
Next, in step S11-16, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data to be printed, the data such as header information, and the combined image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium. Is done. At this time, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data or the like written in the print RAM unit 32 into a plurality of data groups (region division) and records each region on a recording medium for each region. Then, one of the normal recording modes for recording image data or the like on a recording medium without performing area division is selected, and recording of image data or the like on the recording medium is performed.

At this time, the print image recording / playback unit 33
The information necessary for the drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Information for resolution conversion to
Such information can be acquired from the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 and recorded on a recording medium together with image data to be printed.

The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 acquires channel information and the like from the encoded information developing unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4 and records such information together with image data to be printed on a recording medium. Can also.

[0494] When image data or the like to be printed, information required for drawing processing, information required for print image processing, channel information, and the like are recorded on the recording medium, next, in step S11-17, , Print image processing unit 3
By 4, predetermined data processing is performed on image data to be printed and the like held in the print RAM unit 32, and print image data recognizable by the image printing unit 35 is generated. Note that the data processing in step S11-17 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and thus detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S11-17 is supplied to the image printing section 35, and in step S11-18, the image printing section 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and the encoded information of the printing device 4 transmitted from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 via a digital connection. An image corresponding to image data and data such as header information processed by the expansion unit 112, or an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 and image data processed by the encoding information expansion unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4. An image obtained by synthesizing an image corresponding to the above is printed. When the printing of the image by the image printing unit 35 is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted in step S11-19.

In the above, when it is determined in step S11-8 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, Has been described, but in step S11-8, a print instruction from the user makes it possible to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print the image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that the instruction is to perform the following processing, the following processing is performed.

[0497] In step S11-8, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of print image recording / reproducing section 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. First, in step S11-20, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends new image data to the video RAM unit 14 to the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. Instruct not to write, video R
Update of the AM unit 14 is stopped.

[0498] When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written to the print RAM unit 32 in step S11-21. At this time, together with the image data to be printed, information required for drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and information required for subsequent print image processing, such as image data to be printed, are printed. If information obtained from the coded information developing unit 112, such as information for resolution conversion so as to have a resolution suitable for the device 4 and channel information, is recorded on the recording medium, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 Reproduces such information from a recording medium.

[0499] Next, in step S11-22, the image data written into the print RAM unit 32 by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transferred to the print image interface unit of the printing apparatus 4. From the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 via the digital connection,
Is copied to The image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is further copied to the video RAM unit 14 in step S11-23.

[0500] Next, in step S11-24, the image data copied to the video RAM unit 14 is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Since the update is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is not rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

[0501] Next, in step S11-25, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording and reproducing unit 33. Is made. If it is determined that an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S11 is performed.
Returning to -21, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium again by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written into the print RAM unit 32. Then, steps S11-22, S11
At -23, the image data is transferred to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, and the print RAM unit 110 and the video RA
The data is sequentially copied to the M unit 14, and further copied in step S11-2.
At 4, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, when it is determined by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the process proceeds to step S11-26, and in this step S11-26, Update is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0503] Next, in step S11-27, the print image processing section 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM section 32, and the image print section 35 recognizes the print data. Is generated. The data processing in step S11-27 is performed in step S1-9 of the first embodiment.
Since it is the same as the data processing in step S1-17, detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S11-27 is supplied to the image printing section 35, and in step S11-28, the image printing section 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is printed.

In the above description, the display device 3
The image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the encoded information developing unit 11 of the printing device 4 via the digital connection from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.
2, an image corresponding to data such as image data and header information processed by the encoded information expanding unit 112,
Alternatively, when printing an image obtained by synthesizing an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 and an image corresponding to the image data processed by the encoding information expanding unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4, these printing targets are used. Although the image data is recorded on the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, the digital broadcast printing system 1K prints the image data without printing these images immediately. It is also possible to record on a recording medium by the unit 33.

In this case, an instruction to record the data of these images on the recording medium is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. And
The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

[0507] When the recording operation by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is performed, as described above, the printing R
Although the update of the AM unit 32 is stopped, when only the image data is recorded on the recording medium, when the recording operation of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 progresses to some extent, or when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 When the recording operation is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

That is, as described above, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 into regions and records them on a recording medium, the region where recording on the recording medium has been completed is completed. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted every time. On the other hand, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium without performing the region division, the print RAM unit 32
The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted at the stage when all the image data copied to the print medium is recorded on the recording medium.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1K for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1K, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, it is not necessary to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

The digital broadcast printing system 1K
Then, when printing an image corresponding to the image data, first, the image data to be printed is copied from the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM unit 110, and then copied to the print RAM unit 110. The obtained image data is transferred to the printing device 4. Therefore, in the digital broadcast printing system 1K, when transferring image data from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, it is not necessary to stop updating the video RAM unit 14, and the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 The printing process can be executed without freezing the displayed image.

[0511] The digital broadcast printing system 1K
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1K, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

[0512] The digital broadcast printing system 1K
Then, the print RAM written in the video RAM unit 14
Not only is the image data copied to the unit 110 transferred to the printing device 4, but also the encoded information developing unit 1 of the printing device 4 is transmitted from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.
12 can be sent. And
In the digital broadcast printing system 1K, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 is used on the basis of the drawing processing data generated by the encoded information developing unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4.
Can also perform drawing processing on the print RAM unit 32, so that the video R
The image data transferred from the AM unit 14 and the data sent to the encoding information expanding unit 112 of the printing device 4 are combined in the printing device 4 and, for example, as shown in FIG. An image 122 obtained by synthesizing an image 121 to be displayed on the device 3 and an image 12 corresponding to the image data transferred from the video RAM 14 as shown in FIG.
3 and an image 124 corresponding to the data transferred from the encoded information developing unit 12 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4.
It is also possible to print an image 126 in which the image 125 is superimposed on the image 125. In other words, in the digital broadcast printing system 1K, it is possible to print images of a plurality of pages collectively on one page.

The digital broadcast printing system 1K
In this method, when printing an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, the image data is recorded on a recording medium. If you play the data,
An image corresponding to this image data can be printed again.

Twelfth Embodiment FIG. 40 shows a twelfth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

[0515] In the digital broadcast printing system 1L shown in Fig. 40, an encoding information developing unit 112 and a drawing engine unit 111 are added to the printing device 4, and the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the printing device 4 is digitally connected to the encoded information developing unit 130. And in this digital broadcast printing system 1L,
Data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and data obtained by performing channel selection control, cancellation of scramble processing, and the like in the communication interface unit 11, specifically, MHE
G, HTML, MPEG, SGML or Video
The multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing the coded data such as x is sent to the coded information developing unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and separately from the printing apparatus 4 via the digital connection.
Is also sent to the encoded information developing unit 112 provided in the. Other configurations of the digital broadcast printing system 1L are almost the same as those of the digital broadcast printing system 1H shown in FIG. 27, and the rendering engine 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 performs video data rendering processing on video data. This can be performed not only for the RAM unit 14 but also for the print RAM unit 110. Note that the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and the encoded information expanding unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4 are, for example, IEEE1284, USB, IEEE13
94, I2C, etc.

[0516] The operation of the digital broadcast printing system 1L will be described with reference to the flowcharts of Figs.

In this digital broadcast printing system 1L,
As shown in FIGS. 41 and 42, first, in step S12
At -1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

[0518] Next, in step S12-2, the image data of the digital broadcast received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is sent to the coded information developing unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2, and The processing is performed by the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. More specifically, the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 separates the multiplexed data sent from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and separates the multiplexed data of each data format. Of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2.

[0519] Then, in step S12-3, the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 uses the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM based on the drawing processing data sent from the encoded information expanding unit 12. Part 110
, The image data of the digital broadcast is simultaneously written into the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1L, the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast
To the print RAM unit 11
The drawing process is also performed for 0.

[0520] Further, data such as image data and header information of the digital broadcast received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 are transmitted from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the digital interface as necessary. The data is sent to the encoded information developing unit 112 of the printing device 4 via the connection, and is processed by the encoded information expanding unit 112 of the printing device 4 in step S12-4. Then, the drawing processing data processed by the encoding information developing unit 112 of the printing device 4 is transferred to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4.

[0521] In step S12-5, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 performs the drawing process on the print RAM unit 32 based on the drawing processing data sent from the encoded information developing unit 112. Is performed, image data, header information, and the like are written in the print RAM unit 32.

[0522] In step S12-2, the video RAM
The image data written in the unit 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. And step S
At 12-6, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

As long as the user does not give a print instruction, the video RAM unit 14 and the print RA are processed as a normal image display process based on the received digital broadcast.
The content of the M unit 110 is periodically updated, an image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed, and the content of the print RAM unit 32 is updated as necessary.

At this time, as shown in step S12-7, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
12-2, S12-3, and S12-6 are repeated to update the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110, update the print RAM unit 32, and update the video RAM unit 14
And the display of the image data written in is repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S12-8.

[0525] In step S12-8, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 by receiving a print instruction from the user. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print an image corresponding to. If it is determined in step S12-8 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, Proceed to step S12-9.

[0526] In this step S12-9, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 executes
The print instruction from the user is transmitted to the image display unit 2 of the display device 3.
It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print the image currently displayed on the image No. 3. If it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, the process proceeds to step S12-10, and the process proceeds to step S12-10. In, the image data held in the print RAM unit 110 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection, and The contents of the print RAM unit 32 are rewritten with image data from the print RAM unit 110. At this time,
In the digital broadcast printing system 1L, the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 performs a drawing process on both the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110, and the image data written in the print RAM unit 110 Since the image data is transferred to the print RAM unit 32, there is no need to stop updating the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 when transferring image data.
Therefore, the image of the received digital broadcast is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12-9 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, then the process proceeds to step S12-9. In step S12-11,
The processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4.
Is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the data such as the image data and header information written in the printing device 4, or the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4; The data is written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and is stored in the print RAM unit 11.
It is determined whether the instruction is to combine the image data copied to 0 and print an image corresponding to the combined image data.

[0528] The print instruction from the user is written into the print RAM 32 of the printing apparatus 4 and the data such as the header information and the video RAM 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, and is printed. Part 11
0, and if it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the combined image data, the process proceeds to step S12-12, and in step S12-12, The image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection. Then, in step S12-13,
Image data from print RAM unit 110 and print RAM
The image data and data such as header information written in the unit 32 are combined, the combined data is written in the print RAM unit 32, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are rewritten with the combined image data. At this time, in the digital broadcast printing system 1L, the digital broadcast receiving device 2
The image data written to the print RAM unit 110 by the drawing engine unit 13 is stored in the print RAM unit 3 of the printing apparatus 4.
2, there is no need to stop updating the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 when transferring image data. Therefore, the image display unit 2 of the display device 3
3, the received digital broadcast image is displayed at any time.

On the other hand, in step S12-11, the print instruction from the user is sent to the print RAM unit 3 of the printing apparatus 4.
If it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM 2, the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 It is kept as it is.

As described above, it is determined what kind of image the print instruction from the user is to print, and the image is stored in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 in response to the print instruction from the user. When data such as data and header information, combined image data, etc. are written,
In step S12-14, the print RAM unit 32
Update is stopped.

When the update of the print RAM unit 32 is stopped,
Next, in step S12-15, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data to be printed, the data such as header information, and the combined image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium. Is done. At this time, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data or the like written in the print RAM unit 32 into a plurality of data groups (region division) and records each region on a recording medium for each region. Then, one of the normal recording modes for recording image data or the like on a recording medium without performing area division is selected, and recording of image data or the like on the recording medium is performed.

At this time, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33
The information necessary for the drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Information for resolution conversion to
Such information can be acquired from the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 and recorded on a recording medium together with image data to be printed.

The print image recording / reproducing section 33 acquires channel information and the like from the encoded information developing section 112 of the printing apparatus 4 and records such information together with image data to be printed on a recording medium. Can also.

[0534] When image data or the like to be printed, information required for drawing processing, information required for print image processing, channel information, and the like are recorded on the recording medium, next, in step S12-16, , Print image processing unit 3
By 4, predetermined data processing is performed on image data to be printed and the like held in the print RAM unit 32, and print image data recognizable by the image printing unit 35 is generated. The data processing in step S12-16 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and thus detailed description will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S12-16 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S12-17, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and the encoded information of the printing device 4 transmitted from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 via a digital connection. An image corresponding to image data and data such as header information processed by the expansion unit 112, or an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 and image data processed by the encoding information expansion unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4. An image obtained by synthesizing an image corresponding to the above is printed. Then, when the printing of the image by the image printing unit 35 ends, the update of the printing RAM unit 32 is restarted in step S12-18.

[0536] In the above, it is determined in step S12-8 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33. Has been described, but in step S12-8, a print instruction from the user makes it possible to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that the instruction is to perform the following processing, the following processing is performed.

[0537] In step S12-8, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of print image recording / reproducing section 33 and print an image corresponding to the image data. First, in step S12-19, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends new image data to the video RAM unit 14 to the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Instruct not to write, video R
Update of the AM unit 14 is stopped.

[0538] When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written to the print RAM unit 32 in step S12-20. At this time, together with the image data to be printed, information required for drawing processing in the print RAM unit 32 and information required for subsequent print image processing, such as image data to be printed, are printed. If information obtained from the coded information developing unit 112, such as information for resolution conversion so as to have a resolution suitable for the device 4 and channel information, is recorded on the recording medium, the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 Reproduces such information from a recording medium.

[0539] Next, in step S12-21, the image data written to the print RAM unit 32 by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transferred to the print image interface unit of the printing apparatus 4. From the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 via the digital connection,
Is copied to The image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is further copied to the video RAM unit 14 in step S12-22.

[0540] Next, in step S12-23, the image data copied to the video RAM unit 14 is connected to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 by a high-speed digital connection. Then, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Since the update is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is not rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

Next, in step S12-24, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33. Is made. If it is determined that an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S12 is performed.
Returning to -20, the image data is reproduced again from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 and written into the print RAM unit 32 again. Then, steps S12-21 and S12
At -22, the image data is transferred to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, and the print RAM unit 110 and the video RA
The data is sequentially copied to the M unit 14, and further copied in step S12-2.
At 3, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, when it is determined by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the process proceeds to step S12-25, and in step S12-25, the video RAM unit 14 Update is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

Next, in step S12-26, the print image processing unit 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM unit 32, and the image printing unit 35 Is generated. The data processing in step S12-26 is performed in step S1-9 of the first embodiment described above.
Since it is the same as the data processing in step S1-17, detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S12-26 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S12-27, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 is printed.

[0545] In the above description, the display device 3
The image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the encoded information developing unit 11 of the printing device 4 via the digital connection from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.
2, an image corresponding to data such as image data and header information processed by the encoded information expanding unit 112,
Alternatively, when printing an image obtained by synthesizing an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 and an image corresponding to the image data processed by the encoding information expanding unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4, these printing targets are used. Although the image data is recorded on the recording medium by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, the digital broadcast printing system 1L prints the image data without printing these images immediately. It is also possible to record on a recording medium by the unit 33.

[0546] In this case, an instruction to record the data of these images on the recording medium is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. And
The print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

When the recording operation is being performed by the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, as described above, the printing R
Although the update of the AM unit 32 is stopped, when only the image data is recorded on the recording medium, when the recording operation of the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 progresses to some extent, or when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 When the recording operation is completed, the update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted.

That is, as described above, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 divides the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 into regions and records the image data on the recording medium, the region in which recording on the recording medium has been completed. The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted every time. On the other hand, when the print image recording / reproducing unit 33 records the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 on the recording medium without performing the region division, the print RAM unit 32
The update of the print RAM unit 32 is restarted at the stage when all the image data copied to the print medium is recorded on the recording medium.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1L for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1L, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, there is no need to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1L
Then, when the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 performs a drawing process on both the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110 and prints an image corresponding to image data, the drawing engine unit 13 holds the image data. The image data is transferred to the printing device 4. Therefore,
In the digital broadcast printing system 1L, it is not necessary to stop updating the video RAM unit 14 when transferring image data from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4,
The printing process can be executed without freezing the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

The digital broadcast printing system 1L
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1L, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

The digital broadcast printing system 1L
Then, the print RAM written in the video RAM unit 14
Not only is the image data copied to the unit 110 transferred to the printing device 4, but also the encoded information developing unit 1 of the printing device 4 is transmitted from the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.
12 can be sent. And
In the digital broadcast printing system 1L, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 is based on the drawing processing data generated by the encoded information developing unit 112 of the printing apparatus 4.
Can also perform drawing processing on the print RAM unit 32, so that the video R
The image data transferred from the AM unit 14 and the data sent to the encoding information expanding unit 112 of the printing device 4 are combined in the printing device 4 and, for example, as shown in FIG. An image 122 obtained by synthesizing an image 121 to be displayed on the device 3 and an image 12 corresponding to the image data transferred from the video RAM 14 as shown in FIG.
3 and an image 124 corresponding to the data transferred from the encoded information developing unit 12 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4.
It is also possible to print an image 126 in which the image 125 is superimposed on the image 125. In other words, in the digital broadcast printing system 1L, it is possible to print images of a plurality of pages collectively on one page.

The digital broadcast printing system 1L
In this method, when printing an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, the image data is recorded on a recording medium. If you play the data,
An image corresponding to this image data can be printed again.

Thirteenth Embodiment FIG. 43 shows a thirteenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1M shown in FIG. 43, a display image recording / playback unit 113 is provided in the digital broadcast receiving device 2 instead of the printing device 4 having the print image recording / playback unit 33. . That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1M, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2, the information required for drawing processing in the video RAM unit 14, and the print data The information obtained from the coded information developing unit 12, such as information of the channel, channel information, etc., is recorded on a recording medium by a display image recording / reproducing unit 113 provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, or if necessary. Thus, such image data and various information can be reproduced from a recording medium. Other configurations of the digital broadcast printing system 1M are substantially the same as those of the digital broadcast printing system 1A shown in FIG.

The digital broadcast printing system 1 as described above
The operation of M will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In this digital broadcast printing system 1M,
As shown in FIG. 44, first, in step S13-1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

[0558] Next, in step S13-2, the image data of the digital broadcast received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is processed by the encoded information developing unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13, and 3 is written to the video RAM unit 14 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23.

The image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, in step S13-3, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

As long as the user does not give a print instruction, as a normal image display process, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed.

At this time, as shown in step S13-4, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
13-2 and S13-3 are repeated, and the video RA
The updating of the M unit 14 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S13-5.

[0562] In step S13-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing section 113 by receiving a print instruction from the user. It is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image or an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23. If it is determined in step S13-5 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23, the process proceeds to step S13-6, and the process proceeds to step S13-6. S13-
At 6, the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped.

[0563] That is, in step S13-6, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 instructs the drawing engine section 13 not to newly write image data to the video RAM section 14. This is because the data for one screen written in the video RAM unit 14 is compared with the time required for updating the data for one screen in the video RAM unit 14 to display a new image, and the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 Since the time required to print an image corresponding to the image data by the printing device 4 is longer, the image data of the video RAM unit 14 is recorded during the recording operation on the recording medium. This is to prevent rewriting. While no new image data is written to the video RAM unit 14, the image display unit 23 of the display device 3
Will repeatedly display the same image.

[0564] Next, in step S13-7, the display image recording / reproducing section 113 records the image data written in the video RAM section 14 on a recording medium. At this time, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113
2 for converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data 2 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Can be acquired from the drawing engine unit 13 and such information can be recorded on a recording medium together with image data.

[0565] The display image recording / reproducing section 113 can also acquire channel information and the like from the coded information developing section 12, and record such information together with image data on a recording medium.

[0566] When the recording operation on the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is completed and the image data and the like written in the video RAM unit 14 are recorded on the recording medium, next, in step S13-8, the video The image data held in the RAM unit 14 is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the display image interface unit 31 of the printing device 4 via a high-speed digital connection, and the print RAM of the printing device 4 Copied to the unit 32.

When the copying of the image data from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, next, in step S13-9, the video RAM section of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 Update 14 is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, the print image processing unit 34 of the printing apparatus 4 applies predetermined data to the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 in step S13-10. The processing is performed, and image data for printing that can be recognized by the image printing unit 35 is generated. Note that the data processing in step S13-10 is performed in step S1-9 of the first embodiment described above.
Since it is the same as the data processing in step S1-17, detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S13-10 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S13-11, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. Thus, when the user issues a print instruction,
The image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is printed.

[0570] The above has described the flow of processing when it is determined in step S13-5 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23. However, in step S13-5, the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and print the image corresponding to the image data. When it is determined, the following processing is performed.

In step S13-5, the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and print the image corresponding to the image data. Is determined, first, in step S13-12, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Is instructed not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14, and the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped.

[0572] When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and written to the video RAM unit 32 in step S13-13. At this time,
Along with the image data to be printed, the video RAM unit 14
For converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, the image data to be printed to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. When the information, such as information and channel information, obtained from the encoded information developing unit 12 is recorded on the recording medium, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 also reproduces such information from the recording medium.

[0573] Next, in step S13-14, the image data written to the video RAM unit 14 by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium is displayed on the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 The image is transferred from the interface unit 15 to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 via the high-speed digital connection, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, since the updating of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display apparatus 3 may be rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Absent. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

Next, in step S13-15, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. Is made.
Then, an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
That is, when it is determined that an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S1 is performed.
Returning to 3-13, the image data is reproduced again from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and written into the video RAM unit 14. Then, in step S13-14, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, when it is determined that the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is to be printed, in step S13-16, the image data held in the video RAM unit 14 is The print image data is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the display image interface unit 31 of the printing device 4 via a high-speed digital connection.
Copied to the AM unit 32.

When the copying of the image data from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, next, in step S13-17, the video RAM section of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 Update 14 is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0577] Next, in step S13-18, the print image processing unit 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM unit 32, and the image printing unit 35 Is generated. The data processing in step S13-18 is performed in step S1-9 of the first embodiment.
Since it is the same as the data processing in step S1-17, detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S13-18 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S13-19, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is printed.

[0579] In the above description, when printing an image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, this image data is displayed by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 on a recording medium. The digital broadcast printing system 1M prints this image data on the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 without printing an image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14. It is also possible to record.

[0580] In this case, an instruction to record the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. Then, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 records the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1M for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1M, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, there is no need to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

The digital broadcast printing system 1M
Uses a high-speed digital connection to transfer image data from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4,
The image data can be transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 quickly, and the image data can be printed in a short time.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1M
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1M, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

The digital broadcast printing system 1M
In printing the image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2,
Since the image data is recorded on the recording medium, if the image data is reproduced later from the recording medium, it is possible to print the image corresponding to the image data again.

Fourteenth Embodiment FIG. 45 shows a fourteenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1N shown in FIG. 45, a display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is provided in the digital broadcast receiving device 2 instead of the printing image recording / reproducing unit 33 in the printing device 4. . That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1N, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2, the information required for the drawing process in the video RAM unit 14, and the print data The information obtained from the coded information developing unit 12, such as information of the channel, channel information, etc., is recorded on a recording medium by a display image recording / reproducing unit 113 provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, or if necessary. Thus, such image data and various information can be reproduced from a recording medium. Other configurations of the digital broadcast printing system 1N are substantially the same as those of the digital broadcast printing system 1B shown in FIG. 9, and include a print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and a print image interface of the printing device 4. The image data can be exchanged with the unit 102.

The digital broadcast printing system 1 as described above
The operation of N will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In this digital broadcast printing system 1N,
As shown in FIG. 46, first, in step S14-1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

[0589] Next, in step S14-2, the image data of the digital broadcast received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is processed by the coded information developing unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13, and 3 is written to the video RAM unit 14 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23.

[0590] The image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, in step S14-3, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

[0590] While the print instruction is not issued from the user, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed.

At this time, as shown in step S14-4, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
14-2 and S14-3 are repeated, and the video RA
The updating of the M unit 14 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S14-5.

[0593] In step S14-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing section 113 by receiving a print instruction from the user. It is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image or an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23. If it is determined in step S14-5 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23, the process proceeds to step S14-6, and the process proceeds to step S14-6. S14-
At 6, the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped.

[0593] That is, in step S14-6, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 instructs the drawing engine section 13 not to newly write image data to the video RAM section 14. This is because the data for one screen written in the video RAM unit 14 is compared with the time required for updating the data for one screen in the video RAM unit 14 to display a new image, and the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 Since the time required to print an image corresponding to the image data by the printing device 4 is longer, the image data of the video RAM unit 14 is recorded during the recording operation on the recording medium. This is to prevent rewriting. While no new image data is written to the video RAM unit 14, the image display unit 23 of the display device 3
Will repeatedly display the same image.

[0595] Next, in step S14-7, the display image recording / reproducing section 113 records the image data written in the video RAM section 14 on a recording medium. At this time, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113
2 for converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data 2 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Can be acquired from the drawing engine unit 13 and such information can be recorded on a recording medium together with image data.

[0596] The display image recording / reproducing section 113 can also acquire channel information and the like from the coded information developing section 12, and record such information together with image data on a recording medium.

[0597] When the recording operation on the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is completed and the image data and the like written in the video RAM unit 14 are recorded on the recording medium, next, in step S14-8, the video The image data held in the RAM unit 14 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection, and the print RAM unit of the printing device 4 32.

When the copying of the image data from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, next, in step S14-9, the video RAM section of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 Update 14 is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0599] When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, the print image processing unit 34 of the printing apparatus 4 applies predetermined data to the image data copied to the print RAM unit 32 in step S14-10. The processing is performed, and image data for printing that can be recognized by the image printing unit 35 is generated. The data processing in step S14-10 is performed in step S1-9 of the first embodiment described above.
Since it is the same as the data processing in step S1-17, detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S14-10 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S14-11, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. Thus, when the user issues a print instruction,
The image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is printed.

The above has described the flow of processing when it is determined in step S14-5 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23. However, in step S14-5, the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and print the image corresponding to the image data. When it is determined, the following processing is performed.

[0602] In step S14-5, the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and print an image corresponding to the image data. Is determined, first, in step S14-12, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Is instructed not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14, and the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and written to the video RAM unit 32 in step S14-13. At this time,
Along with the image data to be printed, the video RAM unit 14
For converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, the image data to be printed to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. When the information, such as information and channel information, obtained from the encoded information developing unit 12 is recorded on the recording medium, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 also reproduces such information from the recording medium.

Next, in step S14-14, the image data written to the video RAM unit 14 by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, ie, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, The image is transferred from the interface unit 15 to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 via the high-speed digital connection, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, since the updating of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display apparatus 3 may be rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Absent. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

Next, in step S14-15, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. Is made.
Then, an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
That is, when it is determined that an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S1 is performed.
Returning to 4-13, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 again and written into the video RAM unit 14. Then, in step S14-14, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
That is, if it is determined by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the image data held in the video RAM unit 14 is deleted in step S14-16. Print image interface unit 101 of digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2
From the print image interface unit 102 of the printing apparatus 4
Via a digital connection to the printer R
Copied to the AM unit 32.

When the copying of the image data from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, next, in step S14-17, the video RAM section of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 Update 14 is resumed. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

Next, in step S14-18, the print image processing unit 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM unit 32, and the image print unit 35 Is generated. The data processing in step S14-18 is performed in step S1-9 of the first embodiment described above.
Since it is the same as the data processing in step S1-17, detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S14-18 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S14-19, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is printed.

In the above description, when printing an image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, this image data is transferred to the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. The digital broadcast printing system 1N prints the image data on the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 without printing the image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14. It is also possible to record.

[0611] In this case, an instruction to record the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. Then, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 records the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1N for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1N, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, there is no need to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1N
In printing an image corresponding to image data, the data of the image to be printed is printed from the video RAM unit 14 by the printing RA.
The data is collectively transferred to the M unit 32, and the subsequent processing is performed only on the printing apparatus 4 side. Therefore, on the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the display device 3 side, the video RA
Processing such as updating the M unit 14 and displaying image data written in the video RAM unit 14 can be promptly resumed. Therefore, in the digital broadcast printing system 1N, the freeze time of the display image accompanying the execution of printing can be extremely short.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1N
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1N, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with a very simple operation.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1N
In printing the image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2,
Since the image data is recorded on the recording medium, if the image data is reproduced later from the recording medium, it is possible to print the image corresponding to the image data again.

Fifteenth Embodiment FIG. 47 shows a fifteenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

In the digital broadcast printing system 10 shown in FIG. 47, a display image recording / reproducing section 113 is provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 instead of the printing apparatus 4 having the print image recording / reproducing section 33. . That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 10, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2, information required for drawing processing in the video RAM unit 14, The information obtained from the coded information developing unit 12, such as information of the channel, channel information, etc., is recorded on a recording medium by a display image recording / reproducing unit 113 provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, or if necessary. Thus, such image data and various information can be reproduced from a recording medium. The other configuration of the digital broadcast printing system 10 is almost the same as that of the digital broadcast printing system 1C shown in FIG. 11, and is used when transferring the image data held in the video RAM unit 14 to the printing device 4. Temporarily copies the image data to the print RAM unit 110,
The image data copied to the M section 110 is transferred from the print image interface section 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print image interface section 102 of the printing apparatus 4 via a digital connection.

The digital broadcast printing system 1 as described above
The operation of O will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In this digital broadcast printing system 10,
As shown in FIG. 48, first, in step S15-1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

Next, in step S15-2, the digital broadcast image data received by the communication interface section 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is processed by the coded information developing section 12 and the drawing engine section 13, and is processed by the display device. 3 is written to the video RAM unit 14 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23.

[0621] The image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, in step S15-3, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

[0622] While the print instruction is not given by the user, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed.

At this time, as shown in step S15-4, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
15-2 and S15-3 are repeated, and the video RA
The updating of the M unit 14 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S15-5.

[0624] In step S15-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing section 113 by receiving a print instruction from the user. It is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image or an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23. If it is determined in step S15-5 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23, the process proceeds to step S15-6, and the process proceeds to step S15-6. S15-
At 6, the image data held in the video RAM unit 14 is copied to the print RAM unit 110.

Next, in step S15-7, updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped. That is, in step S15-7, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 instructs the drawing engine unit 13 not to newly write image data to the video RAM unit 14. This is because the data for one screen written in the video RAM unit 14 is compared with the time required for updating the data for one screen in the video RAM unit 14 to display a new image, and the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 This is to prevent the image data of the video RAM unit 14 from being rewritten during the recording operation on the recording medium because the time required for recording on the recording medium is longer. While no new image data is written to the video RAM unit 14, the same image is repeatedly displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

Next, in step S15-8, the display image recording / reproducing section 113 records the image data written in the video RAM section 14 on a recording medium. At this time, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113
2 for converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data 2 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Can be obtained from the drawing engine unit 13 and such information can be recorded on a recording medium together with the image data.

[0627] The display image recording / reproducing section 113 can also acquire channel information and the like from the encoded information developing section 12, and can record such information together with image data on a recording medium.

[0628] When the recording operation on the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is completed and the image data and the like written in the video RAM unit 14 are recorded on the recording medium, next, in step S15-9, the video The update of the RAM unit 14 is restarted. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, the image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is sent from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 in step S15-10. Is transferred to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing apparatus 4 via a digital connection, and the print RA of the printing apparatus 4 is
Copied to M section 32.

When the copying of the image data from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, next, in step S15-11, the printing image processing section 34 of the printing apparatus 4 By printing R
Predetermined data processing is performed on the image data copied to the AM unit 32, and image data for printing that can be recognized by the image printing unit 35 is generated. This step S15-
The data processing in 11 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the above-described first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S15-11 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S15-12, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. Thus, when the user issues a print instruction,
The image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is printed.

The flow of the process when the print instruction from the user is determined in step S15-5 to be an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 has been described above. However, in step S15-5, the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and print the image corresponding to the image data. When it is determined, the following processing is performed.

In step S15-5, the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and print an image corresponding to the image data. Is determined, first, in step S15-13, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Is instructed not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14, and the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped.

[0634] When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and written to the video RAM unit 32 in step S15-14. At this time,
Along with the image data to be printed, the video RAM unit 14
For converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, the image data to be printed to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. When the information, such as information and channel information, obtained from the encoded information developing unit 12 is recorded on the recording medium, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 also reproduces such information from the recording medium.

Next, in step S15-15, the image data written to the video RAM unit 14 by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium is displayed on the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 The image is transferred from the interface unit 15 to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 via the high-speed digital connection, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, since the updating of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display apparatus 3 may be rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Absent. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

[0636] Next, in step S15-16, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. Is made.
Then, an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
That is, when it is determined that an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S1 is performed.
Returning to 5-14, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 again and written into the video RAM unit 14. Then, in step S15-15, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

[0637] On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, if it is determined by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium, the image data held in the video RAM unit 14 is printed in step S15-17. Copied to the RAM unit 110.

Next, in step S15-18, updating of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, the image display unit 2 of the display device 3
3, the received digital broadcast image is displayed at any time.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, the image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is sent from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 in step S15-19. Is transferred to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing apparatus 4 via a digital connection, and the print RA of the printing apparatus 4 is
Copied to M section 32.

When the copying of the image data from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, next, in step S15-20, the print image processing section 34 Predetermined data processing is performed on the image data written in the unit 32, and image data for printing that can be recognized by the image printing unit 35 is generated. Note that the data processing in step S15-20 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S15-20 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S15-21, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is printed.

[0642] In the above description, when printing an image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, this image data is transferred to the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. However, the digital broadcast printing system 10 does not print an image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 but prints this image data on a recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. It is also possible to record.

[0643] In this case, an instruction to record the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. Then, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 records the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

[0644] As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 10 for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 10, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, it is not necessary to provide an A / D converter having a video signal frequency band in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

The digital broadcasting printing system 10
Then, when printing an image corresponding to the image data, first, the image data to be printed is copied from the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM unit 110, and then copied to the print RAM unit 110. The obtained image data is transferred to the printing device 4. Therefore, in the digital broadcast printing system 10, the update of the video RAM unit 14 can be restarted before the image data is transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, and the freeze time of the display image accompanying the printing is reduced. Can be very short.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 10
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 10, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

[0647] The digital broadcast printing system 10
In printing the image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2,
Since the image data is recorded on the recording medium, if the image data is reproduced later from the recording medium, it is possible to print the image corresponding to the image data again.

Sixteenth Embodiment FIG. 49 shows a sixteenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1P shown in FIG. 49, a display image recording / reproducing section 113 is provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 instead of the printing apparatus 4 having the print image recording / reproducing section 33. . That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1P, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2, the information required for drawing processing in the video RAM unit 14, and the print data The information obtained from the coded information developing unit 12, such as information of the channel, channel information, etc., is recorded on a recording medium by a display image recording / reproducing unit 113 provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, or if necessary. Thus, such image data and various information can be reproduced from a recording medium. Other configurations of the digital broadcast printing system 1P are substantially the same as those of the digital broadcast printing system 1D shown in FIG.
3 is performed by the video RAM unit 14
, As well as the print RAM unit 110.

The digital broadcast printing system 1 as described above
The operation of P will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In this digital broadcast printing system 1P,
As shown in FIG. 50, first, in step S16-1, the digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

[0652] Next, in step S16-2, the digital broadcast image data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is processed by the coded information developing unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13 and the display device For each frame of the image displayed on the third image display unit 23, the data is written to the video RAM unit 14 and also written to the print RAM unit 110. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1P, the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 performs the drawing process on the video RAM unit 14 and also performs the drawing process on the print RAM unit 110.

The image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. Then, in step S16-3, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

[0654] While the print instruction is not issued by the user, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed.

[0655] At this time, as shown in step S16-4, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
16-2 and S16-3 are repeated, and the video RA
The updating of the M section 14 and the print RAM section 110 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM section 14 are repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S16-5.

[0656] In step S16-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing section 113 by receiving a print instruction from the user. It is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image or an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23. If it is determined in step S16-5 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23, the process proceeds to step S16-6. S16-
At 6, the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped.
That is, in step S16-6, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
To the video RAM unit 14 so as not to write new image data. This is the video RAM unit 1
4, the data for one screen written in the video RAM unit 14 is recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, rather than the time required for updating the data for one screen and displaying a new image. This is to prevent the image data in the video RAM unit 14 from being rewritten during the recording operation on the recording medium because the time required for the recording is longer. While no new image data is written to the video RAM unit 14, the same image is repeatedly displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

[0657] Next, in step S16-7, the display image recording / reproducing section 113 records the image data written in the video RAM section 14 on a recording medium. At this time, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113
2 for converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data 2 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Can be obtained from the drawing engine unit 13 and such information can be recorded on a recording medium together with the image data.

[0658] The display image recording / reproducing section 113 can also acquire channel information and the like from the encoded information expanding section 12, and record such information together with image data on a recording medium.

[0659] When the recording operation on the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is completed and the image data and the like written in the video RAM unit 14 are recorded on the recording medium, next, in step S16-8, the video The update of the RAM unit 14 is restarted. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0660] When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, next, in step S16-9, the image data written in the print RAM unit 110 is transmitted from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print image interface unit 101. Is transferred to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing apparatus 4 via a digital connection, and the print RA of the printing apparatus 4 is
Copied to M section 32.

When copying of the image data from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, next, in step S16-10, the print image processing section 34 of the printing apparatus 4 By printing R
Predetermined data processing is performed on the image data copied to the AM unit 32, and image data for printing that can be recognized by the image printing unit 35 is generated. This step S16-
The data processing in 10 is the same as the data processing in steps S1-9 and S1-17 of the above-described first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S16-10 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S16-11, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. Thus, when the user issues a print instruction,
The image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 is printed.

The above has described the flow of processing when it is determined in step S16-5 that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23. However, in step S16-5, the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and print the image corresponding to the image data. When it is determined, the following processing is performed.

In step S16-5, the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and print the image corresponding to the image data. Is determined, first, in step S16-12, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Is instructed not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14, and the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped.

[0665] When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and written to the video RAM unit 32 in step S16-13. At this time,
Along with the image data to be printed, the video RAM unit 14
For converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, the image data to be printed to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. When the information, such as information and channel information, obtained from the encoded information developing unit 12 is recorded on the recording medium, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 also reproduces such information from the recording medium.

[0666] The digital broadcast printing system 1P
In, the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording and reproducing unit 113 may be written to the print RAM unit 110 at the same time as the video data is written to the video RAM unit 14. As described above, the image data reproduced from the recording medium is stored in the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 1.
If the image data is transferred to the printing apparatus 4 at the same time, the video RAM 14
Need not be copied to the print RAM unit 110.

[0667] Next, in step S16-14, the image data written into the video RAM unit 14 by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium is displayed on the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 The image is transferred from the interface unit 15 to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 via the high-speed digital connection, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, since the updating of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display apparatus 3 may be rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Absent. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

[0668] Next, in step S16-15, it is determined whether to print an image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. Is made.
Then, an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
That is, when it is determined that an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S1 is performed.
Returning to 6-13, the image data is reproduced again from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and written into the video RAM unit 14. Then, in step S16-14, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

[0669] On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
That is, if it is determined by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the image data held in the video RAM unit 14 is printed in step S16-16. Copied to the RAM unit 110. Step S16-
13, when the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is written into the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110 at the same time, the image data is transferred from the video RAM unit 14 to the print RAM. There is no need to copy to the unit 110.

Next, in step S16-17, updating of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, the image display unit 2 of the display device 3
3, the received digital broadcast image is displayed at any time.

[0671] When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, the image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is transmitted from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 in step S16-18. Is transferred to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing apparatus 4 via a digital connection, and the print RA of the printing apparatus 4 is
Copied to M section 32.

[0672] When the copying of the image data from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, next, in step S16-19, the print image processing section 34 Predetermined data processing is performed on the image data written in the unit 32, and image data for printing that can be recognized by the image printing unit 35 is generated. Note that the data processing in step S16-19 is similar to the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S16-19 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S16-20, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is printed.

[0674] In the above description, when printing an image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, this image data is transferred to the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. The digital broadcast printing system 1P stores the image data on the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 without printing an image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14. It is also possible to record.

[0675] In this case, an instruction to record the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. Then, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 records the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1P for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1P, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, there is no need to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1P
Then, when the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 performs a drawing process on both the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110 and prints an image corresponding to image data, the drawing engine unit 13 holds the image data. The image data is transferred to the printing device 4. Therefore,
In the digital broadcast printing system 1P, it is not necessary to stop updating the video RAM unit 14 when transferring image data from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4.
The printing process can be executed without freezing the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1P
Then, when the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 performs a drawing process on both the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110 and prints an image corresponding to image data, the drawing engine unit 13 holds the image data. The copied image data is copied to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4. Therefore, the digital broadcast printing system 1P
Thus, the update of the video RAM unit 14 can be restarted before the image data is transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, and the freeze time of the display image accompanying the execution of the printing can be extremely shortened.

[0679] The digital broadcast printing system 1P
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1P, it is possible to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 with a very simple operation.

[0680] The digital broadcast printing system 1P
In printing the image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2,
Since the image data is recorded on the recording medium, if the image data is reproduced later from the recording medium, it is possible to print the image corresponding to the image data again.

Seventeenth Embodiment FIG. 51 shows a seventeenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1Q shown in FIG. 51, a display image recording / reproducing section 113 is provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 instead of the printing apparatus 4 having the print image recording / reproducing section 33. . That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1Q, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, the information required for drawing processing in the video RAM unit 14, and the print data The information obtained from the coded information developing unit 12, such as information of the channel, channel information, etc., is recorded on a recording medium by a display image recording / reproducing unit 113 provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, or if necessary. Thus, such image data and various information can be reproduced from a recording medium. Other configurations of the digital broadcast printing system 1Q are almost the same as those of the digital broadcast printing system 1E shown in FIG. Information development unit 12
And the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 are digitally connected. In the digital broadcast printing system 1Q, the drawing engine unit 1 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
3 renders the image data to be displayed on the image display unit of the display device 3 on the video RAM unit 13 separately from the video RAM unit 13.
A process of drawing other information such as other image data and header information can be performed on the M unit 32.

The digital broadcast printing system 1 as described above
The operation of Q will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In this digital broadcast printing system 1Q,
As shown in FIGS. 52 and 53, first, in step S17
At -1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

Next, in step S17-2, the digital broadcast image data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is converted into the coded information developing unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Accordingly, the image is written to the video RAM unit 14 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

The data such as image data and header information of the digital broadcast received by the communication interface section 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 are converted into drawing processing data by the encoded information expanding section 12 as necessary. Then, the data is transferred to the printing device 4 via a digital connection, and supplied to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. And
In step S17-3, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4 prints the printing device 4 according to the drawing processing data transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 via the digital connection. A drawing process is performed on the RAM unit 32. Thereby, the print RAM unit 32
Is written with image data and header information.

In step S17-2, the video RAM
The image data written in the unit 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. And step S
At 17-4, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

[0688] As long as the user does not give a print instruction, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are updated as necessary.

At this time, as shown in step S17-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
By repeating the processing of 17-2, S17-3, and S17-4, the updating of the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 32 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S17-6.

[0690] In step S17-6, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing section 113 by receiving a print instruction from the user. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print an image corresponding to. If it is determined in step S17-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, Proceeding to step S17-7, the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped in step S17-7. That is, in step S17-7, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
It instructs the video RAM unit 14 not to write new image data. This is because the data for one screen written in the video RAM unit 14 is compared with the time required for updating the data for one screen in the video RAM unit 14 to display a new image, and the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 This is to prevent the image data of the video RAM unit 14 from being rewritten during the recording operation on the recording medium because the time required for recording on the recording medium is longer. While no new image data is written to the video RAM unit 14, the same image is repeatedly displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

Next, in step S17-8, the display image recording / reproducing section 113 records the image data written in the video RAM section 14 on a recording medium. At this time, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113
2 for converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data 2 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Can be obtained from the drawing engine unit 13 and such information can be recorded on a recording medium together with the image data.

[0691] The display image recording / reproducing section 113 can also acquire channel information and the like from the coded information developing section 12, and record such information together with image data on a recording medium.

Next, in step S17-9, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends a print instruction from the user to print the image currently displayed on the image display section 23 of the display apparatus 3. Is determined. Then, when it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, step S17.
At −10, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the display image interface unit 31 of the printing device 4 via the high-speed digital connection, and is printed. The content of the print RAM unit 32 of the device 4 is
The image data is rewritten with the image data from the AM unit 14.

Then, when the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are rewritten with the image data from the video RAM unit 14, the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted in step S17-11. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

If it is determined in step S17-9 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, the process proceeds to step S17-9. In step S17-12,
The processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4.
Is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the data such as the image data and header information written in the printing device 4, or the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4; It is determined whether the instruction is to combine the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and print an image corresponding to the combined image data.

[0696] Then, the print instruction from the user is transmitted in accordance with the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM 32 of the printing apparatus 4 and the image data written in the video RAM 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Are combined, and if it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the combined image data, the process proceeds to step S17-13.
In, the image data written in the video RAM unit is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the display image interface unit 31 of the printing device 4 via a high-speed digital connection.
Then, in step S17-14, the video RAM
The image data from the unit 14 and data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 are synthesized,
The combined data is written to the print RAM unit 32.

Then, when the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are rewritten to the synthesized image data, the process proceeds to step S17-
At 15, the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0698] On the other hand, in step S17-12, the printing instruction from the user is sent to the printing RAM unit 3 of the printing apparatus 4.
If it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the data such as the image data or header information written in the print RAM 2, the data written in the print RAM unit 32 is held as it is.

[0699] As described above, it is determined what kind of image the print instruction from the user is to print, and the image is stored in the print RAM 32 of the printing apparatus 3 in accordance with the print instruction from the user. When data such as data and header information, combined image data, and the like are written, in step S17-16, the print image processing unit 34 of the printing apparatus 4 performs predetermined processing on the image data written in the print RAM unit 32. Of the image printing unit 35
The image data for printing that can be recognized is generated. In addition,
The data processing in step S17-16 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the above-described first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S17-16 is supplied to the image printing section 35, and in step S17-17, the image printing section 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and the image data and header information transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 via the digital connection are displayed. Or an image obtained by combining an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 with an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the encoding information expanding unit 12 to the printing apparatus 4 or the like. Will be.

In the above, when it is determined in step S17-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, Has been described, but in step S17-6, a print instruction from the user makes it possible to reproduce image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and print an image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that the instruction is to perform the following processing, the following processing is performed.

In step S17-6, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of display image recording / reproducing section 113 and print an image corresponding to the image data. If so,
First, in step S17-18, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Is instructed not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14, and the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped.

When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and written to the video RAM unit 32 in step S17-19. At this time,
Along with the image data to be printed, the video RAM unit 14
For converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, the image data to be printed to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. When the information, such as information and channel information, obtained from the encoded information developing unit 12 is recorded on the recording medium, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 also reproduces such information from the recording medium.

Next, in step S17-20, the image data written in the print RAM unit 32 by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transferred to the display device via the high-speed digital connection. 3
The image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, since the updating of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display apparatus 3 may be rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Absent. Therefore, the user
Looking at the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3,
It is possible to check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

Next, in step S17-21, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. Is made.
Then, an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
That is, when it is determined that an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S1 is performed.
Returning to 7-19, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium again by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and written into the video RAM unit 14. Then, in step S17-20, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, if the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 determines that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the process proceeds to step S17-22, and in this step S17-22, the video RAM unit 14 The written image data to be printed is transferred from the display image interface unit 15 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the display image interface unit 31 of the printing device 4 via a high-speed digital connection, and is stored in the printing RAM unit of the printing device 4. 32.

When the copying of the image data from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, the updating of the video RAM section 14 is resumed in step S17-23. You. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0708] In step S17-24, the print image processing unit 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM unit 32, and the image printing unit 35 Is generated. The data processing in step S17-24 is performed in step S1-9 of the first embodiment described above.
Since it is the same as the data processing in step S1-17, detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S17-24 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S17-25, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is printed.

[0710] In the above description, when printing an image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, the image data is displayed by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 on a recording medium. However, the digital broadcast printing system 1Q stores the image data on the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 without printing an image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14. It is also possible to record.

[0711] In this case, an instruction to record the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. Then, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 records the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1Q for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1P, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, there is no need to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

[0713] The digital broadcast printing system 1Q
Uses a high-speed digital connection to transfer image data from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4,
The image data can be transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 quickly, and the image data can be printed in a short time.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1Q
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1Q, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1Q
Then, not only is the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 transferred to the printing device 4, but also the data is transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. Therefore, these data are combined in the printing device 4, and for example, as shown in FIG. 15, an image 122 obtained by combining the header information 120 and the image 121 displayed on the display device 3,
As shown in FIG. 19, an image 123 corresponding to the image data transferred from the video RAM 14, and images 124 and 125 corresponding to the data transferred from the encoding information expanding unit 12 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4. It is also possible to print an image 126 obtained by superimposing. In other words, in the digital broadcast printing system 1Q, it is possible to print images of a plurality of pages collectively on one page.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1Q
In printing the image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2,
Since the image data is recorded on the recording medium, if the image data is reproduced later from the recording medium, it is possible to print the image corresponding to the image data again.

Eighteenth Embodiment FIG. 54 shows an eighteenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1R shown in FIG. 54, a display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is provided in the digital broadcast receiving device 2 instead of the printing image recording / reproducing unit 33 in the printing device 4. . That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1R, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2, the information required for drawing processing in the video RAM unit 14, and the print data The information obtained from the coded information developing unit 12, such as information of the channel, channel information, etc., is recorded on a recording medium by a display image recording / reproducing unit 113 provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, or if necessary. Thus, such image data and various information can be reproduced from a recording medium. The other configuration of the digital broadcast printing system 1R is almost the same as that of the digital broadcast printing system 1F shown in FIG. 20. The drawing engine unit 111 is added to the printing device 4, and the code of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is changed. Information development unit 12
And the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 are digitally connected. In the digital broadcast printing system 1R, the drawing engine unit 1 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2
3 renders the image data to be displayed on the image display unit of the display device 3 on the video RAM unit 13 separately from the video RAM unit 13.
A process of drawing other information such as other image data and header information can be performed on the M unit 32.

The digital broadcasting printing system 1 as described above
The operation of R will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In this digital broadcasting printing system 1R,
As shown in FIGS. 55 and 56, first, in step S18,
At -1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

[0721] Next, in step S18-2, the image data of the digital broadcast received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is converted into the encoded information developing unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Accordingly, the image is written to the video RAM unit 14 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

[0722] The digital broadcast image data and data such as header information received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 are converted into drawing processing data by the encoded information expanding unit 12 as necessary. Then, the data is transferred to the printing device 4 via a digital connection, and supplied to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. And
In step S18-3, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 performs printing of the printing apparatus 4 according to the drawing processing data transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 via the digital connection. A drawing process is performed on the RAM unit 32. Thereby, the print RAM unit 32
Is written with image data and header information.

[0723] In step S18-2, the video RAM
The image data written in the unit 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. And step S
At 18-4, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

[0724] While the print instruction is not issued from the user, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are updated as necessary.

At this time, as shown in step S18-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
By repeating the processes of 18-2, S18-3, and S18-4, the updating of the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 32 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S18-6.

[0726] In step S18-6, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing section 113 by receiving a print instruction from the user. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print an image corresponding to. If it is determined in step S18-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, The process proceeds to step S18-7, in which the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped. That is, in step S18-7, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
It instructs the video RAM unit 14 not to write new image data. This is because the data for one screen written in the video RAM unit 14 is compared with the time required for updating the data for one screen in the video RAM unit 14 to display a new image, and the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 This is to prevent the image data of the video RAM unit 14 from being rewritten during the recording operation on the recording medium because the time required for recording on the recording medium is longer. While no new image data is written to the video RAM unit 14, the same image is repeatedly displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

Next, in step S18-8, the display image recording / reproducing section 113 records the image data written in the video RAM section 14 on a recording medium. At this time, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113
2 for converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data 2 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Can be obtained from the drawing engine unit 13 and such information can be recorded on a recording medium together with the image data.

[0728] The display image recording / reproducing section 113 can also acquire channel information and the like from the coded information developing section 12, and record such information together with image data on a recording medium.

[0729] In step S18-9, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends a print instruction from the user to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. Is determined. Then, when it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, step S18.
At -10, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection. 4 is a video RAM 32.
The image data is rewritten with the image data from the AM unit 14.

Then, when the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are rewritten with the image data from the video RAM unit 14, the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted in step S18-11. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0731] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S18-9 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, next, In step S18-12,
The processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4.
Is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the data such as the image data and header information written in the printing device 4, or the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4; It is determined whether the instruction is to combine the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 and print an image corresponding to the combined image data.

[0732] Then, the print instruction from the user is transmitted in accordance with the image data and the header information and the like written in the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 and the image data written in the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Are combined, and if it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the combined image data, the process proceeds to step S18-13.
In, the image data written in the video RAM unit is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit of the printing device 4 via a digital connection.
Then, in step S18-14, the video RAM
The image data from the unit 14 and data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 are synthesized,
The combined data is written to the print RAM unit 32.

[0733] When the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are rewritten to the synthesized image data, step S18-
At 15, the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0734] On the other hand, in step S18-12, a print instruction from the user is sent to the print RAM unit 3 of the printing apparatus 4.
If it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the data such as the image data or header information written in the print RAM 2, the data written in the print RAM unit 32 is held as it is.

As described above, it is determined what kind of image the print instruction from the user is to print, and the image is stored in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 according to the print instruction from the user. When data such as data and header information, combined image data, and the like are written, in step S18-16, the print image processing unit 34 of the printing device 4 performs predetermined processing on the image data written in the print RAM unit 32. Of the image printing unit 35
The image data for printing that can be recognized is generated. In addition,
The data processing in step S18-16 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the above-described first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S18-16 is supplied to the image printing section 35, and in step S18-17, the image printing section 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and the image data and header information transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 via the digital connection are displayed. Or an image obtained by combining an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 with an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the encoding information expanding unit 12 to the printing apparatus 4 or the like. Will be.

[0737] The above is the case where it is determined in step S18-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. Has been described, but in step S18-6, a print instruction from the user reproduces image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and prints an image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that the instruction is to perform the following processing, the following processing is performed.

[0738] In step S18-6, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce image data recorded on the recording medium of display image recording / reproducing section 113 and print an image corresponding to the image data. If so,
First, in step S18-18, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Is instructed not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14, and the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped.

[0739] When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and written to the video RAM unit 32 in step S18-19. At this time,
Along with the image data to be printed, the video RAM unit 14
For converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, the image data to be printed to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. When the information, such as information and channel information, obtained from the encoded information developing unit 12 is recorded on the recording medium, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 also reproduces such information from the recording medium.

Next, in step S18-20, the image data written to the print RAM unit 32 by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transmitted to the display device via the high-speed digital connection. 3
The image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, since the updating of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display apparatus 3 may be rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Absent. Therefore, the user
Looking at the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3,
It is possible to check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

[0741] Next, in step S18-21, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. Is made.
Then, an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
That is, when it is determined that an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S1 is performed.
Returning to 8-19, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium again by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and written into the video RAM unit 14. Then, in step S18-20, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

[0741] On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, when it is determined by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium, the process proceeds to step S18-22, and in this step S18-22, the video RAM unit 14 The written image data to be printed is transmitted from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the
The data is transferred to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection, and is copied to the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4.

When the copying of the image data from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, next, in step S18-23, the updating of the video RAM section 14 is restarted. You. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0744] In step S18-24, the print image processing section 34 performs predetermined data processing on the image data written in the print RAM section 32, and the image printing section 35 Is generated. The data processing in step S18-24 is performed in step S1-9 of the first embodiment described above.
Since it is the same as the data processing in step S1-17, detailed description is omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S18-24 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S18-25, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is printed.

[0746] In the above description, when printing an image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, this image data is transferred to the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. The digital broadcast printing system 1R prints the image data on the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 without printing the image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14. It is also possible to record.

[0747] In this case, an instruction to record the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. Then, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 records the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1R for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1P, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, there is no need to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

[0749] Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1R
Then, when printing an image corresponding to the image data, first, the data of the image to be printed is collectively transferred from the video RAM unit 14 to the print RAM unit 32.
This is performed only on the printing device 4 side. Therefore, on the digital broadcast receiving device 2 and the display device 3 side,
Processing such as updating the video RAM unit 14 and displaying image data written in the video RAM unit 14 can be promptly resumed. Therefore, in the digital broadcast printing system 1 </ b> R, the freeze time of the display image accompanying the execution of printing can be extremely short.

Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1R
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1R, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

[0751] The digital broadcast printing system 1R
Then, not only is the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 transferred to the printing device 4, but also the data is transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. Therefore, these data are combined in the printing device 4, and for example, as shown in FIG. 15, an image 122 obtained by combining the header information 120 and the image 121 displayed on the display device 3,
As shown in FIG. 19, an image 123 corresponding to the image data transferred from the video RAM 14, and images 124 and 125 corresponding to the data transferred from the encoding information expanding unit 12 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4. It is also possible to print an image 126 obtained by superimposing. In other words, in the digital broadcast printing system 1R, it is possible to print images of a plurality of pages collectively on one page.

[0752] The digital broadcast printing system 1R
In printing the image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2,
Since the image data is recorded on the recording medium, if the image data is reproduced later from the recording medium, it is possible to print the image corresponding to the image data again.

Nineteenth Embodiment FIG. 57 shows a nineteenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

[0754] In the digital broadcast printing system 1S shown in Fig. 57, a display image recording / playback unit 113 is provided in the digital broadcast receiving device 2 instead of the print image recording / playback unit 33 in the printing device 4. . That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1S, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2, the information required for the drawing process in the video RAM unit 14, and the print data The information obtained from the coded information developing unit 12, such as information of the channel, channel information, etc., is recorded on a recording medium by a display image recording / reproducing unit 113 provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, or if necessary. Thus, such image data and various information can be reproduced from a recording medium. The other configuration of the digital broadcast printing system 1S is substantially the same as that of the digital broadcast printing system 1G shown in FIG. Information development unit 12
And the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 are digitally connected. In the digital broadcast printing system 1S, the drawing engine unit 1 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
3 renders the image data to be displayed on the image display unit of the display device 3 on the video RAM unit 13 separately from the video RAM unit 13.
A process of drawing other information such as other image data and header information can be performed on the M unit 32. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1S, when transferring the image data held in the video RAM unit 14 to the printing apparatus 4, the image data is temporarily copied to the print RAM unit 110, and the print RAM unit 1
The image data copied to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is transmitted from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the printing apparatus 4.
To the print image interface unit 102 via a digital connection.

[0755] Digital broadcasting printing system 1 as described above
The operation of S will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

[0756] In this digital broadcast printing system 1S,
As shown in FIGS. 58 and 59, first, in step S19
At -1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

[0757] Next, in step S19-2, the digital broadcast image data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is converted into the coded information developing unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. Accordingly, the image is written to the video RAM unit 14 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

[0758] Also, the digital broadcast image data and data such as header information received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 are converted into drawing processing data by the encoded information expanding unit 12 as necessary. Then, the data is transferred to the printing device 4 via a digital connection, and supplied to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. And
In step S19-3, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 performs printing of the printing apparatus 4 in accordance with the drawing processing data transferred via the digital connection from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. A drawing process is performed on the RAM unit 32. Thereby, the print RAM unit 32
Is written with image data and header information.

[0759] In step S19-2, the video RAM
The image data written in the unit 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. And step S
At 19-4, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

[0760] While the print instruction is not issued from the user, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are updated as necessary.

At this time, as shown in step S19-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
By repeating the processes of 19-2, S19-3, and S19-4, the updating of the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 32 and the display of the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 are repeated. On the other hand, if the print instruction has been input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S19-6.

[0762] In step S19-6, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing section 113 by receiving the print instruction from the user. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print an image corresponding to. If it is determined in step S19-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, Proceeding to step S19-7, the image data held in the video RAM unit 14 is copied to the print RAM unit 110 in this step S19-7.

Next, in step S19-8, the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped. That is, in step S19-8, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 instructs the drawing engine unit 13 not to newly write image data to the video RAM unit 14. This is because the data for one screen written in the video RAM unit 14 is compared with the time required for updating the data for one screen in the video RAM unit 14 to display a new image, and the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 This is to prevent the image data of the video RAM unit 14 from being rewritten during the recording operation on the recording medium because the time required for recording on the recording medium is longer. While no new image data is written to the video RAM unit 14, the same image is repeatedly displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

Next, in step S19-9, the display image recording / reproducing section 113 records the image data written in the video RAM section 14 on a recording medium. At this time, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113
2 for converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data 2 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Can be obtained from the drawing engine unit 13 and such information can be recorded on a recording medium together with the image data.

[0765] The display image recording / reproducing section 113 can also acquire channel information and the like from the coded information developing section 12, and record such information together with image data on a recording medium.

[0766] When the recording operation on the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is completed and the image data or the like written in the video RAM unit 14 is recorded on the recording medium, next, in step S19-10, the video The update of the RAM unit 14 is restarted. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0767] When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, next, in step S19-11, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the image of the display apparatus 3. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print the image currently displayed on the display unit 23. Then, when it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, step S19-
At 12, the video RAM unit 14 transfers the print RAM
The image data copied to the section 110 is transferred from the print image interface section 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print image interface section 102 of the printing apparatus 4 via a digital connection, and is transmitted to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4.
Is rewritten to the image data from the print RAM unit 110.

[0768] On the other hand, in step S19-11, a print instruction from the user is sent to the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.
If it is determined that the instruction is not an instruction to print the currently displayed image, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 next proceeds to step S19-13.
Whether the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print an image corresponding to data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4, or
Data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4 and the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Is synthesized with the image data copied to the print RAM unit 110, and it is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the synthesized image data.

[0769] Then, the print instruction from the user is made up of the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 and the image data copied to the print RAM section 110 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Are combined, and if it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the combined image data, the process proceeds to step S19-14.
In, the image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection. Then, in step S19-15, the print RAM
The image data from the unit 110 and the data such as the image data and the header information written in the print RAM unit 32 are combined, and the combined data is written to the print RAM unit 32.

[0770] On the other hand, in step S19-13, the print instruction from the user is transmitted to the print RAM unit 3 of the printing apparatus 4.
If it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the data such as the image data or header information written in the print RAM 2, the data written in the print RAM unit 32 is held as it is.

As described above, it is determined what kind of image the print instruction from the user is to print, and the image is stored in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 in accordance with the print instruction from the user. When data such as data and header information, combined image data, and the like are written, in step S19-16, the print image processing unit 34 of the printing device 4 performs predetermined processing on the image data written in the print RAM unit 32. Of the image printing unit 35
The image data for printing that can be recognized is generated. In addition,
The data processing in step S19-16 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the above-described first embodiment, and a detailed description will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S19-16 is supplied to the image printing section 35, and in step S19-17, the image printing section 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and the image data and header information transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 via the digital connection are displayed. Or an image obtained by combining an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 with an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the encoding information expanding unit 12 to the printing apparatus 4 or the like. Will be.

[0773] The above is the case where it is determined in step S19-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. Has been described, in step S19-6, the print instruction from the user is to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and print the image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that the instruction is to perform the following processing, the following processing is performed.

[0774] In step S19-6, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of display image recording / reproducing section 113 and print an image corresponding to the image data. If so,
First, in step S19-18, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Is instructed not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14, and the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped.

[0775] When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and written to the video RAM unit 32 in step S19-19. At this time,
Along with the image data to be printed, the video RAM unit 14
For converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, the image data to be printed to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. When the information, such as information and channel information, obtained from the encoded information developing unit 12 is recorded on the recording medium, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 also reproduces such information from the recording medium.

[0776] Next, in step S19-20, the image data written into the print RAM unit 32 by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium, is transmitted to the display device via the high-speed digital connection. 3
The image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, since the updating of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display apparatus 3 may be rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Absent. Therefore, the user
Looking at the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3,
It is possible to check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

[0777] Next, in step S19-21, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. Is made.
Then, an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
That is, when it is determined that an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S1 is performed.
Returning to 9-19, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 again and written into the video RAM unit 14. Then, in step S19-20, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

[0778] On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display section 23,
That is, if it is determined by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the image data stored in the video RAM unit 14 is printed in step S19-22. Copied to the RAM unit 110.

Next, in step S19-23, updating of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, the image display unit 2 of the display device 3
3, the received digital broadcast image is displayed at any time.

[0780] When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, next, in step S19-24, the image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is transmitted from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print image interface unit 101. Is transferred to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing apparatus 4 via a digital connection, and the print RA of the printing apparatus 4 is
Copied to M section 32.

When the copying of the image data from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, next, in step S19-25, the print image processing section 34 Predetermined data processing is performed on the image data written in the unit 32, and image data for printing that can be recognized by the image printing unit 35 is generated. Note that the data processing in step S19-25 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the above-described first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S19-25 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S19-26, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is printed.

[0783] In the above description, when printing an image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, this image data is transferred to the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. However, the digital broadcast printing system 1S stores the image data on the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 without printing the image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14. It is also possible to record.

[0784] In this case, an instruction to record the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. Then, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 records the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

[0785] In the digital broadcast printing system 1S for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image as described above, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1P, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, there is no need to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

[0786] The digital broadcast printing system 1S
Then, when printing an image corresponding to the image data, first, the image data to be printed is copied from the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM unit 110, and then copied to the print RAM unit 110. The obtained image data is transferred to the printing device 4. Therefore, in the digital broadcast printing system 1S, the update of the video RAM unit 14 can be restarted before the image data is transferred from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4, and the freeze time of the display image accompanying the printing is reduced. Can be very short.

[0787] The digital broadcast printing system 1S
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1S, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

[0788] The digital broadcast printing system 1S
Then, not only is the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 transferred to the printing device 4, but also the data is transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. Therefore, these data are combined in the printing device 4, and for example, as shown in FIG. 15, an image 122 obtained by combining the header information 120 and the image 121 displayed on the display device 3,
As shown in FIG. 19, an image 123 corresponding to the image data transferred from the video RAM 14, and images 124 and 125 corresponding to the data transferred from the encoding information expanding unit 12 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4. It is also possible to print an image 126 obtained by superimposing. In other words, in the digital broadcast printing system 1S, it is possible to print images of a plurality of pages collectively on one page.

[0789] Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1S
In printing the image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2,
Since the image data is recorded on the recording medium, if the image data is reproduced later from the recording medium, it is possible to print the image corresponding to the image data again.

Twentieth Embodiment FIG. 60 shows a twentieth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention is applied.

In the digital broadcast printing system 1T shown in FIG. 60, instead of the printing device 4 having the print image recording / reproducing unit 33, the digital broadcast receiving device 2 is provided with the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. . That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1T, the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2, the information required for the drawing process in the video RAM unit 14, and the print data The information obtained from the coded information developing unit 12, such as information of the channel, channel information, etc., is recorded on a recording medium by a display image recording / reproducing unit 113 provided in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, or if necessary. Thus, such image data and various information can be reproduced from a recording medium. Other configurations of the digital broadcast printing system 1T are substantially the same as those of the digital broadcast printing system 1H shown in FIG. Information development unit 12
And the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4 are digitally connected. In the digital broadcast printing system 1T, the drawing engine unit 1 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
3 renders the image data to be displayed on the image display unit of the display device 3 on the video RAM unit 13 separately from the video RAM unit 13.
A process of drawing other information such as other image data and header information can be performed on the M unit 32. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1T, the drawing process of the image data by the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is performed not only for the video RAM unit 14 but also for the print RAM unit 110. It has been done.

[0792] Digital broadcasting printing system 1 as described above
The operation of T will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

[0793] In this digital broadcast printing system 1T,
As shown in FIGS. 61 and 62, first, in step S20
At -1, a digital broadcast is received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2.

[0794] Next, in step S20-2, the digital broadcast image data received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is converted into the coded information developing unit 12 and the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Are written to the video RAM unit 14 and written to the print RAM unit 110 for each frame of the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1T, the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
The drawing process is performed on the video RAM unit 14, and the drawing process is also performed on the print RAM unit 110.

[0795] The digital broadcast image data and data such as header information received by the communication interface unit 11 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 are converted into rendering processing data by the encoded information expanding unit 12 as necessary. Then, the data is transferred to the printing device 4 via a digital connection, and supplied to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. And
In step S20-3, the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4 prints the printing device 4 according to the drawing processing data transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 via the digital connection. A drawing process is performed on the RAM unit 32. Thereby, the print RAM unit 32
Is written with image data and header information.

[0796] In step S20-2, the video RAM
The image data written in the unit 14 is transferred to the display device 3 via a high-speed digital connection. And step S
At 20-4, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

[0797] While the print instruction is not issued from the user, the contents of the video RAM unit 14 are periodically updated based on the received digital broadcast as a normal image display process, and the image display on the display device 3 is performed. An image is displayed on the unit 23 as needed, and the contents of the print RAM unit 32 are updated as necessary.

[0798] At this time, as shown in step S20-5, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 constantly monitors whether or not a print instruction from the user has been input to the input device 64. If there is no print instruction, step S
20-2, S20-3, and S20-4 are repeated to update the video RAM unit 14, the print RAM unit 110, and the print RAM unit 32, and to display the image data written in the video RAM unit 14. On the other hand, if the print instruction is input to the input device 64, the process proceeds to step S20.
Proceed to -6.

[0799] In step S20-6, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing section 113 by receiving a print instruction from the user. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print an image corresponding to. If it is determined in step S20-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, Proceeding to step S20-7, the update of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped in step S19-7.

[0800] That is, in step S19-7, the processing control section 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 instructs the drawing engine section 13 not to write new image data into the video RAM section 14. This is because the data for one screen written in the video RAM unit 14 is compared with the time required for updating the data for one screen in the video RAM unit 14 to display a new image, and the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 This is to prevent the image data of the video RAM unit 14 from being rewritten during the recording operation on the recording medium because the time required for recording on the recording medium is longer. While no new image data is written to the video RAM unit 14, the same image is repeatedly displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.

Next, in step S20-8, the display image recording / reproducing section 113 records the image data written in the video RAM section 14 on a recording medium. At this time, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113
2 for converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data 2 and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, image data to be printed, to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. Can be obtained from the drawing engine unit 13 and such information can be recorded on a recording medium together with the image data.

[0802] The display image recording / reproducing section 113 can also acquire channel information and the like from the encoded information developing section 12, and can record such information together with image data on a recording medium.

[0803] When the recording operation on the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is completed and the image data and the like written in the video RAM unit 14 are recorded on the recording medium, next, in step S20-9, the video The update of the RAM unit 14 is restarted. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the received digital broadcast image is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 as needed.

[0804] When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, next, in step S20-10, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 sends a print instruction from the user to the image on the display apparatus 3. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to print the image currently displayed on the display unit 23. Then, if it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3, step S20-
At 11, the image data written in the print RAM unit 110 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection. The contents of the print RAM unit 32 are rewritten with image data from the print RAM unit 110.

[0805] On the other hand, in step S20-10, a print instruction from the user is sent to the image display unit 23 of the display device 3.
If it is determined that the instruction is not an instruction to print the currently displayed image, the process control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 next proceeds to step S20-12.
Whether the print instruction from the user is an instruction to print an image corresponding to data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 4, or
Data such as image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing device 4 and the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Is synthesized with the image data written in the print RAM unit 110, and it is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print an image corresponding to the synthesized image data.

[0806] Then, the print instruction from the user is transmitted in accordance with the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 and the image data written in the print RAM section 110 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. Are combined, and if it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the combined image data, the process proceeds to step S20-1.
In 3, the image data written in the print RAM unit 110 is transferred from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing device 4 via a digital connection. Then, in step S20-14, the image data from the print RAM unit 110 and the data such as the image data and header information written in the print RAM unit 32 are combined, and the combined data is written into the print RAM unit 32. It is.

[0807] On the other hand, in step S20-12, the print instruction from the user is sent to the print RAM unit 3 of the printing apparatus 4.
If it is determined that the instruction is to print an image corresponding to the data such as the image data or header information written in the print RAM 2, the data written in the print RAM unit 32 is held as it is.

As described above, it is determined what kind of image the print instruction from the user is to print, and the image is stored in the print RAM unit 32 of the printing apparatus 3 in accordance with the print instruction from the user. When data such as data and header information, synthesized image data, and the like are written, in step S20-15, the print image processing unit 34 of the printing apparatus 4 performs predetermined processing on the image data written in the print RAM unit 32. Of the image printing unit 35
The image data for printing that can be recognized is generated. In addition,
The data processing in step S20-15 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the above-described first embodiment, and a detailed description will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S20-15 is supplied to the image printing section 35, and in step S20-16, the image printing section 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, the image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and the image data and header information transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4 via the digital connection are displayed. Or an image obtained by combining an image currently displayed on the image display unit 23 with an image corresponding to the image data transferred from the encoding information expanding unit 12 to the printing apparatus 4 or the like. Will be.

[0810] In the above, when it is determined in step S20-6 that the print instruction from the user is not an instruction to print an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, Has been described, but in step S20-6, the print instruction from the user reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium of the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and prints the image corresponding to the image data. If it is determined that the instruction is to perform the following processing, the following processing is performed.

[0811] In step S20-6, it is determined that the print instruction from the user is an instruction to reproduce the image data recorded on the recording medium of display image recording / reproducing section 113 and print an image corresponding to the image data. If so,
First, in step S20-17, the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2
Is instructed not to write new image data to the video RAM unit 14, and the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped.

[0812] When the updating of the video RAM unit 14 is stopped, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and written to the video RAM unit 32 in step S20-18. At this time,
Along with the image data to be printed, the video RAM unit 14
For converting the information required for the drawing process to the image data and the information required for the subsequent print image processing, for example, the image data to be printed to have a resolution suitable for the printing apparatus 4. When the information, such as information and channel information, obtained from the encoded information developing unit 12 is recorded on the recording medium, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 also reproduces such information from the recording medium.

[0813] The digital broadcast printing system 1T
In, the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording and reproducing unit 113 may be written to the print RAM unit 110 at the same time as the video data is written to the video RAM unit 14. As described above, the image data reproduced from the recording medium is stored in the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 1.
If the image data is transferred to the printing apparatus 4 at the same time, the video RAM 14
Need not be copied to the print RAM unit 110.

[0814] Next, in step S20-19, the image data written into the video RAM unit 14 by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113, that is, the image data reproduced from the recording medium is displayed on the display screen of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2. The image is transferred from the interface unit 15 to the display image interface unit 21 of the display device 3 via the high-speed digital connection, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3. At this time, since the updating of the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is stopped, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display apparatus 3 may be rewritten by the image data from the video RAM unit 14. Absent. Therefore, the user can see the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 and check the image reproduced from the recording medium.

[0815] Next, in step S20-20, it is determined whether to print the image displayed on the image display unit 23, that is, the image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113. Is made.
Then, an image other than the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
That is, when it is determined that an image corresponding to another image data recorded on the recording medium is to be printed, step S2 is performed.
Returning to 0-18, the image data is reproduced from the recording medium again by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 and written into the video RAM unit 14. Then, in step S20-19, the image data is transferred to the display device 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the image display unit 23.

[0816] On the other hand, the image displayed on the image display unit 23,
That is, if it is determined by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 that an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium is to be printed, the image data held in the video RAM unit 14 is printed in step S20-21. Copied to the RAM unit 110. Step S20-
In a case where the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is simultaneously written in the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110 at 18, the image data is transferred from the video RAM unit 14 to the print RAM. There is no need to copy to the unit 110.

Next, in step S20-22, updating of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted. When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is resumed, the image display unit 2 of the display device 3
3, the received digital broadcast image is displayed at any time.

[0818] When the update of the video RAM unit 14 is restarted, the image data copied to the print RAM unit 110 is transmitted from the print image interface unit 101 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 in step S20-23. Is transferred to the print image interface unit 102 of the printing apparatus 4 via a digital connection, and the print RA of the printing apparatus 4 is
Copied to M section 32.

When the copying of the image data from the video RAM section 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 to the print RAM section 32 of the printing apparatus 4 is completed, next, in step S20-24, the print image processing section 34 Predetermined data processing is performed on the image data written in the unit 32, and image data for printing that can be recognized by the image printing unit 35 is generated. The data processing in step S20-24 is the same as the data processing in step S1-9 and step S1-17 of the first embodiment described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the image data for printing generated in step S20-24 is supplied to the image printing unit 35, and in step S20-25, the image printing unit 35 responds to the image data for printing. The image is printed. As a result, an image corresponding to the image data reproduced from the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 is printed.

[0821] In the above description, when printing an image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2, the image data is displayed by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 on a recording medium. The digital broadcast printing system 1T stores the image data on the recording medium by the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 without printing an image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14. It is also possible to record.

In this case, an instruction to record the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 is input from the user to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17. Then, the display image recording / reproducing unit 113 records the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 on a recording medium under the control of the print control unit 37.

As described above, in the digital broadcast printing system 1T for receiving a digital broadcast and printing an image, since the image data is handled as a digital signal from reception to printing, there is an advantage that the image quality is not deteriorated. is there. Further, in the digital broadcast printing system 1P, since the image data is handled as a digital signal, there is no need to provide an A / D converter having a frequency band of a video signal in the printing apparatus 4, and the system can be configured at low cost. it can.

[0824] Also, the digital broadcast printing system 1T
Then, when the drawing engine unit 13 of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 2 performs a drawing process on both the video RAM unit 14 and the print RAM unit 110 and prints an image corresponding to image data, the drawing engine unit 13 holds the image data. The image data is transferred to the printing device 4. Therefore,
In the digital broadcast printing system 1T, it is not necessary to stop updating the video RAM unit 14 when transferring image data from the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the printing device 4,
The freeze time of the display image associated with the execution of printing can be greatly reduced.

[0825] The digital broadcast printing system 1T
In this case, a series of processes necessary for image printing are executed only by inputting a print instruction to the input device 64 of the processing control unit 17 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2. That is, in the digital broadcast printing system 1T, the image displayed on the image display unit 23 of the display device 3 can be printed with only a very simple operation.

[0827] The digital broadcast printing system 1T
Then, not only is the image data written in the print RAM unit 110 transferred to the printing device 4, but also the data is transferred from the encoded information expanding unit 12 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing device 4. Therefore, these data are combined in the printing apparatus 4, and, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, an image 122 in which the header information 120 and the image 121 displayed on the display apparatus 3 are combined.
19, an image 123 corresponding to the image data transferred from the print RAM 110 and an image 124 corresponding to the data transferred from the encoded information developing unit 12 to the drawing engine unit 111 of the printing apparatus 4. , 125 are printed. In other words, in the digital broadcast printing system 1T, it is possible to print images of a plurality of pages collectively on one page.

[0827] The digital broadcast printing system 1T
In printing the image corresponding to the image data written in the video RAM unit 14 of the digital broadcast receiving device 2,
Since the image data is recorded on the recording medium, if the image data is reproduced later from the recording medium, it is possible to print the image corresponding to the image data again.

[0828]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a printing system which can support digital broadcasting and can print a digital broadcasting image displayed on a display device based on a digital signal. , A printing device, a receiving device, and a printing method.

[0827] Also, according to the present invention, there is provided a printing system, a printing apparatus, a receiving apparatus, and a printing method capable of recording received digital broadcast image data and performing printing when necessary. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a first configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication interface unit of the digital broadcast printing system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an encoded information expanding unit of the digital broadcast printing system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a processing control unit of the digital broadcast printing system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration of the laser printer;

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a mechanical configuration of a laser printer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the digital broadcast printing system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a resolution conversion process, showing an example in which the number of vertical and horizontal constituent pixels of input image data is density-converted and enlarged so as to match the resolution of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a second configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the digital broadcast printing system illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a third configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the digital broadcast printing system illustrated in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a fourth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the digital broadcast printing system illustrated in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an image obtained by combining header information and an image displayed on a display device is printed.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a fifth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a plurality of images are combined and images for a plurality of pages are collectively printed on one page.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a sixth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

21 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating a seventh configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

25 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 24.

26 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating an eighth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

28 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 27.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram illustrating a ninth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 30;

FIG. 33 is a block diagram illustrating a tenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

34 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 33;

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 33.

FIG. 37 is a block diagram illustrating an eleventh configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

38 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 37.

39 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 37.

FIG. 40 is a block diagram illustrating a twelfth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 40;

42 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG.

FIG. 43 is a block diagram illustrating a thirteenth configuration example of the digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 43.

FIG. 45 is a block diagram illustrating a fourteenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 45.

FIG. 47 is a block diagram illustrating a fifteenth configuration example of the digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

48 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 47.

FIG. 49 is a block diagram illustrating a sixteenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

50 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 49.

FIG. 51 is a block diagram illustrating a seventeenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 52 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 51.

FIG. 53 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 51.

FIG. 54 is a block diagram illustrating an eighteenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 55 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 54.

FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 54;

FIG. 57 is a block diagram illustrating a nineteenth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 58 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 57.

FIG. 59 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 57;

FIG. 60 is a block diagram illustrating a twentieth configuration example of a digital broadcast printing system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 61 is a flowchart showing an operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 60;

FIG. 62 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital broadcast printing system shown in FIG. 60.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1
I, 1J, 1K, 1L, 1M, 1N, 1O, 1P, 1
Q, 1R, 1S, 1T Digital broadcast printing system, 2
Digital broadcast receiving device, 3 display device, 4 printing device, 11 communication interface unit, 12 encoded information developing unit, 13 drawing engine unit, 14 video RAM
Unit, 15 display image interface unit, 16 display control interface unit, 17 processing control unit, 18 print control interface unit, 21 display image interface unit, 22 display image processing unit, 23 image display unit, 2
4 display control interface unit, 25 display control unit,
31 display image interface unit, 32 print RAM
Unit, 33 print image recording / reproducing unit, 34 print image processing unit, 35 image print unit, 36 print control interface unit, 37 print control unit, 101 print image interface unit, 102 print image interface unit, 11
0 Print RAM unit, 111 Drawing engine unit, 11
2 Encoding information expansion unit, 113 display image recording / reproduction unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yuji Kawamura 6-35, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Masayuki Sato 6-35, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation F term (reference) 5C052 FA03 FA04 FB01 FC01 FE04 5C053 FA04 FA20 FA27 GB21 KA03 KA04 LA03 LA06

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A printing system comprising: a receiving device for receiving a digital broadcast; and a printing device for printing an image of the digital broadcast received by the receiving device, wherein the receiving device receives the digital broadcast. Receiving means;
Transfer means for transferring the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means to the printing device, wherein the printing device temporarily holds the digital image data transferred by the transfer means of the receiving device Image data holding means, and digital image data temporarily held in the image data holding means are recorded on a recording medium, or digital image data recorded on the recording medium is reproduced to store the image data. Means for temporarily storing image data in the image data recording / reproducing means, and digital image data transferred by the transfer means of the receiving device and temporarily stored in the image data holding means, or An image is printed based on the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium and temporarily held in the image data holding means. And a printing means for printing. 2. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: image data holding means for temporarily holding digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means; 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the digital image data held in the holding unit is transferred to the printing device. 3. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising another image data holding unit for temporarily holding the same digital image data as the digital image data held in the image data holding unit of the receiving device. 3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the means transfers the digital image data held in another image data holding means of the receiving device to the printing device. 4. The receiving device according to claim 1, further comprising an image data processing unit for performing a process for writing digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving unit into an image data holding unit of the receiving device. Claim 2
The printing system as described. 5. The receiving device for writing digital image data of a digital broadcast received by the receiving device to both an image data holding device of the receiving device and another image data holding device of the receiving device. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising another image data processing means for performing processing.
The printing system as described. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image data processing unit for performing processing for writing digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving unit of the receiving device into an image data holding unit of the printing device. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein: 7. A printing system, comprising: a receiving device for receiving a digital broadcast; and a printing device for printing an image of the digital broadcast received by the receiving device, wherein the receiving device receives the digital broadcast. Receiving means;
Image data holding means for temporarily holding digital image data of a digital broadcast received by the receiving means,
The digital image data temporarily stored in the image data holding unit is recorded on a recording medium, or the digital image data recorded on the recording medium is reproduced and temporarily stored in the image data holding unit. Image data recording / reproducing means for causing the digital image data to be received by the receiving means and temporarily stored in the image data retaining means, or the image data retaining means reproduced from the recording medium by the image data recording / reproducing means Transfer means for transferring digital image data temporarily held to the printing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus prints an image based on the digital image data transferred by the transfer means of the receiving apparatus. A printing system comprising means. 8. The printing system according to claim 7, wherein said printing apparatus includes image data holding means for temporarily holding digital image data transferred by a transfer means of said receiving apparatus. 9. The receiving apparatus further comprises another image data holding means for temporarily holding the same digital image data as the digital image data held in the image data holding means of the receiving apparatus. 8. The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the means transfers the digital image data held in another image data holding means of the receiving device to the printing device. 10. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image data processing means for performing processing for writing digital image data of the digital broadcast received by said receiving means into image data holding means of said receiving apparatus. The printing system according to claim 7. 11. The receiving device for writing digital image data of a digital broadcast received by the receiving device to both an image data holding device of the receiving device and another image data holding device of the receiving device. 10. The printing system according to claim 9, further comprising another image data processing unit that performs processing. 12. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image data processing means for performing processing for writing digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means of the receiving apparatus into image data holding means of the printing apparatus. 9. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein: 13. A printing apparatus for printing an image of a digital broadcast received by a receiving apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus temporarily stores digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving apparatus and transferred to the printing apparatus. Image data holding means, and digital image data temporarily held in the image data holding means is recorded on a recording medium, or digital image data recorded on the recording medium is reproduced to hold the image data. Means for temporarily storing image data in the image data recording and reproducing means, and digital image data transferred to the printing apparatus and temporarily stored in the image data storing means, or reproduced from the recording medium by the image data recording and reproducing means. Printing means for printing an image based on the digital image data temporarily stored in the image data holding means. Printing apparatus according to claim Rukoto. 14. A printing apparatus for printing a received digital broadcast image, comprising: receiving means for receiving a digital broadcast; and image data for temporarily storing digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving means. Holding means, digital image data temporarily stored in the image data holding means is recorded on a recording medium, or digital image data recorded on the recording medium is reproduced and the image data holding means Image data recording / reproducing means to be temporarily stored; digital image data received by the receiving means and temporarily stored in the image data holding means, or reproduced from the recording medium by the image data recording / reproducing means, Printing means for printing an image based on the digital image data temporarily held in the image data holding means. Printing apparatus according to claim Rukoto. 15. A receiving apparatus for receiving a digital broadcast and transferring the digital image data of the digital broadcast to a printing apparatus, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving the digital broadcast; and a digital broadcast of the digital broadcast received by the receiving unit. Image data holding means for temporarily holding image data, and digital image data temporarily stored in the image data holding means recorded on a recording medium, or digital image data recorded on the recording medium Image data recording / reproducing means for reproducing the image data and temporarily storing the image data in the image data holding means; digital image data received by the receiving means and held in the image data holding means; or Printing the digital image data reproduced from the recording medium and held in the image data holding means; Receiving apparatus characterized by comprising a transfer means for transferring the location. 16. When printing a digital broadcast image received by a receiving device by a printing device, the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving device is transferred to the printing device. The digital image data transferred to the printer is temporarily stored in an image data holding unit provided in the printing apparatus. When an instruction to print an image is issued, the image data holding unit temporarily stores the digital image data. The held digital image data is recorded on a recording medium by an image data recording / reproducing unit provided in the printing apparatus, and based on the digital image data temporarily stored in the image data holding unit, An image is printed by a printing unit provided in the printing apparatus, or recorded on the recording medium by the image data recording / reproducing unit. Digital image data reproduced from the recording medium by the image data recording / reproducing means and temporarily stored in the image data retaining means while the digital image data is reproduced and temporarily stored in the image data retaining means. A printing method for printing an image on the basis of the above-mentioned printing means. 17. When printing a digital broadcast image received by a receiving device by a printing device, the digital image data of the digital broadcast received by the receiving device is temporarily stored in image data holding means provided in the receiving device. When there is an instruction to print an image, the digital image data temporarily held in the image data holding unit is recorded by the image data recording / reproducing unit provided in the receiving device. Digital image data recorded on the recording medium and transferred to the printing apparatus, or digital image data temporarily stored in the image data retaining unit, or recorded on the recording medium by the image data recording and reproducing unit. Is reproduced and temporarily stored in the image data holding means, and the recording is performed by the image data recording and reproducing means. The digital image data reproduced from the body and temporarily stored in the image data holding unit is transferred to the printing device, and the digital image data transferred from the receiving device is also printed by the printing unit provided in the printing device. And an image printing method.