JP2001328314A - Apparatus and method for processing image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform direct printing by connecting video output units performing isochronous transfer of video data compressed by the AV protocol 1 (DVCR) of IEEE1394 interface point to point. SOLUTION: Isochronously transferred video data is received (S103-S109) and print data is generated from received video data. When a data packet under receiving has a lack (S106), video data of next frame is used for generating print data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and method for processing video data that is isochronously transferred through a serial bus such as IEEE1394.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present applicant has proposed a printing system for compensating for missing data of print data transmitted from a host device and performing printing.

The above printing system converts image data into print data in a data format specialized for a printer by a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as “PC”), transmits the data to the printer by isochronous transfer, and performs printing in real time. When the printer detects an error in the isochronous packet, the printer retains the error information, prints the error portion as a blank, requests the PC to retransmit the print data of the error portion, and retransmits the print data from the PC. The printing is performed by determining the data of the error portion in the data block.

[0004]

In a consumer digital video camera or digital video deck having a digital video signal output function, video data compressed by an AV protocol 1 (DVCR) of an IEEE1394 interface is isochronously transferred. There is something. Such a video output device is used for point-to-point
The above-described printing system is not an effective means for performing direct printing by connecting.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to receive print data isochronously transferred and generate print data.

[0006]

The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.

[0007] An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving unit for receiving video data compressed according to a predetermined protocol that is isochronously transferred, and a generating unit for generating print data from the received video data. Features.

An image processing method according to the present invention is characterized in that video data compressed by a predetermined protocol that is isochronously transferred is received, and print data is generated from the received video data.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a video printer according to this embodiment.
As shown in Fig. 4, it is connected to each device and operates.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a video printer according to the present embodiment, in which a user operates a predetermined key in a key I / F group 12 to set printing conditions, The capture operation is started by input.

The predetermined items relating to the operation include a status display LC.
The image is displayed by D11, or by an image monitor (such as an NTSC TV monitor) 3 through an image data cable (such as a video cable) 5, or both.

The video printer 1 is an AV protocol (DVCR) that is isochronously transferred from an output device (eg, a video camera or the like) 2 in response to an input from a print processing start command key.
Image data (video data) compressed by the 1394 data transfer cable (such as a DV cable conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard) 4 and a 1394 input terminal 305 described later. The compressed image data is captured according to the set conditions,
Image restoration, image synthesis, and print processing are performed. During the printing process,
The video printer 1 prints out the print image on the recording paper 13 and displays the print image or information on the display LCD 11 or the image monitor 3.

Next, the processing of the apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 1 and 2 and a block diagram showing an example of the apparatus configuration of FIG.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a process for capturing a plurality of isochronously transferred compressed images in the video printer according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a printing process including an image synthesizing process. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the video printer according to the present embodiment.

The processing for taking in the compressed image data is performed as follows.

First, printing conditions (the number of frames to be combined and the frame taking interval) are set by the key input 12 (S101). Regarding the setting of the number of frames (n) in the case of performing the composite output, it is desirable that a predetermined number of frames be prepared in advance in a range that can be taken into the video printer 1, and the user can select from them. Regarding the setting of the frame capturing interval, one or more intervals are prepared in advance in the video printer 1 as the capturing timing between the respective frames for performing the composite output, and the user is allowed to select the interval or a predetermined time. Is equally divided by the number n of images, and it is desirable to be able to set the capture interval. These may be set by the user himself.

The CPU 301 performs various processes and controls based on a program stored in the ROM 302, data stored in the memory 303, and the like. The CPU 301 waits for an input from the image capture start key in order to start the capture print process (S102), and when there is an input, starts receiving compressed image information that is isochronously transferred.

1394 transaction processing unit 306 and CPU
304 performs 1394 transaction processing on the signal input from the terminal 305. Specifically, the 1394 transaction processing unit 306 transmits the STY in the FDF defined by the SD-DVCR.
A frame synchronization signal is output by a method of synchronizing with the timing at which the first data packet of the frame is received or a method of outputting a control signal at a timing having a certain time width, based on frame synchronization information such as . Furthermore, in this process, the DBC information in the CIP header and the DATA_CRC
Data loss is detected by the check, a data loss detection signal is output when the data loss occurs, a packet reception signal is output each time an isochronous packet is received, and compressed data in a data field excluding DATA_CRC is output.

The CPU 301 waits for a frame synchronization signal (S10
3) When the frame synchronization signal is detected, it waits for packet reception information (S104). When a packet reception signal sent from the 1394 transaction processing unit 306 is detected (S104), each time the packet reception signal is detected, the compressed data is stored in the memory 303 in packet units.
(S105).

This receiving and storing operation is repeated until compressed image data for one image is obtained (S107). Here, the amount of packets to be stored is such that the image data received and triggered by the frame synchronization signal as a trigger includes data that can be surely restored for one image.

Here, if the packet data is missing, it becomes impossible to restore the image satisfactorily. Therefore, a data missing detection signal is detected (S106). Then, the process returns to waiting for frame synchronization information (S103) without taking in the frame synchronization information. Therefore, when this signal is detected, the next frame image data is taken in as the received compressed image data.

After the data capturing process for one image is completed, a timing for capturing the next data is waited for based on the set image capturing time and the count number of the frame synchronization signal (S109). The process of capturing data for the image is repeated.

However, the process of taking in the data of one image is performed when it is determined that the process is to be continued based on the number of taken-in images and the set number of images (S108). When the image data has been fetched for a predetermined number of times, the fetching of the compressed image data by the isochronous transfer ends, and the process proceeds to the subsequent processing such as the image data restoration processing (S108).

The CPU 301 performs a compressed image restoration process on the compressed image data stored in the memory by the source packet data storage process (S110). At this time, the following processing is performed using the compressed image data in the memory in order to use the compressed image data for one image as print information.

First, of the compressed image data stored in the memory, a process of restoring an image in accordance with a compression format is performed on the compressed image data necessary for restoring one image (S110). Next, a process of resizing the restored image to a predetermined size is performed based on the number of composite images and the number of print size dots of the print device (S111). Using the resized image data, a process for creating print image information is performed so that a good image can be printed (S112).

The above processing is performed in the order in which the compressed image data is stored, and it is determined whether or not the set number of images has been reached. If it is determined that the number has been reached, the next processing (S114) If not, the process returns to the image restoration process (S110), and the above process is repeated (S113). Thereby, print image information in which a plurality of images for printing are combined can be created.

Next, the CPU 301 creates image data for displaying an image on a display device based on the print image information, and passes it to the memory controller 308 (S114). Memory controller 3
08 is a display memory 309 for displaying image information sent from the CPU 301.
After that, the print image is displayed on the external display monitor from the video decoder 310 via the output terminal 311.

Next, the CPU 301 converts the print image information into print data (S115), and controls the printer control unit 312 based on the converted print data. The printer control unit 312 controls the printer mechanism 314 and the feed motor 313, which are image output devices, and prints a synthesized image obtained by synthesizing a plurality of images under predetermined conditions (S116).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the IEEE13
Via a digital interface such as 94, it is connected to a data output device that performs isochronous transfer of video data compressed by the AV protocol (DVCR), receives compressed video data sent by the data output device,
The received video data can be restored to print data. Further, direct printing for printing a visible image on recording paper based on the print data can be realized.

In particular, by setting a predetermined or arbitrary number of frames and a predetermined or arbitrary frame acquisition interval and instructing printing, an image of a plurality of frames restored from video data of a plurality of frames can be converted into one sheet. It can be combined with recording paper and printed. Furthermore, it detects the loss of the data packet in the isochronous transfer of one frame,
If the video data with the packet loss is the data to be printed, the video data to be transmitted next is set as the printing target in consideration of the continuity of the image. Accordingly, since print data is generated using video data having no packet loss, printing with good image quality can be performed.

[0032]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing some or all of the actual processing, and the processing performs the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the above storage medium, the storage medium has the above-described storage medium (FIG. 1 and / or FIG. 2).
The program code corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The print data can be generated by receiving the video data that is transferred isochronously.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a process of capturing video data of a plurality of frames to be transferred isochronously;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a printing process including an image combining process;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a video printer according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a device connected to the video printer of the embodiment.

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Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a receiving unit that receives video data compressed according to a predetermined protocol that is isochronously transferred; and a generating unit that generates print data from the received video data. 2. The video data is transmitted using an AV protocol (DVCR).
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is compressed by: 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means is capable of receiving video data to be isochronously transferred for a predetermined or arbitrary number of frames at predetermined or arbitrary time intervals. Image processing device. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting the number of frames to be received and a reception interval. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generating unit generates one image of print data based on one or a plurality of image data restored from one or a plurality of frames of the video data received by the receiving unit. 5. The image processing device according to claim 3, wherein the image processing device is an image processing device. 6. The receiving means includes a CIP header analyzing means, a data checking means, a CIP header and a data CRC.
Separation means to separate the data in the data field from the isochronous packet except for DBS, FN, QPC, SPH, DBC, FMT or FDF information in the data CRC and CIP header and the STY information specified in each format in the FDF The detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect a loss of the data packet to be transmitted isochronously, and an output unit configured to output a signal indicating the loss of the data packet. Image processing device. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, when a data packet being received is missing, the generation unit uses the video data of a frame next to the frame being received for generating print data. The described image processing device. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising forming means for forming a visible image on recording paper based on the print data. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the forming unit is an inkjet printer. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the forming unit is a sublimation type thermal transfer multicolor printer. 11. An image processing method comprising: receiving video data compressed according to a predetermined protocol which is isochronously transferred; and generating print data from the received video data. 12. A recording medium on which a program code for image processing is recorded, wherein said program code includes at least a code for a step of receiving video data compressed according to a predetermined protocol which is isochronously transferred; A code for generating print data from video data.