JP2003228617A - Image data input method, digital camera and photograph print system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify ordering work of photograph prints. <P>SOLUTION: A customer operates print order setting to image data obtained by photographing a subject by a digital camera 10, and embeds the order data into the image data themselves with electronic watermarks, and brings a recording medium 14 in which the image data with the electronic watermarks are recorded in a mini laboratory, or transmits it through a network. In the mini laboratory, the image data with the electronic watermarks are read from the recording medium 14 by a memory reader 54, and received by communication equipment 52, and inputted to an image processor 60. The image processor 60 detects the electronic water marks from the image data with the electronic watermarks to read the order data, and execute image processing based on the order data to generate print data, and transmits the print data to a printer 58. Then, the printer 58 is made to output photograph prints obtained by printing the image data according to the order data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data input method, a digital camera, and a photographic print system, and more particularly, to image data corresponding to a subject image captured by a digital camera based on order data. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image data input method for inputting image data to a photographic print system for printing an image based on the above, a digital camera and a photographic print system to which the image data input method is applicable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, minilabs scattered all over the world have provided a print service in which development of silver halide photographic film and printing of photographs according to customer's orders are integrated, and in recent years, We also offer a print service (digital camera print service) that prints electronically recorded photographic images with a digital camera in high quality according to the customer's order.

In such a print service, the print size,
Although it was required to write down the order data such as the number of prints on the order form by handwriting, in the case of the digital camera print service, even though the digital camera captures the photographic image electronically and records it electronically, It was not possible to centrally manage the photographic images with the order data handwritten in.

For this reason, in minilabs, POS (Poit of Sa
le) System is being introduced. That is, prepare a barcode that digitizes each order item, read the barcode corresponding to the customer's order with a barcode reader, and input the digitized order data (digital data) into the photo print system, The work efficiency is improved by centrally managing the data in association with the data (digital data) of the photographic image taken by the digital camera.

Further, with the recent spread of the Internet, a service (network print service) for accepting print orders for photographic images via a network and performing printing has been realized. In the case of this network print service, a file that shows order data is created on a computer that the customer is confident in possessing, and this file is attached to the data of the photographic image taken by the digital camera and transmitted over the network. , Input to the photo print system of each laboratory.

[0006]

However, in the past, since the image data and the order data were separately filed, the work efficiency when inputting both to the photographic print system was poor. Specifically, in the case of the digital camera print service, the POS system is used separately from the work of reading the data of the photographic image taken by the digital camera from the recording medium brought by the customer to the minilab and inputting it to the photographic print system. It was necessary to enter the order data. Further, in the case of the network print service, it is necessary to create a file indicating order data.

The format of the photographic image data is T
IFF (Tagged Image File Format) and JPEG (Join
It is conceivable to use a format that has a header area such as the t Photographic Expert Group) format and describe the order data in the header area, but the amount of information that can be described in the header area is limited and is not sufficient. .

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image data input method, a digital camera, and a photographic print system that can simplify the ordering work of photographic prints. And

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is based on order data.
A method for inputting image data to a photographic print system that prints an image based on image data corresponding to a subject image captured by a digital camera, wherein the order data is digitally watermarked to the image data. It is characterized by embedding and inputting.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the order data is embedded in the image data itself by a digital watermark and input to the photographic print system. Therefore, the order data can be printed together with the order data only by inputting the image data. Can be entered into the system. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the ordering work for the photographic prints.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera for photographing a subject image and acquiring image data corresponding to the photographed subject image, wherein the order is for ordering an image print based on the image data. It has information input means for inputting information designating conditions, and digital watermark embedding means for embedding order data indicating order conditions designated by the input information from the information input means into the image data by a digital watermark. It is characterized by that.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the information inputting means inputs the information designating the ordering conditions when ordering the print of the image based on the image data to the minilab and the like, and the electronic watermark embedding means carries out the setting. Order data indicating the order condition specified by the input information is embedded by a digital watermark.

That is, in the digital camera, the order data can be embedded in the image data itself obtained by photographing with a digital watermark. Therefore, when using a digital camera print service or a network print service, when ordering a minilab etc. to print an image based on the image data taken by this digital camera with a photo print system, input the image data to the photo print system. By just doing the work, you can enter the order data together.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographic print system for printing an image based on image data corresponding to a subject image captured by a digital camera, wherein order data is embedded in advance by a digital watermark. Image data input means for inputting the image data
The order data is read from the image data in which the order data is embedded by the electronic watermark input from the image data input unit, and the image based on the image data input from the input unit based on the read order data It is characterized in that it has a data processing means for generating print data for printing, and an output means for printing an image on a recording paper based on the print data generated by the data processing means and outputting it.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the data processing means reads the order data from the image data, which is inputted from the image data input means and in which the order data is embedded by a digital watermark, and the read order is read. Based on the data, print data for printing an image based on the image data is generated. In the output means,
An image is printed on the recording paper based on the generated print data and output, so if you embed the order data in the image data with a digital watermark and then input it, print based on the order data, that is, according to the customer's order. A photographic image can be printed accordingly.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an example of an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration of Digital Camera] FIG. 1 shows an electrical configuration of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied. Note that FIG. 1 mainly shows the configuration of the portion related to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera 10 includes an image pickup means 12 for photographing a subject and obtaining digital image data (hereinafter referred to as "image data") as a photographic image, and a recording means. An interface (I / F) 16 for reading and writing the medium 14, a customer interface (UI) 18, and a digital watermark embedding means,
A digital watermark embedding processing unit 20 for embedding a digital watermark in image data, an I / O 22 for inputting / outputting data to / from an external device, and a CPU 24 for controlling the entire operation of the digital camera 10 are mutually connected. It is configured.

The image pickup means 12 is a relay switch 30.
A CCD that converts the amount of light received when (Fig. 2) is pressed down into an electric signal and outputs an image signal of each of the RGB color components for one frame, focusing the subject and displaying the subject image on the light receiving surface of the CCD. A focus lens that forms an image, a diaphragm that adjusts the amount of light incident on the light receiving surface of the CCD, an image pickup circuit that performs various corrections such as white balance adjustment and gamma correction on the output image signal of the CCD, and an output image signal that is corrected by the image pickup circuit. An A / D conversion circuit for A / D converting to generate image data (RGB image data), a buffer memory for primary recording of the generated image data, and the like are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera 10 can be loaded with a recording medium 14 for electronically recording image data, and the I / F 16 can be loaded into the digital camera 10. The recorded recording medium 14 is accessed to write and read image data. As the recording medium 14, a SmartMedia (SmartMed
ia (R), Compact Flash (CompactFlas)
A portable recording medium such as h), an ATA (AT Attachment) card, or a floppy disk can be adopted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the UI 18 includes a display section 32 such as a liquid crystal monitor provided on the rear surface of the main body of the digital camera 10, a mode selection dial 34A, and a cross button 3.
4B, an OK button 34C, and a cancel button 34D, and an operation input unit 34 as information input means. The customer confirms various information from the display on the display unit 32,
Various instruction information can be input from the operation input unit 34.

Specifically, the customer rotates the mode selection dial 34A to perform various shooting modes such as manual / automatic shooting, a playback mode for displaying (playing) the shot image on the display unit 32, and a photo print. It is possible to select a desired mode such as a print order setting mode for setting specific order conditions for ordering, and input a switching instruction to the selection mode.

The display of the display unit 32 is switched according to the selection mode, and for example, an image to be photographed (a subject image currently captured by the image pickup means 12) or a photographed image is displayed, or order conditions are set. The print order setting screen (see FIG. 3) is displayed. The customer confirms the image to be captured or the captured image from the display of the display unit 32, and when the print order setting screen is displayed, the cross button 3
4B, an OK button 34C, and a cancel button 34D are operated to input information designating order conditions, and desired order conditions can be set from the screen.

The ordering conditions include tone processing conditions such as color enhancement of a specific color component, color conversion such as sepia tone conversion, contrast enhancement, contrast reduction, brightness adjustment such as brightening and darkening, and enlargement / reduction of image data. Output conditions such as processing conditions such as trimming, type of print paper, size, print direction (vertical / horizontal), presence / absence of a border (whether or not to leave edges on the print paper), and number of prints. .

In the present embodiment, as an example, five items of print size, glossiness (type of print paper), print image area (trimming), color tone adjustment, and number of prints are set as order conditions. Has become. In setting the print size, a specific print paper size such as a so-called L size or 2L size is selected. In the glossiness setting, it is selected whether to print on glossy paper (glossy print) or print on uneven paper (silk print). The setting of the print image area is to specify the print image area to be trimmed from the image data and print a photograph. For example, the entire area of the image data or a part of the image data is selected by specifying the area size and position. . With the color tone adjustment setting, you can print the image data as it is with no color tone adjustment, or
Color tone enhancement with specific color components such as R, G, and B is selected.

The digital watermark embedding processor 20 embeds the order data indicating the order conditions set in the print order setting mode into the corresponding image data recorded on the recording medium 14 by a digital watermark. The method for embedding the digital watermark is not particularly limited in the present invention, and conventionally known techniques such as a pixel space utilization type, a quantization error utilization type, and a frequency domain utilization type can be used.

The pixel space utilization type is a method of taking out a plane of, for example, 3 × 3 pixels near the target pixel and embedding watermark information in the surrounding bits. The quantization error utilization type focuses on the quantization error that occurs in the process of compressing image data, and controls the quantization output to be even and odd with 0 and 1 of the bit sequence of the watermark information (that is, order data) to be embedded. Then, it is a method of embedding watermark information in the image data as an apparent quantization error. The frequency domain utilization type converts image data into frequency components as typified by Fourier transform, spread spectrum, discrete cosine transform (DCT), etc., and a specific frequency component that has little influence on image quality, for example, visually. This is a method of embedding watermark information in insensitive high frequency components. Further, as a human visual characteristic, color difference and saturation information generally have lower gradation discrimination ability than luminance information, and a region that can be recorded so that a human cannot visually recognize the difference between luminance and color difference or saturation information. Exists.
Therefore, the watermark information can be embedded in this area.

Besides, a method of embedding watermark information in a bit plane having a poor S / N as an image by redundancies of noise, a method of embedding in redundancy of information change in a certain pixel block, and a bond for data compression. There is a method of embedding in a quantization error when the data information amount is degenerated by the encoding.

In the following, when distinguishing image data in which order data is embedded by a digital watermark and image data in which order data is not embedded by a digital watermark, the former is referred to as "image data with electronic watermark" and the latter Is referred to as “image data without digital watermark”.

The I / O 22 has a terminal for connecting to a predetermined cable such as a USB cable, and image data (image data with digital watermark / digital watermark) to an external device such as a personal computer connected through the predetermined cable. No image data) can be input.

The CPU 24 controls the driving and control of each part of the digital camera 10, and performs control processing according to the mode selected by the mode selection dial 34A. It should be noted that when the shooting mode and the reproduction mode are selected, the same control processing as that of a conventionally known digital camera may be performed. For example, when the photographing mode is selected by the mode selection dial 34A, the CPU 24 displays the image photographed by the image pickup unit 12 on the display unit 32 and operates the image pickup unit 12 when the relays switch 30 is depressed by the customer. Image data for one frame is acquired,
An image based on the obtained image data is displayed on the display unit 32, and the image data is recorded on the recording medium 14 via the I / F 16. Also, the mode selection dial 34A
When the reproduction mode is selected by, the CPU 24
Accesses the recording medium 14 via the I / F 16 and displays a list of image data recorded on the recording medium 14 on the display unit 32 to accept information for designating the image data or an operation input by the customer. When the unit 34 is operated to input the information designating the image data, the designated image data is read from the recording medium 14 and the image based on the image data is displayed on the display unit 32.

On the other hand, when the order setting mode is selected by the mode selection dial 34A, the CPU
The display unit 24 displays a print order setting screen for setting the order condition of the image data on the display unit 32, and accepts the setting of the order condition by the customer. Operation input section 3 by customer
4 is operated and the order condition is set, the digital watermark embedding processing unit 20 is operated, and the recording medium is accessed via the I / F 16, and the set order condition is recorded in the recording medium 14. It is embedded in the corresponding image data by a digital watermark.

[Structure of Photographic Printing System] Next, referring to FIG.
The configuration of a photographic print system installed in minilabs scattered in various places to which the present invention is applied is shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 4 mainly shows the configuration of the portion related to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the photographic print system 50 includes a communication device 52 for communicating with other devices via a network such as the Internet, and the recording medium 1.
Memory reader 54 for reading image data from
And a POS system 56 for entering order data
And a printer 58 that prints a photographic image on a loaded (set) print paper, and an image processing device 60 that processes image data so that the photographic image is printed by the printer 58 according to a customer's order. Connected and configured. The communication device 52 and the memory reader 5
4, the POS system 56 and the printer 58 may be those used in a conventionally known photographic print system.

The communication device 52 receives data transmitted from another device to the photographic print system 50 via the network, and receives the received data from the image processing device 6.
Enter 0. In addition, as in the case of only the image data with digital watermark in the transmitted data, as in the past,
Order data may be sent together with image data without a digital watermark.

The recording medium 14 can be set in the memory reader 54. The memory reader 54 reads image data from the set recording medium 14 and inputs the read image data to the image processing device 60. The image data recorded on the recording medium 14 may be image data with a digital watermark or image data without a digital watermark.

That is, the communication device 52 and the memory reader 54 each have a function as image data input means. In the present embodiment, the photographic print system is provided with both the communication device 52 and the memory reader 54 in order to support both the digital camera print service and the network print service, but either the communication device 52 or the memory reader 54 is used. It may be only one.

The POS system 56 includes a memory reader 54.
The image data read out from the recording medium 14 and input to the image processing apparatus 60 is provided in consideration of the case where the digital watermarkless image data is used. That is,
When the image data without digital watermark is read by the memory reader 54 and input to the image processing device 60, the POS system 5 is read by reading a bar code as in the conventional case.
Order data corresponding to the customer's order can be input from 6. This order data is also input to the image processing device 60.

The image processing device 60 functions as a data processing means and includes an I / O 62 for inputting / outputting data to / from an external device, and a digital watermark detecting section 64 for detecting a digital watermark from the input image data. A memory 66 for recording image data and order data, and an image processing section 68 for performing image processing on the image data based on the order data.
And the printer 58 based on the image data and the order data.
Driver 70 for instructing to execute photo print
Is a CPU 72 that controls the overall operation of the image processing apparatus 60.
And are connected to each other.

The I / O 62 is connected to the communication device 52, the memory reader 54, the POS system 56, and the printer 58. In the image processing device 60, via the I / O 62,
Communication device 52, memory reader 54, POS system 56
Data is input from the printer and print data is sent to the printer 58.

When the digital watermark image data is input from the communication device 52 and the memory reader 54, the digital watermark detector 64 reads the order data embedded by the digital watermark from the digital watermark image data. Has become.

The memory 66 stores the input image data and the order data in association with each other. In particular,
Regarding the digital watermarked image data, the digital watermarked image data and the order data read by the digital watermark detection unit 64 are stored in association with each other. Regarding the image data without digital watermark, the order data filed separately from the image data is the communication device 52 or the POS system 5.
6, the order data need not be read from the image data by the digital watermark detector 64, and are stored in the memory 66 as they are.

The image processing unit 68 performs image processing such as color adjustment and cutout on the image data based on the color adjustment and the color processing conditions such as the print image area specified by the order data. .

The printer driver 70 includes an image processing unit 68.
The image data after the image processing by the printer is converted into data that can be analyzed by the printer 58, and the print data is generated by adding the data indicating the output conditions such as the print size, the presence / absence of gloss, and the number of prints specified in the order data. To do. The printer 58 operates on the basis of the print data, prints an image based on the image data on a print sheet under specified output conditions, and outputs a photographic print. That is, the printer 58 corresponds to the output means.

The CPU 72 controls the driving and control of each section of the image processing apparatus 60. Specifically, when image data is input to the image processing apparatus 60, the CPU 72 operates the digital watermark detection section 64, The image data and the order data are stored in the memory 66 in association with each other according to the detection result of the digital watermark by the digital watermark detection unit 64. Further, the order data stored in the memory 66 is analyzed, the color tone processing condition and the processing condition designated by the order data are notified to the image processing unit 68, and the output condition designated by the order data is printed by the printer driver. By notifying 70, the drive of the image processing unit 68 and the printer driver 70 is controlled, and the print data generated by the printer driver 70 is transferred to the I / O 6
2 to the printer 58. Further, the CPU 72
The image data and order data for which printing has been normally completed are deleted from the memory 66.

[Operation] Next, as the operation of the present embodiment,
First, the operation of the digital camera 10 in the order setting mode will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 5 shows a control routine executed by the CPU 24 of the digital camera 10 when the order setting mode is selected.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the customer operates the mode selection dial 34A to select the order setting mode, the CPU 24 executes steps 100 to 10.
2, the recording medium 14 is accessed through the I / F 16 to refer to the image data recorded on the recording medium 14, and list information of the image data recorded on the recording medium 14 is generated. The information designating the image data is received by displaying the information on the display unit 32.

When the customer operates the operation input unit 34 to input the information designating the image data, the process proceeds from the next step 104 to step 106, and the print order setting for setting the order condition of the designated image data. A screen is displayed on the display unit 32 to accept the setting of order conditions. The customer operates the operation input unit 34 to set desired order conditions.

For example, the customer presses the OK button 34C by operating the cross button 34B to select from the print order setting screen any of the setting items for print size, border / glossiness, print image area, and color tone adjustment. In response to this, the CPU 24 displays selectable items for the selected setting item, such as L size and 2L size when the print size is selected, on the display unit 3.
2, the customer operates the cross button 34B to select a desired item from the selectable items displayed, and presses the OK button 34C. And print size, edge
When the desired items have been selected for each setting item such as gloss / presence, print image area, and color tone adjustment, the OK button 34
By pressing C, the desired item selected for each setting item is set as the order condition.

When the order conditions are set, the next step 1
The process proceeds from step 08 to step 110 to read the image data specified in step 102 from the recording medium 14 via the I / F 16 and operate the digital watermark embedding processing unit 20 to set the order conditions set in the read image data. The order data indicating is embedded with a digital watermark. As a result, digital watermarked image data in which order data is embedded by a digital watermark is generated. Then, in the next step 112, the recording of the recording medium 14 is updated to the generated digital watermark image data (overwrite saving).

Here, in order to suppress the development cost, FIG.
It is conceivable that the order data is converted into a barcode and embedded in the image data to generate the electronic watermarked image data, as shown in FIG. in this way,
By converting the order data to be embedded with a digital watermark into a barcode, the PO can be used in the photo print system 50.
It can be handled in common with the order data input from the S system 56. That is, the algorithm used in the existing photographic print system for analyzing the order data input from the POS system to generate image processing and print data, and the hardware resources therefor can be used in the photographic print system 50. it can.

Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the image processing device 6 is shown in FIG.
C of the image processing device 60 when the image data is input to 0.
A control routine executed by the PU 72 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the image data received by the communication device 52 or the image data read by the memory reader 54 is input to the image processing device 60 from the I / O 62, the CPU 72 causes the CPU 72 to execute steps 200 to 202.
Then, the digital watermark detector 64 is activated to detect the digital watermark from the input image data.

When the digital watermark is detected by the digital watermark detecting unit 64, it is determined that the input image data is the digital watermarked image data in which the order data is embedded by the digital watermark, and the steps from the next step 204 to step Proceed to 206. In step 206, order data embedded by a digital watermark is read from the input image data (image data with a digital watermark), and the read order data is input image data (image data with a digital watermark).
After storing it in the memory 66 together with step 212,
Proceed to.

On the other hand, when the digital watermark is not detected, it is determined that the input image data is the digital watermark-free image data, and the process proceeds from step 204 to step 208. Since the filed order data is input separately from the image data, the process waits until the corresponding order data is input.
Then, the order data received together with the image data (image data without electronic watermark) from the communication device 52 is input through the I / O 62, or the order data generated by reading the barcode from the POS system 56 is input. Then, the process proceeds from step 208 to step 210, and the input order data is stored in the memory 66 together with the input image data (image data without electronic watermark), and then step 2
Proceed to 12.

In step 212, the order data stored in the memory 66 is analyzed, the color tone adjustment and the color tone processing conditions such as the print image area and the processing conditions designated by the order data are read, and the image processing section 68 is read. By giving the notification, the execution of the image processing based on the order data is instructed. The image processing unit 68 performs image processing such as color tone adjustment and clipping on the image data based on the notified color tone processing condition and processing condition.

In the next step 214, the order data stored in the memory 66 is analyzed, the output conditions such as the print size, the presence / absence of gloss, and the number of prints designated by the order data are read and notified to the printer driver 70. This instructs generation of print data based on the order data. The printer driver 70 converts the image data after the image processing by the image processing unit 68 into data that can be analyzed by the printer 58, and generates print data to which data indicating the notified output condition is added.

Then, in step 216, the print data generated by the printer driver 70 is sent to the printer 58 via the I / O 62. The printer 58 operates based on this print data, and an image based on the image data is printed on the print paper based on the designated output condition. Through such processing, the photographic print system 50 can obtain a photographic print obtained by printing the input image data according to the order data.

Next, with reference to FIG. 8, an outline of a digital camera print service and a network print service that can be provided by using the digital camera 10 and the photo print system 50 will be described.

First, the customer shoots a subject with the digital camera 10 and sets print order for the image data acquired by the shooting (see).

More specifically, when the customer shoots a subject with the digital camera 10, he or she operates the mode selection dial 34A to select a desired shooting mode, confirms the subject from the display on the display unit 32, and turns on the relays switch 30. Push down. As a result, the digital camera obtains image data of a subject and records it in the recording medium 14 loaded in the digital camera. Then, when the customer wants to print the image data obtained by photographing, the customer operates the mode selection dial 34A to select the order setting mode. As a result, the digital camera shown in FIG.
The process as described with reference to FIG.
The order data indicating the order conditions set in the image data (image data without digital watermark) recorded in is embedded by the digital watermark.

Thereafter, the customer brings the recording medium 14 in which the digital watermarked image data in which the order data is embedded by the digital watermark is recorded to the store of the nearest minilab where the photo print system 50 is installed (see ). Alternatively, the customer connects the digital camera 10 to his / her own computer 80 having a communication function through a predetermined cable (for example, a USB cable),
The image data with the digital watermark recorded in the recording medium 14 is read out by operating the computer 80 or the like, and is transmitted (net order) to the photographic print system 50 via the network (see). In addition to the computer 80, a device having a communication function such as a mobile phone can be used for this net order.

In the minilab, the recording medium 14 brought in
The image data with digital watermark recorded in the recording medium 14 is read out from the memory reader 54 by the memory reader 54 (see), or the image data with photo watermark transmitted from the photo print system 50 via the network by net order is transmitted to the communication device. The digital watermarked image data received (referenced) by 52 and read or received is input to the image processing device 60.

In the image processing device 60, the order data embedded by the digital watermark is read from the input digital watermarked image data (see), and the color tone processing condition and the processing condition specified by the read order data are read. Image processing is performed on the image data based on the image data, and print data is generated based on the image data after the image processing and the output condition designated by the order data (see). By sending this print data to the printer 58, the printer 58 is instructed to print the input image data according to the order data (see). As a result, an image based on the image data subjected to the image processing based on the color tone processing condition and the processing condition specified by the order data is printed on the print paper from the printer 58 based on the output condition specified by the order data. A photo print is output.

Then, in the mini-lab, when the customer comes to the mini-lab to pick up this photographic print, the mini-lab hands it over or sends it to the customer by mail (see).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the digital camera 10 can embed order data in the image data itself by the digital watermark, and when ordering a photographic print of the image data, the order data is included in the image data. Since it is embedded, the image data is printed by the photo print system 50.
The order data can also be input to the photographic print system 50 together with the input. In addition, by embedding the order data with a digital watermark, the TIFF
(Tagged Image File Format) and JPEG (Joint Phot)
There is no concern about the limit of the amount of information that can be described, as in the case of describing order data in a header area such as the ographic expert group) format.

Therefore, the ordering of photographic prints can be simplified and the working efficiency can be improved as compared with the conventional case. In particular, when the recording medium 14 is brought in, it is not necessary to manually enter the order data using the POS system at the store, which is conventionally required, and automation of the operation can be expected.

Further, if a digital camera print service or a network print service (see FIG. 8) for ordering by embedding order data in a digital watermark as described above is widely recognized, it will be available in stores in the future. P to read the barcode and enter the order data
It is also possible to omit the OS system.

In the above description, the case where the digital camera 10 embeds the order data in the image data itself by the digital watermark and inputs the order data to the photographic print system 50 has been described.
It is also possible to handle image data other than 0 in which order data is embedded by a digital watermark. For example, in order to embed order data in an image data captured by an existing digital camera with a digital watermark, software that performs processing of setting order conditions and embedding the set order conditions in image data with a digital watermark is installed. Even if the computer 80 reads the image data from the recording medium on which the image data captured by the digital camera is recorded and embeds the order data in the read image data with a digital watermark, the photographic print system 50 uses the electronic data in the same manner as above. It is possible to read the order data embedded by the watermark and perform the photo print processing.

[0070]

As described above, the present invention has an excellent effect that the ordering work of photographic prints can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a rear view of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention and an example of a print order setting screen displayed on the display unit.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a photographic print system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control routine executed by the CPU of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention when the print order setting mode is selected.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of image data with a digital watermark.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control routine executed when image data is input by the CPU of the image processing apparatus when the print order setting mode is selected.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a digital camera print service and a network print service provided by using the digital camera and the photo print system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 digital camera 12 Imaging means 14 recording media 18 UI 20 Digital Watermark Embedding Processing Unit 32 display 34 Operation input section 50 photo print system 52 communication device 54 memory reader 56 POS system 58 Printer 60 Image processing device 64 Digital Watermark Detection Unit 66 memory 68 Image processing unit 70 Printer driver

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification Code FI Theme Coat (Reference) H04N 5/76 H04N 5/76 E 5C076 5/91 7/08 Z 7/08 5/91 Z 7/081 F term (reference) 5B057 BA01 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB01 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC01 CE08 CH08 5C022 AA13 AC22 AC32 AC42 5C052 AA12 AA17 AB04 DD02 EE02 EE03 EE08 LA02 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA07 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA08 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA05 FA03 FA04 FA05 FA03 FA08 FA02 FA04 FA05 FA08 5C063 AB09 AC02 DA07 DA13 DB09 5C076 AA14 BA06

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image data input method for inputting image data to a photographic print system for printing an image based on image data corresponding to a subject image captured and acquired by a digital camera based on order data, An image data input method, wherein the order data is embedded in the image data by a digital watermark and input. 2. A digital camera for photographing a subject image and acquiring image data corresponding to the photographed subject image, wherein information for specifying order conditions when ordering an image print based on the image data is input. And a digital watermark embedding unit that embeds order data indicating order conditions specified by the input information from the information input unit into the image data with a digital watermark. . 3. A photographic printing system for printing an image based on image data corresponding to a subject image captured by a digital camera, for inputting image data in which order data is embedded in advance by a digital watermark. Image data input means, and the order data is read from the image data in which the order data is embedded by the digital watermark input from the image data input means, and the order data is input from the input means based on the read order data. Data processing means for generating print data for printing an image based on the generated image data, and output means for printing an image on a recording paper based on the print data generated by the print data means and outputting it. A photographic printing system having: