JP2003319300A - Digital camera system, digital camera, and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the best cooperation between a digital camera and peripheral devices in a wide range. <P>SOLUTION: Peculiar information required for indications to image processing in peripheral devices is inputted to the digital camera, and the indications given with the peculiar information are outputted to the peripheral devices together with image information. The peculiar information is information for displaying an indication menu in the digital camera, information required to write the indications in prescribed positions of an image file, or the like. Processing in the peripheral devices is color matching processing before print, print execution, or the like. The peculiar information may be inputted through a network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to peripheral devices such as digital cameras and printers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image information from a digital camera is used in various forms such as storage, printing, processing and transmission by peripheral devices. In the case of printing, it is usual to capture the image of the digital camera into a personal computer in which the printer driver software of the printer to be used is installed and print it. Also,
If the printer has a function of expanding the compressed image, it is possible to perform printing by directly inserting the memory card storing the compressed image into the card slot of the printer. It has also been proposed to send image information to the printer with a command from the digital camera in order to achieve color matching between the digital camera and the printer.

However, when the functions of the peripheral device and the digital camera do not correspond to each other, the best cooperation between the two cannot be expected.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera system in which the best cooperation between a digital camera and peripheral devices can be achieved over a wide range.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a digital camera system including a peripheral device and a digital camera having the following features.
That is, the peripheral device according to the present invention includes a first input unit for inputting image information of the digital camera, a processing unit for processing the image information of the digital camera input to the first input unit, and an instruction to the processing unit. It has a holding unit that holds the specific information necessary for performing, and a first output unit that outputs the specific information. On the other hand, the digital camera has a second input unit for inputting unique information, an instruction unit for giving an instruction to the processing unit based on the unique information, and a second output unit for outputting image information together with an instruction by the instruction unit. As a result, the digital camera can give an instruction that matches the characteristics of the peripheral device that processes the image, and the best cooperation can be achieved between the digital camera and the peripheral device in a wide range.

As an example of the specific information, there is information for displaying an instruction menu for giving an instruction to the processing section of the peripheral device on the display section of the digital camera. If the peripheral device is a printer, this instruction menu is a menu for giving a print instruction on the camera side.

Further, in the case where the digital camera is configured to output the instruction by the instruction unit together with the image information to the image file, the information necessary for writing this instruction in a predetermined portion of the image file is the specific information. Is another example of. It should be noted that this instruction may be automatically performed based on the unique information, or may be performed based on an operation according to the unique information such as a menu display.

As an example of the instruction to the processing unit of the peripheral device,
There is one related to processing in a processing unit for performing color matching when transferring image information from a digital camera to a peripheral device.

The specific information can be input from a peripheral device to the digital camera or from a network accessible from the digital camera. Also,
When outputting the image information together with the instruction by the instruction unit, when outputting to the peripheral device connected to the digital camera, or when writing the image information together with the instruction to the storage medium inserted into the insertion unit of the digital camera. In some cases, it is output via communication means.

When the peripheral device is a printer, the peculiar information can be output to the digital camera and the image information can be input from the digital camera, or the peculiar information can be output to the personal computer and the image information can be input from the personal computer. Is.

Further, if the specific information is input from the network, when new specific information is provided on the network, this can be input to upgrade the specific information.

The processing unit of the printer as a peripheral device processes the image information based on the instruction and outputs a print based on the processed image information. An example of this processing is processing of image information for color matching when image information is input to the printer from the outside. On the other hand, the instruction to the processing unit may be an instruction for the number of prints by the printer.

The detailed features of the present invention will be more apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below with reference to the drawings.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which includes a digital camera 1 and a printer 2.

The digital camera 1 is controlled by the control / processing unit 3, and various operations can be performed by the operation unit 5 while viewing the menu of the LCD display unit 4. In addition,
The display data sent from the control / processing unit 3 is held in the buffer of the LCD display unit 4, and unless the display image data in the buffer is rewritten by the control / processing unit 3, the LC
The same display continues on the D display unit 4. When operating,
A shooting mode, a reproduction mode, a print mode, or the like is selected from the initial menu of the LCD display unit 4.

When the photographing mode is selected, the image of the subject is repeatedly converted into an electronic image signal by the image pickup unit 6 having a lens and an image sensor for about 3 million images. Until the shutter release is performed by the operation unit 5, the image pickup unit 6 performs thinning reading under the control of the control / processing unit 3, and this is converted into thinned image data by the A / D conversion unit of the image pickup unit and controlled / controlled. It is sent to the processing unit 3. The control / processing unit 3 converts the thinned-out image data into display image data by performing interpolation or color balance adjustment, and sends the display image data to the buffer of the LCD display unit 4. Since the image pickup unit 6 repeatedly performs image pickup, thinned-out image data is also repeatedly sent to the control / processing unit 3, and the buffer of the LCD display unit is rewritten one after another by new display image data.
As a result, the image repeatedly captured by the image capturing unit 6 is monitored as a moving image by the LCD display unit 4,
The LCD display unit 4 functions as an electronic finder of the digital camera 1.

When the shutter release button of the operation unit 5 is pressed, the control unit / processor 3 controls the image pickup unit 6 to read all pixels, which is then converted into an A / D conversion unit for control / control.
It is sent to the processing unit 3. The digital data in this state is raw data output from the image sensor of the image pickup unit 6, and is called Raw data. Raw data is sent to the buffer 7 and temporarily stored. When the storage of Raw data is completed, the reading of the image pickup unit 6 returns to the thinning-out reading, and the LCD
The moving image monitor by the display unit 4 is restarted.

The RAW data in the buffer 7 is appropriately read by the control / processing unit 3 and subjected to interpolation and color balance adjustment, and then sent to the compression / expansion unit 8 where it is converted into compressed image data and buffered. It is returned to 7 and temporarily stored. The compressed image data in the buffer 7 is appropriately read out by the control / processing unit 3 and written as an image file in the storage medium 10 such as a memory card inserted in the storage medium slot 9 in a replaceable manner.

The buffer 7 has a capacity of about 10 images of raw data and can store up to 10 images in response to the operation of the shutter release button.
The Raw data in the buffer 7 is read out as appropriate, converted into compressed image data and returned, and further read out as appropriate and written in the storage medium 10. Then, the RAW data whose conversion into the compressed image data has been confirmed or the compressed image data whose writing into the storage medium 10 has been confirmed is erased from the buffer 7 or can be overwritten. Therefore, unless extreme continuous shooting is performed, normally, a free space for a plurality of images is secured in the buffer 7, and new Ra is updated at any time without waiting time.
w data can be imported. Digital camera 1
Further has an applet storage unit 11 and an input / output unit 12, which will be described later in relation to the configuration of the printer 2.

When the reproduction mode is selected, the control / processing unit 3 reads the thumbnail data from the image file in the storage medium 10 and displays it on the LCD display unit 4. When one of the thumbnails is selected by the operation unit 5, the compressed image data is read from the selected image file and sent to the compression / expansion unit 8 to be expanded.
After decompressing the decompressed image data appropriately,
It is sent from the control / processing unit 3 to the LCD display unit 4 and displayed.

The printer 2 is controlled by the control / processing unit 13, and various operations can be performed by the operation unit 15 while viewing the menu of the LCD display unit 14. In addition,
The display data sent from the control / processing unit 13 is an LCD
The same display is continued on the LCD display unit 14 unless the display / image data stored in the buffer of the display unit 14 is rewritten by the control / processing unit 13. The print output unit 16 prints on output paper based on the print data stored in the output buffer 17.

The printer 2 does not have a decompression function for compressed image data. Therefore, it is necessary to input the expanded and converted data into the input / output unit 18. The printer driver applet storage unit 19 stores a printer driver applet that is application software for converting the decompressed compressed image into print data dedicated to the printer 2 and delivering the print data to the printer 2. The printer driver applet is sent from the input / output unit 18 to the input / output unit 12 of the digital camera 1 via the cable 20 in advance, and the applet storage unit 11
Remembered in. Note that the printer driver applet displays a printer 2 dedicated menu for specifying the paper type, paper size, image size, image quality, color setting, number of prints, etc. for the printer 2 and prints for selecting the item. A menu applet is also included.

In the print mode, when the operation unit 5 of the digital camera 1 selects and prints the target image according to the control / processing unit 3 functioning by the print menu applet attached to the printer driver applet of the applet storage unit 11, The compressed target image is read from the storage medium 10 and expanded by the compression / expansion unit 8. The decompressed target image is the applet storage unit 11
Controlled by the printer driver applet in /
It is converted into print data dedicated to the printer 2 by the processing unit 3 and is transferred from the input / output unit 12 to the input / output unit 18 of the printer 2 via the cable 20. The print data transferred is output to the output buffer 1 by the control / processing unit 13.
7, and the print output unit 16 executes printing based on this.

As described above, the printer driver applet is stored in the printer driver applet storage unit 19 of the printer 2, and the printer driver applet is sent to the digital camera 1 and stored in the applet storage unit 11. Image data can be received from the camera in the form of print data dedicated to the printer 2. Therefore, even if the print data is not received via the personal computer in which the driver software of the printer 2 is installed, the digital camera 1 can be directly connected to the printer 2 by the functions of the decompression / compression unit 8 and the applet of the applet storage unit 11. Printing can be performed.

The color matching applet storage unit 21 of the printer 2 is necessary for the digital camera 1 to write the color and brightness information of the print target image data as a print command at a predetermined position of the image file of the storage medium 10. A color matching applet, which is application software, is stored. This is for color matching image information between the digital camera 1 and the printer 2.

The printer driver applet is sent from the input / output unit 18 to the input / output unit 12 of the digital camera 1 via the cable 20 in advance and stored in the applet storage unit 11.

The color matching applet stored in the applet storage unit 11 writes the captured image as an image file in the storage medium 10 of the storage medium slot 9 as a print command such as information on the color and brightness of the image data. Is also written in the image file.

The print command for the image file stored in the storage medium 10 is used when converting the image read from the storage medium 10 and decompressed into the print data dedicated to the printer 2 in the print mode. Is transferred from the input / output unit 12 to the input / output unit 18 as color-matched data. The print command for the image file stored in the storage medium 10 is
When printing is performed by a printer that can print by inserting the storage medium 10, the printer is used.

FIG. 2 is a main flowchart of the digital camera 1 in the above embodiment. The main flow starts from step S1 when a printer connection interrupt occurs when the power switch is turned on or the digital camera 1 is connected to the printer 2 by the cable 20. In step S2, it is checked whether or not a printer is connected, and if connected, printer information for specifying the printer is input from the printer 2 to the digital camera 1 in step S3.

In step S4, it is checked whether the printer driver applet corresponding to the printer specified by the printer information has already been input to the applet storage unit 11. If already input, step S5
In, specify the printer driver applet.
This is to determine which of the printer driver applets corresponding to a plurality of printers to use when stored in the applet storage unit 11.

In step S6, it is checked based on the printer information whether the applet in the printer driver applet storage unit 19 is new to the digital camera 1. When step S6 is reached via step S5, it is determined whether the printer driver applet stored in the printer driver applet storage unit 19 is an updated version of the printer driver applet already stored in the applet storage unit 11. It will be a check. On the other hand, in step S4, the corresponding printer driver applet is the applet storage unit 1
If it is not 1, step S5 is skipped and step S6 is reached. In this case, the result of the check in step S6 is usually YES. In any case, if a new applet for the digital camera 1 is stored in the printer driver applet storage unit 19, step S
7, the new printer driver applet is input and stored in the applet storage unit 11. If no new applet for the digital camera 1 is stored in the printer driver applet storage unit 19 in step S6, step S7 is skipped.

As described above, the steps S6 and S7 are not limited to the case where the printer driver applet for the printer 2 has not been stored in the applet storage unit 11 at all, and the printer driver applet corresponding to the printer 2 is already stored in the applet storage unit 11. Even if the driver applet is stored, there is a function of rewriting the applet storage 11 and updating it if the printer driver applet of the printer 2 is upgraded. This update is performed as needed each time the flow starts from step S1 by turning on the power or interrupting the printer connection.

In step S8, it is checked based on the printer information whether the applet in the color matching applet storage unit 21 is new to the digital camera 1. If a new applet is stored in the color matching applet storage unit 21 for the digital camera 1, the process proceeds to step S9, and the new color matching applet is input and stored in the applet storage unit 11. If a new applet for the digital camera 1 is not stored in the color matching applet storage unit 19 in step S8, step S9 is skipped. Similar to steps S6 and S7, steps S8 and S
9 also rewrites the applet memory 11 if the color matching applet of the printer 2 is upgraded,
There is a function to update this.

In the above embodiment, the color matching applet is based on the common standard, and the new version also covers the functions of the old version, and one of the plurality of color matching applets that has been input is changed according to the printer. Configured as having no need to select. However, when the color matching applet peculiar to the printer is adopted, the above embodiment is modified, and the steps similar to step S4 and step S5 are provided before step S8 for the color matching applet.

The erase mode selection process in step S10
This is a process for pre-selecting the condition in order to delete the applet from the applet storage unit 11 under a predetermined condition, and to prevent unnecessary applets from being stored in a large number of applet storage units. The predetermined condition is used or the expiration of the deadline, the details of which will be described later.

The applet erasing process in step S11 is a process for erasing unnecessary applets according to the erasing mode set in step S10. Here, the applet is erased when the time limit expires. The details will be described later.

In step S12, step S13, and step S14, the interrupts of the print mode, the photographing mode, and the reproduction mode are enabled, and step S15 is performed.
Then the main flow goes into a standby state.

If the printer is not connected in step S2, the process of step S3 and the subsequent steps cannot be performed for the time being, and the process proceeds to step S16 to enable the printer connection interrupt to reach step S11. As a result, when the printer is subsequently connected while the power is on, a printer connection interrupt occurs, and the flow starts from step S1 and steps S3 and thereafter can be executed.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation when a shooting mode interrupt is applied in the above embodiment. When the shooting mode is selected by the operation unit 5, a shooting mode interrupt is applied, the flow is started in step S21, and the release is waited in step S22. When the release is performed, the image is captured and compressed in step S23, and written in the image file.

In step S24, it is checked whether or not a color matching applet is stored in the applet storage section. If it is stored, in step S25 the color relating to the color or brightness of the image data captured is used as a print command. Matching data is written to the image file. In step S26, the image file in which the compressed image information and the print command are written is written in the storage medium 10. Then, the flow returns to step S22 to wait for the next release. When the color matching applet is not stored in the applet storage unit 11 in step S24, step S25 is skipped and the image file in which the image information is written is written in the storage medium 10.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation when a print mode interrupt occurs in the above embodiment. When the print mode is selected by the operation unit 5, a print mode interrupt is applied, and the flow starts in step S31. In step S32, it is checked whether or not the printer corresponding to the direct connection to the digital camera 1 is connected. That is, the printer driver applet of the connected printer is stored in the applet storage unit 11, and it is checked by the print data output from the digital camera 1 whether the printer 2 can execute printing.

If the corresponding printer is connected, the printer driver applet corresponding to the printer is read from the applet storage unit 11, the control / processing unit 3 functions based on the menu applet, and the dedicated menu of the printer 2 is displayed. It is displayed on the LCD display unit 4. In step S34, a process of selecting an image to be printed is performed according to the menu display. In step S35, menu selection processing is performed according to the menu display, and the type of paper, the paper size, the image size, the image quality, the color setting, the number of prints, etc. are designated.

In step S36, the image file corresponding to the selected image is read from the storage medium 10, and in step S37 the compression / expansion unit 8 expands the compressed image data of the image file.

In step S38, it is checked whether or not the read image file includes color matching data with a print command including information about the color and brightness of the image data. If there is color matching data, it is read in step S39, and step S4
At 0, color matching processing is performed on the expanded image data. In step S41, the decompressed image data subjected to the color matching processing is converted into print data. In addition, in step S38, the color matching data is directly obtained in step S38.
At 41, the decompressed image data is converted into print data.
The converted print data is temporarily stored in the buffer 7.

In step S42, it is checked whether or not the image selection is completed. If it is completed, the print data in the buffer 7 is transferred from the input / output unit 12 to the printer 2 in step S43.
Output to. Further, in step S44, applet erasing processing for erasing a used applet from the applet storage unit 11 is performed as necessary according to the mode selected in the erasing mode selection processing in step S10 of FIG. After the above processing, the flow returns to the main flow and enters the standby state.

If the image selection is not completed in step S42, the process returns to step S33, and steps S33 to S42 are repeated until the image selection is completed.

If the corresponding printer is not connected in step S32 and printing cannot be performed even if the print data is output from the input / output unit 12, the process proceeds to step S46, and a caution display to that effect is displayed. Furthermore, it progresses to step S47,
After performing processing for writing the print instruction in the storage medium 10 as necessary, the process proceeds to step S45.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing details of the storage medium writing process in step S47 of FIG. When the flow starts from step S51, a dedicated applet for performing processing for writing a print instruction in the storage medium 10 in step S52 is an applet storage unit 1
It is checked whether it is stored in 1. Such a dedicated applet is not a printer 2, but a specific printer of a type capable of performing printing by inserting a storage medium 10 taken out from a digital camera as in the embodiment described later, or an applet supply service. Supplied to the digital camera 1. Further, as the supply method, various methods such as via a storage medium and via the Internet as described later are possible. Examples of the dedicated applet include an applet for performing color matching between the printer of the type described above and a digital camera, and an applet for displaying a dedicated menu for issuing a print instruction.

If the dedicated applet for performing the processing for writing the print instruction in the storage medium 10 is not stored in the applet storage unit 11 in step S52, the process proceeds to step S53, and the print instruction is issued in the storage medium 10 itself. Checks if a dedicated applet for writing is stored. As described above, not only the applet storage unit 11 but also the storage medium 10 itself can be used as the applet storage unit. In this case, simply inserting the storage medium 10 into the storage medium slot 9 of the digital camera 1 The camera 1 can perform processing according to the dedicated applet. Examples of such a dedicated applet include an applet for performing color matching between the printer and the digital camera and an applet for displaying a dedicated menu for issuing a print instruction. Now, if such a dedicated applet is stored in the storage medium 10 itself, step S
In step 54, the control / processing unit 3 reads this dedicated applet from the storage medium 10. Then, the dedicated menu for writing the print instruction in the storage medium 10 by the read dedicated applet is displayed on the LCD in step S55.
It is displayed on the display unit 4.

On the other hand, in step S52, the storage medium 1
If the dedicated applet for performing the processing for writing the print instruction in 0 is stored in the applet storage unit 11, the process directly proceeds to step S55, and the print instruction is written in the storage medium 10 by the dedicated applet in the applet storage unit 11. The dedicated menu of is displayed on the LCD display unit 4.

In step S56, the image to be printed is selected according to the menu display. Also, step S
At 57, a menu selection process for designating the type of paper, the paper size, the image size, the image quality, the color setting, the number of prints, etc. is performed according to the menu display. Then, in step S58, the print instruction is written to the image file of the selected image stored in the storage medium 10. This print instruction includes not only an item designated by the operation unit 5 in the menu selection process but also an item automatically written based on the color matching applet. When the writing is completed, the storage medium writing process is ended in step S59, and the process proceeds to step S4 in FIG.

In step S53, the storage medium 1
If the dedicated applet for performing the processing for writing the print instruction in 0 itself is not stored, step S
Proceed to 60. In step S60, a process of writing the print instruction in the storage medium 10 is performed based on a general-purpose standard for delivering the print instruction from the digital camera to the printer. In this case, it is not possible to correspond to each printer, and the print instruction is within the range according to the general-purpose standard. If the general-purpose standard includes the color matching standard, the general-purpose color matching data is also written based on the general-purpose standard.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing details of the erase mode selection processing in step S10 of FIG.
When the flow starts from step S71, it is checked in step S72 whether or not there is a new applet input to the applet storage unit 11. If there is a new applet, the save mode is set by default in step S73 for one of them. In step S74, it is checked by the operation unit 5 whether or not the after-use erase mode is selected. If it is detected that this mode is selected within a predetermined time, the save mode is changed to the after-use erase mode in step S75, and the step S76 is performed. Proceed to. If the selection of the post-use erasing mode is not detected within the predetermined time in step S74, the process directly proceeds to step S76 in the storage mode.

In step S76, it is checked whether or not the deadline erasing mode has been selected by the operation unit 5. If it is detected that this mode has been selected within a predetermined time, the deadline erasing mode is set in step S77 and the process proceeds to step S78. . It should be noted that, if the selection of the term deletion mode is not detected within the predetermined time in step S76, step S77 is skipped and the process directly goes to step S78. This expiry mode is intended to remove applets that have not been used for a long time or are out of date from the applet store.

As a result, for one new applet,
Any one of the storage mode, the post-use erasing mode, the term erasing mode, and both the post-use erasing mode and the term erasing mode is set.

In step S78, applet storage unit 1
It is checked whether or not there is another new applet input in 1, and if not, the process proceeds to step S79. On the other hand, if there is another new applet, the process returns to step S73. Hereafter, as long as there is another new applet, steps S73 to S
78 is repeated, and the deletion mode is set for each new applet.

In step S79, it is detected whether or not an operation to change the already set erase mode is performed by the operation unit 5 within a predetermined time. If it is detected that there is a mode change request, the mode in step S80 is detected. Proceed to change processing. In the mode change process, a process of displaying a list of applets stored in the applet storage unit 11 on the LCD display unit 4, a process of selecting one of them by the operation unit 5,
Also, a process of changing the erase mode of the selected applet by the operation unit 5 is performed. When the mode changing process is completed, the process proceeds to step S81, and step S1 in FIG.
Move to 1. On the other hand, in step S79, if the operation of the operation unit 5 indicating the desire to change the set erase mode is not detected within the predetermined time, the process directly goes to step S81.

If there is no newly stored applet in the applet storage unit 11 in step S72, the process directly goes to step S79. In this case as well, the erasing mode can be changed as necessary for the applets already stored in the applet storage unit 11 in steps S79 and S80.

FIG. 7 shows step S11 of FIG. 2 or FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing details of applet deletion processing in step S44 of FIG. When the flow starts from step S91, it is checked in step S92 whether the print mode is set. If it is not the print mode, this corresponds to the case of step S11 of FIG. 2, so the flow proceeds to step S93, and it is checked whether or not the applet in the term deletion mode is stored in the applet storage unit 11. Then, in step S94, it is checked whether or not some of them have expired. Specific examples of the expiration are those in which a predetermined period has elapsed from the date of input to the applet storage unit, those in which a predetermined period has elapsed from the latest usage date, and those in which a predetermined period has elapsed from the applet creation date. For this purpose, each applet records the date of creation, the date of entry into the applet storage, the latest date of use, etc.

If there is an expired applet in step S94, the process advances to step S95 to display on the LCD display unit 4 whether or not one of the applets may be erased, and erase it within a predetermined time. It is checked whether the operation to that effect has been performed by the operation unit 5. When it is detected that an operation has been performed, the applet is erased from the applet storage unit 11 in step S96, and the process proceeds to step S97. On the other hand, if it is not detected in step S95 that the operation to erase OK is performed by the operation unit 5 within the predetermined time, the applet is not erased and the process proceeds to step S97.

In step S97, it is checked whether or not there is another applet whose expiration date has expired. If there is no other applet whose expiration date has expired, the process goes to step S98 to end the process, and the process proceeds to step S12 in FIG. On the other hand, if there are other expired applets, step S95.
Then, as long as there is an applet for which deletion has not been determined due to expiration of the period, steps S95 to S97 are repeated.

If no applet in the term deletion mode is stored in the applet storage section 11 in step S93, or if there is no expired applet in the applet storage section in step S94, the process directly goes to step S98.

If the print mode in step S91 corresponds to the case of step S44 in FIG. 4, the process proceeds to step S99, and the applet used in the print mode is set to the after-use delete mode. Is checked. If it is in the post-use erase mode, the process proceeds to step S95. The following operation is performed after step S94 through step S94.
This is the same as when reaching 95. Even when the process goes to step S95 through step S99, the check in step S97 is received. Therefore, even if the applet is not erased in step S96 from the viewpoint of erasing after use, if the expiration mode is set and the expiration is determined in step S97, the process returns to step S95, and this time. Ask the necessity of deletion from the viewpoint of expiration. In the above case, if the applet is not set in the expiration mode or the expiration is not determined, the steps S97 to S97 are performed.
98. On the other hand, if the post-use erase mode is not set in step S99, the process directly goes to step S98.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a digital camera system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, which comprises a digital camera 1 and a printer 31. Digital camera 1 Since it is common to the digital camera 1 in FIG. 1, each component is given a common number and its description is omitted. On the other hand, the printer 31 is a printer of the type mentioned in the description of FIG. 5, and is the storage medium 1 taken out from the digital camera.
It is possible to print by inserting 0. With respect to the printer 31 as well, the same components as those of the printer 2 of FIG.

The printer 31 has a storage medium slot 32 into which the storage medium 10 such as a memory card taken out from the storage medium slot 9 of the digital camera can be inserted. The print instruction written by the storage medium writing process of FIG. 5 is written in the storage medium 10 together with the compressed image, and these are read by the control / processing unit 33. Specifically, the image file to be printed is read in accordance with the read print instruction, and the compressed image data therein is sent to the decompression / conversion unit 34. The decompression / conversion unit 34 decompresses the compressed image data and converts it into print data dedicated to the printer 31. At this time, if there is color matching data in the image file, the command is read to perform color matching processing for processing the image. The print data is sent to the output buffer 17 by the control / processing unit 33, and the print output unit 16 executes printing based on this.

In the above, the color matching data included in the image file of the storage medium 10 is sent to the digital camera 1 by the color matching applet stored in the dedicated applet storage section 35 of the printer 31 and sent to the applet storage section 11. The color matching data is stored in the digital camera 1 and functions according to FIG.
Is written in the storage medium 10.

As described above, since the printer 31 in the second embodiment is provided with the decompression / conversion unit 34, it can be inserted into the medium slot 32 without receiving a signal in the form of print data externally. An image file containing a compressed image can be read from the storage medium 10 and print data can be created by itself.

Various methods can be used as the method of exchanging the dedicated applet in the second embodiment. First, the input / output unit 18 is connected to the input / output unit 1 as in the first embodiment.
There is a method in which the applet stored in the dedicated applet storage unit 35 of the printer 31 is sent to the applet storage unit 11 of the digital camera 1 by connecting the applet 2 to the applet storage unit 11 of the printer 31 by an appropriate method.

Next, the applet stored in the dedicated applet storage section 35 of the printer 31 is stored in the storage medium 10 inserted into the medium slot 32, and this storage medium 10 is inserted into the medium slot 9 of the digital camera 1. When
There is a method of reading this and inputting it to the applet storage unit 11. Details of the applet input from the storage medium 10 to the applet storage unit 11 in this case can be performed according to FIG. Specifically, “printer connection” in FIG. 2 is read as “storage medium insertion”. Further, the case where the applet thus stored in the applet storage unit 11 exists corresponds to the case where the medium writing applet exists in step S52 of FIG.

Further, as a third method, the printer 3
The applet stored in the dedicated applet storage unit 35 of No. 1 is stored in the storage medium 10 inserted in the medium slot 32, and when the storage medium 10 is inserted in the medium slot 9 of the digital camera 1 There is a method of directly reading out and making the control / processing unit 3 function.
In this method, the applet is not stored in the applet storage medium 11. Therefore, applet storage unit 11
The problem of erasing applets from does not occur. in this case,
This corresponds to a storage medium with an applet in step S53 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a digital camera system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, in which the respective components are connected by a network. Although the digital camera 1 has basically the same configuration as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the applet storage unit 11 and the input / output unit 1
Illustration is omitted except for 2. The printer 2 also has basically the same configuration as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
However, the printer driver applet storage unit 19 and the color matching applet storage unit 21 in FIG. 1 are collectively referred to as an applet storage unit 41. The illustration is omitted except for the applet storage unit 41 and the input / output unit 18. The printer 31 in FIG. 8 can also be implemented in the third embodiment, but from the viewpoint of the third embodiment, illustration is omitted and represented by the printer 2 in FIG. In particular, when understood as the third embodiment, it may be considered that the applet storage unit 41 of FIG. 9 corresponds to the dedicated applet storage unit 35 of FIG.

In the first embodiment, the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 were directly connected by the cable 20, but in the third embodiment, the short-range communication means 43 by radio waves or infrared rays, respectively, via the home wireless LAN 42, It is tied at 44. The home server 45 composed of a personal computer controls the home wireless LAN 42 via the input / output unit 46 and has an applet storage unit 47. Home server 45
Receives a digital camera applet such as a printer driver applet or a color matching applet output from the applet storage unit 41 of the printer 2 to the home wireless LAN 42 and temporarily stores the applet in the applet storage unit 47. Then, the digital camera 1 is a home wireless L
When communicating with AN 42, applet storage unit 47
The applet for digital camera of is transferred to the digital camera 1. If the digital camera 1 is in communication with the home wireless LAN when the printer 2 outputs the applet for the digital camera to the home wireless LAN, the applet storage unit 47 of the home server 45 temporarily stores the digital camera 1 as described above. The applet may be directly delivered from the printer 2 to the digital camera 1 without passing through the custody.

Further, the home server 45 has an input / output unit 50 for the communication means 49 for communicating with the Internet 48. Then, applets relating to various home appliances connected to the home wireless LAN 42 are displayed on the Internet 48.
When it is supplied via the home wireless LAN, it is received by the input / output unit 50 and temporarily stored in the applet storage unit 47.
The data is supplied to the corresponding home appliances through the AN 42 as appropriate.

The home server 45 further has an image database 51. Image files from the digital camera 1 are transmitted to and accumulated in the image database 51 via the home wireless LAN 42. In this case, the image database data creation applet prepared in the applet storage unit 47 of the home server 45 is the digital camera 1
Is transmitted when the wireless LAN 42 is in communication with the home wireless LAN 42, and is stored in the applet storage unit 11 in advance. As a result, the digital camera 1 can output an image file in a format suitable for storage in the image database 51 based on the image database data creation applet in the applet storage unit 11.

An image viewing device 52 for displaying a digital image from the digital camera 1 on a large screen for viewing can be connected to the home wireless LAN 42 by a short-range communication means 53 using radio waves or infrared rays. There is. The image viewing apparatus 52 has the input / output unit 5 in the same manner as the printer 2.
4 and applet storage 55. The home server 45 receives the image viewing applet output to the home wireless LAN 42 from the applet storage unit 55 of the image viewing apparatus 52 and stores it in the applet storage unit 47. When the digital camera 1 is in communication with the home wireless LAN 42, the image viewing applet in the applet storage unit 47 is delivered to the digital camera 1. As in the case of the printer 1, if the digital camera 1 is in communication with the home wireless LAN when the image viewing apparatus 52 outputs the image viewing applet to the home wireless LAN, the above-mentioned home The applet may be directly delivered from the image viewing apparatus 52 to the digital camera 1 without the storage by the applet storage unit 47 of the server 45. In either case, the digital camera 1 stores the applet received in advance in the applet storage unit 11. As a result, the digital camera 1 can output image data of a format and size suitable for image display in the image viewing apparatus 52, based on the image viewing applet in the applet storage unit 11.

The applet for image viewing stored in the applet storage section 47 of the home server 45 uses the image data stored in the image database 51 for the image viewing device 52.
It is also used when viewing at. In this case, the home server expands the image data in the image database 51 based on the image viewing applet in the applet storage unit 47, converts the image data into image data of a format and size suitable for image display in the image viewing apparatus 52, and outputs the image data. To do.

The printer driver applet and the color matching applet stored in the applet storage section 47 of the home server 45 are also used when the image data stored in the image database 51 is printed by the printer 2. In this case, the home server decompresses the compressed image data in the image database 51, and based on the printer driver applet and the color matching applet in the applet storage unit 47, the image database 5
The image data of No. 1 is converted into print data and output.

In the above description, the digital camera 1
Although the case where the applet is received and stored in the applet storage unit 11 has been described, it is also possible to send the applet stored in the applet storage unit 11 to the peripheral device. For example, a system applet for supporting a system for color matching between the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 is output from the applet storage unit 11 of the digital camera 1 and stored in the applet storage unit 41 of the printer 2 via the home LAN 42. By sending it in, it is possible to transform the printer 2 which is not compatible with the color matching system, to be compatible with this. Similarly, a system applet for supporting a system for performing color matching between the digital camera 1 and the image viewing device 52 is output from the applet storage unit 11 of the digital camera 1 and the image viewing device 52 of the image viewing device 52 is connected via the home LAN 42. It can also be sent to the applet storage unit 55.

Specifically, in the above description, when the digital camera writes command information for color matching at a predetermined position in the image file according to the system applet and outputs the command information to the printer, the printer reads the command information and executes the command. A system applet for processing the image information of the image file is sent to the applet storage unit 11 of the printer 2 in accordance with the above. This allows the printer 2 to create a print that matches the color conditions of the digital camera 1.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the short range communication means 43 connects the digital camera 1 and the peripheral equipment. However, the connection with the peripheral device is not limited to this. For example, by connecting a digital camera cradle having a digital camera charging connector and an image signal connector to the home LAN 42, the digital camera 1
By placing this on the cradle, the corresponding connectors provided on the digital camera 1 are brought into contact with the charging connector and the image signal connector of the cradle, respectively, and charging of the digital camera and digital communication via the home LAN are possible. It is also possible to do so. In this case, it is also possible to provide an applet storage unit in this cradle and exchange the applet with the applet storage unit 11 of the digital camera 1. Further, the control / processing unit 3 of the digital camera 1 can be made to function by the applet of the cradle.

In FIG. 9, various organizations such as a printer maker 59, an external server 60, and a camera maker 61 can be connected to the Internet 48 via communication means 56, 57, 58 and the like. The printer maker 59 develops an applet to be provided to its own printer and its peripheral devices (including a digital camera), stores the applet in the applet storage unit 62 sequentially, and publishes it on the Internet 48 from the input / output unit 63. Similarly, the camera maker 61 also develops an applet to be provided to its own digital camera and its peripheral devices (including a printer), and sequentially stores the applet in the applet storage unit 64, and the Internet from the input / output unit 65 on the Internet 48. Publish.

The external server 60 uses the Internet 48 by contracting with the printer maker 59 and the camera maker 61.
These are regularly accessed via the applet storage unit 6 by fetching the published applet from the input / output unit 66.
Store in 7. The external server 60 further periodically sends the related new applet of the applet storage unit 67 to the applet storage unit 45 of the home server 45 via the Internet based on the contract with the home server 45. For this purpose, the home server 45 may periodically access the external server 60. As a result, the home server can obtain an applet newly provided by the printer maker 59 or the camera maker 61 or an upgraded applet in almost real time. The method of delivering the applet stored in the applet storage unit 47 to the digital camera 1, the printer 2, the image viewing apparatus 52, etc. is the same as the case of exchanging applets between home appliances via the applet storage unit 47.

External users 69 and the like can be connected to the Internet 48 via communication means 68 and the like. The external user 69 has an applet storage unit 70 that stores a dedicated applet, and publishes the dedicated applet on the Internet 48 from the input / output unit 71. Examples of such external users 69 include personal mobile phones, mobile phone network operators, network providers, personal computers, image providers, publishers, and the like.

For example, a personal mobile phone is used by an external user 69.
If so, the applet storage unit 70 stores a mobile phone standby screen creation applet, and the applet is configured to be sent to the applet storage unit 11 of the digital camera via the Internet 48 and the home LAN 42. be able to. In this case, the digital camera 1 reads out the image information from the storage medium 10 and compresses it.
The decompression unit 8 decompresses the data, thins it out according to the applet from the mobile phone in the applet storage unit 11 to obtain a file size for the mobile phone screen, processes the standby screen, and outputs it from the input / output unit 12. . The standby screen output from the digital camera 1 is home L
AN 42, home server 45 and Internet 48
Is transmitted to the mobile phone which is the external user 69 via.
If the digital camera 1 is provided with a communication function, the applet and the standby screen can be directly exchanged with the mobile phone, which is the external user 69.

As another example, when the image provider is an external user, the applet storage unit 70 stores an electronic watermark processing applet and an encryption applet, and this applet is used by the Internet 48 and the home LAN. Via 42, applet storage unit 1 of digital camera
It can be configured to be sent to 1. In this case, the digital camera 1 reads out the image information from the storage medium 10 and decompresses it in the compression / decompression unit 8, and also performs digital watermark processing or encryption processing on the applet according to the applet from the image provider in the applet storage unit 11. Compress again. The image thus digital watermarked or encrypted is output from the digital camera 1 and transmitted to the image provider who is the external user 69 via the home LAN 42, the home server 45 and the Internet 48. To be done. If the digital camera 1 is provided with a communication function, the applet and the processing screen can be directly exchanged with the image provider who is the external user 69. Also, if the image has been decided to be sent to the image provider at the time of shooting, the storage medium 1
Before storing in 0, digital watermark processing or encryption processing is performed according to an applet from an image provider of the applet storage unit 11, and this is compressed and stored in the storage medium 10. In this case, the compressed image in the storage medium is transmitted as it is to the image provider who is the external user 69. In this way, by performing security processing such as digital watermarking and encryption supported by the image provider, the image can be transferred from the digital camera 1 to the external user via the Internet 48 without worrying about copyright infringement or plagiarism. 69 image provider.

The functions in each of the above-described embodiments can be realized by an application program of a computer as needed, and in this case, the computer in which this application program is installed and its peripheral devices connected as necessary are as described above. The device has been described in. Therefore, the application program itself distributed on the Internet or the like for realizing the functions of the present invention or a recording medium such as a CD-ROM in which the application program is recorded is also an object of the present invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main flowchart of the digital camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when a shooting mode interrupt is applied.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart when a print mode interrupt is applied.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of a storage medium writing process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of erase mode selection processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of applet deletion processing.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a third embodiment according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 digital camera 2 printer 8 compression / expansion section 9 Storage media slot 11 Applet storage 12 Input / output section 18 Input / output section 19 Printer driver applet storage 21 Color Matching Applet Storage 32 storage media slot 34 Decompression / conversion unit 35 dedicated applet storage 42 Home wireless LAN 43 Near field communication means 44 short-range communication means 45 Home server 48 Internet 49 Communication means 52 Image appreciation device 53 Near field communication means 56 Communication means 57 Communication means 58 Communication means 59 Printer Maker 60 external server 61 Camera Maker 68 Communication means 69 External users

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Akira Omura             Tokyo Stock Exchange 1-325, Futaba 1-32             Company Nikon technical workshop (72) Inventor Masahide Tanaka             Tokyo Stock Exchange 1-325, Futaba 1-32             Company Nikon technical workshop F-term (reference) 5C022 AA13 AC03 AC42 AC69                 5C052 AA12 AA17 AB09 DD02 DD04                       EE08 FA02 FA03 FA04 FA06                       FA08 FB01 FC06 FE01 GA02                       GA03 GA05 GA08 GA09 GB01                       GE08                 5C053 FA04 FA08 FA27 KA04 KA05                       KA24 LA02 LA03 LA11 LA15

Claims (28)

[Claims] 1. A first input section for inputting image information of a digital camera, a processing section for processing image information of the digital camera input to the first input section, and a necessary for giving an instruction to the processing section. Peripheral device having a holding unit for holding unique information and a first output unit for outputting the unique information, a second input unit for inputting the unique information, an instruction unit for giving an instruction to the processing unit by the unique information , And a digital camera having a second output section for outputting image information together with an instruction by the instruction section. 2. The digital camera has a display section, and the specific information includes information for displaying an instruction menu for giving an instruction to the processing section on the display section. Item 1. A digital camera system according to item 1. 3. The peripheral device is a printer, and
3. The digital camera system according to claim 2, wherein the instruction menu is a menu for issuing a print instruction. 4. The second output unit outputs the instruction by the instruction unit together with the image information to an image file, and the special information is for writing the instruction by the instruction unit in a predetermined portion of the image file. The digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera system is necessary information. 5. The digital camera system according to claim 4, wherein the instruction by the instruction unit is automatically performed based on the specific information. 6. The instruction by the instruction unit is performed based on an operation according to the specific information.
The described digital camera system. 7. The instruction from the instruction unit is an instruction to perform a process in the processing unit for color matching when transferring image information from the digital camera to the peripheral device. Item 7. The digital camera system according to any one of items 1 to 6. 8. An input unit for inputting specific information of peripheral devices,
A digital camera, comprising: an instruction unit that gives an instruction to the peripheral device based on the unique information, and an output unit that outputs image information together with an instruction from the instruction unit. 9. The digital camera according to claim 8, wherein the input unit inputs the specific information from the peripheral device. 10. The digital camera according to claim 8, wherein the input unit inputs the specific information from a network accessible from the input unit. 11. The digital device according to claim 8, wherein the output unit outputs the image information to the peripheral device connected to the output unit together with an instruction from the instruction unit. camera. 12. The output section has a removable storage medium insertion section, and performs the output by writing the image information in a storage medium inserted into the insertion section together with an instruction from the instruction section. 8. The method according to claim 8, wherein
1. The digital camera according to any one of 1. 13. The digital camera according to claim 8, wherein the output unit outputs the image information together with an instruction from the instruction unit via a communication unit. 14. A display unit, wherein the specific information includes information for displaying an instruction menu for giving an instruction to the peripheral device on the display unit. The digital camera according to any one of 1. 15. The digital camera according to claim 14, wherein the peripheral device is a printer, and the instruction menu is a menu for issuing a print instruction. 16. The output unit collectively outputs the instruction by the instruction unit to an image file together with the image information, and the special information is necessary for writing the instruction by the instruction unit to a predetermined portion of the image file. The digital camera according to claim 8, wherein the digital camera is information. 17. The instruction by the instruction unit is automatically performed based on the specific information.
The listed digital camera. 18. The digital camera according to claim 16, wherein the instruction by the instruction unit is performed based on an operation according to the specific information. 19. The instruction from the instruction unit is for instructing a process to be performed in the peripheral device for color matching when transferring image information from the digital camera to the peripheral device. Item 8 to 1
8. The digital camera according to any one of 8. 20. An input section for inputting image information, a processing section for processing the image information input to the input section, and for outputting to the outside the special information necessary for instructing the processing section. And a holding unit for holding the printer. 21. The printer according to claim 20, further comprising an output unit for inputting image information from a digital camera to the input unit and outputting the specific information to the digital camera. 22. The input section is provided with an output section for receiving image information from a personal computer and outputting the specific information to the personal computer.
Or the printer according to 21. 23. The printer according to claim 20, further comprising an output unit for outputting the specific information to a network. 24. An input unit for inputting the specific information from a network is provided.
The printer according to any one of 1. 25. The processing section according to claim 20, further comprising a print output section for processing image information based on the instruction and outputting a print based on the processed image information. The printer described in Crab. 26. The printer according to claim 25, wherein the processing unit processes the image information for color matching when the image information is input to the printer from the outside. 27. The processing section executes a print output based on the instruction.
6. The printer according to any one of 6. 28. The printer according to claim 27, wherein the instruction is an instruction for the number of prints.