JP2004260661A - Apparatus and method for image data copying - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image data copying apparatus and an image data copying method, capable of simply checking whether there is a defect in image data supplied by a customer. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus comprises at least a reading means 11 for reading image data from a digital camera or media carried in by a customer, a checking means 12 for checking a defect in the read image data, a display means 13 for displaying information, indicative of defect existence or information associating a defective image data with the defect content, and an image data storage means 15 for storing image data decided not defective or image data decided as defective, together with data associated with the information indicative of defect existence, in order to use it in a subsequent process. Since it is checked and stored automatically as to whether image data is defective or not, namely, whether image data is suitable for usage in a photograph service, order/accept processing can be executed quickly. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data copying apparatus and a data copying method, and more particularly, to an image data copying apparatus and an image data copying method for reading image data for using a photo service from a digital camera or various media.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the spread of photographing devices such as digital cameras and camera-equipped mobile phones, customers who use photographic images as digital data have been increasing. Such customers can read the image data by inserting various media attached to the digital camera into the slot of the personal computer, or transfer the image data of the photograph taken by connecting the digital camera to the personal computer. Thus, image data is stored in a personal computer, and the image data is displayed and viewed using an image display application installed in the personal computer in advance.
[0003]
There is also a service that outputs image data as photo prints and creates design prints such as postcards based on image data. By using such services, image data can be viewed as photo prints. It is possible to do. For example, in a service that prints image data captured by a digital camera, when a customer brings in a digital camera or various media for a digital camera to an agency such as a convenience store, the agency reads the image data from the digital camera or the media, The information is sent to a photo service store or the like together with the order information, a desired image is printed using an image forming apparatus installed in the store, and the image is provided to the customer via the ordering agent.
[0004]
In addition, in order to avoid the problem that it takes time to accept an order at the agency in the method of creating an order slip by hand at the agency, a terminal for accepting orders is installed at the agency, and the customer can use the terminal to accept the order. There is also a method of making an order. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 12-321677 discloses a print order accepting device that can easily make an order for printing an image captured by a digital camera.
[0005]
According to the above publication, reading means for reading image data from a medium on which image data is recorded in a print order receiving device, and image display means for displaying an image based on the image data read from the reading means And selecting means for selecting an image to be printed from the images displayed on the image displaying means, and confirming means for confirming the selected image, wherein the image is selected and confirmed by the confirming means. , The image data for the selected and confirmed image is recorded in a predetermined recording area, so that a print order can be easily made.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-12-321677 (page 3-6, FIG. 1)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When using the photo service using a terminal such as the above print order receiving device, only the image data used for the photo service is recorded on the medium in advance, or the image data is recorded on the medium by referring to the file name on the terminal. In this case, the terminal does not have a function to check whether the image data is appropriate data. In some cases, the photo service cannot be provided due to a defect or the like.
[0008]
The defect of the image data includes various cases such as a case where a part of the image data is damaged, a case where the recording format (extension) of the image data is not a usable format, and the like. At the stage of displaying the file name, it may be possible to determine whether or not the extension of the image data can be used in the photo service.However, when the image data is partially defective, the image data is temporarily deleted. Unless it is displayed using an application, it cannot be determined whether or not it can be used. When order processing is performed using defective image data, for example, there is a problem that the image data cannot be read by the image forming apparatus. Therefore, when using a photo service such as a print order using image data, a store clerk displayed each image data using an application at a store where an order receiving device and a photo service terminal are installed. Although work such as checking the image is performed, this method is not efficient because it takes time to receive an order.
[0009]
In particular, in services such as creation of electronic albums and backup of image data, since a large amount of image data is written on an information recording medium such as a CD-R, it is difficult to visually check each image data. In addition, check omissions are likely to occur.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its main purpose is to determine whether or not image data provided by a customer has a defect, that is, to determine whether or not image data is suitable for using a photo service. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image data copying apparatus and an image data copying method which can easily check whether the image data is copied.
[0011]
[Means to solve the problem]
In order to achieve the above object, an image data copying apparatus according to the present invention, in a service providing image data copying apparatus for copying the image data in order to provide a service using the image data in a later process, When a command signal to be input is input, a check means for checking whether or not all the image data has a defect, and as a result of the check by the check means, if there is a defect, indicates that there is a defect. And at least display means.
[0012]
In the present invention, the display unit may be configured to display information for identifying the image data having a defect and the content of the defect corresponding to the image data in association with each other.
[0013]
Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the image data copying apparatus includes a storage unit, and the storage unit copies the image data checked by the check unit.
[0014]
Further, in the present invention, the storage unit is checked by the check unit, and only the image data determined to have no defect is copied, or the storage unit is checked by the check unit. Alternatively, the image data determined to be defective may be copied in association with the information indicating that there is a defect.
[0015]
Further, the image data copying method of the present invention is an image data copying method of copying the image data in order to provide a service using the image data in a later step, wherein a command signal for copying the image data is input. Then, a step of checking whether there is a defect in all of the image data by a check unit, and a step of displaying that there is a defect on the display unit if there is a defect as a result of the check by the check unit At least.
[0016]
As described above, according to the image data copying apparatus and the image data copying method of the present invention, a photographing device such as a digital camera or a mobile phone with a camera brought in by a customer or a medium mounted on the photographing device is used for a photo service. When reading the image data, the checking means automatically checks the image data for defects, and if there is a defect, the fact that there is a defect and the defective image data and the content of the defect are displayed on the display means. Therefore, the clerk of the order receiving store does not need to display and confirm each image data using the application, and the order receiving process can be speeded up.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The image data copying apparatus according to the present invention, in a preferred embodiment thereof, a reading device for reading image data from a photographing device such as a digital camera or a camera-equipped mobile phone brought in by a customer or a medium mounted on the photographing device. Checking means for checking the read image data for defects in accordance with a predetermined rule, and display means for displaying information indicating the presence of a defect and information associating the defective image data with the content of the defect And image data storage means for storing image data determined to have no defect or data in which image data determined to have a defect is associated with information indicating a defect for use in a subsequent process. Whether the image data is defective or not, that is, the image data is suitable for using photo services Since the presence or absence is automatically checked and stored, the clerk at the order receiving store does not need to display each image data using the application, and can quickly execute the order receiving process, It is possible to prevent a problem of providing a service using inappropriate image data.
[0018]
【Example】
In order to describe the above-described embodiment of the present invention in more detail, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
[Example 1]
First, an image data copying apparatus and an image data copying method according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an external configuration of an image data backup terminal including an image data copy device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the image data copy device. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for checking image data for defects. FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on the display means.
[0020]
The image data described below is image data used to receive the provision of a photo service in a later process, and the photo service is a photo print service of the image data, a design of a post card or the like based on the image data. General services using image data, such as a service for creating a print, a service for backing up image data on another information recording medium, and a service for recording image data and an image display program such as a slide show program on another information recording medium. means. Although the image data copying apparatus of the present invention can be combined with any photo service terminal, the present embodiment relates to a case where the image data copying apparatus is combined with an image data backup terminal that backs up image data on another information recording medium. explain.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, an image data copying apparatus 1 (image data backup terminal) according to the present embodiment includes a smart media, a compact flash (registered trademark), a memory stick (registered trademark), an SD memory card, and a multimedia card. A media slot 2 into which a medium 7 (here, an information recording medium used in a digital camera or the like is referred to as a medium) on which image data is recorded, and a digital camera 8 or a camera, A connection terminal 3 for connecting a photographing device such as a mobile phone 9 with a built-in camera (hereinafter, a digital device having a camera function is referred to as a photographing device), and image data read from these media 7 and the photographing device are recorded on a CD-R or the like Of the CD-R drive 4 to be written on the information recording medium 10 and the result of the image data defect check A display unit 5 that, and an operation unit 6 for inputting an instruction to the result of a defect check.
[0022]
Also, as shown in FIG. 2, when the image data copying apparatus 1 is described in terms of functions, a reading unit 11 that reads image data from the medium 7 or a photographing device, and an EOF (representing the end of a file) of the image data according to a predetermined rule A defect in the image data (in this specification, a defect in the image data means that a part of the image data is missing or damaged, Checking means 12 for checking whether the appropriate information is not recorded in the header as well as the case where the image data cannot be used for the photo service or the image data is not suitable for use.) A display that displays information related to a defect, such as information indicating the presence of a defect or information that specifies the image data and the content of the defect. Step 13, operation means 14 for inputting an instruction for the result of the defect check, if necessary, and associating information on the defect with the image data determined to have no defect or the image data determined to have the defect And image data storage means 15 for storing the stored data.
[0023]
A procedure for checking for a defect in image data using the image data copying apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the following, the case where the customer brings in the medium 7 will be described for ease of explanation. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case where the customer brings in a shooting device such as the digital camera 8 and the camera-equipped mobile phone 9. When these photographing devices are connected to the connection terminal 3, the photographing device can be recognized by the function of the image data copying device 1, and the image data stored in the storage means inside the photographing device can be read.
[0024]
First, in step S101, a customer brings the medium 7 on which image data is recorded to an order reception shop such as a convenience store or a photo service shop where the image data copying apparatus 1 is installed, and inserts the medium 7 into the media slot 2 of the data copying apparatus 1. When the medium 7 is inserted, the image data copying apparatus 1 reads the image data recorded on the medium 7 using the reading unit 11 in step S102.
[0025]
Next, in step S103, the image data is checked using the checking unit 12. Here, the defect of the image data means that the image data cannot be used in the photo service or is not suitable for the use as described above. If the image data cannot be read, if the EOF of the image data cannot be detected normally, if the header information of the image data is different from the actual development size, or if the extension of the image data is not an extension that can be used by the service, Various cases are assumed, such as a case where part of image data is missing or damaged.
[0026]
In this case, if the extension of the image data is not appropriate, for example, the extension can be identified by the function of the OS, but the EOF of the image data cannot be normally detected, or the header information and the actual development size are different. If the image data is different or if part of the image data is missing or damaged, the quality cannot be determined unless the image data is actually displayed using an application. Therefore, conventionally, all the image data are displayed one by one on a screen to confirm the suitability of the image data. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the image data is readable according to a predetermined rule, the extension is appropriate, whether the EOF of the image data can be detected, and the actual development size of the image data is the header information. A defect check is automatically performed to determine whether the image data matches the image size information specified in step (1), and it is determined whether the image data can be used for a photo service.
[0027]
Then, for example, if an abnormality is found in the data structure of the image data, for example, the EOF detection function provided in the checking means 12 cannot detect the EOF of the image data normally, it is determined that the image data is defective. Extracts information about the image size from the header information by using the header information analysis function provided in, and if it does not match the actual developed size of the image data, it can be judged as defective image data or can be used in photo service A list of extensions is stored in the storage unit, and if the extension of the read image data is not in the list, it is judged to be inappropriate image data, or if part of the image data is missing Determines that the image data has a defect. Note that the above check items and check methods are only examples, and any method may be used as long as it is possible to determine whether the image data is usable for a photo service or is suitable for use.
[0028]
Next, when it is determined in step S104 that the image data has a defect, in step S105, the result of the defect check by the check unit 12 and information for identifying the image data to be checked (for example, a file is recognized). If it can be done, the display unit 13 displays information in which file names and the like are associated with check contents. This display may be of any configuration that allows the operator of the image data copy terminal 1 to identify that the image data containing the defect is included in the medium 7. In addition, in order to provide more detailed information, as shown in FIG. 4, the file name of the image data recorded on the medium 7 and the It is also possible to display a check result display screen 17 showing a list of the defect check results of the image data.
[0029]
For example, in FIG. The image data “DSC001.jpg” of No. 1 is image data suitable for a photo service in which no defect is detected. The image data “DSC002.jpg” of No. 2 cannot detect EOF, and The image data size in the header of the image data “DSC003.jpg” does not correspond to the actual developed size, and the image data of the N0.4 “DSC004.fpx” is an extension that cannot be used in the post-process photo service. Is shown. By performing such display, the clerk can easily determine which image data has which defect.
[0030]
The image data copying apparatus 1 of the present invention analyzes the image data to be copied, and displays a warning for the image data determined to be unsuitable for each photo service using the analysis result. You can also. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the size of the image data recorded on the medium 7 is too large, the resolution is too high, or vice versa, it indicates that the size or resolution is not suitable for the photo service. (In the figure, the image data of No. 5 “DSC005.jpg” indicates that the data size is inappropriate.)
[0031]
Further, a process of repairing a defect, converting the check result into appropriate image data, or the like may be performed. For example, when the image data size of the header is different from the actual development size, when the image data is selected by using the operation means 14, an editor is started to enable writing of header information, or when the extension is different, the file conversion is performed. It is also possible to activate the application and convert it to an appropriate extension, or to activate the image display application when the size and resolution are inappropriate, to perform the conversion of size and resolution, color conversion, and the like. With this configuration, it is possible to not only identify defective image data or inappropriate image data, but also make the image data available for use in a photo service by repairing the defect or converting the image data into appropriate image data. be able to.
[0032]
Then, in step S106, after checking all the image data, in step S107, the image data determined to have no defect as a result of the check or the image data determined to have the defect as a result of the check are determined. Data associated with information indicating that there is a defect is stored in the image data storage unit 15. Thereafter, the image data stored in the image data storage unit 15 is used according to various photo services.
[0033]
For example, when the image data backup service is executed (in the case of the configuration in FIG. 1), the image data determined to be free from defects by the check unit 12 is stored in an information recording medium such as a CD-R by the CD-R drive 4. 10 (step S108). When ordering a photo print, order information such as the print size and the number of prints is created, and a photo printer is ordered using the image data and the order information determined to be free from defects by the checking means 12. (Step S109), a design print is created based on the image data determined to have no defect (Step S110), and the image data determined to have no defect and a slide show program that slides and displays the image data are used. Processing such as writing to an information recording medium as a set (not shown) is executed.
[0034]
The above flow is a method of performing a defect check on read image data each time. However, a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing image data is provided in the image data May be read out and stored in the temporary storage means, and the image data may be sequentially read out from the temporary storage means to perform a defect check. In this embodiment, the image data copying apparatus 1 is configured to be combined with a terminal for various photo services (here, backup of image data). However, the image data copying apparatus is used alone to check only image data. Alternatively, the image data copying apparatus 1 and various photo service terminals may be connected via a network.
[0035]
As described above, according to the image data copying apparatus 1 and the image data copying method of the present embodiment, when using various photo services using the image data recorded on the photographing device or the media 7 brought by the customer, The read image data is checked by the check means 12 according to a predetermined rule, and the check result is displayed on the display means 13. Therefore, the clerk at the order receiving store needs to display and confirm the image data one by one using an application. As a result, the order receiving process can be speeded up, and the problem that image data unsuitable for the photo service is used in a subsequent process can be prevented.
[0036]
[Example 2]
Next, an image data copying apparatus and an image data copying method according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing functions of the image data copying apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for checking image data for defects. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display means. The present embodiment is characterized in that image data is displayed in a list as one mode of an image data copying apparatus, and other configurations and functions are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 5, the data copying apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a reading unit 11 that reads image data from a medium 7 or a photographing device, and a defect of image data by detecting EOF and analyzing header information according to a predetermined rule. A list screen creating unit 17 for displaying a list of image data in a thumbnail format and creating a screen in which the contents of defects of the image data are associated with each other; a display unit 13 for displaying the list screen; If necessary, the operation means 14 for inputting an instruction with respect to the result of the defect check, and information relating to the defect in the result of the defect check, the image data determined to have no defect, and the image data determined to be defective. Image data storage means 15 for storing the associated data.
[0038]
A procedure for checking a defect of image data using the image data copying apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. In this embodiment, the case where the customer brings in the medium 7 will be described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where the customer brings in a photographing device such as the digital camera 8 and the camera-equipped mobile phone 9.
[0039]
First, similarly to the first embodiment, in step S201, when the customer inserts the medium 7 into the media slot 2 of the data copying apparatus 1, the data copying apparatus 1 is recorded on the medium 7 by the reading means 11 in step S202. The read image data is read, and the image data is checked using the checking means 12 in step S203. Here, the defect of the image data means that the image data cannot be used in the photo service or is in a state unsuitable for use. For example, when the image data cannot be read by the image data copying apparatus 1. Or when the EOF of the image data cannot be normally detected, when the header information of the image data is different from the actual developed size, when the extension of the image data is not an extension that can be used by the service, Includes cases where some are missing or damaged.
[0040]
Next, in step S204, the result of the defect check and the image data are associated with each other and stored in the image data storage unit 15. In step S205, it is determined whether or not the next image data exists. Are checked in the same manner. At this time, as in the first embodiment, in addition to the above-described defect check, whether the image data is suitable for a photo service to be used in a subsequent process (for example, whether the size and resolution of the image data are appropriate). May be checked.
[0041]
Then, after checking all the image data, in step S205, the image data in which no defect is detected among the image data read from the medium 7 is displayed in the thumbnail format using the list display screen creating means 16. And a check result display screen 18 in which the file name of the image data and the check result by the check means 12 are associated with the image data, and displayed by the display means 13 in step S206. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a check result is superimposed on a thumbnail image of each image data. "Detection failure", "Data size mismatch" for image data in which the image data size in the header does not correspond to the actual developed size, and "Extension" for image data with an extension that cannot be used in the post-process photo service A message such as "unsupported" and "improper data size" are displayed for image data having an inappropriate data size. By performing such display, a clerk or a customer can determine at a glance which image data has what kind of defect. Note that the display in FIG. 7 is an example, and any configuration may be used in which image data read from the medium 7 and defect check results are displayed in association with each other.
[0042]
Further, referring to the image data and the check result displayed in the list, it is possible to perform the process of repairing a defect and converting the image data into appropriate image data as in the first embodiment. For example, if the image data size of the header differs from the actual expanded size, write the header information with an editor, if the extension is different, convert it to an appropriate extension with a file conversion application, or the size or resolution is inappropriate In such a case, the image display application can perform size / resolution conversion, color conversion, etc. With this configuration, it is possible to not only identify defective image data or inappropriate image data, but also make the image data available for use in a photo service by repairing the defect or converting the image data into appropriate image data. be able to.
[0043]
In step S208, the image data storage unit 15 stores the image data determined to have no defect as a result of the check, the data associated with information indicating that the image data determined to be defective as a result of the check has a defect, and the like. To memorize. Thereafter, in steps S209 to 211, the image data stored in the image data storage unit 15 is used according to the photo service.
[0044]
As described above, according to the image data copying apparatus 1 and the image data copying method of the present embodiment, the image data recorded on the photographing device or medium brought in by the customer and the result checked by the check unit 12 are displayed in association with each other. Since the image data is displayed on the means 13, it is possible to easily determine whether the image data is suitable for using the photo service.
[0045]
In each of the above embodiments, the case of checking for defects in image data has been described. However, for data other than image data, normality / abnormality of data is inspected according to a predetermined rule, the cause is analyzed, and the analysis result is obtained. Can be used as a device having a function of displaying
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the image data copying apparatus and the image data copying method of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
[0047]
A first effect of the present invention is that it is possible to promptly accept an order when using a photo service using image data.
[0048]
The reason is that, in the data copying apparatus, reading means for reading image data from media or photographing equipment, checking means for detecting a defect in the read image data, display means for displaying a result of the defect check, This is because the provision of the image data storage means for storing the data makes it possible to determine whether or not the image data is suitable for using the photo service without having to check the image data one by one using an application.
[0049]
A second effect of the present invention is that it is possible to easily determine which image data can be used for a photo service.
[0050]
The reason is that the contents of the defects checked by the check means are displayed in association with the list screen of the image data, so that the clerk or the customer can easily judge the suitability of the image data by looking at the screen. It is.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an image data copying apparatus (image data backup terminal) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing units of the image data copying apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a defect check procedure performed by the image data copying apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the image data copying apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing units of an image data copying apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a defect check procedure performed by the image data copying apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of an image data copying apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Image data copy terminal
2 media slots
3 Connection terminal
4 CD-R drive
5 Display
6 Operation section
7 Media
8 Digital camera
9 Mobile phone
10 Information recording medium
11 Reading means
12 Checking means
13 Display means
14 Operation means
15 Image data storage means
16 List screen creation means
17 Check result display screen
18 Check result display screen

Claims (10)

In a service providing image data copying apparatus for copying the image data in order to provide a service using the image data in a subsequent process,
When a command signal for copying the image data is input, a check unit that checks whether there is a defect in all the image data,
An image data copying apparatus, comprising: at least display means for displaying that a defect has occurred as a result of the check by the check means. 2. The image data copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays information identifying the defective image data and the content of the defect corresponding to the image data in association with each other. The image data copying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit in the image data copying apparatus, wherein the storage unit copies the image data checked by the checking unit. 4. The image data copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit copies only the image data that has been checked by the checking unit and determined that there is no defect. 4. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit copies the image data that has been checked by the check unit and is determined to be defective, in association with information indicating that there is a defect. Image data copying device. An image data copying method for copying the image data to provide a service using the image data in a post-process,
When a command signal for copying the image data is input, a step of checking whether there is a defect in all the image data by a checking unit,
A step of displaying, on the display means, that there is a defect as a result of the check by the check means. 7. The image data copying method according to claim 6, wherein information for specifying the image data having a defect and the content of the defect corresponding to the image data are displayed on the display unit in association with each other. 8. The image data copying method according to claim 6, further comprising copying the image data checked by the check unit to a storage unit. 9. The image data copying method according to claim 6, wherein only the image data that has been checked by the checking unit and determined to have no defect is copied to the storage unit. 9. The image data according to claim 6, wherein the image data that has been checked by the check unit and determined to be defective in the storage unit is copied in association with information indicating that there is a defect. Image data copying method.

Images