JP2004318854A - Print content sending device, printing device and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system and the like that enable a print content sending device to direct a printing device to use a thumbnail image without using a standardized command to use a thumbnail image and without causing a malfunction. <P>SOLUTION: Print content is described in an XML format, and a direction command is described in an XML format in the print content. In Step S201, when a processing control part 111 receives an input from a user input I/F part, Step S202 is reached. In Step S202, an independent information addition part 104 determines whether to use a thumbnail image in printing. If determining to use a thumbnail image (S202: Yes), the independent information addition part 104 directs a print content generation part 108 to add a direction to use a thumbnail image to the print content (Step S203). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a print content transmitting apparatus for transmitting print content including image data generated and compressed based on an image captured by an electronic imaging device represented by a digital still camera to a printing apparatus, and a print content transmitting apparatus. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus or the like that receives, develops, and prints out images including images.

  In recent years, image data obtained by subjecting a subject image formed by an optical lens to photoelectric conversion into an electric signal using an image pickup device such as a CCD, and performing compression processing such as a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) method based on the electric signal. A digital still camera (also referred to as an “electronic still camera”) that generates a digital still camera and records it on a card medium such as a PC card or an SD card or a recording medium such as a built-in fixed memory is widely used. Further, a printer that prints an image on a paper medium or the like using image data generated by such a digital still camera or the like has appeared.

  Generally, header information based on the Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) standard is added to image data of the JPEG format or the like generated by a conventional general digital still camera or the like. The header information describes the type of the digital still camera used to create the image data, the shooting conditions at the time of shooting, and the like.

In many cases, thumbnail images with a lower resolution than the main image are generated and held at the same time.
A system that can select which resolution image to use for printing when an image having a plurality of resolutions as described above is held has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). This system is capable of instructing to form print image data using thumbnail images when printing using JPEG image data composed of a main image and small thumbnail images. Therefore, it is not necessary to handle a main image having a high resolution (that is, a large size), the memory efficiency is increased, and the time required for printing can be reduced.

Further, the above-mentioned system stores certain print image data for each different resolution, and includes the print image data in a document for which a print instruction is issued from an application program on a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as “PC”). In this case, a mechanism is provided for selecting print image data having a resolution corresponding to the print quality specified by the PC, converting the print image data into a predetermined format, and outputting the data to the printing apparatus. This makes it possible to send the print image data most suitable for printing from the print image data of a plurality of resolutions to the printing apparatus.
JP 2000-267829 A

  However, in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is the device driver in the PC that generates the print image data, and the user or the application communicates the “use of the thumbnail image” to the device in the same PC. Driver. Therefore, the command that conveys “use of thumbnail image” only needs to be interpreted by the device driver, and the command system can be defined by the manufacturer. Generally, there is no consideration in this concept that the above command may be sent to a device driver of another company.

  However, in the case of a printing system including an STB (Set Top Box) and a printer, it is difficult to adopt a PC method in which a device driver for each printer model is incorporated in the STB. Because the STB differs from the PC on which the de facto standard OS is installed, the type of the OS is different for each model of the STB, and it is very troublesome to develop a printer device driver according to the OS. This is because of this.

  Then, it is necessary to exchange a command for notifying “use of a thumbnail image” between the STB and an external device such as a printer. However, if the command is uniquely defined, an external device that cannot understand the unique command may cause an abnormal operation when receiving the unique command. In order to avoid this abnormal operation, it is necessary to standardize the command specifications among companies.However, standardizing commands among companies often takes time, and the commands that can be standardized are the greatest common divisors of each company. Tend to stay in a typical range.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and does not require a standardized command to use a thumbnail image, and does not cause an abnormal operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system, a printing apparatus, and the like that can instruct a printing apparatus to use a thumbnail image.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the printing system according to the present invention, an image is transmitted not as a JPEG image alone but as a part of content described in conformity with the XML specification, and further, a "thumbnail" As for "instruction to use image", a tag conforming to the XML specification is described in the content. In XML, the rule is that if there is a tag or attribute that cannot be recognized, the user agent (such as a printer) must ignore the entire definition of the tag and attribute (that is, the attribute and its value). is there. In the present system 10, if only the description of the content in accordance with the XML is standardized, the command using the thumbnail image does not have to be standardized. This is because printers of other companies that conform to the XML specification must ignore a “use thumbnail image” command that they do not know, so that abnormal operation cannot occur.

  In other words, a print content sending device according to the present invention is a print content sending device that sends print content to a printing device, and obtains or generates print content described in conformity with a predetermined markup language. And a feature identification unit for identifying the feature of the acquired or generated print content, and the identified feature described as a definition sentence including a uniquely defined tag that can be handled by the markup language. Is added to the print content, and transmission means for transmitting the added print content to a printing apparatus is provided.

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives print content described in conformity with a predetermined markup language, and an original definition that can be handled by the markup language from the received print content. And a printing unit for generating print image data based on the extracted definition sentence and performing printing using the print image data.

    Thus, without requiring a standardized command to use a thumbnail image, and without causing an abnormal operation, the print content transmission device can print to the printing device an instruction to use the thumbnail image. The content is transmitted, and the printing apparatus can print using the thumbnail image based on the instruction included in the received print content.

  The present invention can be realized not only as a print content transmission device or a printing device but also as a printing system including the print content transmission device and the printing device.

  Furthermore, the present invention can also be realized as a print content sending method or a printing method in which the print content sending device or a component of the printing device is used as a step. It can also be realized as a computer-readable recording medium.

  The print content transmitting apparatus according to the present invention provides a print content described in conformity with a predetermined markup language, including a uniquely defined tag indicating a characteristic of the print content (for example, a use of a thumbnail image). Since the sentence is added and sent to the printing device, the thumbnail image is used for the printing device without requiring a standardized command to use the thumbnail image and without causing an abnormal operation. Can be instructed.

  In addition, the printing system according to the present invention transmits an image not as a JPEG image only but as content described in an XML format, and further, a “instruction to use a thumbnail image” includes a tag conforming to the XML specification. And described in the content. By doing so, a printer that can interpret this “instruction to use a thumbnail image” generates print image data using a thumbnail image, and thus completes printing earlier than generating print image data using a main image. be able to.

  Further, even if the content described in the XML format is sent to a printer of another company that complies with the XML specification but cannot interpret the “instruction to use a thumbnail image”, the printer that has received the instruction sends the instruction. Is ignored, and no abnormal operation is caused.

  In addition, in the content described in the XML format, information indicating whether the print content is the print content to be printed with the same content as the display content or the print-only content is described. Can be provided.

  Further, even if the print content in which the “XML description indicating the type of print content” is sent to a printer of another company that complies with the XML specification but cannot interpret the “XML description indicating the type of print content”, Since the other company's printer ignores the “XML description indicating the type of print content”, it does not lead to abnormal operation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not intended to be limited to these.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image processing system 10 according to the present embodiment. The image processing system (also referred to as a “printing system”) 10 is a system that enables printing based on print content described in conformity with the XML specification, and in particular, a “thumbnail image described in an XML format. This is a system that can perform printing using "instructions to use."

  In this embodiment, the STB 100 is described as an example of a device that outputs print content to a printer. However, the present invention is not limited to the STB, and a digital television (DTV) having a built-in STB, a digital camera or a PDA may be used. For example, a device that realizes the STB function using another device may be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present system 10 includes an STB 100, a monitor 190, and a printer 150.
The STB 100 is a device that converts broadcast content including image data received via an antenna (not shown) or the like into a predetermined format and transmits the format to a printer or monitor. (Hereinafter abbreviated as “I / F”) unit 101, encoded information expanding unit 102, drawing engine unit 103, unique information adding unit 104, video RAM unit 105, display image I / F unit 106, display control I / F An F unit 107, a print content generation unit 108, and a print content I / F unit 109 are provided.

The processing control unit 111 is, for example, a microcomputer including a RAM and a ROM, and controls each unit in the STB 100.
The data I / F unit 101 performs a predetermined process on the broadcast content received via the antenna or the like, and outputs the result to the encoded information expanding unit 102.

  The encoding information developing unit 102 receives data from the data I / F unit 101, for example, data in XHTML (extensible Hyper Text Markup Language) format, data in MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) format, or data in BML (Broadcast Markup Language) format. Receiving the broadcast content including. Further, the encoded information expanding unit 102 performs a decoding process according to each data format on each data included in the received broadcast content, and extracts data representing a control instruction to the STB 100, , Etc. The processing control unit 111 transmits data to be displayed on the monitor 190 among the data extracted by the encoding information expanding unit 102 to the drawing engine unit 103.

  The drawing engine unit 103 stores the data received from the encoded information expanding unit 102 in the video RAM unit 105 as image data. The video RAM unit 105 outputs the stored image data to the display image I / F unit 106. The display image I / F unit 106 exchanges data to be displayed, control data, and the like with the display control I / F unit 107 on the monitor 190.

  Also, although not shown in FIG. 1, for example, when a print instruction is received from a user input I / F unit such as a remote controller, the encoded information developing unit 102 selects a content to be printed according to the user's instruction, This is sent to the unique information adding unit 104.

  The unique information adding unit 104 transmits to the print content generating unit 108 information unique to the STB 100 to be added to the content to be printed. The print content generation unit 108 uses the print target content received from the encoded information development unit 102 and the unique information received from the unique information addition unit 104 to generate print content described in XML language for printing.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the print content generated by the print content generation unit 108. FIG. 4A is an example of a file “honbun.xhtml” in which an instruction regarding a layout at the time of printing and a text to be printed are described. FIGS. 4B and 4C are examples of images to be inserted according to the layout specified in the above “honbun.xhtml” (file names of the above images are “mobile1.jpg” and “mobile2. jpg ").

The print content I / F unit 109 exchanges print content and print commands with the print content I / F unit 151 of the printer 150.
The monitor 190 is a device that displays a moving image, a text, or the like based on data received from the STB 100, and includes a display image I / F unit 191, a display image processing unit 192, an image display unit 193, a display control unit 194, and a display control unit. An I / F unit 195 is provided.

  The display image I / F unit 191 communicates image data and the like with the display image I / F unit 106 of the STB 100, and transmits the received image data and the like to the display image processing unit 192. The display image processing unit 192 performs predetermined processing on the received image data and the like, and transmits the processed data to the image display unit 193.

  The image display unit 193 is a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), or a projector, and is based on image data received from the display image processing unit 192 and the like. Display an image. The display control unit 194 controls each unit in the monitor 190 based on the control data and the like input to the display control I / F unit 195.

  The printer 150 is a device that prints an image or text on a print medium based on data received from the STB 100, and includes a print content I / F unit 151, a content interpretation unit 152, a print image generation unit 153, a print unit 154, and print control. A unit 155 is provided.

The print content I / F unit 151 exchanges print content and print commands with the print content I / F unit 109 of the STB 100.
The print content I / F unit 151 transmits the print content received from the print content I / F unit 151 to the content interpretation unit 152. The content interpreting unit 152 sequentially interprets each line described in the XML language for printing, and extracts data or the like that indicates an instruction to the printer 150 at the time of printing. The data interpreted / extracted by the content interpreting unit 152 is transmitted to each unit of the printer 150.

The print image generation unit 153 generates print image data to be printed on a print medium based on the data extracted by the content interpretation unit 152.
The printing unit 154 performs printing on a print medium such as paper at a predetermined resolution (for example, 200 dpi, 300 dpi, or 400 dpi) based on the print image data generated by the print image generation unit 153. As a printing method in this case, there are a thermal type, a thermal transfer type, a sublimation type, an ink jet type, and the like.

The print control unit 155 is, for example, a microcomputer including a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and controls each unit in the printer 150.
The STB 100, the monitor 190, and the printer 150 are connected to each other via an IEEE1394 bus, a USB, or the like, and the I / F units of the respective devices exchange data according to the specifications of the connected bus.

Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the STB 100 in the present system 10.

  As described above, when broadcast content is input via an antenna or the like, the encoded information expanding unit 102 performs decoding processing on data included in the input broadcast content according to the data format. It extracts control instructions to the STB 100 and extracts video / image data.

  Based on the data and the like extracted by the encoded information expanding unit 102, the processing control unit 111 transmits the content to the drawing engine unit 103 in order to display an image on the monitor 190. The drawing engine unit 103 stores the image data in the video RAM unit 105.

  While the drawing engine unit 103 stores the image data, the processing control unit 111 monitors an input from a user input I / F unit (not shown). The user input I / F unit includes buttons and remote controllers provided in the STB 100 and the printer 150, a unit that reads instructions described in the content itself in the STB, a personal computer in the system, and communication reception from outside the system. Any form may be used, such as a part (neither is shown).

  Upon receiving an input from the user input I / F unit (S201), the process control unit 111 notifies the unique information adding unit 104 of the fact. Accordingly, the unique information adding unit 104 determines whether to use the thumbnail image for printing (S202).

  There are various methods for determining whether to use the thumbnail image for printing as described above. For example, when an application for displaying photos on the STB is activated and an instruction to print a photo index sheet is input, a large number of small images are printed on the photo index sheet 300 as shown in FIG. If it is determined that the speed up to the completion of printing should be given priority over the print quality of the image, it is determined that the thumbnail image is used. As another example of the determination method, the thumbnail image is also determined to be used when the vertical and horizontal size of the image for which printing is instructed is smaller than the size when the thumbnail image is not reduced. For example, consider a case where the print resolution of the printer is 200 dpi, and the vertical and horizontal sizes when an image is printed are specified as “horizontal: 0.4 inch, vertical: 0.3 inch”. Since the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the main image is 1600 horizontal pixels and 1200 vertical pixels, for example, when the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the thumbnail image is 160 pixels and 120 vertical pixels, each image is printed at the print resolution. , The print size of the main image is “width: 8 inches, height: 6 inches”, and the print size of the thumbnail image is “width: 0.8 inches, height: 0.6 inches”. . The fact that the vertical and horizontal size of the print image is specified as “horizontal: 0.4 inch, vertical: 0.3 inch” requires the thumbnail image to be further reduced. In this case, the unique information adding unit 104 determines that the thumbnail image is used.

  When the unique information adding unit 104 determines that the thumbnail image is to be used (S202: Yes), the print content generation unit 108 adds an instruction to use the thumbnail image to the print content (S203). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, a description specifying an image <object data = "./ mobile1.jpg" type = "image / jpeg" style = "width: 12mm; height: 16mm An instruction such as <param name = "imagepriority" value = "thumbnail" valuetype = "data"> <// param> is inserted between "> and </ object>. FIG. 5A is an example of the print content to which the above-described instruction is added.

  As a description to be added, in addition to the above, there is a method of defining “imagepriority” as a unique attribute of the <object> tag. The description in that case is <object data = "./ mobile1.jpg" type = "image / jpeg" style = "width: 12mm; height: 16mm" imagepriority = "thumbnail">, and the meaning is " Generating print image data of 12 mm in width and 16 mm in height from a file mobile1.jpg storing JPEG image data using a thumbnail image ”.

Thereafter, the processing control unit 111 instructs the printer to transmit the content added to the print content I / F unit 109 to the printer (S204).
Here, the format of the image data will be described with reference to FIG.

  In general, an image file 600 in the JPEG format conforming to the Exif standard includes four parts: an SOI (start of image) 601, an APP1 (application marker 1) 602, a main image 603, and an EOI (end of image) 604. Have been. Further, the thumbnail image 610 defined in the APP 1602 includes an SOI (start of image) 610a, a thumbnail image 610b, and an EOI (end of image) 610c. The main image 603 and the thumbnail image 610b are each compressed.

Next, the operation of the printer 150 that has received the print content from the STB 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, when print content is received via the print content I / F unit 151 (S701), the content interpretation unit 152 starts interpreting the received print content (S702). In the interpretation, if <param name = "imagepriority" value = "thumbnail" valuetype = "data"></param>, which is a description indicating that the thumbnail image is used for printing, is found (S703: Yes), The content interpreting unit 152 extracts the JPEG compressed data 610b of the thumbnail image from the image file having the structure conforming to the Exif standard shown in FIG.

  Further, the content interpreting unit 152 decodes the extracted JPEG compressed data 610b of the thumbnail image and transmits the decoded JPEG compressed data 610b to the print image generating unit 153. The print image generation unit 153 generates print image data using the thumbnail images and transmits the print image data to the print unit 154. Thus, the printing unit 154 performs printing on a print medium such as paper based on the generated print image data.

  FIG. 8 is an example of a case where printing is performed using a thumbnail image in the printing unit 154. As shown in FIG. 8, the print result is composed of images and characters composed using thumbnail images.

  As described above, since the size of the thumbnail image (the total number of pixels) is smaller than the size of the main image, the print image is generated using the main image by generating the print image using the thumbnail image. The processing time can be reduced as compared with the case.

  Here, for comparison, a printer that cannot interpret the “instruction to use a thumbnail image” (for convenience, this printer is referred to as a “other company printer”) is used when the printing content shown in FIG. Will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 11. In the flowchart of FIG. 11, the same processes as those in the flowchart of FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

  The other company's printer starts interpreting the print content in FIG. 5 (S702). However, as shown in FIG. 9, the printers of other companies cannot interpret the descriptive text indicated by the strikethrough in the print content. However, according to the XML rules, description text that cannot be interpreted is ignored. Therefore, printers of other companies may ignore the portion indicated by the strike-through line or substitute the default value for the subsequent description text. Interpret

  That is, the other company's printer generates print image data using the main image as usual without using the thumbnail image for generating the print image (S707).

  FIG. 10 shows the result of transferring the print image data to paper. FIG. 10 shows the same printed matter as FIG. However, since the printed image portion uses a main image having a size (total number of pixels) larger than that of the thumbnail image, the time required for the process of generating the print image includes the content interpretation unit 152 that can interpret the thumbnail image use instruction. It is longer than this printer 150.

  As described above, the printing system according to the present embodiment notifies the printer of the “instruction to use a thumbnail image” defined in the XML format according to the image to be printed. It is possible to increase the printing speed while avoiding occurrence.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which an “instruction to use a thumbnail image” is added to the print content. However, in the present embodiment, “an instruction to print the same content as the display content” or “print-only A description will be given of an embodiment in which an instruction to print content is added to the print content.

  Generally, print content includes content that is limited to the same content displayed on a screen (also referred to as a “monitor”) (hereinafter, referred to as “display-limited content”), There are two types of content that prints on print-only content that is not displayed (hereinafter referred to as “print-only content”). Depending on each print content, the system is required to perform different printing operations.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a difference in a printing operation when a print instruction is given to two types of print contents described by a form element.
First, when a print instruction is issued for display-only content, the same content as the content displayed on the screen is printed (in this case, the user is required to save the image displayed on the screen. Is likely to be printed on

  FIG. 12 shows how the text content described by the textarea element is represented on a screen or a print medium. If there is a scroll bar on the screen, not all text content is displayed. Therefore, when printing is instructed for display-only content, the entire text content is not printed even on the print medium, and the same content as that displayed on the screen, that is, a part of the text content according to the position of the scroll bar is used. Is printed.

On the other hand, when an instruction is given to print for print-only content that is not displayed on the screen, printing is performed for all of the content.
That is, if only a part of the text content is printed, the user cannot see the content of the unprinted portion. This is extremely inconvenient for the user as compared with the case where the same contents are printed as displayed on the screen. Therefore, when printing the print-only content, all of the print-only content is printed.

  FIG. 13 shows a functional configuration of an image processing system (also referred to as a “print system”) 20 according to the present embodiment that realizes the above functions. In FIG. 13, the same reference numerals are given to the same functional components as those in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  The unique information adding unit 104 determines whether the print content to be transmitted to the printer 150 is a display-only content or a print-only content. There are various determination methods in this case. For example, when printing the display-only content displayed on the monitor, the print content is generated from the display content. In this case, the generation of the print content is the basis for the determination. As another example, the file name of the print content is collated with the file name of the displayed content, and if they match, it is determined that the display-only content is to be printed.

The result determined by the unique information adding unit 104 is reflected in the description in the print content generated by the print content generation unit 108.
The expression method selection unit 256 in the printer 150 selects an expression method in the printer 150 based on the above-described determination in the STB 100 extracted by the content interpretation unit 152. The selected expression method is reflected on the print image data generated by the print image generation unit 253.

Next, the operation of the image processing system 20 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in STB 100 of image processing system 20.

  First, when a print instruction is received from the user (S1401), the unique information adding unit 104 determines whether the print content is display-only content or print-only content (S1402).

  If the content is a display limited content, the unique information adding unit 104 adds a description indicating the display limited content to the print content (S1403). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15A, a description of <meta name = "display-target" content = "screen" /> is inserted between <head> and </ head>. Note that indicating that this description is display-only content is agreed in advance between the STB 100 and the printer 250. After the above description is added, STB 100 sends the print content to printer 150.

  On the other hand, when the print content is the print-only content, the unique information adding unit 104 adds a description indicating the print-only content to the print content. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15B, a description of <meta name = "display-target" content = "print" /> is inserted between <head> and </ head>.

If it can be distinguished from display-only content, the print content may be sent to the printer 150 without adding any description.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the printer 250 of the image processing system 20. Upon receiving the print target content (S1601), the content interpreting unit 152 of the printer 250 interprets the description of the print target content (S1602). When a description such as information <meta name = "display-target" content = "screen"/> indicating the type of the content to be printed is found in the description, the content interpretation unit 152 expresses the information indicating the type in a representation method. The data is transmitted to the selection unit 256 (S1603).

  Next, the expression method selection unit 256 selects a print image data generation algorithm in the print image generation unit 253 based on the received information indicating the type of the print target content (S1604). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15A, when the content to be printed has a description of <meta name = "display-target" content = "screen" />, the content is a display-only content, and therefore, the expression method is used. The selection unit 156 selects a print image data generation algorithm for printing the same textarea element content as displayed on the monitor (S1604: screen display). As a result, the print image generation unit 153 generates print image data giving priority to the size of the display area of the textarea element as shown in FIG. 17A (S1605), and performs printing on a print medium (S1606). .

  On the other hand, if the description shown in FIG. 15B is print-only content, the expression method selection unit 156 selects an algorithm for generating print image data for print-only content (step S1604: print-only), and FIG. Print image data is generated with priority given to the size of the content of the textarea element as shown in (b) (S1607).

  As described above, according to the image processing system according to the present embodiment, it is possible to specify whether “instruction to print the same content as display content” or “instruction to print print-only content”. Therefore, it is possible to select an expression method in a print result.

(Embodiment 3)
In this embodiment, a method of using XML tags other than the above embodiment will be described. The image processing system 30 according to the present embodiment is basically the same as the image processing system 10 according to the first embodiment, and a description of overlapping functional configurations will be omitted.

  FIG. 18 is an example of a special tag according to the XML specification according to the present embodiment. FIG. 18A shows an example of the attribute of the special tag, and examples of “colorspace”, “content-width”, and “content-height” are shown.

  “Colorspace” is an attribute for defining a color space of an image. With this, a printer that has received print content can accurately grasp the color space and reflect it in a print result. Become. Specific attribute values include “hc-srgb” as shown in FIG.

  “Content-width” and “content-height” are attributes that define the dot width and dot height of the image, and thus the printer that has received the print content can print the image without analyzing the header of the image. It is possible to grasp the vertical and horizontal sizes. Specifically, the designation is made by content-width = “80px” or the like. If the print size is not described in the print content, the printer analyzes the header of the image, extracts the number of pixels in the image that are inherently vertical and horizontal, and divides the print size from the number of pixels by calculation. Must be issued, but if the "content-width" and "content-height" are listed, the image can be converted using the listed values without parsing the header of the image used for printing. The size when printing can be determined. Thus, the time and function required for analyzing the header of the image can be omitted. Note that the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image may be specified by length (for example, “mm”) instead of “dot”.

FIG. 18B is an example of a meta-information name “content-kind” for specifying the type of content.
For example, by adding a description “content-kind =“ photo-print ”” to a part of the print content, it is possible to notify the printer that the type of the image is “photo”.

  As described above, according to the image processing system 30 according to the present embodiment, the STB can accurately notify the printer of the color space of the image, the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image, and the type of the content.

  In the first to third embodiments, XML is described as a markup language capable of interpreting a tag or the like defined by a user. However, the present invention is not limited to XML, and a tag or the like defined by a user can be interpreted. Any language other than XML may be used.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applicable to a printing system including an STB (or a digital television having an STB function) and a printing device, and particularly applicable to a printing system capable of interpreting XML or the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image processing system according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of STB processing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a print example of an index sheet. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of print content. (B) An example of an image file described in print content. (C) An example of an image file described in print content. FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of print content in which “instruction to use a thumbnail image” is added. (B) An example of an image file described in the print content shown in (a). (C) An example of an image file described in the print content shown in (a). FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an image format of the Exif standard. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing of the printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print result in the printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which another company's printer interprets the print content shown in FIG. 5A. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print result of another company's printer. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing in another company's printer. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating how to display and print content described by a form element. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image processing system according to a second embodiment. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of STB processing according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating an example of a print content in which “display-only content” according to the second embodiment is added. FIG. 13B is a diagram illustrating an example of print content in which “print-only content” is added in the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process of the printer according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print result in the printer according to the second embodiment. (A) is a figure showing an example of the attribute of a special tag. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example of a meta information name for specifying a type of content.

Explanation of reference numerals

10, 20 Image processing system 100 STB
Reference Signs List 101 data I / F section 102 encoded information development section 103 drawing engine section 104 unique information addition section 105 video RAM section 106 display image I / F section 107 display control I / F section 108 print content generation section 109 print content I / F Unit 111 Processing control unit 150, 250 Printer 151 Print content I / F unit 152 Content interpretation unit 153, 253 Print image generation unit 154 Printing unit 155 Print control unit 156 Expression method selection unit 190 Monitor 191 Display image I / F unit 192 Display Image processing unit 193 Image display unit 194 Display control unit 195 Display control I / F unit 256 Expression method selection unit

Claims (20)

A print content sending device for sending print content to a printing device,
Content acquisition means for acquiring or generating print content described in conformity with a predetermined markup language,
A feature identification unit for identifying a feature of the acquired or generated print content;
An additional writing unit that describes the identified feature as a definition sentence including a uniquely defined tag that can be handled by the markup language, and adds the definition sentence to the print content;
Transmitting means for transmitting the additionally written print content to a printing device. The feature identification means includes:
Identifying whether the print content is a content to use a thumbnail image at the time of printing,
The additional recording means,
2. The print content transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the content is identified as a content for which a thumbnail image is to be used, the definition sentence indicating that a thumbnail image is to be used is added. The feature identification means further comprises:
The print content transmitting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the print content includes an index sheet, the print content is identified as a content to use a thumbnail image. The feature identification means includes:
Identify whether the print content is content in which the size when printing an image is described,
The additional recording means,
The print content transmission device according to claim 1, wherein when the content is identified as the content having no description of the size, the definition sentence indicating the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions of the image is added. The feature identification means includes:
Identifying whether the print content is content displayed on a screen or print-only content,
The additional recording means,
The print content sending device according to claim 1, wherein the definition sentence representing the identified content is added. The feature identification means includes:
Identifying the type of the print content,
The additional recording means,
The print content transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the definition sentence indicating the type of the print content is additionally recorded. Receiving means for receiving print content described in accordance with a predetermined markup language,
Extracting means for extracting, from the received print content, a definition sentence including a uniquely defined tag that the markup language can deal with,
A printing unit that generates print image data based on the extracted definition sentence and performs printing using the print image data. The extracted definition statement is
A definition statement that includes a tag indicating that a thumbnail image should be used for printing,
The printing means,
The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein print image data is generated using a thumbnail image based on the definition sentence. The printing device further includes:
An acquisition unit for acquiring only a thumbnail image from the print content,
The printing means,
The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein print image data is generated using the obtained thumbnail image. The extracted definition statement is
This is a definition sentence that represents the number of vertical and horizontal pixels in the image.
The printing means,
The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the print image data is generated, a vertical and horizontal size at the time of printing an image is determined by reading from the definition sentence. The printing means,
8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the print image data is generated using the same generation algorithm as the display on the screen. The printing means,
The printing device according to claim 11, wherein the image data is generated using an algorithm that gives priority to the size of the display area of the textarea element over the size of the content of the textarea element. The printing means,
The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the print image data is generated using a generation algorithm that prioritizes the size of the content of the textarea element over the size of the display area of the textarea element. A printing system comprising a printing device and a print content sending device that sends print content to the printing device,
The print content sending device,
Content acquisition means for acquiring or generating print content described in conformity with a predetermined markup language,
A feature identification unit for identifying a feature of the acquired or generated print content;
An additional writing unit that describes the identified feature as a definition sentence including a uniquely defined tag that can be handled by the markup language, and adds the definition sentence to the print content;
Transmitting means for transmitting the added print content to a printing apparatus,
The printing device,
Receiving means for receiving print content from the print content sending device;
Extracting means for extracting, from the received print content, a definition sentence including a uniquely defined tag that can be handled by the predetermined markup language;
A printing unit that generates print image data based on the extracted definition sentence and performs printing using the print image data. A print content sending method for sending print content to a printing device, comprising:
A content obtaining step of obtaining or generating print content described in conformity with a predetermined markup language;
A feature identification step of identifying a feature of the acquired or generated print content;
An additional writing step of describing the identified feature as a definition sentence including a uniquely defined tag that the markup language can deal with, and adding the definition sentence to the print content;
Transmitting the added print content to a printing apparatus. A receiving step of receiving print content described in accordance with a predetermined markup language,
Extracting, from the received print content, a definition sentence including a uniquely defined tag that the predetermined markup language can deal with,
A print step of generating print image data based on the extracted definition sentence and performing printing using the print image data. A program for a print content sending device that sends print content to a printing device,
A content obtaining step of obtaining or generating print content described in conformity with a predetermined markup language;
A feature identification step of identifying a feature of the acquired or generated print content;
An additional writing step of describing the identified feature as a definition sentence including a uniquely defined tag that the markup language can deal with, and adding the definition sentence to the print content;
And a transmitting step of transmitting the added print content to a printing apparatus. A program for a printing device,
A receiving step of receiving print content described in accordance with a predetermined markup language,
Extracting, from the received print content, a definition sentence including a uniquely defined tag that the predetermined markup language can deal with,
A print step of generating print image data based on the extracted definition sentence and performing printing using the print image data. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for a print content sending device that sends print content to a printing device,
The program is
A content obtaining step of obtaining or generating print content described in conformity with a predetermined markup language;
A feature identification step of identifying a feature of the acquired or generated print content;
An additional writing step of describing the identified feature as a definition sentence including a uniquely defined tag that the markup language can deal with, and adding the definition sentence to the print content;
Transmitting the added print content to a printing apparatus. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for a printing device,
The program is
A receiving step of receiving print content described in accordance with a predetermined markup language,
Extracting, from the received print content, a definition sentence including a uniquely defined tag that the predetermined markup language can deal with,
A print step of generating print image data based on the extracted definition sentence, and performing printing using the print image data.

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