JP2004362322A - Browsing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it easy for a user to read the characters of an operation picture according to the language specification and display picture size of a client and the age of the user of the client at the time of performing the operation of a server from the client by using a digital camera as the client, and using a printer as the server. <P>SOLUTION: A digital camera 1 is connected to a printer 2, and image data acquired by the digital camera 1 are directly printed by the printer 2. An operation picture for operating the printer 2 is provided to the digital camera 1 as UI image data. In this case, the UI image data of the operation pictures of various language and character sizes are prepared in the printer 2, and the UI image data of the operation picture having the language and character size corresponding to the language specification and display picture size of the digital camera 1 and the age of the user of the digital camera 1 are provided to the digital camera 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, an operation screen for operating the server from the server is provided to the client as browsing content, the operation screen is browsed and displayed on the client, and the server is operated via the displayed operation screen. It relates to a browsing system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A so-called direct print system has been proposed in which printing is performed by directly connecting a printer and a digital camera without using a personal computer and operating the printer from the digital camera. In such a direct print system, the printer understands the commands of the digital camera, and the digital camera understands the commands of the printer, thereby selecting image data to be printed and printing.
[0003]
However, the size of the paper that can be used by the printer, the type of paper that can be used (glossy paper, plain paper, etc.), the number of images that can be printed on a single sheet, and CD-R printing, etc. In order for a digital camera to understand commands for executing functions for all printers in the market, a huge amount of memory is required, which increases the cost of the digital camera. On the other hand, in order to understand commands for executing various functions of digital cameras for all digital cameras on the market, the printer side also requires a huge amount of memory, which increases the cost of the printer. . Therefore, at present, even if a direct print system can be configured only between a specific printer and a specific digital camera, or even if a direct print system can be configured, the basic features of printers and digital cameras are included. Only functions are available.
[0004]
For this reason, by providing the digital camera with the function as a web browser, the digital camera functions as a client and the printer as a server, and the operation screen is displayed on the digital camera from the printer as content to the digital camera. By using a browser as a user interface (UI) of a digital camera, a system has been proposed in which both the digital camera and the printer can control both of them without understanding each command. (See Patent Documents 1 to 3). A system that uses a browser such as a mobile phone as a UI for controlling home appliances is also known.
[0005]
Further, for example, operation information for connecting a device to be controlled (controlled device) such as an AV apparatus and a control device such as a television for controlling the controlled device so that the controlled device operates the controlled device on the control device. (Image information for displaying the operation screen, audio information for instructing the operation, etc.) is transmitted, the operation information is displayed on the control device, and the control device accepts the input of the operation via the operation screen. There has also been proposed a system that operates the system (see, for example, Patent Documents 4 to 7).
[0006]
If these systems are applied to the direct print system, the digital camera can operate the printer without understanding the printer commands.
[0007]
By the way, in the systems described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, since the digital camera functions as a web browser, if the content provided by the printer includes characters as a character code, it is displayed. It is necessary to memorize the font. However, since digital cameras are created for the purpose of taking and displaying images, they often store only the minimum font required for instructions such as taking and displaying images. . Therefore, in order to display all characters provided to the digital camera for the printer to display the operation screen, the digital camera stores all fonts that can be used on the operation screen in association with all character codes. Therefore, the configuration of the digital camera becomes large and the cost of the digital camera increases.
[0008]
In the systems described in Patent Documents 4 to 7, when operation information is transmitted as an image to a digital camera, components constituting the operation screen such as buttons for performing operations are arranged on the operation screen. There is a need to. However, when the component parts are arranged on the operation screen in this way, it is necessary to change various positions and sizes of the component parts in the digital camera.
[0009]
Further, when the systems of Patent Documents 1 to 7 are applied to a direct print system, an operation screen is provided from a printer to a digital camera and displayed on the digital camera, but an image to be printed is stored in the digital camera. Therefore, in order to display an operation screen for selecting an image to be printed on the digital camera, the printer stores in advance the image data stored in the digital camera, the list of image data, or the list of thumbnail images of the image data. It is necessary to generate and provide an operation screen for selecting an image to be printed out using the acquired image data, list, or thumbnail image, and providing it to the digital camera. In order for the printer to acquire image data from the digital camera, the printer needs to understand the recording structure of the image data in the digital camera. Therefore, it takes a long time to send and receive image data, a list, or a thumbnail image, and the processing load on both the digital camera and the printer increases.
[0010]
For this reason, when operating a server from a client using, for example, a digital camera as a client and a printer as a server, the server can be operated without increasing the configuration of the client. In addition, a system has been proposed in which an operation screen is provided to a client as content consisting only of an image, and the client browses the content and displays the operation screen on a display screen (Patent Document 8).
[0011]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-224676
[0012]
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-196799 A
[0013]
[Patent Document 3]
JP 2001-222318 A
[0014]
[Patent Document 4]
JP-A-9-149325
[0015]
[Patent Document 5]
JP 11-249709 A
[0016]
[Patent Document 6]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-328081
[0017]
[Patent Document 7]
JP 2001-136588 A
[0018]
[Patent Document 8]
Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-16304
[0019]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the size of the display screen that the client has varies widely, some of which are large and some of which are small. In particular, when the client is a digital camera, the display screen is very small due to the progress of miniaturization of the digital camera. For this reason, when the operation screen is provided as an image as in the system of Patent Document 8, if the size of the client display screen is small, characters included in the operation screen displayed on the display screen are difficult to read. . In addition, even if the characters included in the operation screen are alphanumeric characters, even if the display screen is small, it can be read to some extent, but if it is kanji, the font itself is more complex than alphanumeric characters, so the display screen is If it is small, there is a high possibility that characters will be crushed and become unreadable. Furthermore, if the client user is presbyopic, small characters are difficult to read.
[0020]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. When a server is operated from a client, for example, using a digital camera as a client and a printer as a server, for example, the client is not interpreted in a large scale. The purpose is to allow the server to be operated with easy-to-use characters.
[0021]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The browser system according to the present invention includes a client and a server, and the server provides an operation screen including an operation component for operating the server as browsed content to the client.
The client comprises browsing means for browsing the content, a display screen for displaying the operation screen as the browsed content, and an operation means for accepting an operation on the server via the operation screen. In browsing system,
The server prepares a plurality of operation screens having different character sizes, each including only an image including the operation component, and providing the client with an operation screen having a character size according to the specifications of the client as the content. It is characterized by.
[0022]
“Operation component” means a button for selecting an operation command included in the operation screen, characters constituting the operation command, a logo image displayed on the operation screen, an image showing an active area when functioning as a touch panel, and the like. .
[0023]
The “operation means” may be not only a key and a button for selecting an operation command on the operation screen, but also a so-called touch panel for selecting an operation command by touching the operation screen.
[0024]
The “image including the operation component” means an image in which the operation component is included in one image, and does not include an image in which the background image of the operation screen and the image of the operation component are separated. .
[0025]
The “client specification” includes the size of the display screen of the client, the language handled by the client, and / or the age of the user of the client.
[0026]
In the browsing system according to the present invention, the client may include a storage unit that stores image data, and a control unit that displays the image data on the display screen and performs a selection process of the image data. Good.
[0027]
In this case, the control means is activated when the operation means accepts the image data selection start instruction via the operation screen for accepting the image data selection start instruction, and executes the image data selection process. It may be a thing.
[0028]
In the browsing system according to the present invention, the operation screen has an image size that is assumed to be displayed on a virtual display screen of a predetermined size, and the arrangement of the operation components on the operation screen is higher than the image size. Stipulated by absolute coordinates in
The client may display the operation screen on the display screen by scaling the operation screen to match the size of the display screen.
[0029]
In the browsing system according to the present invention, the operation screen is made up of JPEG image data, and the boundary of the operation component is an integer multiple of the number of compressed block pixels in the JPEG image data. As described above, the operation components may be arranged on the operation screen.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the server provides the client with an operation screen including only an image including the operation component as content. At this time, an operation screen having a character size according to the specifications of the client is provided. The client browses the content and displays the operation screen on the display screen. Here, since the operation screen consists only of images, the client can display the operation screen on the display screen only by browsing and displaying the content provided from the server. Therefore, even if characters are included in the operation screen provided by the server, they are not represented by character codes but are images, so there is no need to prepare a font for displaying characters on the client. The server can be operated on the client without making the client configuration large.
[0031]
In particular, since the character size included in the operation screen is in accordance with the specifications of the client, the characters on the operation screen displayed on the display screen of the client can be easily read.
[0032]
In addition, by using a digital camera as the client and a printer as the server, a direct print system can be constructed without making the configuration of the digital camera large.
[0033]
Further, when the operation unit of the client receives an instruction to start selecting image data via an operation screen for receiving an instruction to start selecting image data, the control unit is activated to execute the image data selection process. It becomes unnecessary to understand the data recording structure of the storage means of the client and access the client to select image data. Further, there is no need to transmit image data, a list of image data or thumbnail images from the client to the server, or to generate an operation screen for selecting an image using the image data. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden on the client and the server when selecting an image. In particular, when the client is a digital camera, the digital camera has a standard function of displaying an image on the display screen and selecting an image to be displayed on the display screen. The image can be selected without applying.
[0034]
Also, it is assumed that the operation screen has an image size that is assumed to be displayed on a virtual display screen of a predetermined size, the arrangement of the operation screen components on the operation screen is defined by absolute coordinates on the predetermined image size, and the client itself By scaling the operation screen to fit the display screen size and displaying it on the display screen, the client can adapt to the size of its own display screen without considering the layout of the operation screen components. Thus, the operation screen for operating the server can be displayed on the display screen only by enlarging or reducing the operation screen. Therefore, the burden on the client when displaying the operation screen can be reduced.
[0035]
Here, since the image data in JPEG format is divided into a plurality of blocks (compressed blocks) and compression processing is performed for each block, the image displayed by decompressing the image data in JPEG format Block distortion occurs at the block boundary. For this reason, when the operation screen is composed of JPEG image data, the operation component is arranged so that the boundary of the operation component is an integer multiple of the pixel of the compressed block in the JPEG image data. Block distortion becomes inconspicuous, thereby improving the image quality of the operation screen.
[0036]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a direct print system to which a browsing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1A, the direct print system according to the present embodiment connects the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 wirelessly as a client and a server, respectively, and operates the printer 2 from the digital camera 1 to operate the digital camera 1. Prints out the acquired image data. As shown in FIG. 1B, the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 are connected by a cable 3 with a standard such as IEEE1394, USB, Ethernet (registered trademark), etc., and the printer 2 is operated from the digital camera 1. The image data acquired by the digital camera 1 may be printed out. Note that the printer 2 may be one not only directly connected to the digital camera 1 but also one on the Internet.
[0037]
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the digital camera. As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera 1 includes a photographing lens 12 that forms a subject image on an imaging unit, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 14 that displays various information such as image data and frame numbers, and the digital camera 1. A power switch 16 for inputting start and stop of the camera, a release button 18 for the user of the digital camera 1 to instruct shooting, and various modes such as a shooting mode, a playback mode, and a direct print mode provided in the digital camera 1. A mode switching dial 20 that is set by switching, a cancel button 22 that is pressed to delete a desired item from the items displayed on the LCD 14, stop processing, or cancel the selected processing, and display on the LCD 14 An execute button 24 to be pressed when executing an item selected from the selected items, and a digital camera The menu button 26 to be pressed when displaying the menu of the various modes provided in 1, and the up / down / left / right key 28 to be operated when incrementing, decrementing, or selecting the menu displayed on the LCD 14. In addition, an antenna 30 that performs wireless communication with the printer 2 and a communication connector 32 that performs wired communication with the printer 2 are provided.
[0038]
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mode switching dial 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the mode switching dial 20 includes a setup mode (Setup) for setting up the digital camera 1, a direct print mode (Print), and a PC mode (for transferring image data to a personal computer by connecting to a personal computer). PC), a moving image mode (Mov) for capturing moving images, a camera mode (Cam) for capturing still images, and a playback mode (Play) for displaying captured images on the LCD 14 are switchable. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the mode switching dial 20 is switched to the direct print mode.
[0039]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of the digital camera 1. The digital camera 1 forms a subject image on a light receiving surface, photoelectrically converts it, outputs it as image data, controls the entire digital camera 1, controls the sampling timing of the image data, and records the image data. CPU 42 that performs control such as control, communication control, display control, and operation screen browsing, signal processing unit 44 that performs processing such as image size change, sharpness correction, gamma correction, contrast correction, and white balance correction, and analog information An A / D converter 46 that converts the image data into digital image data, a strobe 48, a strobe controller 50 that controls the operation of the strobe 48, a release button 18, a mode switching dial 20, a cancel button 22, and execution. Users such as buttons 24, menu buttons 26, up / down / left / right keys 28, etc. An input unit 52 to be used for inputting information, and have that and I / O 54 is an interface for inputting provided a setting information input unit 52.
[0040]
The digital camera 1 also includes a compression / decompression unit 56 that compresses image data by a technique typified by JPEG or motion JPEG, and a memory that is detachably attached to the memory card slot 58. A card interface 62 that converts image data in order to record or read image data on the card 60 is provided. The memory card 60 is a detachable recording medium represented by semiconductor, magnetic recording, and optical recording.
[0041]
Further, the digital camera 1 serves as a ROM for storing an operation program of the CPU 42 including a web browser program and a program for executing an image selection routine for selecting an image, a constant in which each constant is stored, and a work area when the program is executed. A system memory 64 constituted by a RAM serving as a storage means, a rewritable nonvolatile memory 66 capable of continuously storing various setting constants of the digital camera 1 even after the power is shut off, and driven at the time of timer shooting. A timer 68, a calendar clock 70 for ticking the current time, a wireless interface 72 used when transmitting / receiving image data and various information to / from the printer 2 by wireless communication, and transmitting / receiving image data and various information to / from the printer 2 by wireless communication. USB, IEEE 1394, Ethernet used in case Temporary storage of a wired interface 73 of a standard such as t (registered trademark), an LCD control unit 74 for performing D / A for displaying image data on the LCD 14, and display image data instructed by the CPU 42 A frame memory 76 composed of a VRAM, an OSD 78 that converts code information commanded by the CPU 42 into characters and message data to be displayed and displays them on screen together with images, and various inputs from the LCD 14 A touch panel 80 and a touch panel control unit 82 that controls the touch panel 80 are provided. A battery 84 that supplies electric power to each unit is also provided.
[0042]
The CPU 42 reads out and executes the web browser program from the system memory 64, so that the CPU 42 functions as browsing means.
[0043]
Further, the non-volatile memory 66 stores the MAC address of the printer 2 necessary for performing communication in the direct print mode described later. When it is assumed that direct printing is performed with a plurality of types of printers 2, MAC addresses of a plurality of printers that are supposed to perform communication are stored in the nonvolatile memory 66. The non-volatile memory 66 includes a profile. Profile describing the language specifications of the digital camera 1, the LCD size, the name of the user of the digital camera 1 and the date of birth. xml is stored. profile. The description content of xml will be described later.
[0044]
In the present embodiment, input from both the touch panel 80 and the input unit 52 is possible.
[0045]
An antenna 30 is connected to the wireless interface 72, and a communication connector 32 is connected to the wired interface 73, so that various information including image data can be transmitted and received with other communication devices such as the printer 2. .
[0046]
The wireless interface 72 is an interface using light such as radio waves, ultrasonic waves, and infrared rays. When radio waves are used, it may be based on wireless communication specifications such as a wireless LAN (local area network).
[0047]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a recording structure of image data in the memory card 60. As shown in FIG. 5, directories (“001 Vacation” and “002 Birthday” in FIG. 5) having a three-digit number and name are formed below the root directory (Root), and DSCF0001. Image data consisting of a file name having a 4-digit number such as JPG is stored. Note that the DSCF0002. Of the 002Birthday directory. When a file name is missing as in JPG, there is no image data with that file name. The 3-digit number of the directory is the directory number, and the 4-digit number of the image data is the frame number. Thus, for example, DSCF0001. JPG can be expressed as 001-0001 using a directory number and a frame number. When the image data is displayed on the LCD 14, the directory number and the frame number are displayed as 001-0001.
[0048]
FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the printer 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 2 includes a card slot 90 into which the memory card 60 is inserted, and a mode changeover switch 92 for setting a mode for reading image data into the printer 2, and various inputs for operating the printer 2. An operation switch group 94 for performing communication, an antenna 96 for performing wireless communication with the digital camera 1, a communication connector 98 for performing wired communication with the digital camera 1, a paper discharge tray 100 for receiving a printed output, A display group 102 including LEDs and the like for displaying the operation state of the printer 2 is provided.
[0049]
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the mode changeover switch 92. As shown in FIG. 7, the mode changeover switch 92 includes a card mode (Card) for reading image data from the memory card 60, a wireless personal computer mode (PC (Wireless)) for reading image data from a personal computer wirelessly, and a digital camera 1 by wireless. Wireless camera mode (Cam (Wireless)) for reading image data from a wired computer mode (PC) for reading image data from a personal computer connected by wire, and a wired camera mode (PC) for reading image data from a digital camera 1 connected by wire ( Cam) can be switched. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the mode switch 92 is switched to the wireless camera mode.
[0050]
In this embodiment, it is assumed that the printer 2 is connected to the digital camera 1 or a personal computer. However, when connected to a personal computer, the user displays an operation screen on the personal computer to display the printer 2. When performing operation and connecting to the digital camera 1 to perform direct printing, the user displays an operation screen on the LCD 14 of the digital camera 1 to operate the printer 2. For this reason, the printer 2 does not have an integrated display for operation.
[0051]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the signal processing system of the printer 2. The printer 2 controls the entire printer 2 and also controls the CPU 110 for performing image data read control, print control, communication control, display control, and the like, and an interface for inputting setting information of the operation switch group 94 and the display group 102. I / O 112, a card interface 114 for converting data to record or read image data in a memory card 60 loaded in the card slot 90, an operation program of the CPU 110, and constants are stored. A system memory 116 including a ROM and a RAM serving as a storage means serving as a work area when executing a program, and a rewritable nonvolatile memory capable of continuously storing various setting constants of the printer 2 even after the power is cut off 118 and a print head for printing. , A print engine 120 including a light source, a paper feed mechanism, and the like; a wireless interface 122 used when transmitting / receiving image data and various types of information to / from the digital camera 1 via wireless communication; and A display control unit 128 that performs a D / A or the like for displaying image data on an external monitor 126 connected to the printer 2 and a wired interface 124 of a standard such as USB, IEEE 1394, Ethernet (registered trademark) used for transmission / reception. A frame memory 130 constituted by a VRAM or the like for temporarily storing image data for display instructed by the CPU 110, and a calendar clock 132 for recording the current time.
[0052]
As described later, UI image data and a UI description file representing a user interface (UI) image for displaying an operation screen on the digital camera 1 when direct printing is performed are stored in the nonvolatile memory 118. Of course, UI image data and UI description file may be dynamically generated during communication.
[0053]
An antenna 96 is connected to the wireless interface 122, and a communication connector 98 is connected to the wired interface 124, and various types of information including image data can be transmitted / received to / from other communication devices such as the digital camera 1. .
[0054]
The wireless interface 122 is an interface using light such as radio waves, ultrasonic waves, and infrared rays. When radio waves are used, it may be based on wireless communication specifications such as a wireless LAN (local area network).
[0055]
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI image. FIG. 9 shows a UI image that is displayed on the digital camera 1 first when direct printing is performed, and represents an initial operation screen in which the character size is standard and the language is English. As shown in FIG. 9, the UI image 140 is configured by drawing an image of three active areas 140B, 140C, and 140D that are operation components and a logo image 140E on a background image 140A. The active areas 140B, 140C, and 140D are areas that can be operated by the touch panel 80. When the UI area 140 is displayed on the LCD 14 and the active areas 140B, 140C, and 140D are touched, the touched active areas 140B, 140C, and 140D are displayed. An instruction corresponding to 140D is transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the printer 2. In addition to the touch panel 80, the user can select an active area 140B, 140C, 140D desired by the up / down / left / right key 28 and press the execution button 24 to give instructions corresponding to the active areas 140B, 140C, 140D. It may be transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the printer 2.
[0056]
In the UI image 140 shown in FIG. 9, each of the active areas 140B, 140C, and 140D includes StandardPrint that prints one image on one sheet, IndexPrint that prints a plurality of thumbnail images on one sheet, and one sheet. Represents a print menu of MultiPrint for printing a plurality of images on a sheet of paper. Then, the user can select the print menu by selecting one of the active areas 140B, 140C, and 140D.
[0057]
Here, the UI image 140 has an image size that is assumed to be displayed on a virtual display screen having a size that the digital camera 1 has as a standard. In the present embodiment, the number of pixels on the virtual display screen is 320 × 240 pixels. In addition, the origin is set in the upper left corner of the UI image 140, the x axis is set in the horizontal direction on the paper surface, and the y axis is set in the vertical direction on the paper surface. The xy coordinates in the lower right corner are (319, 239). The printer 2 transmits UI image data representing the UI image 140 to the digital camera 1 as it is. Note that the file name of UI image data representing the UI image 140 for displaying the initial operation screen in which the character size is standard and the language is English is 0001. jpg.
[0058]
Upon receiving the UI image data, the digital camera 1 enlarges / reduces the UI image 140 so as to match the size of the LCD 14 of the digital camera 1 and displays the processed UI image 140 on the LCD 14 as an initial operation screen. For example, when the size of the LCD 14 is 240 × 180 pixels, the UI image 140 is reduced by 0.75 times and displayed on the LCD 14. The signal processing unit 44 performs the enlargement / reduction processing. When the size of the LCD 14 is 320 × 240 pixels, the UI image 140 is displayed on the LCD 14 without performing any enlargement / reduction processing.
[0059]
The UI image data is compressed by a compression method such as JPEG format, TIFF format, and GIF format in order to reduce the capacity. The digital camera 1 decompresses the compressed UI image data by the compression / decompression unit 56. Later, the image is displayed on the LCD 14 after being enlarged or reduced.
[0060]
Here, since the image data in JPEG format is divided into a plurality of compressed blocks and compression processing is performed for each compressed block, the compressed block is included in the displayed image after decompressing the image data in JPEG format. Block distortion occurs at the boundary. For this reason, in the present embodiment, when the UI image data is composed of JPEG image data, the boundaries of the active areas 140B, 140C, and 140D are positioned at integer multiples of the compressed block pixels (8 × 8 pixels). In addition, the active areas 140B, 140C, and 140D are drawn on the background image 140A.
[0061]
For example, the x coordinate of the left side of the active region 140B is 32 that is an integer multiple of 8 pixels, and the x coordinate of the right side is 144 that is an integer multiple of 8 pixels. The y coordinate of the upper side is 32 which is an integer multiple of 8 pixels, and the y coordinate of the lower side is 104. Further, the x coordinate of the left side of the active area 140C is 176, the x coordinate of the right side is 288, the y coordinate of the upper side is 32, and the y coordinate of the lower side is 104. Further, the x coordinate of the left side of the active area 140D is 32, the x coordinate of the right side is 144, the y coordinate of the upper side is 136, and the y coordinate of the lower side is 208.
[0062]
For this reason, when the UI image 140 is displayed on the LCD 14, the block distortion becomes inconspicuous, whereby the image quality of the UI image 140 can be improved.
[0063]
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a description example of a UI description file. 10 is a UI description file for displaying the UI image 140 shown in FIG. 9 as an operation screen. As shown in FIG. 10, this UI description file has a file name “startup.xml”, and the description on the fourth line indicates that the operation screen image has a width w of 320 pixels, a height h of 240 pixels, and a file name of 0001. jpg UI image data is specified. The description of the fifth to seventh lines defines the positions, sizes, and hyperreferences (href) of the active areas 140B, 140C, and 140D. Specifically, the position and size of the active areas 140B, 140C, 140D are defined by the coordinates, width w, and height h of the upper left corner of each active area 140B, 140C, 140D. When selected, the file name of the UI description file to be transmitted next is described as href.
[0064]
The digital camera 1 functions as a web browser when connected to the printer 2, and startup. An xml request is made to the printer 2. Here, startup. Since the xml file name is fixed, the initial operation screen can be displayed on the LCD 14 of the digital camera 1 regardless of the type of the printer 2. The digital camera 1 has a file name startup. When an xml UI description file is sent, the description of the file is interpreted, a request for necessary UI image data is made to the printer 2, and the touch panel is located at a position specified by the UI description file on the operation screen displayed on the LCD 14. The active area for operation by 80 is set.
[0065]
Here, as the UI image data and UI description file, a plurality of UI image data and UI description files having different languages and character sizes for one type of operation screen are prepared and stored in the nonvolatile memory 118. For example, in the present embodiment, for each of English, German, and French, two types of UI image data and UI description files, which are large and standard for one type of operation screen, are large for Japanese. One type of UI image data and UI description file are stored in the nonvolatile memory 118, respectively. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI image representing an initial operation screen with a large character size and an English language, where (a) is a StandardPrint, (b) is an IndexPrint, and (c) is a UI image for MultiPrint. Respectively.
[0066]
As shown in FIG. 11 (a), the StandardPrint UI image 150 has three active areas 150B, 150C, and 150D as operation components and a logo image 150E drawn on the background image 150A. It is constituted by. In the UI image 150 shown in FIG. 11A, the active area 150B represents a print menu for StandardPrint, and the active area 150C representing a left-pointing arrow is a selection for selecting the previous UI image (for IndexPrint in this case). An active area 150D representing a button and a right-pointing arrow represents a selection button for selecting a later UI image (for MultiPrint in this case). Note that the file name of UI image data representing the UI image 150 for displaying the initial operation screen is 1001. jpg.
[0067]
As shown in FIG. 11B, the UI image 160 for IndexPrint is drawn on the background image 160A with images of three active areas 160B, 160C, and 160D as operation components and a logo image 160E. It is constituted by. In the UI image 160 shown in FIG. 11B, the active area 160B represents a print menu for IndexPrint, and the active area 160C representing a left-pointing arrow is a selection for selecting a previous UI image (for MultiPrint in this case). An active area 160D representing a button and a right-pointing arrow represents a selection button for selecting a later UI image (for StandardPrint here). Note that the file name of the UI image data representing the UI image 160 for displaying the initial operation screen is 1002. jpg.
[0068]
As shown in FIG. 11C, in the UI image 170 for MultiPrint, an image of three active areas 170B, 170C, and 170D as operation components and a logo image 170E are drawn on the background image 170A. It is constituted by. In the UI image 170 shown in FIG. 11C, the active area 170B represents a print menu for MultiPrint, and the active area 170C representing the left-pointing arrow is a selection for selecting the previous UI image (for StandardPrint in this case). An active area 170D representing a button and representing a right-pointing arrow represents a selection button for selecting a UI image (for IndexPrint in this case). Note that the file name of the UI image data representing the UI image 170 for displaying the initial operation screen is 1003. jpg.
[0069]
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a description example of a UI description file for displaying the UI image 150 shown in FIG. 11A as an operation screen. As shown in FIG. 12, the file name of this UI description file is “startup.xml”, and the description on the fourth line indicates that the operation screen image has a width w of 320 pixels, a height h of 240 pixels, and a file name of 1001. jpg UI image data is specified. The description of the fifth to seventh lines defines the position, size, and hyperreference (href) of the active areas 150B, 150C, and 150D. Here, the hyperreferences of the active areas 150C and 150D indicate UI description files having file names “startup2.xml” and “startup3.xml”, respectively.
[0070]
13 and 14 are diagrams illustrating a description example of a UI description file whose file names are “startup2.xml” and “startup3.xml”. The UI description file shown in FIG. 13 has a file name “startup2.xml”, and the description on the fourth line indicates that the operation screen image has a width w of 320 pixels, a height h of 240 pixels, and a file name of 1002. jpg UI image data is specified. Further, the description of the fifth to seventh lines defines the position, size, and hyperreference (href) of the active areas 160B, 160C, and 160D. Here, the hyper references of the active areas 160C and 160D indicate UI description files having file names “startup3.xml” and “startup.xml”, respectively.
[0071]
The UI description file shown in FIG. 14 has a file name “startup3.xml”, and the description on the fourth line indicates that the operation screen image has a width w of 320 pixels, a height h of 240 pixels, and a file name of 1003. jpg UI image data is specified. In addition, the description of the fifth to seventh lines defines the position, size, and hyperreference (href) of the active areas 170B, 170C, and 170D. Here, the hyperreferences of the active areas 170C and 170D indicate UI description files having file names “startup.xml” and “startup2.xml”, respectively.
[0072]
Therefore, when the language is English and the character size is set large, the UI image 150 shown in FIG. 11A is displayed first, and the active region 150C is touched in the state where the UI image 150 is displayed. As a result, startup2. xml is transmitted to the digital camera 1, and the file name is 1002. The UI image data of jpg is transmitted to the digital camera 1, and the UI image 160 shown in FIG. 11B is displayed on the LCD 14. Also, by touching the active area 150D, startup3. xml is transmitted to the digital camera 1 and the file name is 1003. jpg UI image data is transmitted to the digital camera 1 and a UI image 170 shown in FIG. 11C is displayed on the LCD 14.
[0073]
On the other hand, by touching the active area 160C while the UI image 160 shown in FIG. xml is transmitted to the digital camera 1 and the file name is 1003. jpg UI image data is transmitted to the digital camera 1 and a UI image 170 shown in FIG. 11C is displayed on the LCD 14. In addition, by touching the active area 160D, startup. xml is transmitted to the digital camera 1 and the file name is 1001. The UI image data of jpg is transmitted to the digital camera 1, and the UI image 150 shown in FIG. 11A is displayed on the LCD 14.
[0074]
Further, when the UI image 170 shown in FIG. 11C is displayed, the active area 170C is touched to start startup. xml is transmitted to the digital camera 1 and the file name is 1001. The UI image data of jpg is transmitted to the digital camera 1, and the UI image 150 shown in FIG. 11A is displayed on the LCD 14. Further, by touching the active area 170D, startup2. xml is transmitted to the digital camera 1, and the file name is 1002. The UI image data of jpg is transmitted to the digital camera 1, and the UI image 160 shown in FIG. 11B is displayed on the LCD 14.
[0075]
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI image representing an initial operation screen in which the character size is large and the language is Japanese. (A) is a StandardPrint, (b) is an IndexPrint, and (c) is a MultiPrint UI. Each image is shown.
[0076]
Similarly, for German and French, two types of UI image data and UI description files of large and standard character sizes are prepared. Here, in this embodiment, when the language is English and the character size is standard, the first digit among the four digits representing the file name of the UI image data is 0. If the language is English and the character size is large, the first digit is 1, if the language is German and the character size is standard, the first digit is 2, and if the language is German and the character size is large. The first digit is 3, the first digit is 4 if the language is French and the character size is standard, the first digit is 5 if the language is French and the character size is large, and the language is Japanese When the character size is large, the first digit is set to 6. Note that Japanese is more complex than other languages, and if the character size is small, the characters will be crushed and difficult to read. In this embodiment, UI image data with a standard character size is prepared for Japanese. Not.
[0077]
Next, processing performed in the present embodiment will be described. 16 to 18 are flowcharts showing processing performed between the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the mode switch dial 20 of the digital camera 1 is switched to the direct print mode, the mode switch 92 of the printer 2 is switched to the wireless camera mode, and the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 are wirelessly connected. A process for printing out the image data acquired by the digital camera 1 through communication by the printer 2 will be described. Also, in the processing of the digital camera 1 in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, when the user presses the cancel button 22 in any step, the processing is stopped and the processing returns to step S1.
[0078]
First, when the user of the digital camera 1 switches the mode switching dial 20 to the direct print mode, the digital camera 1 displays a selection screen for the printer 2 that performs direct printing on the LCD 14, where the printer 2 that performs direct printing by the user. Is selected (step S1).
[0079]
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a selection screen of the printer 2. As shown in FIG. 19, in this embodiment, the model names of the three printers 2 of “FUJIFILM NC-100”, “FUJIFILM NC-50”, and “xxxx IJ-30” are displayed on the LCD 14. In addition, by touching the up arrow or down arrow displayed on the LCD 14 or by moving the up / down / left / right key 28 up / down, the model name of the printer 2 that is supposed to perform direct printing can be displayed. . Each model name is given a MAC address.
[0080]
In the present embodiment, the following description will be given assuming that “FUJIFILM NC-100” is selected by the user. When the user selects the printer 2, the selected printer name is highlighted, and the digital camera 1 transmits a connection request to the printer 2 via the wireless interface 72 and the antenna 30 (step S2). The printer 2 completes the connection in response to the connection request and notifies the digital camera 1 to that effect (step S3).
[0081]
When the connection is completed, the digital camera 1 displays profile. xml is read from the nonvolatile memory 66 and transmitted to the printer 2 (Put (profile.xml), step S4). When xml is received, the digital camera 1 is notified that the reception has been completed (step S5). Subsequently, the printer 2 is set to profile. Operation screen selection processing is performed with reference to xml (step S6).
[0082]
FIG. 20 shows profile. It is a figure which shows the example of description of xml. As shown in FIG. In xml, the third line is the product name of the digital camera 1 (product name = FUJIFILM FP-100), version (version = 1.0) and language specification (language = English), and the fourth line is the digital camera 1 The display screen size (display_size, 240 × 160 in this case) of the LCD is shown. The sixth and subsequent lines indicate the user profile of the digital camera 1, the seventh line indicates the user's name, and the eighth line indicates the user's date of birth. Note that the user's name and date of birth are recorded in the profile.1 when the user of the digital camera 1 records the user's name and date of birth in the memory card 60 using a personal computer or the like, and reads out this in the digital camera 1. It is described in xml.
[0083]
21 and 22 are flowcharts of the operation screen selection process. First, the CPU 110 of the printer 2 is set to profile. The language specification is read from xml (step S51), and then profile. The display screen size is read from xml (step S52), and profile. The user's date of birth is read from xml (step S53). Then, the current time is read from the calendar clock 132 (step S54), and the age of the user is calculated from the read current time and the date of birth of the user (step S55).
[0084]
Next, the CPU 110 determines whether or not the language specification is Japanese (step S56). If the determination in step S56 is affirmative, the operation screen is set to Japanese (step S57). If step S56 is negative, it is determined whether or not the language specification is German (step S58). If step S58 is positive, the operation screen is set to German (step S59). If step S58 is negative, it is determined whether or not the language specification is French (step S60). If step S60 is positive, the operation screen is set to French (step S61). If step S60 is negative, the operation screen is set to English (step S62).
[0085]
Subsequently, the CPU 110 determines whether or not the display screen size is less than 240 × 160 (step S63). If step S63 is negative, the CPU 110 determines whether or not the user's age is 70 years or older (step S63). S64). If step S64 is negative, the character size is set to the standard (step S65), and the process ends. On the other hand, if step S63 and step S64 are affirmed, the character size is set large (step S66), and the process is terminated. In this embodiment, since the standard character size is not prepared for the Japanese operation screen, if the operation screen is set to Japanese in step S57, the process proceeds to step S66 and the character size is set to a large size. The
[0086]
Here, in the present embodiment, the profile. From the description of xml, since the language specification of the digital camera 1 is English, the display screen size is 240 × 160, and the user's age is also less than 70 years old, the operation screen is set to the standard English character size. .
[0087]
Returning to FIG. 16, the file name of the digital camera 1 is “startup. An xml UI description file request is made to the printer 2 (Get (startup.xml), step S7). Upon receiving this request, the printer 2 receives the startup. xml is transmitted to the digital camera 1 (step S7). The startup. Sent here. xml corresponds to the set language specification and character size. In the present embodiment, since the operation screen is set to a standard English character size, startup. Described as shown in FIG. xml is transmitted to the digital camera 1. When the operation screen is set to English with a large character size, startup. Described as shown in FIG. xml is transmitted to the digital camera 1.
[0088]
The digital camera 1 is startup. xml is analyzed (step S9). The file name required to display the initial operation screen is 0001. A request for jpg UI image data is made to the printer 2 (Get (0001.jpg), step S10). In response to this request, the printer 2 receives 0001. jpg is transmitted to the digital camera 1 (step S11). The digital camera 1 is 0001. A display process as an initial operation screen of jpg is performed (step S12).
[0089]
FIG. 23 is a flowchart of operation screen display processing. First, the file name is 0001. The UI image data of jpg is decompressed (step S71), and the decompressed UI image data is scaled to fit the size of the LCD 14 (step S72). Then, the UI image 140 represented by the enlarged / reduced UI image data is displayed on the LCD 14 as an operation screen (step S73), and the process ends.
[0090]
When the initial operation screen is displayed on the LCD 14, the user of the digital camera 1 selects the print menu, and in response to this, the digital camera 1 performs a print menu selection process (step S13).
[0091]
FIG. 24 is a flowchart of the print menu selection process. First, assuming that the UI image data is enlarged / reduced, the digital camera 1 recalculates the positions and sizes of the active areas 140B, 140C, 140D according to the magnification at the time of enlargement / reduction (step S81). Thus, the positions and sizes of the active areas 140B, 140C, 140D on the initial operation screen displayed on the LCD 14 are associated with the positions and sizes of the active areas 140B, 140C, 140D before the enlargement / reduction.
[0092]
Subsequently, monitoring of whether or not the user touches the touch panel 80 or any input is started (step S82). When step S82 is affirmed, it is determined whether or not the cancel button 22 is pressed by the user. (Step S83). If step S83 is affirmed, the communication with the connected printer 2 is disconnected and the process returns to step S1 (step S84).
[0093]
If step S83 is negative, it is determined whether or not an input by touching the selected area of the touch panel 80, that is, the touch panel 80 is from the active area (step S85), and step S85 is negative. And the process returns to step S82. If step S85 is affirmed, the color of the selected active area is inverted (step S86), an operation screen in which the color of the selected active area is inverted is displayed on the LCD 14 (step S87), and the process ends.
[0094]
Here, for example, when the user selects MultiPrint, the color of the active area 140D corresponding to MultiPrint is inverted as shown in FIG. Thereby, the user can easily recognize which active region he / she has selected. Instead of inverting the colors, the active area is made brighter, monochrome display, bordered, etc., so that the active area selected by the user is recognized. May be. In the following description, it is assumed that the user has selected MultiPrint.
[0095]
In addition, startup. Described as shown in FIG. When xml is transmitted to the digital camera 1, the UI image 150 shown in FIG. 11 (a) is displayed, and further, by touching the active area representing the left and right arrows, the UI image 150 is shown in FIGS. 11 (b) and 11 (c). The display can be switched to the UI images 160 and 170. Furthermore, a print menu can be selected by touching the active areas 150B, 160B, and 170B in the UI images 150, 160, and 170.
[0096]
Returning to FIG. 16, when the user selects MultiPrint, the digital camera 1 acquires href corresponding to the active area of MultiPrint (step S14), and the file name described in the href of MultiPrint is multi. An xml UI description file acquisition request is made to the printer 2 (Get (multi.xml), step S15). In response to this request, the printer 2 receives multi. xml is transmitted to the digital camera 1 (step S16).
[0097]
FIG. 26 shows multi. It is a figure which shows the description of xml. As shown in FIG. xml is an operation screen image according to the description on the fourth line, the width w is 320 pixels, the height h is 240 pixels, and the file name is 0010. jpg UI image data is specified.
[0098]
In FIG. 27, the file name is 0010. It is a figure which shows UI image represented by UI image data of jpg. As shown in FIG. 27, the UI image 142 is configured by drawing an image of three active areas 142B, 142C, and 142D as operation components and a logo image 142E on a background image 142A.
[0099]
In the UI image 142 shown in FIG. 27, each of the active areas 142B, 142C, and 142D is 2-up for printing two images on one sheet, and 4-up for printing four images on one sheet. This represents a 9-up print menu for printing nine images on one sheet. Then, the user selects a print menu by selecting one of the active areas 142B, 142C, and 142D. Similarly to the UI image 140, the UI image 142 has an image size assumed to be displayed on a virtual display screen having a size that the digital camera 1 has as a standard (320 × 240 pixels).
[0100]
On the other hand, multi. The description of the 5th to 7th lines of xml defines the position, size, and href of the active areas 142B, 142C, 142D. Specifically, the position and size of the active areas 142B, 142C, 142D are defined by the coordinates, width w, and height h of the upper left corner of each active area 142B, 142C, 142D, and the active areas 142B, 142C, 142D When selected, the file name to be requested next is described as href. Although image_select is described following href, image_select is an activation of an image selection routine (image selection routine) executed by the digital camera 1 when the corresponding active area 142B, 142C, 142D is selected. It is a command for instructing and specifying the number of frames to be selected by the image selection routine.
[0101]
Here, the operation screen of such a print menu is also prepared according to the language and the character size, like the initial operation screen. For example, for the case where the character size is set to be large in the present embodiment, three operation screens are prepared in which the active areas 142B, 142C, and 142D are each included in one screen and the left and right arrow buttons are included. When the initial operation screen shown in FIG. 11 is transmitted, an operation screen having a large character size is displayed in the subsequent processing.
[0102]
The digital camera 1 is multi. xml is analyzed (step S17), and the file name required to display the MultiPrint operation screen is 0010. A request for jpg UI image data is made to the printer 2 (Get (0010.jpg), step S18). In response to this request, the printer 2 receives 0010. jpg is transmitted to the digital camera 1 (step S19). The digital camera 1 is 0010. A display process as an operation screen of jpg is performed (step S20). Since this display process is the same as the display process in step S12, detailed description thereof is omitted here.
[0103]
When the operation screen is displayed on the LCD 14, the user of the digital camera 1 selects a print menu, and in response to this, the digital camera 1 performs a print menu selection process (step S21). Since the print menu selection process is the same as the process in step S13, a detailed description thereof is omitted here. It is assumed that the user has selected 2-up in the UI image 142. Thereby, the active area 142B in the UI image 142 is displayed in reverse.
[0104]
When the user selects 2-up, the digital camera 1 acquires href corresponding to the 2-up active area (step S22), and the file name described in 2-up href is multi2. A request for an xml UI description file is made to the printer 2 (Get (multi2.xml), step S23). In response to this request, the printer 2 receives multi2. xml is transmitted to the digital camera 1 (step S24). Further, the printer 2 prepares to print MultiPrint 2-up (step S25) and prepares to receive an image of two frames (step S26).
[0105]
On the other hand, the digital camera 1 starts an image selection routine program in accordance with an image_select instruction corresponding to the 2-up active area (step S27). The image selection routine performs a process of selecting two image data to be subjected to 2-up printing from a plurality of image data stored in the memory card 60 as shown in FIG. 28 and 29 are flowcharts showing the image selection process performed in the image selection routine. First, the digital camera 1 sets the remaining frame number n to be selected (step S91), and displays the remaining frame number on the LCD 14 (step S92). The remaining frame number n is the frame number N described in image_select corresponding to the active area selected in the UI image 142 by the user (two in this case).
[0106]
Subsequently, the digital camera 1 sets the current frame number for image display to the newest frame number, that is, the frame number of the most recently captured image data (step S93), and displays the image of the current frame number on the LCD 14 (step S93). S94). As a result, an image selection screen is displayed on the LCD 14. FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an image selection screen in the image selection routine. As shown in FIG. 30, the image selection screen 144 displays an image 144A of the current frame number, the number of remaining frames 144B, a frame number 144C, a shooting date / time 144D, and left and right arrow keys 144E and 144F.
[0107]
Subsequently, monitoring of whether or not the user touches the touch panel 80 or any input is started (step S95). When step S95 is affirmed, it is determined whether or not the cancel button 22 is pressed by the user. (Step S96). If step S96 is affirmed, the communication with the connected printer 2 is disconnected and the process returns to step S1 (step S97).
[0108]
If step S96 is negative, it is determined whether or not the right key of the up / down / left / right key 28 has been pressed by the user (step S98). If step S98 is positive, the current frame number is incremented (step S99). The process returns to step S94. If step S98 is negative, it is determined whether the left key of the up / down / left / right key 28 has been pressed by the user (step S100). If step S100 is positive, the current frame number is decremented (step S101). The process returns to step S94.
[0109]
On the other hand, if step S100 is negative, it is determined whether or not the area of the right arrow key 144F of the image selection screen 144 has been touched by the user (step S102). If step S102 is positive, the current frame number is incremented. (Step S103), the process returns to step S94. If step S102 is negative, it is determined whether or not the area of the left arrow key 144E of the image selection screen 144 has been pressed by the user (step S104). If step S104 is positive, the current frame number is incremented ( Step S105) and return to step S94.
[0110]
If step S104 is negative, it is determined whether or not the execution button 24 has been pressed by the user (step S106). If step S106 is negative, the process returns to step S95. If step S106 is affirmed, the image data of the current frame number is stored in the system memory 64 as image data to be printed (step S107), the remaining frame number is decremented by 1 (step S108), and the decremented remaining frame is The number is displayed (step S109). Further, it is determined whether or not the number of remaining frames has become 0 (step S110). If step S110 is negative, the process returns to step S94. If step S110 is affirmed, it is determined that all images to be printed have been selected, and the process ends.
[0111]
Returning to FIG. 17, following step S27, the digital camera 1 transmits the image data selected in the image selection routine to the printer 2 (Put (first frame of the selected image, step S28). When the image data is received, the digital camera 1 is notified of the completion of the reception (OK, step S29) In this embodiment, 2-up is selected as the print menu, and the digital camera 1 has two frames of image data. Since it has been selected, the digital camera 1 transmits the image data of the second frame to the printer 2 (step S30), and the printer 2 notifies the digital camera 1 that the reception has been completed (step S31). 2 receives the image data of two frames and executes printing (step S31).
[0112]
FIG. 31 shows multi2. It is a figure which shows the description of xml. As shown in FIG. 31, multi2. xml is an operation screen image according to the description on the fourth line, the width w is 320 pixels, the height h is 240 pixels, and the file name is 0031. jpg UI image data is specified. The UI image represented by the UI image data represents an operation screen for notifying the user that printing has been completed.
[0113]
In FIG. 32, the file name is 0031. It is a figure which shows UI image represented by UI image data of jpg. As shown in FIG. 32, the UI image 146 is displayed on the background image 146A as “MultiPrint 2-up” indicating that one active area 146B as an operation component, the logo image 146C, and MultiPrint 2-up are completed. The text image 146D of “Executed” is rendered.
[0114]
Note that, in the UI image 146 shown in FIG. 32, the active area 146C is an area for selecting a continue for printing. Then, when the user touches the active area 146B, printing is continuously performed. Similarly to the UI image 140, the UI image 146 has an image size assumed to be displayed on a virtual display screen having a size that the digital camera 1 has as a standard (320 × 240 pixels).
[0115]
On the other hand, multi2. The description in the fifth line of xml defines the position of the active area 146C. Specifically, the position and size of the active area 146C are defined by the coordinates, width w and height h of the upper left corner of the active area 146C, and when the active area 146C is selected, the next file to be transmitted is requested. The name is described as href.
[0116]
The digital camera 1 is multi2. xml is analyzed (step S33), and the file name necessary to display the operation screen for which printing has been completed is 0031. A request for jpg UI image data is made to the printer 2 (Get (0031.jpg), step S34). In response to this request, the printer 2 0031. jpg is transmitted to the digital camera 1 (step S35). The digital camera 1 is 0031. A display process as an operation screen of jpg is performed (step S36). Since this display process is the same as the display process in step S12, detailed description thereof is omitted here.
[0117]
When the operation screen is displayed on the LCD 14 and the user of the digital camera 1 touches continue, the digital camera 1 selects continue (step S37), and in response to this, the digital camera 1 acquires href corresponding to the active area of the continue. (Step S38), the file name described in the continue href is startup. A request for an xml UI description file is made to the printer 2 (Get (startup.xml), step S39). The printer 2 receives the request and starts. xml is transmitted to the digital camera 1 (step S40), and the process returns to step S9.
[0118]
As described above, in this embodiment, the printer 2 provides the digital camera 1 with operation screens according to the language specifications of the digital camera 1, the size of the LCD 14, and the age of the user of the digital camera 1 as UI image data. 1 displays UI image data on the LCD 14 as an operation screen. For this reason, the digital camera 1 can display the operation screen on the LCD 14 only by browsing the UI image data provided from the printer 2 and displaying it on the LCD 14. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a font for displaying characters in the digital camera 1, thereby enabling the printer 2 to be operated from the digital camera 1 without making the configuration of the digital camera 1 large. .
[0119]
In particular, the operation screen displayed on the LCD 14 has a language and character size corresponding to the language specifications of the digital camera 1, the size of the LCD 14, and the age of the user of the digital camera 1. The characters on the operation screen can be easily read.
[0120]
In addition, when a UI image 142 for performing an operation accompanied by selection of an image to be printed is displayed on the digital camera 1 and the user gives an instruction accompanied by selection of image data, an image selection routine of the digital camera 1 is started to start Since the selection process is executed, the printer 2 does not need to understand the data recording structure of the digital camera 1 and access the digital camera 1 to select image data. For this reason, it is not necessary to transmit image data, a list of image data, or thumbnail images from the digital camera 1 to the printer 2 or to generate an operation screen for selecting an image in the printer 2 using the image data. Therefore, the burden on the digital camera 1 and the print 2 when selecting an image can be reduced. In particular, since the digital camera 1 originally has a function of displaying an image on the LCD 14 and selecting an image when deciding an image to be printed, the digital camera 1 can select an image without imposing any burden. Can do.
[0121]
The UI image representing the operation screen has an image size that is assumed to be displayed on the virtual display screen, and the arrangement of the active area on the operation screen is defined by absolute coordinates on the image size of the virtual display screen. Thus, the digital camera 1 can display an operation screen for operating the printer 2 on the LCD 14 only by enlarging or reducing the UI image so as to match the size of the LCD 14 without considering the arrangement of the active areas. it can. Therefore, the burden on the digital camera 1 when displaying the operation screen can be reduced.
[0122]
In the above embodiment, the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 are connected to perform direct printing. However, the print receiving apparatus installed at the shop front of the photo shop and the digital camera 1 are connected to make a print order. The present invention can also be applied when performing the above. In this case, the print receiving apparatus functions as a server, displays an operation screen similar to that of the print 2 in the above embodiment on the digital camera 1, receives image data selected by the user from the digital camera 1, and receives the print receiving apparatus. Is output to a printer connected to the printer. In this case, the print receiving apparatus may display the print fee and the time until the printing is completed, and inform the user of the print fee and the time until the printing is completed.
[0123]
The present invention can also be applied to a case where an image server that manages storage of image data is accessed from the digital camera 1 via a network and the image data is transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the image server. In this case, the image server provides an operation screen for transmitting image data to the digital camera 1 in the same manner as the printer 2 of the above embodiment. Thereby, the user of the digital camera 1 can transmit the image data acquired by the digital camera 1 to the image server by operating the operation screen.
[0124]
When the image server is connected to the print server, it is possible to place a print order at the same time. In this case, the image server provides the digital camera 1 with an operation screen for making a print order. In this case, it is also possible to select a store to receive completed prints, select a different service menu for each print order destination, etc., but provide an operation screen for selection as image data in the same manner as described above. Thus, it is possible to place a print order without imposing a burden on the digital camera 1.
[0125]
In the above embodiment, the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 are connected to perform direct printing. However, the present invention is applicable to any browsing system that includes a client and a server and browses an operation screen for operating the server on the client. Can be applied. For example, when a browsing system is configured using a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone or PDA as a client and an image server storing and managing image data as a server, the mobile terminal device displays characters compared to a digital camera. Although it is easy, if the operation screen of the image server is provided to the mobile terminal device as an image including the components of the operation screen, processing for displaying characters from the character code and determining the arrangement of the components constituting the operation screen Therefore, the operation screen can be displayed at high speed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a direct print system to which a browsing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a digital camera.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a mode switching dial.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of a digital camera.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a recording structure of image data
FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the printer.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a mode switch.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of a printer.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a UI image (language: English, character size: standard)
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a description example of a UI description file
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a UI image (language: English, character size: large)
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a description example of a UI description file
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a description example of a UI description file
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a description example of a UI description file
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a UI image (language: Japanese, character size: large)
FIG. 16 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating processing performed between the digital camera and the printer in the present embodiment;
FIG. 17 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating processing performed between the digital camera and the printer in the present embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart (No. 3) illustrating processing performed between the digital camera and the printer in the present embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a printer selection screen.
FIG. 20 is a profile. A diagram showing a description example of xml
FIG. 21 is a flowchart of operation screen selection processing (part 1);
FIG. 22 is a flowchart of operation screen selection processing (part 2);
FIG. 23 is a flowchart of operation screen display processing;
FIG. 24 is a flowchart of print menu selection processing.
FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a state in which a selected active region is inverted;
FIG. 26 shows multi. Diagram showing the description of xml
FIG. 27 shows that the file name is 0010. The figure which shows UI image represented by UI image data of jpg
FIG. 28 is a flowchart (No. 1) showing image selection processing performed in an image selection routine;
FIG. 29 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating image selection processing performed in an image selection routine;
FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an image selection screen in the image selection routine.
FIG. 31. multi2. Diagram showing the description of xml
FIG. 32 shows that the file name is 0031. The figure which shows UI image represented by UI image data of jpg
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Digital camera
2 Printer
14 LCD
20 Mode switching dial
22 Cancel button
24 execution button
28 Up / Down / Left / Right key
30 Antenna
32 Communication connector
40 Imaging unit
42 CPU
52 Input section
60 memory card
64 system memory
66 Nonvolatile memory
72 Wireless interface
73 Wired interface
92 Mode selector switch
96 Antenna
98 Communication connector
110 CPU
116 System memory
118 Nonvolatile memory
120 print engine
122 wireless interface
124 Wired interface
140, 142, 146, 150, 160, 170 UI images
140B, 140C, 140D, 142B, 142C, 142D, 146B, 150B, 150C, 150D, 160B, 160C, 160D, 170B, 170C, 170D Active region
144 Image selection screen

Claims (5)

The server comprises a client and a server, and the server provides an operation screen including an operation component for operating the server as browsed content to the client.
The client comprises browsing means for browsing the content, a display screen for displaying the operation screen as the browsed content, and an operation means for accepting an operation on the server via the operation screen. In browsing system,
The server prepares a plurality of operation screens having different character sizes, each consisting only of an image including the operation component, and providing the client with an operation screen having a character size according to the specifications of the client as the content. Browsing system characterized by 2. The browsing system according to claim 1, wherein the client comprises storage means for storing image data, and control means for displaying the image data on the display screen and selecting the image data. . The control means is activated when the operation means accepts the image data selection start instruction via an operation screen for accepting the image data selection start instruction, and executes the image data selection processing. The browsing system according to claim 2. The operation screen has an image size that is assumed to be displayed on a virtual display screen of a predetermined size, and the arrangement of the operation components on the operation screen is defined by absolute coordinates on the image size,
4. The browsing system according to claim 1, wherein the client displays the operation screen on the display screen by scaling the operation screen so as to fit the size of the display screen. 5. The operation screen is composed of JPEG format image data, and the operation component is positioned on the operation screen such that the boundary of the operation component is an integer multiple of the number of pixels of the compressed block in the JPEG image data. The browsing system according to claim 4, wherein the browsing system is arranged.

Images