JP2005088533A - Motion image printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can replay a motion image with a plurality of sheets of printed still images flipped quickly, and a service using the printer. <P>SOLUTION: A server 101 containing a plurality of motion images is provided on a network 104. The motion image printing system downloads a motion image, converts it to a plurality of sheets of still images by sampling the motion image and prints the converted still images by means of a printer 102. The system charges the fee on a user corresponding to the number of printed sheets and the sampling rate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a moving image printing system, and more particularly to a printing apparatus connected to a network and having a function of printing moving images, and a system including a network server that stores moving image data.

Conventionally, there has been a printing apparatus called a video printer that converts moving image information into digital still image information, and sends the digital still image information to a printer for printing.
In addition, there was a printer that connected to a personal computer and printed still image files on the personal computer.

It was possible to print a still image, and a movie could not be printed.
A video printer has only a function of sampling a video signal and recording one scene of the video signal as a still image, and cannot print a moving image on paper.
The printer connected to the personal computer had only a function of printing a still image based on the still image data.

The first object of the present invention is to print a moving image (image in which a human can feel a movement) on paper.
A second object is to realize a printing apparatus that does not require a special apparatus such as a VTR, a television, or a personal computer to reproduce a moving image.

  In order to achieve the above object, a moving image printing system of the present invention includes a reading unit that reads out each frame of a moving image file stored in a server connected to a network, and a printing unit that prints each frame on a sheet-like medium. And the printed matter that can be recognized by a human being is output by quickly turning the media printed by the printing means.

  As a result, like a flip cartoon, a printing device that can quickly reproduce a moving image without using a special device by using an afterimage of human eyes by quickly turning a plurality of printed still images. Services using the device can be provided.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the service which can record a moving image on paper can be provided by printing a moving image on several sheets of still images.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a system in which a server on which a plurality of moving images are placed is prepared on a network, the moving images are downloaded, and a plurality of still images are printed.

  In FIG. 1, 101 is a server storing a moving image, 102 is a printer, 103 is a terminal having a function of storing the moving image in the server, 104 is a network connecting the server, the printer, and the terminal, and 105 is the server 101. A storage device 106 is a computer of a financial institution connected to a server, and is connected using a telephone line, a network, or a dedicated line for inquiring credit information and requesting a payment operation.

  The operation of the system of FIG. 1 will be described. The user stores the moving image stored in the terminal 103 in the storage device 105 of the server 101 via the network 104. The user who has stored the moving image or another user prints the moving image stored on the server as a plurality of still images using the printer 102.

  The moving image stored in the server 101 is stored in the storage device 105 with the ID of the user who stored the image, the image storage date, the data size, the image title, and the description of the image added for each image. The title and description are entered by the user as needed.

  The moving image stored in the server 101 has security settings for each image, and the security level is a first security level accessible only to the user who stored the image, and the user group permitted by the user who stored the image. There is a second security level that can only be accessed, and a third security level that anyone can access.

  Each security level is set independently for image browsing, image printing, and image erasing operations. The security level change for image browsing, image printing, and image erasure is performed by the user who stores the image, and other users are allowed to change the security level as necessary. Server administrators are allowed to view images, print images, and delete images.

When a moving image is stored in the server 101, a fee is generated according to the data size.
The user requires authentication in order to access the server 101. The user registers the user's contact information and the user's financial institution account number or credit card number before accessing the server. When the moving image is stored in the server, the fee is collected from the financial institution or the credit card through the interface 106 of the financial institution based on the information.

  The user who outputs the image does not need to register as a member and pays the fee when printing is performed according to the number of prints counted by the printer.

For example, the fee is set lower for 10 printed sheets than for 20 printed sheets.
2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the printer. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes the entire printer, 201 denotes an interface for connecting to the network 104 and receiving a moving image, 202 denotes an apparatus for converting the moving image into a still image, Reference numeral 203 denotes a print pre-processing device, and reference numeral 204 denotes a printer device having a paper fixing mechanism.

  In 201, at least one still image (frame) is allocated and printed on several sheets of paper. In 203, after making a still image, resolution conversion (enlargement / reduction) suitable for printing, color space conversion, rotation, paper layout, frame serial number and cut line processing described later are performed.

  The printer device 204 may be anything that can print on paper. However, it is easiest to use a laser printer because it has a mechanism to collect the fee on the spot when it is printed, it can perform double-sided printing, and it has a stepler.

  The moving image is written in a format encoded (compressed) to handle the moving image on a computer such as MPEG, ShockWave (TM), QuickTime (TM), Windows (R) MediaVideo (TM). As in the case of reproduction on a computer, decoding can be performed at 202 to convert it into 30 or 60 still images (frames) per second. The frames are thinned out, and at least a plurality of still images (frames) are sampled (stored) for printing, and the stored frames are printed. Since there is a limit to the speed of turning by hand, 10 to 30 frames per second is appropriate during playback.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which a moving image of 30 frames per second is printed at 10 frames per second, 3 frames are thinned out into one frame, and a still image of one frame is printed on one sheet of paper. 310 is a frame, 320 is a frame obtained by sampling the frame by 202, and 330 is a frame obtained by printing 320.

  Reference numeral 331 denotes a frame serial number, which is assigned in order from the first frame. It is desirable to print the frame serial numbers in the vicinity of each frame so that they can be arranged easily.

  400 shown in FIG. 4 is a bundle of FIGS. 3A and 3B so that the paper can be easily turned. 401 is a portion fixed so that the paper does not slip. By using the afterimage of a human by quickly turning the right side of the paper that is not fixed. And play videos.

As shown in FIG. 4, it is easier to turn over if a part of the paper is fixed.
To achieve this, it is desirable to print on the side of the paper that is not fixed, or on the corner of the paper, rather than printing at the center of the paper. In FIG. 4, the sheet is fixed on the left side and is turned on the right side, and the portion for fixing the stack of sheets may be anywhere on the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the sheet.

The printer 200 preferably has a simple bookbinding function. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 200 includes a paper fixing mechanism, for example, a stapler, and after printing the paper, staples the paper to fix a part of the paper.
Here, the simple bookbinding function has been described with staples, but this is not limited to staples, and any means can be used as long as it can fix a bundle of printed paper.

  Printing is printed only on one side. Even in the case of the printer 200 capable of duplex printing, the continuous frames of one moving image should not be duplex printed. The reason is that in the operation of turning the paper quickly, both sides of the paper cannot be recognized as a continuous image by humans. Even when the duplex printing mode is set, it is desirable to perform single-sided printing. Alternatively, it is desirable that the duplex printing cannot be set.

  However, this is not the case when the still images printed on the front and back sides are not continuous frames, and it is rather desirable to print another moving image or a subsequent moving image on both sides in order to save paper.

  When performing double-sided printing, two moving images are designated and double-sided printing is performed. The first moving image is printed as the front surface, and the second moving image is printed as the back surface. The back side is laid out so that the back side frame serial numbers are printed in the reverse order of the front side serial number when the paper after the front side is cut out in the front side serial number order is arranged.

  If the number of frames on the front side is m and the number of frames on the back side is n, the number after cutting is the larger of m or n. When m is larger than n, the back of the i-th frame on the front side is When i> mn, it becomes m + 1-i, and when n is larger than m, the back of the top i-th frame is n + 1-i when i> nm.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of printing 4 frames of front and back moving images. 501 is the first frame on the front surface and the fourth frame on the back surface, 502 is the second frame on the front surface and the third frame on the back surface, 503 is the third frame on the front surface and the second frame on the back surface, and 504 is the fourth frame on the front surface and the first frame on the back surface. Eyes.

  In FIG. 5, the front surface is reproduced in the order of 501, 502, 503, and 504. Reference numeral 511 denotes the first frame on the front surface extracted from 501 for explanation, 512 denotes the fourth frame on the back surface showing the back surface of 511, and the portions indicated by dotted lines represent the same vertex of the paper.

  The printer 200 is desirably provided with a moving image print setting mode for collectively setting the above-described settings.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which nine frames are printed on one sheet of paper. Reference numeral 600 denotes paper on which nine frames are printed, and reference numeral 610 denotes the first frame. The user cuts this out and reproduces the moving image in the form shown in FIG.

  Reference numeral 601 denotes a cut line that serves as a guideline for cutting the sheet so that the sheet can be easily cut. It is desirable to print on the sheet simultaneously with the printing of the image. It is even better to form perforations on the paper instead of the cut lines.

  In addition, a user who outputs an image has a different charge according to a sampling rate from a moving image to a still image. The higher the number of frames per second, the higher the fee, but the motion of the video will be smooth and reasonable. For example, a moving image of 30 frames per second printed at 10 frames per second is more frame-by-frame operation and cheaper than a one printed at 20 frames per second.

The features of the present invention are described below.
(Appendix 1) Reading means for reading out each frame of a moving image file stored in a server connected to a network;
Printing means for printing each frame on a sheet-like medium,
A moving image printing system characterized in that a printed matter that allows a human to recognize a movement is output by quickly turning the media printed by the printing means.

  (Appendix 2) The moving image printing system according to appendix 1, wherein a cut line for cutting is printed on the sheet-like medium.

  (Supplementary note 3) The moving image printing system according to supplementary note 1, wherein a perforation for cutting is formed in the sheet-like medium.

  (Supplementary note 4) The moving image printing system according to supplementary note 1, wherein the sheet-like medium is used as a bundle, and a part of the bundle is connected.

  (Additional remark 5) The said moving image file is compressed, The moving image printing system of Additional remark 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.

  (Appendix 6) The moving image printing system according to appendix 1, wherein the user is charged when the moving image file stored in the server is printed.

  (Supplementary note 7) The moving image printing system according to supplementary note 6, wherein the fee increases as the number of printed sheets increases.

  (Supplementary note 8) The moving picture printing system according to supplementary note 6, wherein the fee increases as the number of sheets per hour during reproduction increases.

  (Supplementary note 9) The moving image printing system according to supplementary note 1, wherein the user is charged when the user accumulates the moving image file in the server.

  (Supplementary note 10) The moving image printing system according to supplementary note 1, wherein the moving image is printed on both sides.

  (Additional remark 11) When the said moving image is printed on both surfaces, the part corresponded to a back side reverses the order of printing, The moving image printing system of Additional remark 10 characterized by the above-mentioned.

  (Supplementary note 12) The moving image printing system according to supplementary note 1, wherein a serial number indicating the order of the moving images is provided in the vicinity of the moving image.

  (Supplementary note 13) Determine the serial number on the back side that indicates the order of the moving images so that when the paper is placed after cutting the front side in the order of the top serial number, the back side serial number is printed in the reverse order of the top serial number. The moving image printing system according to Appendix 1, wherein the moving image printing system is laid out.

  (Supplementary note 14) The moving image printing system according to supplementary note 1, comprising a setting for moving image printing.

It is a block diagram of the system which downloads and prints a moving image from a moving image server. FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing a configuration of a printer. It is a figure for demonstrating the example which printed the moving image of 30 frames per second by 10 tops per second. It is a figure for demonstrating the example bundled so that the moving image of FIG. 3 might be turned easily. It is the figure which showed the example which printed both sides of the moving image of front and back 4 frames. It is the figure which showed the example which printed 9 frames on the paper of 1 sheet.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Server in which animation was stored 102 Printer 103 Terminal having function to store animation in server 104 Network connecting server, printer and terminal 105 Storage device in server 106 Server of financial institution 200 Entire printer 201 Connected to network Interface for receiving moving image 202 Device for converting moving image to still image 203 Pre-processing device for printing 204 Printer device

Claims (14)

Reading means for reading each frame of the video file stored in the server connected to the network;
Printing means for printing each frame on a sheet-like medium,
A moving image printing system characterized in that a printed matter that allows a human to recognize a movement is output by quickly turning the media printed by the printing means.   2. The moving image printing system according to claim 1, wherein a cutting line for cutting is printed on the sheet-like medium.   The moving image printing system according to claim 1, wherein perforations for cutting are formed in the sheet-like medium.   2. The moving image printing system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-like medium is used as a bundle, and a part of the bundle is connected.   2. The moving image printing system according to claim 1, wherein the moving image file is compressed.   2. The moving image printing system according to claim 1, wherein when the moving image file stored in the server is printed, the user is charged.   7. The moving image printing system according to claim 6, wherein the fee increases as the number of printed sheets increases.   7. The moving image printing system according to claim 6, wherein the fee increases as the number of sheets per time during reproduction increases.   2. The moving image printing system according to claim 1, wherein the user is charged when the user accumulates the moving image file in the server.   The moving image printing system according to claim 1, wherein the moving image is printed on both sides.   11. The moving image printing system according to claim 10, wherein when the moving image is printed on both sides, the printing order of the portion corresponding to the back side is reversed.   The moving image printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a serial number indicating a moving image order in the vicinity of the moving image.   Determine the layout of the backside serial number that indicates the order of the videos so that when the paper is placed after the front side is cut out in the order of the frontal frame number, the backside frame serial number is printed in the reverse order of the frontal frame serial number. The moving image printing system according to claim 1.   The moving image printing system according to claim 1, further comprising settings for moving image printing.

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