JP2005234910A - Data storage device, electronic apparatus, printer, printing system, and method for transmitting data - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a data transfer capable of efficiently performing recovery processing even when an error is generated in communication. <P>SOLUTION: A communication interface 11 is a function for realizing communication with a printer 2 and is realized by wired USB, IEEE1394, or the like or wireless IEEE802.11, Bluetooth, or the like. Various sorts of programs are stored in a ROM and a printing control file preparation function 12 is a function for preparing a DPOF file for instance. A printing job ID adding function 13 is a function for imparting inherent job ID to printing data and a data management function 20 is a function for controlling the transmission of necessary data and the whole printing processing. The RAM is provided with: an image storage area 14 for storing image data photographed by a digital camera 1; a printing control file storage area 15 for storing a printing instruction prepared by the digital camera 1; a printing interruption list storage area 16 for storing a printing job interrupted due to a communication error; and so on. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides desired data from a device storing data such as a digital camera, an image filing device, a document server, a computer, and a mobile phone to an image forming device such as a printing device, a mobile phone, and other electronic devices. Related to the technology to transmit.

In recent years, so-called direct printing, in which a photographed image of a digital camera is directly output from a printing apparatus without using a personal computer or the like, has begun to spread. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the concept of direct printing. One technique for supporting this direct printing is DPOF. DPOF, for example, connects the digital camera 1 to the printing device 2 with the cable 3 or directly inserts the media used in the digital camera 1 (flash memory such as CF card, SD card, smart media) into the printing device 2 In the printing system, the print settings (number of sheets, size, etc.) are set on the digital camera 1, and the digital camera 1 is connected to the printing apparatus 2 with the cable 3 or the medium is inserted into the printing apparatus 2. This is a technique that allows a photographed image to be printed according to the print settings set on the camera 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a data communication path via the cable or medium described above.
Further, USB is generally used as the data communication path 3 between the digital camera 1 and the printing apparatus 2, but in the future, wireless technology as seen in Bluetooth is attracting attention. In particular, the Basic Imaging Profile (hereinafter referred to as BIP) in Bluetooth is based on the premise of direct printing from the digital camera 1 to the printing apparatus 2, and the DPOF specification is also incorporated in the BIP specification (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). And Patent Document 3).
When performing direct printing using Bluetooth BIP, there are the following two printing methods.
(1) Image Push Function in BIP A function for simply transmitting a file designated by the user on the digital camera from the digital camera to the printing apparatus. DPOF technology is not used. The user simply specifies the file name on the digital camera. The transfer method is a push type (a method for specifying and transmitting an image to be transmitted on the transmission side).
(2) Advanced Printing Function in BIP The user performs print settings (such as the number of images, size designation, thumbnail printing, etc.) on the digital camera. When printing starts, first, a print setting file (DPOF file) is transmitted from the digital camera to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus requests the digital camera to transmit an image according to the received print setting file. In order to request an image from the printing device to the digital camera, the transfer format is pull type (specify the image you want to receive on the receiving side, make an image transmission request to the transmitting side using the image file name, etc. A method for transmitting an image in accordance with the request).
JP 2001-230999 A JP 2001-238118 A JP 2002-158949 A

However, these prior arts do not mention processing when an error occurs during printing, including BIP specifications. For this reason, for example, if communication is interrupted for some reason during direct printing from the digital camera to the printing device, the user must restart printing from the beginning, and in the case of a large image file, time is lost. There is a problem of becoming.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to realize data transmission that can efficiently perform recovery processing even when an error occurs during communication.

In order to solve the above problem, the data storage device according to claim 1 is a data storage device having means for transmitting data using wireless communication, and again transmits data when data transmission has been interrupted in the past. In this case, the data is transmitted from a specified position according to the offset information sent from the receiving side.
In addition, in a data storage device that assigns a job ID when transmitting data using wireless communication, the second aspect holds a job ID when data transmission is interrupted in the past, and data when interrupted Is transmitted again, the job ID is specified to specify the data.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a data storage device that transmits desired image data to a printing apparatus and prints an image, information when printing was interrupted in the past is held as printing interruption information, and the printing interruption information A desired image is designated and a printing instruction is given to the printing apparatus.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the data storage device according to the third aspect, when the print instruction is given, the print device is designated using a print job ID assigned separately from the image file name. Features.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the data storage device according to the fourth aspect, the print job ID is created from a character or character string that can identify the data storage device and time information related to the transmission operation.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the data storage device according to the third or fourth aspect, the image data is transmitted from a data position based on the offset information acquired from the printing device when the image data whose printing has been interrupted is transmitted again. It is characterized by doing so.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the data storage device according to the third aspect, the print interruption information is deleted after a predetermined period.
Further, in the data storage device that transmits image data and prints an image based on a transmission request from the printing device, the image data is acquired from the printing device when the image data for which communication has been interrupted is printed again. The image data is transmitted from the data position based on the offset information.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the data storage device according to the eighth aspect, when image data is transmitted to the printing apparatus, image information to be transmitted is presented to a user for confirmation.
In an electronic device that receives data from a data storage device and performs a predetermined function, the present invention holds error recovery data when data reception has been interrupted in the past, and the data from the data storage device The electronic apparatus is characterized in that when the data is re-received, the data storage device is instructed to transmit the interrupted data from an unreceived data position with reference to the error recovery data.
The electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the error recovery data includes a file name, a data portion that can be normally received, a job ID, and a data offset at the time of retransmission. The determination of whether or not the retransmission is made is performed using the job ID.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus that receives a print instruction and image data from a data storage device and performs printing, the data storage device holds error recovery data when reception of image data has been interrupted in the past. If the print instruction from the printer is to reprint the interrupted image data, the data storage device is instructed to transmit the image data from a predetermined data position where printing can be normally performed with reference to the error recovery data. It is characterized by.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the twelfth aspect, the error recovery data includes an image file name, a part of the image data that can be normally received, a print job ID, and a data offset at the time of reprinting. And determining whether or not the reprinting is performed using the print job ID.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, the error recovery data is deleted after a predetermined period has elapsed or after reprinting has ended.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the printing device according to the fourteenth aspect, before the error recovery data is deleted, a request for image data for reprinting is made to the data storage device.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, a data storage device, a printing device, and a data communication path connecting them are configured, and image data stored in the data storage device is printed by the printing device via the data communication path. In the printing system, when a communication error occurs, the printing apparatus holds image data received normally, and the printing apparatus prints in response to a print request for an image file in which an error has occurred from the data storage apparatus. The data storage device is instructed to transmit image data from a predetermined data position that can be normally performed.
Further, according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the data transmission method in which a job ID is assigned when transmitting data using wireless communication, both the transmission and reception sides hold the job ID when data transmission has been interrupted in the past as interrupt information. When the data at the time of interruption is transmitted again, the job ID is specified to specify the data.
Further, according to claim 18, in the data transmission method performed by assigning a job ID when transmitting data using wireless communication, both the transmission and reception sides hold the job ID when the data transmission has been interrupted in the past as interruption information. The receiving side holds the data and the amount of data that can be received normally, and when transmitting the data at the time of interruption again, the job ID is specified to identify the data, and the offset information sent from the receiving side According to the above, data is transmitted from a designated position.

According to the present invention, efficient data transmission can be realized.
Further, by identifying the print data by analyzing the job ID included in the print data on the printing apparatus side, it is possible to easily implement a highly reliable system.
Furthermore, the data storage device can prevent image information unintended by the user from being sent out by notifying the user of the requested image information.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification, a digital camera will be described as an example of a data storage device. However, any device that stores document data or image data such as a mobile phone or a personal computer is applicable. Also, the data to be transmitted need not be image data, and may be data created by a word processor or spreadsheet software, or simple text data.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a digital camera according to the present invention. In addition to the original functions, the digital camera 1 has the following functions as functions related to the present invention.
The communication interface 11 is a function that realizes communication with the printing apparatus 2 and is realized by wired USB, IEEE 1394, or wireless IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, or the like. Since most of the functions of the present invention are realized by a microprocessor and a program, those processing programs are stored in the ROM. The print control file creation function 12 is a function for creating a DPOF file, for example. The print job ID addition function 13 is a function for assigning a unique job ID to print data. The data management function 20 is a function for transmitting necessary data and performing print processing. It is a function that performs general control.
The RAM also has an image storage area 14 for image data captured by the digital camera 1, a print control file storage area 15 for print instructions created by the digital camera 1, and a print job interrupted by a communication error. A print interruption list storage area 16 and the like are provided. The user interface 18 is composed of, for example, an LCD and a touch panel. The bus 19 is a data transmission path between the CPU 17 and other functions.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. In this specification, a digital camera will be described as an example of a data storage device, and a printing device will be described as an example of an electronic device that receives data. However, the data storage device is as described above, and the electronic device may be a copier, a copy multifunction device, The present invention can be applied to various data processing devices such as mobile phones and personal computers.
In addition to the original functions, the printing apparatus 2 has the following functions as functions related to the present invention. The communication interface 21 is a function that realizes communication with the digital camera 1 and realizes a communication unit that conforms to the standard that the digital camera 1 has. Since most of the functions of the present invention are realized by a microprocessor and a program, those processing programs are stored in the ROM. The print control file processing function 22 is a function that interprets a print control file created by the digital camera 1 and performs an operation necessary for printing. The job ID analysis function 23 is a function for analyzing the unique job ID added to the print data. The data management function 30 is a function for controlling required data requests and overall print request processing from the digital camera.
The RAM also includes an error recovery data storage area 24, a print processing storage area 25, a print control file storage area 26 received from the digital camera 1, and the like. The printing apparatus 2 also includes a user interface 28 so that settings relating to reprint processing according to the present invention can be performed in addition to various print settings (emulation type, paper size, orientation, etc.). The bus 29 is a data transmission path between the CPU 27 and other functions.

This embodiment is an example of a push type in which direct printing is performed from the digital camera 1 to the printing apparatus 2, and the communication method is a case where an image push function in Bluetooth (BIP) is used. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example along the flow of the print instruction on the transmission side in the present embodiment. It should be noted that many parts of this processing are executed under the control of the data management function 20. Hereinafter, it will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
When the user issues a print instruction from the digital camera 1, there are two types of print instructions for the digital camera 1, “normal print” and “retry print”. When the user selects “normal printing”, a confirmation screen indicating that “normal printing” has been selected is displayed to the user (see the uppermost part and the left side in FIG. 3). Specify the file name (not shown). The digital camera 1 generates an image file name selected by the user from the list and a print job ID corresponding to the image file name, and transmits the image file name to the printing apparatus 2. Here, the print job ID is used because it is data to be sent to the printing apparatus. However, it is generally a job identification code attached to a batch of processes.
When the user selects “Retry printing”, a confirmation screen indicating that “Retry printing” has been selected is displayed to the user. When the user's confirmation is completed, a “print interruption list” is displayed on the screen. Then, the user selects a desired image file name from the list and starts printing (see the uppermost part and the right side in FIG. 3). At this time, the digital camera 1 transmits a print job ID corresponding to the image file name selected from the list by the user to the printing apparatus 2. The above display is performed using the LCD of the user interface 18 of the digital camera 1, and the user's confirmation and selection are performed from a touch panel integrated with the LCD. When the LCD has a small area and is difficult to touch with a finger, a cursor key or a confirmation key provided in the digital camera 1 may be used.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print interruption list stored in the digital camera 1. The image file name and print date and time are shown to the user, but the print job ID is used for internal processing. Details of the print job ID will be described later.

Next, the flow of processing in the present embodiment will be described individually for each of the digital camera 1 and the printing apparatus 2. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the digital camera 1 in this embodiment. It should be noted that many parts of this processing are executed under the control of the data management function 20.
When the user instructs printing or connection from a predetermined menu screen of the digital camera 1, the digital camera 1 is in a state of waiting for the next instruction input. The digital camera 1 waits for input of a print command from the user (steps 501 and 502). When the print command is input, it checks whether the print command is “normal print” (step 503). When it is input (YES in step 503), a list of image file names is subsequently displayed to allow the user to select a print file name, and job ID information for this print command is newly created (step 504). A print job ID is created for each print command by the digital camera 1. As a creation method, a unique ID is created by using a date / time or the like for a MAC address for identifying a communication device or a Bluetooth device address so that a job can be specified. If the print command is “retry printing” (NO in step 503), the print interruption list is displayed and the user is allowed to select a set of an image file name and a printing date (step 505). Thus, the print job ID and the print target file are determined.

Next, the digital camera 1 transmits a print request to the printing apparatus 2 (step 506). This print request includes the print job ID determined in step 504 or step 505. After transmitting the print request, the digital camera 1 waits for receiving offset information from the printing apparatus 2 (steps 507 and 508). If a communication error occurs in this reception waiting state (YES in step 509), the processing after step 513 is performed. The error processing after step 513 will be described later.
When the offset information from the printing apparatus 2 is received (YES in step 508), the corresponding print (image) data is transmitted from the designated offset position (step 510). Then, the end of transmission of all data is confirmed (step 511), and if successful, the print job ID information is deleted (step 516), and the process returns to waiting for a print command from the user (step 501).
If a communication error is detected during data transmission (step 512), error processing after step 513 is performed. This process is also executed when it is detected in step 509 while waiting for reception of the aforementioned offset information. That is, the user is notified that an error has occurred (step 513), and at the same time, the user is prompted to select “retry printing” or “cancel printing” via the user interface 18. In response to this, the user selects and inputs either “retry printing” or “cancel printing”. At this time, if the user's selection is “try printing again” (YES in step 514), the printing apparatus 2 is requested to print again using the same print job ID (step 506). If the user's selection is “cancel printing” (NO in step 514), the print job ID is added to the print interruption list to end the print command, and the process returns to waiting for the print command from the user (step 501). .

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 2 in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the printing apparatus 2 in the present embodiment. Many parts of this process are executed under the control of the data management function 30.
The printing apparatus 2 waits for a print request from the digital camera 1 via the communication interface 21 (steps 601 and 602). When the print request is received (YES in step 602), the print job ID included in the print request is analyzed (step 603), and the data of the file corresponding to the received print job ID is the error recovery data of the printing apparatus 2. Whether it exists in the storage area 24 is checked (step 604). If it does not exist, 0 (zero) is transmitted to the digital camera 1 as offset information because it is a normal printing process (step 605).
If the file data corresponding to the print job ID exists in the error recovery data storage area 25 of the printing apparatus 2 (YES in step 604), the print job ID information is transferred from the error recovery data storage area 24 for print processing. Move to the data storage area 25 (step 606). Then, the printing apparatus 2 transmits the offset information of the file to be transmitted by the digital camera 1 to the digital camera 1 via the communication interface 21 (step 607). This offset information is usually the data head address of the unreceived portion of the image file in the print job ID information moved to the print processing data storage area 25. That is, if a file corresponding to the print job ID included in the print request from the digital camera 1 exists in the error recovery data storage area 24, the data offset information of the unreceived portion of the file is stored in the digital camera. If the requested file does not exist in the error recovery data storage area 24, the offset information to be transmitted to the digital camera 1 is 0.
Note that the offset information is the start address of the data of the unreceived portion as described above when the print processing operation of the printer completes reception of all the data for one page or when spool processing is performed. However, when printing processing is started before receiving one page of data, as in some types of inkjet printers, the offset value is “the data at the top of the page when an error occurs. Address ".

After transmitting the offset information to the digital camera 1, the printing apparatus 2 sequentially receives the image data sent from the digital camera 1 while detecting an error, and accumulates it in the print processing data storage area 25 (step 608). 609, 610). If no communication error occurs until all data is received, the printing apparatus 2 prints the received image data (step 612), deletes the print job ID information (step 613), and prepares for the next print job. Therefore, the process returns to step 601.
If an error occurs during the reception of the image data (YES in step 609), the printing apparatus 2 moves the print job ID information, the received image data, and the received data length to the error recovery data storage area 24 ( In step 611), the print request waiting state from the digital camera 1 is entered again (steps 601 and 602).
The print job ID information is information for determining whether or not the corresponding data exists in the error recovery data storage area 24 of the printing apparatus 2. On the digital camera 1 side, when the data transmission fails and the data is transmitted again as the print job ID to be included in the print request, the same job ID as the previous one is used, and the image transmitted by the digital camera 1 side and the printing apparatus 2 The data stored in the error recovery data storage area 24 can be matched. Further, if the data stored in the error recovery data storage area 24 on the printing apparatus 2 side is automatically deleted when a predetermined time has elapsed, the RAM area can be saved.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. This embodiment is called pull-type printing. The digital camera transmits data to be printed in response to a transmission request from the printing apparatus. When direct printing is performed from the digital camera to the printing apparatus, Bluetooth is used as a communication method. This is an example using the Advanced Printing function in (BIP).
In pull-type printing, the user performs print settings such as selection of an image file desired to be printed from image files recorded in the digital camera 1 prior to image printing. This print setting is performed by the user interface 18 of the digital camera 1, and the contents that can be specified at this time include the file name of the image to be printed, the print size of the image, rotation of the image, cropping (cutting), and title insertion. It is also possible to specify thumbnail printing of images stored in the digital camera 1. The contents set for printing are stored in the print control file storage area 15 as a print control file (DPOF file). In pull-type printing, a plurality of image files can be printed with a single print command.

The processing flow in the present embodiment will be described individually for each of the digital camera 1 and the printing apparatus 2. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the digital camera 1 in the second embodiment. It should be noted that many parts of this processing are executed under the control of the data management function 20.
When the user instructs printing or connection from a predetermined menu screen of the digital camera 1, the digital camera 1 waits for the next instruction input. The digital camera 1 waits for input of a print command from the user (steps 701 and 702). When the print command is input, the digital camera 1 transmits a print request to the printing apparatus 2 via the communication interface 11 (step 703). This print request includes a print control file (DPOF file) created with the above-described print settings.
The digital camera 1 that issued the print request waits for a print data transmission request from the printing apparatus 2 (steps 704, 705, and 706). If a communication error is detected while waiting for reception or receiving a transmission request (YES in step 706), the user is notified of the error through the user interface 18 (step 710), and the process returns to waiting for a print command input in step 701.
When the digital camera 1 receives a print data transmission request (designation of file name, offset, data length, etc.) from the printing apparatus 2 via the communication interface 11, the image data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 2 in response to the request (step 707). ). At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the thumbnail of the requested image, the file name, and the requesting device name are displayed on the user interface 18 of the digital camera 1, and confirmation from the user is performed. It should be noted that the image file is transmitted from the designated offset. If no communication error occurs until all the print data is transmitted (YES in step 708), the process ends, and the process returns to waiting for a print command in step 701 again. If an error has occurred, the user is notified of the error through the user interface 18 (step 710), and returns to the print command input waiting of step 701 again.

  Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 2 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the printing apparatus 2 in the second embodiment. Many parts of this process are executed under the control of the data management function 30. The printing apparatus 2 waits for a print request from the digital camera 1 via the communication interface 21 (steps 801 and 802). When a print request is received (YES in step 802), the print control information (DPOF file) is analyzed and a file name to be printed is acquired (step 803). Next, it is checked whether the data corresponding to the acquired file name exists in the error recovery data storage area 24 in the internal memory of the printing apparatus 2 (step 804), and if it exists, the corresponding data is stored in the error recovery data storage. The area 24 is moved to the print processing data storage area 25 (step 805). Then, the printing apparatus 2 requests image data of the corresponding file from the digital camera via the communication interface 21 (step 806). The data transmission start offset of the file requested at this time is requested from the unreceived data offset. That is, if the requested file exists in the error recovery data storage area 24, data from a position where the file can be printed normally is requested, and the error recovery data storage area 24 is requested. If the file does not exist, the data start offset of the requested file is 0 (step 807).

The printing apparatus 2 performs the printing process while storing the data received from the digital camera 1 in the printing process data storage area 25 (step 808). In the present embodiment, since there is a possibility that a plurality of image files are printed, printing is performed on paper when print data for one file is received. The file for which printing has been completed is deleted from the print processing data storage area 25 and the next file is processed (steps 809 and 811). If no communication error occurs during reception of print data, the printing apparatus 2 returns to the print request wait of step 801.
If an error has occurred (YES in step 809), the printing apparatus 2 moves the received image data and the received data length to the error recovery data storage area 24 (step 810), and the digital camera in step 801 1 to wait for a print request. At this time, when the printing apparatus starts the printing operation without waiting for one page of data, the offset of the page to start printing is held. In other words, even if an error occurs during printing, the top offset of the page being printed is always retained, so even if the received data length is changed to this offset or printed separately from the received data length. Is stored as a data position that can be normally processed, and this value is used as an offset during reprinting to instruct the transmission side to perform normal continuous printing.
If the receiving side is not a printer, it may be better to discard the received data in the buffer. In this case, it is received in units of fixed-length blocks (for example, 512 bytes or 1024 bytes), sequentially written to a recording medium (for example, a non-volatile memory or a hard disk), and the last block is written when the end of file (EOF) comes. . If a communication error occurs in the middle of a block, the start of the current block may be used as an offset.

The present embodiment is an example of processing in which the reprinting process is positively started from the printing apparatus 2 in the push type printing of the first embodiment and the printing process of the image data in which the communication error is detected is restarted. This embodiment is called pull-type reprint processing. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the printing apparatus 2 in the third embodiment. Many parts of this process are executed under the control of the data management function 30. The processing procedure of the digital camera 1 is the same as that after step 704 in FIG.
The printing apparatus 2 requests an image file to be reprinted from the digital camera 1 via the communication interface 21 (step 901). The requested data start offset of the file is requested from an unreceived data offset or a position where printing can be normally performed. That is, since the requested file exists in the error recovery data storage area 24, data is requested from the subsequent portion of the file. At this time, the file name of the image data is also included in the request for transmission.
The printing apparatus 2 performs print processing while storing the data received from the digital camera 1 in the print processing data storage area 25 (step 902). If no communication error occurs during reception of print data, the processing in the printing apparatus 2 ends. Before the processing is completed, the image file, print job ID, etc. that have been printed are deleted from the error recovery data storage area 24 and the print processing data storage area 25 (not shown). If an error has occurred (YES in step 903), the received print data is deleted from the print processing data storage area 25 (not shown), and the process is terminated.
Since the processing of this embodiment is started mainly by the printing apparatus 2, depending on the situation of the user, for example, the battery of the digital camera 1 may be inconvenient. It is desirable to be able to set whether or not the reprinting process is necessary.
The data stored in the error recovery data storage area 24 in the printing apparatus 2 is automatically deleted when a predetermined time elapses. Before the deletion processing, the corresponding file is pulled by the method shown in this embodiment. A reprint process may be executed.

In the above description, a digital camera has been described as an example of a data storage device. However, a similar effect can be obtained with a device that stores images, such as a mobile phone, an image filing device, or a document server. Further, although the apparatus for printing an image has been described as a printing apparatus, in addition to a printer, an MFP (also referred to as a multi-functional peripheral apparatus or a multifunction machine) having a function of a copier, a facsimile having a print output function, or a mobile phone Etc.
For example, images can be exchanged locally (directly) between mobile phones with a wireless interface such as Bluetooth. In this case, both the image storage device and the printing device are mobile phones.
As an example, Mr. A takes a picture with a camera-equipped mobile phone (model with built-in communication interface such as Bluetooth), and Mr. B also takes a picture with a camera-equipped mobile phone (model with built-in communication interface such as Bluetooth). A and B exchange image data stored on the mobile phone. At this time, image data is transmitted and received using BIP. Although it is possible to attach and send an image taken by e-mail (Internet mail or the like) from a mobile phone, it is possible to deliver the image without incurring a communication fee if it is performed locally between mobile phones.
The image storage device may be a digital camera and the receiving side may be a mobile phone. An image taken with a digital camera can be sent to a mobile phone, for example, to be a standby image of a mobile phone. Further, the present invention can be applied to transfer of image data between digital cameras.

1 is a functional block diagram of a digital camera according to the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. The figure which shows the example of a screen display along the flow of the printing instruction | indication in a 1st Example. The figure which shows the example of the printing interruption list | wrist memorize | stored in the digital camera. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the digital camera according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a digital camera according to a second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment. The figure which shows the example of the confirmation screen of a transmission request. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment. The figure which shows the concept of direct printing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera, 2 Printing apparatus, 3 Data communication path, 11, 21 Communication interface, 12 Print control file creation function, 13 Print job ID assignment function, 14 Image file storage area, 15 Print control file storage area, 16 Print interruption list Storage area, 17, 27 CPU, 18, 28 User interface, 19, 29 Bus, 22 Print control file processing function, 23 Print job ID analysis function, 24 Error recovery data storage area, 25 Print processing data storage area, 26 Print control file storage area

Claims (18)

  In a data storage device having means for transmitting data using wireless communication, when data is again transmitted when data transmission has been interrupted in the past, the data is transmitted from a specified position according to offset information sent from the receiving side. A data storage device characterized by that.   In a data storage device that assigns a job ID when transmitting data using wireless communication, holds a job ID when data transmission has been interrupted in the past, and retransmits data when interrupted, A data storage apparatus characterized by specifying data by specifying the job ID.   In a data storage device that transmits desired image data to a printing apparatus and prints the image, information when printing was interrupted in the past is held as printing interruption information, and a desired image is designated from the printing interruption information And a data storage device for instructing the printing device to print.   4. The data storage apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the print instruction is given, an image is designated to the printing apparatus using a print job ID assigned separately from an image file name.   5. The data storage apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the print job ID is created from a character or character string that can identify the data storage apparatus and time information related to a transmission operation.   5. The data storage device according to claim 3, wherein when the image data whose printing has been interrupted is transmitted again, the image data is transmitted from a data position based on the offset information acquired from the printing device.   4. The data storage device according to claim 3, wherein the print interruption information is deleted after a predetermined period.   Data based on offset information acquired from a printing device when printing image data for which communication was interrupted in the past in a data storage device that transmits image data based on a transmission request from the printing device and prints the image A data storage device characterized in that image data is transmitted from a position.   9. The data storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when transmitting image data to the printing apparatus, the image information to be transmitted is presented to a user for confirmation.   In an electronic device that receives data from a data storage device and performs a predetermined function, it holds data for error recovery when data reception has been interrupted in the past, and upon re-reception of data from the data storage device, An electronic apparatus that refers to the error recovery data and instructs a data storage device to transmit the interrupted data from an unreceived data position.   The error recovery data includes a file name, a portion of data that has been successfully received, a job ID, and a data offset at the time of retransmission, and the job ID is used to determine whether it is the retransmission. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the electronic device is performed.   In a printing apparatus that receives a print instruction and image data from a data storage apparatus and performs printing, the error recovery data when the reception of the image data is interrupted in the past is held, and the print instruction from the data storage apparatus is When the image data is reprinted, the data storage device is instructed to transmit image data from a predetermined data position where printing can be normally performed with reference to the error recovery data.   The error recovery data includes an image file name, a part of the image data that has been successfully received, a print job ID, and a data offset at the time of reprinting. The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the printing is performed using a job ID.   14. The printing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the error recovery data is deleted after a predetermined period has elapsed or after reprinting has ended.   15. The printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a request for image data for reprinting is made to the data storage apparatus before the error recovery data is deleted.   A printing system comprising a data storage device and a printing device and a data communication path connecting them, wherein the image data stored in the data storage device is printed by the printing device via the data communication path, When a communication error occurs, the printing apparatus retains the image data that has been normally received, and in response to a reprint request for the image file in which the error has occurred from the data storage apparatus, the printing apparatus has a predetermined A printing system for instructing a data storage device to transmit image data from a data position.   In the data transmission method performed by assigning a job ID when transmitting data using wireless communication, both the transmission and reception sides hold the job ID when the data transmission was interrupted as interrupt information in the past, and the data when interrupted A data transmission method characterized by specifying data by specifying the job ID when transmitting again.   In a data transmission method in which a job ID is assigned when data is transmitted using wireless communication, both the transmission and reception sides hold the job ID when the data transmission was interrupted in the past as interruption information, and the reception side is further normal. When the data and data amount that can be received are retained and the data at the time of interruption is transmitted again, the data is specified by specifying the job ID, and the data is specified from the position specified according to the offset information sent from the receiving side. A data transmission method characterized by transmitting data.

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