JP2006060648A - Selection method of still picture, and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer for efficiently selecting a still picture desired by a user from moving picture data. <P>SOLUTION: The printer executes printing on the basis of the moving picture data and is provided with: an image acquisition section for acquiring a plurality of still pictures from a medium with the moving picture data stored, on the basis of a plurality of frame images configuring the moving picture data; a display section for displaying the acquired still pictures; an operation section for setting print conditions of the still pictures; a display control means for dividing the moving picture data into a prescribed number of blocks as an object range prior to execution of the printing under the set print conditions, acquires still pictures on the basis of the prescribed frame image belonging to each block by each block division, and displays the still picture by the number of acquired blocks on the display section, an image selection means for selecting one still picture whose printing is desired from the still pictures by the acquired number of blocks by using the operation section, and a print control means for executing the printing of the selected still picture. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a still image selection method for selecting a desired one still image from moving image data including a plurality of frame images, and a printing apparatus for printing the selected still image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a printing apparatus that can directly print image data from a digital still camera or a mobile phone without using a personal computer. This printing apparatus has a printer driver that inputs image data from a medium storing image data in a predetermined format (for example, JPEG) and develops the data into print data corresponding to ink dots used for printing. Printing is performed in accordance with printing conditions built in and set on the printing apparatus side (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-201557

  This type of printing apparatus includes a user interface including an operation unit that sets printing conditions such as the size, number of printed sheets, and layout of a printing paper, and a display unit that displays an image to be printed. By using this user interface, a plurality of image data is displayed on the display unit, and together with the printing conditions, one image is designated from the plurality of image data, and the image is printed according to the conditions. It was.

  However, in such a hardware configuration of the printing apparatus, when the input image data is moving image data including a plurality of frame images, one scene desired by the user (that is, one still image) is determined from the moving image data. It was difficult to choose. That is, since the printing apparatus does not have the ability to reproduce moving image data on the display unit and perform operations such as frame advance, there is an inconvenience that a still image desired by the user cannot be selected from the moving image data. there were.

  Note that even if the capability of the printing apparatus is improved and the moving image data can be reproduced and displayed, a desired still image cannot be selected unless the entire moving image data is reproduced. When the playback time is long, the inconvenience in selecting one still image from moving image data cannot be eliminated.

  In view of these problems, the present invention broadens the range of selection of still images from moving image data and efficiently selects one still image desired by the user, and a printing apparatus that prints the still image. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve at least a part of the above problems, the printing apparatus of the present invention employs the following technique. That is, a printing apparatus that executes printing based on moving image data, and acquires a plurality of still images from a medium storing the moving image data based on a plurality of frame images constituting the moving image data. An image acquisition unit, a display unit that displays the acquired still image, an operation unit that sets print conditions for the still image, and the moving image data prior to execution of printing based on the set print conditions A range is divided into a predetermined number of sections, a still image is acquired for each of the divided sections based on a predetermined frame image belonging to the section, and the still images for the acquired number of sections are displayed on the display unit. Display control means for selecting, one image selection means for selecting one still image desired to be printed from the displayed still images for the number of sections, and printing of the selected still image. It is summarized as further comprising a print control means for.

  According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, the moving image data stored in the medium is divided into a predetermined number of sections, a still image is acquired based on a predetermined frame image belonging to the section, and the still images for the number of sections are displayed. One still image desired to be printed is selected from the displayed still images, and the still image is printed. Therefore, it is possible to select one desired still image from the moving image data and print it without reproducing the moving image data.

  The image selection unit of the printing apparatus having the above configuration includes a determination unit that determines whether or not to newly acquire a still image from within the selected one still image section. If it is determined that a still image is to be acquired, the target range is replaced with the section, and the processing by the display control unit and the image selection unit is recursively executed, and one still image desired to be printed Can be selected.

  According to such a printing apparatus, when a new still image is acquired from a section of one still image selected as a target range of the entire moving image data, the target range is replaced with the selected still image section. The still images for the number of sections are acquired and displayed. When one still image is selected from the displayed still images and a still image is newly acquired from the still image section, the same process is repeated again by replacing the target range. That is, by recursively performing processing, a predetermined number of frame images of moving image data are used as upper layers, and lower layer frame images are sequentially searched, and a still image based on a desired one frame image is selected. A plurality of frame images of moving image data are hierarchized, and a still image based on a desired one frame image can be selected by searching from an upper layer, so that moving image data is reproduced and one still image is selected. As compared with the case, it is possible to efficiently select one desired still image.

  In the printing apparatus having the above-described configuration, the division unit of the moving image data section can be divided into various units, for example, for each moving image content or for each data handling unit. The number of sections is a section obtained by dividing the moving image data at equal intervals by the playback time, and the predetermined frame image belonging to the section is the head of the section in time series order among the frame images in the section, It can be a frame image located approximately at the center or at the end.

  According to such a printing apparatus, a section divided into equal intervals is generated with reference to the reproduction time of moving image data from the medium, and any one of the frame images at the beginning, the approximate center, and the end in the section is assigned to the predetermined section. As the frame image, a still image based on the frame image is acquired. That is, moving image data is divided into sections in units of playback time, and still images based on frame images are acquired every predetermined playback time. Therefore, a still image can be easily acquired from moving image data.

  The display control means of the printing apparatus having the above configuration may include means for displaying the position of the still image currently displayed on the display unit in the moving image data hierarchized by the section.

  According to such a printing apparatus, the position of the currently displayed still image in the hierarchical moving image data is displayed. By this display, the user can grasp the position of the currently displayed still image on the hierarchy, and can efficiently select a desired one still image.

  The printing apparatus having the above configuration further outputs a scanner that reads information described on a predetermined sheet and a mark sheet that displays a predetermined number of still images belonging to the selected one still image section. Sheet output determining means for determining whether or not to output the mark sheet, the print control means prints the mark sheet, and the image selection means performs printing using the scanner. The mark sheet on which the entry specifying the desired still image is read, and one still image desired to be printed can be selected based on the entry information on the completed mark sheet.

  According to such a printing apparatus, when the output of the mark sheet is determined, the mark sheet on which multiple still images belonging to the selected one still image section are displayed is printed. The user selects a still image desired to be printed from a predetermined number of still images displayed in multiple faces on the mark sheet, and attaches a mark for specifying the still image. There may be many still images desired to be printed. The printing apparatus reads the completed mark sheet with a scanner and selects a still image desired to be printed based on the entered information. That is, the mark sheet is used to select a still image desired to be printed from moving image data. Therefore, compared to the display unit of the printing apparatus, a large number of still images can be displayed on the paper at a time, and a desired still image can be easily selected.

  The still image selection method of the present invention includes an image acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of still images based on a plurality of frame images constituting the moving image data from a medium storing the moving image data, and the acquired still image A printing apparatus that includes a display unit that displays an image and an operation unit that sets printing conditions for the still image, and that performs printing based on the moving image data. A selection method for selecting an image, wherein the moving image data is divided into a predetermined number of sections as a target range, and a still image is obtained for each of the divided sections based on a predetermined frame image belonging to the section. And displaying the still images for the acquired number of sections on the display unit, and selecting one still image desired to be printed from the displayed still images for the number of sections using the operation unit. It is said.

  According to such a still image selection method, moving image data is divided into a predetermined number of sections, a still image is acquired based on a predetermined frame image belonging to the section, and this is displayed as an option. Select one still image from the displayed still images. In other words, since a predetermined number of still images can be displayed as options from the moving image data, and a desired still image can be selected from the still images, one desired still image can be reproduced without reproducing the moving image data. You can choose.

  The present invention can also be implemented as a program for controlling a printing apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. Configuration of printing device:
B. Scene printing process:
C. Variations:

A. Configuration of printing device:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printing apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is a multifunction machine that includes a scanner 15 on the upper surface of the printing apparatus 10 and performs various functions such as scanner and copying in addition to color printing as a printing function. .

  The printing apparatus 10 includes a liquid crystal display 16 and an operation panel 17 as a user interface on the front surface, sets printing conditions of an image to be printed using the operation panel 17, and sets an image and a print layout desired to be printed on the liquid crystal. It can be confirmed by displaying on the display 16. The operation panel 17 includes a direction key 171, an OK button 172, a cancel button 173, and the like (see FIG. 2). For example, the user operates the direction key 171 from a plurality of types of printing paper displayed on the liquid crystal display 16. By selecting one type of paper and operating the OK button 172, the selected printing condition can be determined.

  Further, the printing apparatus 10 includes a memory card slot 18 in which a memory card M for storing image data such as a digital still camera is mounted, a USB port 19 connected to an external storage device, and the like. By setting the printing conditions such as printing and printing paper on the printer side using the user interface, the image data in the memory card M mounted in the memory card slot 18 can be directly printed without using a computer. can do. Further, the image data in the memory card M can be stored by connecting an MO, CD-ROM or the like to the USB port 19.

  The image data handled by the printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is moving image data photographed with a digital still camera. The moving image data is composed of a plurality of frame images continuous in time series, and is stored in the memory card M in a predetermined format such as MPEG.

  The printing apparatus 10 extracts a predetermined number of frame images from the memory card M storing the moving image data loaded in the memory card slot 18 by a scene printing process described later, and displays a still image based on the frame images on the liquid crystal display 16. To display. For example, in the case of MPEG format moving image data, the extracted frame image data is decoded to obtain a corresponding still image, which is displayed. When the user selects a still image desired to be printed using the operation panel 17, the printing apparatus 10 executes printing of the selected one still image. That is, in this process, it is possible to select and print one still image desired to be printed from among a plurality of frame images of moving image data without using a computer.

  In this embodiment, the memory card slot 18 is configured as a part of the printing apparatus 10, but for example, the memory card slot 18 and the printing apparatus 10 are connected by various cables. The memory card slot 18 may be separated from the printing apparatus 10.

  Further, the moving image data to be handled may be moving image data taken by various imaging devices such as a digital video camera and a mobile phone, and the moving image data may be input from a recording medium such as a DVD. good. When inputting such moving image data, the memory card slot 18 is not used. For example, the printing apparatus 10 and the digital video camera may be directly connected by a cable and input.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration inside the printing apparatus 10. As shown in the figure, a printing apparatus 10 includes a carriage 30 on which a print head unit 20 that discharges ink onto paper P is mounted, a carriage motor 32 that drives the carriage 30 in the main scanning direction, a paper feed motor 33 that transports the paper P, A control circuit 40 having a CPU, ROM, and RAM for controlling the operations of the print head unit 20, the carriage motor 32, and the paper feed motor 33 is constructed.

  The print head unit 20 includes a total of six ink ejection heads 21 to 26 for each color of black, cyan, light cyan, magenta, light magenta, and yellow. The carriage 30 is mounted with a black ink cartridge 29a and a color ink cartridge 29b for storing the ink, and the ink from each cartridge is ejected onto the paper P by adjusting the voltage of a piezoelectric element (not shown). Is done. The printing apparatus 10 performs color printing by forming minute dots in this way.

  The carriage motor 32 reciprocates the carriage 30 installed on the sliding shaft 34 parallel to the platen 28 axis by rotating the drive belt 36. The origin position of the carriage 30 that reciprocates is detected by a position detection sensor 39, and the detected value is output to the control circuit 40. The control circuit 40 controls the carriage motor 32 based on the detected value and the like.

  The paper feed motor 33 conveys the paper P supplied to the printing apparatus 10 by rotating the platen 28. That is, the sheet P is fed by a predetermined amount according to the rotation angle of the platen 28. The control circuit 40 performs this predetermined amount of paper feed by controlling the rotation angle of the paper feed motor 33 in accordance with various printing conditions.

  The control circuit 40 is electrically connected to the scanner 15, the liquid crystal display 16, the operation panel 17, the memory card slot 18, the USB port 19 and the like in addition to the various actuators described above. The ROM in the control circuit 40 stores various programs related to printing, the above-described scene print processing program, and a printer driver which is a device driver of the printing apparatus 10.

  The printer driver has a function of executing various processes such as rasterization, color correction, halftoning, and rearrangement, and CMY, which is a format that can be printed by the printing apparatus 10 on a still image expressed by input RGB format data. It has been converted to format data.

  In this embodiment, the inkjet printing apparatus 10 using a piezo element is used. However, as long as the printing apparatus can print an input image without using a computer, a bubble jet (registered trademark), a thermal transfer system, Alternatively, various methods such as a laser printer can be employed.

B. Scene printing process:
Next, a scene printing process for selecting and printing one still image from moving image data will be described. This processing is executed when the CPU in the control circuit 40 reads out the processing program stored in the ROM by the user's operation to start the processing.

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of this scene printing process. As shown in the figure, when the process is started, the CPU performs a process of determining a moving image data file (step S300). Specifically, the file name of the moving image data in the memory card M is read, displayed on the liquid crystal display 16, and the user selects one file to determine a file to execute the following processing. Yes. If there is only one moving image data in the memory card M, it is possible to shift to the next step without executing this step.

  When the file is determined, a predetermined number of frame images are extracted from the moving image data in the file, and a representative scene display process for displaying a still image acquired based on the extracted frame images on the liquid crystal display 16 is performed (step S310). This process is a process of extracting a predetermined number of frame images set in advance from a plurality of frame images, and displaying a still image acquired based on the extracted frame images as a representative scene representing moving image data. Note that “scene” in the scene selection process means one scene in a moving image, and is used here as a synonym for “still image”.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the concept of extracting a predetermined number (9) of frame images. As shown in the drawing, the entire reproduction time of the moving image data determined as the processing target is set as a target range, and this is divided into nine sections. In one divided section, there are a number of frame images corresponding to the reproduction time of the section. A frame image corresponding to approximately the center in the reproduction time of this one section is extracted as a frame image (representative frame image) representing the section. The CPU acquires a still image based on the nine frame images thus extracted and displays it on the liquid crystal display 16.

  The frame image representing the section is not limited to the approximate center of the section, and the frame image at the beginning or end of the section may be used. The number of sections to be divided is nine, which is the maximum number that can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 so as to be visible, but is not limited thereto. For example, the number of divisions may be changed according to the length of the reproduction time.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a display screen displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 as a still image display mode based on nine frame images. As shown in the figure, on this display screen, nine still images are displayed in time series in a 3 × 3 format, and a time series number is assigned to each still image. The still image of each stage is displayed in the form of a film strap, and is displayed shifted for each stage. By doing so, it is possible to recognize that the still images displayed in three stages constitute a series of moving images continuously in time series. Further, an indicator bar IB is displayed below the still image display position. This indicator bar IB represents the total reproduction time of moving image data, and is divided into nine equal parts in this embodiment. At both ends of the indicator bar IB, the playback time of moving image data is shown. In this example, moving image data having a reproduction time of about 5 minutes and 24 seconds is divided into nine equal parts, and the reproduction time of one section is about 36 seconds. As a representative scene of each section, a still image based on the frame image at the approximate center of the section is displayed.

  Thus, the representative scene is displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 in the form of N sheets × N stages, and it is determined which scene is the desired scene (scene selection) (step S315). Specifically, when the user selects one still image with the direction key 171 on the operation panel 17 and presses an OK button 172 on the operation panel 17, it is determined that the still image is a desired still image. When the user presses the cancel button 173 on the operation panel 17, it is determined that the desired still image does not exist.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, the eighth still image is selected by operating the direction key 171, and the display color of the eighth section of the indicator bar IB is changed. The selected eighth still image is highlighted with a thick frame W, and the reproduction time of the still image is displayed on the image. Here, when the user operates the OK button 172, the eighth still image is determined as one desired still image. In this embodiment, the selected still image is displayed with a thick frame. However, any display may be used as long as the display mode is emphasized so that the user recognizes the selected image.

  Returning to FIG. 3, when the cancel button 173 is operated in step S315, the series of scene printing processing is terminated. On the other hand, if the OK button 172 is operated in step S315, processing options for the selected still image are displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 to determine which processing is selected (step S315). Step S320). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, three processes of “detail display” processing, “scene selection sheet printing” processing, and “scene printing” processing are prepared as options.

  The “detail display” process is a process of extracting a frame image within a selected still image section and displaying a still image based on the frame image on the liquid crystal display 16. In the “scene selection sheet printing” process, a plurality of frame images in the selected still image section (in the eighth section in the example of FIG. 5) are extracted, and still images based on this are displayed in multiple planes. This is a process for printing a mark sheet. The “scene printing” process is a process of printing the selected still image (the eighth still image in the example of FIG. 5).

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a display screen in which options are displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 as display modes of processing options to be applied to the selected still image. On the display screen of FIG. 5, the user switches to the display screen shown in FIG. 6 from the display screen of FIG. 5 when the user selects one still image and operates the OK button 172. As shown in FIG. 6, a window is superimposed on the display screen of FIG. The CPU displays the above three options on the window together with the number of the selected still image. The user selects a process to be executed by operating the direction key 171 and the OK button 172 on the operation panel 17.

  If it is determined in step S320 in FIG. 3 that the “detail display” process has been selected, the CPU performs a lower layer scene display process (step S330), and returns to step S315. This process is a process of newly extracting a predetermined number of frame images from the selected still image section and displaying a still image based on the frame images on the liquid crystal display 16. That is, it is a process of displaying in detail the section of the selected still image by newly extracting a frame image that is a lower layer of the frame image corresponding to the selected still image.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the concept of extracting lower layer frame images. The upper part of FIG. 7 shows a state in which the entire moving image data is divided into nine sections as a target range and nine frame images representing each section are extracted, as in FIG.

  If a still image based on the first frame image is selected from the nine images extracted here, the target range is set as the first section as shown in the middle of FIG. 7, and this is further divided into nine sections. Then, the frame images (No. 11 to No. 19) at substantially the center of each section are extracted, and nine new still images are acquired. Nine new still images are displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 in the same manner as the display screen shown in FIG.

  Further, if a still image based on the first frame image (No. 11 in FIG. 7) is selected from the newly displayed still images, the selected still image is displayed as shown in the lower part of FIG. The frame image (No. 111 to No. 119) is extracted by dividing the section to which the frame image corresponding to 1 belongs to the target range, and the process of acquiring a new still image is repeated. By repeating such a process, finally, a still image based on each frame image constituting the moving image data can be visually recognized. That is, the moving image data has a hierarchical structure composed of a plurality of layers, and a still image based on the upper layer frame image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 16, and a still image based on the lower layer frame image is sequentially displayed in accordance with a user operation. To do. By such a method, a desired still image can be selected from the moving image data.

  On the display screen here, the time at both ends of the indicator bar IB shown in FIG. 5 is updated together with the display of the still image based on the lower layer frame image. The user can grasp the hierarchical position of the still image currently displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 by checking the indicator bar IB. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, it is good also as what displays the position on the hierarchy of the present still image by switching a display screen by performing predetermined | prescribed key operation. In addition, if the frame image in the lowest layer, that is, the still image based on the continuous frame image is already displayed by repeated operations and cannot be displayed in more detail, a warning is output on the display screen. Also good.

  If it is determined in step S320 in FIG. 3 that the “print scene selection sheet” process has been selected, the scene selection sheet shown in FIG. 9 is printed (step S340). As described above, this scene selection sheet is a mark sheet in which frame images within a selected still image section are extracted and still images based on the extracted frame images are displayed in multiple planes. As an example, the scene selection sheet shown in FIG. 9 extracts frame images within a selected still image section and displays 25 still images based on the extracted frame images. Below each still image, a mark sheet type oval check box is prepared. The user selects a still image desired to be printed, and generates a mark sheet (this is called an order sheet) in which a check box corresponding to the still image is filled.

  Subsequently, the CPU determines whether or not to perform processing for reading the generated order sheet (step S345). Specifically, as shown in the display screen of FIG. 10, a window showing two options of “read scene selection sheet” and “return to list” is displayed. In the display screen shown in FIG. 6, “print scene selection sheet” is selected, the scene selection sheet is printed, and the display screen is switched from FIG. 6 to FIG. The user selects a process to be executed by operating the direction key 171 and the OK button 172 on the operation panel 17. In response to the setting operation by the user's operation panel 17, the CPU determines a process to be executed.

  If it is determined in step S345 that the order sheet is not read and “return to list display” is determined (No), the process returns to step S310 to display the representative scene. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S345 that the “scene selection sheet (order sheet) reading” process is to be performed (Yes), it is confirmed that the order sheet is set on the reading surface of the scanner 15 and read. A process (scan process) is executed (step S350), a still image is selected based on the read information, and the process proceeds to the next process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S320 in FIG. 3 that the “scene printing” process has been selected, and if a still image is selected by executing the above scan process, the content of the selected still image is confirmed. The process is performed (step S360). Specifically, the selected still image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 as shown in the display screen of FIG. The user confirms the content of the displayed still image and determines the number of prints. The number of prints can be determined by operating the direction key 171 and the OK button 172 on the operation panel 17. The indicator bar on the display screen indicates the position of the still image currently displayed during the entire playback time of the moving image data.

  Subsequently, the CPU determines whether or not to select another still image (scene) (step S365). That is, it is determined whether to select other still images other than the one still image selected as the print target. Specifically, as shown in the display screen of FIG. 12, a window showing two options is displayed. The user operates the OK button 172 when selecting another still image, and operates the cancel button 173 when not selecting another still image. Based on this user operation instruction, the CUP determines execution of another still image selection.

  If the OK button 172 is operated in step S365 (Yes), it is determined that another still image (scene) is further selected, and the process returns to step S310 to display the representative scene (that is, “list display”). Do).

  By repeating the processing from step S310 to step S365, a plurality of still images can be selected as print targets. For example, the display screen of FIG. 11 shows a state in which three still images to be printed are selected by this repeated processing, and the number of prints is set for the second still image among them. “2/3” is displayed.

  On the other hand, if the cancel button 173 is operated in step S365 (No), it is determined that no other still image (scene) is selected, and print mode selection processing is executed (step S370). Specifically, as shown in the display screen of FIG. 13, a printing condition such as a paper type, a paper size, and an image quality is displayed, and a process for determining a printing mode is performed according to a user operation instruction.

  Subsequently, the selection process of the number of copies is executed for the still image for which the print mode is determined (step S380). Specifically, as shown in the display screen of FIG. 14, the number of copies to be printed is displayed together with the confirmed print mode, and a process for changing and confirming the number of copies to be performed in accordance with a user operation command is performed. In this way, various printing conditions are confirmed, and when the user instructs to start printing, printing of the selected still image is executed (step S390).

  Specifically, the print head unit 20 performs printing such as rasterization, color correction, and halftoning on the frame image data corresponding to the selected still image based on the set value of the printing condition. A voltage applied to the print head unit 20, a combination of ink colors, and the like are determined, and printing is executed by controlling various actuators. In this way, a still image desired by the user is output, and a series of scene printing processes is completed.

  Prior to printing, several frame images adjacent in time series are further extracted from the frame image corresponding to the selected still image, and a high-resolution still image is generated using these frame images. It is also possible to print this. Such a high-resolution still image can be generated by obtaining a correspondence relationship between frame images using a known gradient method, block matching method, or the like. Such processing is effective when the image to be printed is large.

  According to the above scene printing process, a predetermined number of frame images are extracted from a plurality of frame images of moving image data, and still images based on the frame images are displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 as options. The user can select one still image from the predetermined number of displayed still images. Further, in detail, when searching for a desired still image, a predetermined number of frame images are extracted from a plurality of frame images in a selected one still image section, and a still image based on this is selected as a new option. Is displayed on the liquid crystal display 16. The user can select one still image from among a predetermined number of still images displayed. By repeating such processing, it is possible to select one desired still image from the moving image data composed of a plurality of frame images and print it. In other words, it is possible to select one desired still image by recognizing moving image data as a hierarchical structure according to a section and narrowing down a target range from which frame images are sequentially extracted. Therefore, since one still image can be selected without reproducing moving image data, it is not necessary to provide a moving image data reproduction function in the printing apparatus 10. That is, it is possible to select one still image from the moving image data and execute printing using the printing apparatus 10 having almost the existing capability. Further, since the moving image data is hierarchized and the selection process is performed, more efficient processing can be performed as compared with the case where the moving image data is simply reproduced and one still image is selected.

C. Variations:
In the present embodiment, nine still images displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 are divided into nine sections on the basis of playback time, extract frame images from each section, and display still images based on the extracted frame images. However, various modes can be used as a method of dividing a section for extracting a frame image. For example, the moving image data may be divided into sections at positions where the image content changes (scene change is performed), and a frame image may be extracted. In this case, since the moving image data is often expressed in the MPEG format, the position of the scene change can be determined by checking the flag of the MPEG format data.

  Further, it may be divided into sections in GOP (Group of Picture) units of MPEG format data and an I picture or P picture in the GOP may be extracted as a frame image representing the section. Judgment of I and P pictures can be easily made by checking the data header. In this case, moving image data may be handled as a set of I and P pictures, and conditions for excluding B pictures that require processing time for decoding may be added. Further, the still image displayed in multiple planes on the scene selection sheet may be based on only the I and P pictures. Also in this case, the time required for the scene selection sheet printing process can be reduced by excluding the B picture.

  In this embodiment, the mark sheet printed as the scene selection sheet displays only a check box for selecting a print target. However, by increasing the menu that can be specified on the mark sheet, the number of prints, print settings, or Various setting items such as narrowing down the target range may be included.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to such embodiment at all, Of course, it can implement with various forms within the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. is there. In this embodiment, the scene printing process has been described by taking a multifunction device having a scanner function as an example of a printing apparatus. However, a scanner function is not necessarily required if the printing apparatus has a liquid crystal display and a printer driver, for example. Even in this case, by handling moving image data as a hierarchical structure, it is possible to sequentially approach a desired still image and select one still image desired to be printed.

1 is a perspective view showing a printing apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration inside a printing apparatus. It is a flowchart of a scene printing process. It is explanatory drawing which showed the concept which extracts a predetermined number of frame images. It is an example of the display screen shown on the liquid crystal display as a display mode of nine still images. It is an example of the display screen shown on the liquid crystal display as a display mode of the option of the process performed to the selected still image. It is explanatory drawing which showed the concept which extracts the frame image of a lower layer. It is an example of the display screen which displays the position on the hierarchy of the present still image. It is an example of a scene selection sheet. It is an example of a display screen. It is an example of the display screen which confirms a selection scene. It is an example of a display screen. It is an example of the display screen of print mode selection. It is an example of a display screen for selecting the number of copies to print.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing device 15 ... Scanner 16 ... Liquid crystal display 17 ... Operation panel 18 ... Memory card slot 20 ... Print head unit 21 ... Ink ejection head 28 ... Platen 29a ... cartridge for black ink 29b ... cartridge for color ink 30 ... carriage 32 ... carriage motor 33 ... paper feed motor 34 ... sliding shaft 36 ... drive belt 39 .. Position detection sensor 40 ... Control circuit 171 ... Direction key 172 ... OK button 173 ... Cancel button M ... Memory card P ... Paper IB ... Indicator bar W ... Thick frame

Claims (7)

A printing device that executes printing based on moving image data,
An image acquisition unit for acquiring a plurality of still images from a medium storing the moving image data based on a plurality of frame images constituting the moving image data;
A display unit for displaying the acquired still image;
An operation unit for setting printing conditions of the still image;
Prior to execution of printing according to the set printing conditions, the moving image data is divided into a predetermined number of sections as a target range, and each divided section is stopped based on a predetermined frame image belonging to the section. Display control means for acquiring an image and displaying still images for the acquired number of sections on the display unit;
Image selecting means for selecting one still image desired to be printed from the displayed number of still images using the operation unit;
And a printing control unit that executes printing of the selected still image. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The image selection means includes a determination means for determining whether or not to newly acquire a still image from within the section of the selected one still image,
If it is determined that a still image is newly acquired from within the section, the target range is replaced with the section, and the processing by the display control unit and the image selection unit is executed recursively, and printing is performed. A printing apparatus that selects a desired still image. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The predetermined number of sections is a section obtained by dividing the moving image data at equal intervals by reproduction time,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined frame image belonging to the section is a frame image located at any one of a head, a substantially center, and a tail of the section in time-series order among the frame images in the section. The printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
The printing apparatus includes a means for displaying a position of a still image currently displayed on the display unit in the moving image data hierarchized by the section. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:
A scanner that reads information written on a predetermined sheet of paper,
Sheet output determination means for determining whether to output a mark sheet displaying a predetermined number of still images belonging to the selected one still image section;
If it is determined to output the mark sheet, the print control means prints the mark sheet,
The image selection means reads the mark sheet in which the entry specifying the still image desired to be printed is read using the scanner, and selects one still image desired to be printed based on the entry information of the completed mark sheet. The printing device to select. An image acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of still images based on a plurality of frame images that constitute the moving image data from a medium that stores the moving image data, a display unit that displays the acquired still images, and the still image A selection method for selecting one still image desired to be printed from the moving image data in a printing apparatus that performs printing based on the moving image data, and an operation unit that sets an image printing condition,
Dividing the moving image data into a predetermined number of sections as a target range,
For each of the divided sections, obtain a still image based on a predetermined frame image belonging to the section,
Display the still images for the acquired number of sections on the display unit,
A method for selecting still images, wherein one still image desired to be printed is selected from the displayed still images corresponding to the number of sections using the operation unit. An image acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of still images based on a plurality of frame images that constitute the moving image data from a medium that stores the moving image data, a display unit that displays the acquired still images, and the still image A program for controlling a printing apparatus that executes printing based on the moving image data, and an operation unit for setting image printing conditions.
The moving image data is divided into a predetermined number of sections as a target range, a still image is acquired for each of the divided sections based on a predetermined frame image belonging to the section, and the still images for the acquired number of sections A function for displaying on the display unit;
A function of selecting one still image desired to be printed from the displayed still image for the number of sections using the operation unit;
A program that causes a printing apparatus to realize a function of executing printing of the selected still image.

Images