JP2006287668A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an imaging apparatus capable of easily selecting an image to be a printing object in the imaging apparatus for printing a photographic image by transmitting the photographic image to a printer without going through a personal computer, etc. <P>SOLUTION: The image recording device comprises a means for recording image data generated by converting an optical image representing an object into an electric signal by an imaging means as an image file in an information recording medium, an interface connected to an external device, a means for inputting a retrieval condition, a means for adding to the image file date information used when recording on the information recording medium, a means for retrieving an image file with the date information as a retrieval condition and a means for requesting the printer to print the image file corresponding to the retrieval. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus capable of printing photographed photographic images by directly connecting to a printing apparatus without using a personal computer or the like, and in particular, it is easy to select an image to be printed. The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that can be used.

  A digital camera is generally used as an image recording apparatus that converts a photographic image taken by an imaging unit into a digital signal and records the digital signal in a storage device such as a nonvolatile storage medium. Conventionally, in order to print a photographic image taken with a digital camera, photographic image data (hereinafter referred to as “image file”) is moved to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer and printed using a photographic image processing application program or the like. It was performed together with processing including control of the device (printer). In recent years, in order to print photographic images more easily, a digital camera having a direct print function capable of directly connecting a digital camera and a printer, sending an image file stored in the digital camera to the printer, and printing it. Has become widespread.

  The photographic image printing performed using the digital camera having the direct print function is performed according to the following procedure. In other words, a printer that supports the direct print function and the digital camera are connected with a communication cable, the user operates the operator console on the digital camera side, and the list of image files stored in the digital camera is displayed. A photographic image to be printed is selected and a print request is made.

  However, the storage capacity of storage devices of recent digital cameras has increased, and there are some that can store thousands of image files in one digital camera. When printing a large number of image files using the conventional method of selecting a photographic image to be printed, it is difficult to find the image file to be selected (to be printed). At the same time, the operation is complicated, and it causes a mistake that an image file printed once is erroneously requested for printing again.

  Therefore, an invention is known in which print information is added to an image file stored in a digital camera, and information indicating whether printing has been completed is displayed in a list-displayed image based on the print information. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). Also, an invention in which print information indicating that the image file is a print target image file is added in advance to the image file stored in the digital camera, and only the image file to which the print information is added is automatically printed. Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2001-45339 A JP 2003-46943 A

  The invention described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that whether or not an image file has already been printed can be visually recognized when displaying a list of photographic images. Therefore, it is possible to easily select an unprinted photographic image at the time of printing. However, when the image file is selected for printing for the first time in the digital camera, there is no printed image file yet, so the effect of the present invention cannot be exhibited and the image file cannot be selected easily. . Further, the invention described in Patent Document 2 is configured so that an image file that a user desires to print can be automatically printed by adding information indicating a print request before printing processing. It is a thing. Therefore, the printing process can be performed without complicating the printing operation. However, in order to add a print request to an image file, the selection operation cannot be facilitated, and a user can add a print request from a huge amount of image files in the same way as a conventional operation. It is necessary to perform an operation. As described above, even if the above-described invention is used, it has not been possible to efficiently select an image file desired to be printed from a large number of image files.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an imaging apparatus capable of easily selecting a photographic image at the time of printing processing by adding searchable additional information to a photographed photographic image. For the purpose.

  The present invention is an image recording apparatus having means for recording image data generated by converting an optical image representing a subject into an electrical signal by an imaging means as an image file on an information recording medium, and an interface connected to an external apparatus. Means for inputting search conditions, means for adding date information when recording to an information recording medium to an image file, means for searching for an image file using date information as a search condition, and an image file corresponding to the search And a means for requesting printing to the printing apparatus. .

  Further, it may have a display means for displaying only a list of image files corresponding to the search, or a selection means for selecting an arbitrary image file from the list display displayed on the display means.

  According to the present invention, in the printing process of the image recording apparatus, only the image file that matches the date condition is printed. Therefore, it is possible to accurately and easily select an image file desired to be printed from among a large number of image files. Can do. In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to display a list of only image files that meet the date condition, so that it is easy to confirm an image to be printed and it is possible to prevent omission of printing. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to designate and print an arbitrary image file from a list display of image files that meet the date condition, so that unnecessary image file printing can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the digital camera 1 displays an external storage unit 11 for storing information, an imaging unit 12 that is an input unit of image information such as a CCD or an AD converter, and various types of information regarding imaging operations and various types of information regarding captured image settings. A display unit 13 that performs an operation input from the outside, a communication I / F unit 15 that controls a communication interface with the printer 2, and an overall control unit 10 that controls the entire digital camera.

  The external storage unit 11 includes a recording medium represented by a flash memory and the like, and a driver unit that controls writing and reading of information to and from the recording medium. The overall control unit 10 is a well-known microcomputer including a CPU / ROM / RAM / input / output port (I / O port) and a bus line connecting these.

  The communication I / F unit 15 is communicably connected to the printer 2 via the communication unit 3. The communication means 3 can be used regardless of wired or wireless. A specific example of the cable is USB (Universal Sirial Bus). A specific example of wireless is a short-range wireless communication system such as Bluetooth, Wi-fi (wireless LAN standard), or IrDA (infrared communication). In general, USB is widespread as the communication means.

  The ROM is a semiconductor memory storing a processing procedure (program) of the CPU, and the present invention is realized by the program stored in the ROM. The RAM also functions as a buffer memory when communicating with the printer 2 in addition to the function as a work area used by the CPU when executing the program.

  Next, an embodiment of the printing process of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described. In the present invention, the digital camera 1 that is an image recording device converts a photographed photographic image into a predetermined file format and records it in the external storage unit 11 as an image file.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the file format of the image file. In FIG. 10, an image file 200 includes an image data unit 201 and an additional information unit 202. The image data portion 201 stores a photographic image taken by the digital camera 1. The additional information section 202 stores additional information related to the photographic image, for example, information related to the imaged date (hereinafter referred to as “date data”).

  In the image storage device according to the present invention, it is possible to set the date information to be stored in the additional information unit 202 at the same time as shooting by operating the console unit 14 before shooting. After such setting, when the user performs a photographing operation, date data at the time of the photographing operation is stored as additional information in the additional information section 202 of the image file of the photographic image. The date data may be automatically added and stored by a calendar function of the overall control unit 10.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printing process in which an image file obtained by the above photographing procedure is a printing target. In FIG. 2, each step of the process is represented as (301), (302),.

  Prior to executing this printing process, the digital camera 1 is connected to the printer 2 via the communication means 3 and is ready for printing by a printing operation performed on the digital camera 1 side.

  First, the user operates the console unit 14 to select “date” from a “print target selection” screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 13 (301). Next, for the image file stored in the external storage unit 11, search processing for an image file in which date data is stored in the additional information unit 202 is started (302).

  FIG. 8 shows a detailed flowchart of the search process. In FIG. 8, each step is represented as (401), (402). In this example, the user designates “specific date” on the search condition selection screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 13. The user selects a specific date on a search condition setting screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 13.

  The specific date (hereinafter referred to as “date condition”) selected by operating the console unit 14 is stored in the variable A (401). Next, the date data stored in the additional information unit 202 of the image file stored in the external storage unit 11 is extracted, and the extracted date data is stored in the variable B (402). Next, the variable A and the variable B are compared, and if they match, the file name of the image file is stored in the RAM as a file to be printed (404). If the variables A and B do not match in the above comparison (NO in 403), the process ends without storing the file name of the image file in the RAM.

  The search process can use a plurality of date conditions. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart when a plurality of date conditions are designated. In FIG. 9, each step is represented as (411), (412). The user designates “date range” on a search condition selection screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 13.

  The user selects two dates by operating the console unit 14. Of the two selected dates, the smaller value (date condition 1) is stored in variable A, and the larger value (date condition 2) is stored in variable B (411).

  Next, the date data stored in the additional information section 202 of one image file stored in the external storage section 11 is extracted and stored in the variable C (412). Next, the “date data” stored in the variable C is compared with the date condition 1 and the date condition 2 stored in the variables A and B. If the variable C is greater than or equal to the variable A and less than or equal to the variable B, the print target The file name of the image file is stored in the RAM as a file (413, 414). In the above comparison process, if the variable C does not satisfy the condition (NO in 413), the process ends.

  Through the above search processing, a print request using the image file name stored in the RAM is generated and transmitted to the printer (303).

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a print request transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the printer in the printing process. In FIG. 4, the print request includes an information identifier 81 indicating that this information is a print request, a file identifier 82 indicating the file name of the image file with additional information to be printed, and a file name 83 of the image file. Yes. The printer that has received this print request requests the digital camera 1 for an image file having the image file name described in the print request, and the digital camera 1 transmits the requested image file to the printer.

  Next, the result of the print process according to the print request is received from the printer (304), and if the received print result is an error, the print process ends (No in 304). If the received print result ends normally (YES in 304), the process returns to step 302 until the above process is completed for all the image files with additional information stored in the external storage unit 11 (step 302). 305).

  Next, another embodiment of the printing process of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the printing process according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, each step of the process is represented as (351), (352),...

  Also in the present embodiment, the digital camera 1 is connected to the printer 2 via the communication unit 3 in advance to execute this printing process, and is ready for printing by a printing operation performed on the digital camera 1 side.

  First, the user operates the console unit 14 to designate “date” from a “print target selection” screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 13 (351). Next, search processing for an image file having “date data” from the image files stored in the external storage unit 11 is started (352). The details of this search process are the same as those described above, and therefore will not be described here.

  A list table as shown in FIG. 5 is created using the image file name stored in the RAM as a print target by the search process. This list table is created on the RAM (353).

  Next, it is checked whether or not the search process has been completed for all image files stored in the external storage unit 11 (354). If not, the process proceeds to 352 (NO in 354). ). When the search process is completed for all the image files stored in the external storage unit 11, the process proceeds to the next process (YES in 354).

  Next, a print request to the printer is created based on the list table created on the RAM by the search process. An example of the print request created here is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the image file name included in the print request to the printer describes all the image file names detected in the search process. This print request is transmitted to the printer (355). The printer that has received this print request makes the digital camera 1 a transmission request for an image file corresponding to the image file name described in the print request. The digital camera 1 transmits an image file in response to a request from the printer 2.

  Next, the result of the print process according to the print request is received from the printer (356). If the received print result is an error (NO in 357), the print process ends. If the received print result is a normal end (YES in 357), it is determined whether all the print results of the image file included in the print request have been received, and the print results of all the image files have been received. If not, the process proceeds to step 356, and if the print results of all the image files have been received, the print process ends (358).

  Next, still another embodiment of the printing process using the image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described. As in the first and second embodiments, the digital camera is connected to the printer 2 via the communication unit 3 before printing processing in the present embodiment, and the printer 2 can be printed by a printing operation by the digital camera 1. It consists of.

  When the user operates the console unit 14 and selects “print list display” from a “print target selection” screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 13, the search processing described in the second embodiment is executed. A list table is created on the RAM. Next, after the search process is completed for all the image files stored in the external storage unit 11, a print target selection screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit 13.

  In FIG. 8, a screen 130 is composed of a screen title 130a, a thumbnail display 130b, a print mark 130c, and a display that supports other operations. In FIG. 7, a print mark 130 c added on the thumbnail display 130 b has already been selected as a print target by the user's operation of the console section 14. As described above, the image file stored in the external storage unit 11 is searched according to the date condition, and the user operates the console unit 14 from the list display of the search result to select the print condition. The print request can be further narrowed down from the image files matching the above.

  The present invention can also be applied to a camera-equipped mobile phone connected to a printer by USB connection.

It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the digital camera which is an example of the image recording device which concerns on this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printing process performed using the image recording apparatus according to the present invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a printing process performed using the image recording apparatus according to the present invention. 6 is a description example of a print request information file transmitted from a digital camera applicable to the present invention to a printer. It is an example of a list table created by a printing process performed using the image recording apparatus according to the present invention. 6 is a description example of a print request information file transmitted from a digital camera applicable to the present invention to a printer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the screen display in the digital camera applicable to this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a search process for a print target image file performed using the image recording apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows another example of the search process of the printing object image file performed using the image recording device which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the file format of the image data applicable to this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital Camera 2 Printer 3 Communication Network 200 Image File

Claims (3)

Means for recording image data generated by converting an optical image representing a subject into an electrical signal by an imaging means as an image file on an information recording medium;
An image recording device having an interface connected to an external device,
A means for entering search criteria;
Means for adding date information when recording to the information recording medium to the image file;
Means for searching for an image file using the date information as a search condition;
An image recording apparatus comprising: means for requesting a printing apparatus to print an image file corresponding to the search.   2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying only a list of image files corresponding to the search.   3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising selection means for selecting an arbitrary image file from the list display displayed on the display means.

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