JP2007021838A - Image displaying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image displaying apparatus with a short responding time against a request of printing during executing a slide show, and to provide an image displaying method and an image displaying program. <P>SOLUTION: The image displaying apparatus comprises a displaying unit for successively displaying a plurality of images by a specified period, an inputting unit for inputting the request of printing for the image displayed by the displaying unit, a printing preparing unit for starting a processing for forming printing data of the image displayed by the displaying unit by linking with the switch of the image being an object of displaying by the displaying unit regardless of presence/absence of inputting the request of printing, and an outputting unit for outputting the printing data to the printing unit in accordance with the request of printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display apparatus, and more particularly to a printing process during a slide show.

  Conventionally, a so-called slide show function for displaying a plurality of images in order at predetermined time intervals is known. Such a slide show function displays a plurality of captured images with a digital camera, displays a plurality of images stored in a removable memory with a stand-alone printer, or stores a plurality of images stored in a specific folder. Are displayed on a personal computer (PC).

  Patent Document 1 describes a digital camera that receives a print request for a displayed image during a slide show. When generating print data on a device with insufficient hardware resources, such as a digital camera, it takes a considerable amount of time from when a user print request is received until printing starts. Implementation of a function that shortens the response time until the start is desired.

JP 2004-291630 A

  The present invention has been created in view of the above-described requirements, and an object thereof is to provide an image display device, an image display method, and an image display program that have a short response time to a print request during a slide show.

(1) An image display device for achieving the above object includes a display unit that sequentially displays a plurality of images for each predetermined period, an input unit that inputs a print request for an image displayed by the display unit, and the display A print preparation unit that starts the print data generation processing of the image displayed by the unit in conjunction with switching of the display target image by the display unit regardless of whether or not the print request is input, and the print request And an output unit for outputting the print data to the printing unit.
The image display device starts generating print data in conjunction with the switching of the display target image in a state where the print request can be input for the image displayed by the slide show, regardless of whether or not the print request is input. It is possible to shorten the response time from when the image display apparatus receives a print request during the slide show to when printing is started by the printing unit.

(2) The image display device may further include a memory for storing the print data of an image to which the print request is input. The print preparation unit may start or postpone the print data generation process according to the free space of the memory.
When the image display apparatus starts or postpones the print data generation process according to the free space of the memory, the user may request printing of images displayed one after another during the slide show regardless of the free space of the memory. it can. In such an image display apparatus, when printing is requested when the memory has a small free space, print data generation processing is reserved in accordance with the request.

(3) The display unit may display the next image before the print preparation unit completes the print data generation process of the previous image.
By displaying the next image before the image display device completes the print data generation process for the previous image, the user is displayed one after another during the slide show regardless of the progress of the print data generation process. You can request printing for images.

(4) The display unit may display the next image before the printing unit completes outputting the print data of the previous image.
By displaying the next image before the image display device completes the output of the print data of the previous image, the user can continuously display images during the slide show regardless of the progress of the print data output process. Will be able to request printing.

(5) In the image display method for achieving the above object, a plurality of images are sequentially displayed for a predetermined period, a print request for the displayed image is input, and print data generation processing for the displayed image is performed. Regardless of whether or not the print request is input, the process starts in conjunction with switching of the display target image and outputs the print data to the print unit in response to the print request.
In a state in which a print request can be input for a display target image, the image display apparatus starts during slide show execution by starting generation of print data in conjunction with switching of the display target image regardless of whether or not a print request is input. The response time from when the print request is received to when the printing unit starts printing can be shortened.

(6) An image display program for achieving the above object includes a display unit that sequentially displays a plurality of images for a predetermined period, an input unit that inputs a print request for an image displayed by the display unit, and the display A print preparation unit that starts the print data generation processing of the image displayed by the unit in conjunction with switching of the display target image by the display unit regardless of whether or not the print request is input, and the print request In response, the computer functions as an output unit that outputs the print data to the printing unit.
In a state in which a print request can be input for a display target image, the image display apparatus starts during slide show execution by starting generation of print data in conjunction with switching of the display target image regardless of whether or not a print request is input. The response time from when the print request is received to when the printing unit starts printing can be shortened.

  It should be noted that the order of each operation of the method described in the claims is not limited to the order of description as long as there is no technical obstruction factor, and may be executed in any order, or may be executed simultaneously. Also good. In addition, each function of the plurality of means provided in the present invention is realized by a hardware resource whose function is specified by the configuration itself, a hardware resource whose function is specified by a program, or a combination thereof. Further, the functions of the plurality of means are not limited to those realized by hardware resources that are physically independent of each other.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on examples.
1. Hardware Configuration FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a printer 1 as an embodiment of an image display device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printer 1. The printer 1 has a function of printing images stored in these devices under the control of a PC (Personal Computer) 58, a digital camera 60, a portable telephone terminal 62, and the like, and an image stored in the removable memory 32. This is a so-called stand-alone printer having a function of inputting and printing. The printer 1 has a slide show function for displaying a plurality of images stored in a removable memory 32 inserted into the card slot 26 on an FPD (Flat Panel Display) 20 at predetermined time intervals.

  The external memory controller 34 is connected to a removable memory 32 inserted into the card slot 26. Data stored in the removable memory 32 is input by the external memory controller and stored in the RAM 36. The removable memory 32 may be a card type flash memory or a CD.

  The external interface unit 54 includes a USB controller, a USB connector, and the like for communicating with an external system such as the PC 58, the digital camera 60, and the portable phone terminal 62. A hard disk device may be connected to the external interface unit 54 and an image stored in the hard disk may be input to the printer 1.

  The image processing unit 38 as a print preparation unit is an ASIC that performs gamma correction, sharpness correction, resolution conversion, plate separation processing, halftoning, interlace processing, and the like. The image processing unit 38 performs gamma correction, sharpness correction, resolution conversion to print resolution, and color separation for converting an image having a color space such as sRGB into an image having a color space corresponding to an ink color such as CMY. Print data is generated by performing processing, halftoning for converting gradation into ink dot presence / absence values, and interlace processing for rearranging the array of ink dot presence / absence values in the order of ink ejection. The image processing unit 38 may be provided with an image decoding function.

  The print engine 40 as a printing unit includes a recording head for forming an image on the paper 24 by an inkjet method, a drive mechanism for reciprocating the recording head, a paper supply / discharge mechanism, and the like. The printing method of the print engine 40 may be a laser method, a thermal method, a dot impact method, or the like.

The RAM 36 is a volatile memory that temporarily stores a control program and data to be processed by the control program, for example, an image, a print job list, and print data.
The CPU 52 controls each unit by executing a control program stored in the flash memory 50. The control program may be input from a computer-readable recording medium such as a removable memory, or may be input from a remote server via a network.

The operation unit 48 as an input unit includes a cross button 12, an enter button 14, a return button 16, and a print start button 18 for accepting user menu operations. When the user presses the cross button 12, the determination button 14, the return button 16, and the print start button 18, various requests such as a print request are input to the printer 1.
The display unit 46 as a display unit includes a graphic controller and an FPD 20 such as an LCD. Images, menus, and status are displayed on the FPD 20.
2. Software configuration

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control program of the printer 1. Note that the module configuration shown in FIG. 4 is a conceptual example for facilitating understanding of the configuration and operation of the printer 1, and what kind of module group the control program is configured can be selected appropriately. It is a matter.

  The slide show module 64 is a program component that causes the CPU 52 to function as a display unit. The slide show module 64 sequentially selects a plurality of images stored in a predetermined folder of the removable memory 32 at predetermined time intervals, and causes the display unit 46 to display the selected image (display target image). The display period of each image may be a predetermined fixed time or an arbitrary time set by a user's menu operation. The slide show module 64 requests the print management module 66 to generate print data every time the display target image is switched, and requests the print management module 66 to print when a print request is input by the operation unit 48.

  The print management module 66 is a program component that causes the CPU 52 to function as a print preparation unit. When requested to generate print data, the print management module 66 generates a print job for each request and adds it to the list. When requested to print, the print management module 66 increases the number of print jobs.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a list of print jobs. The print job is a record including an ID, a path of an image to be printed, and a number of printed sheets. The print job may include print conditions other than the number of prints such as the print paper size and print quality. Such print conditions may be set before the slide show is executed, or may be set when a print request is made. Print jobs are processed by the print data generation module 68 in the order of generation. By generating print jobs in response to print requests and processing the print jobs in the order of generation, the printer 1 can accept print requests for each image while displaying images one after another in a slide show regardless of the free space in the RAM 36. It becomes like this.

  The print data generation module 68 is a program component that causes the CPU 52 and the image processing unit 38 to function as a print preparation unit. The print data generation module 68 generates print data of the print target image in order from the print target image of the previously generated print job.

  The print module 70 is a program component that causes the CPU 52 to function as an output module. The print module 70 outputs the print data generated by the print data generation module 68 to the print engine 40 for a print job in which the number of prints is set to 1 or more, thereby executing the printing of the print target image by the print engine 40. Let

3. Image Display Method FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the CPU 52 when the slide show module 64 is executed by the CPU 52. The process shown in FIG. 1 is started when a slide show execution request is input to the printer 1 by the user operating the menu using the operation unit 48.

  In step S <b> 100, the CPU 52 sequentially selects images stored in a predetermined folder of the removable memory 32. The order of selection includes the order of file generation date and time, the code order of file names, and the like. The image group to be selected may be specified by a folder, may be specified by a volume of a recording medium, or may be specified by user image selection. When all the images to be selected are selected, the CPU 52 ends the process (slide show) shown in FIG.

  In step S102, the CPU 52 sets the selected image as a display target image. The display target image may be a main image of an EXIF format image file, a thumbnail image, or an image stored in an image file of a format other than JFIF.

  In step S104, the printer 1 decodes the display target image. Specifically, for example, the CPU 52 decodes a display target image in the JPEG format, and generates an image having RGB grayscale values for each pixel in the RAM 36. Note that the CPU 52 may start decoding of images to be displayed after the next during a period in which a certain image is displayed.

In step S <b> 106, the printer 1 displays the display target image on the FPD 20. Specifically, the CPU 52 reduces or enlarges the decoded display target image to the screen size of the FPD 20 and stores it in the frame memory area of the RAM 36, and causes the FPD 20 to display the display target image by the display controller of the display unit 46.
In step S108, the printer 1 sets a timer for measuring the display time of the display target image. Specifically, a preset display time such as 3 seconds is set by the CPU 52 in the timer, and the timer starts counting up.

  In step S110, the slide show module 64 requests the print management module 66 to generate print data for the display target image. The slide show module 64 may execute the print data generation request before displaying the display target image, or may execute it before setting the timer. However, the slide show module 64 requests generation of print data of a display target image regardless of whether a print request is input. When a print data generation request is generated, as will be described later, as long as there is no unprocessed print job remaining, generation of print data begins. When generation of print data for which a print request has been input is completed, printing is executed. Begins. For this reason, the response time from the input of the print request to the start of printing can be shortened by generating a print data generation request immediately after the display target image is switched, for example, in synchronization with the display target image switching. Can do.

  The printer 1 waits for a pause request input operation during a period in which the display target image is displayed on the FPD 20 (steps S112 and S114). Specifically, the CPU 52 monitors whether or not the button (for example, the determination button 14) of the operation unit 48 corresponding to the temporary stop request is pressed until the display time set in the timer elapses.

  When detecting the input of the pause request, the printer 1 pauses the timer count-up (step S118). Specifically, for example, the CPU 52 pauses the timer count-up, and displays characters and figures for guiding buttons corresponding to requests that can be input while the slide show is paused on the display target image (see FIG. 8 (A)).

In step S120, the printer 1 determines whether the next image (next image) of the current display target image has been selected. Specifically, the CPU 52 determines whether the button of the operation unit 48 corresponding to the next image selection request (for example, the right button corresponding to the right part of the cross button 12) is pressed.
When the next image is selected, the printer 1 sets the next image as a display target image (step S122).

In step S124, the printer 1 determines whether an image before the current display target image (previous image) has been selected. Specifically, the CPU 52 determines whether the button of the operation unit 48 corresponding to the previous image selection request (for example, the right button corresponding to the right part of the cross button 12) has been pressed.
When the previous image is selected, the printer 1 sets the previous image as a display target image (step S126).

  In step S120 and step S122, the printer 1 may accept an input of a selection request for images that are two or more before or after the display target image. Specifically, for example, when the upper button corresponding to the upper part of the cross button 12 is pressed in step S120, the printer 1 may input a selection request for an image whose rank is 10 after the display target image. FIG. 8A shows a screen for guiding buttons (upper and lower portions of the cross button 12) corresponding to a selection request for an image having a rank 10 later than the display target image and an image having a rank 10 earlier than the display target image. Illustrated. By making it possible to select images by skipping the order in this way, the user can quickly select a target image when there are many images to be selected.

  In step S128, the printer 1 determines whether a print request has been input. Specifically, the CPU 52 determines whether a button (for example, the print start button 18) of the operation unit 48 corresponding to the print request has been pressed. Specifically, for example, when the print start button 18 is pressed while the screen shown in FIG. 8A is displayed, the slide show module 64 may request the print management module 66 to perform printing. A screen shown in FIG. 8B may be displayed to accept a print cancel request or the number of prints. In the screen shown in FIG. 8B, when the upper part of the cross button 12 is pressed, the set number of prints is increased by one, when the lower part of the cross button 12 is pressed, the set number of prints is decreased by one, and when the return button 16 is pressed. It is instructed that a print cancel request can be input and a print request can be input by pressing the print start button 18.

When a print request is input, the slide show module 64 requests the print management module 66 to print (step S130). Specifically, for example, when the slide show module 64 requests printing when the print start button 18 is pressed while the screen shown in FIG. 8A is displayed, the slide show module 64 prints one sheet of the display target image. The print management module 66 is requested. Also, for example, when the slide show module 64 requests printing when the print start button 18 is pressed while the screen shown in FIG. 8A is displayed, print management of one print for the display target image is performed. Request to module 66. Further, for example, when the print start button 18 is pressed when the screen shown in FIG. 8B is displayed, the slide show module 64 is set according to the operation of the cross button 12 by the user. The print management module 66 is requested to print the number of printed sheets.

In step S132, the printer 1 determines whether a slide show restart request has been input. Specifically, the CPU 52 determines whether a button (for example, the return button 16) of the operation unit 48 corresponding to the restart request has been pressed.
When the slide show restart request is input, the printer 1 resets the timer and starts counting up by the timer (step S134). Specifically, the CPU 52 may restart the count-up starting from the time elapsed before the input of the pause request, or may reset the time set in step S108.

  When the display period of the display target image ends, the slide show module 64 requests the print management module 66 to delete the print data (step S116). As will be described later, when the slide show module 64 requests the display target image to be printed during the display period, the print data deletion request is invalid.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the CPU 52 when the CPU 52 executes the print management module 66. The process shown in FIG. 6 is repeatedly executed by multitasking in parallel with the process shown in FIG.
In step S200, the print management module 66 determines whether a print data generation request from the slide show module 64 has occurred.

If a print data generation request has occurred, the print management module 66 generates a new print job. At this time, in the print job, 0 is set as the number of prints, and the path of the display target image is set as the path of the print target image. The slide show module 64 generates only one print data generation request for each display target image. Accordingly, the print management module 66 generates one print job for each of all display target images. Even if the print job is generated in this way, if the number of prints is set to 0, the print data generated by the print job is not output to the print engine 40.
In step S204, the print management module 66 determines whether a print request from the slide show module 64 has occurred.

  If a print request has occurred, the print management module 66 increases the number of prints of the print job for the display target image (step S206). Since the process of step S204 can be repeatedly executed during the display period of one display target image, the number of prints can change each time a print request is repeatedly input during the display period of one display target image. . Specifically, for example, the screen shown in FIG. 8A is displayed twice for one display target image, and when the print start button 18 is pressed once on each screen, the number of prints is two. Further, for example, the screen shown in FIG. 8B is displayed twice for one display target image, the number of printed sheets is set to 2 on the first displayed screen, and the number of printed sheets is displayed on the second displayed screen. When the number of prints is set to three and the print start button 18 is pressed, the number of prints is three.

In step S <b> 208, the print management module 66 determines whether a print data deletion request from the slide show module 64 has occurred.
If a print data erasure request has occurred, the print management module 66 determines whether the number of print jobs of the display target image is 0 (step S210).
When the number of print jobs is 0, no print request is input during display of the display target image, so the print management module 66 deletes the print job of the display target image (step S212).

  When the number of print jobs is 0, the print management module 66 deletes the print data generated in the RAM 36 by the print job following the deletion of the print job (step S214). The erasure of the print data and the print data increases the free space in the RAM 36. Even if the print management module 66 does not delete the print job or the print data, as long as the number of print jobs is 0, even if the generation of the print data corresponding to the print job is completed, the print job depends on the print job. Printing is not actually executed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the CPU 52 when the print data generation module 68 is executed by the CPU 52. The process shown in FIG. 6 is repeatedly executed by multitasking in parallel with the process shown in FIG.
In step S300, the print data generation module 68 determines whether there is a print job.

  If there is a print job, the print data generation module 68 generates print data for the earliest print job (step S302). Specifically, the CPU 52 decodes the print target image of the print job first added to the list among the print jobs remaining in the list, and cooperates with the image processing unit 38 to perform gamma correction, sharpness correction, Print data is generated by performing resolution conversion, separation processing, halftoning, interlace processing, and the like on the print target image. If generation of print data starts during a period in which an image is displayed, the print management module 66 performs printing unless a print request is input to the printer 1 until generation of print data for the image is completed. Data will be erased.

  In step S304, the print data generation module 68 determines whether the number of prints of the print job currently being processed is zero. This determination is processing for preventing printing from being executed based on the print data when generation of the print data is completed even though the print request is not input to the printer 1.

If the number of prints of the print job currently being processed is not 0, the print data generation module 68 requests the print module 70 to output print data for the print job currently being processed (step S306). As a result, for the image for which a print request is input during the period displayed in the slide show, printing is executed by the print engine 40 under the control of the print module 70.
In step S308, the print data generation module 68 deletes the print job requested to output the print data.

  In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the example in which the present invention is applied to the slide show of the printer 1 has been described. The present invention can also be applied to a slide show such as the terminal 62.

The flowchart which concerns on one Example of this invention. The perspective view which concerns on one Example of this invention. The block diagram which concerns on one Example of this invention. The block diagram which concerns on one Example of this invention. The schematic diagram which concerns on one Example of this invention. The flowchart which concerns on one Example of this invention. The flowchart which concerns on one Example of this invention. The figure which shows the screen which concerns on one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: Printer (image display device), 20: FPD (display unit), 36: RAM (memory), 38: Image processing unit (print preparation unit), 40: Print engine (print unit), 46: Display unit (display) Unit), 48: operation unit (input unit), 64: slide show module (display unit), 66: print management module (print preparation unit), 68: print data generation module (print preparation unit), 70: print module (output) unit)

Claims (6)

A display unit for displaying a plurality of images in order for a predetermined period;
An input unit for inputting a print request for an image displayed by the display unit;
A print preparation unit that starts processing for generating print data of an image displayed by the display unit in conjunction with switching of a display target image by the display unit, regardless of whether or not the print request is input;
An output unit that outputs the print data to a print unit in response to the print request;
An image display device comprising: A memory for storing the print data of the image in which the print request is input;
The print preparation unit starts or postpones the generation process of the print data according to the free space of the memory;
The image display device according to claim 1. The display unit displays the next image before the print preparation unit completes the print data generation process of the previous image;
The image display device according to claim 1. The display unit displays a next image before the print unit completes output of print data of the previous image;
The image display device according to claim 1. Display multiple images in order for a predetermined period,
Enter the print request for the displayed image,
The print data generation process of the displayed image is started in conjunction with the switching of the display target image regardless of whether or not the print request is input,
Outputting the print data to a printing unit in response to the print request;
Image display method. A display unit for displaying a plurality of images in order for a predetermined period;
An input unit for inputting a print request for an image displayed by the display unit;
A print preparation unit that starts processing for generating print data of an image displayed by the display unit in conjunction with switching of a display target image by the display unit, regardless of whether or not the print request is input;
An output unit that outputs the print data to a print unit in response to the print request;
As an image display program that allows a computer to function.

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