JP2007249377A - Electronic album using index card - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for performing the arrangement or retrieval of an electronic album prepared by a printing device by a simple method. <P>SOLUTION: This printing device is provided with an album generation part for generating an electronic album including one or more images; a code generation part for generating a code for machine reading for specifying an electronic album; and an index card printing part for printing a card on which at least a code for machine reading is described as the index card of an electronic album. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for organizing and searching electronic albums.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of digital still cameras, scanners, and the like, an apparatus that collects image data obtained by these devices and creates a so-called electronic album has been proposed (see Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2002-27386 A

  Here, as an apparatus for creating an electronic album, an apparatus configured by a personal computer is generally used, such as the electronic album apparatus described in Patent Document 1, but a printing apparatus is used instead of the personal computer. What was done is also conceivable. This is because a printing apparatus incorporating a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk can store a large amount of image data, so that an electronic album can be created. Further, the created electronic album can be easily printed without preparing a personal computer or the like.

  However, the display unit included in the printing apparatus is generally composed of a relatively small liquid crystal panel, and the operation unit included in the printing apparatus is generally an operation button capable of relatively simple operations such as up / down / left / right movement. Have only. Therefore, it is very troublesome for the user to search and specify a desired electronic album from a large number of electronic albums using such a display unit and operation unit.

  Therefore, a method is conceivable in which an album name whose contents can be estimated in advance and a search keyword are assigned to the electronic album, and the electronic album is specified based on the album name and keyword. However, as described above, the operation unit provided in the printing apparatus generally has only operation buttons that can be operated relatively easily. Therefore, by operating such an operation unit, an album name or a keyword can be set. Inputting is very troublesome for the user.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of organizing and searching electronic albums created in a printing apparatus by a simple method.

  To achieve the above object, a first printing apparatus of the present invention generates an album generating unit that generates an electronic album including one or more images, and generates a machine-readable code for specifying the electronic album. The gist of the invention is to include a code generation unit, and an index card printing unit that prints at least the card on which the machine reading code is written as an index card of the electronic album.

  As described above, the first printing apparatus of the present invention prints the card on which the machine reading code is written as the index card of the electronic album, so that the user can easily specify the electronic album using the index card. be able to. Therefore, the user can organize and search the electronic album created in the printing apparatus by a simple method.

  The first printing apparatus further includes a scanner capable of reading the index card, and the index card further classifies an album name entry field and the electronic album in addition to the machine reading code. And at least one of classification information entry fields for entering the classification information used for the album, and the album generator is written on the index card when the index card is read by the scanner The electronic album is specified based on the machine reading code, and the album name entered in the album name entry column and / or the classification information entered in the classification information entry column are associated with the electronic album in the storage unit. You may make it memorize | store.

  By doing so, the user can easily give the album name of the electronic album by entering the album name in the album name entry column of the index card and causing the scanner to read it. Further, the user can easily give the classification information of the electronic album by entering the classification information in the classification information entry column of the index card and causing the scanner to read it. Since the album name and classification information entered by the user are stored in the storage unit in association with the electronic album, the first printing apparatus can search the electronic album using the album name or classification information as a search key. It becomes possible. In addition, since the index card in which the album name and the classification information are entered remains at hand, the user can easily guess the contents of the electronic album by looking at the index card and search for the electronic album. You can know the album name and classification information that will be the search key.

  The first printing apparatus further includes a display unit, the scanner reads an album name entered in the album name entry field as an album name image, and the album generation unit reads the album name image, The display unit displays the album name image associated with each electronic album when displaying the list of electronic albums stored in the storage unit in association with the electronic album. You may do it.

  By doing in this way, the user can guess the content of each electronic album easily by seeing the album name image displayed on the display part.

  The first printing apparatus further includes, as a search key for searching the electronic album, a user interface unit for inputting the classification information, and classification information input from the user interface unit as a search key. An album search unit for searching for an arbitrary electronic album from among the electronic albums stored in the storage unit may be provided.

  In this way, the user can search for an arbitrary electronic album by inputting classification information from the interface unit.

  In the first printing apparatus, a part of representative images among images included in the electronic album may be printed on the index card.

  In this way, the user can easily guess the contents of the electronic album by looking at the representative image printed on the index card.

  In the first printing apparatus, the index card may be printed with a shooting date range of each image included in the electronic album.

  In this way, the user can easily guess the contents of the electronic album by looking at the shooting date and time range printed on the index card.

  In the first printing apparatus, it is preferable that the size of the index card is a predetermined photographic paper size.

  In this way, the index card can be stored in the same album mount that contains the photos taken with the silver halide film, so it is easy to organize and has excellent visibility. You can find the target index card (electronic album).

  The second printing apparatus of the present invention includes an album generation unit that generates an electronic album including one or more images, a code generation unit that generates a machine reading code for specifying the electronic album, and at least the machine A scanner capable of reading an index card of the electronic album on which a reading code is written; and an output unit capable of outputting the electronic album; and the output unit reads the index card when the scanner reads the index card. The gist of the invention is to specify an electronic album based on a machine reading code written on an index card and to output the electronic album.

  As described above, when the second printing apparatus of the present invention reads the index card, the electronic album is specified based on the machine reading code written on the index card and the specified electronic album is output. By reading the index card with a scanner, a desired electronic album can be easily output.

  The second printing apparatus further includes a menu screen display unit that displays a process selection menu screen for selecting a predetermined process related to the output of the electronic album, and the menu screen display unit is included in the index card. The electronic album is specified based on the machine-readable code, and the process selection menu screen is displayed. The output unit outputs the electronic album according to the process selected on the process selection menu screen. You may do it.

  By doing so, the user can easily select a predetermined process related to output of the electronic album by designating a desired electronic album by reading the index card with the scanner.

  In the second printing apparatus, the output unit includes a display unit and a printing unit, and the predetermined processing includes processing for printing an order sheet for image printing by the printing unit, and the electronic album. May include at least one of processing for printing an image included in the printing unit and processing for displaying an image included in the electronic album on the display unit.

  In this way, the user can easily specify the desired electronic album, print the order sheet for image printing, print the image included in the electronic album, and display the image included in the electronic album. It can be carried out.

  In the second printing apparatus, in addition to the machine reading code, the index card further includes an album name entry field and classification information for entering classification information used to classify the electronic album. And at least one of the column, the album generation unit, when the index card is read by the scanner, specifies the electronic album based on the machine reading code written on the index card, The album name entered in the album name entry field and / or the classification information entered in the classification information entry field may be stored in the storage unit in association with the electronic album.

  By doing so, the user can easily give the album name of the electronic album by entering the album name in the album name entry column of the index card and causing the scanner to read it. Further, the user can easily give the classification information of the electronic album by entering the classification information in the classification information entry column of the index card and causing the scanner to read it. Since the album name and classification information entered by the user are stored in the storage unit in association with the electronic album, the second printing apparatus can search the electronic album using the album name or classification information as a search key. It becomes possible. In addition, since the index card in which the album name and the classification information are entered remains at hand, the user can easily guess the contents of the electronic album by looking at the index card and search for the electronic album. You can know the album name and classification information that will be the search key.

  The present invention can be realized in various forms, for example, an electronic album generation method, an electronic album output method, those methods, and the functions of the first printing apparatus or the second printing apparatus. For example, a recording medium storing the computer program, a data signal including the computer program and embodied in a carrier wave, and the like.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in the following order based on examples.
A. Example:
B. Variation:

A. Example:
A1. Overview of printer configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer as an embodiment of the present invention. The printer 100 is connected to the control circuit 20, hard disk drive 30, printer engine 40, display unit 32, operation panel 34, memory card slot 36, scanner interface unit 38, and scanner interface unit 38. And a scanner SC.

  The hard disk drive 30 includes an album database 30a. The printer engine 40 includes a carriage (not shown) on which an ink cartridge is mounted, a motor that drives the carriage, and the like, and is a functional unit that actually executes printing. The display unit 32 includes a liquid crystal panel (not shown) and is a functional unit that displays various menu screens, thumbnail images, and the like. The operation panel 34 is a functional unit that includes operation buttons (not shown) and receives various inputs from the user. The memory card slot 36 is a functional unit for reading data from the inserted memory card. The scanner interface unit 38 is a functional unit that controls the scanner SC to read a document and transmits acquired image data to the control circuit 20. The liquid crystal panel (not shown) has a screen size of 2.5 inches and can display thumbnail images, but it is difficult to display the main images. Further, the above-described operation buttons (not shown) are provided only with operation buttons that allow relatively simple operations such as moving up and down, left and right, and conveying the intention of “OK” and “return”.

  The control circuit 20 includes a CPU 22 and a memory 26. The memory 26 stores a control program for generally controlling the operation of the printer 100. The CPU 22 functions as an album generation unit 24a, an index card printing control unit 24b, a scanner control unit 24c, and a display control unit 24d by executing such a control program.

  The album generation unit 24a is a functional unit that generates and searches electronic albums. The index card print control unit 24b is a functional unit that controls the printer engine 40 and prints an index card to be described later. The scanner control unit 24c is a functional unit that analyzes image data obtained via the scanner interface unit 38 and extracts predetermined information included in the image data. The display control unit 24d is a functional unit that generates image data for display and controls the display unit 32 to display an image.

  The album generation unit 24a described above corresponds to the album generation unit, the code generation unit, and the album search unit in the claims, and the index card print control unit 24b and the printer engine 40 display control in the index card print unit in the claims. The unit 24d and the display unit 32 correspond to the menu screen display unit in the claims.

A2. Album creation process:
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of album creation processing executed in the printer 100. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the album creation process is started on the assumption that the user has inserted the memory card MC shown in FIG. 1 into the memory card slot 36. Note that a plurality of images are stored in the memory card MC as image data in Exif (EXchangeable Image File Format) format together with corresponding thumbnail images.

  In the album creation process shown in FIG. 2, first, the user operates the operation panel 34 to select an album creation menu from a menu screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 32 (step S200). Next, a file access unit (not shown) in the printer 100 reads all the image data from the memory card MC shown in FIG. 1 and stores it in the hard disk drive 30, and the display control unit 24d displays the thumbnail image included in the image data. It is displayed on the display unit 32 (step S205).

  Next, when the user selects an image to be included in the electronic album (hereinafter referred to as “album image”) by operating the operation panel 34 while viewing the displayed thumbnail image, the album generating unit 24a selects the image. A new electronic album is created based on the album image thus created, and the electronic album is registered in the album database 30a (step S210).

  Specifically, the album generating unit 24a determines an ID (identifier) including consecutive numbers as an album ID for specifying an electronic album in the album database 30a. The album generation unit 24 a generates a QR (Quick Response) code associated with the determined album ID, and stores the correspondence between the album ID and the QR code in the hard disk drive 30. In the case where the QR code represents the album ID itself, this correspondence relationship need not be stored. Further, the album generation unit 24a selects a predetermined number of representative images from the selected album images. As a representative image selection method, referring to the print history, a method of selecting the top five images that have been printed in the past, or arranging the album images in order of date, the five images are arranged at almost equal intervals. A method of selecting can be used. Also, the album generation unit 24a acquires the shooting date / time of each album image from the Exif tag information of the image data, and determines the range of the shooting date / time of the album image. That is, the album generation unit 24a determines a temporal range between an image with the earliest shooting date and time and an image with the latest shooting date and time. Then, the album generating unit 24a registers the album ID, the file name for the representative image, and the like in the album database 30a.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the contents of the album database 30a. In this album database 30a, for each electronic album, an image storage location, a representative image, a date range, an album name image, and a category name are registered as one record in association with the album ID. Here, the “image storage location” indicates a path of a folder in which the album image is stored in the hard disk drive 30. “Representative image” indicates file names of five images selected as representative images. “Date range” indicates the range of the determined shooting date and time. The “album name image” and “category name” will be described later.

  When a new electronic album is created as described above, the image storage location, the representative image, and the date range are associated with the album ID (AL003) as shown in the bottom record in FIG. Registered. At this stage, the album name image and category name are not yet registered in the album database 30a.

  Returning to FIG. 2, next, the index card print control unit 24b refers to the album database 30a and prints the index card for the newly created electronic album (step S215).

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the index card printed in step S215. This index card 60 is an index card for the electronic album having the album ID “AL003” shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, on the index card 60, a QR code C1, representative images C2 and C3, a date range C4, an album name entry field C5, and a category selection field C6 are printed. The representative image C2 indicates a thumbnail image of the image (first image) having the earliest shooting date and time among the five representative images determined in step S210. The representative image C3 is a representative image other than the representative image C2. Indicates a thumbnail image. The category selection column C6 is a column for entering a category name for classifying the electronic album. In this embodiment, the size of the index card 60 is the L plate, but it is preferable that the size is the same as a predetermined photographic paper size such as a 2L plate instead of the L plate. The category selection field C6 corresponds to the classification information entry field in the claims.

  As described above, since the representative images C2 and C3 and the date range C4 are printed on the index card 60, the user can use the index card 60 as a headline for confirming the electronic album. In addition, the user can give an album name and a category name to the electronic album using the index card 60. Specifically, the user manually writes the album name in the album name entry column C5 and checks the corresponding category name in the category selection column C6, and then enters the entered index card 60 into the scanner shown in FIG. What is necessary is just to make it read by SC.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an index card 60 in which an album name and a category selection field are entered by the user. In this way, the user enters “Notojima 2005” in the album name entry field C5, checks “family”, “friend”, “travel”, and “sea” in the category selection field C6, and sets the index card 60. When the scanner SC reads the image data, the image data of the index card 60 is transmitted to the scanner control unit 24c.

  Returning to FIG. 2, after the process of step S215 described above, the scanner control unit 24c determines whether image data has been acquired from the scanner SC (step S220). When the image data of the index card 60 (FIG. 5) that has been filled in is transmitted as described above, the scanner control unit 24c extracts the QR code C1 and the checked category name from the image data, and sends it to the album generation unit 24a. At the same time, image data corresponding to the album name entry field C5 (album name image data) is newly generated and stored in the hard disk drive 30 (step S225).

  Next, the album generating unit 24a searches the album database 30a for an electronic album having an album ID associated with the extracted QR code (step S230). When the index card 60 shown in FIG. 5 is read, since the album ID associated with the QR code C1 is “AL003”, the album generating unit 24a performs the bottom electronic album (record) shown in FIG. ) Can be found. In this case, the album generating unit 24a registers the album name image and category name entered in the index card 60 in the corresponding record in the album database 30a (step S240). As a result, the file name “/NAME/003/an0003.jpg” of the generated album name image data is registered as “album name image” in the record of the album ID “AL003”, as indicated by the broken line in FIG. In addition, the selected “family”, “friend”, “travel”, and “sea” are registered as the “category name”.

  If an album with an album ID corresponding to the QR code is not found in step S235 described above, a document on which another QR code different from the QR code associated with the album ID is printed is read by the scanner SC. There is a possibility. Therefore, the display control unit 24d causes the display unit 32 to display an error message to reconfirm the document to be read (step S245). If it is determined in step S220 that image data is not acquired from the scanner even after a certain period of time has elapsed after step S215, the album creation process may be terminated.

  With the above album creation process, the album name image and category name of the newly created electronic album are registered in the album database 30a in association with the album ID. In addition, for the newly created electronic album, the index card 60 in which the album name and category name are entered remains at the user's hand.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for storing the index card 60. As described above, since the size of the index card 60 is the L version, the user places the index card 60 left at hand in the album creation process on the album mount 70 in the same manner as the photograph taken with the silver salt film. It can be stored and easily organized. In addition, since the representative images C2 and C3 and the date range C4 are printed on the index card 60, the user can easily guess the contents of the electronic album.

  In addition, since the QR code associated with each album ID is described in the index card 60, the user can perform an album search process using the index card 60 as described below. It is possible to easily print and display an album image by specifying an electronic album.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of album search processing executed in the printer 100. First, the user operates the operation panel 34, selects an album search menu from a menu screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 32, takes out the index card 60 from the album mount 70, and scans the scanner SC shown in FIG. (Step S300). After the album search menu is selected, in the printer 100, the scanner control unit 24c determines whether image data has been acquired from the scanner SC (step S305). Then, as described above, when the index card 60 is read by the scanner SC and the image data is transmitted to the scanner control unit 24c, the processes of step S310 and step S315 are executed. These processes are the same as the processes in steps S225 and S230 shown in FIG. Here, when the index card 60 shown in FIG. 5 (FIG. 6) is read, since the album ID associated with the QR code (C1) is “AL003”, the album generating unit 24a performs step S315. The bottom electronic album (record) shown in FIG. 3 can be found.

  When an electronic album is found (step S320: YES), the album generating unit 24a overwrites the corresponding record in the album database 30a with the album name image generated in step S310 and the extracted category name, and the album database. 30a is updated (step S325). At this time, if the index card 60 is not corrected, the corresponding record is overwritten with the same album name image and the same category name. On the other hand, for example, when the album name is modified from “Notojima 2005” to “Notojima Travel 2005” by the user, the image of “Notojima Travel 2005” is registered as a new album name image. Become.

  Next, the display control unit 24d generates a process selection menu screen using the thumbnail image and album name image of the representative image of the found album and displays the process selection menu screen on the display unit 32 (step S330).

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a process selection menu screen displayed on the display unit 32 in step S330. The processing selection menu screen W1 displays a thumbnail image and an album name image of a representative image (first image) of the found electronic album, and an operation button B1 for designating various operations that can be performed on the electronic album. ~ B3 is displayed.

  Here, the operation button B1 is a button for collectively printing all images included in the electronic album. The operation button B2 is a button for printing an order sheet used for selecting a print target image and performing print settings for the print target image. The operation button B3 is a button for displaying the album image on the display unit 32. Note that a list of thumbnail images of album images, a mark column for designating an image to be printed, and a mark column for designating a paper size, the number of copies, and the like are printed on the order sheet. Therefore, the user determines the image to be printed by looking at the list of thumbnail images, determines the paper size and the like, fills in the corresponding mark fields, and causes the scanner SC to read the order sheet. As a result, the printer 100 can specify a print target image and print settings.

  Thus, when an electronic album is found in the album search process, the thumbnail image and album name image of the representative image are displayed on the process selection menu screen W1, so that the user knows that the desired electronic album has been found. be able to. In addition, since the operation buttons B1 to B3 are displayed together on the process selection menu screen W1, the user can easily perform various operations on the desired electronic album.

  If the electronic album is not found in step S320 described above, an error message is displayed on the display unit 32 as in step S245 shown in FIG. 2 (step S335).

  As described above, the user can easily specify a desired electronic album using the index card 60 and easily execute printing or display. As will be described below, the user can specify a desired electronic album without using the index card 60.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an album selection menu screen displayed on the display unit 32. When the user operates the operation panel 34 to select an album selection menu from a menu screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 32, the display control unit 24d is based on the electronic album registered in the album database 30a. Then, an album selection menu screen is generated and displayed on the display unit 32. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when three electronic albums (records) are registered in the album database 30a, the display control unit 24d displays the album selection menu screen shown in FIG. 9 based on these three records. W2 is displayed.

  In this album selection menu screen W2, thumbnail images and album name images of representative images (first images) of each electronic album are displayed, so that the user can easily specify a desired electronic album by viewing these images. can do. Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the third electronic album is selected and an OK button (not shown) on the operation panel 34 is pressed, the process selection menu screen W1 shown in FIG. May be displayed.

  The user can also search for a desired electronic album using the category name as a search key. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a category search menu screen displayed on the display unit 32. When the user operates the operation panel 34 to select a category search menu from a menu screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 32, the display control unit 24d generates a category search menu screen W3 shown in FIG. Are displayed on the display unit 32. Therefore, for example, when the user operates the operation panel 34 to check the category name “family” and presses the “execute search” button, the album generation unit 24a displays all the electronic devices registered in the album database 30a. All electronic albums in which “family” is registered as a category name are extracted from the albums. In this case, the display control unit 24d can cause the display unit 32 to display a list of representative thumbnail images and album name images of the extracted electronic album as in the album selection menu screen W2 illustrated in FIG. As a result, the user can easily specify the electronic album by looking at the thumbnail image and album name image of the displayed representative image. The category search menu screen W3 corresponds to the user interface unit in the claims.

  As described above, since the QR code associated with the album ID of the electronic album is printed on the index card of this embodiment, the electronic album can be specified by reading this index card. . Therefore, the user can easily specify the electronic album without operating the operation panel 34. In addition, a thumbnail image of a representative image of the electronic album and a date range are printed on the index card. Therefore, the user can easily guess the contents of the newly created electronic album by looking at the index card.

  Further, since the image corresponding to the album name entry field is registered in the album database 30a in association with the album ID, the user enters the album name in the album name entry field, so that the album name of the electronic album is entered. Can be easily applied. Further, since the category name checked in the category selection column is registered in the album database 30a in association with the album ID, the user can search for an electronic album using this category name as a search key.

  In addition, since the index card is L size, it can be stored on the same album mount as the photos taken with the silver salt film, so it is easy to organize, has excellent visibility, and easily the target index. You can find the card.

B. Variation:
In addition, elements other than the elements claimed in the independent claims among the constituent elements in each of the above embodiments are additional elements and can be omitted as appropriate. The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

B1. Modification 1:
In the above-described embodiment, the index card is printed with a QR code, a thumbnail image of a representative image, a date range, an album name entry field, and a category selection field. A part of the image may not be printed.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an index card according to the first modification. For example, like the index card 62 shown in FIG. 11 (A), only the thumbnail image of the representative image may be printed in addition to the QR code. Since the thumbnail image of the representative image is printed on the index card 62, the user can know which electronic album the index card 62 is for by viewing the thumbnail image. Further, since the QR code is printed on the index card 62, the electronic album can be specified by reading the index card 62 with the scanner SC of the printer 100.

  Further, for example, as in the index card 64 shown in FIG. 11B, in addition to the QR code, only the album name entry field may be printed. Since the QR code is printed on the index card 64, as with the index card 62, the electronic card can be identified by reading the index card 64 with the scanner SC. Also, since the album name entry field is printed on the index card 64, the user can write the album name in the album name entry field and write the index card 64 with the scanner SC, as in the above-described embodiment. By reading it, the album name can be easily given to the electronic album. Further, since the index card 64 in which the album name is written remains in the user's hand, the user can know which electronic album the index card 64 is for by referring to the handwritten album name. Can do.

B2. Modification 2:
In the embodiment described above, the album name entered in the album name entry field of the index card is registered in the album database 30a as an album name image, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the album name entered in the album name entry field may be extracted as text data, and this text data may be registered in the album database 30a instead of the album name image.

B3. Modification 3:
In the album creation process of the embodiment described above, in step S200, the user operates the operation panel 34 to select an album creation menu from a menu screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 32. The present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the memory card MC is inserted into the memory card slot 36, the process from step S205 is automatically executed for all the images stored in the memory card MC, omitting step S200. It may be a configuration.

B4. Modification 4:
In the embodiment described above, as a result of the album search process, the process selection menu screen W1 is displayed on the display unit 32. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, after the process of step S325 of the album search process shown in FIG. 7 is executed, the album image of the found electronic album may be displayed on the display unit 32 instead of the process of step S330. Further, instead of the processing in step S330, all the album images may be printed collectively. Even in this case, the user can easily print or display the album image of the desired electronic album by reading the index card with the scanner SC.

B5. Modification 5:
In the embodiment described above, the user designates the category name of the electronic album by checking the category selection field of the index card, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, like the album name entry field, a category entry field that can be freely entered by the user is printed on the index card, and the category name of the electronic album is designated by handwriting the category name in this category entry field. You may do it. In this case, the printer may extract the category name entered in the category entry column as text data and register this text data in the album database 30a.

B6. Modification 6:
In the above-described embodiment, the code printed on the index card is a QR code. However, instead of the QR code, other two-dimensional codes such as PDF417 and Maxi code, NW-7, JAN code, and the like are used. It can be a code. That is, according to the present invention, a machine-readable code whose contents cannot be visually recognized (machine-readable code) is created in association with the album ID, and the machine-readable code is printed on the index card. Can be configured.

B7. Modification 7:
In the above-described embodiment, the thumbnail images displayed on the process selection menu screen W1 and the album selection menu screen W2 are the thumbnail images of the first image among the five representative images. Thus, any one of the other four representative images excluding the top image may be used. Even in this way, the user can easily guess the contents of the displayed electronic album. Note that the number of representative images is not limited to five, and may be any number of four or less or six or more.

B8. Modification 8:
In the album selection menu screen in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the thumbnail image and album name image of the representative image are displayed. However, only the album name image may be displayed. Absent. Even in this way, the user can easily guess the contents of the electronic album by looking at the album name image, and can specify the desired electronic album.

B9. Modification 9:
In the above-described embodiment, the album database 30 a is stored in the hard disk drive 30, but may be stored in the memory 26 instead of the hard disk drive 30. Further, although the album image is an image stored in the memory card MC, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an image captured by the scanner SC or an image stored in a memory of a digital still camera (not shown) connected to the printer 100 may be used.

1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of album creation processing executed in the printer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the content of the album database 30a typically. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the index card printed in step S215. It is explanatory drawing which shows the index card 60 in which the album name and the category selection column were filled in by the user. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the method of accommodating the index card. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of album search processing executed in the printer 100. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the process selection menu screen displayed on the display part 32 in step S330. It is explanatory drawing which shows the album selection menu screen displayed on the display part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the category search menu screen displayed on the display part. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the index card in the modification 1.

Explanation of symbols

20 ... Control circuit 22 ... CPU
24a ... Album generation unit 24b ... Index card print control unit 24c ... Scanner control unit 24d ... Display control unit 26 ... Memory 30 ... Hard disk drive 30a ... Album database 32 ... Display unit 34 ... Panel 34 ... Operation panel 36 ... Memory card slot 38 ... Scanner interface section 40 ... Printer engine SC ... Scanner MC ... Memory card 100 ... Printer 60, 62, 64 ... Index card C2, C3 ... Representative image C4 ... Date range C5 ... Album name entry field C6 ... Category selection field 70 ... Album Mount W1 ... Process selection menu screen B1-B3 ... Operation buttons W2 ... Album selection menu screen W3 ... Album search screen

Claims (13)

A printing device,
An album generation unit that generates an electronic album including one or more images;
A code generator for generating a machine-readable code for identifying the electronic album;
An index card printing unit that prints at least a card on which the machine reading code is written as an index card of the electronic album;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
A scanner capable of reading the index card;
In addition to the machine reading code, the index card further includes at least one of an album name entry field and a classification information entry field for entering classification information used to classify the electronic album Including
When the index card is read by the scanner, the album generation unit specifies an electronic album based on a machine reading code written on the index card, and an album name entered in the album name entry column And / or the classification information entered in the classification information entry column is stored in the storage unit in association with the electronic album,
Printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
With a display,
The scanner reads the album name entered in the album name entry field as an album name image,
The album generation unit stores the album name image in the storage unit in association with the electronic album,
The display unit displays an album name image associated with each electronic album when displaying a list of electronic albums stored in the storage unit.
Printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising:
As a search key when searching for the electronic album, a user interface unit for inputting the classification information;
Using the classification information input from the user interface unit as a search key, an album search unit for searching for an arbitrary electronic album from among the electronic albums stored in the storage unit,
Comprising
Printing device. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
On the index card, some representative images among the images included in the electronic album are printed.
Printing device. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
On the index card, a shooting date range of each image included in the electronic album is printed.
Printing device. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The size of the index card is a predetermined photo paper size,
Printing device. A printing device,
An album generation unit that generates an electronic album including one or more images;
A code generator for generating a machine-readable code for identifying the electronic album;
A scanner capable of reading an index card of the electronic album in which at least the machine reading code is written;
An output unit capable of outputting the electronic album;
With
When the scanner reads the index card, the output unit specifies an electronic album based on a machine reading code written on the index card, and outputs the electronic album. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:
A menu screen display unit for displaying a process selection menu screen for selecting a predetermined process related to the output of the electronic album;
The menu screen display unit specifies an electronic album based on the machine reading code written on the index card, and displays the processing selection menu screen.
The output unit outputs the electronic album according to a process selected on the process selection menu screen.
Printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
The output unit has a display unit and a printing unit,
The predetermined processing includes processing for printing an order sheet for image printing by the printing unit, processing for printing an image included in the electronic album by the printing unit, and displaying the image included in the electronic album by the display unit. Including at least one of processing to display in
Printing device. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10,
In addition to the machine reading code, the index card further includes at least one of an album name entry field and a classification information entry field for entering classification information used to classify the electronic album Including
When the index card is read by the scanner, the album generation unit specifies an electronic album based on a machine reading code written on the index card, and an album name entered in the album name entry column And / or the classification information entered in the classification information entry column is stored in the storage unit in association with the electronic album,
Printing device. An electronic album generation method for generating an electronic album including one or more images in a printing apparatus,
(A) generating the electronic album;
(B) generating a machine reading code for identifying the electronic album;
(C) printing a card on which at least the machine reading code is written as an index card of the electronic album;
An electronic album generation method comprising: An electronic album output method for outputting an electronic album including one or more images in a printing apparatus,
(A) generating the electronic album;
(B) generating a machine reading code for identifying the electronic album;
(C) reading an index card of the electronic album on which at least the machine reading code is written with a scanner provided in the printing device;
(D) identifying the electronic album based on the machine reading code written on the index card and outputting the electronic album;
An electronic album output method comprising:

Images