JP2007311932A - Image printing system, printer, control method of printer, image storage device, and control method of image storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image printing system which quickly and efficiently makes printing by surely transmitting/receiving image data to be printed, and also to provide a control method of a printer, an image storage device, and a control method of the image storage device. <P>SOLUTION: A print status transmission section 115 transmits a print status not by one page but by one image to a print status receiving section 105. Thus, a digital still camera 101 can understand which images the printer 111 has actually printed and which images the printer has to print. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, an image printing system, a printing apparatus, a printing apparatus control method, and an image archiving apparatus that print out digital image data obtained by photographing with a digital still camera (image archiving apparatus) using a printer (image printing apparatus). The present invention relates to a method for controlling an image storage device.

  In recent years, for example, with the widespread use of digital still cameras, digitization of photographic images has become easy, and in particular, opportunities for handling photographic images as digital image data on personal computers (personal computers) have increased.

  On the other hand, full-color hard copy technology is also rapidly developing. In particular, in the printing technique based on the ink jet method, the image quality of the print output result by the printer is becoming equivalent to the image quality in the silver salt photograph due to the improvement of the technique for reducing the graininess due to the ink dots. Further, the inkjet method is widely used because it is a relatively simple printing technique.

  From the above technical background, it is required that digital image data obtained by taking a picture with a digital still camera can be easily printed out by a printer. Recently, there is an increasing need to print digital image data in a photographic style by directly connecting a digital still camera to a printer without using a personal computer.

  Therefore, a camera direct print standard for connecting a digital still camera directly to a printer and printing out an image photographed by the digital still camera with a printer has been established, and products incorporating the standard are becoming widespread. Any digital still camera and printer using the camera direct print standard can be connected regardless of the manufacturer, and a photographed image can be printed.

  This allows multiple image data taken with a digital still camera to be transferred directly to the printer, determines the print size, layout, etc., and selects a borderless print or index print to print a photo. I can do it now.

  A series of data transmission / reception between the digital still camera and the printer will be briefly described below.

  The user selects one by one or selects all desired images to be printed on the UI (user interface) of the digital still camera. Next, after specifying the print size and layout, print job data is transmitted to the printer.

  On the printer side, image data stored in the digital still camera is referred to according to the received print job data, and image data for which a print command has been issued is transmitted from the digital still camera to the printer page by page. Thus, image data to be printed in the printer is acquired.

  The acquired image data is printed in order, and when one page is completed, print status data indicating that printing is completed is transmitted from the printer to the digital still camera. In response, the digital still camera transfers the image data of the second page to the printer in the same manner as described above.

  In index printing for printing a plurality of images on one page, a digital still camera that transmits data acquires print status data for each page from the printer.

  In general, with such a mechanism, a digital still camera transmits print data directly to a printer for printing without going through a personal computer.

In relation to an image printing system based on the camera direct print standard, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for expanding the degree of freedom of label printing by performing label printing by designating an arbitrary position.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-199020

  By the way, in the case of data transmission / reception as described above, there are the following problems in index printing or the like in which a plurality of images are printed on one page. That is, since the digital still camera that transmits data acquires print status data for each page from the printer, it cannot grasp how many images in one page have been printed. For this reason, there may be a case where smooth processing cannot be performed when the second and subsequent pages are printed.

  Furthermore, the print job may be canceled for some reason during printing. For example, the battery of the digital still camera that transfers data is lost, and the operation of the digital still camera stops because the software freezes. Also, it is conceivable that the connection between the digital still camera and the printer is physically cut off. Alternatively, the user may arbitrarily cancel the print job. In such a case, an unprinted image is generated.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image printing system, a printing apparatus, a printing apparatus control method, an image capable of performing quick, reliable and efficient printing by reliably transmitting and receiving image data to be printed (printed). It is an object to provide a control method for a storage device and an image storage device.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the image printing system according to claim 1, the image storage device and the image printing device communicate directly, and the image printing device receives image data from the image storage device and prints it. In the printing system, the image storage device includes a print command signal transmission unit that transmits a print command signal to the image printing device, and an image data transmission unit that transmits image data to the image printing device. Includes: a print command signal receiving unit that receives the print command signal from the print command signal transmitting unit; an image data receiving unit that receives image data from the image data transmitting unit; and a printing unit that prints the received image data. A print end signal transmitting means for transmitting a print end signal to the image storage device, and the image storage device receives the print end signal. A print end signal receiving means and a storage means for storing the print end signal, and when printing a plurality of images arranged on a single sheet, the print end signal transmitting means includes the image storage device. The printing apparatus has a function of transmitting the print end signal every time printing of one image received from is completed.

  5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the printing apparatus communicates directly with the image storage apparatus and receives a print command signal transmitted from the image storage apparatus in a printing apparatus that receives and prints image data from the image storage apparatus. Receiving means; image data receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from the image storage apparatus; printing means for printing the received image data; and print end signal transmitting means for transmitting a print end signal to the image storage apparatus. The print end signal transmitting means, when printing a single image received from the image storage device, the print end signal is sent when the plurality of images are arranged and printed on one sheet of paper. It has a function of transmitting a signal.

  The printing apparatus control method according to claim 5, wherein the printing command signal transmitted from the image storage apparatus is a method for controlling the printing apparatus that directly communicates with the image storage apparatus and receives and prints image data from the image storage apparatus. A print command signal receiving step for receiving the image data, an image data receiving step for receiving the image data transmitted from the image storage device, a printing step for printing the received image data, and a print end signal transmitted to the image storage device. A print end signal transmitting step, and when printing a plurality of images arranged on one sheet, the print end signal transmitting step ends printing of one image received from the image storage device. It has a function of transmitting the print end signal every time.

  The image storage device according to claim 6 is an image storage device for transmitting image data directly to the printing device and printing the image data. The image storage device transmits image data to the image printing device, and is received from the previous printing device. A print end signal receiving means for receiving a print end signal indicating that the printing of the received image data has been completed, and a storage means for storing the print end signal received by the print end signal receiving means. When a plurality of images are arranged and printed on one sheet of paper, the signal is sent from the printing apparatus every time printing of one image is completed.

  The image storage device control method according to claim 7 is an image storage device control method for transmitting image data directly to a printing device and printing the image data, and transmitting the image data to the image printing device; A printing end signal receiving step for receiving a printing end signal indicating that printing of received image data has been completed from the printing apparatus; and a storing step for storing the printing end signal received by the printing end signal receiving means. The printing end signal is a signal sent from the printing apparatus every time printing of one image is completed when a plurality of images are arranged and printed on one sheet of paper. To do.

  The print end signal transmitting means of the image printing apparatus of the present invention receives a plurality of image data from the image storage apparatus and performs printing, and when the printing of one image is completed, the print end signal is sent to the image storage apparatus. It has the function to transmit to. That is, the image printing system according to the present invention can determine how many images in one page have been printed. Therefore, it is possible to perform quick, reliable, and efficient printing by reliably transmitting and receiving image data to be printed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an image printing system 100 is configured by connecting a digital still camera 101 as an image storage device and a printer 111 as an image printing device.

  The image printing system 100 according to the present embodiment particularly outputs image data obtained by photographing with the digital still camera 101 by the printer 111 without using a personal computer. Is configured to send and receive data.

  The digital still camera 101 includes a print job transmission unit 102, an image data transmission unit 103, an image data storage unit 104, a print status reception unit 105, and an SRAM 106. The printer 111 includes a print job reception unit 112, an image data acquisition unit 113, a print unit 114, and a print status transmission unit 115.

  Next, the processing operation of the image printing system 100 in FIG. 1 will be described.

  Image data photographed by the digital still camera 101 is recorded and saved in an SRAM 106 typified by a CF card or an SD card. The user can view images in the SRAM 106 with a liquid crystal display unit provided in the digital still camera 101.

  When images to be printed in the SRAM 106 are collectively selected manually or automatically, a print job (print command signal) is transmitted from the print job transmission unit 102 in the digital still camera 101 to the print job reception unit 112 in the printer 111. Here, the number, size and layout (template) of images to be printed are set.

  Based on the print job obtained by the print job receiving unit 112, the image to be printed is referred to the image data transmitting unit 103 in the digital still camera 101 from the print job receiving unit 112. Then, an instruction is given to transfer the image data from the digital still camera 101 to the printer 111.

  The image data transmitted from the image data transmission unit 103 is transmitted to the image data acquisition unit 113 in the printer 111. Here, the print data is analyzed and data is transmitted to the print unit 114 in the printer 111. The printing unit 114 actually prints the image.

  Conventionally, every time printing of one page is completed in the printing unit 114, a signal indicating that printing is completed is transmitted from the print status transmission unit 115 to the print status reception unit 105 in the digital still camera 101.

  One page here refers to one sheet of print paper (media). For example, one image may be printed on one medium, but a plurality of images are included in one page as in index printing. May be printed.

  In the present embodiment, a print status (print end signal) is transmitted from the print status transmission unit 115 to the print status reception unit 105 for each image instead of for each page. In other words, the print end signal (print end signal) is sent from the printer 111 every time printing of one image is completed when a plurality of images are arranged and printed on one sheet.

  By doing so, the digital still camera 101 can grasp to what image the printer 111 has actually finished printing and which image has not yet finished printing. Therefore, the processing of the SRAM 106 and the data transmission of the image data transmission unit 103 can be performed quickly and efficiently.

  Finally, based on the print end signal received by the print status receiving unit 105, the image data in the SRAM 106 is referred to, and among the images that have received the print command for the first time, the print command Remove. Alternatively, the mark indicating that printing is completed is rewritten. Then, the image data transmission unit 103 transmits image data that has not yet been transmitted to the image data acquisition unit 113, thereby continuing printing.

  Here, when image data that has not been printed is transmitted from the image data transmission unit 103 to the image data acquisition unit 113 and printing is resumed, there is a case where it is not possible to lay out all the images. Therefore, it is conceivable to perform resetting such as causing the user to select an image that is not to be printed.

  Further, as described above, a print job may be canceled for some reason during printing. In this embodiment, since the digital still camera 101 can grasp to which image printing has been completed, printing is resumed from an image that has not yet been printed even after the print job is canceled. Can do. The specific operation is described below.

  As described above, the print job transmission unit 102 sets the print image, the number of sheets, the size, and the layout. This print job is transmitted to the print job receiving unit 112 and simultaneously recorded in the SRAM 106.

  When the print job is canceled halfway for some reason as described above, a print end signal is transmitted from the print status transmission unit 115 to the print status reception unit 105 and the SRAM 106.

  Here, the data in the SRAM 106 is rewritten from the print end signal transmitted from the print status receiving unit 105. That is, the header file and other marks indicating the end of printing are applied to the image that has been printed, while maintaining the size and layout to be printed. Alternatively, an image that has not been printed may be left, and the completed image may be erased from the SRAM 106. By doing so, the print settings before the print job is canceled can be determined in the SRAM 106, and an unprinted image remains.

  On the UI of the digital still camera 101, two modes of “new print” and “continue print” are prepared, and when the “new print” mode is selected, the image, the number of sheets, the size, and the layout to be printed are renewed. Set to.

  However, when the “continuous printing” mode is selected, the data recorded in the SRAM 106 is called up so that the previous printing can be continued. In other words, the user does not make any new print settings and can perform “continuous printing” inheriting the previous print settings.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of the UI of the digital still camera in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, an index is displayed on the UI 107, and a print designated image is displayed in white.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that, for example, eight images to be printed first are selected and a layout of 1 × 2 × 4 is selected. However, if the print job is canceled during the printing of the fifth sheet, the printing of the images up to the fourth sheet is finished, and the selected image of the fifth sheet is not completed.

  Therefore, after this, when a new medium is set in the printer 111 and the “continue print” mode is selected, the print job transmission unit 102 newly selects the fifth to eighth selected images and the 2 × 4 layout information. To create. Then, the data is transmitted to the print job receiving unit 112 as described above.

  Here, the printing method of the printer (inkjet printer) 111 will be described more specifically.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when printing is performed by the printer 111, ink is ejected for each raster, and an image is formed stepwise. For example, in the case of 4 × 4 index printing, the first to fourth sheets are printed one raster at a time, and four images are finished in order with the last one raster. That is, one to four images are completed almost simultaneously during the last one raster, and a print end signal is transmitted to the digital still camera 101 as needed every time one image is printed.

  When printing 4 × 4 16 images from the digital still camera 101, first, the first to fourth image raster data is transmitted from the digital still camera 101 to the printer 111. At this point, it can be seen that the digital still camera 101 uses one image row of media for printing.

  If the print job is canceled during printing of the first to fourth sheets, the digital still camera 101 transmits the first to fourth sheets of image data to the printer 111, but the first to fourth sheets from the printer 111 are displayed. This means that the image print end data has not been received.

  That is, it is known that the digital still camera 101 cancels the print job while printing the first to fourth images. That is, it can be seen that the images to be printed next are the first to fourth sheets. Therefore, the first to fourth images from the second image row are printed without printing on one image row of the medium.

  According to the present embodiment, as described above, since a print end signal is transmitted for each image, it is possible to record and grasp to what image the digital still camera 101 has finished printing. Further, by calling the data recorded in the SRAM 106 and selecting the “continuous print” mode, it is possible to print on a new medium without having to newly set an image or layout to be printed. That is, it is possible to resume printing under the same conditions as before the print job was canceled.

  In the above embodiment, the image data of “continuous print” is printed on a new medium. Next, a case where “continuous print” is performed on the margin of the medium for which printing has been canceled will be described.

  When a print job is canceled while printing an image in the middle of one page by index printing or the like, a part of the medium remains blank and is not printed. In the case of media that prints multiple images in one page and uses them by cutting out each image, such as sticker printing, if the print job is canceled in the same way as above, the other sticker portions remain unused. turn into.

  In view of this, a technique for performing “continue printing” on the blank area of the medium canceled in the first print job will be described.

  When a plurality of images are printed in one page and printing is completed for each image, a print end signal is sent from the print status transmission unit 115 to the print status reception unit 105, and up to which image has been printed to the SRAM 106 Is recorded.

  If the print job is canceled halfway, the user again sets the medium being printed in the paper feed unit of the printer 111 and selects the “continuous print” mode. Then, an image that has been printed halfway or an image that has not been printed is printed from the unprinted portion of the medium. This is shown in FIG.

  For example, consider a case where seven images are printed in a 3 × 3 layout. Assume that the first print is completed up to the fourth sheet, and the print job is canceled due to the disconnection of the cable between the digital still camera 101 and the printer 111 in the middle of the fifth sheet.

  At this time, the SRAM 106 in the digital still camera 101 stores 3 × 3 layout information and information that printing has been completed up to the fourth image and that printing of the fifth and subsequent images has not been completed. ing.

  Next, when the user selects the “continue print” mode on the UI screen displayed on the liquid crystal part of the digital still camera 101, as shown in FIG. From the point “6”, the fifth and subsequent images are additionally printed.

  In this manner, conventionally, when the print job is canceled, the margin portion of the medium is wasted, and in this embodiment, the user can perform additional printing without making complicated settings again.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a case is considered in which the plan to print nine images first is canceled in the middle of printing the fifth sheet. In this media, there are only four margins. In other words, the remaining five images cannot be printed there.

  In that case, it is only necessary to provide one mode for selecting whether to print on the second medium on the UI 107 of the digital still camera 101 or to delete one of the remaining five images. As a result, it is possible to determine whether the user selects and fits on one medium or prints all images.

  By the way, after the print job is canceled halfway and before “continue printing” is selected, the SRAM 106 such as the CF card or the SD card in the digital still camera 101 is removed and replaced with another SRAM 106. There is a possibility. In this case, the data recorded in the SRAM 106 cannot be called for “continuous printing”.

  On the other hand, the cable between the digital still camera 101 and the printer 111 may be disconnected and then connected to another printer. In this case, the layout unique to the printer cannot be used, and “continuous printing” is impossible.

  In the present embodiment, the type of the SRAM 106 and the model of the connected printer 111 are stored in a recording medium built in the digital still camera 101. When the “continuous print” mode is selected after the print job is canceled halfway, the recording medium built in the digital still camera 101 is referred to.

  If it is not the SRAM 106 or the printer 111 before printing is canceled, an error message indicating that “continue printing” cannot be performed may be displayed on the UI 107 of the digital still camera 101.

  According to the present embodiment, when the digital still camera 101 and the printer 111 are connected without using a personal computer and image printing is performed, image data to be printed next can be quickly transmitted and received. If the print job is canceled during printing, the image 106 and the layout to be printed are called by referring to the SRAM 106 in the digital still camera 101, the previous settings are continued, and "continue printing" is performed on a new medium. It can be carried out.

  In addition, when performing printing on a medium that is in the middle of printing, the first image after resuming printing is shifted from the original position, and the remaining image is printed, so that the margin of the medium can be used without waste. it can. In addition, when a plurality of images to be printed cannot fit in the margin of the medium, the user can cancel some of the images to be printed.

  Further, when the SRAM 106 of the digital still camera 101 is removed or connected to another printer, an error message may be displayed when the digital still camera 101 cannot be continuously printed with reference to a recording medium built in the digital still camera 101. it can.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of UI of the digital still camera in FIG. It is a figure explaining the "continuation print" mode in the image printing system of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a case where one raster is printed for one image row in the image printing system of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a layout in a case where continuous printing is performed from the middle of a medium when the number of images is smaller than the layout in the image printing system of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a layout in a case where the continuous printing is performed from the middle of the medium when the number of images is larger than the layout in the image printing system of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

101 Digital still camera (image storage device)
102 Print job transmission unit (print command signal transmission means)
103 Image data transmission unit (image data transmission means)
105 Print status receiving unit (printing end signal receiving means)
106 SRAM (storage means)
111 Printer (image printing means)
112 Print job receiver (print command signal receiving means)
113 Image data acquisition unit (image data receiving means)
114 Print section (printing means)
115 Print status transmission unit (print end signal transmission means)

Claims (7)

In an image printing system in which an image storage device and an image printing device communicate directly, and the image printing device receives and prints image data from the image storage device,
The image storage device includes a print command signal transmission unit that transmits a print command signal to the image printing device, and an image data transmission unit that transmits image data to the image printing device,
The image printing apparatus includes: a print command signal receiving unit that receives the print command signal from the print command signal transmitting unit; an image data receiving unit that receives image data from the image data transmitting unit; and printing the received image data Printing means for performing printing, and a printing end signal transmitting means for transmitting a printing end signal to the image storage device,
The image storage device includes a print end signal receiving unit that receives the print end signal, and a storage unit that stores the print end signal.
When a plurality of images are arranged and printed on one sheet, the print end signal transmission unit transmits the print end signal every time printing of one image received from the image storage device is completed. An image printing system having a function.   The image storage device recognizes unfinished image data based on the print end signal stored in the storage unit, and receives a print command signal for unfinished image data from the print command signal transmission unit. The image printing system according to claim 1, wherein the image printing system transmits the image.   The image printing system according to claim 1, wherein the image storage device is a digital still camera. In a printing device that communicates directly with an image storage device and receives and prints image data from the image storage device,
A print command signal receiving means for receiving a print command signal transmitted from the image storage device;
Image data receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from the image storage device;
Printing means for printing the received image data;
A print end signal transmitting means for transmitting a print end signal to the image storage device,
When a plurality of images are arranged and printed on one sheet, the print end signal transmission unit transmits the print end signal every time printing of one image received from the image storage device is completed. A printing apparatus having a function. In a control method of a printing apparatus that directly communicates with an image storage apparatus and receives and prints image data from the image storage apparatus,
A print command signal receiving step for receiving a print command signal transmitted from the image storage device;
An image data receiving step of receiving image data transmitted from the image storage device;
A printing step for printing the received image data;
A print end signal transmission step for transmitting a print end signal to the image storage device,
When printing with a plurality of images arranged on one sheet, the print end signal transmission step transmits the print end signal every time printing of one image received from the image storage device is completed. A control method for a printing apparatus having a function. In an image storage device that sends image data directly to a printing device and prints it,
Image data transmitting means for transmitting image data to the image printing apparatus;
A print end signal receiving means for receiving a print end signal indicating that printing of received image data has been completed from the previous printing apparatus;
Storage means for storing the print end signal received by the print end signal receiving means,
The printing end signal is a signal sent from the printing apparatus every time printing of one image is completed when a plurality of images are arranged and printed on one sheet of paper. Image storage device. In the control method of the image storage device for directly sending the image data to the printing device and printing it,
An image data transmission step of transmitting image data to the image printing apparatus;
A print end signal receiving step for receiving a print end signal indicating that printing of received image data has been completed from the previous printing apparatus;
Storing a print end signal received by the print end signal receiving means,
The printing end signal is a signal sent from the printing apparatus every time printing of one image is completed when a plurality of images are arranged and printed on one sheet of paper. Control method of image storage device.

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