JP2008270934A - Printer, printing control program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer, a printing control program and a recording medium by which the printing of photographed image data as a result of using a digital camera in unauthorized manner can be prevented appropriately. <P>SOLUTION: The printer 1 sets predetermined printing permission conditions for printing processing of image data to be printed from a digital camera, for example, the conditions that the digital camera is a specified digital camera and the image data are image data having specified numbers of pixels, specified file formats, and so on, and prints out only images of image data meeting the permission conditions. Thus, while usability is improved, unauthorized use of the digital camera and illegal printing of photographed image data can suitably be prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing control program, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to a printing apparatus, a printing control program, and a recording medium that appropriately prevent printing of photographed image data as a result of unauthorized use of a digital camera.

  In recent years, digital still cameras that shoot still images and digital video cameras that shoot movies have become popular, and digital still cameras that can shoot movies and digital video cameras that can shoot still images have emerged. In these digital cameras, not only the recorded image data is recorded in an internal RAM (Random Access Memory), an internal memory such as a hard disk, Removable external memory such as smart media, compact flash (CF: registered trademark), multimedia card (MMC), SD card (Secure Digital: SD), memory stick (Memory Stick: MS), etc. External memory, DVD (Digital Video Disk), CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable), CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), and other USB-connected various external memories.

  A printing apparatus has emerged that prints out image data in the internal memory or external memory of such a digital camera by directly connecting the digital camera or by connecting the external memory to an interface (Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2).

  A printing apparatus that prints image data captured by such a conventional digital camera prints and outputs image data in the internal memory or external memory of the digital camera without restrictions. For example, using a digital camera for business use, There is a risk of improperly printing image data taken for private use.

  Conventionally, a technique has been proposed in which an identification code is added to digital data, and the processing content of the digital data is determined based on the identification code added to the received digital data (see Patent Document 3). .

JP-A-2005-151521 JP 2006-254125 A JP 2002-281277 A

  However, in the prior art described in Patent Document 3, since the processing content is determined by adding an identification code to each digital data, this prior art is applied to image data captured by a digital camera. It is necessary to add an identification code to each of a large number of photographed image data and determine the processing content of the image data for each identification code. There has been a problem that it is not possible to appropriately prevent printing of captured image data and prevent unauthorized use, and it is not possible to appropriately protect the confidentiality of image data captured by a digital camera.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus, a print control program, and a recording medium that can appropriately prevent unauthorized use of a digital camera and unauthorized printing of captured image data.

  The printing apparatus according to claim 1 is a printing apparatus to which a digital camera is connected, receives image data to be printed from the digital camera, and prints out the image. The above object is achieved by setting a predetermined print permission condition in the print processing and printing out only the image of the image data satisfying the print permission condition.

  In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, the print permission condition may be a digital camera in which the digital camera is registered in advance as a digital camera to be permitted to print.

  For example, as described in claim 3, the print permission condition may be image data in which the image data to be printed is stored in an internal memory fixedly mounted on the digital camera. Good.

  Further, for example, the print permission condition may be image data having a predetermined number of pixels in which the image data to be printed is registered in advance as the number of pixels to be printed. .

  Further, for example, the print permission condition may be image data of a predetermined file format in which the image data to be printed is registered in advance as a file format to be printed. .

  Further, for example, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the print permission condition is a predetermined condition in which date / time information as additional information added to the image data to be printed is registered in advance as a date / time to be printed. It may be a date and time.

  For example, as described in claim 7, the print permission condition includes a predetermined information in which position information as additional information added to the image data to be printed is registered in advance as a position to be printed. It may be a position.

  Furthermore, for example, as described in claim 8, when the printing apparatus performs index printing in which a plurality of images are aggregated and printed in a predetermined order, an image of the image data that satisfies the print permission condition. Index printing may be performed by consolidating only the images.

  Further, for example, when the image data to be printed does not satisfy the print permission condition and cannot be printed, the printing apparatus may output a notification to that effect.

  Further, for example, when printing the image of the image data to be printed, the printing apparatus embeds and prints the image of the image data to be printed in a predetermined format image. Also good.

  Further, for example, when printing an image of the image data to be printed, the printing apparatus may print out only a predetermined print medium set in advance. .

  Furthermore, for example, when printing the image of the image data to be printed, the printing apparatus may send the image to a predetermined destination prior to printing the image of the image data to be printed. A notification e-mail notifying that the image is to be printed may be transmitted.

  For example, as described in claim 13, the printing apparatus may transmit the notification target email with the image data to be printed attached thereto.

  Furthermore, for example, as described in claim 14, prior to the transmission of the notification e-mail, the printing apparatus notifies and outputs an inquiry about permission / non-permission for the transmission of the notification e-mail, and the notification e-mail Only when the transmission of the notification e-mail is permitted, after the notification e-mail is transmitted, the image of the image data to be printed relating to the notification e-mail may be printed out.

  For example, as described in claim 15, the printing apparatus may describe predetermined information among additional information added to the image data to be printed in the notification e-mail.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 16, the printing apparatus acquires digital camera specifying information for specifying the digital camera from the digital camera, and writes the digital camera specifying information in the notification email. May be.

  A print control program according to a seventeenth aspect of the invention achieves the above object by causing a printing apparatus to execute as the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixteenth aspects.

  A recording medium according to an eighteenth aspect of the invention achieves the above object by recording the printing control program according to the seventeenth aspect.

  According to the present invention, a predetermined print permission condition is set for the print processing of the image data to be printed from the digital camera, and only the image of the image data that satisfies the print permission condition is printed out. While improving usability, it is possible to appropriately prevent unauthorized use of digital cameras and unauthorized printing of photographed image data, and to properly use digital cameras for business use and to protect the confidentiality of image data it can.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 and 2 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a printing apparatus, a print control program, and a recording medium according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the printing apparatus, the print control program, and the recording medium according to the present invention. It is a principal part block block diagram of the applied printing apparatus.

  In FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 includes a main control unit 2, a storage unit 3, a display operation unit 4, a plotter unit 5, a digital camera I / F unit 6, a network communication unit 7, and the like. Connected with.

  The storage unit 3 stores a basic program of the printing apparatus 1, a print control program to be described later, and other system data, in particular, print permission conditions for image data to be printed based on the print control program, and from the digital camera. The received image data to be printed is stored.

  The main control unit 2 controls each unit of the printing apparatus 1 based on a program stored in the storage unit 3 to execute basic processing as the printing apparatus 1 and also executes print control processing described later.

  The display operation unit 4 is provided with various operation keys and a display unit, for example, a liquid crystal display. Instruction operations for various operations of the printing apparatus 1 are performed and input from the operation keys. In addition, various information notified from the printing apparatus 1 to the operator, in particular, various information notified to the operator in a print control process described later is displayed on the display unit.

  The plotter unit 5 prints out an image on a printing medium such as paper or film (in the following description, it is assumed to be printed on paper) by a predetermined printing method, for example, a sublimation method, an ink ejection method, or the like. That is, the plotter unit 5 converts an image of an image file sent from a digital camera (not shown) and stored in the storage unit 3 into predetermined drawing data, and prints it on a sheet by the above printing method.

  The digital camera I / F unit 6 is directly connected to a digital camera (not shown) in a predetermined interface format, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) method, and receives an image file sent from the digital camera, and the main control unit 2 stores the image file in the storage unit 3 in a predetermined file format. The connection between the digital camera I / F unit 6 and the digital camera may be a wired connection or a wireless connection.

  The network communication unit 7 is connected to a predetermined network NW such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and is electronically connected to a personal computer for an administrator connected to the network NW under the control of the main control unit 2. Send and receive mail.

  Image recording in a digital camera is generally a camera file system standard, the so-called DCF (Design Rule for Camera File system) standard, and an Exif (Exchangeable Image File format for digital still camera) standard, which is a standard for a camera image data format. However, the image file (image data) recorded by Exif or the like usually includes various shooting information such as exposure information and date information, and this shooting information is also printed from the digital camera as part of the image file. Sent to device 1.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment performs a print control process for controlling whether or not an image of image data from a digital camera can be printed based on various print permission conditions.

  That is, when a digital camera is connected to the digital camera I / F unit 6 (step S101), the printing apparatus 1 acquires information on the digital camera (step S102). This digital camera information is information that identifies the digital camera, for example, information that can be acquired from the digital camera via the digital camera I / F unit 6 such as the model and model number (hereinafter referred to as digital camera identification information). The main control unit 2 acquires the information from the digital camera connected to the digital camera I / F unit 6 via the digital camera I / F unit 6.

  Next, the main control unit 2 performs an operation of selecting an image to be printed by the printing apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as a print target image) among images stored in an internal memory such as a RAM of the digital camera or an external memory. (Step S103), the main control unit 2 prohibits selection of image data stored in the external memory of the digital camera and selects the image data to be printed and stores it in the internal memory. The selection operation can be performed only on the image data.

  Accordingly, a removable external memory such as an SD card that is photographed by a digital camera other than the digital camera currently connected to the printing apparatus 1 and stores image data is connected to the digital camera currently connected to the printing apparatus 1. When inserted, the image data stored in the external memory can be prohibited from being selected as image data to be printed.

  When the image data to be printed is selected, the main control unit 2 acquires the image data to be printed (print target image file) from the digital camera via the digital camera I / F unit 6 and stores it in the storage unit 3. In addition to storing the image data, image information (additional information) such as date information described in the image file to be printed (Exif file or the like) is acquired (step S104), and image data to be printed is permitted to be printed. It is checked whether it is data (step S105).

  The main control unit 2 determines whether or not the image data to be printed is image data that is permitted to be printed based on various print permission conditions. That is, the main control unit 2 permits the digital camera individual print permission that the digital camera specifying information acquired in step S102 matches the specific information of the digital camera registered in advance in the storage unit 3 as a digital camera that permits printing. Conditions, the number of pixels of the image data to be printed is the same as the number of pixels registered in advance in the storage unit 3 as the number of pixels permitted to be printed, print permission condition for the number of pixels, and the image file (image data) to be printed The file format printing permission condition is that the file format matches a file format (for example, TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) format, etc.) registered in advance in the storage unit 3 as a file format that permits printing. The date / time information (shooting date / time information) of the shooting information (additional information) acquired in step 2 permits the storage unit 3 to print in advance. The date and time information printing permission condition that is coincident with the date and time registered as (shooting date and time), and the position information (shooting position information) of the shooting information (additional information) acquired in step S104 permits the storage unit 3 to print in advance. It is determined whether or not the image data is allowed to be printed based on a position information printing permission condition that is coincident with a position registered as a position (photographing position).

  The main control unit 2 reads out a print permission report indicating that printing registered in advance in the storage unit 3 is not permitted if printing is not permitted in the determination of the print permission condition in step S105, and the plotter unit 5 In step S106, a print permission / rejection report print process (notification output) for printing on paper is performed, and the process ends.

  The main control unit 21 sends an e-mail (notification e-mail) to the effect that image printing is performed at a predetermined destination on the display unit of the display operation unit 4 when printing is permitted in the determination of the print permission condition in step S105. Is displayed and a message prompting selection of permission / non-permission of image print notification by the notification e-mail is displayed (step S107), and it is checked whether the operator selects permission of mail notification (step S108).

  When the image print notification by sending the notification email is rejected in step S108, the main control unit 21 ends the process without printing the image data to be printed, and the image print notification by the notification email is received. When permitted, the mail text of the notification e-mail registered in advance is read from the storage unit 3 and transmitted to the mail address registered in the storage unit 3 through the network communication unit 7 and the network NW. (Step S109).

  The transmission destination of the notification e-mail is, for example, a business administrator, a digital camera, a device administrator of the printing apparatus 1 or the like. Further, the image data to be printed is attached to the notification e-mail, and the image added to the image data (image file) to be printed such as Exif acquired in step S104 is added to the body of the e-mail. Recording information (additional information) other than data or / and digital camera specifying information acquired from the digital camera via the digital camera I / F unit 6 in step S102 are described.

  When the main control unit 2 transmits the notification e-mail, the main control unit 2 passes the image of the image data to be printed in the storage unit 3 to the plotter unit 5, performs the printing process in the plotter unit 5, and ends the processing (step S110).

  In this image printing process, the printing apparatus 1 uses an image of image data to be printed on a specific format image registered in the storage unit 3 in advance, for example, a format image that specifies an image for business use. You may print by embedding. Further, in this image printing process, the printing apparatus 1 selects a specific paper feed tray registered in advance in the storage unit 3 from the plurality of paper feed trays provided in the plotter unit 5, and selects from the paper feed tray. May be printed out (for example, a sheet having a description indicating that the image is a business image in advance).

  Further, in this image printing process, when the image print request is an index print request, the printing apparatus 1 causes the pixel number printing permission condition, the file format printing permission condition, the date / time information printing permission condition, and the position information printing permission condition. Only images satisfying the determination of at least one print permission condition are selected, and an index image of only the images determined to be printable is created and printed by the plotter unit 5.

  As described above, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment sets a predetermined print permission condition for the print processing of image data to be printed from the digital camera, and the image of the image data that satisfies the print permission condition. Only print out.

  Therefore, it is possible to appropriately prevent unauthorized use of digital cameras and unauthorized printing of captured image data while improving usability, and to properly use digital cameras for business use, etc., and to protect image data confidentiality. Can do.

  In addition, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment controls whether or not printing is possible with a printing permission condition that the digital camera is a digital camera that is registered in advance as a printing-permitted digital camera.

  Therefore, it is possible to print out only image data from a digital camera registered in advance for business use, etc., and it is possible to further appropriately use the business digital camera etc. appropriately and protect the confidentiality of the image data. .

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment controls whether or not printing is possible on the condition that the image data to be printed is image data stored in an internal memory fixedly mounted on the digital camera. is doing.

  Therefore, when an external memory such as an SD card memory in which an image taken with another digital camera is stored is inserted into the digital camera connected to the printing apparatus 1, the image data in the external memory is printed. It is possible to print out only image data from a digital camera registered in advance for business use, etc., preventing it from being selected as a target. Proper use of the business digital camera etc. and security protection of image data Can be achieved even more appropriately.

  Further, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not printing is possible with a print permission condition that the image data to be printed is image data having a predetermined number of pixels that is registered in advance as the number of pixels to be permitted to print. I have control.

  Therefore, it is possible to print only the image of the image data having the number of pixels set in advance for business use, and it is possible to further appropriately use the business digital camera and the like and protect the confidentiality of the image data.

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment controls whether or not printing can be performed using a print permission condition that the image data to be printed is image data having a predetermined file format that is registered in advance as a file format to be printed. is doing.

  Therefore, it is possible to print only an image of image data in a file format preset for business use and the like, and appropriate use of a business digital camera and the confidentiality of the image data can be further appropriately achieved.

  Further, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment uses, as a print permission condition, that date and time information as additional information added to image data to be printed is a predetermined date and time that is registered in advance as a date and time to be printed. Controls whether or not printing is possible.

  Therefore, it is possible to print only the image of the image data taken at the date and time set in advance for business use, etc., and it is possible to further appropriately use the business digital camera etc. appropriately and protect the confidentiality of the image data. .

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment uses, as a print permission condition, that position information as additional information added to image data to be printed is a predetermined position registered in advance as a position to be printed. Controls whether or not printing is possible.

  Therefore, it is possible to print only the image of the image data taken at a preset position for business use, etc., and to appropriately use the business digital camera etc. and to protect the confidentiality of the image data more appropriately. .

  Further, when performing index printing, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment performs index printing only with images of image data that satisfy the print permission condition.

  Accordingly, the confidentiality of the image data can be ensured even in the index printing, and the index printing can be performed only with the images that can be normally printed, thereby improving the usability.

  Further, when the image data to be printed does not satisfy the print permission condition and cannot be printed, the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment outputs a notification to that effect.

  Accordingly, it is possible to more appropriately prevent the printing of images taken for purposes other than business purposes and to improve the usability, and to further ensure the confidentiality of the image data.

  In addition, when printing an image of image data to be printed, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment performs printing by embedding the image of the image data to be printed in a predetermined format image.

  Therefore, for example, it is possible to print the image by embedding it in a format image or the like that is clearly indicated for business use, and it is possible to further ensure the confidentiality of the image data.

  Furthermore, when printing an image of image data to be printed, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment prints out only a predetermined print medium set in advance.

  Therefore, it is possible to print an image on paper or the like that is clearly indicated for business use, and it is possible to further ensure the confidentiality of the image data.

  In addition, when printing the image of the image data to be printed, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment prints the image at a predetermined destination prior to printing the image of the image data to be printed. A notification email is sent to notify.

  Therefore, it is possible to notify the business manager, the digital camera, the device manager of the printing apparatus 1 and the like that the image of the image data of the digital camera for business use is printed by e-mail. The proper use of 1 and the security of image data can be more appropriately secured.

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment transmits the image data to be printed attached to the notification e-mail.

  Therefore, it is possible to notify a business administrator, a device administrator of the digital camera, the printing apparatus 1 or the like what kind of image is printed by e-mail, and appropriate use and image of the digital camera or the printing apparatus 1 Data security can be secured even more appropriately.

  Further, prior to the transmission of the notification email, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment reports and outputs an inquiry about permission / non-permission for the transmission of the notification email, and is permitted to transmit the notification email. Only when the notification e-mail is transmitted, an image of the image data to be printed related to the notification e-mail is printed out.

  Therefore, the use of the digital camera and the appropriate use of the printing apparatus 1 can be further promoted, and the confidentiality of the image data can be further appropriately improved.

  Furthermore, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment describes predetermined information among additional information added to image data to be printed in the notification e-mail.

  Therefore, additional information such as shooting date / time information and shooting location information can be written in the notification e-mail and notified to a business administrator, a digital camera, a device administrator such as the printing apparatus 1, etc. Appropriate use of the printing apparatus 1 and confidentiality of image data can be more appropriately ensured.

  Further, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment acquires digital camera specifying information for specifying the digital camera from the digital camera, and describes the digital camera specifying information in the notification e-mail.

  Therefore, it is possible to notify a business administrator, a digital camera, a device manager such as the printing apparatus 1 by notifying which digital camera image data image is to be printed in a notification e-mail. The proper use of 1 and the confidentiality of the image data can be more appropriately secured.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention can be used in a printing apparatus, a print control program, and a recording medium that receive image data directly from a digital camera and print it.

1 is a block diagram of a main part of a printing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 2 is a flowchart showing print control processing by the printing apparatus of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 2 Main control part 3 Memory | storage part 4 Display operation part 5 Plotter part 6 Digital camera I / F part 7 Network communication part 8 Bus NW network

Claims (18)

  In a printing apparatus that is connected to a digital camera, receives image data to be printed from the digital camera, and prints out the image, a predetermined print permission condition is set for the print processing of the image data to be printed from the digital camera. A printing apparatus that prints out only an image of image data that satisfies the print permission condition.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print permission condition is a digital camera in which the digital camera is registered in advance as a digital camera to be permitted to print.   3. The printing according to claim 1, wherein the print permission condition is image data in which the image data to be printed is stored in an internal memory fixedly mounted on the digital camera. apparatus.   4. The print permission condition is image data having a predetermined number of pixels in which the image data to be printed is registered in advance as the number of pixels to be printed. 5. The printing apparatus as described.   5. The print permission condition is image data of a predetermined file format in which the image data to be printed is registered in advance as a file format to be printed. 5. The printing apparatus as described.   2. The print permission condition according to claim 1, wherein the date and time information as additional information added to the image data to be printed is a predetermined date and time registered in advance as the date and time of the print permission target. Item 6. The printing device according to any one of Items 5 to 6.   The print permission condition is a predetermined position in which position information as additional information added to the image data to be printed is registered in advance as a position of the print permission target. Item 7. The printing device according to any one of Items 6 to 6.   When performing index printing in which a plurality of images are aggregated and printed in a predetermined order, the printing apparatus aggregates and prints only the images of image data that satisfy the print permission condition. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.   9. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image data to be printed does not satisfy the printing permission condition and cannot be printed, the printing apparatus outputs a notification to that effect. .   10. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when printing an image of the image data to be printed, the image is printed by embedding the image of the image data to be printed in a predetermined format image. A printing apparatus according to claim 1.   11. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when printing an image of the image data to be printed, the printing apparatus prints out only a predetermined print medium set in advance. The printing apparatus as described.   When the printing apparatus prints out the image of the image data to be printed, a notification e-mail notifying that the image is to be printed to a predetermined destination prior to printing out the image of the image data to be printed The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein:   The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the printing apparatus transmits the image data to be printed attached to the notification e-mail.   Prior to the transmission of the notification e-mail, the printing apparatus outputs a query for permission / non-permission for the transmission of the notification e-mail, and only when there is permission for the transmission of the notification e-mail 14. The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein after the notification e-mail is transmitted, an image of the image data to be printed according to the notification e-mail is printed out.   15. The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the printing apparatus describes predetermined information among additional information added to the image data to be printed in the notification email. Printing device.   16. The printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the printing apparatus acquires digital camera specifying information for specifying the digital camera from the digital camera, and describes the digital camera specifying information in the notification e-mail. The printing apparatus in any one.   A printing control program for causing a printing apparatus to execute the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16.   A recording medium on which the printing control program according to claim 17 is recorded.

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