JP2010288034A - Image reproducing device, and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reproducing device and a printing system which are capable of controlling a printer so as to print an image resulting from color tone correction based on color tone setting of a display device. <P>SOLUTION: The image reproducing device includes: an operation portion; a connection portion; and an image generation section for generating a coded image and furthermore includes: a printing information generation section for generating printing information in a prescribed form from the coded image; a control information acquisition section for acquiring color tone information for use in color tone correction of a display image in the display device from the display device through the connection portion; a generation control section for, in response to detection of a prescribed operation, not only generating a coded image from an image signal outputted from the connection portion but also controlling the image generation section so as to perform color tone correction of the coded image on the basis of the acquired color tone information; and a print control section for controlling the printing information generation section so as to generate printing information from the coded image subjected to color tone correction and transmitting the printing information and a print indication to the printer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reproducing device and a printing system, and more particularly to an image reproducing device and a printing system that are connected to a display device and a printer and control printing of an image.

  In recent years, various image reproducing apparatuses such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player and a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) recorder have become widespread due to the multi-function and diversification of digital technology. These image reproducing apparatuses output image / audio signals to a television apparatus, a monitor, a speaker, or the like by decoding image / audio digital data recorded on a DVD or HDD.

  As a feature of the digital image reproducing apparatus, not only outputting an image / audio signal but also having a function of transferring image / audio digital data to another apparatus such as a personal computer or a printer has been put into practical use. . Specifically, image reproduction apparatuses, personal computers, printers, and the like are interconnected via HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) terminals, and communication control is performed using CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) as a protocol, thereby performing data communication with each other. It is possible.

  By using CEC, for example, the printer can perform printing operations on the screen displayed by the image playback device, or the image playback device can be synchronized with the power ON / OFF of the image playback device and the printer. Processing can be realized.

  In relation to the above, in Patent Document 1, even if an event to be notified occurs in the printer in the image reproducing apparatus that can communicate with the printer, the user's viewing is not hindered and unnecessary images are recorded. An image reproducing apparatus that never happens is disclosed.

  The image reproduction apparatus includes a combining unit that starts combining information using a combining unit when it is detected that an event to be notified has occurred in the printing apparatus. In addition, control means for storing the display image in the storage unit according to the type of the display image determined by the determination means is provided.

  In relation to the above, Patent Document 2 discloses a data communication system that can efficiently transfer data regardless of whether a receiving node such as a printer has a decoder or not when printing image data. It is disclosed.

  This data communication system includes a decoder when there are a plurality of transfer destination nodes to which data of the same content is transferred, for example, image data for printing or screen display. In contrast, compressed data is transferred. Also, uncompressed data is transferred to a node that does not have a decoder. Thereby, data transfer can be smoothly performed to a plurality of nodes having different decoding functions.

JP 2008-109316 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-112533

  However, when the user prints on the printing device while viewing the image displayed on the display device as described above, the color tone setting of the display device and the color tone setting of the printing device do not always match. . Therefore, an image having a color tone different from the color tone actually displayed on the screen, for example, an image having a different contrast or brightness may be printed.

  Regarding this problem, a method of accepting various setting instructions related to color tone correction from the user at the time of printing is also conceivable. However, there is a problem that the color tone correction cannot be intuitively performed. Therefore, there is a problem that it is necessary to repeatedly perform test printing until printing in a color tone desired by the user is performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is an image reproduction device that can be connected to a printer and a display device. The image reproduction device can perform print control of an image being reproduced, and It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reproducing apparatus and a printing system capable of controlling a printer so as to print an image subjected to color tone correction based on color tone settings.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image reproduction apparatus of the present invention includes an operation unit that receives an operation instruction, a connection unit that inputs and outputs an information signal including an image signal by connecting a display device or a printing device, and an image signal in advance. An image generation unit that generates an encoded image of a predetermined encoding method; and a print information generation unit that generates, from the encoded image, printing information whose format is determined in advance for use by the printing apparatus for printing. A control information acquisition unit that acquires, from the display device, control information used by the display device for image display control by communicating with the display device using the connection unit; When the operation unit detects a predetermined operation, an encoded image is generated from an image signal output by the connection unit at the time of the detection, and the encoded image is converted into the control information. A generation control unit that controls the image generation unit to correct the image based on the correction information, and the print information generation unit that generates the print information from the encoded image that has been corrected. And a printing control unit that transmits printing information and a printing instruction to the printing apparatus using the connection unit.

  According to this configuration, the image reproduction apparatus of the present invention includes an operation unit that receives an operation instruction and a connection unit that inputs and outputs an information signal including an image signal. An image generation unit that generates an encoded image of a predetermined encoding method from the image signal is provided. In addition, a printing information generation unit that generates printing information in a predetermined format that can be printed by the printing apparatus from the encoded image is provided. The display device further includes a control information acquisition unit that acquires, from the display device, control information used by the display device for image display control. In addition, when a predetermined operation is detected, an image generation unit is configured to generate an encoded image from the image signal output by the connection unit at the time of detection, and to perform correction based on control information obtained from the encoded image. A generation control unit for controlling is provided. The printing information generation unit is controlled to generate printing information from the corrected encoded image, and a printing control unit is provided that transmits the generated printing information and a printing instruction to the printing apparatus. Thereby, it is possible to print the image corrected by the control information acquired from the display device by the printing device.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the image reproduction device of the present invention, the control information acquisition unit acquires the tone information used by the display device for correcting the tone of the image as the control information, and the generation control unit includes: The image generation unit is controlled to correct the color tone of the generated encoded image based on the color tone information.

  According to this configuration, the control information acquisition unit acquires the color tone information used for color tone correction when the display device displays an image as the control information. The generation control unit controls the image generation unit to perform color tone correction on the generated encoded image based on the acquired color tone information. As a result, an image that has been subjected to color correction using the color information acquired from the display device can be printed by the printing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the image reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the connection unit includes an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) terminal, the print control unit uses the HDMI terminal, and is used as a control protocol. The printing information and the print instruction are transmitted to the printing apparatus using CEC (Consumer Electronics Control).

  According to this configuration, the connection unit includes the HDMI terminal. The print control unit performs communication using CEC as a control protocol when transmitting printing information and a print instruction to the printing apparatus. Thereby, it is possible to easily transmit printing information and a print instruction using an existing communication device and control protocol.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the image reproduction device of the present invention, the connection unit includes an HDMI terminal, the color tone information acquisition unit uses the HDMI terminal, and CEC is used as a control protocol. Is obtained from the display device.

  According to this configuration, the connection unit includes the HDMI terminal. The color tone information acquisition unit performs communication using CEC as a control protocol when the color tone information is acquired from the display device. Thereby, it is possible to easily acquire the color tone information using an existing communication device and control protocol.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image reproduction apparatus according to the present invention is configured so that the generation control unit detects a predetermined operation by the operation unit within a predetermined period from the detection time. The image generation unit is controlled to generate a plurality of the encoded images from the image signal output from the connection unit, and the print control unit selects one encoded image from the plurality of encoded images An instruction is received, and the printing information generation unit is controlled to generate the printing information from the encoded image selected by the selection instruction.

  According to this configuration, when a predetermined operation is detected, the generation control unit generates a plurality of encoded images from the image signal output by the connection unit within a predetermined period from the time of detection. The print control unit receives selection of one encoded image from the plurality of encoded images, for example, by outputting thumbnails of the generated encoded images to the display device. Then, the printing information generation unit is controlled so as to generate printing information from the selected encoded image. For this reason, the user can select an image to be printed from among a plurality of print candidate images.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image reproduction apparatus according to the present invention is configured so that the generation control unit detects a predetermined operation by the operation unit within a predetermined period from the detection time. The image generation unit is controlled so as to generate the encoded image from frames that can be independently combined among the frames included in the image signal output by the connection unit.

  According to this configuration, when a predetermined operation is detected, the generation control unit can singly combine the frames included in the image signal output from the connection unit within a predetermined period from the time of detection, such as a key. An encoded image is generated from the frame. As a result, it is possible to avoid an image that is missing alone as a print candidate image, such as a P picture in MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group).

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system including a display device, a printing device, and an image reproduction device, wherein the image reproduction device is connected to the display device or the printing device. A connection unit that inputs and outputs an information signal including a signal, an image generation unit that generates an encoded image of a predetermined encoding method from an image signal, and a format that is predetermined for use by the printing apparatus for printing A printing information generation unit that generates printing information from the encoded image, and a control information acquisition request used by the display device for image display control are transmitted to the display device using the connection unit. When the control information acquisition unit and the operation unit detect a predetermined operation, an encoded image is generated from the image signal output by the connection unit at the time of the detection, A generation control unit that controls the image generation unit to correct an encoded image based on the control information; and a print information generation unit that generates the printing information from the encoded image that has been corrected. A printing control unit that controls and transmits the generated printing information and printing instruction to the printing apparatus using the connection unit, and the display device receives the acquisition request from the control information acquisition unit, The image processing apparatus includes a control unit that transmits the control information to the image reproduction device.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to print the image corrected by the control information acquired from the display device with the printing device.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the printing system of the present invention, when the control unit included in the display device accepts the acquisition request, the display device uses color control information used by the display device for color tone correction of the image. To the image reproduction apparatus, and the generation control unit controls the image generation unit so as to correct the color tone of the generated encoded image based on the color tone information.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to print an image that has been subjected to color tone correction using the color tone information acquired from the display device by the printing device.

  According to the present invention, an image viewed by a user, that is, an image having a color tone close to an image displayed on the screen of a display device can be printed by a printer. Further, when it is desired to correct the color tone of the print image, no operation is required for the printing apparatus or the image reproduction apparatus. For this reason, even a user who is unfamiliar with the operation of the printing apparatus or the image reproducing apparatus can correct the color tone of the printed image with a simple operation of setting the color tone on the display device.

  Further, according to the present invention, for example, an encoded image is generated from a key frame that can be combined independently, such as an I picture in MPEG, and a print candidate image is presented to the user to accept selection. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of problems such as missing data in the print image and to print an image more desirable for the user.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the function part with which the image reproduction apparatus of this invention is provided. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the image reproduction apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the printing process which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the printing process which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a screen figure which shows the thumbnail display screen which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment shown here is an example and this invention is not limited to embodiment shown here.
<1-1. Internal configuration>

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the HDD recorder 1 (= image playback apparatus) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that the arrow lines in FIG. 3 indicate the flow of image / audio data. Moreover, the straight line without an arrow has shown the communication bus for the control part 11 to transmit / receive the control signal etc. with respect to each apparatus.

  The HDD recorder 1 is configured to include at least a control unit 11, a memory 12, an operation unit 13, a flash memory 14, a broadcast receiving unit 15, an HDD 16, a signal processing unit 17, and an external connection terminal 18 (= connection unit). . In addition, there are a display 2 (= display device) and a printer 3 (= printing device) as externally connected devices.

  The control unit 11 controls the driving of each member of the HDD recorder 1 so as to perform overall control of image / sound reproduction processing, recording processing, output processing, and the like. For example, the control unit 11 includes a plurality of microprocessors. Further, the control unit 11 includes an encoder unit 11a to a generation control unit 11e (FIG. 1), which will be described later, as functional units realized by executing a program on the arithmetic processing device provided in the control unit 11.

  The memory 12 is a medium for temporarily recording various data held by the HDD recorder 1, and is composed of, for example, a writable RAM (Random Access Memory). The memory 12 has a role as a buffer memory for temporarily recording, for example, processing data when various kinds of information processing are performed by the control unit 11 and instruction commands received from the user.

  The operation unit 13 is used for a user to give various instructions to the HDD recorder 1 for reproducing images / audio. The instruction output from the operation unit 13 is received by the control unit 11. The control unit 11 that has received the instruction performs reproduction processing, recording processing, and the like based on the content of the instruction. Note that the operation unit 13 of the present embodiment includes a print key (not shown) described later. When the user presses the print key, the image displayed on the display 2 can be printed by the printer 3 when the user presses the print key.

  The flash memory 14 is a kind of EEPROM, and is a ROM that can be written / erased by a user of the device. Since the flash memory 14 can be written and erased while mounted on the circuit board, it is used for storing applications that require rewriting when used, for example, operation setting data of the apparatus, user-specific information, and the like.

  The broadcast receiving unit 15 is connected to an external antenna (not shown), and performs digital / analog broadcast tuning, reception, frequency conversion, amplification, demodulation, and the like. The broadcast receiving unit 15 is configured to include an analog tuner, an image intermediate frequency amplification circuit, a demodulation circuit, an amplification circuit, and the like in the case of an analog system. In the case of a digital system, a digital tuner, an error correction unit, and the like are included.

  For example, when receiving a digital broadcast, a digital tuner included in the broadcast receiving unit 15 performs amplification and detection of the intermediate frequency signal. Thereby, TS (= Transport Stream) which is a digital signal of the MPEG2 system is acquired. Note that the TS is an audio PES (Packetized Elementary Stream), an image PES, and additional information of a plurality of programs divided into fixed-length TS packets and connected. The acquired TS is given to the HDD 16 or the signal processing unit 17 according to an instruction from the control unit 11.

  The HDD 16 is a magnetic recording medium that records digital data. In the present embodiment, it is mainly used for recording image / audio data to be recorded, print data (= printing information) for printing by the printer 3, and the like.

  The signal processing unit 17 is a demultiplexing unit that receives a TS and separates it into an audio digital signal including audio information and an image digital signal including image information. Specifically, for example, the TS generated by the broadcast receiving unit 15 is divided into TS packets. Then, by recombining the TS packets, an audio / image PES is generated.

  Then, the ES (Elementary Stream = encoded audio / image data) is generated by combining the PES. Further, the signal processing unit 17 decodes the ES and converts it into various digital signals. The digital signal obtained by decoding is given to the HDD 16 when recording. Further, when outputting to the display 2 or the like, it is given to the external connection terminal 18.

  The external connection terminal 18 is an interface including a plurality of input / output terminals including, for example, an HDMI terminal and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal. The external connection terminal 18 uses these input / output terminals to connect the HDD recorder 1 to an external device such as the display 2 or the printer 3 to input / output digital signals.

  Although not particularly shown, the display 2 is a display device including a display unit, an operation unit, a control unit, a recording unit, and a connection unit. For example, a digital signal including image / sound is received via an HDMI cable connected to an HDMI terminal included in the connection unit. Then, the digital signal is combined and the image / sound is output.

  The control unit included in the display 2 receives color tone settings of an image displayed on the display unit, for example, settings such as brightness and contrast, by the operation unit. The received setting content is recorded in the recording unit as color tone information.

  In addition, the control unit of the display 2 accepts a request for obtaining color tone information from a color tone information obtaining unit 11d (FIG. 1), which will be described later, through communication using a protocol such as CEC. When this acquisition request is detected, the color tone information recorded in the recording unit is read and transmitted to the HDD recorder 1 via the HDMI terminal and the HDMI cable.

The printer 3 is a printing device connected to the HDD recorder 1 via an HDMI cable. The printer 3 receives print data and a print command from the HDD recorder 1 by communication using a protocol such as CEC. Based on the print command, a print process using the print data is performed.
<1-2. About the configuration of the function section>

  Here, the relationship of each functional unit for the HDD recorder 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention to perform the printing process will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing process of the present invention includes an encoder unit 11a (= image generation unit), a print data generation unit 11b (= print information generation unit), a print control unit 11c, and tone information acquisition provided in the control unit 11. This is implemented by the unit 11d (= control information acquisition unit) and the generation control unit 11e.

  The encoder unit 11 a generates image data (= encoded image) encoded in a predetermined format (= encoding method) from the image digital signal generated by the signal processing unit 17. For example, the encoder unit 11a captures an image output from the external connection terminal 18 and displayed on the display 2, encodes the captured image in a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format, and generates a JPEG image.

  The print data generation unit 11b generates print data for printing an image from the image data. Thereby, for example, it is possible to generate print data using the captured image generated by the encoder unit 11a. As the data format of the print data, for example, print data in XHTML-Print format is used. The XHTML-Print format is a standard established by W3C (World Wide Web Consortium).

  The print control unit 11 c performs printing API (Application Program Interface) execution and print data transfer control via the external connection terminal 18. The print control unit 11c also performs a print error process to cope with a case where a paper jam occurs in the printer 3.

  The color tone information acquisition unit 11d acquires color tone information (= control information) used by the display 2 for image display from the display 2 using the external connection terminal 18. The acquired color tone information is recorded in the flash memory 14.

  When the generation control unit 11e detects a predetermined operation by the operation unit 13, for example, when pressing of a print key included in the operation unit 13 is detected, the generation control unit 11e outputs image data from the image digital signal output from the external connection terminal 18. The encoder unit 11a is instructed to generate it. Further, the generation control unit 11e determines the content and correction amount of color correction that the encoder unit 11a performs at the time of image generation based on the color information acquired by the color information acquisition unit 11d. The determined content is given to the encoder unit 11a.

Note that when executing the above-described embedded application, the print control performed by the HDD recorder 1 and the various controls performed by the display 2 need to be synchronized. In order to achieve this synchronization, the above-described functional units and the control unit included in the display 2 communicate with each other via the external connection terminal 18.
<1-3. Printing process>

  Here, the printing process performed by the HDD recorder 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The process shown in FIG. 4 can be started at an arbitrary timing in a state where the power source of the HDD recorder 1 is driven and the HDD recorder 1 is connected to the display 2 and the printer 3.

  After the start of this process, the print control unit 11c determines whether or not the press of the print key included in the operation unit 13 is detected in step S110. If the pressing is not detected, the process proceeds to step S110 again and waits for the pressing of the print key.

  When the pressing is detected, the print control unit 11c checks the connection state of the display 2 and the printer 3 in step S120. That is, it is determined whether or not both devices are connected by the external connection terminal 18 and the power sources of both devices are in the activated state.

  Whether or not the power supply is in an activated state is determined by transmitting a predetermined test signal via, for example, an HDMI cable connected to the external connection terminal 18. If a normal response is returned to the test signal, the device is considered to be in an activated state.

  If both apparatuses are not in the activated state, the process proceeds to step S200 and error processing is performed. The error processing is performed, for example, by outputting a notification sound indicating that printing is not possible by a buzzer (not shown).

  In the activated state, the generation control unit 11e determines whether or not the signal processing unit 17 is outputting an image signal using the external connection terminal 18 in step S130. If no output has been performed, the process proceeds to step S200, and error processing is performed.

  When the output is being performed, the color tone information acquisition unit 11d acquires the color tone information set in the display 2 in step S140. Specifically, a color tone information acquisition request is transmitted to the display 2 using the external connection terminal 18. Upon receiving this acquisition request, the control unit of the display 2 reads the color tone information set in advance on the display 2 from the recording unit, and transmits it to the color tone information acquisition unit 11d.

  The tone information acquisition timing is not limited to the timing of step S140. For example, the color tone information acquisition timing may be periodically acquired every predetermined time and recorded in a recording medium such as the flash memory 14 in advance.

  Next, in step S150, the generation control unit 11e instructs the encoder unit 11a to perform output image capture processing. That is, the signal processing unit 17 acquires the image signal output to the display 2 using the external connection terminal 18 and instructs to generate image data of a predetermined format from the image signal. At this time, the generation control unit 11e instructs the encoder unit 11a to correct the color tone of the image data using the color tone information acquired in advance by the color tone information acquisition unit 11d.

  Next, in step S160, the print control unit 11c instructs the print data generation unit 11b to generate print data using the image data (= capture image) generated by the encoder unit 11a. The generated print data is recorded on a recording medium such as the HDD 16.

  Next, in step S <b> 170, the print control unit 11 c transmits the print data generated above and a predetermined print command to the printer 3 using the external connection terminal 18. Receiving this, the printer 3 starts the printing process and returns the processing result to the printing control unit 11c.

  Next, in step S180, the print control unit 11c determines whether a normal response to the print command has been received from the printer 3. When the normal response is received, the process proceeds to step S110 again. If a normal response has not been received, the process proceeds to step S200 to perform error processing.

According to the present embodiment described above, an image having a color tone close to the screen of the display 2 being viewed by the user can be printed by the printer 3. Further, when the user wants to change the color tone of the print image, no operation is required for the HDD recorder 1 or the printer 3, so even a user who is unfamiliar with the operation of these devices can perform an intuitive operation on the display 2. It is possible to change the color tone of the printed image.
[Embodiment 2]

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
<2-1. Internal configuration>

Since it is the same content as 1st embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted here.
<2-2. About the configuration of the function section>

  Although it is the same structure as 1st embodiment, the functions of the printing control part 11c and the production | generation control part 11e differ in part.

  The generation control unit 11e according to the present embodiment generates a captured image for a plurality of frames from an image signal output from the external connection terminal 18 when a predetermined operation is detected by the operation unit 13. Specifically, for example, the encoder unit 11a is instructed to generate an image from all key frames (= frames that can be combined independently) existing in several frames before and after the print key is pressed. The key frame corresponds to, for example, an I picture in MPEG.

  In addition, the generation control unit 11e according to the present embodiment instructs the encoder unit 11a to generate thumbnail images of the plurality of generated captured images. The generated thumbnail image is given to the print control unit 11c.

  When the above-described thumbnail image is generated, the print control unit 11 c according to the present embodiment generates an image signal for displaying a thumbnail display screen including the thumbnail image and outputs the image signal from the external connection terminal 18. As a result, a thumbnail display screen is displayed on the screen of the display 2.

  In this state, the print control unit 11c shifts to a state of waiting for one thumbnail image to be selected from a plurality of thumbnail images. The selection operation is performed by the operation unit 13 or the like. When selection is performed in this state, the print control unit 11c instructs the print data generation unit 11b to generate print data using the captured image that is the creation source of the selected thumbnail image.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a thumbnail display screen displayed on the display 2 by the above processing. As shown in FIG. 6, the thumbnail display screen 50 of this embodiment is configured to include at least a thumbnail image 51 and a cursor 52. Although not shown in FIG. 6, a form in which a title, playback time, character information for displaying an operation menu, and the like are generated and displayed by OSD processing may also be used.

  In FIG. 6, three thumbnail images 51 (thumbnail image 51a to thumbnail image 51c) generated by the encoder unit 11a are displayed. The user can select the thumbnail image 51 by operating the cursor 52 using the operation unit 13.

In the example of FIG. 6, the thumbnail images of the frames shown in the thumbnail image 51a and the thumbnail image 51b are unclear. Therefore, the user can print a clear frame image by selecting the thumbnail image 51c.
<2-3. Printing process>

  Here, a printing process performed by the HDD recorder 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In addition, about the process of the same content as FIG. 4 of 1st embodiment, description shall be abbreviate | omitted by adding the same step number.

  The process shown in FIG. 5 can be started at an arbitrary timing when the power source of the HDD recorder 1 is driven and the HDD recorder 1 is connected to the display 2 and the printer 3.

  After step S110 to step S140, the generation control unit 11e instructs the encoder unit 11a to perform the output image capture process a predetermined number of times in step S151. At this time, the generation control unit 11e instructs the encoder unit 11a to perform color tone correction of the captured image based on previously acquired color tone information.

  Specifically, for example, a captured image is generated from key frames existing several frames before and after the print key is pressed. In addition, when the image of the front frame is not recorded in the memory or the like and cannot be acquired, an image may be generated from only the rear frame. Further, the generation control unit 11e instructs the encoder unit 11a to generate a thumbnail image of each generated captured image.

  Next, in step S152, the print control unit 11c generates an image signal for displaying the thumbnail display screen 50 (FIG. 6) including the generated thumbnail image, and outputs the image signal from the external connection terminal 18. Thereby, the thumbnail display screen 50 is displayed on the display 2. Then, a transition is made to a standby state in which one thumbnail image 51 is selected from a plurality of thumbnail images 51.

  Next, in step S153, the print control unit 11c determines whether a selection instruction for the thumbnail image 51 has been detected. When not detected, it transfers to step S152 again. If a selection instruction is not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is desirable to proceed to step S200 and perform error processing.

  When the selection instruction is detected, the process proceeds to step S160, and the captured image that is the creation source of the selected thumbnail image 51 is printed. In addition, since the process after step S160 is the same content as 1st embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.

According to the present embodiment described above, a captured image is generated from a key frame such as an I picture in MPEG, for example, and a thumbnail image of the captured image is presented to the user to accept selection. For this reason, it is possible to avoid a problem that a captured image with missing data or blurring is printed, and to print an image that is more desirable for the user.
[Other embodiments]

  The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments and examples. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea. be able to.

  Therefore, the present invention can also be applied to the following embodiments.

  (A) In the above embodiment, the HDD recorder 1 is taken as an example of an image playback device, but the present invention may be implemented using an image playback device other than this. For example, a form using a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) recorder, a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), an STB (Set Top Box), or the like may be used.

  (B) In the above embodiment, each function unit related to the printing process of the present invention is realized by executing a program on an arithmetic processing unit such as a microprocessor, but each function unit is realized by a plurality of circuits. It may be a form.

  (C) In the above embodiment, the configuration in which each functional unit related to the printing process of the present invention is provided in the HDD recorder 1 is described as an example. However, a part or all of these are connected via a network. It may be realized by an external device. For example, the process of generating print data from an image may be implemented by an external information processing server (not shown) instead of the print data generation unit 11b.

  (D) In the above embodiment, HDMI is described as an example of connection means for connecting an image reproduction device, a printing device, and a display device. However, each device is connected by other connection means, and the above-described connection means is used. The form which implements a printing process may be sufficient. For example, a form using a USB cable as the connection means may be used.

  (E) In the above-described embodiment, the image reproduction device and the display device are independent from each other. However, the present invention may be implemented in a multifunction machine in which the image reproduction device and the display device are integrated. In this case, the multifunction device includes the above-described functional units and the print key, and when the press of the print key is detected, the image displayed on the screen of the multifunction device and the color tone information set in the multifunction device are displayed. Print data is generated, and the print data is transmitted from the MFP to the printing apparatus.

  (F) In the above embodiment, the color tone information is described as an example of control information acquired from the display device and reflected in the captured image. However, other control information may be acquired and reflected in the captured image. Good. For example, the color tone information acquisition unit 11d acquires the display resolution information set in the display device as control information, and the generation control unit 11e instructs the encoder unit 11a to generate a captured image having the resolution indicated by the display resolution information. The form to do may be sufficient.

1 HDD recorder (image playback device)
2 Display (display device)
3 Printer (printing device)
11 Control Unit 11a Encoder Unit (Image Generation Unit)
11b Print data generation unit (print information generation unit)
11c Print control unit 11d Color tone information acquisition unit (control information acquisition unit)
11e Generation control unit 13 Operation unit 18 External connection terminal (connection unit)

Claims (8)

An operation unit for receiving operation instructions;
A connection unit for inputting and outputting information signals including image signals by connecting a display device or a printing device;
An image generation unit that generates an encoded image of a predetermined encoding method from an image signal;
An image reproducing apparatus comprising: a printing information generation unit that generates printing information having a format determined in advance for use by the printing apparatus from the encoded image;
A control information acquisition unit that acquires control information used by the display device for image display control from the display device by communicating with the display device using the connection unit;
When the operation unit detects a predetermined operation, an encoded image is generated from the image signal output by the connection unit at the time of the detection, and the encoded image is generated based on the control information. A generation control unit that controls the image generation unit to correct,
The printing information generation unit is controlled to generate the printing information from the corrected encoded image, and the generated printing information and a printing instruction are transmitted to the printing apparatus using the connection unit. An image reproducing apparatus comprising: a printing control unit that The control information acquisition unit acquires, as the control information, color information used by the display device for color correction of an image,
The generation control unit controls the image generation unit so as to correct a color tone of the generated encoded image based on the color tone information;
The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 1. The connection portion includes an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) terminal,
The printing control unit transmits the printing information and a printing instruction to the printing apparatus using the HDMI terminal and using CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) as a control protocol;
The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 1. The connecting portion includes an HDMI terminal;
The color tone information acquisition unit acquires the color tone information from the display device using the HDMI terminal and CEC as a control protocol.
The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 1. When the predetermined operation is detected by the operation unit, the generation control unit generates a plurality of the encoded images from the image signal output by the connection unit within a predetermined period from the time of the detection. Controlling the image generation unit to
The printing control unit receives a selection instruction for selecting one encoded image from the plurality of encoded images, and generates the printing information from the encoded image selected by the selection instruction. Control the generator,
The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 1. When the generation control unit detects a predetermined operation by the operation unit, the generation control unit alone is a frame included in the image signal output by the connection unit within a predetermined period from the time of the detection. Controlling the image generation unit to generate the encoded image from frames that can be combined;
The image reproduction apparatus according to claim 5. In a printing system including a display device, a printing device, and an image reproduction device,
A connection unit for inputting and outputting an information signal including an image signal by connecting the display device or the printing device to the image reproduction device;
An image generation unit that generates an encoded image of a predetermined encoding method from an image signal;
A printing information generating unit that generates printing information of a predetermined format for use in printing by the printing apparatus from the encoded image;
A control information acquisition unit that transmits a control information acquisition request used by the display device for image display control to the display device using the connection unit;
When the operation unit detects a predetermined operation, an encoded image is generated from the image signal output by the connection unit at the time of the detection, and the encoded image is generated based on the control information. A generation control unit that controls the image generation unit to correct,
The printing information generation unit is controlled to generate the printing information from the corrected encoded image, and the generated printing information and a printing instruction are transmitted to the printing apparatus using the connection unit. A printing control unit
The printing system, comprising: a control unit that receives the acquisition request from the control information acquisition unit and transmits the control information to the image reproduction device. When the control unit included in the display device receives the acquisition request, the display device transmits to the image reproduction device, as the control information, the color information used by the display device for color tone correction,
The generation control unit controls the image generation unit so as to correct a color tone of the generated encoded image based on the color tone information;
The printing system according to claim 7.