JP2017027316A - Information processing device and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image acquisition technique that can keep a data communication volume down while keeping image quality good enough for print when acquiring an image to be printed on a print medium by communication.SOLUTION: An information processing device selects one image of which the print resolution when a print is made in a print area on a print medium exceeds a threshold value as a selection image from an image and a reduced image of the image stored in a server (S404). The information processing device generates print data to have the selection image printed in the print area, and outputs the print data to a printing device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for acquiring an image for printing.

  Opportunities for general users to share photos via the Internet have increased. The shared photos have a higher resolution and higher data size as the resolution of mobile terminals and cameras increases. For this reason, the storage capacity of Internet photo sharing service sites has been expanded, and services that claim unlimited capacity have also appeared. In addition, sharing of photos through the Internet is in demand not only for general users but also for high-end users and professional photographers, and Internet services that specialize in displaying and selling very high-resolution photos are also emerging. . Thus, it can be said that the photos shared on the Internet have high resolution and the data has a large capacity.

  As the photos shared through the Internet become high resolution, the photos shared on the Internet are not only viewed on the screen but also more photos that can withstand printing. Along with this, there is also a demand for printing photos shared on the Internet and photos sold.

  However, photos shared on the Internet do not meet certain standards in size, but vary. For this reason, a certain photograph can ensure a resolution that can withstand printing with a very large size, while a certain photograph may not have a sufficient size and have a resolution that cannot withstand printing. For this reason, when the user tries to perform printing, there arises a problem that the size of the photograph is excessive or insufficient with respect to the resolution required for printing of the printer owned by the user. Also, in order to download photos via the Internet, in the environment that the user is using, for example, communication using a mobile phone network, or places where the communication environment is not in place, download a huge size photo. Sometimes it is not possible.

  In this way, the user wants to print at a certain standard quality while maintaining a certain resolution while downloading the appropriate size for the size of the photograph that the user wants to print and reducing the amount of communication. There is.

  As a method for appropriately reducing the amount of data to be downloaded with respect to such a problem, there is a method disclosed in Patent Document 1. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a method of performing content data size comparison on the server side and selecting data to be downloaded depending on whether it is an allowable size or not. As a method for acquiring an image having a print image size desired by the user, Patent Document 2 discloses a method for specifying an image size for printing from the client side and scaling the image on the server side.

JP 2011-134206 A JP 2011-129122 A

  However, if the photo sharing service on the Internet is not installed by itself, the above-described arbitrary processing on the server side cannot be executed. On the other hand, many general services provide thumbnail images and actual images having a plurality of sizes for one image.

  In the services for high-end users and professional photographers described above, there are cases where photo samples are output and compared. In such a comparison of photographic samples, output at the highest resolution that should be provided as a product is not performed, and a sample with a reduced resolution may be downloaded and printed as a sample. In such a case, it is necessary that the resolution of a photo to be compared is constant while the resolution is low. This is because it is difficult to visually compare photos due to the difference in resolution.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem. When an image to be printed on a print medium is acquired by communication, an image capable of suppressing the amount of data communication while maintaining an image quality that can withstand printing. Provide acquisition technology.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a selection unit that selects, as a selection image, one of images and a reduced image of which the print resolution exceeds a threshold when printing is performed on a print area on a print medium; Generating means for generating print data for printing an image in the print area and outputting the print data to a printing apparatus.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, when acquiring an image to be printed on a print medium by communication, it is possible to provide an image acquisition technique capable of reducing the amount of data communication while maintaining an image quality that can withstand printing. it can.

The figure which shows the structural example of a system. The figure which shows an example of management information. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a photo printing application 107. The flowchart of the process which the computer 101 performs. The figure explaining an image printing area | region. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a computer 101. FIG.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below shows an example when the present invention is specifically implemented, and is one of the specific examples of the configurations described in the claims.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an example of an information processing apparatus having the following configuration will be described. That is, to select one of images and a reduced image of the image whose print resolution exceeds a threshold when printing is performed on a print area on a print medium as a selected image, and print the selected image on the print area Print data is generated and output to the printing apparatus.

  First, a configuration example of a system including an information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the system according to this embodiment includes a printer 106, a computer 101, a server 102, and a database 105. In FIG. 1, a computer 101 and a printer 106 are connected to a network 104 such as a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, USB, and Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the network 104 is connected to the Internet 103. A server 102 is connected to the Internet 103, and a database 105 is connected to the server 102. However, the computer 101 and the server 102 are configured to be able to perform data communication with each other via the network 104 and the Internet 103.

  First, the printer 106 will be described. The printer 106 is a printing apparatus having a printing function for printing an image or a character on a print medium such as paper based on print data sent from the computer 101. However, other devices may be used instead of the printer 106 as long as the devices have the same printing function. For example, a multifunction machine having a printing function and a scanner function may be used instead of the printer 106.

  Next, the computer 101 will be described. The computer 101 is an information processing apparatus such as a PC (personal computer), a tablet terminal device, or a mobile phone, and performs various processes for causing the printer 106 to print an image downloaded from the server 102 as described in detail below. Run or control. The hardware configuration of the computer 101 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  The CPU 601 executes processes using computer programs and data stored in the RAM 602 to control the operation of the entire computer 101 and execute or control each process described later as what the computer 101 performs.

  The RAM 602 stores computer programs and data loaded from the ROM 603 and the external storage device 606, and data received from an external device (the printer 106 and the server 102 in FIG. 1) via the I / F (interface) 607. Has an area. Furthermore, the RAM 602 has a work area used when the CPU 601 executes various processes. As described above, the RAM 602 can provide various areas as appropriate.

  The ROM 603 stores setting data and a boot program for the computer 101.

  The operation unit 604 is configured by a user interface such as a keyboard and a mouse, and various operation inputs can be input to the CPU 601 by a user operation.

  The display unit 605 is configured by a CRT, a liquid crystal screen, or the like, and can display a processing result by the CPU 601 using an image, text, or the like. Note that the operation unit 604 and the display unit 605 may be integrated to form a touch panel screen. That is, the interface for the user to perform various operation inputs and the display interface for displaying the processing result by the CPU 601 may be configured in any form.

  The external storage device 606 is a large-capacity information storage device represented by a hard disk drive device. The external storage device 606 stores an OS (Operating System) and computer programs and data for causing the CPU 601 to execute or control each process described below as performed by the computer 101. This computer program includes the photo printing application 107 shown in FIG. Computer programs and data stored in the external storage device 606 are appropriately loaded into the RAM 602 under the control of the CPU 601 and are processed by the CPU 601.

  The I / F 607 is used to connect the computer 101 to the network 104, and the computer 101 performs data communication with the printer 106 and the server 102 via the I / F 607.

  The CPU 601, RAM 602, ROM 603, operation unit 604, display unit 605, external storage device 606, and I / F 607 are all connected to the bus 608.

  Note that the hardware configuration applicable to the computer 101 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 6, and any configuration can be adopted as long as each configuration described later can be executed by the computer 101. I do not care.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the server 102 will be described next. The server 102 provides various information registered in the database 105 to the computer 101 in response to a request from the computer 101. For example, the server 102 is a server installed by a network service application service provider that shares images (photos) taken by various users over the Internet among users.

  Next, the database 105 will be described. Registered in the database 105 are original images (photographs, captured images) and a plurality of reduced images (thumbnail images) obtained by reducing the original images at various reduction ratios. That is, registering one original image in the database 105 means registering a set of the original image and a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to the original image in the database 105. For example, when various images are uploaded to the database 105, a set of the image and a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to the image is registered in the database 105. The database 105 also stores management information related to each original image registered in the database 105 and a plurality of thumbnail images corresponding to the original image. Each time a new original image and thumbnail image are registered in the database 105, information related to the original image and thumbnail image is registered and updated in the management information.

  An example of this management information is shown in FIG. The management information shown in FIG. 2 includes an original image whose image format is “JPEG”, a plurality of thumbnail images generated from the original image, an original image whose image format is “PNG”, and an image generated from the original image. Information related to the plurality of thumbnail images thus registered is registered.

  The row 204 includes an image type “real image”, an image size (number of vertical and horizontal pixels) “4000 pixels × 3000 pixels”, and an image format “JPEG” for an original image (original image A) whose image format is “JPEG”. The file size “1200 KB” is registered. Information (image type, image size, format, file size) relating to the thumbnail image having the smallest size among the three thumbnail images generated from the original image A is registered in the row 201. In addition, information (image type, image size, format, file size) related to the thumbnail image having the second smallest size among the three thumbnail images generated from the original image A is registered in the row 202. Information (image type, image size, format, file size) related to the thumbnail image having the largest size among the three thumbnail images generated from the original image A is registered in the row 203.

  In line 208, for the original image (original image B) having the image format “PNG”, the image type “real image”, the image size “4000 pixels × 3000 pixels”, the image format “PNG”, and the file size “ 2400KB "is registered. Information (image type, image size, format, file size) related to the thumbnail image having the smallest size among the three thumbnail images generated from the original image B is registered in the row 205. Also, information (image type, image size, format, file size) related to the thumbnail image having the second smallest size among the three thumbnail images generated from the original image B is registered in the row 206. Also, information (image type, image size, format, file size) relating to the thumbnail image having the largest size among the three thumbnail images generated from the original image B is registered in the row 207.

  In this way, in the management information, information related to each original image registered in the database 105 and a plurality of thumbnail images generated from the original image is registered. The items of information registered in the management information for the original image and the thumbnail image are not limited to the items shown in FIG.

  Next, processing performed by the computer 101 when the CPU 601 executes the photo printing application 107 having the functional configuration example shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

<Step S401>
The CPU 601 executes a UI (user interface) unit 301 and transmits a management information acquisition request stored in the database 105 to the server 102. When the server 102 receives the acquisition request via the network 104 and the Internet 103, the server 102 reads the management information from the database 105 and transmits the read management information to the computer 101 via the network 104 and the Internet 103. The CPU 601 executes the UI unit 301 to receive the management information transmitted from the server 102 and acquire it in the RAM 602.

<Step S402>
The CPU 601 executes the layout configuration unit 302 to obtain the maximum size (number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions) of the area on the print medium that can be allocated to the image in order to arrange the image on the print medium according to the print settings.

  In the following description, it is assumed that a setting for printing 2in1 on A4 size paper, that is, a print setting for printing two pages (two images) on one A4 size paper is selected. . In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the area A501 on the single A4 size print medium 501 is the maximum image print area that can be assigned to the first page image, and the remaining area A502 is the second page image. This is the maximum image print area that can be assigned to the. In this case, however, the size of the area A501 (area A502) is obtained as “the size of the maximum area that can be allocated to the image arranged on the first page (second page)”. Furthermore, in this print setting, an original image having an image size of 4000 pixels × 3000 pixels is printed horizontally as an image of the first page, and an image size of 4000 pixels × 3000 pixels is printed as an image of the second page. It is assumed that the image is printed vertically. Such print settings can be input by the user operating the operation unit 604.

  In the following, the print resolution of the printer 106 is 300 dpi, and the printable size in A4 size at 300 dpi is 2551 pixels × 3590 pixels. In this case, the size of areas (areas A501 and A502) that can be assigned to one image is 2551 pixels × 1795 pixels. In this way, the CPU 601 obtains the number of vertical and horizontal pixels in the image print area according to the print resolution of the printer 106.

<Step S404>
When the CPU 601 executes the layout configuration unit 302 and arranges an image in the area A501 in the landscape orientation, the CPU 601 selects an image in which the print resolution of the arranged image is equal to or higher than a specified print resolution. Further, the CPU 601 executes the layout configuration unit 302 and selects an image in which the print resolution of the arranged image is equal to or higher than the specified print resolution when the image is arranged in the area A502 in the vertical direction.

  For example, assume that the management information in FIG. 2 is acquired in step S401. At this time, for each image (original image, thumbnail image) corresponding to the rows 201 to 208, the print resolution when the image is resized to the size of the area A501 and arranged in the horizontal direction, the image is resized to the size of the area A502, and the image is vertically oriented. The print resolution when arranged is obtained.

  First, consider the print resolution when an image whose image type is a small thumbnail (an image corresponding to the rows 201 and 205) is resized to the size of the area A501 and arranged horizontally. Since the size of an image whose image type is a small thumbnail is 300 pixels × 255 pixels and the size of the area A501 is 2551 pixels × 1795 pixels, the print resolution to be obtained is about 35 dpi.

  Similarly, the print resolution when an image whose image type is a thumbnail (an image corresponding to the rows 202 and 206) is resized to the size of the area A501 and arranged horizontally is considered. As a result, the print resolution is about 70 dpi.

  Also, consider the print resolution when an image whose image type is a large thumbnail (an image corresponding to the rows 203 and 207) is resized to the size of the area A501 and arranged horizontally. As a result, the print resolution is about 141 dpi.

  Here, the smaller the image size, the lower the print resolution when the image is resized to the size of the area A501 and arranged in the horizontal direction, causing a problem in print quality. Similarly, the smaller the image size, the lower the print resolution when the image is resized to the size of the area A502 and arranged in the vertical direction, causing a problem in print quality. Therefore, a threshold value is provided, and an image that has a printing resolution equal to or higher than the threshold value is selected as an image that is resized to the size of the region A501 and arranged in the horizontal direction. Hereinafter, this threshold is set to 150 dpi. At this time, any of the image types of small thumbnail, medium thumbnail, and large thumbnail is not selected as an image to be arranged in the area A501 because the print resolution is smaller than 150 dpi.

  Here, with respect to an image whose image type is a real image (an image corresponding to the lines 204 and 208), when the print resolution when the image is resized to the size of the area A501 and arranged in the horizontal direction is obtained, the obtained print resolution is 150 dpi. Over. However, an image whose image type is a real image (an image corresponding to the lines 204 and 208) is selected as a candidate for a selection image that is resized to the size of the area A501 and arranged in the horizontal direction.

Next, consider the print resolution when an image whose image type is small thumbnail (an image corresponding to the rows 201 and 205) is resized to the size of the area A502 and arranged vertically. As a result, the print resolution is about 50 dpi, which is smaller than the threshold value. Similarly, the print resolution when an image whose image type is a thumbnail (an image corresponding to the rows 202 and 206) is resized to the size of the area A502 and arranged vertically is considered. As a result, the print resolution is about 100 dpi, which is smaller than the threshold value. Also consider the print resolution when an image whose image type is a large thumbnail (an image corresponding to the rows 203 and 207) is resized to the size of the area A502 and arranged vertically. As a result, the print resolution is about 200 dpi, which is larger than the threshold value. Since the size of the actual image is larger than that of the image whose image type is a large thumbnail, the print resolution to be obtained also exceeds the threshold value. Therefore, the candidate for the selected image is in each of the lines 203, 204, 207, and 208. Corresponding image. <Step S405>
The CPU 601 executes the image data acquisition unit 303, selects one of the selected image candidates to be resized to the size of the area A501 and arranged in the horizontal direction, and selected to be resized to the size of the area A502 and arranged in the vertical direction. Select one of the image candidates.

  In the above example, there are two selection images that are resized to the size of the area A501 and arranged in the horizontal direction, an image corresponding to the row 204 and an image corresponding to the row 208. Which is selected as the selection image? Various standards can be considered for this standard. For example, when the download time from the database 105 is taken into consideration, if the image has a smaller data size, the time required for the download becomes shorter. However, when “the smaller data size” is set as the selection criterion for the selected image, of the image corresponding to the line 204 (file size = 1200 KB) and the image corresponding to the line 208 (file size = 2400 KB), The image corresponding to row 204 is selected.

  In the above example, there are images corresponding to the rows 203, 204, 207, and 208 as candidates for the selected image that is resized to the size of the area A502 and arranged vertically. In this case, for example, if the selection criterion “image with smaller data size” is set, the image corresponding to the row 203 is selected as the selection image to be resized to the size of the area A502 and arranged vertically. To do.

  Note that, as described above, there are various criteria for selecting which image to select as a selection image from among images whose print resolution exceeds the threshold, and such selection criteria may be predetermined. It may be good, and what the user selected by operating the operation part 604 may be used. Further, the selection criteria may be the same or different between the area A501 and the area A502. For example, when the selection criterion is “format is PNG”, in the above example, the image corresponding to the row 208 is selected as the selected image for the region A501, and the image corresponding to the row 207 is selected as the selected image for the region A502. The image to be selected is selected.

<Step S406>
The CPU 601 executes the image data acquisition unit 303 and the communication unit 308. Thus, the CPU 601 sends a transmission request for the selected image determined as the image resized to the size of the area A501 and arranged in the horizontal direction, and the selected image determined as the image resized to the size of the area A502 and arranged in the vertical direction. Send to. This transmission request is transmitted to the server 102 via the I / F 607, the network 104, and the Internet 103. Upon receiving this transmission request, the server 102 reads the requested image from the database 105 and transmits the read image to the computer 101 via the Internet 103 and the network 104. The CPU 601 executes the image data acquisition unit 303 and the communication unit 308. As a result, the CPU 601 receives (downloads) the image (the image for the area A 501 and the image for the area A 502) transmitted from the server 102 via the I / F 607.

  Thereafter, the CPU 601 executes the rendering unit 304. Thus, the CPU 601 resizes the downloaded image for the area A501 to the size of the area A501 and arranges it horizontally, and resizes the downloaded image for the area A502 to the size of the area A502 and arranges it vertically. Generate a printed image on paper. Such an arrangement of each image is based on a layout according to print settings.

  The CPU 601 executes the printer processing unit 305 to convert the generated print image into a command group (print data) that can be interpreted by the printer 106, and further executes the communication unit 308 to convert the print data. Transmit to the printer 106. As a result, the printer 106 performs printing based on the print data, and records the print image on the print medium.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, by providing a print resolution that is allowable as the allowable print resolution as a threshold, it is not necessary to download an excessively high-resolution image. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the amount of data communication while maintaining an image quality that can withstand printing. Thereby, the time required for downloading can be shortened, and the time required for printing can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the threshold is 150 dpi, but this may be a fixed value, or the CPU 601 may change it according to the user setting, or change it according to the result analyzed during the process. It doesn't matter.

  For example, even if the threshold is changed between when the color mode is set as the print setting for causing the printer 106 to perform color printing and when the monochrome mode is set as the print setting for causing the printer 106 to perform monochrome printing. good. For example, the CPU 601 sets 300 dpi as the threshold when the color mode is set, and sets 600 dpi as the threshold when the monochrome mode is set.

  Further, the threshold value may be changed depending on the type of print medium to be used. For example, since printing using photographic paper requires high-quality printing, the threshold is set to 300 dpi, and printing using plain paper requires high-speed printing with a reduced amount of data, so the threshold is set to 100 dpi. A threshold value may be set for.

  In the above example, an image having a print resolution exceeding the threshold is selected as the selected image. However, if there is no variation in print resolution between images printed on the print medium, printing closest to the threshold is performed. You may select the image of resolution as a selection image.

[Second Embodiment]
Various modifications can be conceived for the configuration of the system shown in FIG. For example, in FIG. 1, the computer 101 and the printer 106 are connected via the network 104, but the computer 101 and the printer 106 may be connected via a USB (not shown).

  In FIG. 1, the database 105 is shown as a device separate from the server 102. However, the database 105 may be a storage device held in the server 102, and the database 105 is connected to the server 102 via some network. You may make it.

(Other examples)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  601: CPU 607: I / F

Claims (12)

A selection unit that selects, as a selection image, one of images and a reduced image of the image that has a print resolution that exceeds a threshold when printing is performed on a print area on a print medium;
An information processing apparatus comprising: generating means for generating print data for printing the selected image in the print area and outputting the print data to a printing apparatus.   The selection means prints in the print area using the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the print area according to the print resolution of the printing apparatus and the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the image and a reduced image of the image. When printing is performed, the print resolution of each of the image and the reduced image of the image is obtained, and one of the images and the reduced image of the image obtained with the print resolution exceeding the threshold is selected as the selected image. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The selection unit selects one of the images and reduced images of the image according to a selection criterion when there are a plurality of images whose print resolution exceeds a threshold when printing is performed in the print area. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is selected as an image.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the selection criterion is an image data size.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the selection criterion is an image format.   The generation unit downloads the selected image from an apparatus that holds the image and a reduced image of the image, generates print data for printing the downloaded selected image in the print area, and outputs the print data to the printing apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. Furthermore,
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit configured to set the threshold according to whether color printing or monochrome printing is performed. Furthermore,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit that sets the threshold according to a type of print medium to be used. A selection unit that selects, as a selection image, one of the images and a reduced image of the image, the print resolution of which is closest to the threshold when printing is performed on a print area on the print medium;
An information processing apparatus comprising: generating means for generating print data for printing the selected image in the print area and outputting the print data to a printing apparatus. An information processing method performed by an information processing apparatus,
A selection step in which the selection unit of the information processing apparatus selects, as a selection image, one of images and a reduced image of the image when the print resolution when printing is performed on a print area on a print medium exceeds a threshold;
An information processing method comprising: a generation step of generating information of the information processing apparatus to generate print data for printing the selected image in the print area and outputting the print data to the printing apparatus. An information processing method performed by an information processing apparatus,
A selection step in which the selection unit of the information processing apparatus selects, as a selection image, one of the images and a reduced image of the image when the printing resolution is the closest to the threshold when printing is performed on a print area on the print medium; ,
An information processing method comprising: a generation step of generating information of the information processing apparatus to generate print data for printing the selected image in the print area and outputting the print data to the printing apparatus.   The computer program for functioning a computer as each means of the information processing apparatus of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 9.

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