JP3342468B2 - Video print system, video printer and control method thereof, image output device, image output method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a video print system for printing out image information stored on a video tape, a video printer and a control method therefor, an image output device, and an image output method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 13, a video print system 1 capable of printing out an image pickup signal from a video camera 10 by a video printer 11 is conventionally known.

A printout by the system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is performed as follows. First, an imaging signal from the video camera 10 is supplied to the video printer 11 as an analog signal. The supplied imaging signal, that is, the moving image is monitored on the display 12. On the other hand, the above-mentioned analog signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 110 in the video printer 11, and a desired one screen is stored as a still image in the field memory 111 at a timing designated by the operation keys 116. I do. The storage screen can be arbitrarily confirmed by displaying it on the display 12 by the switching operation of the switch 115 based on the operation of the key 116. Next, the information stored in the field memory 111 is supplied to the printing unit 114, and the printing unit 114 performs a printout process.

[0004]

However, the conventional video print system 1 requires about one minute for printing per page of the video printer 11, and the field memory 111 has only one screen. Therefore, in order to print a plurality of screens, it is necessary to wait until the printing of one screen is completed and then search for the next screen from the tape by a search operation. There was a problem that the restraining time was long.

Further, since the compression and decompression processing of the image data for printout is not executed, the storage capacity of the field memory 111 cannot be used effectively, and there has been a problem that the entire processing time becomes longer.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a video print system, a video printer, a control method thereof, an image output device, and an image output method capable of improving the efficiency of printout. The purpose is to:

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video printer system for transmitting and receiving information between an image reproducing apparatus and a video printer. Compression means for compressing input image information in a compression state selected from among various compression states; recording means for recording image information compressed by the compression means; and a video printer notified by the video printer The free space of the storage means
Reproducing means for transmitting the image information reproduced from the recording means in a compressed state in accordance with the information , and the video printer receives the compressed image information transmitted from the reproducing means and temporarily stores it. Storage means and free space of the storage means
Notification means for notifying the image reproducing apparatus of information relating to the image reproduction apparatus, expansion means for fetching and expanding compressed image information from the storage means, and a printer unit for fetching and printing out the image information expanded by the expansion means And characterized in that:

A video printer according to a second aspect of the present invention is a video printer capable of storing a plurality of pieces of image information in a storage unit, wherein the supply unit supplies information relating to the free space of the storage unit to an external device; Storage control means for receiving compressed image information transmitted from the external device in accordance with information relating to free space, and temporarily storing the compressed image information in the storage means; and storing the compressed image information under the control of the storage control means. Expansion means for expanding the image stored in the means;
A printing unit for printing the image information expanded by the expansion unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the video printer according to the second aspect, the external device is directed to the video printer in accordance with a free space of the storage means and an information amount of compressed image information. Transmitting means for transmitting.

A video printer according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the video printer according to the second or third aspect, wherein the external device further includes compression means for compressing image information in a compression state selected from a plurality of types of compression states. It is characterized by the following.

[0011] The image output apparatus according to claim 5 is an image output device connected to the image information of a plurality of sheets in a storage capable of video printer, the empty storage medium of the video printer
Receiving means for receiving information related to the capacity from the video printer; and emptying the storage medium received by the receiving means.
Transmission means for transmitting the compressed image information to the video printer in accordance with the information on the storage capacity and the information amount of the compressed image information to be transmitted.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image output apparatus according to the fifth aspect, further comprising compression means for compressing image information in a compression state selected from a plurality of types of compression states. .

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image output device according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the transmission of the compressed image information is controlled in accordance with print control information for automatically printing a plurality of pieces of image information. The transmission control means is provided.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image output apparatus of the seventh aspect, the print control information includes:
It is stored in a removable storage medium together with the compressed image information.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image output device according to the seventh aspect
9. The image output device according to claim 8, wherein
The report includes information on the number of prints.

The control method of the video printer according to claim 10 is a control method capable of storing a video printer image information of a plurality sheets with storage means, the free space of the storage unit
Information about a supply step of supplying to the external device, receives the compressed image information transmitted from the external device in accordance with the supplied the information about free capacity temporarily the storage means the compressed image information A storage control step of storing the image information stored in the storage control step under the control of the storage control step, and a printing step of printing the image information expanded in the expansion step. Features.

An image output method according to claim 11, which outputs an image to a video printer capable of storing a plurality of pieces of image information, wherein the storage medium of the video printer is provided.
Receiving from the video printer information regarding the free space of the storage medium, and the storage medium received in the receiving step.
A transmitting step of transmitting the compressed image information to the video printer in accordance with the information on the free space of the body and the information amount of the compressed image information to be transmitted.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image output method according to the eleventh aspect.
Automatically output multiple image information in the image output method described in
Compression according to print control information
Having a transmission control step of controlling transmission of image information.
The image output method according to claim 11, wherein: Claim 1
13. The image output method according to claim 12, wherein:
Wherein the print control information includes information on the number of prints.
Information.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a video print system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The system 100 includes a VTR unit 90, an analog image signal input terminal 20a to which an analog image signal from the video camera 20 or the like can be input, and a digital signal or video camera 20 from the VTR unit 90 via the data bus 26. The video printer section 14 fetches the analog signal output from the printer and prints out the data, and a data compression / decompression section 80 (not shown).

Under the control of the printer controller 67, the buffer memory 65 serves as a data bus buffer memory when digitally inputting a signal. The buffer memory 65 stores a still image at the timing indicated by the key input switch 76 from an analog moving image signal. In the case of extraction, a so-called frame memory is shared by appropriately switching and using.

The video camera 20 quantizes the output analog signal into a digital signal by the A / D converter 61 and outputs the digital signal to the other end of the data selector 77.
The printer 91 inputs the output (image information) of the selector 77 via the buffer memory 65.

The VTR unit 90 includes a VTR main body 90a.
, A key input switch 46, a camcorder controller 42, and the like. When image information is recorded on the 8 mm video tape 41, print search information of an image to be printed can be recorded by an input operation on the key input switch 46. The digital signal of the image to be printed is transmitted to one end of the data selector 77 via the interfaces 27 and 64 and the data bus 26.

Here, taking the 8 mm video tape 41 as an example, how the VTR main body 90a records various kinds of information on the tape 41 will be described with reference to FIG. It is explained along. This figure shows a recording track pattern on the tape 41. The information recorded on the tape 41 includes a PCM area E1, an INDEX area E2, and a VIDEO area, as shown in FIG.
There is an O region E3.

The PCM area E1 is 0.5M to 1.5M.
An area where digital data is recorded at a data rate of bps. In this area E1, 8-bit to 16-bit quantized stereo sound or field / frame digital still image information, and ID words (for example, sound quality, image quality, shooting date, etc.) of subcode information related to these information, and A sync and address for data reconstruction, a PQ parity for error detection, a CRCC for error correction, and the like are recorded.

Next, the INDEX area E2 is basically composed of a search signal for search and a data signal for recording various kinds of information described below by using the same technique as the PCM recording described above. The search signal is all “0” in the normal state,
All "1" means that a cue signal is input.
The data signal is sandwiched between S (start block) and END (end block), and five blocks of data blocks BL0 to BL4 are arranged. Each block includes data words "WD0" to "WD4" and "CRCC". Consists of Since each word WD can be recorded by 8-bit data, the number of printouts and the like can be set in the INDEX area E.
2 after-recording.

In the VIDEO area E3, the analog video signal is a luminance FM and a low-frequency conversion color signal, and the analog audio signal is a monaural FM or a sum / difference stereo signal (L +
R, LR) and audio multiplexing (main, sub) FM, a frequency spectrum arrangement in which a four-frequency pilot signal (4f) for tape tracking during reproduction is allocated to the lowest frequency band.

Each of the information areas E1 to E3 can be independently recorded / reproduced. For example, a digital still image can be additionally recorded on the tape 41 on which only analog information is recorded, or PCM audio can be dubbed. It is also possible to later specify a cue signal for designating a screen for printout, a print size, the number of prints, and the like with respect to the tape 41 that has been photographed or edited.

Next, the schematic structure of each part of the system 100 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram in the information reproduction process of the system 100.

The data compression / expansion unit 80 includes an A / D converter 21, a D / A converter 60, a frame memory 22 for storing digital video signals, and a compression unit for compressing and expanding digital image signals. 1 compression / expansion circuit 23a
And a second compression / expansion circuit 23b, a mode selection circuit switch (SW1) 24, a switch (SW5) 49, and a switch (SW2) capable of selecting an image signal or still image information.
48, and interfaces (I / F) 25 and 44.

The VTR main body 90a of the VTR unit 90 includes:
An audio processing circuit 33 that performs predetermined signal processing on an input audio signal, an analog signal processing circuit 34 that performs predetermined signal processing on an input video signal, and a tracking servo circuit that outputs a four-frequency pilot signal (4f) 38, an adder / distributor 36, a rate conversion circuit 28 for converting image data into a predetermined data rate, a subcode data generation circuit 30 for generating mode information, date information and the like as ID words of PCM data. PCM for writing mode information and the like from the subcode data generation circuit 30 together with still image data (SV data) to the PCM area E1
The processing circuit 29 sequentially supplies each information to the recording heads 40a and 40b provided on the recording rotary drum 39 at the time of recording, and forms a track pattern as shown in FIG. A time-division signal distributor (SW3) 37 for performing time-division distribution, an index information generation circuit (INDEX) 35, and an A / D converter 75.

The video printer 14 receives an image signal input from an analog image signal input terminal 20a through an A / D converter 61 and a data selector (SW6) 77 or an image signal input through an interface (I / F) 64. Buffer memory 65 for storing the obtained image signal as a still image, and first and second decompressors as decompression units for performing the reverse data decompression processing on the still image data stored in this buffer memory 65 as compared with the recording. 68, 69 and a selector (SW) as image data subjected to data decompression processing as reproduction still image information.
6) A frame memory 71 stored via the memory 70, a printing unit 72 for generating a video print image using the reproduced still image information stored in the frame memory 71, and a transmission via an interface (I / F) 66. It comprises a printer controller 67 for controlling each part of the video printer 14 on the basis of the control data and an input signal from the key input switch 76 for selectively operating the selector (SW6) 70. The first and second expanders 6
8, 69, selector (SW6) 70, frame memory 71
The printer 91 is composed of the printing unit 72 and the like. The buffer memory 65 sends information on the free space of the buffer memory 65 to the printer controller 67. The printer controller 67 can manage the memory occupation state by storing data in the buffer memory 65 based on the information on the free space from the buffer memory 65.

The operation of the video printing system 100 according to the embodiment having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the processing at the time of recording information will be described with reference to FIG. The image signal captured by the video camera 20 is subjected to well-known signal processing for 8 mm video in the analog signal processing circuit 34 of the VTR unit 90. The audio signal collected by the microphone 31 is amplified by an amplifier 32 and subjected to a well-known signal processing for 8-mm video by an audio processing circuit 33. The image signal and the audio signal that have been subjected to the predetermined signal processing by the circuits 33 and 34 are added by an adder 36 to a 4-frequency pilot signal (4f) from a well-known 8-mm video tracking servo circuit 38. , And is supplied to a time-division signal distributor (SW3) 37. When information such as a calendar and a clock used for the so-called auto date function of the video camera 20 is set by the key input switch 46, the information is input to the camcorder controller 42. The INDEX 35 controls the INDEX area E2 under the control of the controller 42.
Generates information to be recorded in a time-division signal distributor (SW3)
Supply to 37. When the audio signal is recorded in the PCM area E1, the output of the amplifier 32 is selected by a selection circuit (not shown).
Based on the operation on the key input switch 46, the camcorder controller 42 may appropriately switch and select the input signal to the PCM processing circuit 29 with still image information described later.

Since the PCM processing of 8 mm video is a well-known technique, it is omitted in this embodiment for the purpose of simplicity.

An image signal picked up by the video camera 20 is converted into a digital image signal by an A / D converter 21. This digital image signal is sent to the key input switch 4
Timing specified by 6 (Shutter release)
Alternatively, the automatically generated interval pulse is transmitted to the frame memory 22 by the cam code controller 42, and when the writing of the target screen is completed, the writing to the memory 22 is prohibited, and the still image (SV) Perform capture. The captured screen can be monitored by an electronic view finder (EVF) 45 displaying a normal moving image by appropriately selecting a switch (SW2) 48 as needed.

The still image data is supplied to a first image data compression circuit 23a and a second image data compression circuit 23b, and is converted into three types of still image data of uncompressed and raw data (compressed 1, compressed 2). Selection circuit switch (SW
1) It is supplied to 24, and is switched by the camcorder controller 42 based on the operation of the key input switch 46. The image data selected here is sent to the I / F 25 for sending to the data bus 26. On the other hand, the camcorder controller 42 sends the previously selected mode information (the difference between uncompressed, compressed 1, and compressed 2) to the subcode data generation circuit 30. The PCM processing circuit 29 performs processing so as to be written in the PCM area E1 together with the still image data as an ID word of the PCM data together with the date information such as the above-mentioned auto date.

The above-mentioned image data via the data bus 26 and the I / F 27 is converted into a data rate of 0.5 to 1.5 Mbps equivalent to PCM voice by the rate conversion circuit 28 and supplied to the PCM circuit 29. The PCM signal processing is performed together with the subcode described above, and the time-division signal distributor (SW)
3) Supply to 37.

The time-division signal distributor (SW3) 37 is provided in FIG.
The PCM area E1, the INDEX area E2, and the VIDE
The PCM information, the INDEX information, and the VIDEO information are sequentially selected corresponding to the O area E3, and the recording rotary drum 39 is selected.
The track pattern is supplied to the heads 40a and 40b provided thereon to form a track pattern on the tape 41 as shown in FIG.

Next, processing at the time of information reproduction will be described with reference to FIG.

It is assumed that an information track as shown in FIG. 4 is formed on the tape 41. While tracking the track by controlling the capstan 19 and the rotating drum 39 by the servo circuit 38, information signals recorded by the heads 40a and 40b provided on the rotating drum 39 are detected. The detected signal is supplied to a time-division signal distributor (SW).
3) The information in the PCM area E1, the INDEX area E2, and the VIDEO area E3 are distributed in a time-sharing manner according to the information content by 37.

The information (analog signal) in the VIDEO area E3 is frequency-divided by the adder / distributor 36, and the pilot signal 4f
8, the color information c is supplied to the analog signal processing circuit 34, the audio information (AFM) is supplied to the audio processing circuit 33, and the luminance information Y is supplied to the analog signal processing circuit 34 in the same manner as the color information c.
Each of them is subjected to well-known 8-mm video signal processing. As a result, images and sounds with good tracking are output to the output terminals 73 and 74, respectively. Note that the image signal can be selectively displayed by the switch (SW2) 48 by the camcorder controller 42 as appropriate, similarly to the still image information described later. As another embodiment, a well-known small screen composition (Pictuer
Of course, image processing such as “in Picture” may be performed.

The information of the INDEX area E2 is INDEX
A data group as shown in FIG. 4 is reproduced by 35 and supplied to the camcorder controller 42. The cueing operation for printing out is performed in the INDEX area E2.
Until the search signal (ex. Data of all “1”) written in the capstan is detected, the above-mentioned servo circuit 38 performs high-speed driving of the capstan and the like, and executes the same. Servo circuit 3
When 8 detects all "1" in this search signal, it then reads the print information (number and size) set in the VIDEO area E3 and transfers it to the camcorder controller 42. These data are sent to the data bus 26 via the I / F 43 and are taken into the video printer unit 14 as needed.

For information on the PCM area E1, the PCM
The processing circuit 29 reproduces the still image data of the main data and the ID word as the subcode data. The still image data is subjected to a data rate conversion process reverse to that at the time of recording by the rate conversion circuit 28 so that the audio rate (0.5 m to 1.5 Mbps) matches the data rate of the data bus 26. The data is sent out onto the data bus 26 via F27. At this time, the still image information is transferred to the video printer 14 via the data bus 26 in a state of being compressed together with the compression mode information (excluding the non-compression mode).

The camcorder controller 42 uses the I / F 25 for the still image information and the I / F 25 for the control information for the image monitor.
/ F44 via the first and second compression / decompression circuits 23
a, 23b.

Switch (SW5) 49 according to the compression mode
Selects the non-compressed information and each information substantially expanded and restored to the original image information by the first or second expansion processing. The selection output signal of the switch (SW5) 49 is stored as a single still screen in the frame memory 22, read out at a video rate by the D / A converter 60, and converted as analog image information into the switch 48 as described above.
Supplied to The image is displayed on an image monitor such as an EVF 45 as necessary.

Also, the analog image signal is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 75 by specifying a still image by inputting a cue signal or the like to an arbitrary image in the moving image signal. Printout is possible as the same treatment as uncompressed data.

The operation of the video printer 14 will be described below.

The aforementioned digital image information and accompanying control data and a conventional analog image signal input terminal 20a
The general image signal input from the A / D converter 61 is digitized by the A / D converter 61, and the still image captured by the one-screen memory 62 is converted into an image signal transmitted through the I / F 63 by the video printer unit 14. It is on the data bus 26. The video printer unit 14 takes in the image data of the information via the I / F 64 and the control data into the buffer memory 65 and the printer controller 67 of the printer 14 via the I / F 66, respectively.

The buffer memory 65 sends information on the free space of the buffer memory 65 from the buffer memory 65 to the printer controller 67 so that the occupied state of the data storage can be managed by the printer controller 67. The first decompressor 68 and the second decompressor 69 perform reverse data decompression processing on the image data once stored under the control of the printer controller 67 in a manner reverse to that at the time of recording. The selector (SW6) 70 stores the image data subjected to the data expansion processing together with the uncompressed data on the frame memory 71 as reproduction still image information. The printing section 72 is controlled by the printer controller 67, and generates a video print image using the still image information.

The automatic printing operation centering on data exchange between the VTR unit 90 and the video printer unit 14 will be described with reference to the operation flowchart of FIG.

When the operation starts, the servo circuit 38
Performs a search for the video tape 41 under the control of the camcorder controller 42 (S1). The camcorder controller 42 checks whether a cue signal has been detected from the INDEX area E2 (S2), and causes the servo circuit 38 to continue the search operation until all "1" s are detected from the cue signal. If it is capstan 19
Is stopped, and the process proceeds to step S3 on the YES side. here,
The printer controller 67 checks the printer status "PT / ST" to confirm the operation state of the printer 14 side.
Request. The printer controller 67 of the printer 14 that has received the request sent via the data bus 26 via the I / F 66 checks the buffer memory 65 (S4). The printer controller 67 includes:
The free space information is received from the buffer memory 65, and it is confirmed whether or not the memory is saturated (S5). If the memory is saturated, the process proceeds to step S6, and "PT / ST" is set to "Busy". If there is still room, "PT / ST" is set to "Free" (S7), and then "Free / Capa" is set according to the memory occupation state (S8). The printer controller 67 is the printer unit 14 thus set.
"PT / ST" information indicating the state of the
"Free Capa (FC)" information indicating the free space of the VTR unit 90 is transmitted to the data bus 26 and transmitted to the VTR unit 90 (S9).

The camcorder controller 42 of the VTR unit 90 receives "PT ST" and "FC" (S1).
0). If "PT / ST" is "Busy" (S1
1) Return to step S3 and wait until the printer unit 14 is free.

The printer controller 67 has a “PT.
If “ST” = “Free] and there is a free space in the buffer memory 65, it is checked how much still image data corresponding to the cue signal found at the step S 2 has a data amount. Set as C (data capacity) (S12) The printer controller 67 may read out information on the imaging format and compression mode from the subcode and specify it as shown in FIG. May be described as the capacity.

Next, the printer controller 67
A comparison is made between C and FC, that is, whether the free space in the buffer memory 65 on the printer unit 14 side or the amount of image data to be transmitted from the VTR unit 90 side is larger (S13). If the memory margin on the printer 14 side is not enough, the process returns to step S3 and waits until an extra buffer memory 65 becomes available. On the other hand, in the case of YES, the image data confirmed in step S12 is reproduced (S14), and the image data is sequentially transmitted onto the data bus 26 (S15). Wait until the memory 65 becomes empty. On the other hand, in the case of YES, the image data confirmed in step S12 is reproduced (S14), and the image data is sequentially transmitted onto the data bus 26 (S15).

The printer controller 67 has an I / F 6
Then, the image data is fetched through the memory 4 (S16), and the image data is written into the buffer memory 65 (S17). Next, the printer controller 67 checks the data transfer (S18), and when completed, notifies the VTR unit 90 of the end of the memory write operation via the bus line 26 (S19). When the camcorder controller 42 determines that the data transfer is completed (S20), the camcorder controller 42 confirms whether or not there is a search instruction for the next cue signal. Returning to S1, the processing is continued in the same manner, and "EN
If “DofJOB”, the process proceeds to the YES side and ends.

The operation of the video printer unit 14 will be described.
A description will be given according to the operation flowchart shown in FIG.

The printer controller 67 appropriately decompresses the still image data from the buffer memory 65,
The data is loaded in a form developed on the frame memory 71 (S6
0). The printer-side controller 67 takes in data (print size, number of sheets, etc.) of printout condition settings via the I / F 66 (S61). Print number counter N
Is reset to "0" (S62). Step S6
The number of prints taken in step 1 is set in P (S6
3). The printing process is started, one sheet is printed, and the process proceeds to the next step (S64). The counter N is incremented by "+1" (S65). It is determined whether the printed number N has reached the required number P (S66).
64, and further continues the printout processing, YES
If so, the process proceeds to step S66. The original data (compressed data) of the still image data for which printing has been completed is deleted from the buffer memory 65 (S67).

After the deletion in step S67, it is determined whether still image data to be printed still remains (S6).
8) If unprocessed data remains, step S60
Then, when the buffer memory 65 becomes empty, a series of processing ends.

FIG. 7 shows some examples of modes that can be set by a combination of the image data companding method and the image pickup format. As an image pickup format, a field and a frame of a so-called high-definition TV in which field shooting and frame shooting of NTSC (or PAL) and the number of scanning lines are approximately doubled are set. As compression methods, subsamples for spatial decimation, DPCM for quantization operation, DCT for block coded orthogonal transform,
JPEG or the like can be used. FIG. 6 illustrates the above combination as a mode that can be expressed by 4 bits of mode 1 to mode 16.

Based on the non-compressed information of the HD frame image, assuming a buffer memory capable of storing only one screen, the result of the approximate calculation of the data amount corresponding to the above-mentioned modes 1 to 16 and the number of storages in the memory Figure 8
Shown in As described above, depending on the mode, several to several 1
It can be seen that zero still image data can be stored in the same buffer memory 65. 9 to 12 show specific examples in which the storage capacity of the buffer memory 65 is set to one uncompressed image data. In the figure, "A" is uncompressed (1/1),
“B” and “C” indicate 1 compression image data, and “D” to “G” indicate ／ compression image data. The image data indicated by "A" is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11, the image data indicated by “B” and “C” are as shown in FIG. 10, and the image data indicated by “D” to “G” are as shown in FIG. And the image data indicated by “E” are stored in the buffer memory 65 as shown in FIG.
Is stored in

According to the above embodiment, when the image data transferred from the VTR unit 90 or the video camera 20 is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 65 of the video printer unit 14, the image data is compressed according to the compression ratio. Since storage is performed, the amount of image storage can be increased, thereby improving the efficiency of printing out a plurality of screens.

In transferring image data from the VTR section 90 to the printer section 14, the operation state of the printer section 14 is confirmed, and the search operation of the VTR section 90 can be controlled according to the printer state. If the print search information is recorded on the video tape 41 in advance, it is possible to realize a video printer system that sequentially searches a plurality of types of screens (as soon as the printing operation is completed) and automatically performs a printing process.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the medium is in the form of a tape. However, the medium is not limited to this and may be in the form of a disk, or may be in another form such as a solid-state memory.

In this embodiment, a television signal is taken as an example of a video signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a still image such as an electronic file may be used.

[0068]

As described above in detail, according to the video printing system of the first aspect, the input image information is compressed in a compression state selected from a plurality of types of compression states, and the compressed image information is compressed. Since the data is transmitted to the video printer, the data transfer speed can be increased, the number of screens that can be stored in the storage means (buffer memory 65) for temporarily storing can be increased, and the efficiency of printout can be improved.

In particular, the free space in the storage state of the video printer
Since the compressed image information is transmitted in accordance with the information on the amount , if a certain amount of free space can be secured in the storage means, the compressed image information can be transmitted. Can be shortened. Further, in particular, the time required for data transfer can be shortened.

A video printer according to claim 2 and claim 10.
According to the control method for a video printer, the empty storage means
Since the compressed image information is received according to the storage state of the storage unit in accordance with the information regarding the capacity, it is possible to improve the use efficiency of the storage unit, thereby increasing the number of screens that can be stored in the storage unit. And the overall processing time can be reduced. Therefore, the efficiency of printout can be improved.

According to the image output device of the fifth aspect and the image output method of the eleventh aspect, the storage medium of the video printer is empty.
Since the compressed image information is transmitted in accordance with the information regarding the storage capacity and the amount of compressed image information to be transmitted, the number of screens that can be stored in the storage means of the video printer can be increased and the entire processing time can be reduced. be able to. Therefore, the efficiency of printout can be improved.

According to the video printing system of the first aspect, since a complicated and time-consuming printing operation can be automated, the spread of the video printing culture at home can be promoted. In addition, when deploying to an external print lab as in the current photo DPE system, it is convenient to automate the printing and bring a videotape with the printout information to a higher quality commercial printer service shop. This has a great effect that it is possible to create a photographic DPE culture. Since the data transfer to the storage means (buffer memory 65) of the video printer (printer unit 14) is performed in a compressed state, the data transfer speed is high and the number of screens that can be stored in the storage means (buffer memory 65) increases. This has the effect of shortening the entire processing time, in that the work is not easily stagnated due to the busy state occurring during the operation of the video printer (printer unit 14).

That is, for example, the number of images that can be stored in the video printer at one time can be increased. Also,
If a smaller free space is secured in the storage means (buffer memory 65) as compared with the case where the image information is not compressed, the transfer to the video printer can be performed, so that the transfer can be started earlier. Overall processing time can be reduced. Further, in particular, the time required for data transfer can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a video print system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the video print system according to the embodiment of the present invention when information is reproduced.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram at the time of recording information in the video print system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a recording track pattern on an 8 mm video tape.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the video print system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the video print system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mode that can be set by a combination of a companding method of image data and an imaging format.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a compression mode and a data amount.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a storage mode in a buffer memory shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a storage mode in a buffer memory shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a storage mode in a buffer memory shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a storage mode in a buffer memory shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional video print system.

[Description of Signs] 14 Video printer 23a First compression / expansion circuit 23b Second compression / expansion circuit 65 Buffer memory 68 First decompressor 69 Second decompressor 100 Video print system

Claims (13)

(57) [Claims] 1. A video print system for transmitting and receiving information between an image reproducing apparatus and a video printer, wherein the image reproducing apparatus compresses input image information in a compression state selected from a plurality of types of compression states. Means, recording means for recording the image information compressed by the compression means, and image information reproduced by the recording means according to the information on the free space in the storage means of the video printer notified from the video printer. The video printer has a storage unit for receiving the compressed image information transmitted from the reproduction unit and temporarily storing the compressed image information, and a free space of the storage unit.
Information, and notifying means for notifying the image reproduction apparatus, a stretching means for stretching captures image information compressed from the storage means, and the printer unit for printing out capture image information that has been decompressed by該伸Zhang means A video print system comprising: 2. An image information of a plurality sheets of a storable video printer in the storage unit, information about free capacity of the storage means, and supply means for supplying to the external device, depending on the information on the space Storage control means for receiving the compressed image information transmitted from the external device and temporarily storing the compressed image information in the storage means; and an image stored in the storage means under the control of the storage control means. A video printer comprising: a decompressing unit for decompressing the image; and a printing unit for printing the image information decompressed by the decompressing unit. 3. The external device according to claim 2, wherein the external device includes a transmitting unit that transmits the compressed image information to the video printer in accordance with a free space of the storage unit and an information amount of the compressed image information. A video printer as described. 4. The video printer according to claim 2, wherein the external device further includes a compression unit that compresses the image information in a compression state selected from a plurality of types of compression states. 5. An image output device connected to a video printer capable of storing a plurality of pieces of image information, wherein information on a free space of a storage medium of the video printer is received from the video printer. Receiving means for performing the processing, and the free space of the storage medium received by the receiving means.
That information and, in accordance with the information amount of the compressed image information to be transmitted, an image output device, characterized in that the compressed image information and a transmitting means for transmitting the video printer. 6. The image output device according to claim 5, further comprising a compression unit for compressing the image information in a compression state selected from a plurality of types of compression states. 7. The image according to claim 5, further comprising transmission control means for controlling transmission of the compressed image information in accordance with print control information for automatically printing a plurality of pieces of image information. Output device. 8. The image output device according to claim 7, wherein the print control information is stored in a removable storage medium together with the compressed image information. 9. The print control information includes print sheets.
9. The method according to claim 7, comprising numerical information.
Image output equipment. 10. A method of controlling a video printer capable of storing a plurality of pieces of image information in a storage unit, comprising: a supply step of supplying information relating to a free space of the storage unit to an external device; Information about free space
A storage control step of receiving the compressed image information transmitted from the external device in response to the report , and temporarily storing the compressed image information in the storage unit; A video printer control method, comprising: a decompression step of decompressing a stored image; and a printing step of printing image information decompressed in the decompression step. 11. An image output method for outputting an image to a video printer capable of storing a plurality of pieces of image information, wherein information on a free space of a storage medium of the video printer is transmitted from the video printer. A receiving step of receiving, and a free space of the storage medium received in the receiving step.
That information and, in accordance with the information amount of the compressed image information to be transmitted, an image output method characterized in that it comprises a transmission step of transmitting toward the compressed image information to the video printer. 12. Automatically printing a plurality of image information.
Transmitting the compressed image information according to the print control information
Having a transmission control step of controlling
Item 12. The image output method according to Item 11 . 13. The print control information includes print data.
13. The image according to claim 12, wherein the image information includes number information.
Image output method.