JP3664203B2 - Printing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention performs printing and image browsing using image data taken with a digital camera or the like.Printing systemIt is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the current camera and photo print system, the filmed negative film is handed over to a development shop or a DP reception store, and after the simultaneous printing and the like are completed, they are picked up. In the conventional electronic still camera, a recording medium such as a floppy disk or an LSI card is loaded in the camera, and image data is stored in the recording medium.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional photo print system, it is necessary to use a recording medium such as a negative film or a floppy disk. In addition, it is necessary to deliver these recording media to a development shop or a DP reception shop, and it takes time and effort to order DP processing.
[0004]
  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, so that high-quality photos can be obtained without preparing a large number of recording media, and the labor and time required to obtain the photos can be saved.Printing systemThe purpose is to provide.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, the printing system according to claim 1 includes the image data and identification data transferred from a camera including a data communication unit that transfers image data of a subject and identification data corresponding thereto. A data receiving unit for receiving the image data, an image database for managing the image data based on identification data, a printing unit for creating a print from the image data read from the image database, and operating conditions of the printing unit A print control unit for controlling the printing means according to print instruction dataConsists of  The print instruction data is created by a camera and transferred to the data receiving unit. In addition,The print instruction data is preferably registered in advance in the print control unit. The print instruction data preferably includes any one of index print instruction data, single-frame print instruction data, print size data, print number data, and print reception instruction data. It is preferable that the data receiving unit includes a wireless transmission / reception unit for communicating image data or identification data from the data communication unit in a wireless manner. Further, it is preferable to transfer the photographing condition data together with the image data. Furthermore, it is preferable that the printing means is any one of a photographic printer, a thermal development transfer printer, an ink jet printer, a thermal printer, and a laser printer. Preferably, the print instruction data includes desired reception time data, and the print order is determined based on the desired reception time data.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a printing system of the present invention. The printing system of the present invention is composed of a digital still camera 9 and a printing facility 10 installed in a laboratory shop. The digital still camera 9 and the printing facility 10 are connected by a mobile phone line 11. The digital still camera 9 includes a still camera body 12, a data communication unit 13, and a system controller 14 that controls them.
[0009]
The still camera body 12 includes an imaging unit 15, an image processing unit 16, and a buffer memory 17. The imaging unit 15 includes a three-plate image area sensor, and images a subject. The image processing section 16 performs A / D conversion after performing gamma conversion and well-known image processing, and stores this in the buffer memory 17. The buffer memory 17 is composed of two frame memories 17a and 17b. When data compression processing or the like is performed in one frame memory 17a, the image data from the image processing unit 16 is stored in the other frame memory 17b. Can be written.
[0010]
The data communication unit 13 includes a data compression unit 18, an identification / instruction data generation unit 19, and a mobile phone unit 20. The data compression unit 18 reads one frame of digital image data from one of the frame memories 17a and 17b, and compresses the image data at a compression rate of about 1/10 to 1/20 with JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group). To do. The compressed image data is sent to the mobile phone unit 20. The data compression method is not limited to JPEG, and other known compression methods may be used.
[0011]
The identification / instruction data generation unit 19 generates identification number data (ID data) for specifying the camera user and print instruction data corresponding to various print commands input from the key input unit 21. These identification / instruction data are sent to the mobile phone unit 20. The print instruction data includes index print instruction data, single frame print instruction data, print size data, print number data, print reception instruction data, image data storage instruction data, and image data medium recording instruction data. Special print instruction data such as panorama print and trim print can also be input. When these print instruction data are set in advance, they are stored in the memory, and are subsequently output until their contents are changed. The print receipt instruction data designates a print receipt desired time and a receipt method such as mailing, home delivery, and store delivery.
[0012]
The mobile phone unit 20 associates the compressed image data with the identification / instruction data, and transfers the data to the lab shop using the well-known mobile phone line 11, from the modem 24 and the mobile phone 25. It is configured. Since the cellular phone 25 only transfers image data and identification / instruction data in this embodiment, the call function is omitted. When there is a general telephone line or a public telephone line that can be used nearby, a connection terminal to a line port of a public telephone or the like is provided so that wired data transfer is possible. The data transfer is automatically performed after each processing such as imaging, image processing, image recording, data compression, and the like, whereby image data, identification / instruction data, and the like are registered in the printing facility 11 of the lab store registered in advance. Is transferred. As described above, since the image data is transferred together with the identification / instruction data to the print facility 11 of the lab store after the photographing is completed, the storage capacity of the recording medium can be reduced without worrying about the storage capacity of the recording medium as in the conventional camera. An unlimited number of frames can be taken. Note that a frame identification number is assigned to each image data in order to identify each shooting frame. As the frame identification number, shooting date / time data may be used in addition to a simple count of the number of shooting frames.
[0013]
The data communication unit 13 has a browsing mode for browsing the image data transferred to the lab store. In this viewing mode, the camera 9 accesses the image storage file 31 of the lab store, captures the index image or single frame image of each frame that has been shot up to the camera 9 side, and uses this to capture the electronic viewfinder and display of the camera 9. Further, it is selectively displayed on a display or the like separate from the camera.
[0014]
The lab store is provided with a printing facility 10 that performs printing based on the transferred image data. The printing facility 10 includes a data receiving unit 30, an image storage file 31, a digital printer 32, a bill issuing printer 33, and a system controller 34.
[0015]
The data receiving unit 30 includes a modem 35 connected to a telephone line and a data conversion unit 36 that decodes data from the modem 35 into image data and identification / instruction data. Image data and identification / instruction data from the data converter 36 are stored in the image storage file 31 by the system controller 34 using the identification data as search data.
[0016]
Based on the print instruction data, the system controller 34 controls the digital printer 32 to create a hard copy 45 as shown in FIG. First, the print receipt desired time is read from the print instruction data, and the image data is read out and digitally printed from the print receipt desired time approaching. At that time, the single frame print instruction data, the index print instruction data, the print size data, and the print number data of the print instruction data are read, and each print is performed in accordance with these instruction contents. Further, the back printer 42 prints the identification number and its barcode on the back side of the hard copy 45.
[0017]
Further, the system controller 34 calculates the contents of the bill based on the contents of the print processing and outputs this to the bill issuing printer 33. The invoice issuing printer 33 specifies the customer name from the identification number, and prints the invoice contents such as the customer name, delivery date, delivery location, amount, and the like. The identification number and its barcode are also recorded on the invoice. By automatically reading these numbers, the finished hard copy 45 is grouped for each identification number, and the hard copy 45 and the invoice are automatically verified. It is made into one unit and packed in a bag. The hard copy 45 packed in a bag is classified by specifying a receiving method such as mailing, delivery to the home, or over-the-counter delivery based on the print receiving instruction data. And according to each sort, these are mailed, delivered to home, and delivered to the store.
[0018]
In addition, the system controller 34 reads the image data storage instruction data from among the print instruction data, and those instructed to store the image data store the image data for a predetermined period without deleting the image data. deep. This enables browsing and downloading of images from the camera 9 or through personal computer communication. In addition, for only print instruction data and no instruction to save image data, the corresponding image data in the image storage file 31 is erased at the stage where printing and print verification are completed. In the case of image data on which image data medium recording instruction data has been recorded, the image data is erased after writing the image data to a large-capacity storage medium such as an MO, CD-ROM, or MD. To do.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 2, the digital printer 32 includes a printing exposure unit 40 of a scanning exposure method using a laser beam. The printing exposure unit 40 prints and exposes each frame by scanning the printing beam in the width direction of the color paper 41 in synchronization with the feeding of the color paper (silver salt color photosensitive material) 41. In the case of an index image, a large number of images are reduced and printed within a normal single frame size.
[0020]
  The mobile phone unit 20 associates the compressed image data with the identification / instruction data, and transfers the data to the lab shop using the well-known mobile phone line 11, from the modem 24 and the mobile phone 25. It is configured. Since the cellular phone 25 only transfers image data and identification / instruction data in this embodiment, the call function is omitted. When there is a general telephone line or a public telephone line that can be used nearby, a connection terminal to a line port of a public telephone or the like is provided so that wired data transfer is possible. Data transfer is automatically performed after each processing such as imaging, image processing, image recording, data compression, etc., and thereby the printing equipment of the lab store registered in advance10Then, the image data and the identification / instruction data are transferred. In this way, when the shooting is completed, this image data together with the identification / instruction data is printed in the laboratory shop.10Thus, unlimited number of frames can be taken without worrying about the storage capacity of the recording medium unlike conventional cameras. Note that a frame identification number is assigned to each image data in order to identify each shooting frame. As the frame identification number, shooting date / time data may be used in addition to a simple count of the number of shooting frames.
[0021]
In the above embodiment, the photographic print type digital printer 32 is used. Alternatively, a heat development transfer type color printer, a color inkjet printer, a color thermal printer, and a color laser printer may be used.
[0022]
In the above embodiment, the image data is digitally printed. In addition to this, the character data and document data input by a word processor or the like are sent to a lab store by personal computer communication or the like, and the image data sent earlier and these characters, The document data may be combined with an image and printed. Further, instead of synthesizing characters and document data, images may be printed on the back side of the hard copy 45 using a back printing machine 42 as shown in FIG.
[0023]
Further, high resolution image data may be obtained using a pixel shifting method. For example, the image area sensor of the imaging unit is moved in a range narrower than the interval of one pixel by a piezoelectric element or the like on the imaging screen and sequentially captured, and image data with a resolution higher than the number of pixels of the image area sensor is simulated. obtain. In this case, data representing the pixel shift position (x, y coordinates) and the corresponding image data are transferred to the laboratory store. Then, instead of encoding the image data alone, the inter-image difference data is encoded by using the fact that the correlation between sequentially captured pixel shifted images is high (because the same scene is captured). If a method for encoding inter-image difference data is used in this way, the amount of stored and transferred data can be reduced. In the lab store, using the pixel shift position data and the corresponding image data, high-resolution image data is created and printed by pixel interpolation processing. At this time, image processing such as smoothing and enhancement may be added as necessary.
[0024]
Further, the present invention may be implemented for a video camera that captures a moving image. Nearly the same scene is shown before and after the frame image at a certain time. When the screen is completely stationary, the noise generated between the imaging input system and the recording system can be effectively removed by taking the average value of a plurality of frame images during the stationary time. Further, when the screen is moving (in the case of screen movement within a predetermined allowable range), the moving image has the effect of pixel shifting. Therefore, the high-resolution image data is obtained in a pseudo manner by using the image data of the frames before and after the print target frame for the pixel complementation process. In this case, it is necessary to obtain the direction and the movement distance on the pixel, and these direction and the movement distance can be obtained by performing local matching between frames. For example, when an image after n frames from an image at a certain time moves by (dx, dy) pixels on the pixels of the image area sensor, the pixels are shifted by (dx / n, dy / n) per frame. It can be regarded as a thing. Here, dx represents the amount of movement in the x-axis direction, and dy represents the amount of movement in the y-axis direction. Then, a frame image at a timing at which these pixel shift amounts (dx / n, dy / n) take values other than integers is used as pixel complementing data.
[0025]
In the above embodiment, the data communication unit 13 is integrally provided in the digital still camera 9, but these may be separable. Further, a call function may be added to the data communication unit 13 so that both the camera and the mobile phone are used. In the above-described embodiment, the camera 9 and the printing facility 10 are connected via the mobile phone line 11, but they may be directly connected by radio.
[0026]
In the above embodiment, the print instruction data is input on the camera side and transferred together with the image data. However, the print instruction data is registered in the lab store in advance, and only when there is a change, You may make it contact by telephone etc. Further, the photographing condition data may be transferred together with the image data. The shooting condition data includes shooting date and time, shooting lens focal length, subject distance, subject irradiation light source type, weather, temperature, and the like. By using these during printing, print quality can be improved. Further, when instructing the extra printing, since the image data has already been transferred, the identification data and the number of prints may be transferred to the printing facility 10 by the camera 9, and the extra print can be easily performed. .
[0027]
The above embodiment is a printing system between an individual user and a lab shop. However, the printing system may be implemented in a printing system between a photographer and a head office in a newspaper company or a television station. In this case, an immediate image can be easily obtained.
[0028]
In the above embodiment, the digital still camera 9 is configured by the still camera body 12 and the data communication unit 13, but in addition to this, an IC card can be mounted and image data can be stored therein. . In this case, if necessary, an IC card may be submitted to a lab store to receive a print service. Furthermore, at a lab store near the place where the user is away, only image data may be passed from a camera or IC card, and a print may be received or delivered from a lab store near the home. In this case, data such as a customer identification number and an address and name are stored in the IC card as necessary.
[0029]
In the above embodiment, the identification data and the instruction data are transferred together with the image data every time the image is taken. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the digital still camera 49 stores the compressed image data. A data memory 22 for storing a plurality of frames may be provided, and data may be transferred after shooting a plurality of frames. In this case, the data memory 22 is provided between the data compression unit 18 and the mobile phone unit 20. Each image data and print instruction data are stored in the data memory 22 in association with each other. In FIG. 3, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The still camera body 50 includes an image display circuit 51 and a liquid crystal display panel 52 so that a captured image can be confirmed on the liquid crystal display panel 52.
[0030]
In addition to image data and print instruction data, the data memory 22 also stores unique data such as identification number data for specifying the camera user and destination telephone number data. These unique data may be registered in the transmission destination memory of the mobile phone unit 20 instead of being stored in the data memory 22, and may be further stored in the built-in memory of the system controller 14.
[0031]
When data transmission is performed for a plurality of shooting frames at once, user identification number data is transferred in addition to a series of image data, frame identification data, and print designation data. In addition to sending identification data, image data, and print instruction data for each shooting frame as in the above embodiment, this user identification number is transferred to each image data and these print instruction data using the identification data as a footer. They may be transferred together. When transferring each data for each shooting frame, it is convenient because it is not necessary to transfer the transferred shooting frame again when the communication line is interrupted due to radio wave interference or the like during transfer. In this case, when each frame is normally received, the printing facility transmits a normal reception signal after the reception of each frame is completed. As a result, when the line is interrupted during communication, it is sufficient to transmit again from the interrupted frame, and the communication cost can be reduced. In FIG. 4, when data is not normally received, data is transferred until it is normally received. However, a limit may be set on the number of times this data is retransferred. In this case, an alarm is generated when a certain number of times is exceeded. Further, the user identification number data and the frame number identification data may be used in combination. In this case, the user and the photographing frame can be identified by one identification number.
[0032]
The transfer of the image data of a plurality of frames recorded in the data memory 22 is performed after a certain number of frames are photographed as shown in FIG. 4, and when a certain amount of data is stored in the data memory 22, the data It may be transferred. Further, the accumulated image data, identification data, and print designation data may be transferred after a fixed time has elapsed since the photographing was completed. Furthermore, the manual transfer mode may be set and data may be transferred manually as appropriate. Further, when the data is transferred, if the camera 9 is in an incommunicable area such as a building or an underground mall, the data transfer standby mode is automatically set. In this data transfer standby mode, data transfer is performed when the camera 9 enters the communicable area.
[0033]
When the transmission of the image data is completed and a normal reception signal is received from the receiving side, after the transmission record is stored in a predetermined area of the data memory 22, the transmitted image data and the print instruction data thereof are transmitted from the data memory 22. Are automatically deleted. The transmission record data includes transmission date / time data, transmission frame identification number data, print receipt designation data, and the like. In addition to automatic deletion, these data may be deleted manually. Alternatively, instead of sending a normal reception signal from the reception source, if the reception is normal, a reception ID number may be issued at the reception lab store and transmitted from the reception source to the camera 9 side. In this case, the received reception ID number is stored in the data memory 22 on the camera side.
[0034]
The transfer destination of image data is not only transferred to those registered in the camera in advance, but also stored in the camera data memory 22 in a list of image data transfer destinations. Also good. In this case, a reception facility 60 as shown in FIG. 5 is provided for each region. The reception facility 60 is generally installed in a lab shop, but it may be provided alone.
[0035]
The reception facility 60 includes a data receiving unit 61, a temporary storage file 62, a destination data decoding unit 63, a retransmission data generation unit 64, a retransmission file creation unit 65, a data transmission unit 66, and a system controller 67. The data receiver 61 and the data transmitter 66 are composed of modems 70 and 71 and data converters 72 and 73. The transmission data from the digital still camera 49 received by the data receiving unit 61 is sent to the destination data decoding unit 63 in addition to being stored in the temporary storage file 62. Receiving destination data decoding unit 63 decodes the receiving destination from the transmission data, and sends the receiving destination data and the identification data to retransmission data generating unit 64. The re-transmission data generation unit 64 creates re-transmission data with the reception destination as the transmission destination based on the reception destination data, and sends this and identification data to the re-transmission file creation unit 65. Based on the identification data, the retransmission file creation unit 65 reads the image data and print instruction data of the corresponding identification data from the temporary storage file 62 and creates a retransmission file with the print destination as the transmission destination. The created retransmission file is sent by the data transmission unit 66 via the dedicated line 75 to the print facility 10 of the target print recipient. Therefore, since printing is performed at the print recipient, the user can receive the print with the shortest delivery time. The retransmission file may be transmitted using the dedicated line 75 or a network such as the Internet using a general public line.
[0036]
Further, the transfer destination of the image data may be automatically selected based on the current position information of the camera. The input of the current position information of the camera is performed in a simple manner by the photographer himself / herself inputting a place name or the like with the key input unit 21. In this case, an association between the place name and the image data transfer destination is stored in the memory of the camera, and the image data transfer destination is specified from the place name. In the case of a camera equipped with a global positioning system (GPS), the current position is specified based on the GPS signal, and the transfer destination is specified based on the current position. In addition, in the case of the mobile phone unit 20 from which the received base station information can be obtained, the location of the received base station may be set as the approximate current position. Thus, by selecting a location closest to the current position of the camera as the data transfer destination, it is possible to minimize the communication cost when using a mobile phone line. Further, by inputting the current position information, a list of a plurality of image data transfer destinations close to the current position may be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 52, and a desired data transfer destination may be selected from these lists. .
[0037]
Also, the print recipient information of the print instruction information may be changed at each time on the camera side in addition to a predetermined location, for example, at home or the nearest DP reception store. In this case, the place name and print destination data may be associated with each other and stored in the camera in advance, and may be automatically selected based on the current position information of the camera. As with the image data transfer destination, the print reception destination may also specify, for example, the nearest reception location based on the place name data, the GPS signal, and the receiving base station information. In this case, by inputting the desired print receipt time as the print receipt instruction data, it becomes possible to receive the print at the place designated at the time designated at the destination such as travel. Also, by inputting the current position information, a list of a plurality of print recipients close to the current location may be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 52, and a favorite recipient may be selected from these.
[0038]
In the above embodiment, captured image data is transferred after being compressed, but in addition to this, the image data may be transferred as it is without compressing the data, although the transfer efficiency is lowered. The captured image data may be transferred after being confirmed on the camera display.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, since image data is transferred, an increase in the storage capacity of the image data in the camera can be suppressed. In addition, since it is sufficient that at least one screen image data can be stored, the number of image data for one screen can be increased by that amount, and high-resolution image data can be obtained. In addition, since the photographer is not limited by the memory capacity, the photographer can perform high-quality image capturing many times without limitation.
[0040]
In addition, since the image data is transferred and stored in a large-scale storage file at the transfer destination, it is possible to save the trouble of bringing a negative film or a recording medium into a DP reception store or the like in order to obtain a print. In addition, in the DP reception store and the laboratory store, reception processing, sorting, billing processing, and the like can be automatically performed without performing manual reception processing.
[0041]
Also, since the shooting condition data is transferred together with the image data, printing quality can be improved by printing using the shooting condition data. In addition, by providing the camera with a storage unit for storing shot frames and a transfer image data recording unit, new shooting can be performed even during transfer image processing. Further, by performing imaging by the pixel shifting method and encoding the difference data between the sequentially captured pixel shifting images, high-resolution image data can be obtained, and the amount of stored and transferred data can be reduced.
[0042]
Since the camera is provided with a data communication unit that transfers the image data of the subject, the identification data corresponding to the image data, and the print instruction data, it is possible to easily order a print without having to go to a DP reception store or the like. In addition, since the data is transferred after the photographing is completed, a quick print process can be performed. Further, the identification data includes user identification data and photographing frame identification data, so that the transferred image data can be reliably identified.
[0043]
Storage means for storing image data for a plurality of frames, and the data communication unit automatically transfers image data for a plurality of frames stored in the storage means after photographing a certain number of frames or a certain amount of data; The means is not filled with image data. Moreover, it is not necessary to prepare a recording medium such as a photographic film or an IC card each time, and printing can be performed easily.
[0044]
When a normal reception signal is received from the receiving side after the data transfer, the image data transfer has not been successfully performed due to a communication failure or the like by deleting the data transfer completed image data stored in the storage means The image data is never deleted.
[0045]
The data communication unit stores a plurality of data transfer destinations, and the data communication unit selects a data transfer destination close to the current position of the camera based on the current position data of the camera. Can be suppressed. Similarly, a plurality of print recipients are stored, and the data communication unit selects a print recipient close to the current camera position based on the current camera position data, and uses this print recipient data as print instruction data. By including the data and transferring it, it is possible to designate a nearby recipient and obtain a printed photograph even more quickly. Further, the current position information of the camera can be input automatically and easily by inputting the received base station information or GPS signals. By manually inputting the current position information, the camera configuration can be simplified. In addition, the data communication unit stores a plurality of data transfer destinations and print recipients, and designates them easily by transferring data to one selected from these or by setting them as print recipients. be able to. Further, since the print recipient data is recorded as transmission record data even after the image transmission is completed, it can be confirmed on the display panel as necessary, and the recipient is not mistaken.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a printing system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a digital printer.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a digital still camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the camera.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a network of a reception facility and a printing facility that relay image data from the camera.
[Explanation of symbols]
9,49 camera
10 Printing equipment
11 Mobile phone line
12 Still camera body
13 Data communication department
14 System controller
15 Imaging unit
16 Image processing unit
17 Buffer memory
18 Data compression unit
19 Identification / instruction data generator
20 Mobile phone
22 Data memory
30 Data receiver
31 Image storage file
32 Digital printer
33 Invoicing printer
34 System controller
41 color paper
45 Hard copy

Claims (7)

A data receiving unit that receives the image data and identification data transferred from the camera including a data communication unit that transfers image data of the subject and identification data corresponding thereto;
An image database for managing the image data based on identification data;
Print means for creating a print from the image data read from the image database;
A print control unit for controlling the printing means by print instruction data defining operating conditions of the printing means;
The print system, wherein the print instruction data is created by a camera and transferred to the data receiving unit . It said print instruction data, the print system according to claim 1, characterized in that it is registered in advance in the print controller. 3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print instruction data includes any one of index print instruction data, single frame print instruction data, print size data, print number data, and print reception instruction data. Wherein the data receiving unit according to claim 1 to 3 printing system according any one, characterized in that it comprises a radio transceiver means for communicating the image data or identification data from the data communication unit in a wireless manner . Claims 1 to 4 printing system according any one, characterized in that transferring the photographing condition data together with the image data. It said print means, photo printers, thermal development transfer printer, ink jet printer, thermal printer, claims 1 to 5 printing system according any one, characterized in that any one of a laser printer. It said print instruction data, receive hope includes time data, claims 1 to 6 printing system according any one and determines the print order on the basis of the received desired time data.

Images