JP3761554B2 - Print content sending apparatus, printing apparatus, and printing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print content sending device for sending print content including image data generated and compressed based on an image taken by an electronic imaging device or the like typified by a digital still camera, and a print content. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus or the like that receives and appropriately expands and prints out an image.

  In recent years, image data obtained by photoelectrically converting an object image formed by an optical lens into an electrical signal using an image sensor such as a CCD, and performing compression processing such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) based on the electrical signal Digital still cameras (also referred to as “electronic still cameras”) that generate and record data on a card medium such as a PC card or SD card or a recording medium such as a built-in fixed memory are widely used. In addition, printers that print images on paper media using image data generated by such digital still cameras have appeared.

  Header data based on the Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) standard is usually appended to image data of the JPEG format or the like generated by a conventional general digital still camera or the like. This header information describes the type of digital still camera used to create the image data, the shooting conditions at the time of shooting, and the like.

In many cases, thumbnail images having a resolution lower than that of the main image are simultaneously generated and held.
There has been proposed a system that can select which resolution image is used for printing in the case of holding images of a plurality of resolutions as described above (for example, Patent Document 1). This system is not necessary because when printing using JPEG format image data consisting of a main image and a small thumbnail image, it can instruct to form print image data using the thumbnail image. In addition, it is not necessary to handle a main image having a high resolution (that is, a large size), the memory efficiency is improved, and the time required for printing can be shortened.

Further, the system stores certain print image data for each different resolution, and the print image data is included in a document for which a print instruction has been given from an application program on a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as “PC”). In some cases, a print image data having a resolution corresponding to the print quality designated by the PC is selected, and the print image data is converted into a predetermined format and output to the printing apparatus. Accordingly, print image data most suitable for printing can be sent to the printing apparatus from among print image data having a plurality of resolutions.
JP 2000-267829 A

  However, in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is a device driver in a PC that generates print image data, and a user or an application that communicates “use of thumbnail image” is a device in the same PC. It is a driver. Therefore, it is only necessary for the device driver to be able to interpret the command that conveys “use of thumbnail image”, and the command system can be specified by the manufacturer. Generally, this concept does not take into account that the above command may be sent to a device driver of another company.

  However, in the case of a printing system composed of an STB (Set Top Box) and a printer, it is difficult to adopt a PC method in which a device driver for each printer model is incorporated on the STB side. This is because, unlike a PC equipped with a de facto standard OS, the STB has a variety of OS types for each STB model, and it is very troublesome to develop a printer device driver in accordance with the OS. That's it.

  In this case, it is necessary to exchange a command indicating “use of thumbnail image” between the STB and an external device such as a printer. However, if the command is defined independently, an external device that does not understand the unique command may cause an abnormal operation when receiving the unique command. In order to avoid this abnormal operation, it is necessary to standardize the command specifications among companies, but it takes time to standardize commands between companies, and the commands that can be standardized are also the greatest common divisor of each company. Tend to stay within the scope.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the print content sending apparatus does not require a standardized command for using a thumbnail image and causes an abnormal operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system and a printing apparatus that can instruct a printing apparatus to use a thumbnail image.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the printing system according to the present invention, an image is not transmitted as a JPEG image alone, but is transmitted as a part of content described in conformity with the XML specification. For the “instruction to use an image”, a tag that conforms to the XML specification is described in the content. In XML, the rule is “if there are tags and attributes that cannot be recognized, the user agent (printer, etc.) must ignore the entire definition of the tags and attributes (that is, attributes and their values)”. is there. In the present system 10, if only content is described in accordance with XML, it is not necessary to standardize commands that use thumbnail images. This is because the printers of other companies that comply with the XML specification must ignore the “use thumbnail image” command that they do not know, and thus cannot lead to an abnormal operation.

That is, the print content transmission apparatus according to the present invention is a print content transmission apparatus that transmits print content to a printing apparatus, and is based on an image file including a main image and a thumbnail image of the main image, and a predetermined markup language. a content acquisition unit which acquires or generates a print contents described in, for the print content acquired or generated, and determination means for determining whether to use a thumbnail image of the image file when the printing When the determination means determines that a thumbnail image should be used, it describes that the thumbnail image of the image file should be used in a definition sentence that can be dealt with by the markup language. and information adding means described in the print content, the printing content which the definition statement have been described Characterized in that it comprises transmission means for transmitting to the printing apparatus.

A printing apparatus according to the present invention, an image file including the thumbnail image of the main image and the main image, receiving means for receiving a print content that is described in compliance with a predetermined markup language, which is received It said from the print content, and generates an extraction unit wherein the markup language to extract the definition statements may address, the print image data based on the extracted definition statements, printing is performed using the print image data And a printing unit.

    As a result, the print content sending device does not require a standardized command to use the thumbnail image and does not cause an abnormal operation. The content can be transmitted, and the printing apparatus can print using the thumbnail image based on the instruction included in the received print content.

  Note that the present invention can be configured not only as a print content sending device or a printing device, but also as a printing system including the print content sending device and the printing device.

  Furthermore, the present invention can also be realized as a print content sending method or a printing method including steps as a print content sending device or a configuration unit of the printing device, and a program including all these steps and the programs recorded therein. It can also be realized as a computer-readable recording medium.

  The print content sending apparatus according to the present invention includes a definition that includes a uniquely defined tag that represents a feature of the print content (for example, that a thumbnail image is used) in the print content described according to a predetermined markup language. Since the sentence is added and transmitted to the printing device, the thumbnail image is used for the printing device without requiring a standardized command to use the thumbnail image and causing an abnormal operation. It becomes possible to instruct.

  In addition, the printing system according to the present invention does not transmit an image only as a JPEG image, but transmits the image as content described in an XML format. Further, an “instruction to use a thumbnail image” also has a tag compliant with the XML specification. Use to describe in the content. By doing so, a printer that can interpret this “instruction to use a thumbnail image” generates print image data using the thumbnail image, and thus completes printing faster than generating print image data using the main image. be able to.

  Even if the content described in the XML format conforms to the XML specification but is sent to a printer of another company that cannot interpret the “instruction to use a thumbnail image”, the printer that has received this instruction Since the description indicating is ignored, it will not lead to abnormal operation.

  In addition, in the content described in the XML format, by describing information indicating whether the print content is a print content to be printed that is the same as the display content or a print-only content, an option can be selected for the print result. Can be provided.

  Also, even if print content written with “XML description indicating the type of print content” is sent to a printer of another company that complies with the XML specification but cannot interpret “XML description indicating the type of print content”, it is sent. The other company printer ignores the “XML description indicating the type of print content”, and therefore does not lead to an abnormal operation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not intended to be limited to these.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image processing system 10 according to the present embodiment. The image processing system (also referred to as “printing system”) 10 is a system that enables printing based on print contents described in conformity with the XML specification, and in particular, “thumbnail images described in XML format”. This is a system capable of printing using the “instruction to use”.

  In this embodiment, the STB 100 is used as an example of a device that outputs print content to a printer. However, the STB 100 is not limited to the STB, and may be a digital television (DTV) incorporating an STB, a digital camera, or a PDA. For example, a device that realizes the STB function with another device may be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 10 includes an STB 100, a monitor 190, and a printer 150.
The STB 100 is a device that converts broadcast content including image data received via an antenna (not shown) or the like into a predetermined format and transmits it to a printer or a monitor. (Hereinafter abbreviated as “I / F”) unit 101, encoded information expansion unit 102, drawing engine unit 103, unique information addition unit 104, video RAM unit 105, display image I / F unit 106, display control I / F An F unit 107, a print content generation unit 108, and a print content I / F unit 109 are provided.

The processing control unit 111 is a microcomputer including, for example, a RAM and a ROM, and controls each unit in the STB 100.
The data I / F unit 101 performs predetermined processing on the broadcast content received via the antenna or the like, and outputs it to the encoded information expansion unit 102.

  The encoded information expansion unit 102 receives, for example, data in XHTML (eXtensible Hyper Text Markup Language) format, data in MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) format, or data in BML (Broadcast Markup Language) format from the data I / F unit 101. Broadcast content including Furthermore, the encoded information expansion unit 102 performs a decoding process suitable for each data format on each data included in the received broadcast content, extracts data representing a control instruction to the STB 100, and image data. And so on. The process control unit 111 transmits data to be displayed on the monitor 190 among the data extracted by the encoded information expansion unit 102 to the drawing engine unit 103.

  The drawing engine unit 103 stores the data received from the encoded information development unit 102 in the video RAM unit 105 as image data. The video RAM unit 105 outputs the stored image data to the display image I / F unit 106. The display image I / F unit 106 exchanges data to be displayed and control data with the display control I / F unit 107 in the monitor 190.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, for example, when a print instruction is received from a user input I / F unit such as a remote controller, the encoded information expansion unit 102 selects a content to be printed in accordance with a user instruction, This is sent to the unique information adding unit 104.

  The unique information adding unit 104 transmits information unique to the STB 100 to be added to the content to be printed to the print content generating unit 108. The print content generation unit 108 generates print content described in the XML language for printing using the print target content received from the encoded information expansion unit 102 and the unique information received from the unique information addition unit 104.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of print content generated by the print content generation unit 108. FIG. 4A is an example of a file “honbun.xhtml” in which instructions related to a layout during printing and text to be printed are described. FIGS. 4B and 4C are examples of images that are fitted according to the layout specified in the “honbun.xhtml” (the file names associated with the images are “mobile1.jpg” and “mobile2. jpg ").

The print content I / F unit 109 exchanges print content and print commands with the print content I / F unit 151 of the printer 150.
The monitor 190 is a device that displays moving images, texts, and the like based on data received from the STB 100, and includes a display image I / F unit 191, a display image processing unit 192, an image display unit 193, a display control unit 194, and display control. An I / F unit 195 is provided.

  The display image I / F unit 191 communicates image data and the like with the display image I / F unit 106 of the STB 100, and transmits the received image data and the like to the display image processing unit 192. The display image processing unit 192 performs predetermined processing on the received image data and the like, and transmits the processed data to the image display unit 193.

  The image display unit 193 is a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), or a projector, and is based on image data received from the display image processing unit 192 or the like. Display an image. The display control unit 194 controls each unit in the monitor 190 based on the control data input to the display control I / F unit 195 and the like.

  The printer 150 is a device that prints an image or text on a print medium based on data received from the STB 100, and includes a print content I / F unit 151, a content interpretation unit 152, a print image generation unit 153, a print unit 154, and print control. Part 155.

The print content I / F unit 151 exchanges print content and print commands with the print content I / F unit 109 of the STB 100.
The print content I / F unit 151 transmits the print content received from the print content I / F unit 151 to the content interpretation unit 152. The content interpretation unit 152 sequentially interprets each line described in the printing XML language, and extracts data representing the content of instructions to the printer 150 at the time of printing. Data interpreted / extracted by the content interpretation unit 152 is transmitted to each unit of the printer 150.

The print image generation unit 153 generates print image data to be printed on a print medium based on the data extracted by the content interpretation unit 152.
The printing unit 154 performs printing on a print medium such as paper with a predetermined resolution (for example, 200 dpi, 300 dpi, or 400 dpi) based on the print image data generated by the print image generation unit 153. As a printing method in this case, there are a thermal type, a thermal transfer type, a sublimation type, and an ink jet type.

The print control unit 155 is a microcomputer including, for example, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and controls each unit in the printer 150.
The STB 100, the monitor 190, and the printer 150 are connected to each other by an IEEE1394 bus, USB, or the like, and the I / F unit of each device exchanges data according to the specifications of the connected bus.

Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the STB 100 in the system 10.

  As described above, when broadcast content is input via an antenna or the like, the encoded information expansion unit 102 performs a decoding process on the data included in the input broadcast content according to the data format, Extraction of control instructions to the STB 100 and extraction of video / image data are performed.

  Based on the data extracted by the encoded information expansion unit 102, the processing control unit 111 transmits the content to the drawing engine unit 103 in order to display an image on the monitor 190. The drawing engine unit 103 stores image data in the video RAM unit 105.

  While the drawing engine unit 103 stores image data, the processing control unit 111 monitors input from a user input I / F unit (not shown). The user input I / F unit is a button or remote controller provided in the STB 100 or the printer 150, a part for reading an instruction described in the content itself in the STB, a personal computer in the system, or a communication reception from outside this system. Any form may be used, such as a unit (none of which is shown).

  When the process control unit 111 receives an input from the user input I / F unit (S201), the process control unit 111 notifies the unique information adding unit 104 to that effect. Thereby, the unique information adding unit 104 determines whether or not to use the thumbnail image for printing (S202).

  There are various methods for determining whether or not “a thumbnail image should be used for printing”. For example, when an application for displaying a photo is activated on the STB and an instruction to print a photo index sheet is input, a large number of small images are printed on the photo index sheet 300 as shown in FIG. If it is determined that the speed until the completion of printing should be prioritized over the print quality, it is determined that a thumbnail image is used. As another example of the determination method, it is determined that the thumbnail image is used even when the vertical / horizontal size of the image instructed to be printed is smaller than the size when the thumbnail image is not reduced. For example, consider a case where the printer's print resolution is 200 dpi, and the vertical / horizontal size when an image is printed is designated as “horizontal: 0.4 inch, vertical: 0.3 inch”. Since the vertical and horizontal pixels of the main image are 1600 pixels and the vertical pixels are 1200 pixels, for example, when the horizontal and vertical pixels of the thumbnail image are 160 pixels and 120 pixels, the respective images are printed at the resolution. , The print size of the main image is “horizontal: 8 inches, vertical: 6 inches”, and the print size of the thumbnail image is “horizontal: 0.8 inches, vertical: 0.6 inches”. . The fact that the vertical / horizontal size of the print image is designated as “horizontal: 0.4 inch, vertical: 0.3 inch”, it is necessary to further reduce the thumbnail image. In this case, the unique information adding unit 104 determines to use a thumbnail image.

  When the unique information adding unit 104 determines to use a thumbnail image (S202: Yes), the print content generation unit 108 adds an instruction to use the thumbnail image to the print content (S203). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, description specifying an image <object data = "./ mobile1.jpg" type = "image / jpeg" style = "width: 12mm; height: 16mm An instruction of <param name = "imagepriority" value = "thumbnail" valuetype = "data"> </ param> is inserted between "> and </ object>. FIG. 5A is an example of print content to which the above instruction is added.

  In addition to the above description, there is a method of defining “imagepriority” as a unique attribute of the <object> tag. In that case, the description is <object data = "./ mobile1.jpg" type = "image / jpeg" style = "width: 12mm; height: 16mm" imagepriority = "thumbnail">, which means " Using the thumbnail image to generate print image data of 12mm width and 16mm height from the file mobile1.jpg that stores JPEG image data ".

Thereafter, the processing control unit 111 instructs the content added to the print content I / F unit 109 to be transmitted to the printer (S204).
Here, the format of the image data will be described with reference to FIG.

  In general, an image file 600 in JPEG format conforming to the Exif standard is composed of four parts: SOI (start of image) 601, APP1 (application marker 1) 602, main image 603, and EOI (end of image) 604. Has been. Further, the thumbnail image 610 defined in the APP 1602 includes an SOI (start of image) 610a, a thumbnail image 610b, and an EOI (end of image) 610c. The main image 603 and the thumbnail image 610b are respectively compressed.

Next, the operation of the printer 150 that has received the print content from the STB 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, when print content is received via the print content I / F unit 151 (S701), the content interpretation unit 152 starts interpreting the received print content (S702). In the interpretation, when <param name = "imagepriority" value = "thumbnail" valuetype = "data"></param> is found (S703: Yes) The content interpretation unit 152 extracts JPEG compressed data 610b of the thumbnail image from the image file having a structure conforming to the Exif standard shown in FIG.

  Further, the content interpretation unit 152 decodes the extracted JPEG compressed data 610b of the thumbnail image and transmits it to the print image generation unit 153. The print image generation unit 153 generates print image data using the thumbnail image and transmits the print image data to the printing unit 154. Accordingly, the printing unit 154 prints on a print medium such as paper based on the generated print image data.

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which printing is performed using thumbnail images in the printing unit 154. As shown in FIG. 8, the print result is composed of an image and characters configured using thumbnail images.

  As described above, since the size (total number of pixels) of the thumbnail image is smaller than the size of the main image, the print image is generated using the main image by generating the print image using the thumbnail image. Compared to the case, the processing time can be shortened.

  Here, for comparison, the printer of another company when the printing content shown in FIG. 5 is input to a printer that cannot interpret the “instruction to use thumbnail image” (for convenience, this printer is referred to as “other company printer”). Will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 11. FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 11, the same processes as those in the flowchart of FIG.

  The other company's printer starts interpreting the print content in FIG. 5 (S702). However, other companies' printers cannot interpret the descriptive text indicated by strikethrough in the print content, as shown in FIG. However, according to the XML rules, descriptive text that cannot be interpreted is to be ignored, so other printers can ignore the part shown by the strikethrough or replace it with a default value and the subsequent descriptive text. Is interpreted.

  In other words, the printers of other companies do not use the thumbnail image for generating the print image, but generate the print image data using the normal main image (S707).

  FIG. 10 shows the result of transferring the print image data to paper. FIG. 10 can produce a printed matter similar to FIG. However, since the printed image portion uses a main image having a size (total number of pixels) larger than that of the thumbnail image, the time required for processing to generate the print image includes a content interpreter 152 that can interpret the thumbnail image use instruction. It becomes longer than the printer 150.

  As described above, according to the printing system according to the present embodiment, the “instruction to use a thumbnail image” defined in the XML format according to the image to be printed is notified to the printer. It is possible to increase the printing speed while avoiding the occurrence.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the example in which the “instruction to use the thumbnail image” is added to the print content has been described. However, in the present embodiment, the “instruction to print the same content as the display content” or “print-only” An embodiment in which the “content printing instruction” is added to the print content will be described.

  In general, print content includes content that is limited to the same content as that displayed on a screen (also referred to as a “monitor”) (hereinafter referred to as “display-restricted content”), a screen that is printed, There are two types of printers that perform printing for print-only content that is not displayed (hereinafter referred to as “print-only content”). The system requires different printing operations for each print content.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a difference in printing operation when a print instruction is issued for two types of print contents described by the form element.
First, when a print instruction is given for a display-limited content, the same content as that displayed on the screen is printed (in this case, the user saves the image displayed on the screen). Would be printed on).

  FIG. 12 shows how the text content described by the textarea element is represented on the screen or print medium. On the screen, if there is a scroll bar, not all text content is displayed. Therefore, when printing is instructed for display-limited content, the entire text content is not printed even on the print medium, and the same content as the display on the screen, that is, some text content corresponding to the position of the scroll bar. Is printed.

On the other hand, when an instruction is given to print the print-only content that is not displayed on the screen, the entire content is printed.
This is because if only part of the text content is printed, the user cannot see the content of the part that was not printed. This is significantly inconvenient for the user as compared with the case of printing the same contents as the display on the screen. Therefore, when printing exclusive content, all the exclusive printing content is printed.

  FIG. 13 shows a functional configuration of an image processing system (also referred to as “printing system”) 20 according to the present embodiment that realizes the above functions. In FIG. 13, the same reference numerals are given to the same functional configurations as those in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The unique information adding unit 104 determines whether the print content to be transmitted to the printer 150 is display-limited content or print-only content. There are various determination methods in this case. For example, when printing the display-limited content displayed on the monitor, the print content is generated from the display content. In this case, generating the print content is the basis for the determination. As another example, the file name of the print content and the file name of the displayed content are collated, and if they match, it is determined that the display-limited content is printed.

The result determined by the unique information adding unit 104 is reflected in the description in the print content generated by the print content generation unit 108.
An expression method selection unit 256 in the printer 150 selects an expression method in the printer 150 based on the determination in the STB 100 extracted by the content interpretation unit 152. The selected representation method is reflected in the print image data generated in the print image generation unit 253.

Next, the operation of the image processing system 20 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the STB 100 of the image processing system 20.

  First, when a print instruction is received from the user (S1401), the unique information adding unit 104 determines whether the print content is a display-limited content or a print-only content (S1402).

  If the content is display-limited content, the unique information adding unit 104 adds a description indicating that the content is display-limited content to the print content (S1403). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15A, the description <meta name = "display-target" content = "screen" //> is inserted between <head> and </ head>. It is assumed that the STB 100 and the printer 250 have agreed in advance that this description is display-only content. After the above description is added, the STB 100 sends the print content to the printer 150.

  On the other hand, when the print content is print-only content, the unique information adding unit 104 adds a description indicating that the print content is print-only content to the print content. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15B, the description <meta name = "display-target" content = "print" //> is inserted between <head> and </ head>.

If it can be distinguished from display-limited content, it may be sent to the printer 150 without adding any description to the print content.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the printer 250 of the image processing system 20. Upon receiving the print target content (S1601), the content interpretation unit 152 of the printer 250 interprets the description of the print target content (S1602). When a description such as information <meta name = "display-target" content = "screen"/> indicating the type of content to be printed is found in the description, the content interpretation unit 152 represents the information indicating the type. The data is transmitted to the selection unit 256 (S1603).

  Next, the representation method selection unit 256 selects a print image data generation algorithm in the print image generation unit 253 based on the received information indicating the type of content to be printed (S1604). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15A, if <meta name = "display-target" content = "screen" /> is described in the print target content, it is a display-limited content. The selection unit 156 selects a print image data generation algorithm for printing the same textarea element contents as displayed on the monitor (S1604: screen display). As a result, the print image generation unit 153 generates print image data giving priority to the size of the display area of the textarea element as shown in FIG. 17A (S1605), and performs printing on the print medium (S1606). .

  On the other hand, if the description shown in FIG. 15B is a print-only content, the expression method selection unit 156 selects a print image data generation algorithm for the print-only content (step S1604: print-only), and FIG. Print image data giving priority to the size of the contents of the textarea element as shown in (b) is generated (S1607).

  As described above, according to the image processing system according to the present embodiment, it is possible to specify whether it is “an instruction to print the same content as the display content” or “an instruction to print print-only content”. Therefore, it is possible to select an expression method in the print result.

(Embodiment 3)
In this embodiment, a method of using an XML tag other than the above embodiment will be described. Note that the image processing system 30 in the present embodiment is basically the same as the image processing system 10 in the first embodiment, and thus description of overlapping functional configurations is omitted.

  FIG. 18 is an example of a special tag conforming to the XML specification according to the present embodiment. FIG. 18A is an example of attributes of special tags, and examples of “colorspace”, “content-width”, and “content-height” are shown.

  “Colorspace” is an attribute for defining the color space of the image. This enables the printer that has received the print content to accurately grasp the color space and reflect it in the print result. Become. Specific attribute values include “hc-srgb” as shown in FIG.

  “Content-width” and “content-height” are attributes that define the dot width and dot height of an image, so that a printer that receives print content does not analyze the image header without analyzing the image header. It becomes possible to grasp the vertical and horizontal sizes. Specifically, designation is made by content-width = “80 px” or the like. When the print size is not described in the print content, the printer analyzes the header of the image, extracts the number of vertical and horizontal pixels that the image originally has, and calculates the print size from the number of pixels by calculation. However, if "content-width" and "content-height" are described, the image will be displayed using the numerical values described without analyzing the header of the image used for printing. The size for printing can be determined. Thereby, the time and function required for analyzing the header of the image can be omitted. Note that the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image may be specified by length (for example, “mm”) instead of “dot”.

FIG. 18B is an example of a meta information name “content-kind” for designating the type of content.
For example, by adding a description “content-kind =“ photo-print ”” to a part of the print content, it is possible to notify the printer that the type of the image is “photo”.

  As described above, according to the image processing system 30 according to the present embodiment, the STB can accurately notify the printer of the color space of the image, the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image, and the content type.

  In the first to third embodiments, XML is given as a markup language that can interpret a user-defined tag or the like. However, the mark-up language is not limited to XML, and a user-defined tag or the like can be interpreted. Any language other than XML may be used.

  The present invention can be applied to a printing system including an STB (or a digital television having an STB function) and a printing apparatus, and in particular, can be applied to a printing system that can interpret XML or the like.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image processing system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of STB processing in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of printing of an index sheet. (A) It is a figure which shows the structural example of a print content. (B) It is an example of the image file described in print content. (C) An example of an image file described in print content. (A) It is a figure which shows the structural example of the print content which added "instruction to use a thumbnail image". (B) An example of an image file described in the print content shown in (a) above. (C) An example of an image file described in the print content shown in (a) above. It is a figure for demonstrating the image format of an Exif standard. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of the printer according to the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing result in the printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. It is the figure which showed the mode at the time of another company's printer interpreting the printing content shown to the said Fig.5 (a). It is a figure which shows an example of the printing result in another company's printer. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in another company's printer. It is a figure which shows how to express in the display and printing of the content described by the form element. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image processing system according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of STB processing in the second embodiment. (A) It is a figure which shows the example of the print content added about "the display limitation content" in Embodiment 2. FIG. (B) It is a figure which shows the example of the print content added about "print-only content" in Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of the printer according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing result in the printer according to the second embodiment. (A) It is a figure which shows an example of the attribute of a special tag. (B) It is a figure which shows an example of the meta information name for designating the kind of content.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20 Image processing system 100 STB
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Data I / F part 102 Encoding information expansion | deployment part 103 Drawing engine part 104 Original information addition part 105 Video RAM part 106 Display image I / F part 107 Display control I / F part 108 Print content generation part 109 Print content I / F Unit 111 processing control unit 150, 250 printer 151 print content I / F unit 152 content interpretation unit 153, 253 print image generation unit 154 print unit 155 print control unit 156 expression method selection unit 190 monitor 191 display image I / F unit 192 display Image processing unit 193 Image display unit 194 Display control unit 195 Display control I / F unit 256 Expression method selection unit

Claims (13)

A print content sending device for sending print content to a printing device,
An image file including the thumbnail image of the main image and the main image, a content acquisition unit for acquiring or generating the print contents described in compliance with a predetermined markup language,
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not to use a thumbnail image of the image file at the time of printing for the acquired or generated print content;
When the determination means determines that a thumbnail image should be used, it describes that the thumbnail image of the image file should be used in a definition sentence that can be dealt with by the markup language. Information adding means described in the print content ;
Transmitting means for transmitting the print content in which the definition sentence is described to a printing apparatus. The discrimination means includes
If the print content includes an index sheet, the print content, print content delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determining that it should use a thumbnail image of the image file. A print content sending device for sending print content to a printing device,
Print content generation means for generating a print content written in conformity with a predetermined markup language to refer to an image file including a main image and a thumbnail image of the main image and to at least instruct a layout for the image file When,
Transmission means for transmitting the generated print content to a printing apparatus,
The print content generation means includes
A discriminator for discriminating whether or not to use a thumbnail image in the image file for the printing apparatus at the time of printing;
When the determination unit determines that the thumbnail image is to be used, the fact that the thumbnail image in the image file is used at the time of printing is described in the print content in accordance with the markup language.
A print content transmitting apparatus characterized by the above. An image file including the thumbnail image of the main image and the main image, and receiving means for receiving a print content that is written based on a predetermined markup language,
Extraction means for extracting definition sentences that the markup language can handle from the received print content;
A printing apparatus comprising: printing means for generating print image data based on the extracted definition sentence and performing printing using the print image data. The printing apparatus further includes:
An acquisition means for acquiring only thumbnail images from the received image file ;
The printing means includes
The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein print image data is generated using the acquired thumbnail image. Referencing an image file including a main image and a thumbnail image of the main image, and in order to at least instruct a layout for the image file, print content described in accordance with a predetermined markup language is transmitted from the print content sending device. Receiving means for receiving;
  Analyzing means for analyzing the received print content;
A discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not there is a usage description indicating that the thumbnail image in the image file is used at the time of printing in the print content by the analyzing unit;
Conversion means for converting an image included in the image file into print data,
The converting means includes
If it is determined that the usage description is present, the thumbnail image in the image file is converted into print image data. If it is determined that the usage description is not present, the main image in the image file is converted. To print image data
A printing apparatus characterized by that. A printing system comprising a print content delivery apparatus for delivering the print content to the printing device and the printing device,
The print content sending device
An image file including the thumbnail image of the main image and the main image, a content acquisition unit for acquiring or generating the print contents described in compliance with a predetermined markup language,
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not to use a thumbnail image of the image file at the time of printing for the acquired or generated print content;
When the determination means determines that a thumbnail image should be used, it describes that the thumbnail image of the image file should be used in a definition sentence that can be dealt with by the markup language. Information adding means described in the print content ;
Transmission means for transmitting the print content in which the definition sentence is described to a printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes:
An image file including the thumbnail image of the main image and the main image, receiving means for receiving a print content that is described in compliance with a predetermined markup language,
Extraction means for extracting definition sentences that the markup language can handle from the received print content;
A printing system comprising: printing means for generating print image data based on the extracted definition sentence and performing printing using the print image data. A print content transmission method for transmitting print content to a printing apparatus,
An image file including the thumbnail image of the main image and the main image, a content acquisition step of acquiring or generating the print contents described in compliance with a predetermined markup language,
A determination step of determining whether or not to use the thumbnail image of the image file at the time of printing for the acquired or generated print content;
When it is determined in the determination step that a thumbnail image should be used, the definition sentence that the markup language can handle describes that the thumbnail image of the image file should be used, and the definition sentence is An information adding step described in the print content ;
And a transmission step of transmitting the print content in which the definition sentence is described to a printing apparatus. An image file including the thumbnail image of the main image and the main image, a receiving step of receiving the print contents described in compliance with a predetermined markup language,
An extraction step of extracting definition sentences that can be dealt with by the markup language from the received print content;
And a printing step of generating print image data based on the extracted definition sentence and performing printing using the print image data. A program for causing a computer to execute a print content sending apparatus that sends print content to a printing apparatus,
An image file including the thumbnail image of the main image and the main image, a content acquisition step of acquiring or generating the print contents described in compliance with a predetermined markup language,
A determination step of determining whether or not to use the thumbnail image of the image file at the time of printing for the acquired or generated print content;
When it is determined in the determination step that a thumbnail image should be used, the definition sentence that the markup language can handle describes that the thumbnail image of the image file should be used, and the definition sentence is An information adding step described in the print content ;
A transmission step of transmitting the print content in which the definition sentence is described to a printing apparatus;
Including programs. A program for causing a computer to use a printing apparatus,
An image file including the thumbnail image of the main image and the main image, a receiving step of receiving the print contents described in compliance with a predetermined markup language,
An extraction step of extracting definition sentences that can be dealt with by the markup language from the received print content;
A printing step of generating print image data based on the extracted definition sentence and performing printing using the print image data;
Including programs. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for a print content sending device for sending print content to a printing device,
The program is
An image file including the thumbnail image of the main image and the main image, a content acquisition step of acquiring or generating the print contents described in compliance with a predetermined markup language,
A determination step of determining whether or not to use the thumbnail image of the image file at the time of printing for the acquired or generated print content;
When it is determined in the determination step that a thumbnail image should be used, the definition sentence that the markup language can handle describes that the thumbnail image of the image file should be used, and the definition sentence is An information adding step described in the print content ;
And a transmission step of transmitting the print content in which the definition sentence is described to a printing apparatus. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for a printing apparatus,
The program is
An image file including the thumbnail image of the main image and the main image, a receiving step of receiving the print contents described in compliance with a predetermined markup language,
An extraction step of extracting definition sentences that can be dealt with by the markup language from the received print content;
A printing step of generating print image data based on the extracted definition sentence and performing printing using the print image data.

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