JP4223387B2 - Imaging device and imaging printing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus that records image data generated by photographing a subject, such as a so-called digital still camera, and in particular, directly transmits photographed image data from a photographing apparatus to a printing apparatus such as a printer for printing. The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus capable of performing the above and a photographing print system using such a photographing apparatus.

In recent years, it is called a digital camera or the like, and a subject image is picked up by a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD (charge coupled device) image pickup device, and image data of a still image (still image) or a moving image (movie image) of the subject is obtained. As a result, cameras of the type that record digitally on a recording medium are rapidly spreading. In this case, an IC (integrated circuit) memory card generally called a small card using a non-volatile memory such as a so-called flash memory is generally used as a recording medium.
In order to obtain a hard copy of a photographed image in a system using such a camera, the photographed and recorded image data is once taken into a storage device of a PC (personal computer), and the desired image data is processed and printed by the PC. Conventionally, printing is performed by generating image data and sending it to a printer. However, in such a system, it is complicated to capture image data into the PC and to manipulate the image data on the PC. Therefore, a photographing apparatus such as a digital camera performs processing for generating print image data from the recorded image data. A so-called direct print system that prints a photographed image by connecting a printing device such as a printer directly to the photographing device is becoming widespread (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151858 selects a desired image from a plurality of recorded image data and prints the image with desired print specifications such as the number of prints, print paper size, and print color according to the request. A digital camera is shown that can output data to a printer.
Patent Document 2 discloses not only an image input to an image input device such as a digital camera, that is, a photographing device, but also information such as a layout when outputting the image as an image output device such as a printer. That is, a system is shown in which a plurality of images can be printed on one sheet of printing paper to save printing paper by transferring it to a printing apparatus.

In addition, recording of image data in a photographing apparatus such as a digital camera is generally a camera file system standard, the so-called DCF (Design Rule for Camera File system) standard, and the camera image data format standard, Exif (Exchangeable Image File). format for digital still camera), but the image data recorded according to Exif or the like usually includes various types of shooting information including exposure information and date information. Therefore, in systems such as those disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a part of shooting information included in image data, such as date information, is being printed together with an image.
On the other hand, in the same way as date printing on conventional silver halide film, date information is superimposed and combined with the subject image at the time of shooting and recording, and image data is generated as an image in which date information is imprinted. It is also considered to do. In this way, it is not necessary to include date information when generating print image data, and the print processing is facilitated. However, since the date information is included in the image itself as an image, only the photographed image is to be used. Cause problems. Furthermore, as described above, when printing image data that has not been combined with date information together with date information included in the image data, the image data that has been combined with date information in the image is mistakenly displayed. If selected, date information may be printed twice.

JP 11-46331 A JP 2000-50052 A

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and allows date information to be printed together with a photographed image as desired regardless of whether or not date information is combined and imprinted on the image itself. An object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus and a photographing print system that can be operated.
That is, the object of claim 1 of the present invention is to be able to imprint date information on the image itself as desired, and whether or not the date information is imprinted on the image itself. An object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus that can print date information together with a photographed image as desired.
The object of claim 2 of the present invention is to print date information together with a photographed image as desired regardless of whether or not there is a combined imprint of date information on the image itself, particularly for a plurality of image data desired to be printed. An object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus that can do this.

In addition, an object of claim 3 of the present invention is a photographing print system that makes it possible to print date information together with a photographed image as desired regardless of whether or not the date information is imprinted on the image itself. Is to provide.
The object of claim 4 of the present invention is to print date information together with a photographed image as desired, particularly for a plurality of image data desired to be printed regardless of whether or not the date information is imprinted on the image itself. An object of the present invention is to provide a photographic print system that makes it possible.

In order to achieve the above-described object, a photographing apparatus according to the present invention described in claim 1
Imaging means for acquiring an optical image of a subject and converting it into an electrical signal to generate image data;
Recording means for recording one or more of the image data imaged and generated by the imaging means;
Display means for displaying the image data recorded in the recording means;
A clock function means for acquiring the current date and time and generating time information including date information;
A date imprinting means that combines the time information generated by the clock function means with the image data of the subject image recorded in the recording means at the time of image pick-up by the image pick-up means to obtain date-containing image data;
Print data selection means for selecting print image data to be printed by a printing device from the image data recorded in the recording means;
Communication means for communicating the print image data selected by the print data selection means and print request information for the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus;
A dated image discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the print image data selected by the print data selecting unit is the dated image data;
Date print designation means for designating whether or not to perform date printing when the print image data is printed by the printing apparatus with respect to the print image data;
When it is specified by the date print specifying means that date printing is to be performed, and when the print image data is determined not to be the date image data by the dated image determining means, the printing means is used by the communication means. included the date data in the print request information to be communicated to, when the print image data by the dated image discrimination means is determined as a pre-SL dated image data, by the communication unit to the printing device And a communication control unit that does not include date data in the print request information to be communicated.
The imaging device according to the present invention described in claim 2 is the imaging device according to claim 1,
The print data selection means includes means for selecting a plurality of print image data from the plurality of image data recorded in the recording means ,
Before SL dated image discrimination means are individually viewed the dated <br/> a means for determining whether the image data including a plurality of print image data selected by said print data selecting means, and
The communication control means, when it is designated by the date print designation means to perform date printing for each of the plurality of print image data selected by the print data selection means, the date image discriminating means determines the print image. When it is determined that the data is not the dated image data, the communication unit includes date data in the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus, and the dated image determination unit converts the print image data to the date. When it is determined that the image data is dated image data, date information is not included in the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus by the communication unit .

In order to achieve the above-described object, the photographing print system according to the present invention described in claim 3 provides:
Record one or more pieces of image data generated by imaging the subject, generate time information including date information by a clock function, and combine the time information with the recorded image data as desired. A photographing device that has a date imprinting function as date-containing image data, selects print image data desired to be printed from the recorded image data, and performs data communication to the printing device,
Communication means for communicating the selected print image data and print request information for the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus;
A dated image determining means for determining whether or not the selected print image data is the dated image data;
Date print designation means for designating whether or not to perform date printing when the print image data is printed by the printing apparatus with respect to the print image data;
When it is specified by the date print specifying means that date printing is to be performed, and when the print image data is determined not to be the date image data by the dated image determining means, the printing means is used by the communication means. Date information is included in the print request information to be communicated to the printing apparatus, and when the dated image determination unit determines that the print image data is the dated image data, the communication unit sends the date to the printing apparatus. A photographing apparatus having communication control means for not including date data in the print request information to be communicated;
When date data is included in the print request information communicated from the photographing device, the print data is printed by combining the date data with the image, and the date data is included in the print request information. If not, a printing apparatus for printing the print image data as it is is provided.
The photographing print system according to the present invention described in claim 4 is the photographing print system according to claim 3,
The photographing apparatus includes a print data selection unit that selects a plurality of print image data from the plurality of recorded image data .
The dated image discrimination means before Symbol imaging apparatus, viewed contains a means for determining whether or not the dated image data individually for a plurality of print image data selected by said print data selecting means, and
The communication control means of the photographing apparatus, when the date print designation means designates date printing for each of a plurality of print image data selected by the print data selection means, the dated image discrimination means When the print image data is determined not to be the dated image data, the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus by the communication unit includes date data, and the dated image determination unit When it is determined that the image data is the date-containing image data, the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus by the communication unit is not included in the date data .

[Action]
That is, an imaging device according to claim 1 of the present invention includes an imaging unit that acquires an optical image of a subject and converts it into an electrical signal to generate image data;
Recording means for recording one or more of the image data imaged and generated by the imaging means;
Display means for displaying the image data recorded in the recording means;
A clock function means for acquiring the current date and time and generating time information including date information;
A date imprinting means that combines the time information generated by the clock function means with the image data of the subject image recorded in the recording means at the time of image pick-up by the image pick-up means to obtain date-containing image data;
Print data selection means for selecting print image data to be printed by a printing device from the image data recorded in the recording means;
Communication means for communicating the print image data selected by the print data selection means and print request information for the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus;
A dated image discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the print image data selected by the print data selecting unit is the dated image data;
Date print designation means for designating whether or not to perform date printing when the print image data is printed by the printing apparatus with respect to the print image data;
When it is specified by the date print specifying means that date printing is to be performed, and when the print image data is determined not to be the date image data by the dated image determining means, the printing means is used by the communication means. included the date data in the print request information to be communicated to, when the print image data by the dated image discrimination means is determined as a pre-SL dated image data, by the communication unit to the printing device Communication control means for not including date data in the print request information to be communicated.
With such a configuration, date information can be imprinted and synthesized on the image itself as desired, and when printing is performed regardless of whether or not date information is imprinted on the image itself, as desired. The date information can be printed together with the photographed image, and the date information is not printed twice.
Therefore, the user can specify the date print without worrying about whether or not the date information is imprinted on the image itself, which is convenient to use and the date information can be printed twice. It can be avoided reliably.

An imaging device according to claim 2 of the present invention is the imaging device according to claim 1,
The print data selection means includes means for selecting a plurality of print image data from the plurality of image data recorded in the recording means ,
Before SL dated image discrimination means are individually viewed the dated <br/> a means for determining whether the image data including a plurality of print image data selected by said print data selecting means, and
The communication control means, when it is designated by the date print designation means to perform date printing for each of the plurality of print image data selected by the print data selection means, the date image discriminating means determines the print image. When it is determined that the data is not the dated image data, the communication unit includes date data in the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus, and the dated image determination unit converts the print image data to the date. If it is determined that the image data is dated, date data is not included in the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus by the communication unit .
With such a configuration, in particular, for a plurality of image data desired to be printed, the date information can be printed together with the photographed image as desired regardless of whether or not the date information is imprinted on the image itself, Date information is not printed twice.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing print system for recording one or more pieces of image data generated by imaging a subject, and generating and recording time information including date information by a clock function. It has a date imprinting function that combines the timekeeping information with image data as desired to obtain dated image data. From the recorded image data, print image data desired to be printed is selected and sent to a printing apparatus. An imaging device that performs data communication of
Communication means for communicating the selected print image data and print request information for the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus;
A dated image determining means for determining whether or not the selected print image data is the dated image data;
Date print designation means for designating whether or not to perform date printing when the print image data is printed by the printing apparatus with respect to the print image data;
When it is specified by the date print specifying means that date printing is to be performed, and when the print image data is determined not to be the date image data by the dated image determining means, the printing means is used by the communication means. Date information is included in the print request information to be communicated to the printing apparatus, and when the dated image determination unit determines that the print image data is the dated image data, the communication unit sends the date to the printing apparatus. A photographing apparatus having communication control means for not including date data in the print request information to be communicated;
When date data is included in the print request information communicated from the photographing device, the print data is printed by combining the date data with the image, and the date data is included in the print request information. If not, a printing apparatus for printing the print image data as it is is provided.
With such a configuration, it is possible to print date information together with a photographed image as desired when making a print, regardless of whether or not the date information is imprinted on the image itself. There is no heavy print.

A photographing print system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the photographing print system according to the third aspect, wherein the photographing apparatus selects a plurality of print image data from the plurality of recorded image data. It includes,
The dated image discrimination means before Symbol imaging apparatus, viewed contains a means for determining whether or not the dated image data individually for a plurality of print image data selected by said print data selecting means, and
The communication control means of the photographing apparatus, when the date print designation means designates date printing for each of a plurality of print image data selected by the print data selection means, the dated image discrimination means When the print image data is determined not to be the dated image data, the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus by the communication unit includes date data, and the dated image determination unit If it is determined that the image data is the date-added image data, date information is not included in the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus by the communication means.
With such a configuration, in particular, for a plurality of image data desired to be printed, the date information can be printed together with the photographed image as desired regardless of whether or not the date information is imprinted on the image itself, Date information is not printed twice.

According to the present invention, it is possible to print the date information together with the photographed image as desired regardless of whether or not the date information is imprinted on the image itself. It is possible to provide a photographing apparatus and a photographing printing system in which information is not printed twice.
That is, according to the imaging apparatus of claim 1 of the present invention, an imaging unit that acquires an optical image of a subject and converts it into an electrical signal to generate image data;
Recording means for recording one or more of the image data imaged and generated by the imaging means;
Display means for displaying the image data recorded in the recording means;
A clock function means for acquiring the current date and time and generating time information including date information;
A date imprinting means that combines the time information generated by the clock function means with the image data of the subject image recorded in the recording means at the time of image pick-up by the image pick-up means to obtain date-containing image data;
Print data selection means for selecting print image data to be printed by a printing device from the image data recorded in the recording means;
Communication means for communicating the print image data selected by the print data selection means and print request information for the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus;
A dated image discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the print image data selected by the print data selecting unit is the dated image data;
Date print designation means for designating whether or not to perform date printing when the print image data is printed by the printing apparatus with respect to the print image data;
When it is specified by the date print specifying means that date printing is to be performed, and when the print image data is determined not to be the date image data by the dated image determining means, the printing means is used by the communication means. included the date data in the print request information to be communicated to, when the print image data by the dated image discrimination means is determined as a pre-SL dated image data, by the communication unit to the printing device Communication control means that does not include date data in the print request information to be communicated, in particular, the date information can be imprinted and synthesized on the image itself as desired, and when printing, Regardless of whether or not date information is imprinted on the image itself, date information can be captured as desired. It is possible to print the image together with the image, and the date information is not printed twice.

According to a photographing apparatus of a second aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus of the first aspect, the print data selecting means selects a plurality of print image data from the plurality of image data recorded in the recording means. Including means ,
Before SL dated image discrimination means are individually viewed the dated <br/> a means for determining whether the image data including a plurality of print image data selected by said print data selecting means, and
The communication control means, when it is designated by the date print designation means to perform date printing for each of the plurality of print image data selected by the print data selection means, the date image discriminating means determines the print image. When it is determined that the data is not the dated image data, the communication unit includes date data in the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus, and the dated image determination unit converts the print image data to the date. When it is determined that the image data includes date, by not including date data in the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus by the communication unit , in particular, for a plurality of image data desired to be printed, Whether or not date information is imprinted on the image itself Not, it is possible to print date information together with the captured image as desired.
According to the photographing print system of claim 3 of the present invention, one or more pieces of image data generated by imaging a subject are recorded, and time information including date information is generated and recorded by a clock function. The image data has a date imprinting function that combines the timekeeping information with the image data as desired to obtain dated image data, and prints the selected print image data desired to be printed from the recorded image data. An imaging device that performs data communication to the device,
Communication means for communicating the selected print image data and print request information for the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus;
A dated image determining means for determining whether or not the selected print image data is the dated image data;
Date print designation means for designating whether or not to perform date printing when the print image data is printed by the printing apparatus with respect to the print image data;
When it is specified by the date print specifying means that date printing is to be performed, and when the print image data is determined not to be the date image data by the dated image determining means, the printing means is used by the communication means. Date information is included in the print request information to be communicated to the printing apparatus, and when the dated image determination unit determines that the print image data is the dated image data, the communication unit sends the date to the printing apparatus. A photographing apparatus having communication control means for not including date data in the print request information to be communicated;
When date data is included in the print request information communicated from the photographing device, the print data is printed by combining the date data with the image, and the date data is included in the print request information. A printing device that prints the print image data as it is,
In particular, the date information can be imprinted and combined on the image itself as desired, and the date information can be printed together with the photographed image as desired regardless of whether or not the date information is imprinted on the image itself. In addition, it is possible to avoid the date information being printed twice.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the photographing print system according to the third aspect, wherein the photographing device selects a plurality of print image data from the plurality of recorded image data. It includes,
The dated image discrimination means before Symbol imaging apparatus, viewed contains a means for determining whether or not the dated image data individually for a plurality of print image data selected by said print data selecting means, and
The communication control means of the photographing apparatus, when the date print designation means designates date printing for each of a plurality of print image data selected by the print data selection means, the dated image discrimination means When the print image data is determined not to be the dated image data, the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus by the communication unit includes date data, and the dated image determination unit When it is determined that the image data is the date-added image data, by not including date data in the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus by the communication means , in particular, a plurality of print data desired to be printed For image data, imprint date information on the image itself Or without, it is possible to print date information together with the captured image as desired.

Hereinafter, based on an embodiment of the present invention, a photographing apparatus and a photographing print system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 3 are diagrams for schematically explaining a photographing print system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the photographing print system, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation at the time of photographing recording of the photographing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation during printing of the photographing apparatus shown in FIG.
The photographing print system shown in FIG. 1 includes a digital camera 1 and a printer 2. The digital camera 1 constitutes a photographing device in the photographing print system, and includes a control unit 10, an external storage device 21, an imaging unit 22, a display unit 23, an operation unit 24, and a communication interface (communication I / F) 25. The control unit 10 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 11, a ROM (read only memory) 12, a RAM (random access memory) 13, an input / output port (I / O port) 14, and a bus line BL that interconnects them. Typically, it is constituted by a so-called microprocessor.

The CPU 11 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 12, and exchanges information with the external storage device 21, the imaging unit 22, the display unit 23, the operation unit 24, and the communication interface 25 via the input / output port 14. And control each of these parts. The RAM 13 receives control information and information exchanged with the external storage device 21, the imaging unit 22, the display unit 23, the operation unit 24, and the communication interface 25 through the input / output port 14 in accordance with the operation of the CPU 11. A part or all of is temporarily stored as needed. As will be described later, the control of the control unit 10 includes control of a photographing operation when the digital camera 1 is photographing and a printing operation when the printer 2 performs printing. The control unit 10 also has a clocking function as a clock function unit that generates clocking information including real-time time and date information by counting clocks.
The external storage device 21 constitutes a recording means for recording information such as one or more photographed image data on a recording medium using a nonvolatile storage medium such as a memory card using a flash memory as a recording medium. As a non-volatile storage medium used for the external storage device 21, a non-volatile memory such as a so-called MRAM, FeRAM, and RRAM may be used in addition to a flash memory, and a small and ultra-small hard disk, a CD-RW, or the like may be used. Such a rewritable optical disk can also be used. The image data stored in the external storage device 21 is data including shooting information such as date information at the time of shooting in addition to image information in accordance with, for example, the Exif standard.

  The imaging unit 22 constitutes an imaging unit that is a subject image input unit. That is, the imaging unit 22 is a photographing optical system that forms an optical image of a subject, a CCD (charge coupled device) imaging device that converts the formed optical image of the subject into an electrical signal, and an analog electrical signal that is converted into digital data. An A / D converter (analog-to-digital converter) or the like that acquires an optical image of a subject and converts it into an electrical signal to generate image data. The display unit 23 constitutes display means for displaying image data, and displays image data stored in the external storage device 21 and other operation / operation information as required. The operation unit 24 includes a release button for instructing photographing, and various information such as setting information of various operation conditions such as a photographing mode and date imprinting, selection instruction information for a print image, and print instruction information for a selected image. It has various buttons, levers, rings, etc. for operation input. The operation unit 24 includes a switch, a potentiometer, an encoder, and the like that respond to operations of buttons, levers, rings, and the like. The communication interface 25 is an interface for connecting a communication path for data communication between the digital camera 1 and the printer 2 and constitutes a communication means for performing data communication of selected print image data. The communication interface 25 may be any interface as long as data communication with the printer 2 is possible, and typically includes a general-purpose interface such as a so-called USB interface, Bluetooth interface, or infrared interface.

Note that the control unit 10 controls the clock function means described above by controlling each unit such as the external storage device 21, the imaging unit 22, the display unit 23, the operation unit 24, and the communication interface 25 through the input / output port 14. The date imprinting means that combines the date information generated by the clock function means with the image data of the subject image stored in the external storage device 21 to obtain date-added image data at the time of image pickup by the image pickup unit 22 Print data selection means for selecting print image data to be printed by the printer 2 from the image data stored in the storage device 21, and the print image data selected by the print data selection means is the dated image data. A dated image discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the date is entered and the dated image discriminating means There In a case where it is determined that dated image data contains substantially the functions of the communication control unit in the communication data does not include date information relating to the image data by the communication interface 25.
The printer 2 constitutes a printing apparatus in the photographing print system, and performs printing according to given print information. In particular, when the date information is included in the communication data of the print image data communicated from the digital camera 1, the printer 2 prints the print image data by combining the date information with the image, and the communication When the date information is not included in the data, the print image data is printed as it is.

Next, with reference to the flowchart at the time of photographing shown in FIG. 2, the operation at the time of photographing and storing image data will be described.
When the shutter release button of the operation unit 24 is pressed (step S301), the image pickup unit 22 picks up an image, and the generated image data is taken into a memory such as the RAM 13 (step S302). Here, in order to avoid hindering an accurate understanding of the gist of the present invention by a complicated explanation of known matters and to further clarify the gist of the present invention, details of general techniques in the technology of a digital camera are described. Description is omitted. Presence / absence of date imprinting / combination is designated by an appropriate operation of the operation unit 24 in advance, and then the presence / absence of date imprinting / combination is checked (step S303). If it is instructed that there is a date imprint combination, the date information at the time of imaging obtained by the control unit 10 is combined with the image data on the memory to imprint (step S304). An example of an image in which date information is combined in this way is shown in FIG.

  The captured image data in the memory is compressed according to a compression format such as JPEG format, for example, an EXIF file according to the Exif standard is generated, stored in the external storage device 21, the shooting operation is terminated, and the standby state is restored. (Step S305). In this case, in step S304, as shown in FIG. 5, in the header part of the EXIF file, for example, a part such as a maker note for information unique to the maker, information on the company, for example, company A, An EXIF file is generated with the image flag with date set to “present”. If it is determined in step S303 that there is no date imprinting / combination, the process proceeds to step S305, and the Exif file is generated with the date-containing image flag set to none. In addition to the maker note, there are places in the EXIF file that can store information such as file update (creation) date and time and original image creation date and time. In normal cases, any of these date and time information is stored at the time of shooting. Since it is stored, the shooting date / time information is also stored in the EXIF file even when it is determined in step S303 that there is no date imprinting / synthesizing.

As described above, one or more pieces of image data, usually, a plurality of pieces of image data are stored in the external storage device 21 by sequentially and repeatedly photographing.
Next, an operation at the time of printing image data will be described with reference to a flowchart at the time of printing shown in FIG. This process is a process of selectively transmitting the image data created and stored as described above to the printer 2.
In a state where the printer 2 is connected to the communication interface 25 of the digital camera 1 so as to be communicable, a plurality of captured images stored in the external storage device 21 are displayed on the display unit 23 by operating the operation unit 24. When captured images are stored, individual image data can be selected and designated by sequentially changing and displaying the captured images by operating the operation unit 24. In addition, as will be described later, a so-called thumbnail image of a plurality of images may be displayed simultaneously to select and specify a desired image.

  In this way, when an image print is requested by an operation of the operation unit 24 in a state where a desired image is selected and designated (step S306), it is checked whether or not a date print is designated (step S307). ). The designation of date printing is to designate whether or not to perform date printing based on information such as file update date / time and original image creation date / time other than the manufacturer note in the EXIF file. The designation information may be set in advance as desired, or may be designated after waiting for an input from the operation unit 24 at this time. If it is determined in step S307 that date printing is designated, the header of the EXIF file of the image to be printed is checked. That is, the date-containing image flag set in step S305 in FIG. 2 is read to determine whether the flag is present (step S308). If it is determined in step S308 that the dated image flag is not present, the date print request is added to the print request command for the printer 2 to edit the print request command (step S309), and the print request is sent to the printer 2. Transmit (step S310). This date print request is simply made based on whether or not date data is included in the print request command. When the date data is included in the print request command, the date print request is present, and the date data is not included in the print request command. In this case, there is no date print request.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6 as an example of a print request command described in XML, when there is a date print request, as shown in the figure, the date data line <date> 2002/10/28 </ date>
If this line is not included, there is no date print request. If it is determined in step S307 that there is no date print designation, or if it is determined in step S308 that there is an image flag with a date, the printer 2 is not requested to perform date printing. Without adding the date print request, the process proceeds to step S310, and the print request is transmitted to the printer 2. In step S310, image data to be printed is transmitted to the printer 2 after the print request is transmitted, and the print process is terminated.

At this time, if the image data to be printed is a dated image for which the dated image flag is valid, even if the date print is designated in step S307, the file update date and time in the EXIF file or A date print request is not added based on information such as the original image creation date and time. If the image data to be printed is not a dated image for which the dated image flag is valid, if the date printing is specified in step S307, the file update date and time and the original image creation in the EXIF file are specified. A date print request is added based on information such as date and time. If there is no date print designation in step S307, no date print request is added.
The printer 2 determines whether or not to perform date printing based on information such as the file update date and time and the original image creation date and time in the EXIF file based on whether or not date data is included in the received print request command. If date data is included in the print request command, date information is printed based on information such as the file update date and time and the original image creation date and time in the EXIF file, and date data is not included in the print request command. Prints image data as it is without adding date information.

  Therefore, if the image data to be printed is a dated image for which the dated image flag is valid, date information additional printing can be performed even if date printing is designated in step S307. Instead, an image in which date information is combined in the image is printed as shown in FIG. That is, the date information is not double printed. If the date print is specified in step S307 and the date-added image flag of the image data to be printed is not valid, date information is added and the image is printed. On the other hand, if date printing is not designated in step S307, date information additional printing is not performed. However, even if no date printing is designated in step S307, the image data to be printed is a dated image. Since date information is synthesized in the image as shown in FIG. 4, the date cannot be removed from the image, and an image in which the date information is synthesized is printed.

Next, a photographing print system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the photographing print system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the overall configuration of the photographing print system may be the same as that of the first embodiment shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, and the operation of the photographing apparatus during photographing recording is also shown in the flowchart of FIG. This may be the same as in the case of the first embodiment, and only the operation during printing of the photographing apparatus is different from FIG. 3 as shown in the flowchart in FIG.
The operation at the time of printing image data will be described with reference to the flowchart at the time of printing in the photographing print system according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. This process is a process for selectively transmitting to the printer 2 a plurality of image data created and stored by sequentially repeating operations as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
In a state where the printer 2 is connected to the communication interface 25 of the digital camera 1 so as to be communicable, a plurality of photographed images stored in the external storage device 21 are operated by operating the operation unit 24, as shown in FIG. In the state where the reduced image of the image, so-called thumbnail image, is displayed on the display unit 23 at the same time, each image is selected and designated in a state designated by the different color display of the surrounding frame portion, and the designated image is sequentially changed. However, by repeating this, a plurality of images desired to be printed can be selected and designated from a plurality of photographed images. In FIG. 8, a printer icon is attached to the selected image.

  In this way, when printing of an image is requested by the operation of the operation unit 24 in a state where a plurality of desired images are selected and specified (step S401), one of the selected and specified images is selected. Then, it is checked whether or not there is a date print designation (step S402). As in the case of the first embodiment, the date print is designated based on information other than the manufacturer's note such as file update date / time and original image creation date / time in the EXIF file. The designation information may be set in advance as desired at the time of printing the image, or designation may be made after waiting for input from the operation unit 24 individually at this time. You may make it do. If it is determined in step S402 that date printing is designated, the header of the EXIF file of the image to be printed is checked. That is, the date-containing image flag set in step S305 in FIG. 2 is read to determine whether the flag is present (step S403). If it is determined in step S403 that there is no dated image flag, the date request is added to the print request command for the printer 2 to edit the print request command (step S404). As described above, this date print request is simply made based on whether or not date data is included in the print request command. If date data is included in the print request command, the date print request is present, and the date is included in the print request command. If no data is included, there is no date print request.

After the print request command is edited in step S404, it is determined whether or not the print request command has been edited for all selected images (step S405). Returning to the above, the above-described processing is repeated for the other one of the plurality of selected images. If it is determined in step S402 that the date print is not designated, or if it is determined in step S403 that there is a date-containing image flag, the printer 2 is not requested to perform date print. Without adding the date print request, the process proceeds to step S405, where it is determined whether or not the editing of the print request command has been completed for all selected images. Returning to S402, the above-described processing is repeated for another one of the plurality of images that have been selected and designated.
If it is determined in step S405 that editing of the print request command has been completed for all selected images, the process proceeds to step S406, and the edited print request is transmitted to the printer 2. In step S406, the image data to be printed after transmitting the print request is transmitted to the printer 2, and the printing process is terminated.

Also at this time, if the image data to be printed is a dated image for which the dated image flag is valid, the file update date and time in the EXIF file is specified even if the date print is designated in step S402. The date print request is not added based on the information such as the original image creation date and time. If the image data to be printed is not a dated image for which the dated image flag is valid, if the date print is designated in step S402, the file update date and time and the original image creation in the EXIF file are specified. A date print request is added based on information such as date and time. If there is no date print designation in step S402, no date print request is added.
The printer 2 determines whether or not to perform date printing based on information such as the file update date and time and the original image creation date and time in the EXIF file based on whether or not date data is included in the received print request command. If date data is included in the print request command, date information is printed based on information such as the file update date and time and the original image creation date and time in the EXIF file, and date data is not included in the print request command. Prints image data as it is without adding date information.

  Therefore, if the image data to be printed is a dated image for which the dated image flag is valid, date information additional printing can be performed even if date printing is designated in step S402. Instead, an image in which date information is combined in the image is printed as shown in FIG. That is, the date information is not double printed. If the date print is specified in step S402 and the date-containing image flag of the image data to be printed is not valid, date information is added and the image is printed. On the other hand, if date printing is not designated in step S402, date information additional printing is not performed. However, even if no date printing is designated in step S402, the image data to be printed is a dated image. Since date information is synthesized in the image as shown in FIG. 4, the date cannot be removed from the image, and an image in which the date information is synthesized is printed.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a main part of a photographing print system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an operation at the time of photographing by the digital camera of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation at the time of printing of the digital camera of FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the image on which the date imprinting by the date imprint synthesis | combination image | photographed with the digital camera of FIG. 1 was performed. It is a figure which shows an example of the basic structure of the image data file image | photographed and recorded by the digital camera of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main part of a print request command when printing image data captured by the digital camera of FIG. 1. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement at the time of the printing of the digital camera in the imaging | photography print system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the list display by the thumbnail image of the image data at the time of the print image selection by the digital camera of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital Camera 2 Printer 10 Control Unit 11 CPU (Central Processing Unit)
12 ROM (Read Only Memory)
13 RAM (Random Access Memory)
14 I / O port (I / O port)
21 External storage device 22 Imaging unit 23 Display unit 24 Operation unit 25 Communication interface (communication I / F)
BL bus line

Claims (4)

Imaging means for acquiring an optical image of a subject and converting it into an electrical signal to generate image data;
Recording means for recording one or more of the image data imaged and generated by the imaging means;
Display means for displaying the image data recorded in the recording means;
A clock function means for acquiring the current date and time and generating time information including date information;
A date imprinting means that combines the time information generated by the clock function means with the image data of the subject image recorded in the recording means at the time of image pick-up by the image pick-up means to obtain date-containing image data;
Print data selection means for selecting print image data to be printed by a printing device from the image data recorded in the recording means;
Communication means for communicating the print image data selected by the print data selection means and print request information for the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus;
A dated image discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the print image data selected by the print data selecting unit is the dated image data;
Date print designation means for designating whether or not to perform date printing when the print image data is printed by the printing apparatus with respect to the print image data;
When it is specified by the date print specifying means that date printing is to be performed, and when the print image data is determined not to be the date image data by the dated image determining means, the printing means is used by the communication means. included the date data in the print request information to be communicated to, when the print image data by the dated image discrimination means is determined as a pre-SL dated image data, by the communication unit to the printing device An imaging apparatus comprising: communication control means that does not include date data in the print request information to be communicated. The print data selection means includes means for selecting a plurality of print image data from the plurality of image data recorded in the recording means ,
Before SL dated image discrimination means are individually viewed the dated <br/> a means for determining whether the image data including a plurality of print image data selected by said print data selecting means, and
The communication control means, when it is designated by the date print designation means to perform date printing for each of the plurality of print image data selected by the print data selection means, the date image discriminating means determines the print image. When it is determined that the data is not the dated image data, the communication unit includes date data in the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus, and the dated image determination unit converts the print image data to the date. 2. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when it is determined that the image data includes date, date information is not included in the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus by the communication unit. Record one or more pieces of image data generated by imaging the subject, generate time information including date information by a clock function, and combine the time information with the recorded image data as desired. A photographing device that has a date imprinting function as date-containing image data, selects print image data desired to be printed from the recorded image data, and performs data communication to the printing device,
Communication means for communicating the selected print image data and print request information for the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus;
A dated image determining means for determining whether or not the selected print image data is the dated image data;
Date print designation means for designating whether or not to perform date printing when the print image data is printed by the printing apparatus with respect to the print image data;
When it is specified by the date print specifying means that date printing is to be performed, and when the print image data is determined not to be the date image data by the dated image determining means, the printing means is used by the communication means. Date information is included in the print request information to be communicated to the printing apparatus, and when the dated image determination unit determines that the print image data is the dated image data, the communication unit sends the date to the printing apparatus. A photographing apparatus having communication control means for not including date data in the print request information to be communicated;
When date data is included in the print request information communicated from the photographing device, the print data is printed by combining the date data with the image, and the date data is included in the print request information. And a printing apparatus that prints the print image data as it is when there is not. The photographing apparatus includes a print data selection unit that selects a plurality of print image data from the plurality of recorded image data .
The dated image discrimination means before Symbol imaging apparatus, viewed contains a means for determining whether or not the dated image data individually for a plurality of print image data selected by said print data selecting means, and
The communication control means of the photographing apparatus, when the date print designation means designates date printing for each of a plurality of print image data selected by the print data selection means, the dated image discrimination means When the print image data is determined not to be the dated image data, the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus by the communication unit includes date data, and the dated image determination unit The date data is not included in the print request information communicated to the printing apparatus by the communication unit when it is determined that the image data is the date-containing image data . Shooting print system.